Discontented teachers mounted a two day vigil after Wednesdays strike in front of the doors to the Ministry of Education
Manchester United star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, was in Paris over the weekend to receive the Ballon dOr (Golden Ball) in recognition of his prowess as European player of the year. The 23 year old Madeiran-born football player claimed he was ambitious and the prize was a motivation for him in his career. He also praised his teammates without whom I couldnt have won, he declared, I have to thank them also. Ronaldo also professed that: Im happy at Manchester and want to stay.
PROPRIETOR: Algarve Weekly Lda NIF: 507968239 Depsito Legal: CA-853-2006 ICS Registry n: 125087 Head Office: Casa do Fim do Caminho, Stio das Seixosas, Ferragudo Postal Address: Apt 58, PT 8401-906 Ferragudo Editorial Office & Deliveries (by appointment only): Sito das Seixosas, 8400-216 Ferragudo Tel.: +Fax: +DIRECTOR: Fiona Perris - editor@getrealweekly.com

Students strike

Last Thursday marked another day of grieving for primary and secondary students demonstrating against the new management system deployed in schools, especially the creation of a director, as well as the regime governing student absences. Although the government recently bent on the latter issue, excepting those pupils from extra tests who are absent due to sickness, the students still claim this is not enough as other justified absences are not included, like the death of a family member. The Ministry of Education did not place much importance on the students actions and it claimed that all the schools in the country were functioning normally, although all over the country protests were reported. In one particular demonstration in Viseu, around 2.000 demonstrators threw apples, eggs and cakes at policemen, with some of the projectiles also hitting reporting journalists at the scene. The violence was justified, according to a source for the students confederation, because police had launched pepper gas at the demonstrators, as well as tearing up some posters. The authorities denied these accusations.
ADVERTISING: Charles May Tel.: +David Perlmutter Tel.: +ads@getrealweekly.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: classifieds@getrealweekly.com 564 CONTRIBUTORS: Jayne May Paul Rees Janet Johnstone David Rees Tom Wilson Lynne Booker Frances Holman Sara Hunt Quentin Pratt Ian Reddin Lusa www.sic.pt DESIGN & GRAPHICS: Ricardo Marreiros Sara Hunt Emma Daniels PRINTED BY: Ingrasa, Cdiz - ES PRINT RUN: 10.000 copies Distributed free throughout the Algarve

SOMALIA

Tightened security at major airports
Following threats received by email, police and military authorities have stepped-up security measures at major airports in Delhi, Bangalore and Madras (Chennai), advising passengers to arrive at least three hours early and to be prepared for long waits as customs officers and police carry out thorough searches. Security cordons have been set up around the airports and checks are being performed on every vehicle that enters and leaves. Local sources report that a new terrorist group, Deccan Mujahadeen, has claimed responsibility for the threats, as well as the recent attacks in Mumbai (Bombay) that left more than 188 people dead. India stated last week that the terrorists were connected to rebel groups based in Pakistan, although the Islamabad government has denied any responsibility, adding that they will do all they can to help in bringing an end to terrorism and will severely punish any terrorists who are operating within their national territory. US State Secretary, Condoleezza Rice, during a recent meeting in Islamabad with Pakistans PresIRAQ

Humanitarian crisis

Local aid workers are desperately seeking to divert the publics attention away from the acts of piracy that have been threatening shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia during the past few months. Head of the International Red Cross (IRC) committee, Alexandre Liebeskind, said that the situation is becoming so desperate that families are resorting to eating their prized camels and even their nanny goats, negating their only chance of future food and production of the vital milk supply. Due to the continuing fighting between rebel factions
and the lack of a stable government, the IRC has been obliged to rely on local Somali aid workers to reach desperate communities in an ever-increasingly difficult task. This comes after the IRC was forced to evacuate all international staff and the organisation compares the crisis to that of the countrys great famine in 1992, when hundreds of thousands of people died from starvation. IRC officials have appealed to neighbouring countries to open their borders to allow the transportation of emergency supplies into Somalia.
A demonstration of unity by activists of NGO Pakistan India Peace Initiative
More melamine found in eggs
After the discovery that melamine may be used in animal feed, various cases of tainted eggs have been found in at least four brands, putting an end to the governments hopes of preventing further scandals. In the most recent case which came to light last week in Hong Kong, the food and safety authority said that the eggs produced in Dehui, in the north-eastern province of Jilin, contained almost more than twice the recommended safe levels of the toxic chemical, adding that they had also discovered contaminated chicken feed at the factory. Health inspectors have

The cost of corruption There is really no sure way to ascertain how much public and private money is lost due to corrupt practices. Nobody publicises how much they have received from bribes and quite often its not just money that exchanges hands, as material gifts and supposedly free-of-charge services may be offered in place of financial inducements. And, measuring the cost of the human tragedy caused by corruption is impossible to evaluate. Damaged environments, lack of educational and health facilities, drug and people trafficking Who is corrupt? and loss of copyright are just some Some will argue that the fight of the unquantifiable costs of coragainst corruption is just another rupt practices.
Although the European Union and other Western European countries rank at the top of Transparency Internationals (TI) 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), this years results show that there is no corruption-free zone in and around the EU.

