2023, which ended yesterday, with lots of music, fireworks and full hotels in the Algarve, was a complicated year. The Hamas attack on Israel, the War in Gaza and the fall of the Government are the events that, having occurred outside the region, have the greatest impact on our daily lives.
Over the twelve months, a lot happened in the Algarve – and in Alentejo. Even we, when taking stock of the year, remembered some news, good and bad, that we no longer remembered.
For Sul Informação, the year was very good. We started in February with the launch of a new project, called “Know Science”, in partnership with the Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos. Throughout the year, we published several scientific dissemination articles and videos produced by the CCV Lagos team.
Then, in October, two members of the team from Sul Informação, the journalist Pedro Lemos and the photojournalist Nuno Costa, went to Coimbra to receive the Journalism Award “Analyzing poverty in the Press”.
In December, we were able to share the good news that the Sul Informação will receive financing of 23 thousand euros from the Local Media for Democracy project, to develop a new reader interaction tool, to be launched in 2024.
Furthermore, over the last few months of the year we began working hard, with Dengun, on a profound and impactful redesign of our website, which we will launch soon.
And we already have the idea for the theme of issue 3 of Revista DOIS, which we will launch next June.
JANUARY
The month of January began, at a national level, with the appointment of two new ministers: João Galamba, for the Ministry of Infrastructure, and Marina Gonçalves, for the new Ministry of Housing.
After the resignation, in the last days of December 2022, of Pedro Nuno Santos from the position of Minister of Infrastructure, weakened by the cases surrounding TAP, the Prime Minister chose Galamba to replace him. The tone was set for another year of «cases, cases and cases», which would culminate in Costa's resignation and the consequent fall of the Government, dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic and the scheduling of new Legislative Elections. But there are still many months – and a lot of confusion – until we get there.
In the first month of the year, in Loulé, the historic Café Calcinha has opened again, to “give soul and life to the city”. With new management and a new lease of life, Calcinha, with António Aleixo forever sitting at its door, was missed by Loulé.
In the village of Parises, A house that wants to give a future to this inland area has opened its doors: the Serra do Caldeirão Interpretive Center. O Sul Informação he was there and told him everything, showing that, in this village in the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, there is a lot of desire to live.
January was a month with some rain, but the specter of drought did not disappear. To combat the scarcity of water resources that the Algarve region is increasingly struggling with, it was learned that there are two possible installations for the desalination plant: Albufeira (most likely) or Lagos. Nonetheless, the first project to increase water efficiency in the Algarve, paid for by the PRR, was almost completed.
On the Alentejo and Vicentina coasts, in the heart of the Natural Park, the Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF), together with other entities, llaunches a mega inspection action on greenhouses from Sines to Aljezur. It is a first major action to try to impose some order in a world that seemed to live apart from the laws – that of agribusiness –, in an initiative that will deserve applause from various sectors.
In Portimão, the old chain gave way to the new School of Hotel Management and Tourism, with good conditions for excellent teaching.
But, in the same city, the Maternity Unit of your hospital, due to the lack of human resources, will close every 15 days until March… It is just one of the many cases that will occur throughout the year, in the Algarve and in the rest of the country, motivated by the lack of doctors, nurses and other professionals in the National Health Service.
Almost at the end of the month, good news: the Orchestra will once again be called «from the Algarve» and now has as its main conductor the young and talented Martim Sousa Tavares. O Sul Informação was the first organization to interview the new maestro, who announced many news. It is the relaunch of the Orquestra do Algarve, which has given us so much joy over the years.
FEBRUARY
The Algarve may seem like a rich region, but it is not, for those who live and work here. And this translates into other difficulties, particularly in schools. The region has the highest school dropout rate in the country, among other problems. But several entities, with the Regional Coordination and Development Commission at the head, are committed to changing this state of affairs and therefore, mobilized will to reduce early school leaving from 20% to 5% in 2030.
Off the Algarve, drug seizures occur or, at least, high-speed boats, used by drug traffickers. Thanks to greater surveillance, throughout 2023 there will be several large drug seizures, many arrests and many vessels seized.
During the times of the Troika and the Government of Passos Coelho, parishes were forced to join together, leading to the disappearance of many, in a process that was controversial throughout the country. A few years later, it is possible to reverse the situation. O Sul Informação was to find out how many Parish Unions in the Algarve want to separate and how many want to maintain the “marriage”. It is not that, however, anything has progressed in relation to this topic in the Assembly of the Republic. And with so many elections in 2024, it won’t be moving forward anytime soon…
In Alta Mora, in the interior of the municipality of Castro Marim, there is a festival promoted by the people there that attracts many walkers and others interested in traditions, gastronomy, festivities or, simply, the fresh air. It's called the Almond Blossom Festival and it was once again a success.
Giving a voice to the people of the Algarve, of all ages and in all modalities, who want to show what they are worth, the Sul Informação went to talk to young Carlota, the girl with blue hair who wants to get to MotoGP.
