The Ria Formosa islanders seem only to have one political friend left, in the form of the Left Bloc which is insistent that the government sticks to its anti-demolition legislation and halts the destruction of 14 further houses this November.
The Bloquistas are adamant that the Minister for the Environment explains the latest round of planned demolitions at Hangars and Farol, now scheduled for the 7th of next month.
The Left Bloc has demanded an "urgent hearing" with Joaã Pedro Matos Fernandes so he can explain the seizure of the 14 targeted properties on Culatra.
Left Bloc MP, João Vasconcelos has reminded the government that parliament approved a resolution nearly two years ago but has failed to action the law formally to recognise Hangars and Farol as settlements.
The 2016 law stated that "no first homes of fishermen, or shellfishermen, active or retired, will be demolished without the owner being rehoused on the island itself," and it described the creation of an integrated plan for the Ria Formosa natural park area to reduce pollution, dredging key navigation channels and adopt measures to combat coastal erosion.
João Vasconcelos said that, "The protection, conservation and enhancement of the Ria Formosa is not incompatible with controlled, regulated and responsible human occupation, as they complement each other in a necessary and sustainable balance."
According to the MP, the 14 planned takeovers is forcefully imposing unjust political decisions that affect the proven situations of houses owned by fishermen and shellfishermen."
Aware of the growing controversy surrounding a new block of luxury apartments being built on reclaimed land to the western edge of the city of Olhão, and the existing blocs of luxury apartments that have been built at the water's edge in Fuseta (pictured below), Vasconcelos commented of the islanders’ plight,
"The situation of injustice is even greater when a variety of criteria are applied regarding the demolition or non-demolition of buildings on the barrier islands when there are apartments and luxury condominiums being built in the area of public maritime domain and nothing happens to them."
Comments
It leaves one with the thought that there is more, than a normal property transaction taking place in some of these case's.
"...then one can take that it is safe to continue with the sale of this property." This simply is not true as has been found in hundreds of cases such as the one outlines by Harry Smith. As for solicitors taking responsibility for anything, what a wonderful rose-tinted world Denby must inhabit.
Don't understand the nonsense of your first sentence,
However, if a solicitor has informed a client that all matters of the conveyancing process is complete then one can take that it is safe to continue with the sale of this property.
If there is a problem with the legal documentation after the sale of the property, then it would obviously be a matter for the solicitor to follow up on, as the solicitor is the person that takes responsibility for ensuring that all documents are correct at the time of the sale.
How does he explain the treatment of Serena Wylde who complained about a neighbours lawyer in a private letter to the local Advogado branch. For this lawyer not breaking off a court case - having smelt an earner - that the two neighbours had already settled. Years of stress and tens of thousands out of pocket later for offending the honour of this son of a Salazar judge.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/briton-faces-trial-after-making-complaint-about-portuguese-lawyer-6559248.html
One law for the rich apartment owners, and another for the poor islanders.
If a solicitor is involved with facilitating an illegal transaction they face being struck off from the judicial system. You have the right to complainto the Law Society of Portugal and request an investigation if you suspect any wrongdoing, this is available in all European Union country's.
As a priority the Left Bloc should be pushing for a nationwide amnesty so that any citizen with doubts can, free of charge, get an honest assessment of their properties legality. With any necessary plans drawn up for free or at minimal cost. These problems are not of the citizens making and certainly nothing to do with hapless foreigners buying property in Portugal. Caveat emptor is relevant to an open, transparent marketplace where a buyer can make checks themselves or rely on integrity from their advisers. Not like in Portugal where buyers can be misled intentionally by "professionals" setting up further earners for themselves or their cousins down the road.