The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 27th March 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all whether you are reading this from the Algarve or farther afield. We start this report by highlighting the latest road safety awareness scheme which coincides with the Easter period, run by the GNR and PSP. “Operation Easter 2024” starts this Monday and will run until the 1st April it will happen throughout the continental territory, through the intensification of patrolling and carrying out awareness-raising and inspection actions .

This action aims to: combat crime, contribute to reducing road accidents, regularise traffic and support all citizens, providing them with the Easter festivities and their travels, safely.

This season is characterised by the reunion of families in their regions of origin and, as it corresponds to the school holiday period, a significant increase in road traffic on Portuguese roads is expected. In this sense, the Guard, through the military from the Territorial Commands and Traffic Detachments, will have the “Easter 2024” operation underway, which aims to ensure the safety and protection of people, which goes beyond road inspection and the effort is also aimed at festivities, their surroundings, residential and commercial areas, as well as the most critical road traffic routes. The inspection period for the greatest road patrol effort, on the most critical roads, will be between the beginning of March 28th and April 1st, a period when the highest volume of traffic is expected.

The GNR advises attentive, cautious and defensive driving, so that the festive period can be spent safely. To travel safely this festive season, GNR advises: adapting your speed to weather conditions, the condition of the road and the volume of road traffic; avoid manoeuvres that could result in traffic obstruction or that, in any way, could lead to accidents, maintaining attentive and defensive driving.

For all information regarding traffic congestion and alternatives, please contact the GNR National Integrated Operational Management Center, 24 hours a day, on 213 217 000.

Water Shortage in the region is “the worst ever” even after rain says APA

The vice-president of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), José Pimenta Machado, said on Friday, the 22nd, that the Algarve is “in the worst situation ever” in relation to the lack of water, even after the rains of the first Months of the year.

“It is true that the rains in January and February brought some water to the Algarve reservoirs and that is good news, but we are worse off than in the past and we are in the worst situation ever in the region”, said the official.

José Pimenta Machado was speaking at the inauguration of an exhibition dedicated to World Water Day, which also marks the launch of the National Museum and Water Resources Archive project, to be installed in an old paper factory on the Caima River, in Valmaior, Albergaria-a- Velha (Aveiro). Although the country currently has, on average, reservoirs at 87%, he said, problems persist on the Alentejo coast and in the Algarve, and in the future the forecast is that there will be less water, warned the vice-president of APA.

For the person responsible, first of all, it is necessary to act to have more efficient water management, without prejudice to moving forward with new dams.

“It doesn’t make any sense to have a network in which 50% or 60% of the water is lost”, he criticised, arguing that “the first priority must be given to the efficiency of the systems”. It’s just that it’s not enough to have more dams if they don’t have water and he exemplified: “we have to increase water reserves, but today we have three dams that are still at less than 20%, two in the Algarve and one in Alentejo”.

In the particular case of the Algarve, the solution for the vice-president of the APA is the desalination of seawater, which is the other bet that has to be made.

“We are going to build the first large desalination plant in the Algarve area, in Albufeira , and it is so important for the region”, highlighted José Pimenta Machado.

The leader recalled that Portugal was the first European country to have a desalination plant, on the island of Porto Santo, in the Madeira region, which “works well” and is “very important” for the island.

The Algarve has been on alert due to drought since February 5th, with the Government having approved a set of measures to restrict consumption, namely a 15% reduction in the urban sector, including tourism, and a 25% reduction in agriculture.

In addition to these measures, there are others such as combating losses in supply networks, the use of treated water to irrigate green spaces, streets and golf courses or the suspension of the granting of titles for the use of water resources.

The Government has already admitted to increasing the level of restrictions, declaring a state of environmental emergency or calamity, if the measures now implemented are insufficient to address water scarcity in the region.

Man arrested in Faro for drug trafficking

During last weekend, the PSP arrested a man for drug trafficking in downtown Faro, following an operation aimed at that area of ​​the city, that police force reported today.

In a statement, the PSP said that the suspect was “detected selling drugs to a citizen, and was promptly approached”, with the agents later finding that the man had more drugs in his possession, which is why he was detained.

After a home search, a total of 366 individual doses of hashish, money suspected to have come from this activity, as well as products used for the preparation, packaging and sale of this drug were seized.

Man in wheelchair shot in Olhão

A man was shot this morning 24 March in Olhão, a source from the Public Security Police ( PSP ) revealed, noting that the attacker is on the run.

The man, “apparently of limited mobility”, was shot on Rua do Capelo, in Olhão, at 1:50 am in the right lower limb, according to a source from the PSP national directorate, who has no indication whether the victim was hospitalised.

According to the same source, the perpetrator “is unknown” and fled.The case was forwarded to the Judiciary Police, the PSP said.

Drone finds missing man in the Algarve

The National Republican Guard (GNR) located an elderly man who had been missing since Tuesday, March 21, in Vila do Bispo, in the district of Faro. According to a statement shared on Facebook, the octogenarian man “was located with the support of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team, known as drones, and the use of kinesthetic binomials.”