PHOTO LUSI

www.transparency.org
Corruption Perceptions Index
The annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), first released in 1995, is the best known of TIs tools. It has been widely credited with putting TI and the issue of corruption on the international policy agenda. The CPI ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. Various sources are used to obtain the scores including Country Performance Assessment Ratings by the Asian Development Bank; Country Policy and Institutional Assessment by the African Development Bank; Bertelsmann Transformation Index; Country Policy and Institutional Assessment by the World Bank; Economist Intelligence Unit; Freedom House, Nations in Transit; Global Insights (formerly World Markets Research Centre); World Competitiveness Report of the Institute for Management Development; Merchant International Group; Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Hong Kong; Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a composite index, using data compiled or published between 2007 and 2008. Thirteen surveys of business people and assessments by country analysts from overall eleven independent institutions enter the CPI. The strength of the CPI is based on the concept that a combination of data sources combined into a single index increases the reliability of each individual figure. All sources employ a homogeneous definition of extent of corruption. The assessments are gathered from experienced respondents and enhance our understanding of real levels of corruption. Comparisons to last years index should be based on scores. However, such comparisons are not always perfect when changes in the composition of sources occur. Non-parametric statistics are used for standardising the data and for determining the precision of the scores.

The top six, UK, Ireland and Portugal Country rank 32 Country Denmark New Zealand Sweden Singapore Finland Switzerland Ireland United Kingdom Portugal 2008 CPI score 9,3 9,3 9,3 9,2 9,0 9,0 7,7 7,7 6,1 Surveys used 6 Confidence range 9.1 - 9.4 9.2 - 9.5 9.2 - 9.4 9.0 - 9.3 8.4 - 9.4 8.7 - 9.2 7.5 - 7.9 7.2 - 8.1 5.6 - 6.7 In Portugal corrupt favours are nowadays commonly referred to as a Saco Azul (Blue Bag). The name was also given to the case involving the mayor of Felgueiras municipality, Ftima Felgueiras, with charges of abuse of power and embezzlement, among others (see get real November 11, etc.). According to the Grande Dicionrio da Lngua Portuguesa (The Great Dictionary of the Portuguese Language -1945), compiled by Antnio de Morais Silva, it was the designation given to a sum of amounts from unofficial revenue from which payments were made for unexpected expenses arising from certain public services. Because state funds had to be strictly managed and itemised specifically, the existence of a Saco Azul allowed for more flexibility in the system. Only with time did the term gain illicit connotations, either because such unofficial monies were gained by corrupt means, or because they were not registered and only a restricted number of people were aware of the transaction. Saco Azul
Those at the bottom of the ranking 180 Iraq Myanmar Somalia 1,3 1,3 1,1.1 - 1.6 1.0 - 1.5 0.5 - 1.4
Here are a few facts from Transparency International:
Portugal: Investigations of corruption involving prominent sports figures captured public attention in Portugal during 2008. The country, with a CPI score of 6,1 in 2008 down from 6,5 in 2007, also had its first-ever successful investigation of an illicit campaign donation. Extensive public discussions of proposals for a new approach to anti-corruption, along with a failed plan, dominated public discussions in Portugal and may have affected perceptions. gation raised acute concerns over the UKs international obligation to combat corruption. The UKs score went down to 7,7 from 8,4 in 2007. Bulgaria: Bulgarias CPI score now stands at 3,6 in 2008, down from 4,1 in 2007. Despite its accession to the EU, the country is still wary of tackling political corruption, which is closely linked to a very high level of organised crime. During the past two years, corruption in public procurement and strategic concession deals, a judiciary paralysed by corrupt structures and the misuse of EU funds dedicated to the countrys development for which it faced recent sanctions - have countered Bulgarias success, heavily damaged its international image and reduced trust in national institutions. cy in election campaign finance has shaken faith in Finlands politicians, many of whom were embroiled in a scandal related to campaign financing for elections held in 2007. The investigations focused on a group of influential entrepreneurs who contributed to the campaigns of prominent leaders from the government and the opposition. A discussion on political corruption, unprecedented in its extent, was consequently triggered. Finlands CPI score decreased from 9,4 in 2007 to 9 in 2008. Nigeria: When Olusegun Obasanjo, now President of Nigeria, criticised the corrupt practices of the dictatorial regime of Sani Abach, he was was imprisoned. He once commented that in African tradition, A gift is made in the open for all to see, never in secret. Where a gift is excessive, it becomes an embarrassment, and is returned. Japan: A study carried out in 1993 showed that as much as 40 per cent of imported Malaysian timber was under-declared, drastically reducing tax receipts for the government. It was, in fact, the Japanese governments tax officers who were making the false declarations and pocketing the difference. The corrupt cooperation between loggers and government also hurts the Malaysian people on the whole, as the money made by logging companies does not flow back into Malaysias economy. A Swiss activist for the rights of the Penan, a nomadic people in the Malaysian rainforest, has been missing since May 2000, after he successfully drew international attention to the problem of the unscrupulous logging of Borneos woods. fireworks factory in Enschede burst into flames. The explosion reached such catastrophic proportions because government health and safety officials had turned a blind eye to serious security breaches with regard to storing explosives on the factory premises. In return for remaining silent, the officials are said to have received free fireworks for years. Even an illegal enlargement of the factory was legalised by the authorities after the works were completed. The local government official in charge of monitoring fireworks factories in the area admitted to not knowing the specific regulations on the storage of explosives. Although considered an expert, he hadnt read the relevant literature, nor had he taken part in any training seminars. He had only followed the instructions of his superiors, one of whom was Holland: In May 2000, 950 people arrested on corruption charges just were injured and 22 killed, when a two years ago.

