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Re: Letter ‘Tax, tax and no more than tax’
Updated: 03-Aug-2012
1 - Dear Editor,
Senhora Umer writing from Germany as a Portuguese does seem angry about taxes; probably speaking as a German now, but she clearly has no knowledge of Portugal now.
It is not the expats who are the main complainants but Portuguese - austerity, tax rises. Anger from businesses about IVA and A22 tolls, which are driving away tourists. Health service reductions etc. etc.
Meanwhile, none of these austerity measures affect the Lisbon elites: ministers, politicians, bankers or even the troika who insist on the poor being squeezed, even pensioners.
Then there is her claim that non Portuguese are not needed (oh, how many times have I heard that cry?). Well, Senhora Umer, how about the following FACTS! A recent study by UC (University of Coimbra) shows the large areas along the border with Spain are being deserted by Portuguese but saved (new business, tax paid) by Dutch, British, German incomers. The same is true on the west coast.
As for the Algarve, Senhora Umer should read the ‘houses for sale adverts’ in the Algarve Resident and see how bad the market is or talk to estate agents, developers who will tell her that the market will not revive until non Portuguese come into the Algarve.
In your paper this week are the ever recurrent fires and who mainly is supporting the Bombeiros, with equipment, food, water, in appeals? Actually, Senhora, the same expats who support animal rescue centres, children’s homes, the disabled, mobile cancer screening and, now, a planned hospice.
Sorry, Senhora Umer and many others, including politicians - face facts. Who is really doing the supporting rather than just talking? In fact, if the Portuguese would only accept (many do but they are not in power anywhere) the need of tourists, expat residents who provide about 95% of the Algarve’s GDP and finally involve them in policy making and plans, we might just get out of the mess that bankers and politicians made - TOGETHER!
D Taylor-Smith
By email
2 - Dear Editor,
Regarding the letter in your July 27 issue from Maria Valentina Umer of Germany, I object to her comment that ex-pats “have nothing to contribute to Portugal”.
My late husband and I bought our house and car here 30 years ago and furnished and fitted the house from local shops.
I still employ local workmen and pay my local and income taxes, support the Bombeiros and pay insurances to a Portuguese company.
For many years I was involved in a local charity which helped the old, poor and sick of this town, as well as supporting the Bombeiros, a children’s home in Loulé and providing special furniture, laptops and computer games for the paediatric unit at Faro Hospital.
We also donated many thousands of euros to the new Radiotherapy Unit in Faro.
You only have to see that ex-pats were amongst the first to organise help for the Bombeiros during last week’s fires and who but ex-pats run the charity shops and animal shelters in the Algarve?
I am not alone in my contribution to Portugal so please direct your comment only to those people living here permanently, but illegally, many of whom include your fellow countrymen.
Joan Martin
São Brás de Alportel
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