Government Accused of Favoring Companies at Praia Formosa

Dina Letra Says PSD-Madeira Plans Luxury Projects That Ignore Local People

Dina Letra, candidate of Bloco de Esquerda-Madeira for Funchal City Council, spoke at Praia Formosa yesterday. She said the PSD-Madeira council is helping business groups by creating a plan for luxury buildings in the area. Letra said these projects are not for local residents.

The council, ignoring the city master plan and public interest, clearly favored certain business groups

Dina Letra, Diário de Notícias Madeira

Praia Formosa Is One of the Last Free Places With Free Sea Access

Letra told people at the event that Praia Formosa is “the last free access point to the sea” in Funchal. She said most of the coastline is “occupied either by hotels or by paid access points,” leaving very few areas free for everyone.

Letra Proposes Using Tourist Tax of €14–15 Million a Year to Create Public Park

Letra suggested that the land at Praia Formosa should go back to the city. She wants to use Funchal’s tourist tax, which brings in around €14–15 million each year. She said the money could be used to make public gardens and leisure spaces for families.

Our goal is to use this tourist tax to create a public garden and leisure spaces for the families of Funchal and others

Dina Letra, Diário de Notícias Madeira

Criticism Comes After Court Rejects Citizens’ Appeal Against Praia Formosa Project

Letra also criticized PSD-Madeira for giving city spaces to rich companies. She said the Bloco de Esquerda had discovered that the project was already being sold before it was even submitted to the City Council of Funchal. In other words, contracts or agreements with developers were being made before the council even formally reviewed the plan. She called this “extraordinary” and said it shows how PSD-Madeira favors certain business groups over public interests.

The Diário newspaper reported that the Administrative and Tax Court of Funchal did not approve a legal appeal by 18 citizens against the project. The appeal targeted both the city council and four companies. The court, however, issued warnings about the process.

Source: Diário de Notícias Madeira