Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 264

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Vol. 11 Issue 264 www.theolivepress.es

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April 27th - May 10th 2017

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Mallorca’s original community newspaper

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Vol. 1 Issue 1

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April 27th - May 10th 2017

It’s a true Malaga has so much more PAGE 16

How the CEO of organized crime corrupted a town hall PAGE 8

Disaster zone? threat Superintensive olives

Page 6

COURAGEOUS tale

Tele: 00 350 200 51020 Century21 202-204 Main Street Mob: 00 350 56523000 info@century21gibraltar.com Gibraltar

pats and Spanish blasted Dave Woodward, 59. council for ‘giving in’ “They’re drowning us and the tourists who come to to we want to know why.” party areas for a quiet British singer Steffi Lore- the MORE than 100** island na, 25, says the limits are holiday. council are protectbar owners have staged a affecting the livelihoods of “Thethe wrong people,” one ing protest after being forced performers in the area. are to sing local exclaimed, “Theywho to install new €3,000 venues are required to in- “It’s impossible the protecting two Brits sound limiters. stall the limiters through within the new limits,” Ponca’s come for a quiet holiday It comes after Calvia the same engineering owner of Santa their holiday home in Council imposed new Retro bar told the Olive in company.

Magaluf and complain rules, in effect from May Once installed, the device Press. t the noise, it’s a dis1, in a bid to ‘reduce noise o u turns down “We opened the bar in about of business, it’s unreal,” automatically it goes over February and I was forced grace!” pollution’. bar owner the music if anonymously to But British and Span- Fennigan’s to fork out €3,000 on the Speaking Cormican, 55, told 62 decibels. if you the Olive Press, a British ish business owners say MickOlive Press.

Those found without a new limiter and in or bar owner who has been the have a loud crowd the new laws are ‘killing’ the island for more going by is louder limiter or going over the party hotspot and are “A carthe limit, it’s partic- limit will face hefty fines, they start clapping the on the 15 years claimed Cal‘prejudicing’ live music than prejudicial to live with some allegedly al- music goes down and you than is being maularly strain so much to via Councilby hotels and and karaoke venues. and karaoke bars ready being fined €6,000. have to nipulated a limiter be heard.

The limit is about the level music want to drive they simply cannot “I already have have “It’s got to a point where clubs whoaway from the of an air conditioning unit as within the sound that works fine and I to business at 100 feet and less than a perform never had a complaint,” it is actually damaging limit.”

Stepps, us performers, it’s just not bars. vacuum cleaner. of owner all said outrage, further “The new rules have been “They’re putting people In worth it.” by twisting Some of Lorena’s singer implemented spirit of the EU rules, friends have developed the instead of guiding Ent od qui dipsam et, nodules in their throats, and adapting us and givsimilitat. making them unable to and time for businesses to ing perform.

Igendelectis velis aut they are punishing “It’s affecting our work adapt,sanctioning us,” he ium velest, ilia voles and our health,” she add- and ed, “We could potentially said. find ourselves with mosapictur, sam delit not be able to sing any- “We paradox of having the laborias asimpos di more.” noise levels than in During a meeting of some lower industrial area of Son occab incipsam rempe 100 business owners and the performers, the mix of ex- Bugadelles.

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

Mafia town

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Expat bar owners protest over mandatory sound limiters that stop music louder than an air conditioner

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“The rules are impossible to comply with and lead to intimidation as the police are always allowed to fine the people who raise their voices!”

He alleged that clubs and hotels sell tickets from stands without the correct licenses but that the authorities look the other way.

“The council knows that the sale stands from the clubs break the rules as they use secondary licenses known as ‘Licencia complementaria’ when the primary license operating the business is closed,” he added.

Opinion Page 6

OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 12 April

Disaster zone Superintensive olive farming is wiping out aquifers

Page 6

COURAGEOUS

Captain’s amazing tale alongside South American druglords

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AN EVICTED couple have found a new home thanks to an Olive Press campaign.

Paul and Leslie Dunt from East London are now living in a finca in Cerralba, Malaga, after one month of living between a shed and a car with their 17 rescue dogs.

