The President of the Regional Government is pleased with the official switching on of this year’s Christmas lights in Funchal and now wants to try to improve the initiative over the next few years, due to the high expectations of locals and visitors to the island.
Regarding this year’s lighting, Miguel Albuquerque said that the erection of the lights required an “extraordinary effort, given the tender was only agreed three weeks ago.
“These companies to whom the various lighting contracts were awarded had to make and are still making a very great effort, to carry out the lighting projects in about two weeks,” meaning they were working day and night.
Although the “bulk of the illuminations are already done, the placement of the structures is not yet completed, given that this year, the lights have been expanded to the west, such as to Ajuda and the upper areas of the city. However, he believes the remaining lights will be established within a week.
After expressing his admiration for the lights, he said, it was about time Father Christmas gave certain politicians the understanding that people need stability and that he wants neither confusion nor further elections but would like to have his Christmas in peace.
For the government leader, people want to “have their jobs and [see] the economy grow” and not watch “political moves, motions and [see] the government brought down.” If these politicians “want to go to the playground, let them go and play on the swings, but do not play with the lives of people or the economy.”
He also hopes that this Christmas will bring “the continuation of economic growth, employability, the development of our Region, and the well-being of all.”
Insisting that the approval of the Budget for 2025 is “fundamental,” the President of the Regional Government justified that Madeira “cannot fall into the situation experienced in January, of being in inertia due to blocked investments because the budget remained unapproved.”
“People are left in uncertainty, economic agents do not invest, they postpone essential projects, and the situation itself, even from a psychological point of view, does not allow us to plan anything,” he added.
On the other hand, Albuquerque said he was “satisfied” with the return to public life of Pedro Calado, the former Vice-President of the Government and former Mayor of Funchal, who at the beginning of the year was involved in a criminal investigation, and who has now emerged as the face of the Monte Tourism Association.
“I am pleased because, at the moment, he is linked to a very interesting project of civic intervention, and he, with the capacity he has, will be an important element, and I think it is important for people not to be inhibited. No one is convicted of anything. Therefore, we will not stop making our life, under the penalty of suspicion, because it is not a definitive sentence, nor a definitive value judgment on someone’s conduct. It’s just a suspicion,” he said.
Asked if he looked favorably on Pedro Calado’s return to the Funchal City Council, he said he did not want to “pronounce” on the subject. “The local elections are only next year, after the Government’s situation is resolved. Now, we need an approved budget, this is the most important thing for Madeira.”
Asked if he had already been called forward to provide evidence due to the suspicions surrounding him, Miguel Albuquerque replied that he was “completely at ease” in the matter. “I don’t have and never had any worries about it. I have always been available in all situations and when people want to listen I will be available.”
The President of the Regional Government also commented on the visit tomorrow of the Minister of Justice. “There are a number of situations in the central services of the State that have to be dealt with. I’m glad he is coming as there are services and equipment that need improvement,” he said.