The man was found conscious and did not require hospital treatment. The GNR warns that the disappearance of people “is a phenomenon to which the GNR has been particularly attentive, not only due to the effort made to allow the location of missing people, but above all to prevent this type of occurrence, raising awareness of the problem” 

British runner suffers attempted rape in Algarve

A British ultra-trail runner has described the horror she experienced after a man tried to rape her while she was training in the Algarve.

Alison Walker shared the tale of her horrific ordeal on her Instagram page, where she explained that a man ran out from behind some bushes and pushed her to the ground while running between Albufeira and Vilamoura. The man then tried to remove her shorts as the 36-year-old athlete offered up her valuables in a bid to stop him, she said. Coincidentally, her Garmin watch ended up playing a crucial role in stopping the attack, as its ‘crash alert’ (designed to alert close contacts in the case of an emergency, such as someone falling down) was activated when she was pushed to the ground.

In a desperate bid to scare off the attacker, Alison told him that her watch had alerted police, which led the man to flee while also stealing her watch. The Malaysian-born runner believes that the attack may have been “premeditated” as she spotted a piece of tarpaulin and a water bottle nearby. Alison was quick to praise the GNR.“The GNR were absolutely ace though, could not have faulted them. They were so quick and there were about 4-5 cars and vans and a cute dog to find the culprit. He’s still out and about so…,” wrote the athlete, who holds the record solo time for a 300km route called the Smog Graham Round which features the highest points in all 32 boroughs of London.

Alison has since published a new post on her Instagram page thanking everyone who has expressed their support.

“Running for me has been an outlet, and a (sic) bloody love running. To almost have that taken away is unthinkable,” she said.

Alison Walker advised runners to take care when training along the so-called “honey farm loop” and praised Portugal’s GNR police for their swift response.

And finally to end this report some news of a postponement of the Festival of the Sea in Albufeira. The third edition of “Albufeira SeaFest”, which was scheduled for the 28th to 30th of March, was postponed to the 4th, 5th and 6th of April, due to the weather conditions predicted by IPMA – Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera.

The event, which will take place again at Praça and Praia dos Pescadores, starts on April 4th (Thursday), at 3 pm, with artistic, recreational and educational activities aimed at younger people.

Inflatables, building using recycled materials, “Peixe Fred” (15h00), workshop “Learn to Recycle” (16h00), the Municipality’s educational program “Brincar Seguro Correndo Riscos” (17h00) and an aerobics class (18h00) These are the activities that are part of the program for the first day of the event.

Czech music starts at 6:00 p.m., with a concert by Quiassaca & Wavy, followed by Pachá, at 6:00 p.m., and Subtil, at 9:00 p.m. The night ends with the sound of Expensive Soul, who take the stage at 10:30 pm.

On the second day, April 5th, sport will be in the spotlight. At 9:00 am, the first surfing lesson takes place, at 10:30 am, there are skateboarding classes and sports workshops and at 11:00 am the Soul Dance Association takes place.

After lunch time, at 3:30 pm, there is an Inline demonstration and surfing activities on the sand. SkatePark, located in Praça dos Pescadores, once again hosts Inline Cash 4 Tricks (4:30 p.m.). The concerts start at 5:15 pm, with Don Lui. This is followed by Carlos Braga (18:00), Ehliu (19:00) and No time to Waste (21:00). Hybrid Theory tops the bill and debuts at Albufeira Sea Fest, at 10:30 pm.

Albufeira SeaFest ends on April 6th, with the GNR concert. The Portuguese pop rock band with over 40 years of career will perform at 10:30 pm, after names like Os Naira (6:00 pm), Daniel Vargas (7:00 pm) and Bem & The Pirates (9:00 pm).

The program includes activities such as the Construction of a Hotel for Insects (10:30 am), in partnership with the Butterfly Conservation Center of Portugal, “The Butterflies of Albufeira” (3:30 pm), Skate Cash 4 Tricks (4:30 pm), the painting class with Mary Barry (17:00), and much more.

The event is organised by the Municipality of Albufeira in partnership with the Parish Council of Albufeira and Olhos de Água and entry is free.

Have a safe and secure Easter break wherever you may be and if you are travelling please be careful.

 

The Algarve Report Wednesday 20th March 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all and we start this report with the latest in the water situation in the Algarve, or the lack of it!

Despite the region enjoying a small amount of rain that fell in the first week of this month, the dams and reservoir  levels in the Algarve remain low, dangerously low . In fact there are some who fear that the tourism market will be affected if things don’t improve. Despite waking up late to a problem that had been predicted and announced for years, authorities – national, regional and local -, businesspeople and their associations, are already taking measures to ensure water savings and more efficient water management. , at least as far as urban consumption is concerned. Applications from the municipalities of Tavira, Olhão and Alcoutim have already been approved, within the scope of Measure SM1 – Reducing Water Losses in the Urban Sector, included in the Recovery and Resilience (PRR), announced the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL).

The three applications represent a total investment of €6,576,166.88 and concern “the renewal of sections of pipelines with high levels of real water losses”.