United Kingdom: The UKs anticorruption credentials within the OECD and other major international groups has clearly suffered a setback following the December 2006 decision to discontinue a criminal investigation of British Aerospace Systems (BAES) in relation to the Al Yamamah contract in Saudi Arabia. The decision to stop the criminal investi- Finland: A lack of transparen-

Going native

As a tourist visiting Portugal, life couldnt be simpler. The wish of everybody here is to ensure that the tourists stay is an experience of a lifetime and that they return to their own home relaxed, refreshed and, hopefully, with the wish to return again for their next holiday. Tourism is, indeed, a major income for the nation and everything is geared towards offering the tourists all they could need and desire.
Certain etiquette is ingrained from an early age

By Ian Reddin

The country is rich with culture and the weather is temperate, with about 3.000 sunshine hours every year, permitting visitors the luxury of an all-year round possibility to enjoy their holidays. Of course, the summer season is the busiest, with millions of holiday-makers enjoying the beautiful coastline and expansive beaches every year, but winter, too, offers the visitor plenty of opportunities to pursue their favourite leisure activities. Golf courses abound, new greens are being developed and constructed all the time, and there are such breathtakingly beautiful nature reserves across the country that every type of eco-tourist, from birdwatcher to dolphin-seeker, will be satisfied. Portugal is famous for its gastronomic delights, each and every region offering a variety of different traditional dishes to excite the palate, and the vineyards produce the highest quality wines to accompa-
ny the delicious meals. From petiscos (similar to the Spanish tapas) in locals tascas, to international cuisine in exclusive restaurants, everybodys tastes are catered for, and all usually at extremely affordable prices. And no need to worry about not being understood, as most Portuguese who come into contact with foreign visitors will be able to converse in their language to one degree or another. The Portuguese people are warm, courteous and generous and, as discoverers of all four corners of the globe, are well practised in the art of communication. For those foreigners residing here, however, a little more effort is required. Social etiquette As with any nation, there are local habits and traditions that need to be observed to avoid embarrassing moments, so take some time to learn at least the daily courtesies used in greetings and personal contact. A simple bom dia, faz faADVERTISEMENT