A young Nepalese immigrant was attacked, at the end of January, by a group of young people on a street in Olhão. The case became known because the attackers boasted about the feat, publishing a video on the internet. The aggression generated a movement of repudiation that reached the President of the Republic himself.
Aware of the tensions that can be generated, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa came to a school in Olhão to talk to young people about tolerance and apologize to the attacked Nepali, a little embarrassed by so much attention.
Later, three 16-year-old young people from Olhão were arrested on suspicion of being the perpetrators of the attack. This arrest was announced at a press conference by the PSP commander in the Algarve, which attests to the importance that the authorities gave to the matter. A case of xenophobia that shamed the country... but gave rise to a lot of hatred, particularly on social media.
After the violent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, firefighters from Albufeira, with a dog trained for that purpose, they headed to the first of these countries to try to help find buried survivors.
An old dream of Alcoutim, that of the bridge over the Guadiana river, seems to be taking great steps towards its realization: it is now known that the The start of the work is scheduled for just over a year from now, in March 2024. It will be?
After the collection of pomegranate, apple and other fruit trees, unique in the country, the Algarve wants to increase its collections of traditional fruit trees, even as a repository of an entire bkiodiversity that is being lost. And ask for help.
In yet another article by Aurélio Nuno Cabrita, which accustomed readers of the Sul Informação to your stories of history, we marked the arrival of the train in Portimão, 120 years ago. But, as you will see here, the train didn't quite arrive at the city, because it remained on the other side of the river for another 20 years...
February 2023 was also the month in which a number was revealed that caused commotion throughout the country: the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church, chaired by pedopsychiatrist Pedro Strecht, revealed that a “minimum” of 4815 children were abused by members of the Catholic Church in Portugal over the years… A sad reality that caused shock. But unfortunately it didn’t have many consequences…
Within the scope of its More Housing Program, which, supposedly, would solve the problems of the lack of houses for rent, at normal and affordable prices, across the country, the Government announced new measures, who have Local Accommodation as public enemy number one.
António Costa also announced the end of so-called “golden visas”, which created alarm in the construction and real estate sector, across the country, but with a special incidence in the Algarve. These were just two of the various measures foreseen in the More Housing Program, which arrived with lion entrance and path exit...
Throughout this month of February, we reported two deaths, both in Faro: that of Vítor Picanço Mestre, visual artist and former teacher, and that of João Falcão Marques, former president of PS Farense.
Almost at the end of the month, a team from Sul Informação accompanied the PSP during a night of raids in the bars and clubs of downtown Faro. It is an area where residents' complaints are frequent, but apparently unresolved.
MARCH
The month of March begins with the «Governo + Próximo» initiative in the Algarve. The executive of António Costa, for two days, moved of weapons and luggage to Algarve lands, unfolding in visits, meetings, first stones and inaugurations, from one end of the region to the other.
Among the main novelties that emerged, highlights the presentation of the Metrobus, the surface metro that, instead of running on rails, runs on roads, and which should connect Loulé, Faro and Olhão, through a dedicated corridor. The solution was not particularly pleasing…
Another novelty, in fact a decision that came from the Council of Ministers that took place in Faro, was the approval of expenditure for the construction of the new PJ headquarters in Faro, on the premises of the former Escola Superior de Saúde, at one of the city’s entrances. So far, there is no news of progress in this work…
But this Government trip to the Algarve was also accompanied by demonstrations from different sectors, especially teachers. In Portimão, the Minister of Education even had to escape through the back.
At the Prison Faro inmates now have access to teleconsultations. O Sul Informação he was there, following what was classified as “a step towards humanization”.
A beautiful story, of late love, is what we told you, from couple who met at the Misericórdia de Monchique home and decided to get married.
Also beautiful was the party that marked the inauguration of the Antiga Lota de Alvor, now with new functions as a guest room, which tells the history of the town to whoever passes by. The video report we made about this party had the most views in 2023.
In Querença, on the initiative of the Manuel Viegas Guerreiro Foundation and the penalty by landscape architect Fernando Santos Pessoa, a Mediterranean botanical garden was created that proves that oases of contact with nature can be created, but adapted to the Algarve climate. This planted barrocal garden was inaugurated with the presence of Ramalho Eanes, former President of the Republic.
For those who were less attentive, March brought a surprise: João Fernandes announced that, for reasons related to the law, would not re-apply to the Algarve Tourism Region.
A few days later, it became known that André Gomes wanted to apply for this position. But, as he is the son of Isilda Gomes (president of the Chamber of Portimão) and husband of Ana Varges Gomes (then president of the CHUA Board of Directors), the PSD, through the mouth of its regional leader Cristóvão Norte, accused this candidacy of “nepotism ». In between, the hypothesis of another candidacy from the PS area was also outlined, that of Carla Ponte, but she ended up backing down.