The works to be carried out will allow the municipalities to obtain significant values ​​of water efficiency, as they will rehabilitate 32.5 kilometres of network, allowing a reduction of 281,465 m3/year in the volume of real losses», according to  AMAL.

With these three Notices, a total of 33 applications have been approved in 13 Algarve municipalities, corresponding to 25.83 million euros and 95 contracts and acquisition of services, and, in the vast majority of cases, the works are already underway.

The applications presented are analysed and approved by a Management Committee, which includes elements from the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), the Administration of the Algarve Hydrographic Region – Portuguese Environment Agency (ARH-Algarve/ APA) and the University of Algarve.

Another initiative recently launched by the Algarve Tourism sector is a scheme to offer accommodation suppliers a “Save Water” certificate. The objective is to promote water savings in hotels and in the tourism sector in general, offering, in return, a seal that recognizes the effort and contribution of companies to the regional goal of reducing water consumption in the region by 15%. urban sector.

The “Save Water” seal, which will attest that tourist companies in the Algarve are playing their role in the fight against water waste and in favour of the efficient use of this precious resource, was presented this Monday, March 18th, at the headquarters of the Algarve Tourism Region, in Faro, in a session attended by Nuno Fazenda, Secretary of State for Tourism.

To obtain the seal and the water efficiency certification it confers, partner companies commit to adopting, in a phased manner, 30 water saving measures, from a list of 60. If companies have already implemented measures included in the list, they can be included in the action plan, albeit with limitations.

According to André Gomes, president of Turismo do Algarve, what is at stake are «water efficiency measures that were worked on in a very pressing way, both from a technical point of view – here with a great contribution from the Energy Agency (Adene) – , or with sector representatives. Tourist accommodation companies have been involved since December, in many hours of working meetings with Adene, the partner association of Turismo do Algarve and Turismo de Portugal in this program.

At issue are water efficiency measures linked to devices (taps, shower heads and others), alternative sources, irrigation, swimming pools, equipment, cleaning, behaviour and management and maintenance.

The 60 measures are divided into priority ones, which are those that “can give results in a more pressing and more immediate way”, which are 18 in total, and structuring ones (42), which are “those that will take longer to be implemented», according to André Gomes.

The latter, as they are more complex, are also those for which support mechanisms were created, to a large extent, by Turismo de Portugal to help companies.

This support is divided into two lines, according to Carlos Abade, president of Turismo de Portugal: one dedicated exclusively to the Algarve, with an allocation of 10 million euros, and another nationwide, with 50 million euros, but which has extra advantages for companies that implement projects to promote water efficiency in the Algarve.

Exclusively for projects to be implemented in the Algarve region, the “+ Algarve Water Efficiency” line was created, to which micro, small and medium-sized companies can apply, as long as they are hotel establishments, rural tourism establishments or campsites and of caravanning.

In this line, which will be open continuously from April 1st until the grant ends, each company can submit an application with a maximum value of 50 thousand euros, benefiting from 50% non-refundable support.

Let’s hope that these and other initiatives are enough to make sure tourism is not affected over the summer season.

Now a look at some of the other news around the region.

GNR seized hundreds of doses of cocaine and heroin

Hundreds of doses of cocaine and heroin and weapons were seized in the Algarve by the GNR, between the 11th and 17th of March, in actions carried out in different parts of the Algarve, this security force revealed.

According to the most recent weekly report on the operation of the Faro Territorial Command of the GNR, last week 47 people were arrested, 13 for driving without a legal licence, 12 for driving under the influence of alcohol and two for drug trafficking.

In total, 386 doses of cocaine, 162 doses of heroin, a revolver, a pistol, a knife and various ammunition were seized.

In the traffic inspection, 596 infractions were detected, of which the GNR points out that 193 were due to speeding, 61 related to anomalies in the lighting and signalling systems, 55 due to lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 28 due to improper use of the cell phone during the exercise. driving, 14 due to lack of or incorrect use of a seat belt and/or child restraint system and seven due to lack of civil liability insurance.

In terms of accident rates, there were 124 accidents, resulting in one serious injury and 28 minor injuries.

PSP makes a number of Arrests across the Region.

Eight people were arrested by the PSP, for the crimes of possession of a prohibited weapon, resistance and coercion, metal theft, disobedience, damage, driving without a legal licence and driving while drunk, in the cities of Faro, Portimão, Olhão , Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.

According to the District Command of the PSP of Faro, two of these arrests stand out, which occurred in the city centre of Faro, following preventive policing actions focused on that area of ​​the city.

In this context, a suspect was approached who was carrying a bladed weapon, according to him for defence in case of need, and was detained and the weapon seized.

At another point, while identifying a suspect for selling drugs to passers-by, he tried to escape, attacking a police officer, for which he was immediately arrested.

On the other hand, in the city of Tavira, a 37-year-old suspect was arrested for stealing copper wire.