Lagos - 2 bed apartment. Brand new 2 bed apartment with private garage and spectacular sea views. Ref: A-003. Asking only 262.000. Elite Realty - AMI Silves - Very spacious new 2 bedrooms 7974. Tel: 441. Email: info@ eliterealty.eu apartment furnished with bathroom, living room, equipped kitchen, veranda, private parking. Close to all facilities bank, restaurants, coffee shop, supermarket and university. New apartment only 102.000. Remax Albufiera - AMI 5101. Tel: 054. Email: jmantunes@remax.pt Aljezur - Vale da Telha. New 3 bedroom villa with pool. Many extras 295.000. Private Sale. Tel: 177. Lagos - Sra. da Gloria. T2 and T3 under construction, situated close to the centre. Modern finishings. Prices from 146.475. Garvetur S.A - AMI 1427. Tel: 159. Email: Felix@Garvetur.pt Lagos - T2 and T3 under construction. Panorama views. Indoor heated and outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, gym. Quality finishings. P.O.A. Garvetur S.A - AMI 1427. Tel: 159. Email: Felix@ Garvetur.pt Vilamoura - Golf. Newly constructed Mediterranean style apartments and linked villas located in prestigious Vila Sol golf course. Spacious terraces, gardens, walkways and communal pool. Ref: G-003. Starting from 245.000. Elite Realty - AMI 7974. Tel: 441. Email: info@eliterealty.eu
Vilamoura - 3 bedroom villa, in a 1310m2 plot with 305m2 of construction area. 3 bedrooms ensuite, kitchen and living room with fireplace. Outside there is a garden with swimming pool and BBQ. Ref: VLM0518 950.000. Sandbrook Real Estate - AMI 8120. Tel: 884. geral@sandbrook-realestate.net Lagos - Marina. Off Plan apartments. Off plan investment opportunity. One, two and three bed apartments situated close to the Marina and beach, includes communal pool. Apartments include A/C, barbecues and some appliances. Ref: A-021. Starting from 170.000. Elite Realty - AMI 7974. Tel: 441. Email: info@eliterealty.eu
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Monte Canelas - New 3 bed villa with swimming pool. Close to completion. Ref: 1766 425.000. Minita lda, Silves - AMI 777. Tel: 510. Email:sales@ minitarealestate.com Aljezur - Arrifana. Brand new villa, with 3 bedrooms ( 1 suite), kitchen, spacious sitting room with fireplace, central heating, A/C, garage, pool, 2 minutes to Arrifana beach 430.000. Algarve best villas - AMI 7193. Tel: 627. Email: iferreira@bpiw.net Moncarapacho - Brand new apt in Moncarapacho with underground parking. 1,2 and 3 bedroom options available. All mains services, including A/C and roof terrace with BBQ. Got to be seen. Ref: 1086a. From as little as 100.000. Russell and Decoz Real Estate - AMI 870. Tel: 785. propertyrussell@mail.telepac.pt Aljezur - Brand new villas with 3 bedrooms, garage and swimming pool, built on plots with more than 900m2, most have sea views, near the beaches of Arrifana and Monte Clrigo Prices from 260.000. AG Albino Soc Med Imob Lda - AMI 2826. Tel: 949. Email: info@ag-albino.com
Praia Da Luz - Studio apartment in Luz centre with sea views, 2 mins walk to Luz beach, Fully equipped kitchen, Separate bathroom, balcony with view over communal pool and Luz, Newly refurbished, Fully furnished and equipped. Ref: A0027 80.000. Your Choices Real Estate-AMI 6988. Tel: 500. Email: claudia@ allyourchoices.com Alvor - Spacious studios, fully furnished and equipped, sea view. 50m to the beach. Prices from 65.000. Protealvor Lda. AMI 1374. Tel: 001 / 437. mail@protealvor.com