In one of his last appearances as president of the RTA, João Fernandes was at the final balance of the «Revitalize Monchique» project, launched after the great fire of 2018 and which had tourism as a catalyst. The project has come to an end… but it will continue.
Another project that João Fernandes was linked to, in his role as president of Turismo do Algarve, was the Contrabando Festival, in Alcoutim. In March, the festival returned in force, once again uniting the two banks of the Guadiana with a pedestrian bridge.
The month marked also the opening of Mata do Liceu, in Faro, which was the target of a profound intervention. According to municipal officials, it was ready for the next 30 years.
Another important project, in a very different area, opened its doors. In Castro Marim, Alzheimer's patients in the Algarve and Alentejo now have an “oasis” waiting for them.
Portimão received, for several days, hundreds of young people from all over the country, for the National Professions Championship. It was a great journey to showcase the best of professional training in our country. From the southern districts, the one who stood out the most was a young man from Alentejo, who was the best nationally in his area.
On March 17th, the Algarve registered an earthquake of magnitude 3,7 (which is actually weak) but which, due to the time and location of the epicenter, ended up being felt by many people. In such a way that, In less than an hour, more than 500 people reported to IPMA that they felt the earthquake. Fortunately, it was just a scare…
In March there was also bad news, here in the south of the country. Isabel Palmeirim resigned once and for all as director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Algarve, making new harsh criticisms of the administration of the University Hospital Center.
In sports, the historic football club Olhanense, which not long ago competed in the I Football League, went down to the district championships.
But the saddest news was that death of Alentejo businessman Rui Nabeiro, lamented at national level, by all sectors, political, economic and social. A great man, who did a lot for his land and country.
APRIL
The month began with the traditional April 1st joke, April Fools' Day. Over the years, there have been many ideas that have come out of the heads of journalists from Sul Informação – from the purchase of Ilha Deserta by Cristiano Ronaldo to the construction of a Via Formosa that would connect the four barrier islands of the Ria Formosa.
This year, inspired by the recent presentation of Metrobus, we remembered to play with that project... and, on April 1st, we presented “Dronebus”, the first public transport system entirely based on drones.
There were those who believed, there were those who were suspicious… This year, 2024, there is more.
Returning to “serious news”, it was in April that an unprecedented project was presented that uses cutting-edge technology to produce sea bream and sea bass on the high seas. This is an initiative by a Israeli company that wants to install this aquaculture offshore in Vila Real de Santo António, a location that was not chosen at random.
Also in April, the remnants of a war which had begun in March when Isabel Palmeirim resigned from her position as director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Algarve (UAlg), in a split with the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve.
The case led to accusations from both sides and was based on the reception of medical students at CHUA. In a note sent to newsrooms, the CHUA Board of Directors guaranteed, days after the controversy broke out, that would always be willing to welcome students.
Furthermore, April was full of controversies regarding health in the Algarve. Despite the good news related to the advancement of the Southern Oncological Center – long desired – the month was marked by complaints from an intern doctor of alleged negligence in the Surgery Service of the Hospital de Faro.
Diana Pereira, who began by exposing the case on social media, reported on the cases of 11 patients, three of whom ended up dying due to medical errors. The case soon gained prominence and led to Public Ministry to open an investigation.
The Order of Doctors also visited the Hospital of Faro and, at the end, the president of the Southern Regional Council of the Order announced that a independent commission would begin investigating the alleged allegations.
Diana Pereira would end up asking suspension from medical internship and one of the surgeons accused by the doctor also asked self-suspension. The controversy even reached civil society, with a group of citizens organizing a demonstration of support for the young doctor.
Still in the world of health, in April it became known that Francisco Ramos, former Secretary of State for Health, will lead the team that will study the PPP at Hospital Central do Algarve.
Unfortunately, the month was also marked by death, aged 86, of Manuel Baptista. The artist from Faro left behind a vast body of work and was one of the main names in the arts and one of the last great artists of his generation in Portugal.
In the world of culture, in April “Emídio” premiered, a production by “Lavrar o Mar” that Sul Informação made it known after an interview with Sandro William Junqueira. The writer pays homage, in this play, to his grandfather “Emídio”, a “life-breaker” who worked in the circus, did theater, illusionism…
In Loulé, another figure was honored: Miguel Esteves Cardoso, chronicler, writer, unique figure in Portuguese culture.
In the middle of the month, one of the main news stories for April 2023 emerged. The story could easily be part of the script of any Hollywood film, but it really happened.
Érica Vicente, 17 years old, was on Coelho beach, in Monte Gordo, when he decided to do stand-up paddle. Pushed by the wind, on top of the board, the young woman disappeared. For 20 hours, Érica was adrift. Spent a night on the high seas until she was spotted by a freighter who notified the authorities.
The young woman was eventually found alive, but in a high state of hypothermia. Érica was transported to the Hospital de Faro, where he stayed for a few days. The adjective “heroine”, used by the then clinical director Horácio Guerreiro, could not have been more accurate.
