ISSUE NO. 1614
9 - 15 June 2016
Stop Press
AXARQUÍA - COSTA TROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
Gay is ok
DON’T MISS OUR EURO 2016 WALL CHART! PAGES 27 - 30
Arson suspected in mayor’s garden Nerja Mayor Rosa Arrabal’s neighbours suspect a fire which broke out in the gardens of their residential complex at the weekend could have been started intentionally and the fire brigade is investigating the matter. Residents of the complex on Calle Chaparil got a nasty fright on Saturday (June 4) when they noticed a smell of smoke at about 2pm and looked out of their windows to see flames. Local Police sped to the scene and evacuated the flats temporarily as a precaution, and residents grabbed fire extinguishers to try and control the blaze while the fire brigade arrived from attending another incident in Frigiliana. Luckily no injuries were reported although three people received medical attention at the scene having inhaled large amounts of smoke and for the understandable shock and fright. Trees in the communal gardens were burned and window blinds and awnings of the nearest building were destroyed by the flames, which residents say spread so quickly they think the fire was started on purpose. The authorities initially sus-
VELEZ-MALAGA’S Youth Department has launched its second exhibition in defense of human and gay rights with images taken
by Malaga students and chosen by Amnesty International and the Rainbow Federation. See page 4
No more renewals flickr by Sten Dueland
By Eleanor Hawkins
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
CHIRINGUITO contract-holders in Nerja are going to have to fight for the right to continue next year as the council has decided not to continue with automatic annual renews of their contracts, which officially ended in 2010. See page 5
Hope in sight THERE is hope for the tourism sector on the Costa Tropical as the government has promised to fund immediate repair work
on storm-ravaged beaches, just in time to stop the disappointment of arriving tourists. See page 7
Save the children A TRADE UNION has called for asbestos found in roofs and a water tank at two Axarquia schools to be removed immediately to avoid endangering children and staff at the educational centres. See page 8
Vicious attack pected that the fire had either been started by a dropped cigarette or was intentional. They are now analysing ashes and remains in search of anything which could have been used to accelerate the spread of the flames. While Mayor Arrabal was not at home at the time, her oldest son Javier was and received a huge fright, she said on Facebook that evening, as he had
come out of the kitchen to find their flat full of smoke and had no idea where it was coming from. “I would like to thank my neighbours, the Local Police, fire brigade and civil protection for their work,” the mayor commented. The incident has sparked debate on local forums over the reduced number of firefighters on duty in the town (three fight-
ers and one engine) and that the new fire station has yet to be opened.
A TEENAGER was seriously injured in a fight at an end of school year party in VelezMalaga, where another student allegedly tried to slit his throat
with a piece of broken glass. An 18-year-old was arrested and another teenager taken for questioning. See page 9