Inês de Medeiros, the president of Almada’s city council, addressed concerns over the Ginjal pier during a council meeting on Monday. The area has been closed off by the council due to safety concerns and deterioration, following advice from Civil Protection. There is an ongoing dispute between the municipality and the Lisbon Port Authority (APL) regarding responsibility for intervention.
“I call on all councilors and the political forces they represent to collectively tell the State that it is enough of wanting power but, when called upon, washing their hands like Pontius Pilate and saying that the municipality should bear the costs,” stated Inês de Medeiros.
The council president expressed her astonishment at the Lisbon Port Authority’s stance. In a communication received by Lusa on Thursday, the APL claimed that intervention responsibility at the Ginjal pier lies with the municipality and private owners.
When questioned by Lusa about the site’s degradation, APL responded that “although the area falls under port jurisdiction, it is not part of the public maritime domain” according to Public Domain Commission Opinions number 1884, dated May 11, 1954, and number 2051, dated July 26, 1955.
The APL asserts that its role, as per Decree-Law number 336/98, dated November 3, and Law number 58/2005, dated December 29, is to manage, license, and oversee domain public goods under its jurisdiction.
“Indeed, the Ginjal Pier, including the southern roadway and the wall, is private property, though bound by a public use easement, thus the necessary intervention does not fall within the scope of this Port Authority’s competencies,” the statement noted.
During the council meeting, Mayor Medeiros was highly critical of the APL’s position, stating she has responded to the APL with an official letter supported by legal arguments.
In the letter sent to the President of the APL’s Board, which was accessed by Lusa, Inês de Medeiros argued that according to its own statutes, the APL is responsible for maintaining the Lisbon Port area, which includes the left bank of the Tagus, from Bugio Tower to Ponta da Erva, encompassing Ginjal Pier.
Medeiros also expressed hope that the legally founded clarifications provided in the letter will “enable the resumption of the best cooperation between the entities” headed by both parties, considering circumstances determined by the alert declaration.
The Ginjal Pier area, from near the Cacilhas ferry terminal to restaurants at Olho de Boi, has been closed to the public since Thursday due to extreme degradation. The municipality announced Monday the construction of a physical barrier over two meters tall to seal the area, a project expected to last three days.
Inês de Medeiros explained plans for a wall and gate to prevent access, criticizing recent pedestrian gatherings at the site despite an alert and safety risks.
“Danger is danger, and the reason for deciding to put up a wall and gate is to stop such gatherings,” Medeiros stated.
Moreover, the council activated a Population Concentration and Support Zone (ZCAP) to temporarily house 50 residents from the Ginjal area over approximately two weeks.
These zones are created by Civil Protection to temporarily accommodate individuals displaced from unsafe areas, providing lodging and meals for a specified duration.
Almada’s vice-president, Teodolinda Silveira, explained that this zone would be located at Anselmo de Andrade Secondary School, with social services assessing each resident’s situation.