To end April: this was also the month of another Feast of the Sovereign Mother – theaccompanied by Sul Informação even with the men of the world -, leaving the scene Carla Ponte of a possible candidacy for the Algarve Tourism Region and opening of a Center dedicated to aging in Loulé.
MAY
May rhymes with Academic Week and, as has always been the case, the Sul Informação paid special attention to the great celebration of Algarve students. Through the “Wonderland”, names like Danni Gato, Kappa Jotta, Bárbara Bandeira or T-Rex. The nights had music and… lots of partying.
The beginning of the month had a mini political crisis (little did we know what would await us on November 7th).
After sad episodes at the Ministry of Infrastructure, with reports of attacks between advisors and employees, Minister João Galamba was left in a hyper-fragile position. He was resisting, resisting, until he even asked dismissal in the early evening of the 2nd.
The case seemed tidy, but, in a communication to the country outside the Palácio de S. Bento, António Costa came to give another twist to the story. The prime minister refused to resign and went against the wishes of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
It was the first episode of a kind of mini-series “Belém vs S. Bento” that went on for months on end… until the outcome we know.
On an international level, May was also the month of the coronation of King D. Carlos III, after the death of his mother, Queen Elisabete II. It has been more than seven decades since the United Kingdom has had a coronation and the This historic moment was followed by the vast British community residing in the Algarve.
And speaking of the UK... it was in May that, 16 years later, the search for the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the English child who disappeared in 2007 in Praia da Luz (Lagos), resumed. The authorities were at the Arade Dam and, in the end, they guaranteed to have collected “some material”. But the mystery surrounding Maddie's disappearance remains to be solved.
In sport, this was a great month for the Algarve. In addition to the Portimonense guaranteed its permanence in the I League – where he has been since 2017 -, the history Farense achieved the much-desired rise to the highest level of Portuguese football.
In a season that began with Vasco Faísca and ended with José Mota, the Algarvians were almost always in the top places and finished the II Liga championship in second place, behind champion Moreirense.
The party was tough Faro and was even attended by Hassan, a historic striker from the Algarve, top scorer in the championship in 1994/1995.
João Neves and Gonçalo Ramos, both from the Algarve and Benfica athletes, became national champions.
In May, the Algarve also witnessed the first major fire of the year. It was in Azinhal, in Castro Marim, and the smoke was visible a few kilometers away, namely from Vila Real de Santo António 18th century Festival.
In April, I told him about Carla Ponte's departure from a possible candidacy for the presidency of the RTA. The reason was the advancement of André Gomes who, in May, officially presented his candidacy.
The then director of the RTA's Center for Promotion, Entertainment and Tourist Information - and son of Isilda Gomes, mayor of Portimão - ended up being the only candidate and criticized the Government when presenting its list.
From outside the list of supporters, three municipalities remained.
With regard to deaths, in May, the Algarve saw the disappearance of José Estevens, former mayor of Castro Marim, elected by the PSD, as well as Paula Teixeira, director of the Júdice Fialho School Group, in Portimão, and Sander van Gelder, the “father” of Vale do Lobo.
As for the world of culture, it was this month that more names were presented on the poster of MED Festival in Loulé, and in which Mértola experienced another Islamic Festival.
The Lagoa Chamber found itself struggling with a cyber attack that paralyzed the municipality’s IT services…
JUNE
In June, we became “Two” again. It was on the 23rd that o Sul Informação launched the second edition of “Dois” magazine, our new editorial project that we launched in 2022.
With a cover by Vhils and the theme of the “sea” as a backdrop, “Dois” was on sale at newsstands across the country and features, in addition to an interview with Vhils, chronicles by Algarve writer Lídia Jorge, paleontologist Luís Azevedo Rodrigues and several in-depth reports, on topics such as surfing on the Costa Vicentina, the future of fishing or the use of microalgae.
If you don't have yours yet, you can still order it from us here a magazine.
Despite the intense dedication that “Dois” forced us to do, June was also a month full of news in the Sul Informação.
Many of them, unfortunately, are related to a topic that insists on not leaving the agenda: the drought and lack of water in the Algarve. It was in June that the Municipal councils decided to close swimming pools and stop watering, especially since so much Bravura like the Arade were among the basins with the least water in the country.
The drought situation worsened across the country and this was also the month in which there was news about the future desalination plant, one of the projects that is part of the Algarve Water Efficiency Plan.
In addition to having been construction location announced – the municipality of Albufeira -, the Government, through the voice of the Secretary of State for the Environment, revealed that the objective was to launch the tender for construction by the end of the year.
June was also the month in which the Recife Marine Natural Park in the Algarve took another step – despite criticism from some fishermen's organizations.
This future park, with a total area of 156 square kilometers (km2), from the coast to a depth of 50 meters, in front of the municipalities of Albufeira, Silves and Lagoa, will have a no-fishing zone, with a total of 20 km2.
