The Supplement #28

“Rumor travels faster, but it doesn’t stay put as long as truth” Will Rogers

ISSUE 28

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Saturday 10 March 2012

SCHOOL FINDINGS TO BE UNVEILED AT LAST Experts’ findings on Canarian education to be announced on 12 March ◗The findings of a group of inernational education experts who reviewed the Canarian school system are to be made public early next week, months after they were submitted to the Department of Education. The experts from the OECD spent a week visiting schools

and meeting with teachers and policy-makers back in June to come up with a diagnosis of the main problems suffered by the system, which is widely acknowledged as being among the poorest in Spain. Despite pressure from teaching unions and parents’ associa-

tions, the contents of the 65,000 word report have not been disclosed. The government insists the delay has been due to the need to translate the detailed document but sources have told the DIARIO DE AVISOS it was already available in Spanish in late October 2011.

EMPLOYMENT

Rivero warns of ‘burden’ of foreign jobseekers ◗Measures to alleviate spiralling unemployment are being hampered by the arrival of thousands of jobseekers from foreign countries, warns the President of the Canaries. Speaking in the regional Parliament this week, Paulino Rivero said that immigration rules should be tightened because the Canarian job market cannot cope with the burden of 20,000 extra people seeking work every year. ‘It is impossible to cut unemployment under such conditions’ he said.

HEALTH

Chemists’ relief after government pays bills ◗Chemists throughout the Canaries are breathing easier after the regional government kept its promise to settle its debts of millions of euros in unpaid prescriptions.

The chemists had threatened to stop stocking drugs and medicines until the debt, estimated at 120 million euros, was paid. Regional health minister Brígida Mendoza said on Wednesday that the arrears from last year have now been cleared.

The OECD education experts compiled a detailed report on the current state of schools in the Canaries. / DA

TOURISM

EXHIBITION

SPANISH MILITARY UNIFORMS ON SHOW UNTIL 16 MARCH

La Gomera gnomes woo German tourists ◗Berlin city centre was invaded this week by dozens of gnomes from La Gomera in an unusual tourism publicity stunt. The brightly-coloured gnomes carried postcard-type messages singing the praises of La Gomera’s warm weather and natural attractions.

Army uniforms dating back hundreds of years are on display. / DA www.diariodeavisos.com/thesupplement

◗500 years of uniforms worn by Spanish soldiers can be seen in a new exhibition running at the Army Headquarters on the Plaza Weyler in Santa Cruz. Some

60 uniforms plus information on wars and battles fought by the country’s troops since 1500, are on display until 16 March at the Capitanía building.

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Saturday 10 March 2012

‘GET ON THE PADRÓN’ CALL BY CONSUL TO BRITISH RESIDENTS

400 disabled persons placed in jobs in 2011

Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife

DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Tenerife-based Britons had the chance to update their knowledge of pension, benefits and healthcare entitlements here and in the United Kingdom courtesy of the Information Days organised by the British Embassy this week.

Two sessions held on Tuesday helped clarify crucial points concerning residents’ rights and obligations, with a clear message from Consul Maria Leng that registration with local town halls is ‘strongly advised’ to ensure access to care and services.

Of the 80,000 UK nationals living in the Canaries at present, only around 30,000 have registered on the local padrón.

‘It is vital that people register in the town where they live, even if they think they do not need council-run services.

Their situation could well change in future and they might fall through the cracks because they are not officially registered in either Britain or Spain’ said Leng, who added that local government funding is based on the official padrón and it is essential for town halls to have an accurate picture of exactly how many people live in their area. ‘In addition to allowing you vote in municipal and European elections, registration can help make many processes a lot smoother’ she explained.

The information days were conducted by Leng and two colleagues from the British Embassy, Andy Hamilton, who reported on changes to passport processing arrangements for Britons abroad, and Lorna Geddie, who outlined the ins and outs of social security entitlement for people who have lived and worked in more than one European country. Geddie also clarified the rules governing use of UK-issued Euro-

pean Health Insurance Cards

by Britons here and advised people to take out insurance to cover contingencies not covered by the EHIC.

Fraud abroad The audiences (50 in Puerto de la Cruz and 300 in Los Cristianos) also heard about the British government’s drive to curb fraud committed by Britons living abroad who claim benefits as if they were still in the

United Kingdom. 79 million pounds were lost through fraud abroad from April 2010 to March 2011 and Spain is one of the top countries of residence for false claimants.