Their luck changed after bighearted fundraiser Joel Kennedy of the Help the Homeless Costa del Sol Facebook page spotted an article in the Olive Press detailing their plight and asking for people to donate to help them put down a deposit.

He gave them €500 left over from a group fundraiser and also loaned them another €400 to help them with their first month’s rent.

“We are overwhelmed and would just like to thank everyone,” said Paul, 56, whose ill health forced him to give up work, making it impossible for them to afford the rent on their old house.

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

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‘Bonnie and Clyde’ couple accused of rent deposit scam EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

Expats have called in police after a couple did a ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ style runner with thousands of euros in rental deposits.

Marco Molinari and convicted fraudster Natasha Marie Lambert, 24, fled to Italy from their La Linea home they had ‘illegally’ sublet this month, leaving a string of accusations in their wake.

Cross-border workers claim Molinari who ran La Linea based real estate company Tu Casa Click, and Lambert conned them out of several thousands of euros.

One former friend of Molinari’s, who works in Gibraltar’s gaming industry, was furious to discover the Italian had illegally subletted her a property without the owner’s consent.

She claims the couple took over €1,760 in deposit and rent from her before scarper-

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ROME RUNNERS: Couple Marco Molinari and Natasha Marie Lambert accused of stealing rent deposits ing in a van with their pet dogs to Malaga Airport and catching a flight to Rome.

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disappointed more than anything as he was a friend,” said the alleged victim, who asked to remain anonymous.

“I can’t believe he would do

that. They lied and were covering up between them all the time. The electricity was cut off the next day as they hadn’t paid their bills for months.”

She reported the matter to Spanish police.

Another former friend of the couple said he and his wife lost their €1,640 deposit on a Santa Margarita property.

He claims Lambert told him the property was rented and was no longer available after he had already paid.

“We tried to help her then they did this,” he said.“We were only earning minimum wage.

“It is not just disgusting. It is the disappointment. Tash was a good friend of my wife until she left us homeless.”

Sophie Dufraisse, a Sales Negotiator at Gibraltar’s KS Sotheby’s International Realty said she was ‘shocked’ to hear Molinari had accepted a €176 deposit from one of her client’s in the street.

“They ended up losing €176,” she said. “I know of a few tenants in Gibraltar who Marco did not show up for. He always had an excuse.”

La Linea restaurateur Daniel Ward claims he was left with unpaid bills of around €2,345 after buying a restaurant through Tu Casa Click.

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An advert for the property on the Tu Casa Click Facebook page claimed ‘there is no credit outstanding’ at the former Perejil Grill, now named Dannys.

Denying responsibility for any unpaid bills, Molinari labelled Ward ‘a dxxxxxxd’, a ‘txxt’ and a ‘stupid child’ when he complained.

The Olive Press also understands Molinari allegedly planned to buy a fake Italian driver’s licence with a different name and address while in Spain.

When the Olive Press tracked down Molinari to Italy he said: “I have already spoken to these people. It is all a mistake.

“That was from a long time ago. I do not want to know anything about that. I do not know what you are talking about.”

He denied still being involved with Lambert before hanging up.

Following the Olive Press call, Molinari contacted one person and promised to return her money the next day.

In 2015, Lambert was convicted of fraud by false representation at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court after conning renters in the UK out of €6,210.

She had falsely claimed a property was hers to rent to the victims.

Lambert was given a 12-month community order, ordered to participate in a rehabilitation activity and pay compensation to her victims, plus court charges.

A warrant was issued for her arrest in March 2016 after she failed to comply with the order.

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www.theolivepress.es News IN BRIEF

Full steam ahead THE Junta president has urged prime minister Mariano Rajoy to radically develop Andalucia’s train network on the 25th anniversary of the Sevilla-Madrid high speed line.

Susana Diaz said new investment in lines was essential to improving people’s wealth and opportunities.

Royal visit THE King of Spain’s visit to the UK has been postponed due to its clash with the June 8 snap election date. King Felipe VI will now visit with Queen Letizia from July 12-14.

Tongue-tied BRITS with a foreign language earn up to seven per cent more than their workmates, according to a new study.

