The BE coordinator believes that everything failed in the fire that broke out in Madeira on August 14 and accused the president of the Regional Government of having abandoned the population while he was on vacation in Porto Santo.
Read More About: Governor Defends Madeira Fires Management Amid Criticism
Criticism of Fire Management and Prevention
Mariana Mortágua was speaking to journalists in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, in Madeira, as part of a visit to some of the areas affected by the fire that raged in the region for 13 days. She stated:
Everything failed in the fires. Prevention failed, we know that Madeira has very specific terrain conditions, its climate conditions […], and the truth is that there was no prevention in the territory, there is no type of forest management to avoid these fires.
The Bloco coordinator added that the Regional Government (PSD) did not include Madeira in the national fire-fighting plan. This means that national resources cannot be activated immediately when there is a fire.
She pointed out, saying:
And even after the fire started, the Regional Government refused to provide resources from the Republic. All of this delayed the fight and made the response difficult, putting lives, homes and also part of this territory at risk.
Accusations Against Regional Government
Mariana Mortágua highlighted that the president of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, has political responsibilities in this matter. She argued that he abandoned the population while he was on holiday in Porto Santo. She said:
I don’t think we have ever seen a president or a political leader of a government who abandons his people in the face of the greatest disaster we can have, which is a fire on their doorstep, who doesn’t activate the necessary resources, who doesn’t take preventive measures in the territory and who, therefore, waits for luck and what might happen.
Mortágua further said that:
It is very important that we can remove political responsibilities and these political responsibilities belong to Miguel Albuquerque, but they also belong to the parties that support the PSD here in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, PAN and CDS.
Calls for Government Reforms and Enhanced Firefighting Measures
In the opinion of the Bloco member, Miguel Albuquerque is not in any condition to preside over the Regional Government of Madeira, nor is the PSD in a position to do this work. They believe that this is not only related to the management of fires. However, it is also somehow related to the management of fires.
She stressed that:
The arrogance, haughtiness and disrespect that Miguel Albuquerque showed towards the people of Madeira was such that it is inconceivable that he should remain as president of the Regional Government as if nothing had happened. The failures in fighting the fire and in preventing it were so gross that it is inconceivable that nothing should happen in the composition of the government and in the political leaders.
The BE coordinator also highlighted that it is necessary to reinforce the means of fighting fires. She said that the Bloc will once again present, within the scope of the State Budget for 2025, a proposal so that Madeira can have a second helicopter for this purpose.
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The Regional Civil Protection Service currently operates one air vehicle funded by the Regional Government. The BE proposes adding a second air vehicle, with both funded by the Republic.
The BE/Madeira also considered that the Regional Government was irresponsible in managing the fire and negligent in prevention.
Dina Letra challenged the opposition parties in the Legislative Assembly to demand serious political consequences. Furthermore, she admitted that a motion of censure should be on the table.
