Environmentalist and geographer Raimundo Quintal, founder of the Association of Friends of the Ecological Park of Funchal, used his Facebook page on Thursday, the 7th of May, to voice strong criticism of the Flower Exhibition included in the Flower Festival. The former councillor responsible for the Environment, Education, and Science of the Funchal City Council said the display, which had been on view since the 30th of April, had become little more than a pile of rotting vegetation. He described the situation as the result of a week after what he called a pompous inauguration. Raimundo Quintal urged the Regional Government to close the exhibition immediately. As an alternative, he suggested guided tours in the Municipal Garden, in the Santa Catarina Park and in the gardens of Quinta Vigia, which he said are very beautiful and worthy representatives of Madeira. He also questioned the cost to the treasury of the sad figure mounted in Largo da Restauração.