This arrest occurred following a call reporting a possible theft in progress at a construction site. According to the PSP, “the rapid mobilisation of police resources allowed the suspect to be intercepted, as he was preparing to leave the scene, with around 6.5 kilos of stolen copper wire in his possession”.

In the last 48 hours, during road inspection actions, three arrests were made for driving without a legal licence and one arrest under the influence of alcohol. 

Fire consumes warehouse in Moncarapacho

A fire consumed a warehouse with civil construction materials located in Moncarapacho, in the municipality of Olhão, this morning, with no injuries reported , a Civil Protection source told Lusa. The alert was given at 00:29 for a fire at a construction site.

“A warehouse with construction material burned down, with no injuries reported,” explained a source from the Algarve Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command .

During the early hours of the morning, until 7:00 am, the incident mobilised 20 firefighters and GNR operatives, with the support of 10 vehicles.

Man detained in Portimão in possession of two knives and an axe

The PSP arrested a man on Wednesday, March 13, in Portimão for possession of a prohibited weapon, the police force said on Thursday.

The arrest occurred following “a call for disorder”, in which a man allegedly wielded a knife, according to details from the PSP.

Police resources were mobilised and, upon arriving at the scene, they identified the suspect. Two large knives and an axe were detected in his possession, which he claimed were for “self-defence”. The suspect was immediately arrested and the weapons seized, and was presented to the judicial authorities this Thursday.

Judiciary Police arrested rapist on the run

The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested, this Thursday, March 14th, in Loulé , a 46-year-old man, in compliance with an arrest warrant issued by the Judicial Court of Faro, following a sentence of 5 years. and 6 months for committing a crime of rape.

The man was present for judicial interrogation, and the most serious measure of coercion was applied to him, preventive detention, which would be changed during the investigation phase to “obligation to remain in the residence subject to electronic surveillance”. The individual disregarded the measure, beginning a long period of escape that ended this Thursday, with his location and detention in the municipality of Loulé.

The detainee will be brought before the judicial authority to execute the preventive detention measure.

And finally we bring you a warning from the PSP!

The PSP have launched an alert on social media about a fraud scheme related to the purchase and sale of cars, on online platforms. This scheme, which has been gaining ground, is based on the cloning of legitimate vehicle sales advertisements.

According to the PSP Lisbon Metropolitan Command, the fraudster’s modus operandi consists of copying vehicle sale advertisements, deceiving both the real seller and potential buyers. The criminal selects ads on popular platforms such as OLX, Facebook and Standvirtual and contacts advertisers, trying to obtain as much information about the vehicle in question.

Subsequently, the fraudster replicates the advertisement, using the same photos and characteristics of the vehicle, but with a sales price considerably lower than the actual value. This tactic aims to attract potential buyers by offering an attractive price.

The next step is to request that payment be made by bank transfer, indicating a NIB associated with an account controlled by the criminal. Once the transfer has been made, there is an intermediary who receives the money into your bank account and immediately withdraws the amount in cash. This intermediary receives a 20% commission on the amount transferred, while the rest is handed over to those truly responsible for the fraud.

This type of fraud has been worrying the authorities, due to its increasing incidence and the damage it causes to both legitimate sellers and potential buyers. The PSP advises users of online platforms to be alert to this type of scheme, carefully checking the legitimacy of the advertisements and avoiding making advance payments by bank transfer.

In the event of any suspicion of fraud, the PSP recommends that citizens contact the authorities immediately, in order to prevent more people from becoming victims of this type of crime.

Have a good week until the next time Stay Safe/.

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 13th March 2024

A very good day to you all. Well the results are in from the election and it seems that the country has decided a change of government is required to help move the country along to more prosperous times. Meanwhile, according to many commentators the Algarve voters decided in their droves to use the election as a protest about what they feel is forever being overlooked by the national government, and voted for the Right wing Chega party.

Whatever happens in the near future we cannot but feel there will be another election sooner rather than later as the parliament is in a “hung” situation and the likelihood of the government of the day passing any important legislature seems to be unlikely.

According to João Eduardo Martins, professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Economics at UAlg, Chega’s victory seems to show, in his opinion, that Chega ended up catapulting the voice of discontent that existed here in the region and that manifested itself in this way in this electoral act.”  Here in the Algarve, the PS has dominated in recent years and there are a series of life expectations of the population that have not been met. Health has deteriorated to an almost unimaginable point, with the lack of doctors in hospitals, with the Pediatrics emergency department closing every other week, operating in Portimão one week, operating in Faro another week, and Obstetrics being the same thing”, he observed.

In addition to a “very degraded” health service, the people of the Algarve have been faced with “a lack of teachers, lack of answers in housing, the increase in the cost of living associated with the spike in inflation, low wages, precariousness and unemployment associated with the main sector of activity that is tourism and three brutal economic crises since the beginning of the 21st century”, the university professor further exemplified.

João Eduardo Martins highlighted that Chega, in addition to winning “the entire district”, also won in six cities – Olhão, Loulé, Albufeira, Lagoa, Silves and Portimão -, some of which are “from the biggest cities in the Algarve”.