‘If you hear someone bragging in your local bar in the sun about how they are cheating the system, you might consider calling the Benefit Fraud Hotline (900 554440) to let us know and we will investigate’ said Geddie.

British consul Maria Leng (centre) with Embassy colleagues Lorna Geddie and Andy Hamilton. / DA

Yeremi investigation relaunch brings ‘useful information’

Power cable plans rekindle island pylon controversy

Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The kick-starting of the investigation into the disappearance five years ago today of Gran Canaria boy Yeremi Vargas has already led to what police describe as ‘useful information’.

Coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the Vecindario youngster going missing as he played near his grandmother’s home, the Civil Guard held a press conference in Madrid to publicise some of the leads they have been following since March 2007, including a mysterious white Opel Corsa car which was seen several times in the area on the day Yeremi disappeared.

Senior officers say they received 90 calls and e-mails in the 24

hours after the press conference and some of the information offered is considered ‘significant’. Yeremi was just seven when he failed to return home for lunch after playing with his cousins on nearby waste ground.

Theories concerning his disappearance range from abduction by a paedophile ring to organ trafficking, although the authorities have never publicly stated which of the lines of inquiry they attach more credence to. His family do not rule out a vendetta by someone with a grudge against them.

His disappearance is one of two of youngsters being investigated on Gran Canaria. 14-yearold Sara Morales from Las Palmas went missing in July 2006 as she went to meet friends at a city shopping centre.

The age-old debate as to whether high-voltage power lines should be buried out of sight or remain above ground has reignited with the news that new pylons and cables are to be laid between Tenerife’s two power stations at Las Caletillas and Granadilla.

According to plans submitted by electricity grid operator REE, a total of 124 pylons averaging 22 metres in height will be erected in the hills across six towns between the two stations. Only 10 km of the 47 km of cables needed will be buried underground and the prospect of more visible overhead cables and giant pylons has already

triggered angry reaction from conservationists.

Planners say all environmental impact issues, including dangers to birds and possible damage to pre-Hispanic archaeological sites in the areas affected, have been taken into account in the design phase.

They add that the pylons will be able to withstand wind speeds of up to 160 kmh and should not be affected by stormy weather, as has occurred on several occasions in recent years.

The pylons will be of the traditional type and not the controversial red and white cylindrical ones erected along the motorway in parts of the south of the island several years ago which have drawn stinging criticism as eyesores.

In the midst of the bleak employment situation that has seen the number of people out of work soar in the past year, some brighter news has emerged from a sector one would think would struggle even more in the current climate. The company set up by the Tenerife Cabildo to provide assistance and opportunities for the disabled (Sinpromi) managed to place nearly 400 of its ‘customers’ in jobs in 2011, while also providing training courses for a further 500 to help them improve their chances of finding work. Social services councillor and head of Sinpromi, Cristina Valido, said the success of the programme was nothing short of miraculous at a time when jobs are very hard to come by. ‘It is already extremely difficult for anyone to find work today but the situation is even more difficult for those who suffer from some form of disability. Thankfully, the training programmes we offer mean they are already prepared for the opportunity when it arises’ she said.

Parking initiative to enliven Los Cristianos DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Shops and restaurants in Los Cristianos are hoping to entice more locals back in to the centre of the resort by offering free parking. The new head of the traders’ association, Angel Bello, outlined the initiative this week as part of a series of steps being taken to inject new life into Los Cristianos. ‘Ideally we will attract the locals back to parts that, particularly in the evening, tend to be occupied almost entirely by foreign visitors’ said Bello, who took over his new role a month ago.

Under a deal reached with the big Valle Menéndez underground car park, customers of bars, restaurants and shops in the centre of Los Cristianos get free parking for up to two hours, on presentation of a stamped proof of purchase.

The association, which has 140 members, met recently with the mayor of Arona to discuss ideas for making the centre of the resort more attractive for shoppers.

The Supplement

Saturday 10 March 2012

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SPORT

Tenerife basketball’s Michigan duo Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Americans Levi Rost and Nick Moore appear to have little in common except that they play their favourite sport of basketball here professionally. Rost, married to his sweetheart from home (Leslie), is riding high at the top of the LEB Oro league with his club, Iberostar Canarias, and is a whisker away from promotion to the ACB and fixtures against Real Madrid and Barcelona next season, while Moore, whose dental hygienist wife Sandra is from the island, plays for a side (Tenerife) currently at the foot of the third tier of Spanish basketball and supplements his income by teaching English.

