The President of the Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), said today that he has written to the Prime Minister warning that the Air Force helicopter stationed in Porto Santo is inactive, compromising rescue operations in the archipelago.
“I am very concerned about this situation, especially sea rescue. Although we have access to a military plane, it cannot work as a rescue aircraft and we have a huge continental shelf to cover.”
Albuquerque reinforced that the autonomous region must have “fundamental means to provide assistance and prevent loss of life.”
The head of the Madeiran executive was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to Studio 21 – Musical and Cultural Association of the Islands, in Funchal, where he indicated that the letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro (PSD), has been written.”
The issue of the lack of Air Force resources on the island of Porto Santo arose on Saturday, when the Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection, Pedro Ramos, had to be urgently transported to Funchal for health reasons.
On that day, the C-295 plane was inoperable due to a malfunction and the EH-101 Merlin helicopter still does not have a crew. A situation that is becoming increasingly difficult and serious in terms of air/sea rescue. Pedro Ramos was later flown to Madeira from Porto Santo on an aircraft mobilised from the mainland.
“I think that the situation [of lack of crew to operate the helicopter] has to be resolved,” said Miguel Albuquerque, and then reinforced: “It is not up to me to solve the situation. It is up to the national government to channel the necessary means to have the necessary number of qualified pilots within the Air Force.”
Moreover, the CDS-PP/Madeira, indicated today that it had also informed the Minister of Defence, Nuno Melo, of the need to resolve the problems facing a lack of pilots in Porto Santo.”
In a statement, the centrists explain that the president of the party, José Manuel Rodrigues, defended on Monday with the Minister of Defence the need to permanently ensure a C-295 aircraft and an EH-101 Merlin helicopter and their crews on that island.
The CDS-PP considers that these means “are essential” for the evacuation of “sick and wounded to Madeira, as well as for rescue at sea and the inspection of the extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”
According to the note, Minister Nuno Melo, also president of the national structure of the CDS-PP, took these concerns into account and assured that the Government is making a “major investment in the revaluation of the Armed Forces and in the means of defence of the entire Portuguese territory.”
The Madeiran centrists highlight, however, the “extraordinary work of the Air Force,” stating that, despite the limitations and constraints, “they have been unsurpassed to save people and property in the archipelago.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
