The good councillors of Castro Marim council are a thoughtful lot and have decided to suspend the use of fireworks at two of the council’s main cultural events and instead donate the money saved to Madeira, in solidarity with those affected by the recent devastating fires in Funchal.
"The Municipal Council of Castro Marim today cancelled the fire firework programme at two of its largest cultural events - Festas em Honra de N. Sra. dos Mártires and Dias Medievais.
“This is to help the people of Madeira affected by the scourge of fire," according to the council’s Facebook page.
Francisco Amaral, the mayor of Castro Marim, feels a great responsibility and need to support these populations, adding that it is vital that forest protection be "considered seriously and as a priority" and that those found to have deliberately set fires should be punished.