APARTMENT T1

Lagos - Opportunity. One bedroom apartment, 3 minutes to the town centre, near finanas. Big balcony. Storage space 80.000. Imo Barlavento AMI 5843. Tel: 065. Email. helio@imobarlavento.com
Albufeira - Olhos Dgua Cond. Oceanus Jardim New top floor, one bed and 2 baths, fully equipped kitchen (Bosh), A/C, intercom video, electric shutters, double glazed Lagos - New 2nd floor apartment windows, 1 parking space in the within private complex including garage and lift. Communal garden pools. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and pool. Total area 101m2. Sea view, and quality finishings. Views over Lagos - New two bedroom 10m. from the beach. Good potential city walls to Meia Praia beach. Good townhouses, inserted in a new for rent 235.000. Bidezanove, Lda. investment. Ref: S468. Reduced to condominium with pool and gardens, Tel: 909. Email: anabela. 275.000. Togofor Homes Lda - AMI private parking. Located in a very quiet bidezanove@sapo.pt 6902. Tel: 568. Email: info@ area, just 150metres from the Boa togoforhomes.com Albufeira - Olhos Dgua Cond. Vista golf course. 10 minute drive to Oceanus Jardim New one bed the beach and town centre. An ideal penthouse apartment, huge veranda holiday property and for holiday lets. Alvor - New 1 and 2 bedroom with BBQ, fully equipped kitchen 250.000. AG Albino Soc Med Imob apartments w/ 2 bathrooms, private Lda - AMI 2826. Tel: 949. Email: (Bosh), A/C, intercom video, electric parking, pool. Central location. Ref: shutters, double glazed windows, 1 info@ag-albino.com PRA135 160.000. Protealvor Lda. AMI parking space in the garage and lift. 1374. Tel: 001 / 437. Communal garden and pool. Total Praia da Luz - Brand new 2 bedroom Email: mail@protealvor.com area 99.50m2. Sea view, 10m. from villa inserted in a small and beautiful the beach. Good potential for rent condo of 6 units with direct access to Portimo - New 2 bedroom 199.500. Bidezanove, Lda. Tel: the leisure centre and pool area. With apartment, fitted kitchen and spacious high quality finishings, has a garage 909. anabela.bidezanove@sapo.pt balconies. 118m2. Ref: PRA221. Prices with individual parking spaces and from 122.000. Protealvor Lda. AMI storage. 250.000. AG Albino Soc Med 1374. Tel: 001 / 437. Imob Lda - AMI 2826. Tel: 949. Email: mail@protealvor.com Email: info@ag-albino.com Praia da Luz - New 2 bedroom apartment. With sea view, 2 suites + one bathroom. Fully fitted kitchen. Ref: PRA236 245.000. Protealvor Lda. AMI 1374. Tel: 001 / 437. Email: mail@protealvor.com Lagoa - New 3 bedroom townhouse, with spacious backyard (80m2.) Ref: PRM83 180.000. Protealvor Lda. AMI 1374. Tel: 001 / 437. Email: mail@protealvor.com Burgau - Cama da Vaca. Townhouse V2 New. Amazing ocean views, unique location,fully equipped,with terrace, fireplace. Special Price 300.000. Private Sale. Tel: 198. Lagos - New one bed apt in the historic centre of Lagos. Closed Condominium with pool, childrens play area and garage. AC, Alarm system and BBQ on the terrace 250.000. AG Albino Soc Med Imob Lda - AMI 2826. Tel: 949. info@ag-albino.com Lagos - Meia Praia. New 1 and 2 bed apts at Meia Praia Beach, two minutes walking distance to the Lagos marina and 5 to the beach. With A/C, private parking, pool, security, mini-market, ideal for your holidays. Very high letting potential. Prices start at 160.000. AG Albino Soc Med Imob Lda - AMI 2826. Tel: 949. info@ ag-albino.com Albufeira - Solrio de So Jos. Fantastic T1, new, in private condo with beautiful gardens and pool, play garden, gym, squash. Great finishings, equipped kitchen. One bedroom, living room, bathroom with Jacuzzi. A/C, alarm. Large terrace, garage and storage. Only 165.000. Remax Albufiera - AMI 5101. Tel: 054. Email: jmantunes@remax.pt

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Plots of land for sale to build villa(s), apartments and hotels in good locations. Contact +033 605
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S.B. de Messines - Attached typical Algarvean house, with 157m2, situated in the old part of Messines, with 2 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, bathroom, storage, terrace and 968m2 of land, quiet location. Ref: 0675 100.000. Carlos Melo Soc. de Med. Lda - AMI 192. Tel: 585. Email: mail@ carlosmelo.com Carvoeiro - Carvoeiro club. Select condominium. Two bedroom end villa in small development with just six units close to Carvoeiro tennis club. Communalswimming pool and pretty communal gardens. Lounge / dining room, air conditioning and wood burning stove. Ref: CA 41 350.000. CarvoeiroAtlantico AMI 7319. Tel: 533. Email: camil@world.net.pt Alvor - 2 bedroom plus small office / childs bedroom. Double glazing. V.G.C. For quick sale 115.000. Private Sale. Tel: 250. Email: kazziniks@ gmail.com
Carvoeiro - V2 - 1 bathroom, lounge and adjoining dining room, fully fitted kitchen, storage and conservatory. Constructed area: 93m2 199.000. Vernon Lda - AMI - 956. Tel: 109 / 631. Email: vernon@mail. telepac.pt
Aljezur - Vale da Telha V2 villa with fireplace, storage and low maintenance garden. Ref: M08023 169.000. Confronto ML AMI 8106. Tel: 100. Email: imoconfronto@mail.telepac.pt Ferragudo - Villa Castelo. Townhouse with 2 bedrooms suite, A/C, balcony, terrace, views to Arade river 296.100. A Pinheiro / Remax - AMI 5453. Tel: 283. Email: apinheiro@remax.pt Monte Canelas - 2 bedroom villa with swimming pool. Ref: 1713 295.000. Minita lda, Silves - AMI 777. Tel: 510. Email:sales@minitarealestate.com Albufeira - Gal. 1 suite and 3 toilets 2 with bath, garage, BBQ, garden and pool. A/C, sea view, good access and well located near restaurants, hypermarkets and 2mins to the beaches of Gal, Evaristo and Castelo. Ref: Mralb6 V2 +1 320.000. Comprarcasa - AMI 4512. Tel: 999 / 942.
Salir - Near /North of Loul. 2 bedroom villa in superbly tranquil surroundings. Modernised with new kitchen and bathroom, lounge w/ attractive wood ceiling and separate dining area. Delightful gardens, swimming pool, BBQ areas and sun terraces with wonderful views. Possible to convert the garage and outrooms to one bed apartment. Built Area:120m2. Plot:1.345m2. Ref:v599. Price negotiable 295.000. Inside Villas AMI 5931. Tel: 011 / 983. Email: mail@inside-villas.com Loul - Goldra. Looking for a quick sale due to health reasons. Property comprising main villa w/ 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, further annexe (possible to convert into an apartment), garage, pool and borehole. Built Area: 200m2. Plot: 2.000m2. Ref: v161 299.000. Inside Villas - AMI 5931. Tel: 011 / 983. Email: mail@inside-villas.com Burgau - Cama da Vaca. V2 with amazing ocean view, unique location, new townhouse open space. Fully equipped, with solar waterheaters, fireplace, terrace. Private sale. New price. P.O.A. Private Sale. Tel: 198.