Still on topics related to the environment… the “Culatra2030” project won an important award and the University of Algarve presented a boat that is also a classroom.
In the sport chapter, Manuel Cajuda, historic Algarve player and coach, became president of Olhanense, a club from his hometown, which had relegated, at the end of the season, to the district championships (and to think that, 10 years ago, it was in the I League…).
The Algarve also learned, in June, that it would once again host the Tour of Portugal by bicycle. Loulé was the stage for the arrival of one of the stages of the emblematic race.
In terms of disappearances, June was the month of deaths. Aníbal Guerreiro, businessman and historic director of Farense who also saw his favorite club return to the I League, it's from Hermínio Rebelo, a great ambassador for Algarve wines.
Also this month there was news possible mining exploration in Alcoutim and Castro Marim, which this last authority soon opposedAs well as change of AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community to the former Civil Government buildingOn Faro, next to Arco da Vila and Jardim Manuel Bivar.
André Gomes was elected president of the Algarve Tourism Region and Cláudio Torres, the biggest name in archeology in Portugal, was awarded with yet another prize.
And speaking of archaeology: the Islamic Baths, in Loulé, officially became a National Monument – and very deservedly so after the profound works carried out.
Still in June, we went to discover a different festival in Penina – land of 66 people -, of the Gran Carob products and we paid attention to Michelin Gala which, it is known, will take place in the Algarve next year.
Oh, and we also report (more) one imbroglio between an owner in Ludo, the Chamber of Faro and the ICNF.
JULY
The month of July has begun full of hope for the more than one hundred people from Faro who saw their names come out in the draw of housing at Controlled Costs made by the Chamber of Faro.
At least that was the feeling that South Informationhe captured it among those who were celebrating the exit of his name, in the housing lottery, although the most important part was still to be guaranteed: access to financing to buy houses.
But, as expected, and despite having started “on the right foot” for some families of Faro, not everything was roses in July.
The month was not even halfway through when Horácio Guerreiro, a respected and experienced doctor, announced his departure from the position of Clinical Director of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve.
The justification given by the clinician for this decision was that he did not agree with the decision of the CHUA Board of Directors to keep the Portimão birthing block open on weekends, despite the lack of human resources, a decision that, in your vision, carries risks.
At the time, Ana Varges Gomes, president of the Board of Directors of CHUA, did not leave him unanswered, giving rise to yet another controversy involving the CA of CHUA, as you can remember here.
Also surprising – and not at all positive – was the decision of the company Sun Concept, which was born in Olhão and was dedicated to the production of 100% electric boats, to move “weapons and luggage” to Setúbal.
This change was due to logistical issues, mainly the fact that there are no spaces in the Algarve of the size that this company needs to increase production. I mean, they exist, they exist, but their cost is prohibitively high. Result: one less production unit in the region.
However, since it was already in the middle of summer, July was also a month of parties and fairs.
And a party that is always highly anticipated is the International Meeting of the Motoclube de Faro.
As usual, the biker party ended with a parade through downtown Faro. O Sul Informação He was there and captured everything on video. Remember here how it was.
At the same time as the concentration was taking place, São Teotónio, in Odemira, hosted another edition of FACECO.
In the end, and after three days of celebrating the best that exists in its territory, the Odemirense Chamber the (a lot of) energy spent on organizing this great event was put to good use.
Another good news was the awarding of the APE/DGLAB Grand Prize for Romance and Novel to Lídia Jorge, for her book “Misericordia”, one of the many awards that the Algarve writer won, in 2023, due to this novel.
At the end of the month, João Fernandes' term as president of Turismo do Algarve ended, after five years in the position.
Before July was over, the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve promoted a tribute to João Fernandes, someone who, for AHETA, «was always at the side of businesspeople, looking for solutions to different problems».
Unfortunately, in July, the Sul Informação reported the deaths of several Algarve personalities.
The first was on the 4th and it was enough of the disappearance of Ti Cândido, a very well-known and beloved figure in Quarteira.
Days later, it was Fernando da Conceição Santos, former president of the Municipal Assembly of Silves,that died.
Before the month ended, the Algarve had yet to mourn the death of João Pereira Neto, professor who was a member of the Installation Committee of the University of Algarve, and by Filipe Viegas, former president of the Quarteira Council.
AUGUST
If July ended with the end of the mandate of the president of Turismo do Algarve, August began, as expected, with the entry into service of his successor.
André Gomes took office on the 1st, in a ceremony where he reaffirmed the flags he had presented in the campaign for the elections, but from which other news emerged, namely the arrival of a reinforcement of 3 million for the tourism promotion of the Algarve.
On the 4th, the inhabitants of Cerro do Leiria, in Tavira, and the towns surrounding it received good news, that of the lead of a controversial photovoltaic plant that Iberdrola intended to build in this barrocal area.
This was a subject that our newspaper followed, in fact, from the very beginning, and which it warned about even before there was an official announcement from the Spanish energy company that the project existed.
