PS/Madeira leader Paulo Cafofo on Saturday described as “incomprehensible and irresponsible” the decision of the regional government president Miguel Albuquerque to refuse to support the Republic in putting out the fires on the island.
“This refusal by Miguel Albuquerque, rather than for preventive purposes, shows that we already know that ‘everything is under control’ and shows that we cannot trust the one who should be the first to guarantee the safety of people and goods,” the island’s socialist in charge said in a statement.
In this way, Cafofo responded to the decision of the Chief Executive of Madeira to refuse the support provided on Friday by the Government of the Republic through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, to fight the fire that broke out on Wednesday in the municipality of Ribeira Brava and the following day spread to the neighboring municipality of Câmara de Lobos.
On Friday evening, a source in the Albuquerque office justified Lusa’s decision by citing the fire’s location in a difficult-to-reach area and the weather conditions, namely high winds that often make helicopter firefighting impossible given the lack of resources on the ground at the moment.
When questioned on Saturday morning, she reiterated that the assistance provided by the Republic was not currently required.
According to the leader of PS/Madeira, “it would be prudent to reinforce resources so that if populated areas are reached, there are enough resources to avoid tragedy.”
Paulo Cafofo also asks: “Where are Miguel Albuquerque and Pedro Ramos (the regional secretary in charge of civil protection in the Madeira government)?” since they have not yet emerged in this scenario of fires that have already led to the expulsion of citizens from their homes in the parish of Curral das Freiras as a precautionary measure.
The Socialist parliamentary leader in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira also claims that “given the circumstances in which the fires are occurring, the Regional Civil Protection Emergency Plan of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (PREPC RAM) should have already been activated,” acknowledging the efforts of the fire brigades that are putting out the fires.
“I commend the members of the fire brigades and the defence and security forces for their mission and thank them for their commitment to protecting people and our environment,” he said.
The fire that broke out on Wednesday in Ribeira Brava, Madeira, reached the parish of Curral das Freiras and forced residents to evacuate. 56 firefighters, supported by 18 vehicles and an aircraft, fought it.
According to the Civil Protection, there are currently 56 firefighters on site from the Câmara de Lobos volunteer firefighters, the Sapadores do Funchal firefighters, the Madeira volunteer firefighters, the Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol mixed firefighters, the Sapadores do Santa Cruz firefighters, as well as the Machico municipal firefighters and the Regional Assistance Command (CROS).
They are supported by 18 vehicles, an aircraft and the SRPC mobile communications and emergency response unit.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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