Funchal Cannot Remain Reliant on Real Estate Speculation

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

Today, the United Democratic Coalition (CDU) organised a political initiative based on damage real estate speculation is having on the city of Funchal. The initiative is primarily based around the building of the “Dubai in Madeira,” in Vale da Ajuda, and the real estate project in Miradouro Vila Guida.

Warming to to the theme, Edgar Silva, CDU candidate for the Mayor of Funchal, said that “the city cannot continue to be built according to speculative interests, and that Funchal cannot continue to be dependent on real estate speculation.”

For the CDU, it is not just about the Dubai in Madeira project or the real estate project in front of the Vila Guida viewpoint, in Louros, Funchal, it is about the decharacterisation and disfigurement of Funchal’s iconic identity.

According to Edgar Silva, “if anything has dug deeper into the character of Funchal over the last 40 years, it is real estate speculation. Either through the hands of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), or as seen in recent years, through the PS (Socialist Party). Real estate speculation dominates the city’s interests and therefore real estate speculators now govern Funchal’s interests.”

Furthermore, he said, “Funchal cannot continue to be held hostage by traders, and cannot continue to be seen as a commodity to be used and abused by those who only wish to satiate the appetites of real estate speculators.”

Of course the green concrete block structures, of the Dubai in Madeira released on RTP, look very different from the new artistic impression.