Montinhos Da Luz - Beautiful villa in quiet location. Spacious living room with fireplace, dining area, fully equipped kitchen, 3 bedrooms (1 en-suite), large patio with plunge pool, terrace. Ref: V0039 315.000. Your Choices Real Estate-AMI 6988. Tel: 500. Email: claudia@ allyourchoices.com
Albufeira - Spacious 3 bedroom townhouse situated on the outskirts of Albufeira close to all amenities. The property consists of entrance hall, bathroom with shower, fully equipped kitchen, large lounge with fireplace, large terrace with a Jacuzzi and BBQ. First floor has a large bed en-suite, another 2 beds with terraces. The basement has a large garage and a room with natural light that could be transformed in to a gym, cinema etc. Viewing highly recommended. Ref: 48008 280.000. Sunseeker Real Estate AMI - 5768. Tel: 501. info@ sunseekeralgarve.co.uk Albufeira - 3 townhouses with a shared swimming pool. Situated on a residential and quiet area with good views. The property has excellent areas and finishings. There is a garage for two cars and storage area.The ground floor has a lounge with a nice fireplace, dining room, bathroom and kitchen. The first floor has 3 bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and wood floors, the main bedroom is en-suite. Ref.48010 375.000. Sunseeker Real Estate - AMI - 5768. Tel: 501. Email: info@ sunseekeralgarve.co.uk Albufeira - Villa with excellent finishings, situated about 200m from Falsia beach. The property has a pool and a large garage with 170m2. On the ground floor, entrance hall, bathroom, study, fully equipped kitchen and a large lounge with a fireplace, 3 bedrooms, the principal bedroom en-suite. The property is located in a peaceful area, close to golf courses and 2 minutes walk from the beach. Viewing recommended Ref.58014 1.000.000. Sunseeker Real Estate - AMI - 5768. Tel: 501. Email: info@sunseekeralgarve.co.uk Praia da Luz - 3 bed villa. Brand new individual villas in private gated community. Three bed, three bath. Breathtaking country views. Includes individual pool. Ref: M-004. Starting from 423.000. Elite Realty - AMI 7974. Tel: 441. info@eliterealty.eu Lagos - 3 bed attached villa. 3 floor attached villa with 3 bed, 1 office and 3 bath. Includes fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, bbq area and pool. Enjoys sea views to Meia Praia. Ref: M-017. Asking only 350.000. Elite Realty - AMI 7974. Tel: 441. info@eliterealty.eu Silves - Fully renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom traditional Algarvean cottage with approx 120m2 on approx. 1,5 ha plot. Good access, electricity, telephone and mains water nearby. Situated close to Silves, the new Silves golf courses, beaches and all other facilities. Ref: RF143 220.000. Casas e Castelos Lda AMI 5480. Tel: 239 / 084. Email: casasecastelos@netvisao.pt Lagos - Bensafrim, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, single storey 170m2. Large garden 3.000m2 outskirts of village 270.000. Private Sale. Tel: 589. Carvoeiro - Small detached villa, refurbished. Hall, lounge / dining, 3 (4) bedrooms, 1 bath, guest cloakroom, fitted kitchen, laundry, pantry, terraces; small pool/garden. Ref: VP-1113 318.500. Villas Prestige - AMI 3755. Email: vmota@vprestige.com

