As islanders of Ria Formosa gear up for a deciding moment in the fight to save their homes, a cheeky Olhão blog has asked if US Secretary of State John Kerry is also in line for a flattening by government-sanctioned bulldozers.
Kerry and his ketchup millionairess wife Teresa have constructed a veritable mansion on the banks of the Ria, near Cacela Velha.
Like the islanders, the Kerrys’ holiday home is on land that could be deemed “Public Maritime Domain”, writes Olhão livre blogspot.
Citing environment minister Jorge Moreira da Silva’s protestations that Public Maritime land “should be enjoyed by all, not captured by some”, the blog wonders if the Kerrys even know what is happening on their beloved “ria”.
Mozambican-born Teresa is of Portuguese extraction and is understood to value her roots and heritage.
“If John Kerry joined the fight against the demolition of ‘barracas’ (the pejorative term for the islanders’ homes made almost entirely of bricks and mortar), we could be certain that arms like those used by Islamic State would appear on pallets to combat Polis’ weapons of mass destruction,” writes the blog.
Urging islanders to “get Kerry on board”, the blogsite hints at the extent to which locals are desperate to save their way of life.
Only last week a new rumour began circulating in Olhão that Farol was used as an arms dump in the lead up to the revolution. It is believed to still have armaments buried at strategic locations.
