The President of Caniço Parish Council, Milton Teixeira, has warned about the deteriorating condition of the Cristo Rei monument in Garajau and called for cooperation between the relevant authorities to secure its restoration.
The JPP mayor visited the monument on Wednesday, accompanied by Santa Cruz Mayor Élia Ascensão, JPP secretary-general Élvio Sousa, regional deputies and other local representatives.
Milton Teixeira expressed his “disappointment” at what he described as the monument’s “degradation and abandonment.” Cristo Rei is currently closed to visitors and surrounded by protective hoardings.
According to the parish council president, the statue is “seriously damaged,” with considerable uncertainty over whether it can be fully restored.
Although acknowledging that the monument and surrounding land are privately owned, Teixeira criticised what he considers a lack of interest from the Regional Government, particularly the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture.
“The Regional Government collects rent from the commercial establishments in this area and on Garajau beach, yet shows no institutional interest in resolving a problem affecting one of the region’s most important symbols of cultural and religious heritage,” he said.
Teixeira contrasted the situation with financial support awarded by the Regional Government to other municipalities through programme contracts for heritage restoration.
“Here in Caniço and the municipality of Santa Cruz, that same interest does not appear to exist,” he claimed.
The monument will mark the centenary of its inauguration in 2027, a milestone Teixeira believes should be used as an opportunity to protect and celebrate the site.
“I do not want to believe that we will celebrate its 100th anniversary with the monument surrounded by hoardings and in an advanced state of deterioration,” he said.
He argued that allowing this to happen would demonstrate “a profound disregard” for Madeira’s cultural and religious heritage.
Teixeira concluded by calling for all the parties involved to meet and agree upon a solution.
“We have the oldest monument to Christ the King in the world, here in the parish of Caniço. What I ask is that we all sit around the table, talk and make decisions, because Cristo Rei deserves institutional respect from all of us.”
The Cristo Rei statue in Garajau was created by French sculptor Georges Serraz in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was financed and commissioned by Aires de Ornelas, son of the last holder of the Caniço estate, and inaugurated on the 30th of October 1927.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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