But of 2,000 parents polled, 45% said their children had no second language.

Terror swoop FOUR people suspected of helping Islamic State kill 32 people in last year’s Brussels Airport terrorist outrage have been arrested by police in Barcelona.

Costa Brit expat in possible Madeleine Africa sighting

By Joe Duggan

MADELEINE McCann may have been smuggled into Africa by slave traders, a former Scotland Yard detective has claimed.

A girl looking identical to Madeleine was spotted on a trafficking route into Morocco by a Spanish-based British expat shortly after the child vanished from a Portuguese hotel in 2007.

It is feared Madeleine could have been smuggled to North Africa on a ferry from Tarifa, with Por-

CRIME

April 26th - May 9th 2017

‘Where’s mummy?’

MYSTERY: McCann

Disbanded

SPANISH authorities have broken up a major child porn network.

It’s been reported that 39 individuals involved have been arrested during an international operation against the network which used WhatsApp to distribute child pornography.

Police said the network operated 100 chat groups and had 135 users all over the world.

A large proportion of arrests were made in Spain (17), while others were made in Central and south American countries.

The files retrieved allegedly feature children of up to eight years of age.

tuguese police failing to seal the Spanish border in the hours after she disappeared.

Ex-British investigator Colin Sutton said gangs from west Africa regularly traffic children to Middle Eastern families via Morocco.

“If someone wanted to get a three-year-old child

No hiding place A BRITISH man has been arrested in Marbella for stealing luxury cars.

The 33-year-old from Chertsey in Surrey was apprehended on a European Arrest Warrant due to allegedly stealing two cars from a car dealership in Surbiton.

He was arrested in England after the crime was committed in January 2012 but was bailed and fled the country before the case was brought to court.

He will now be extradited back to the UK.

into Africa it’s the obvious route,” he told the Daily Mirror.

“The infrastructure and contacts for people smuggling are clearly there.”

In August 2007, Interpol detectives in Gibraltar were tipped off that a man had been spotted with a girl who looked like Madeleine in Tangier.

British expat Mari Olli emailed Leicestershire Police after claiming to have seen a ‘sad’ blonde girl with a man at a garage in Marrakech.

Worrying

“She turned to the man and said, ‘Can we see mummy soon?’” said Fuengirola resident Olli, “It was very strange to see a blonde, small girl standing alone in Marrakech.

“She was very small and normally you would hold her in your arms or at least her hand. And he was turning away from her.”

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Stories and features in this edition of the coast’s number 1 English newspaper

Family’s fury THE lover suspected of murdering missing Scottish expat Lisa Brown has been freed on bail.

A Spanish judge granted Simon Corner, 35, bail after a witness claimed to have seen Brown, 33, hours after she vanished from her Costa del Sol home in Guadiaro in 2015.

After paying a £8,365 bail fee Corner was released and will remain free until trial.

Brown’s sister, Helen Jordan, expressed the family’s outrage at the judge’s decision: “We’re shocked and disgusted.

But it won’t beat us, our work will continue to get justice for Lisa.”

It is feared mum-of-one Brown was killed at the home she shared with Corner in Guadiaro after police found buried objects close to the residence.

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

Gaga for Gaga

Not in my name

LADY Gaga has announced a second concert in Spain this September.

It comes a day before her existing date of September 22 in the Palau Sant Jordi.

Barcelona is the only Spanish city included in her Joanne world tour, and the two concerts here will mark the beginning of its European phase.

Joanne, released last October, is Lady GaGa’s fifth studio album.

It debuted at number one on the Billboard chart, making her the first female artist to achieve the status four consecutive times this decade.

EVA Longoria has denied any participation in the opening of a Marbella chiringuito.

There had been speculation that the Desperate Housewives actress had invested in the upcoming Playa Padre bar.

However it is a venture that her friend Maria Bravo is pursuing with partner Nicolás Escanez Galeras and Albert Beniflah Lallouz, who owns several restaurants in Marbella.

Bravo, creator of the philanthropic Global Gift Foundation, explained that as a friend of hers, Longoria will of course visit the bar, but she is not part of the business.

