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.