The following day, August 5th, what would prove to be the biggest fire of the year broke out in Odemira, in Portugal, with around 7500 hectares burned.
The flames threatened homes on the first day, and it was necessary to evacuate homes.
After two days of causing great destruction and concern in Odemira, the fire spread across the border between Odemira and Aljezur and arrived at the perimeter of the village of Odeceixe.
Before having been dominated, on the 9th of August, the fire even spread to the municipality of Monchique.
Dominated the flames, the portrait that could be made on the ground was very sad and of great destruction.
And if a huge fire wasn't enough, the specter of water shortages continued to loom over the Algarve, where consumption rose in July, despite the many campaigns that were underway, calling for savings and rational use of this essential asset.
Meanwhile, the announcement of a new air route appeared, this time between Faro and Copenhagen, to be operated by Ryanair.
On August 27th, the death of a GNR corporal, while on duty in Loulé, dismayed the Algarve and the country, with a public reaction from the President of the Republic himself.
On the same day, Loulé doctor Pedro Rocheta died, who became a candidate for the Municipal Assembly of Loulé.
Before, on August 5th, it had already been in the news the death of journalist António Vinagre, who was a delegate for Diário de Notícias in the Algarve, in the 80s and 90s.
At the end of the month, it was the merger of the Algarve University Hospital Center and the Regional Health Administration announced, to create the new Local Health Unit (ULS) in the Algarve, which is officially created today, January 1st.
SEPTEMBER
The month of September was marked by an earthquake which, despite having happened far away, was felt in the Algarve and caused many deaths and enormous destruction.
On the 8th, many people felt in the Algarve (and in other parts of Portugal) the effects of an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter near Marrakesh, far away from here.
The fact that an earthquake that took place hundreds of kilometers away was felt in Portugal, naturally, put the “eyes” of the Algarve on Morocco.
And there were more reasons for this when it became known that, precisely in Marrakesh, where the effects of the earthquake were felt with greater intensity, there was, at the time, an Algarve delegation, with the presidents of the Chambers of Albufeira, Loulé and Silves, as well as with technicians from this authority.
O Sul Informação spoke to some of the Algarve people who lived through the moment, who told in the first person what they felt and saw.
Another hot topic, in this 9th month of the year, was housing.
First, it was students from the University of Algarve who reported the difficulties faced by many of their colleagues, in finding housing, in a Freshman Parade whose motto was “Studying where I can’t live”.
At the end of the month, the streets of several locations in the Algarve were filled in a protest demanding more housing and more affordable housing. O Sul Informação been in Faro, where a house was required to live.
I could wait a little longer, but pride in my colleagues Pedro Lemos e Nuno Costa urges me to tell you now about something that was announced on the 20th: the attribution to Sul Informação 1st place in the Analyzing Poverty in the Press journalism award.
Before, the month had started with yet another sad news from a death, this time of Manuel Brito, businessman who founded the publisher Sul, Sol e Sal and the company Sun Concept.
In the first days of the month, data also arrived showing that August was the fifth hottest ever in Portugal, since there are records, and that the drought already affected 97% of the continental territory.
In light of this information – and all the other information that has arrived, showing that water scarcity is now a structural problem in the Algarve region – it becomes even more relevant the investment of 15 million that will allow the Algarve to more than double the reuse of treated wastewater.
September was also the month that Vhils gave us the EDP Art Reef, after diving in the sea in Albufeira, to leave works of art there. This project was, moreover, one of the topics covered in Vhils' interview with Magazine Two, whose cover was designed by this artist.
September was also marked by publication in the Official Gazette of the ordinance that established the Special Protection Zone (ZEP) of Rîbat da Arrifana, in Ponta da Atalaia (Vale da Telha), in Aljezur, a long-awaited measure.
More than a month after the Odemira fire, still licked the wounds in the affected territory, but there were already those who were walking the path of the future, to leave the misfortune behind, as was the case with Rota Vicentina.
Another fire that caused a lot of ink to flow, but for different reasons – and, to a certain extent, worse – was the one that raged for weeks in a dumpster in Vale da Venda, in the middle of Mata do Ludo, between Loulé and Faro, in the summer of 2022. A year later, the Sul Informação was know what the situation was.
September was finally the month in which it was announced a reduction in toll prices on the A 22.
OCTOBER
October began with changes in the Loulé Chamber executive. To everyone's astonishment, two years before the Local Elections, Ana Machado is no longer vice-president of this authority and it was “neither personal nor health reasons” that led her to ask to cease those duties.
The changes were also confirmed by Vitor Aleixo on October 3, when the mayor informed that, apart from the fact that David Pimentel became vice-president, the rest of the executive would remain the same and with the same responsibilities.
At an international level, it is worth highlighting the attribution of the Nobel Peace Prize to Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi – the choice was due to her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and to promote human rights and freedom for all – and, from a totally opposite perspective, the beginning of the clashes between Israel and Palestine, which have already caused more than 15.900 deaths.