No bull

FILM star Javier Bardem has spoken out against bullfighting.

The revelation marks a change of heart for the Grancanario, who grew up watching the controversial sport with his dad and grandfather, a former rancher.

In an interview in El Mundo, Bardem, 48, said he was “not in favour of bull fights because they are completely outdated and cruel.”

He added, however, that he still had respect for any person who would put themselves in front of a bull.

Bardem will star as captain Armando Salazar in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, due out on May 26.

HOLIDAY: Morgan Schneiderlin in Marbella

Seeing double The Bogart and Bergman doppelgangers who have travelled the world

THEY left their love in Casablanca.

But Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman lookalikes have created the fairytale ending that the actors could not give their fans on screen.

Kenny and Tuula Whymark of La Alqueria in Mijas have been together since the day they met on the set of a Casablanca mock-up advert 20 years ago.

It was the only fitting outcome for the now retired English and Finnish doppleganger pair, who based their jet-setting careers around looking almost identical to the real

DOUBLE TAKE: Kenny and Tuula Whymark as Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman

EXCLUSIVE

By Chloe Glover

life stars.

“It was actually Slovenia where we met, not Paris or Casablanca,” said Whymark 81, who became a Bogart lookalike after he was spotted while working as an extra in London.

“We were filming an advert for Adria Airlines, which wanted to create a Casablanca style advert.

“We fell for each other straight away and ended up marrying.”

It is just one of the highlights of the pair’s lives, which has seen them

Taking it easy

MORGAN Schneiderlin jetted off for a ‘well-deserved break’ in Marbella with his fiance.

The Everton midfielder celebrated the team’s 3-1 win against Burnley with Camille Sold by relaxing on the beach.

He posted a photo of the pair on social media with the caption: “Best possible recovery after a game! #sun #love.”

Sold also revelled in the holiday spirit, posting a photo to her Instagram followers wishing them a happy Easter.

Schneiderlin proposed to Sold last month in the South of France.

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LOOK FAMILIAR?: Kenny and Tuula Whymark in Mijas

travel all over the world.

“I’ve performed everywhere from Dubai and at a 9/11 benefit show at the London Palladium to Florence’s Ponte Vecchio bridge and at Cannes Film Festival, had my own private jet and flown club class,” said Whymark.

“I’ve appeared as Bogart on a Bananarama music video and dozens of British shows such as Two Ronnies, The Little and Large Show and a Russell Harty chat show.

“I did lots of chat show and other work in Germany because they really love Casablanca there.

“I even met Prince Charles while performing in a sketch for one of his trust TV fundraiser shows.

Everyone in it was a double but when I saw him I said ‘you’re the real one aren’t you’ and he replied ‘yes, I do believe I am.’”

After meeting Kenny at the start of her career, Tuula, 49, regularly appeared alongside him at events in between modelling.

“We were treated as if we’re famous-we even stayed at a palace in Marrakesh where we were served champagne and brought food in silver dishes.

“We felt at times like we were living the lives of the celebrities although in reality we’re not like them at all.

“We’ve just worked hard at our acts, so much that Kenny definitely slips into character.”

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Thanks a million A HOLIDAYMAKER has praised a Malaga hospital that saved his life.

Gregory Johnston from Birmingham was rushed to the Hospital Regional Universitario Malaga after a freak fall onto a glass table cut the main artery and two nerves in his right arm.

Although the accident happened in Torremolinos in 1989, engineer Johnston said he thought it was now important to give staff proper thanks after spending time reflecting on his life.

“I had only been in Spain for two days when the accident happened,” said Johnston, 52.

“I was rushed to the hospital and underwent an emergency operation.

“When I woke up a doctor told me I was very lucky to be alive but also that I may never use my right arm again.

“This was very hard for me to take in as I was only 24 years of age at the time.

“But the staff, particularly two nurses called Rudy and Rosse, were fantastic.

“They helped me so much and were very caring-I think about them every day.

“What’s more, thanks to their care I managed to return to work in 10 months and now have 90% normal movement in my arm, which I am very grateful to them for.’

“The greatest people in the world are from Malaga.”