It remains to be seen if the changes which will come about in the Algarve with new deputies will mean that the Algarve’s voice is heard again.

Now a look at what else has happened in the past week across the region.

24-year-old man arrested for the crime of domestic violence

The PSP arrested on Thursday, the 7th, in Portimão, a man accused of committing crimes of domestic violence and offences against qualified physical integrity, that security force reported today. According to the PSP, the suspect, aged 24, was previously indicted for crimes of this nature and was even subject to coercive measures.

However, “in view of the reiteration of criminal conduct and the gradual increase in the level of violence used in recent days, victimising several members of their closest family circle, as it proved to be essential for the protection of victims and considering the urgency of intervention, a a warrant for his arrest outside of flagrante delicto, to ensure his immediate appearance in court”, he details. In view of the evidence found, after a hearing in court, the coercion measure of preventive detention was ordered this Friday.

Man dies after being run over in Olhão

A man was fatally run over this Thursday, the 7th, by a light vehicle in Olhão, revealed a source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command.

The alert for the incident was received at 2:30 pm, with the emergency services not knowing the age and nationality of the man, who was run over on Avenida 5 de Outubro, said the Civil Protection source.

“It was a collision with a light vehicle, which resulted in a fatal victim,” he said, without providing further details about the circumstances of the accident.The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision “was also assisted by the Emergency Psychological Intervention Unit of INEM [National Institute of Medical Emergency]”, he added.

The source from the Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command also said that “the PSP Criminal Investigation Brigade was in charge of the incident” to determine the circumstances of the collision.

There were seven vehicles on site with 19 operational personnel, including members of the Olhão Fire Department, INEM and PSP.

Man arrested for pornography of minors in Portimão

The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested, this Tuesday, in Portimão , a 25-year-old man in flagrante delicto, for the alleged authorship of several crimes of pornography of minors.

According to a statement from the PJ, the complaint originated from international judicial cooperation mechanisms, via the “ National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ”.

As part of the investigations carried out by the Portimão Criminal Investigation Department of the PJ, it was possible to verify that the man held and regularly accessed such content in computerised form. The detainee was presented, Wednesday, for the first judicial interrogation to apply coercive measures.

1.9 million euros donated to social solidarity institutions in the Algarve

In 2023, 73 social solidarity and animal support institutions in the Faro district received more than 1.9 million euros donated by Missão Continente and in food surplus this support totaled 1.8 million euros, the equivalent of more than 527 thousand meals saved.

In 2023, a total of 30.8 million euros in food and non-food products were donated by Missão Continente to 1,097 social solidarity institutions across the country. In relation to food surpluses, that is, all products that, despite no longer having commercial value, are still suitable for consumption, this support totaled 27.4 million euros, the equivalent of more than 7.8 million saved meals.

“There are hundreds of social solidarity institutions and animal welfare associations that are supported in these actions. These donations have been taking place for around 28 years and, year after year, we have been increasing the number of institutions benefiting. In this way, Missão Continente acts positively in two areas that are very relevant to its positioning: it supports those who need it most and creates one of the most efficient ways of combating food waste.” explains Nádia Reis, Director of Communication and Social Responsibility at Continente.

Algarve Wine Tourism Shines at Portuguese Wine Awards

The Grandes Escolhas Awards ceremony took place at the Estoril Congress Centre on March 1, where Algarve Wine Tourism was honoured with the prize for the best “2023 Wine Tourism”.

Algarve Wine Tourism, a new wine route of the region promoted by the Algarve Wine Commission, was awarded the prize for the best 2023 Wine Tourism at the Vinho Grande Escolhas Awards. The ceremony, organised by the publication of the same name, took place at the Estoril Congress Centre on March 1.

 The Grandes Escolhas Awards are held every year to celebrate the top achievements in Portugal’s gastronomy and wine tourism industry. Some of the categories featured in this event are awards for top wines, experts, businesses, goods, dining establishments, wineries, and organisations involved in the production and sale of wine in Portugal.

Through Algarve Wine Tourism, you can explore a unique and vibrant wine route across the region. It is promoted by the Algarve’s Wine Commission, the organisation responsible for certifying wine products with a designation of origin in Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, and Tavira, and geographical indication of the Algarve,” said Sara Silva, President of the Board of the Algarve Wine Commission.

Hence, the prestigious “Wine Tourism 2023” trophy validates and enhances the excellence of this route and its products, creating the ideal pairing for a trip to the Algarve that encompasses food, entertainment, history, and sampling the finest Algarve wines. The gala event saw a total of 20 trophies being awarded, with the backing and sponsorship of various official entities and organisations.

Faro imposes limits on opening hours and noise levels

Faro municipal council has approved new noise regulations and opening hours for commercial establishments.

According to the new rules which have been published in the state newspaper Diário da República and are expected to come into effect this month, restaurants, cafés and pastry shops will be able to operate daily until 2am; bars and concert halls until 3am (from Sunday to Wednesday) or 4am (from Thursday to Saturday and on the eve of public holidays); and discos can stay open until 3am (from Sunday to Wednesday) or 5am (from Thursday to Saturday and on the eve of public holidays).