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SAILING
Sailing Club Lagos 256 Sailing Club Tavira 654
Rococco Rochas Naturais, Moveis e Artigos de Decorao, Lda Rua Direita, Praia da Luz, Lagos 035 www.rococcostone.com

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Dino Lagoa 296 PAAF Almancil 728

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IBC Almancil 703 Bonau e Filho Fuseta Tel: 485/6 Fax : 488 bonau@bonaulda.com www.bonaulda.com

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Fernando M. Loureno Lagoa 534 Frederico J. A. Filh Loul 861
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Loja dos Candeeiros Lagos 892 Celeste Parchal 632

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Iberia Blue Lagos 116 / 421 Ocean Pools Lagoa 772 / 779 Fernando Martins Lda Faro Tel: 597 Fax 599 www.fmm.pt info@fmm.pt

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BOATS / WATERSPORTS
Shetland cabin cruiser - 2 birth, sun canopy, fish finder, Eninrodesohp trailer, many extras. 5.500 ONO. Tel: 666. Ref: MC311. Offshore sailing suit- Helly Hansen, XL, 65. Lagos area, Tel: 583. Ref: MC286b Automatic life vest - 275NM, not used, with lifeline and reserve set 98. Lagos area.Tel: 583. Ref: MC286a Fletcher Arrow 21 boat - 150HP Outboard Motor, 8 Passenger. Trailer, Equipment & Inspection thru 2013. 8.000 OBO. Tel. 085 Email: Marum@iol.pt Ref: MC273 FANCY DRESS - Hire and sales. Fabulous, traditional and novelty outfits. Wigs, footwear. All sizes. Tel: 194. Ref: DB97-106a

FANCY DRESS

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
Gaming table - like new. 300. Chess, cards, roulette. Almancil Tel: 277. Ref: MC298b IPHONE - New. Only 350. Almancil. Tel: 277. Ref: MC298a

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE

Caravan Tabbert Comtesse- 680 1995, Very clean & tidy with awning, cassete toilet etc. 6.600 Tel: 556 snoopy.anette@freenet.de Ref: MC315

Unsustainable growth

The article about property prices in Portugal (get real November 18) was a bit skimpy. Sure prices are holding up reasonably well (banks have only downgraded prices five per cent every year for the past three years in the Algarve), but what is the use of a high price if there are few or no purchasers? And what about the future? While builders are still building more apartments, the existing empty ones wont sell. Ultimately market forces of supply and demand will kick in and prices will drop. Already my own property website which gets three million hits a month has seen Portuguese buyers drift almost to nothing. Then there are those who have bought off-plan deals over the past two or three years. I wrote a book about it quoting instances where properties were advertised at 15 per cent discounts when they really represented 100 per cent mark-ups. Some 3 bed terraced properties at one development were being sold for 600.000. Those prices were insane. At some stage reality has to raise its unpleasant head. If they were bought for investment purposes somewhere along the line the mug who bought has to sell into the second-hand market, and will have to take a serious loss, thus putting even more pressure on the market to the detriment of the rest of us. In Praia da Rocha there are whole apartment blocks which are empty year in year out. In Lagos there are vast swathes of suburbia which are silent. Behind me is a new village with about 100 units. I have only ever seen six occupied. For the past two months only one place has been occupied. One can rent out the places of course. But look at the maths. Those 3 bed places mentioned above will rent for 1.000 a month if youre lucky. Thats a return on capital of two per cent. With in-

FOTO TIM SMITH

A cry for help!
Vilamoura XV rugby club have had what is probably their worse start since the clubs creation in 2001 having played four, lost three and scored 21 points against a deficit of over 300 points. This start must be partially contributed to the Vilamoura authorities being apparently reluctant to provide facilities for the team that carries their name and wears the Vilamoura emblem on their backs. This season has seen the team being movef from the Hippodrome arena to the Parque Desportivo with NO changing facilities, NO showers and for the pre-season training sessions NO training ground. Vilamoura XV is possibly the only team within the Algarve that plays in a national first division and it is unfortunate that prospective and past players have become disillusioned with the facilities provided and have chosen not to represent the club. It is to hoped that for the rest of the season the teams fortunes will improve and they remain in the First Division and will still be able to represent Vilamoura in playing the many overseas sides that are requesting opposition for their tours next April /May. Anyone who is interested in playing or supporting in any way, please contact 219. John Wilson

Humble offering

According to Mexican legend, around the 16th century, a young girl named Pepita was saddened by the fact that she had nothing to offer the Christ child as she made her way to the local church for the Christmas Eve mass. Her enlightened cousin told her that even the humblest of gifts was acceptable, as long as it was given with love and Pepita then had an idea. She gathered a bunch of weeds from the roadside creating a small bouquet, and, although embarrassed, she placed her gift at the altar. The villagers in the church could not believe their eyes when the scraggly bunch of weeds bloomed into bright crimson flowers, claiming that it was a miracle. The plant was henceforth called the Flor de Nochebuena the flower of the Christmas Eve.
Did you know? Until the early 1990s, an American family monopolised the poinsettia market, ferociously guarding a secret which hindered others from producing a full, compact plant, much more desirable than the natural weedy look. The secret, eventually discovered by a university researcher, involved grafting two different varieties of the poinsettia together. The Americans appointed December 12 as Poinsettia Day, commemorating the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851.

