Aerial Firefighting Assets and Police Reinforcements Confirmed for Madeira
Paulo Simões Ribeiro, the Assistant Secretary of State for Internal Administration, confirmed this morning that Madeira will receive a second aerial firefighting asset in July. Additionally, the region will see a reinforcement of 30 new Public Security Police (PSP) agents assigned to Madeira Airport. These announcements were made on the sidelines of the 17th anniversary ceremony of the GNR’s Madeira Territorial Command, held at Largo do Município in Funchal.
Regarding the second aerial asset, Paulo Simões Ribeiro acknowledged that the matter is “complex and has been dragging on for a long time,” but assured that the process is now nearing completion. He stated that the protocol between the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection and the Air Force is due to be signed this week, allowing the tender process for the acquisition of the aircraft to proceed. “Our conviction, taking into account current market conditions, is that during July there will be a second aerial asset in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, which has been long overdue and desired by the Regional Government.”
Concerning the police reinforcement at the airport, the Secretary of State explained that the 30 new PSP agents will arrive by the end of July. “Next week, a significant number of these officers will arrive to begin their internships,” he added. This deployment is part of a wider group of 360 agents who have recently completed their training, primarily intended for airport duties and the Unit for Foreigners and Borders. Paulo Simões Ribeiro noted that Madeira Airport is “one of the best airports at a national level in terms of passenger throughput,” a success he attributed to the “great effort” of the PSP agents currently stationed there.
The Minister also addressed the general shortage of personnel within the security forces, acknowledging that the issue persists “in Madeira, the Azores, and on the mainland.” Regarding the GNR, he noted that the force is awaiting the conclusion of the next training course at the end of the year, after which the Commander-General will oversee the distribution of personnel to various commands. He stressed that the Government’s objective is to conduct sufficient training courses annually to achieve a net positive balance in GNR and PSP staffing, thereby “recovering from years of underinvestment.”
Regarding infrastructure, Paulo Simões Ribeiro confirmed that the planned investment for the new Santa Cruz police station has been revised upwards from €900,000 to €1.6 million. He also identified the Machico police station as a priority, though he noted that the process there is “slightly more delayed.” The official added that a five-year investment plan for 2027–2032 is currently being prepared, which will include works and equipment upgrades across Madeira and the Azores, with the aim of overcoming “an 8-to-10-year delay” in security force infrastructure investment.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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