These changes are being made due to the “need to adapt opening hours to the evolution of the municipality’s social reality” and to address cases of excessive noise, the local council says in a statement. “The municipality felt it was important to approve a revision to the regulations that would limit the opening hours of these spaces to avoid exacerbating a number of situations that had already been identified and to help make commercial use compatible with the other urban uses that exist in the Municipal Master Plan, namely residential use,” the council said.

In other words, the municipal authority wants to make sure that residents are not kept up all night by excessive noise from nearby establishments. The council added that the previous regulations had been in force since 2017, in the case of opening hours, and since 2012, in the case of noise levels.

Pharmacies, hospitals, medical centres and veterinary hospitals or clinics, tourist developments or local accommodation, residential facilities for the elderly or petrol stations will be able to operate “permanently” (meaning without any restrictions on opening hours) every day of the week, the local council clarified.

Meanwhile, businesses located in residential buildings will be limited to opening hours between 8am and midnight. However, they may “exceptionally adopt the opening hours set for other establishments if they obtain the prior consent of the building’s owner or a declaration of non-opposition from the condominium.

São Brás adds four new defibrillators to public access network

São Brás de Alportel has increased its number of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to 11, aiming for quick responses to potential cardiac emergencies.

Previously, two AEDs were installed at the municipal sports pavilion and the municipal swimming pools, along with four in the volunteer fire department’s vehicles.

The four new defibrillators are installed in public spaces: near the José Belchior Viegas secondary school; near the Poeta Bernardo de Passos school and the local sports and leisure; near the municipal market; and also in the historic centre, near town hall, the municipal library and other key buildings. Says the local council, these units are operational and await licensing by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM). The municipality invested €7,500 (plus VAT) in the rental of these units from Blue Ocean Medical, Lda., and has also invested in the purchase of another defibrillator for the local scouts group, having trained some of its members to use it if necessary during their activities or at events held in the municipality.

This initiative addresses the high occurrence of sudden cardiac deaths nationally, aiming to significantly improve survival rates for cardiac arrests.

Finally a note for your diaries. Safe Communities will be present at the Civil Protection exhibition being held at the Multiusos de Albufeira from the 21 to the 23rd March. Please come along to the exhibition if you are interested in our work and say hello. We hope to see you there!

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 6th March 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all and as we start to see the weather improving and more holiday makers visible in the area we are still in the throes of a serious drought situation. We hear that local farmers are planning to drive their tractors and other agricultural vehicles along the N125 at a very slow pace on Friday the 8th March to protest their concerns about the drought situation.

Macário Correia, the president of the Sotavento Irrigation Association, in the eastern Algarve was quoted this week “Farmers from the Algarve, will meet at 09:00 [on Friday] at the Boliqueime football field and will drive slowly, with tractors and vehicles linked to agriculture, vans and trucks, during the morning, between Boliqueime and Almancil”at 12:00 p.m.,and  a representation of farmers will go to the Algarve Coordination and Development Commission ( CCDR ), in Faro, to deliver a document with “urgent demands” about the problems linked to the lack of water and “ reorganisation” of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The slow march is organised by the recently created Commission for Hydro Agricultural Sustainability of the Algarve (CSHA), which claims to bring together more than 1,000 Algarve entities and farmers, namely, all associations in the region linked to agriculture, livestock, forestry, flowers and ornamental plants , among others, according to Macário Correia.

In a statement, CSHA states that among the demands to be delivered to the Algarve CCDR and the next Government is the urgent request to increase water storage capacity, as well as the implementation of equitable cuts in water use and the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture, with the reinstallation of the regional Agriculture and Fisheries directorates.

The new association, formed last January, following the Government’s announcement that the region would have water cuts, thus announces the mobilisation of farmers for “a large street protest”, carried out in the form of a slow march on the EN 125, between 9am and 2pm, between the Maritenda and Quatro Estradas roundabouts.

The commission calls for “equitable cuts” in water use, recalls the suspension of new investments in this area, suggests an information campaign among the population, the updating of underground abstraction titles, and contests the “insufficiency” of support presented by the Government .On the other hand, he reinforces, as the rainfall in recent weeks exceeded the Government’s estimates, “all the volume allocated higher than estimated should be directed to alleviate the cuts imposed on agriculture”.

It also demands the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture, and that this allows for “less bureaucratic burden and fiscal pressure”, defending the “reinstallation” of the regional Agriculture and Fisheries directorates. Whether their calls will be heard from the government as it is currently in recession due to the election remains to be seen.

Now a look at some of the other stories from across the region in the last week.

Immigrants protest in Portimão due to delays by the agency that replaced SEF

Dozens of people demonstrated this Monday morning at the  Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) , formerly SEF, in Portimão. Immigrants complain about the delay in granting residence in the country, SIC Notícias reported.

They work in restaurants, hotels, construction or agriculture and, this Monday, they took the morning to see if together they could make themselves heard.  They have been waiting for months for their residence card .

