The PS candidate for Funchal City Council, Rui Caetano, once again guaranteed this Saturday the creation of a Municipal Police if he leads the municipal executive. The measure aims to address the growing safety concerns and traffic congestion affecting the city.
The commitment was reiterated during a pre-campaign action held this morning on Rua Dr. FernĂŁo de Ornelas, where the socialist candidacy listened to residents discuss their fears.
Rui Caetano justified the need for a municipal police force to control the increase in violence within the capital. The socialist candidate noted that “almost every day news appears in the media about episodes of violence, destruction of public property, robberies, assaults and drug addiction,” creating an understandable “feeling of insecurity” among Funchal residents.
Despite the installation of video surveillance cameras, problems persist, according to the candidate. “When we arrive at the Funchal City Council, we will create the Municipal Police, which should work in coordination and articulation with the PSP and the surveillance cameras,” promised Rui Caetano.
The new police force will allow “a greater presence on the streets, greater proximity and more action towards deterrence and prevention of crime.”
Besides ensuring security, the Municipal Police will take on a key role in managing traffic, which is one of the biggest concerns for Funchal residents. Rui Caetano criticised the current state of traffic, describing it as “chaotic” and highlighting instances where people “just this week, needed 40 minutes to cross the city.”
“It is completely unacceptable in a capital like ours that rental cars are blocking residents from parking early in the morning.
The socialist candidate warned of the impact of rental vehicles on urban mobility: “There are hundreds of cars entering Funchal. It is necessary to create measures to control the entry of rent-a-car cars into the city of Funchal. It is necessary to defend the people of Funchal,” he concluded.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