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

Brexit seminar comes to Sabi

EXPAT SUPPORT: Mayors and backers EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

A BANK whose multi-million-euro equity release scheme left hundreds of European homeowners ruined has failed to evict an 85-yearold British Alzheimer's sufferer in Ronda.

Landsbanki, which filed for insolvency in Spain in March, attempted to foreclose on the woman and her husband, but its recent Ronda court case against her has stalled.

It is thought around 350

MAYORS have offered their support to British expats in Spain.

Manilva and Casares mayors Mario Jimenez and Pepe Carrasco made their commitment at the Manilva Brexit Seminar in Sabinillas.

The event also brought together Charmaine Arbouin, British consul to Andalucia, Brexpats in Spain’s Anne Hernandez, councillor Dean Tyler Shelton and Derek Langley from the Chamber of Commerce.

Arbouin urged expats to sign up to the padron so central government can increase funding to local municipalities.

“If you’re not on the padron you’re doing your community and yourself a disservice,” she said.

Access to social care would be denied to those not on the padron, she said.

It is hoped more seminars will take place over the coming months across Spain.

Heartless

Collapsed bank fails to evict Brit dementia victim Spanish-based mortgage holders, many of them British, have lost an average of €5-600,000 each in the same

scheme.

The schemes, which allowed pensioners to borrow 100% of the value of their homes, have

been banned in the UK since 1990, but were sold to Britons abroad in the early 2000s.

“The couple in Ronda is one of the worst cases I have seen.

There is zero heart being shown,” said Antonio Flores, representing lawyer from

Two thousand mile aisle

A HORSE-LOVING couple are saddling up for an over 3,000km trek to their wedding.

Niki Fray and Mark of Cadiar in the Alpujarras will ride the length of Spain and France along the GR7 and E2 routes, which will end with them trotting down the aisle in Brighton.

Not content with the challenges of camping every night and long days in the saddle in order to make it back for their big day on September 2, they have decided to go ahead with the trip even

though Mark, 48, recently broken his foot after falling from his horse.

“We had always thought it would be lovely to let our horses see the green grass of England and when Mark proposed six months ago we finally decided to it,” said English teacher Niki, who moved from Brighton with Mark 15 years ago.

“We were meant to have already left but can’t now until Mark’s foot is a bit better.

“Hopefully we will be fine though as we

are used to long treks in the mountains near our house.”

Along with their two horses Rayo and Tio, pack horse Lorna will carry their provisions up to Gijon and on to Dieppe through eastern France, where they will catch a ferry to England.

The couple have set up a fundraising page to help them cover some of the costs of their trip at www.gofundme. com/2000-mile-aisle-on-horseback and a blog at 2000mileaisle.blogspot. com.es .

Lawbird in Spain.

“They came to Spain and bought a house worth €500,000. When these mortgage loans were taken out they massively overvalued the properties and gave them an €800,000 loan.

“They tried to foreclose on the couple, we asked the Spanish Prosecutor Service to represent her because she is incapacitated.”

The unnamed British woman signed the equity release scheme while suffering from dementia in 2005.

The Icelandic bank, whose officials face a criminal trial in Paris over the failed scheme, posted its insolvency adverts in a Spanish newspaper this month.

Landsbanki collapsed at the start of Spain’s housing crisis in 2008.

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

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feat u re

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION Call to arms

THE shock announcement of another British general election is the latest unintended consequence of Brexit.

But instead of feeling fatigued, Bremain in Spain campaigner John Moffett is right to suggest that expats should look forward to the vote as an opportunity to influence Brexit.

While it remains unclear if Brexit could be reversed if the electorate voted in enough proEuropean MPs, this is the only real opportunity to at least shape how the divorce is played out and minimise its unsavoury side effects.

Riot girls

THE reopening of a case against three feminist protestors is the latest example of how freedom of expression is stifled in Spain. Last month, a student was given a suspended prison sentence after tweeting about the 1973 assassination of Francoist Prime Minister Admiral Blanco. In 2016, three puppeteers were jailed for a show that referenced Basque terrorist group ETA. And Spain’s controversial 2015 gag law, which bans taking photographs of the police, has seen journalists fined and drawn criticism from human rights groups.

