Drug problems reemerge after Portugal ‘beat’ heroin epidemic // ‘Turned it into a tourist market’: Traders question Bolhão renovation
Portuguese news in English on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Drug problems reemerge after Portugal ‘beat’ heroin epidemic
The presidents of the Alcântara and Campo de Ourique parish councils have sent an open letter to Lisbon’s mayor, the home affairs minister and the PSP police force noting their “grave concern”, Lusa reports. They said more people were using drugs in public in the valley between the two suburbs, where a whole neighbourhood became an open-air drug market in the 1990s, blaming the situation on the pandemic, housing crisis and a lack of public investment. They noted syringes left lying on the ground, an increase of homeless people living and using drugs in the area and an associated concern among residents.
João Goulão, Portugal’s internationally recognised drug dependency expert told Público and Rádio Renascença he wasn’t surprised at all. He said although there’s a supervised injecting room in the area, it’s not a magic bullet, and highlighted a lack of front line support services along with long delays for people wanting further treatment. Goulão noted the problem had slipped a long way down the list of priorities for both governments and citizens since the heroin epidemic and bemoaned the lack of interest in the subject in the current election campaign.
If you’re not familiar with the Casal Ventoso neighbourhood and how Portugal beat the 1990s heroin epidemic, this Guardian feature, in English, tells the story magnificently.
‘Turned it into a tourist market’: Traders question Bolhão renovation
Stallholders in Porto’s renovated central market are calling for a greater voice in the running of the market, fearing its original purpose as a fresh produce market is disappearing, Público reports. Criticisms of what’s seen as the new direction of the Mercado de Bolhão are growing, more than a year after it’s long-awaited reopening. Various traders are voicing their fears the market is being “destroyed” as it caters for tourists and locals stay away. They argue it has become a “food court” and “looks more like a shopping centre” than a traditional Portuguese market.
“I’m old, in a few years I’ll leave and they’ll give [this space] to something else that isn’t fish,” a historic fishmonger says. “They turned it into a market for tourists.” An association that counts multiple stallholders among its members is creating a new plan for the market’s future and demanding a greater say in how it’s run.
The council said the market would always be for fresh produce and it was just trying to improve conditions for those visiting, benefiting all the traders. It said the merchants had always been listened to and always would be.
Families bid goodbye to demolished neighbourhood
The last families have been moved out of Bairro de Jamaica, the neighbourhood on the south of the Tagus River being demolished after three decades as a precarious home for dozens of families, Diário de Notícias reports. The only building that remains of a suburb that grew from an abandoned housing project — and was predominantly populated by immigrants from African former Portuguese colonies — is subject to an injunction preventing its demolition. André and Celeste, who were among 23 families in the block demolished last weekend in the suburb officially known as Vale de Chícharos, praised the local Seixal council’s efforts to relocate the inhabitants. Since 2018, 241 families totalling 800 people have been moved out.
The council said it had decided not to build a new social housing project because of the stigma and associated lack of equality often associated with such zones. Instead, Mayor Paulo Silva said the former residents were moved to various parts of the council to help with integration. He said the council was speaking with the owner of the part of the neighbourhood that’s privately owned and planning an urban park with sporting facilities, a playground, parking and more for the public part.
This is only a tiny part of the story of a neighbourhood neglected for decades, where so many lives were lived in an area that had been practically abandoned. Documentary photographer José Sarmento de Matos has produced a powerful exhibition telling some of their stories. He also made a short film (with English subtitles) exploring the neighbourhood and the impact of the pandemic.
In brief
Portuguese prosecutors seek to annul environment permit for Savannah lithium mine. They allege the approval of the project, which could become western Europe's largest lithium mine, violates the law and could endanger the heritage site and the country’s international commitments. (Reuter, in English)
Hottest January on record makes it eight record months in a row. The global record came as Portugal experienced its strongest heatwave (5°C above the average) since 1941. (Público)
Human trafficking network allegedly made €3 million exploiting immigrants. More than 40 people are accused of trafficking, exploitation and criminal association against 55 immigrants from countries such as Timor-Leste, Moldova and Ukraine in the Alentejo. (Público)
President denies elections at risk but warns police forces. He warned it was important for the forces not to lose the “support” of the public as they protest for better wages. (Público)
Banks blocking accounts without up-to-date details. Immigrants and older people are among those most affected by a law requiring regular updates to account details. (Público)
Imported vehicle tax violates EU rules, refunds possible. Those who imported a used car after January 2021 should be able to reclaim some of the money they paid on ISV if they complain to the Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira). (Público)
Musicians, footballers, architects, actors and more call for government to recognise Palestine as state. More than 200 people signed a letter calling on Portugal's political parties to make the promise ahead of the March 10 election. (Público)
On a lighter note
Portugal has its first swimming world champion. It took Diogo Ribeiro 22.97 seconds to claim the title in the 50m butterfly at the world championships in Qatar, Público reports. The 19-year-old, who had already become the country’s first medallist with silver in Japan last year, beat American Michael Andrew and Australian Cameron McEvoy to claim the honour yesterday. He reacted well but started slowly in the first metres before getting his “motor” going and powering to the wall. Ribeiro said “the start wasn’t good” but he was “happy to be world champion”.
I would echo the sentiments of the vendors regarding the Bolhão market since re-opening. It's a lovely tourist trap - more akin to Time Out in Lisbon than a Portuguese municipal market. I was eagerly awaiting the reopening, but have been disappointed. I still shop there regularly, but wish it was more attuned to the community.