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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

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 28th February 2024

We start this report as we have for a number of previous reports about the water situation in the Algarve. Whilst many would think that the rains we have experienced recently would be good for the region it is countered by the fact that in January the region used 4.6% more water than in the same month in 2023.

Urban water consumption in the Algarve rose 4.6% in January, compared to the same period in 2023, an expenditure equivalent to 20 cubic hectometres, according to data from the reservoir management commission, the Portuguese Environment Agency. According to the latest data on the evolution of the drought situation in the region, only six of the 19 entities responsible for water supply – four municipalities (Alcoutim, Castro Marim, Silves and Vila do Bispo) and two companies municipalities (in Loulé and Olhão) – reduced consumption in January, compared to the same month in 2023.

In the opposite direction, all the remaining municipalities and companies that supply the region consumed more water last January than in the same month last year, with the main year-on-year increases being recorded in Albufeira, Portimão and Loulé, three of the main tourist municipalities. What this means for us remains to be seen but with the expected price rises being blocked by the mayors and no sign of any long term rainwater it does look as though we will be struggling to find enough water for the summer and at the same time wondering whether we will have to pay more for it.

The Algarve has been on alert due to drought since February 5th and the Government has already admitted to increasing the level of restrictions, declaring a state of calamity or environmental emergency, if the measures now implemented are insufficient to deal with water scarcity in the region. We will see where this leads us!

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

Three tons of hashish seized in the Guadiana River

The GNR ‘s Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF) seized in the early hours of this Friday around three tons of hashish and a high-speed vessel on the Guadiana River, the security force announced.

In a statement, the GNR said that the semi-rigid vessel was detected when entering the Guadiana bar as part of a coordinated patrolling action between the Integrated External Surveillance System (SIVE) of the Guardia Civil of Spain and the Integrated Surveillance, Command and Control (SIVICC) of the GNR.

“As a result, a maritime patrol from the Olhão Coastal Control detachment was immediately activated, with a view to intercepting and boarding the vessel that was sailing, hiding the signalling lights”, the note reads. Following police action, it was possible to intercept the vessel, which contained 80 bales of hashish, and prevent the landing of the drug, totaling 2,997 kilos.

Authorities also seized the 12-metre vessel, five jerrycans of fuel, various electronic equipment and navigation equipment. However, in the presence of the GNR maritime patrol, the suspects fled on foot towards Spanish territory.

The facts were communicated to the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) of Vila Real de Santo António.

Jet 2 Plane makes emergency landing at Faro airport

The Airbus A321-200N plane, originating in Tenerife (Spain) and destined for Birmingham (England), landed this Thursday at Gago Coutinho Airport , in Faro, according to The Aviation Herald. The incident happened around 5pm.

With 220 passengers on board, the crew decided to “divert to Faro” due to a “strong burning smell”. The aircraft landed safely 35 minutes later.

Algarve road improvements announced

The project, which is expected to have an implementation period of 120 days, will benefit many important roads in the parish of Alvor. In the meantime, the municipality has already warned the population that there will be some constraints on car circulation once the works start.

Although the roads will not be fully closed for the repair works, a couple of streets in the Alvor area should be avoided if possible in order to keep roads clear for the works to run smoothly. As the municipality of Portimão has warned, “duly signposted on site, imply some constraints on car circulation, which is why we request better understanding from motorists, who should opt for alternative routes whenever possible.”

The paths and roads which will take advantage of the repair and improvement works are: Rua Vasco da Gama/Rua Pedro Álvares Cabral, Rua Dr. António José de Almeida, Caminho das Biscainhas, Caminho dos Valinhos, Urbanização Vela Latina, Rua da Praia da Restinga, Rua do Parque de Pestana Alvor, Rua do Impasse tô Rua Manuel Soares de Campos, Rua de Tânger and Rua Maria Teresa JD Dionísio.

Until the next time Stay Safe..

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 21st February 2024

Good day to you all, and we start this report with details of a number of initiatives that have been announced across the region with regards to Civil Protection. One of the main remits of Safe Communities is to pass on details of issues affecting citizens across the country with regards to Civil protection.

This week we hear of some new initiatives that are to take place across the Algarve. On the 1st March, World Civil Protection Day happens and Loule Council is marking the day with an event in Quarteira.  Between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm, the Municipal Civil Protection Service of that municipality organises the 3rd edition of the Emergency Event, which takes place on the eastern promenade of Quarteira.

The event foresees a set of initiatives promoted by various civil protection agents and services, cooperating entities that will promote a set of activities, with a view to the participation and involvement of the school community and the population in general.

In addition to the exhibition of means and equipment within the scope of civil protection, awareness and training sessions, lectures aimed at the community, demonstration of skills, drills, among other initiatives, will also be held. The initiative’s aim is to “build safer and more resilient communities”, as part of the international campaign “Build Resilient Cities”, by the United Nations (UN ) , which the municipality of Loulé is part of.

World Civil Protection Day was established by the International Civil Protection Organization (OIPC) and is celebrated annually on March 1st, the date on which the Constitution of the aforementioned organisation came into force.