Around here, October is also usually a time to take stock of the beginning of the school year and, this year, the Sul Informação was realizing how it was going integration of foreign students in schools in the Algarve, which are already 20,1% of students enrolled.
According to Alexandre Lima, regional delegate of DGEstE, this is a percentage that has been increasing, year after year, and to which schools have always responded, «despite the difficulties».
October, despite marked by drought, – leading to the Algarve to request the construction of another desalination plant – it was also the month in which, although little, the rain that fell, on the 17th, was enough to cause damage, mainly in the write-off of Faro and at the Airport.
It took half an hour to flood several roads and areas of the city, but, fortunately, without causing major problems.
The same cannot be said about Depression Bernard, which passed through here on October 22nd and in just one day recorded more than 61 incidents, the majority of which were tree falls and minor flooding. Due to the storm, the Moncarapachense-Vitória game, which was taking place at the Algarve Stadium, had to be interrupted for a few minutes.
The 17th of October was still marked, at least for the team from Sul Informação, for awarding 1st place in the Journalism Award “Analyzing poverty in the Press”, in the Regional Press category, to the journalist Pedro Lemos and the photojournalist Nuno Costa. It's always good to see our work recognized.
The Alliance, a historic café in the city of Faro, which had been closed for around two years, reopened, with new management and a café, restaurant and bar concept. As early as the 11th Sul Informação visited this space, but the official opening it only happened at 25.
It was also announced that Faro will now have a direct flight to Newark Airport, in New York, from May 24th. This news, given by United Airlines, on October 26th, was received with great enthusiasm, especially from the tourism sector.
For André Gomes, president of Turismo do Algarve, the first direct air link between Faro and New York was «excellent news for the region and a very relevant milestone, which opens a nova página of opportunities for tourism in the Algarve».
Speaking of airports, the 29th was marked by official extinction of SEF. Jose Luís Carneiro, Minister of Internal Administration, was at Gago Coutinho Airport, in Faro, and announced that more than 82 thousand controls at air borders and more than 11.400 at sea borders was the balance of the first day on which PSP, PJ and GNR assumed new powers.
In October, it is also worth highlighting the celebration of 40 years of the first classes at the University of Algarve and the official inauguration of the Barranco do Demo walkway, in the parish of Alferce, in Monchique. This infrastructure, which is expected to help rejuvenate this location, was inaugurated with the presence of Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion.
In the health area, it was known in October that João Ferreira would become the new president of the Board of Directors of the Algarve Hospital and University Center (CHUA), replacing Ana Varges Gomes, who had already ended her mandate on December 31st of last year.
Speaking of CHUA, it was also this month that there was news that a mother had baby daughter kidnapped from hospital Faro. The 1-month-old newborn was found five days later in the home of her mother's acquaintances, on the outskirts of Faro.
The case was handed over to the Judiciary Police, who provided clarifications on the day the baby was found and taken back to the hospital.
Still in the Algarve capital, October was the time for another “Faro Positive". This year, the highlights were the works on the new bridge at Praia de Faro, new school and three qualifications planned by 2026 and the Guilhim industrial subdivision.
I couldn’t finish this month’s review without talking about one of the news items that perhaps had the greatest impact on the region and the country – the death of Margarida Tengarrinha.
The resistant anti-fascist, prominent member of the Communist Party, visual artist, writer and cultural activist, born in Portimão, died on October 26th, aged 95, leaving an eternal legacy.
NOVEMBER
If October was a month with many and diverse themes, November was not far behind.
On the 7th, the country woke up to the news that the PSP was doing searches of the prime minister's office and in the Ministries of Environment and Infrastructure, with Sines' lithium and hydrogen businesses at stake.
The searches immediately led to the arrest of Vítor Escária, Costa's chief of staff, Diogo Lacerda Machado, businessman and friend of the prime minister, and Nuno Mascarenhas, president of the Chamber of Sines.
In light of the events, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa received António Costa in Belém. In a communication to the country, at around 14:30 pm, from the official residence of the prime ministero, António Costa announced that he submitted his resignation to the President of the Republic and, half an hour later, the President of the Republic confirmed that he accepted.
Days followed in which much was said about what would happen to António Costa, the Government and the Country. Two days after the Prime Minister's resignation, on 9 November, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic and the consequent scheduling of new legislative elections for March 10, 2024.
On the 11th, António Costa returned, unexpectedly, to speak to the country, justifying himself regarding the ongoing investigations, and, on the 13th, João Galamba resigned from his position as Minister of Infrastructure.
At the beginning of November, he was in Faro Ana Catarina Mendes, Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, for officially inaugurate the first hub of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), located inside the Loja do Cidadão, which is located in the Municipal Market of Faro.
The initiative, which aimed to publicize the work of AIMA – which is a fusion of what were the administrative powers of the SEF and what were the powers of the High Commission for Migrations – took place a few days after the extinction of the SEF.