They filed the papers at the time of the former Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) , but are still waiting, now, for the completion of the task that was passed on to AIMA. Without documents, they cannot leave the country and there are those who are managing personal dramas remotely, such as illness and death of children and parents.

And even those who do not intend to return home anytime soon complain that the lack of documents prevents them from working legally.

There are cases of workers who, however, have become ill and are finding it difficult to receive continued medical care. In other words, there are cases that may still have to wait more than a year.

AIMA, which replaced the SEF at the end of October last year, states that it inherited 350 thousand cases and that it wants to resolve all pending issues by the summer of 2025.

Man who sold drugs in Olhão arrested by PSP

Last week, the PSP arrested a 52-year-old man for the crime of drug trafficking in Olhão, that police force reported this Monday

The arrest occurred following an action specifically aimed at combating trafficking and direct sales to consumers, in the city of Olhão, details the PSP in a statement.

After searching the suspect, it was possible to detect and seize around 253 individual doses of heroin, 13 individual doses of cocaine and 525 euros that the PSP suspects resulted from the sale of that type of drug. The detainee was brought before the judicial authority, and the coercive measure of prohibiting him from staying in places and contacting individuals associated with drug trafficking was applied to him.

Spanish crew member suffered Heart Attack in Barra de Olhão and died

A crew member from the ship “Rafael Y Ana” who was on board went into cardiorespiratory arrest and had no vital signs this morning. The vessel was sailing approximately 15 miles, the equivalent of 28 kilometres, south of the Olhão bar.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) defined the evacuation as urgent. The Search and Rescue Coordination Center immediately contacted the Air Force to prepare an aerial vehicle, and the Captain of the Port of Olhão committed a vessel from the Olhão Lifeguard Station to carry out the rescue. The INEM medical team was also on board, who after observation declared the death of the 45-year-old man, of Spanish nationality.

Tourism Sector awaits ‘green seal’ that certifies water savings

Tourism officials in the Algarve assured this week that the sector is taking measures and remains committed to the fight against drought, awaiting the launch of the water efficiency seal that will attest to the reduction in consumption.

“We are and will continue to implement measures to reduce water consumption”, assured the president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve ( AHETA ), the largest hotel association in the region.

Hélder Martins added that “the presentation of the ‘green seal’ that tourism enterprises hope will attest to the effective reduction in water consumption and the companies’ commitment to implementing water efficiency measures that contribute to savings and sustainable water management.

The representative of Algarve hoteliers said that “more structural” investments will take longer to implement, such as replacing plants in gardens with more resistant ones or a deeper change in sanitary equipment.

For his part, the president of the Algarve Tourism Region, André Gomes, assured that the sector “renewed and reinforced its commitment” to saving water, an effort that has been underway for a few years.

The official regretted that the modalities for implementing the new water efficiency seal, called ‘Save Water’, had not been announced, as initially planned, during the Lisbon Tourism Exchange, which took place between the 28th of February and the 3rd of March, but promised to launch the initiative soon.

André Gomes explained that hotels will be able to voluntarily adhere to a set of 60 measures that the sector can take to reduce water consumption.

Hotel units will have to register on a computer platform and their water consumption will be monitored throughout the year, he added.

In February, the Council of Ministers approved a resolution in which the Government recognizes the alert situation in the Algarve region, due to drought, and approved a framework of immediate response measures, of a temporary nature, to reduce consumption and rationalise energy consumption. use of water resources.

The measures will allow “to overcome the essential needs of the summer season and end the year 2024 with reserves for 2025”, according to the text of the resolution.

In January, the Minister of Environment and Climate Action had already announced water cuts of 25% in agriculture and 15% in the urban sector, which includes tourism, for the Algarve to preserve water reserves and face the drought.

The water saving measures decided must be implemented from now until “the end of the current hydrological year, which ends on September 30, 2024”.

It is expected that families will have less pressure to take showers and wash dishes and will no longer be able to wash their cars with mains water during the summer.

Those who consume little water will be able to maintain prices, but the sector regulator indicated that municipalities will be able to approve new tariffs that increase according to consumption levels.

Still in the tourism sector, measures are planned such as the installation of devices to reduce pressure or recirculate water, suspending the public water supply for irrigation of golf courses or closing showers and foot baths in bathing areas.

New Search and Rescue centre to open in Olhao

The Protection and Relief Operations Intervention Corps (CIOPS) and the Cinotechnical Unit (UK9) now have a unit based in the city of Olhão that always operates through activation of the GNR and ANEPC.

A letter is currently being drawn up, in order to collaborate with the Municipal Civil Protection and open fixed facilities in the municipality, so that the Cinotechnical Unit section (UK9) can increase its intervention capacity.

Manuel Duarte who, for professional reasons, resides in that city and is an operational recognized by the Republican National Guard, for search and rescue using the dog Miko, allows activation for the entire Algarve area and other areas that the GNR or National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority requests and is available to travel. It should be noted that, in 2021, the same operator intervened in the search for a missing elderly woman in São Brás de Alportel.