Meanwhile in Albufeira, The Municipal Civil Protection Service (SMPC) returns to schools to promote awareness and prevention actions, with a view to implementing a set of routines and appropriate behaviours in an emergency situation, informed the municipality.  You can read more about this important initiative further in this report.

Now for a look at some of the other newsworthy items that have happened across the region in the past week.

Government admits “more serious” measures to guarantee water reserves

According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers, possible additional measures, which provide for a “higher degree of contingency” can be implemented after the reassessment of the drought situation in the region, which will be carried out in June.

The Government admits “more serious additional measures” to guarantee the minimum reserves that allow the supply of water for priority uses in the Algarve, if the current ones prove to be insufficient, states a resolution published this Tuesday in Diário da República .

The Government reserves the right, if the measures now adopted prove to be insufficient, to, under the Basic Law on Civil Protection,declare a calamity situation”, the document reads. The Algarve is currently on alert due to drought and, if there is a declaration of calamity, it will be possible to establish limits and restrictions on the use of water in non-essential uses, as well as rationalisation measures in public water supply services, refers.

At the same time, he adds, “the possibility of access to other sources of supply will be provided, strictly necessary to carry out actions aimed at reestablishing normality in the living conditions of the populations”.

In the same sense, the Government may also determine the use of surface or underground water abstractions, belonging to public or private entities, by the concessionaire of the Algarve’s multi-municipal water supply and sanitation system, when necessary, in accordance with the Basic Law of Civil Protection in force.

Alternatively, the declaration of a state of environmental emergency as provided for in the Water Law may be considered.

The measures planned by the Government to preserve water reserves in the region include the suspension of the public water supply for irrigation of golf courses.

On the other hand, between June 1st and September 30th, the use of public water for washing vehicles is suspended, except in establishments licensed for commercial activity with water recirculation systems.

According to the Government, the current situation in the Algarve “appears particularly critical”, and there could be an eventual “effective disruption in public supply systems” for human consumption, if water use continues at current levels. In a scenario in which measures are not adopted and implemented to guarantee the preservation of water reserves and in the absence of precipitation well above the maximum values ​​occurred in the last six years, the supply of water for human consumption in the Algarve region will be reduced and severely compromised”, states the resolution.

The alert situation due to drought in the Algarve was declared by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) in December 2023 and reaffirmed on January 25th.

The current situation of water reserves in the Algarve region determines that “current uses of water cannot be adequately satisfied with existing reserves” in surface and underground waters, maintains the Government.

Meanwhile, staying on the subject of water, The Portimão Municipal Water and Waste Company (EMARP) launched the “Blue March” campaign on February 1 in partnership with Algarve municipalities, it was announced.

The campaign’s theme is water and sanitation, highlighting the urgency of combating the waste of this natural resource. The initiative aims to contribute to a society “more aware and capable of putting into practice behaviours that are perpetuated by future generations”, says EMARP in a statement.

The month of March will be marked by the presentation of environmental education and awareness initiatives aimed at the school community and the population in general. In the current context of the prolonged hydrological drought that the Algarve is facing, with very low water reservoir storage levels, EMARP draws attention to the importance of good practices and behaviours adjusted to reality.

A specific package of actions on the topic of water and sanitation was made available to school groups in the municipality of Portimão, which covers information about the climate context that the Algarve region is experiencing.

The program of activities, which starts on March 1st and will run until the end of the school year, can be found here .

Among the different initiatives there is also the launch of the children’s book “Let’s save Hidra” and the carrying out of an action entitled “Invisible Waste”, on World Water Day, marked on March 22, at the Continente Shopping Center in Portimão.

Desalination Plant Construction Tender launched By Aguas Do Algarve

The competition for the construction of a desalination plant in the Algarve, with financing from the Recovery and Resilience Plan ( PRR ), was launched on Friday, the 16th, with the publication of the procedure in Diário da República, announced Águas do Algarve.

The construction of a desalination plant in Albufeira, whose base price is 90 million euros, is one of the response measures to the drought affecting the southern region of Portugal, with the equipment expected to have an initial capacity to convert seawater in potable capacity of 16 cubic hectometers.

In a statement, Águas do Algarve, which manages the multi-municipal water supply system in the region, said the work is prepared to increase capacity to 24 hectometers (million cubic metres) per year. The company responsible for the region’s booming water supply, which is responsible for managing infrastructure such as dams or Wastewater Treatment Plants, highlighted that the work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

The year 2026 is the year established as the limit for the use of PRR funds, a support program created by the European Union to revitalise the economy after the covid-19 pandemic.

“This structural project for the region aims to guarantee the resilience of public supply to the population of the Algarve, particularly in periods of prolonged drought, through an increase in water availability”, highlighted the company.

The same source noted that the Algarve Seawater Desalination Station is included in a “range of investments that Águas do Algarve is carrying out within the scope of the Algarve Water Efficiency Plan, under the PRR, and which will allow for increased water availability in the region by more than 69 million cubic metres per year.