PHOTO J D FISH

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consumer advice Financial products Cheated!
Some months ago I went to my bank to place my savings into a limited term deposit account, and I wanted to place my money in a risk-free savings scheme. They showed me a certain account and told me that it was the most advantageous, without saying anything about risks. Now I find out, by chance that, in fact, my money has been placed in investment funds and I have lost thousands of euros. At the bank they tell me this is due to the financial and property crisis. DECO Answers In this case the customers savings were not put into a limited deposit account as was the customers express wish and unfortunately, in our office, we have received many such complaints. The reports are similar and ever more frequent, also due to the serious financial crisis we are currently facing. But this is not what the consumers are complaining about. The losses are due, primarily, to the violation of the banks duty to inform, sometimes due to the salespersons lack of knowledge about the product they are selling and other times for purely commercial reasons. The relationship between a bank and its customers is always based on mutual trust, with higher expectations in relation to the bank, being as it is generally considered a serious entity. But being as there are exceptions, DECO warns: that which you choose, may not actually correspond to your wishes. In order to manage your savings correctly, analyse and compare various financial products. There are different ways and different values of income, as well as different levels of risk. The more secure investments tend to earn a lower rate of interest or final revenue. Depsitos a Prazo (limited term deposit account) are the most secure, and most sought after, type of account and the customer should always negotiate the interest rate. Certificados de Aforro (government guaranteed savings bonds) offer an attractive premium for loyalty and are also without risk. Avoid structured products (ICAE), normally those proposed by the banks. The majority do not make what has been promised and some do not even guarantee the capital invested. For more information contact our office or visit our website www.protestepoupanca.pt

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What you see may not always LATE NEWS: Lisbon rubbish piles up be what you get!

PORTUGAL

Now that interest rates have come down, is it time to re-mortgage? Unfortunately , it is not always obvious whether this will save you money or not will the spread between the base rates charged by the lender be lower than your current deal?
By Adrian Hook, Partner Property Finance Blevins Franks
Another thing to consider is the fee - how much will it cost to move lender? In Portugal there are now lenders that offer fee-free remortgages; even ones that offer to pay the early repayment charge set by your existing lender. In times like these, like any other times, I find there is rarely a free lunch! One of the first pitfalls to watch out for is the insistence from the new provider for you to buy or change to their insurance products. One lender, for example, will offer a lower spread if you buy their insurance; this in itself is no bad thing, but you may then find out that to qualify for the reduced spread you must also have at least two direct debits going from your account with them - it is compulsory to have a current account if you want a mortgage with most if not all lenders in Portugal. So little by little
the lenders will pull you into using more of their banking services. They will offer credit cards and loan facilities now you have a current account with them and the story goes on. Now, cross-selling is no new thing and has been used for years in financial services, but unlike the UK, the mortgage industry is not regulated here and you must consider this before believing that what you see is what you get - it may well be what you get is more than you thought. So what is a good spread? How do you spot a good deal? Of course, I would say use a professional mortgage consultant but here are few things to consider. When comparing spreads, you need to know what the starting line is and what the banks base charge line is. Unlike the UK system of each lender setting their own SVR (Standard Variable Rate) - Im sure you read about that post 1,5 per cent cut to interest rates in the UK - Portuguese lenders will start their base
lending rate on some version of the Euribor rate. This should be straightforward, you would think, but no! Each lender uses different time spans of this rate to calculate their base payment rate. Example: Lender A uses base 6 months Euribor 3,956 per cent with a spread of between 1,5 per cent and 2,5 per cent - so your top pay rate could be 6,46 per cent, lowest rate 5,46 per cent. Next we have lender B who uses an indexed average of the 3 months rate of 5,113 per cent with a spread between 0,4 per cent and 1,5 per cent - so maximum pay rate 6,61, lowest rate 5,51 per cent. So even though lender B has a lower spread than Lender A, lender A may be the better choice. Remember that fees play a part but the common rule is that if fees are not percentage based on the borrowed amount they play less of a role the more you borrow. My advice, as always, is get advice.