K9H-CIOPS (Protection and Relief Operations Intervention Corps) through the CIOPS Search and Rescue Force (FBS CIOPS) is a non-profit association, established on February 19, 2014, headquartered in Sangemil, Águas Santas in the municipality da Maia, and currently with a section of the Cinotechnical Unit (UK9) of the CIOPS Search and Rescue Force, now based in the municipality of Olhão.

Its work is to carry out prevention and intervention actions, throughout the national territory, in emergency protection and relief situations, based on earthquakes, search, rescue and rescue in different environments, as well as in other situations. emergency, with the fundamental mission of protecting, helping and assisting citizens and defending and preserving assets that are in trouble, due to causes arising from human action or nature.

Since June 8, 2019, by order of the President of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), Lieutenant-General Mourato Nunes, the K9H-CIOPS Association was granted recognition as a Civil Protection Volunteer Organization (OVPC) .

He also developed the “CIOPS goes to School” project to, in contact with younger people, exemplify that volunteering aims above all to help people in difficulty, solve social problems and improve the quality of life in the community.

Municipal swimming pools in Olhão reopen to the public

After the closure of the changing rooms at the beginning of last November, due to the detection of signs of the development of legionella culture, the Olhão municipal swimming pool complex reopens to the public on March 1st.

After a thorough intervention in the water network and subsequent analyzes carried out by the public health authority, this municipal establishment resumed normal activity, which shows that the problem has been completely overcome.

The sanitary hot water tank was replaced, electrical resistances were installed to increase the water’s heating capacity and a permanent water disinfection system was installed using a chlorine dioxide generator. In this way, and acting on both fronts to combat legionella (increasing water temperature and chemical disinfection), the municipality of Olhão guaranteed prophylactic action, which will prevent the problem from recurring. Monitoring of the water network will continue to be carried out regularly, through analyzes carried out by an independent entity.

Two suspects of drug trafficking and possession of prohibited weapons detained by GNR in VRSA

Police authorities arrested two people suspected of drug trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon, following a road inspection carried out in Vila Real de Santo António, the GNR announced yesterday 29 February.

The detainees are a man and a woman, aged 41 and 44, and were arrested in flagrante delicto after the GNR soldiers ordered the vehicle they were travelling in to stop, in the town of Hortas, and detected that the driver did not have a driving licence. Afterwards, drugs and a prohibited weapon were found in his possession, the GNR said in a statement.

“Following the action, a search of the vehicle and a personal security search of the driver and occupant of the vehicle were carried out, and it was possible to verify that they were in possession of a narcotic product and a prohibited weapon, which led to their arrest and to the seizure of the material”, said the security force. The GNR highlighted that, after the first personal and vehicle search, a house search was then carried out at the residence of the detainees, which ended with the seizure of 47 doses of hashish, 32 of cocaine; 11 of heroin and eight of marijuana, as well as three cell phones, a precision scale, an automatic opening knife, bags for individualising doses and 159 euros.

The detainees were made defendants and the facts were sent to the Judicial Court of Vila Real de Santo António, indicated the GNR, highlighting that in the operation, resources were used to reinforce the Criminal Investigation Center (NIC) of Tavira and a drug detection kinesthetic binomial. of the Intervention Detachment (DI) of the Faro Territorial Command.

Two Arrested for Robbery of Elderly Persons

The GNR arrested two women aged 23 and 31 for robbery in the town of Luz de Tavira on Wednesday, and other crimes that occurred in the north of the country late last year.

“During a patrolling action, the military detected a vehicle in a hidden location, with two men aged 21 and 28 inside, who hid when they saw the Guard vehicle, and so were approached and inspected”, said the GNR in a statement.

During this inspection, the GNR received “an alert from a person regarding a robbery, and the two men becoming quite agitated, which immediately raised signs that their presence was related to the situation in question”. One of the soldiers immediately went to the location, having seen a group of people chasing two women, and managing to approach one of them, aged 23, who had in her possession a stolen gold chain. The other, aged 31, was later intercepted by members of the public near the train station and handed over to the GNR.

After police investigations, the 23-year-old woman was arrested for stealing from a 74 year old man, with the gold chain found in her possession coming from the robbery.

The GNR also found that moments earlier, “the same suspect had also tried to steal a gold chain from a 64 year old man. As for the remaining three members of the group, they were constituted as defendants and subject to an identity and residence term”.

Following this police action and with the collaboration of the Tavira Public Security Police, it was possible to associate elements of this group with other crimes that occurred in the north of the country.

The Republican National Guard also found that “the 31 year old woman was suspected of a robbery by snatching a gold chain on November 14, 2023, in the town of Ferreiras, Albufeira, with the victim being a 74 year old man, this crime is being investigated at the Albufeira Criminal Investigation Center, which led to her being arrested. In addition to the gold chain, three mobile phones, €268.38 in cash and the vehicle in which they were being transported were also seized. The detainees, aged 23 and 31, will be present at the Judicial Court of Tavira and Portimão for the application of the respective coercive measures.

Until the next time Stay Safe