The president of Águas do Algarve, mentioned in the statement, highlighted the work carried out by the company’s workers, which allowed them to meet the project’s demands and deadlines, “at a time of high process complexity, inherent to the challenges that water scarcity has been posing. contribute to the region.”

António Eusébio also said that the effort made is also an example of the company’s “continuous commitment to water efficiency and environmental sustainability”.

The Algarve is being affected by a drought that has caused a shortage of water reserves and the Government has taken measures to restrict consumption to be applied from March, such as cuts of 25% to agriculture and 15% to the urban sector.

In addition to the desalination plant, municipal investments are also underway to combat network losses, reduce or eliminate irrigation in green spaces or use treated water to irrigate golf courses and clean streets.

At the same time, there are plans and proposals to capture water from the Guadiana River in Pomarão and take it to the Odeleite dam, in the eastern (lee) Algarve, and the construction of a third dam in that area of ​​the Algarve, on the Foupana river. .

Albufeira Promotes Awareness and Prevention Actions in Schools

The Municipal Civil Protection Service (SMPC) returns to schools in the municipality of Albufeira to promote awareness and prevention actions, with a view to implementing a set of routines and appropriate behaviours in an emergency situation, informed the municipality.

In the current academic year, through the project entitled “Civil Protection Heroes”, which began in January, it is expected that approximately seven thousand children and young people from pre-school to secondary education will be involved.

The “Civil Protection Heroes” activity is aimed at pre-school and 1st cycle students (from 1st to 3rd year), while students in the 4th year of 1st cycle participate in the “First Aid” activity, which allows them to learn basic first aid techniques, how to make a call to 112, among other low-complexity tasks. At the end, children are given a card and an emergency kit to use in the event of a serious accident or catastrophe.

Students in the 2nd and 3rd cycle will work on the activity “The Importance of Citizens in Civil Protection”, which aims to educate on prevention and self-protection, informing younger students about the measures they should adopt when they occur catastrophes and explain the role of the various Civil Protection agents.

As for the “Learning to Save/BLS” activity, it aims to provide students from the 9th year to the 12th year with skills in Basic Life Support in the theoretical and practical component, with a view to training in the classroom to learn how to act in a real emergency situation.

In a statement, the municipality states that throughout the month of March an exhibition will be held, at the entrance to the 1st floor of the Albufeira Town Hall, with the work carried out in 2023 by pre-school and 1st grade students. th cycle, within the scope of the aforementioned initiative. The exhibition called “The Risks of Our City” can be visited during municipal opening hours (weekdays, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). The project, which according to the municipality, has been well received by the educational community, is an organisation of the municipality of Albufeira, through the SMPC, in partnership with other agents, namely the Albufeira Volunteer Firefighters, the Portuguese Red Cross – Silves Delegation and Albufeira, Municipal Police, ANSA – Association of Lifeguards of Albufeira, among other entities. 

Man detained with prohibited weapon in Vila Real de Santo António

The criminal investigation brigade of the Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) police station arrested a man, in the act, accused of the crime of possession of a prohibited weapon, last weekend, in that city, informs the District Command of the PSP of Faro. The arrest occurred following an action specifically aimed at combating criminal practices that create insecurity, in the city of Vila Real de Santo António.

The individual, with a known criminal record for various crimes, was detained, during this action, by police officers from the criminal investigation brigade. The man had an attitude and attempted to evade police control, raising “founded suspicions that he was in possession of something illicit.”, Reinforces the PSP.

The suspect was secretly carrying an extendable baton, which is why he was detained and had to appear in court later.

And finally to end this report, The benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which have been touted across the world, will be available to millions of people under a protocol between the University of Algarve ( UAlg ) and a North American platform that created an application for healthy eating.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Algarve academy and the Carb Manager platform, which promotes the ketogenic diet (‘keto diet’, in English), and which will incorporate the Mediterranean diet through a program developed with the university’s entrepreneurship division. .

The director of the Diet and Nutrition course at UAlg, Maria Palma Mateus, said that “the project will contribute to the dissemination of the Mediterranean diet, showing that, although it is something traditional, it is versatile and can adapt to today’s times and diverse needs.” This is because, he says, “the work focused on adapting” the Mediterranean diet to the characteristics and concept of the ketogenic diet that the company produces, “which is a diet based on foods very rich in fat and less cereals”.

The project began with a call made by Empowered Startups, a platform for developing business ideas and incubating ‘start-ups’, between those responsible for the digital application and UAlg.

The Mediterranean diet, which had its origins in countries bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, is based on the variety and abundance of fresh foods of plant origin and moderation of foods of animal origin.

The Mediterranean diet was declared in November 2010 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during the Intergovernmental Committee meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to Maria Palma Mateus, adapting to the project’s food programs “was a challenge and an interesting job”, which included taking the most common foods that the company has in its diet, “removing some cereals and use the most restrictive fats provided for in the Mediterranean diet”.

Until the next time stay Healthy and Safe!