“There’s nothing to see”, says regional governor
With habitual diplomacy, regional governor of Madeira Miguel Albuquerque has said there is no point in the President of the Republic visiting the archipelago, to see the devastation caused by 13 days of wildfires, as “there is nothing to see” (except “burnt bushes”).
“What is he coming to do”, Albuquerque quizzed journalists, continuing to refer to the fact that “no houses or infrastructure have been affected”.
This is completely missing the point (made by conservationists/ environmental groups): the damages this allegedly ‘mismanaged fire’ totted up are incalculable. Some of the species lost may never be recovered. In conservation terms, it was an absolute disaster. But the PSD leader – already under heavy criticism in Madeira – appears only to see ‘bricks and mortar’ as the potential victims of rural fires. As these escaped, he has said he considers the two-week debacle to have been fought successfully.
Miguel Albuquerque’s remarks to journalists included the “refusal” to give in to what he termed “blackmail” to dismiss the archipelago’s civil protection boss for what many have said was the incorrect strategy for fighting the fires.
“If you want a government leader wandering around depending on what’s being said on the internet or the momentary tastes of public opinion, we’re going to lose our way,” he said.
Someone (first) has to demonstrate “that there was negligence or incompetence in the management of the fires.
“I’m not going by prejudices, or what is said on social media. We have to look at reality,” he added, maintaining that fighting a fire like the one that broke out on August 14 in Serra de Água, in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, and spread in the following days to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana, “is done through containment”.
“The results are clear to see” – because there were no fatalities, no infrastructure or homes affected and “only a residual nucleus of the Laurissilva was affected” (the Laurissilva being the archipelago’s real jewel in the crown, a kind of Jurassic forest with species unique in the world).
“My job is to do everything I think I can, within the framework of the (Regional) Government’s programme approved in parliament, to maintain a course for Madeira,” Albuquerque added, suggesting that the people of Madeira want stability and “to stay on course” and “wouldn’t understand if there was instability” in the region for what he termed ‘marginal reasons’.
“We can’t be bouncing around here and zigzagging according to the moods of the moment, especially moods that often don’t reflect the majority” of Madeirans”, he said, exhibiting the habit of so many politicians who act as if populations depend on their every word.
As for the hearing in parliament to which he and his civil protection chief have been requested to attend, he said: “I haven’t seen it yet. I haven’t decided yet and I have to analyse it, then I’ll make my decision. I’ve never shied away from scrutiny”.
This was an odd response given that the request was made a week ago. It is unlikely that it would take such a long time to be passed under his nose.
Albuquerque concluded this relatively bizarre interaction with local journalists saying that he “isn’t afraid of anything, least of all parliament”. ND
Source material: LUSA
