At a meeting of Lagoa Council last week, members of the public once again witnessed the indifference of council leaders to the destruction of one of the Algarve's few remaining wetlands - Alagoas Brancas, writes Geoff Blofeld.
While campaigners argued passionately against the destruction of the wetland council president, Fransisco Martins, shared a joke with his colleagues on the top table. Another council official ignored the proceedings completely and stared intently at his mobile phone.
Visitors from Portimão and other Algarve cities, witnessing a Lagoa council meeting for the first time, were shocked at the indifference of Martins to the views of campaigners.
Speakers included a lawyer, a town planner, and a biologist but this counted for nothing as Martins issued his customary evasive reply on the subject.
Bemused visitors wondered how Lagoa Council can boast about measuring it's environmental footprint while it sanctions the wilful destruction of nature on its doorstep.
Campaigners rightly ask, why does the president of Lagoa Council want to transform his city into a concrete jungle?
Why is the Portuguese language press silent on the subject?
Why are local residents, businesses, and even schools afraid to speak out against this injustice?
Why is there a lack of transparency and deliberate obstruction by the council?
These were questions which the visitors later asked local campaigners outside the meeting hall. Then, the president walked calmly by and ignored the group completely. They had their answer.
Comments
It is hard to argue with a monkey, you have to come down to it's level of comprehension and naturally you always loose the argument.
I support what you are saying, but there are a bunch of monkeys that often write a lot of fictitious nonsense and then give themselves a green thumb.
However, there are a small group who care about right and wrong and these contributors will point out the error of the monkeys way, on occasions.
I respectively disagree. There is not area innthe Algarve that is an environmental jewel..certainly not Ria Formosa and its seahorses..certainly not Praia Dona Ana in Kagos, certainly not Salgados..and as for the trash littering Costa Vincente...i rest my case.