Thanks to the DIARIO DE AVISOS, however, they discovered this week that they share something else: they live just 90 minutes from each other in their home state of Michigan. After learning of their common origins, the pair came together for the first time for a chat about home and life on their adopted island. The encounter, at the Santiago Martin stadium, was an animated affair as they set about discussing Michigan basketball, specifically the previous night’s NCAA results.

SAILING

Hernández’s London preparations continue in Tenerife ◗Tenerife yachtsman Javier Hernández is putting in some extra training in the sea at San Miguel de Abona as the countdown to the sailing competition in London 2012 gets under way. The Naútico Club member, who competed for Spain in Beijing 2008, expects to spend much of April in England familiarising himself with the waters at Weymouth Harbour before the summer.

One would think that, having left the College scene long ago, their minds would be on other things but that is not the case.

Rost is adamant that NCAA basketball is ‘the best in the world, even better than the NBA’.

‘Anyone who has played at College will tell you that it is the best experience ever, particularly the March Madness’ both concurred. The catching-up extended also to coaches they played under and a ‘where are they now?’ review of mutual acquaintances from their College days - Rost at Western Michigan and Moore at Toledo (Ohio).

BASKETBALL

Cash-strapped Aguere lose more players

Levi Rost and Nick Moore did not realise they were from the same US state until now Moore (right) and Rost proudly fly the flag for their home state. / DA

Away from basketball, the pair did their best to promote their state as an ideal place for sports enthusiasts and a holiday location, although they admitted it would be hard to convince Tinerfeños to go to Michigan because

‘they have so much going for them here’, except the travel possibilities that come with living centrally. What do they miss about home? Here too, full agreement: four distinct seasons rather than the relatively equal weather year-

round here. While the food is reasonably similar to that at home, Rost misses the ‘much thicker pizzas’ although Moore, a fan of Middle-Eastern food, offered to show him where to find similar ones in Tenerife.

FOOTBALL

Big clubs warned of imminent funding cuts Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The two big football clubs in the Canaries will have to learn to survive with considerably less public money, at least for this year, says regional president Paulino Rivero.

Both Tenerife and Las Palmas have been told to expect a substantial cut in the sponsorship money they are due from the government in return for promoting the name of the Canaries on the mainland at away games. Initially due to receive 1.2 million euros, Rivero says the figure is likely to be around half that figure but he has no qualms about wielding the axe.

Speaking on radio this week, he said that there was no option but to cut funding to non-urgent activities in order to protect urgent

Tenerife’s win against Castilla was the fifth in six games. / DA

ones. ‘If I have to choose between keeping a school open or a hospital running and providing grants for sport and similar activities, I have no doubt what I should do

and I hope the clubs understand that’ explained Rivero, who has invited the two football clubs to a meeting on 22 March to outline his position.

On the purely footballing front, Tenerife play at home for the second week in succession on Sunday and will be hoping to capitalise on the momentum gained from the exciting win over leaders Castilla last week. Visitors La Roda, currently 7th, are no pushover and held Tenerife to a scoreless draw back in the autumn, while taking a deserved point at Castilla a fortnight ago also.

Reserve ‘keeper Razak Brimah stays in goal due to first-choice Sergio Aragoneses’ 2-match ban for his red card against Montañeros. Centre-forward Kiko Ratón misses the game due to suspension, having picked up his fifth booking against Castilla. With Tenerife’s immediate challengers facing difficult matches tomorrow, a win against La Roda would give the islanders a welcome cushion in second spot in the league. Tenerife have taken 15 out of a possible 18 points since the arrival of new boss Andrés García Tébar.

◗Division 2 ladies’ basketball side Aguere’s problems continue as two more players departed this week from an already depleted squad. Aguere are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone in their league and have been plagued not just by financial problems but by in-house fighting between coaches, which led to the sacking of first team coach Antonio Pernas recently.

CD TENERIFE

Fainting training scare for Rosquete ◗A few days after making his return to the first team against Castilla, forward Rubén Rosquete was involved in a health scare after collapsing in the dressing room before midweek training. The Icod player fainted as he was about to head out for the morning session and had to be taken to hospital for tests. Club sources said he recovered quickly and the tests were just a precaution.

FOOTBALL

Spain remain at top of FIFA world rankings ◗Spain continue to top the FIFA monthly rankings thanks to the convincing 5-0 win in the friendly against Venezuela last month. The world and European champions remain comfortably ahead of the Netherlands, who rise to second above Germany after the 3-2 away win against England at Wembley.

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Saturday 10 March 2012