AMAL, the mayors’ group that likes to get together regularly and then make pronouncements, has done just that and professes it solidarity with the current mayor of Portimão, Isilda Gomes, because it says there is a strong possibility that the municipality will "be forced to close its doors."
Gomes’ latest problem is over insurance as she authorised a three year deal for €670,000 to cover the council’s buildings, vehicles and personal injury insurances but had not run it past the Court of Auditors.
Gomes claims the insurance is an extension of an existing agreement, even though it is with a different company, but the court judges say this is nonsense and she is just saying that to get the substantial amount through without having to ask.
This places the City of Portimão in a foolish and entirely avoidable position as without insurance it cannot function properly and, according to Gomes, will have to close its buildings and telll its drivers to stop using vehicles when insuraces lapse.
In steps AMAL, ‘a day late and a dollar short’ as ever and its current president, Jorge Botelho issued an appeal to the government for a ‘swift solution to solve the situation in Portimão,’ knowing that this will have zero impact, that the situation was avoidable had Gomes taken advice, may still be avoidable now by paying monthly for insurance albeit at a higher rate and that there is more to Portimão’s financial state than yet has been admitted.
See also:
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/3982-mayor-gomes-to-close-portimao-city-hall