Welcoming these people with all care is necessary so that no more news like the one that also arrived in November that at least 100 immigrants were being exploited in Baixo Alentejo.
Following “Operation Mirror”, launched by the National Counter Terrorism Unit of this police and which involved around 480 PJ operatives, who carried out 78 home and non-home search warrants, 28 people were arrested.
Speaking of arrests, in November a fraudster was also caught who was acting based on the phenomenon known as “Hello, Mom / Hello, Dad”, with victims throughout the national territory and also widespread in other European countries.
In November, Maria Barroso, a proud Fuzetan native, was honored, who went on to name the Municipal Auditorium of Olhão. The ceremony was attended by the two children of the former First Lady and Mário Soares' life partner.
It is also worth remembering the death of Viegas Gomes on the 14th of this month. The journalist, born in Faro and who lived in Olhão, collaborated with Diário de Notícias and several national and regional media outlets.
At a sporting level, November was also a month of news.
The Monte Gordo Sand Experience, between the 17th and 19th, an event in which the municipality of Vila Real de Santo Antônio placed many expectations, but which also received several criticisms due to the negative impacts that could bring to the environment. After the event ended, the balance was that the race had taken approximately 20 thousand people to Vila Real de Santo António.
Furthermore, on the 24th it was announced that the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve would be the stage for another motorcycle, in March.
In the events, it is also worth highlighting the commemoration of 35 years of the Higher School of Hotel Management and Tourism of the University of Algarve and the Aljezur Sweet Potato Festival, which, once again, brought together thousands of people.
The 25th edition featured a visit from Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion.
At the end of November, the Association of Friends of the Lyceum Museum Faro, who intends to grow this museum and bring it to more people.
DECEMBER
We have reached December, the last month of the year and the one that, as a rule, is calmer.
The events that exist are more related to festive seasons and there are usually no major revelations, but still, the Sul Informação is always aware of everything that is happening in the Algarve and in the country and has news to highlight.
This was a month in which our newspaper talked a lot about markets. Why? Because the Regional Network of Local Markets was officially launched and because we were following the “Ha Petisco no Mercado” initiative, which passed through the entire Network, made up of the Municipal Markets of Sagres, Aljezur, Odeceixe, Vila do Bispo, Sledgehammer, Odiáxere, Barão de São João, Bensafrim, Espiche, Monchique, Alvor, Silves, São Bartolomeu de Messines, Alcantarilha, Pêra, Algoz, Moncarapacho and São Brás de Alportel.
Furthermore, it was the month in which the Municipal Market of Faro celebrated 70 years. In this context, the Sul Informação was trying to understand the situation of this crucial infrastructure in the Algarve capital and what the ideas are for the future.
Still in Faro, it is worth highlighting the celebrations of 100 years of Farense Stadium, on the 1st, and the launch of the initiative "Faro We are all", as part of the Christmas season and which runs throughout the month.
At a political level, December was also marked by the unexpected lead from the Municipal Budget of Faro for 2024 with two votes against from elements of the PSD, the party that leads the coalition in power in this Chamber.
The budget proposal of the executive led by Rogério Bacalhau was rejected on the 19th with 15 votes against, 13 of which from opposition parties, but also from Gameiro Alves and Tiago Botelho, two municipal deputies from the PSD, elected by the coalition “Unidos Por Faro”, which brings together PSD, CDS, MPT, PPM and Liberal Initiative.
A few days later, discord also broke out in Olhão due to the Fuzeta Toy Library. war It's not today and there's one more battle ongoing between the Chamber of Olhão (PS) and the Union of Parishes of Moncarapacho and Fuzeta (PSD).
This month, the inauguration of Rita Tavares as president of AAUAlg. In an interview with Sul Informação and Rádio Universitária do Algarve (RUA) FM, the young woman stressed that her priorities are housing and transport.
Owner of notable prominence throughout the year, the Algarve musician Dino d’Santiago In December, it was once again the subject of news, this time due to the award of the Medal of Cultural Merit, given by the Government.
The ceremony took place, symbolically, at the Linhó Prison Establishment, where the artist has developed the project “From inside to outside”.
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Here is the balance sheet for the year 2023. The new year that begins today promises a lot of political turmoil and the sadness of the continuation of wars and inequalities.
But it is also time to celebrate half a century since April 25, 1974. Even though many of the promises that emerged on that “complete and clean initial day” have not yet been fulfilled, Portugal is much better than it was 50 years ago!
A year full of good news, these are the wishes of the entire team at Sul Informação for your readers!
«This is the dawn I was waiting for
The whole and clean starting day
Where we emerge from the night and the silence
And free we inhabit the substance of time»
Sophia by Mello Breyner Andresen
NOTE: Balance sheet texts written by Elisabete Rodrigues, Hugo Rodrigues, Mariana Carriço and Pedro Lemos
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