Marta Sofia, candidate for the City Council and the Municipal Assembly of Funchal, expressed today in a statement her “strong concern and indignation” regarding Miguel Albuquerque’s recent statements on the use of helicopters for tourism purposes.
For the candidate, this proposal is “reveals a serious inversion of priorities, especially at a critical time of the year when the risk of forest fire is high”. Marta Sofia points out that, at the same time as ideas aimed at luxury tourism are announced, the Regional Government “chose to cancel the tender for the acquisition of a new firefighting helicopter.”
“When you cancel a helicopter to protect lives and talk about a helicopter for rides between golf courses, we understand who this Government serves – and no, it is not the firefighters, nor the Madeirans who face the fires,” scorned Marta Sofia.
She further stresses that, in a region with vast forest areas, difficult access, and vulnerable communities, “the existence of aerial firefighting resources is not a luxury – it is a necessity.” “The lack of reinforcement of these means compromises not only the safety of the population, but also the preservation of the island’s natural heritage.”
According to Marta Sofia, the proposal to use helicopters for tourism purposes, while “giving up on strengthening Civil Protection, is a clear symbol of the current governance model: focused on the interests of a few and oblivious to the needs of the population.”
“Madeira is being made for tourism and luxury housing while Madeirans count pennies to be able to go to the supermarket or pay rent. We are facing a government that does not want to prioritise the structural problems of the region, nor the population, nor give dignity. It is absurd what we are witnessing at this moment on our island.”
“The question that everyone should ask: is this why they elected Miguel Albuquerque again? For a government that abandons civil protection and prioritises luxury projects, accessible only to an elite?”
Marta Sofia calls for an “urgent” change of political course in Madeira, advocating governance with clear priorities, where the safety of people and the protection of the territory are at the centre of public action.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
