In Culatra, it seems that the people are really the ones who give the most orders. The population of the housing nucleus of Culatra, on the barrier island of Ria Formosa with the same name, got tired of waiting for answers and licenses from the official entities and decided to build themselves a helipad on the island, which could accommodate helicopters in emergency situations . A security issue, they argue, is crucial for a population “that lives in isolation”.
This Sunday, as soon as the day began to show signs of dawn, "people came out of almost every house to help." And, when talking about a work that mobilized the population, it is not an exaggeration. In all, more than 300 people were involved in this action, in a nucleus that has about a thousand inhabitants.
“Everyone gave their contribution, in whatever way they could. Men, women, children and the elderly participated», revealed the leader of the Association of Residents of Ilha da Culatra (AMIC) Sílvia Padinha to Sul Informação.
«Today was an example of what can come from the union of people. It is our brand, the determination, unity and strength of the population of Culatra», she said, visibly proud. “Everyone tried to contribute in the best way. Even older people soon began to roast meat and distribute drinks», he described.
The contribution went beyond the workforce, as the intervention was paid with the money of those who live in this (flourishing) fishing community in the municipality of Faro, “with the help of some companies, which provided materials”. “Each one contributed with what they could, those who have less and those who have more”, revealed Sílvia Padinha.
The candidates for the Chamber by the coalition headed by the PSD and the PS, Rogério Bacalhau and Paulo Neves, respectively, were also present at Culatra yesterday, where "they spoke to the people".
According to Sílvia Padinha, the population invited “no politicians” to be present, but the two candidates, one of whom, more than likely, will be the future president of the municipality, “must have known what was going to happen”.
The construction of the infrastructure proceeded without any license, but “it was not a whim” of the population. “This is an extremely necessary work, just like water and electricity. It will save lives and that makes all the difference», he considered.
Taking this into account, the culatrenses considered that, if the State did not assume the work, someone would have to do it. "Civil society sometimes has to get ahead," defended the AMIC leader.
“This work has been demanded by the population, as the aid takes a long time to reach Culatra. From the request for help to the arrival of help on the island, it takes more than 45 minutes and up to an hour. Afterwards, you still have to count the time to be taken to the hospital», he illustrated.
In addition, and despite "the conditions of the Ria are, almost always, very good", there are always days when it is difficult to navigate there, "with the storms, the winter and the rain". “We are isolated and we had no other way to get out there except by boat. Now, we are creating conditions to have an alternative», he illustrated.
Work without a license, but made from the advice of official entities
In Culatra, although there has been a record of human occupation for at least two centuries, the existing houses are still awaiting legalization and a development plan for the entire island is underway, within the scope of the Polis Ria Formosa Society, which also includes the two other Culatra nuclei, the Hangares and the Farol.
The Culatrenses advanced to work on the heliport without authorization from the various entities that have jurisdiction over the territory occupied by the housing nucleus where they live, as happened, moreover, with the vast majority of existing infrastructure. But Sílvia Padinha defends that this is an exceptional situation, as “lives are at stake” and assures that they tried to do everything according to the rules.
“The redevelopment project for the housing nucleus has not yet been completed. We had all this waiting, for the entities to be able to give the population what they are entitled to. As this was not possible, at what time we considered normal, we moved on to the work», he said. Sílvia Padinha recalled that the Polis Ria Formosa Society was created in 2008 and should end this year.
Despite not having the license, the culatrenses received technical advice from public entities, such as the Chamber of Faro, which provided "some information", and the National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC), which allegedly provided coordinates, so that the helipad "complied with all safety specifications".
For the inhabitants of Culatra, it is of little importance that the infrastructure has a license for permanent use, it is enough for them that their geographic coordinates are in the INAC database and can be used by INEM, "in case of emergency".
Also because, in the past, there was already a need to evacuate inhabitants by air and the task proved to be much more difficult than expected. “The last time I was here a helicopter, a Kamov, even landed, despite having walked around, but then, to take off, it was a problem. It was a sand area, which entered the turbines and it was not easy», he said.
“Once that base is built, we can receive helicopters up to 17 tons. Access is guaranteed and so is security», he assured. The infrastructure was built in an area away from the existing houses, in the place where there was an abandoned building. Around the concrete base built yesterday, a security perimeter will be installed, properly fenced.
Culatrenses want the helipad to stay on the map
“We want the helipad to be identified and be able to be used [by INEM]. It will be able to be used day and night. It was built by the population, but it is not handcrafted. All the information we received, we accepted and we tried to do everything as indicated», he said.
“We tried to do the thing with the correct parameters, with the rules that are defined, with the coordinates given to us [by INAC], using the right materials, quantity and weights”, he assured.
An inspection of the helipad has already been requested, and the population kept a sample of concrete, in this sense.
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