Three years after the Sevilla trio marched a plastic vagina through the streets of Sevilla, they are set to be hauled into court.

It seems a huge waste of time and resources.

Home sweet home

THE news that a homeless couple has at last found a new home is heart-warming.

Thanks to the Olive Press’s campaign and the charity of good samaritans, Paul and Leslie Dunt and their 17 dogs again have a place to call their own.

It is a reminder of the innate benevolence that exists deep within society.

If and when political or economic situations get tough and seemingly beyond our control, let us remember the power we have among ourselves to make lives better for one another.

Publisher/ Editor

Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Admin (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es

Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618

Accounts Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress.es

Joe Duggan joe@theolivepress.es Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es Chloe Glover chloe@theolivepress.es Designer James Partington design@theolivepress.es SALES: sales@theolivepress.es

Maria Angeles Vázquez mangeles@theolivepress.es Admin and account assistant Distribution Graham Warters distribution@theolivepress.es

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2012 - 2017

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A

SHRIVELLED fig tree, a stream flowing only with dust, scorched, grey earth and a litany of crumbling whitewashed houses sprouting For Sale signs. This is Gochar, a once proud, self-sufficient Almerian village, now almost completely deserted.

It is one of the most visible victims of the rampant over-exploitation of a precious aquifer dubbed the ‘last oasis in Europe’, which feeds this once-fertile region.

The Altos Agua aquifer lies beneath the semiarid badlands of Sorbas.

Now 400 times more water is being taken from it than enters, an alarming situation that is being blamed on a surge in super-intensive olive production in the zone.

Planted at a density of up to 1,800 trees per hectare, each tree extracts around 10 litres of water a day.

With four million trees estimated to have been planted over 2,300 hectares within the last five years, the olive groves of Sorbas are guzzling an unprecedented 40 million litres a day.

“They’ve bled us dry,” said Manuel Ramos, one of the last permanent residents of Gochar.

Born in the village 63 years ago, he has seen his beloved home wither and die as the water ran out.

April 26th - May 9th 2017

Crisis point

Chloe Glover investigates the havoc super intensive olive farms are wreaking in Almeria

Bled dry

He and his wife Ana, 59, are now totally reliant on costly water piped into their village by Sorbas Council.

“People robbed us of our water supply by drilling big wells on their land to access the water to irrigate their crops.

“It’s the olive plantations that are the problem, I know.

“When I was growing up the valley was full of fruit trees. It was a pretty village.

“We grew pears and oranges along with many vegetables, like tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages, onions, and garlic, thanks to the stream and irrigation line that ran through the valley.

“One hundred families used to live in this village and many of us could work on the land.

“But now the lack of water has forced them to move and find work elsewhere.

“We feel very let down by the authorities. There has been no fight among the people. As we were just a small village it made it hard to make a stand.”

On the other side of the village Juan Perez Ramos, also a native of this dusty soil, sweeps out the house he says he can only now use as a holiday home.

“It’s a disaster,” says Juan, who now lives in Barcelona.

“The problem really worsened 10 years ago.

“It’s just not viable for most people to stay. I miss my neighbours terribly.”

He pointed to a dried up irrigation line which was Clinging to a valley above a spring fed by the once buzzing with villagers washing clothes, and aquifer, Los Molinos has become a crucial site an abandoned school, which closed when the of study for biology and geology professor Jose population began to free fall.

Maria Calaforra of the University of Almeria.

Ivan Rodriguez, 20, and his two friends kick the He has studied the disappearance of water from dirt listlessly. the aquifer and is unequivocal that super-inten“We’re visiting my parents who sive olive farming is the main still live here,” says Ivan. catalyst behind the drought.

“I’ve had to move to Almeria as “The aquifer currently is 100 “It’s a disaster,” square hectometres in size,” I can’t work here. It’s a shame but what can we do?” says Jose. says Juan.

The fate of Gochar is a startling “We have calculated that it is reminder of what could hap- “The problem really now being over exploited by pen to other nearby towns and 400%. This makes it the most worsened villages reliant on the aquifer. over-exploited aquifer in AndaHome to 10,000 people, they lucia.

10 years ago.” include the town of Sorbas and “And I strongly believe that sua host of pueblos including Luper intensive olive cultivation cainena, Uleila, Bédar, Los Cais responsible for around 80% nales, Los Perales, La Herreria and Los Molinos this overexploitation. del Rio de Aguas.

“You only have to look at aerial pictures or In some places, like Sorbas, householders have Google Earth to see that the super-intensive to queue up daily to fill containers with drinking groves lie over the area of the aquifer. water from the tanker that now supplies them.

“What’s more, the rate at which the level has

Oasis of hope HORSES gently graze and flowers blossom among centuries old trees.

Tabernas’s Oro del Desierto olive grove is a different world to the huge super intensive farms it sits besides, which have been fingered for severely overexploiting the endangered Alto Aguas aquifer.

Held in his family for seven generations, owner Rafael Alonso Aguilera’s award-winning grove has been heralded by experts due to the sustainable cultivation method his firm uses.

“We use 1,500 cubic metres (m3) of water per hectare each year” said Alonso, 64, whose trees cover 126 hectares. This is compared with 5 to 6,000 m3 used in super intensive groves.

The importance of water saving is crucial to the future survival of Oro del Desierto, which is reliant on a small aquifer of the grove’s own.

“We don’t try to plant as many trees as we can on our land-they are spread out around five and seven metres apart,” he continued.

“Our irrigation pipes are planted 40cm deep to stop the water from evaporating.

“This system alone helps us to save 40% of water compared to the pipes that are laid on the ground, which are exposed to the in-

tense heat we experience in this area.

“We also use compost and avoid chemicals to help keep the soil moist.”

Water use is vigorously regulated through a computerised sensor system.

“We only take 30% of what’s available in the aquifer to enable it to recharge and remain healthy,” said Alonso.

“We irrigate maybe once a week or 10 days depending on both climatic conditions like temperature or wind and the sensors that measure the humidity of the ground”.

“We’ve been using this method for 20 years and it’s not failed us yet”.

“Our methods respect the earth. If we don’t respect it we won’t be able to use it in the future.”

The 176 prizes Oro del Desierto has won is testament to the quality of the olives produced using sustainable methods.

But although Alonso’s approach is known about across Spain, encouraging the much larger producers to adopt it is a huge challenge due to their drive to maximise profits.

Alonso’s grove is substantially s m a l l e r than those of the nearby olive producing giants, with only 204 trees per hectare in comparison to 1,800 per hectare, meaning less olives per harvest.

Alonso is also unwilling to expand his

SUSTAINABLE: Rafael Alonso Aguilera and (below) his water measurement system

grove despite increasing client demand due to not wanting to overexploit the grove’s water resource to allow his land to continue to be used by generations after him.

Whether super intensive producers will finally realise the gains to be made by adopting Desierto del Oro’s sage, long termist approach, remains to be seen.

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DROUGHT: Juan Perez Ramos (left picture, centre), Ivan Rodriguez (centre picture, left) and Ana and Manuel Ramos (right) rapidly dropped in the last five years correlates with the boom in the creation of super-intensive olive groves here.

“From studies taken at Los Molinos, we know that the flow of water was around 40-75 litres per second in the 1980s and 1990s.

“But in our 2014 study, this had dropped to only 3.2 litres per second.

“In 10 years, with an estimated reserve of 100 hectometres in the aquifer, and an overexploitation of 10 hectometres a year, the aquifer will be dry.

Jose first denounced the super-intensive groves to Andalucia’s Junta and Almeria’s council on Canal Sur news in 2014, via the campaigning group Plataforma en Defensa del Agua en Almería ‘Acuíferos Vivos’.

Other groups including GEM (Group Ecologists Mediterranean) and Ecologistas en Accion have denounced both the Junta and Medio Ambiente.

The New Environmentalists conservation group RESPONSIBLE?: David Dene stands on a bore hole in a super intensive olive grove has also spoken out, while Podemos recently pressed the Junta on its plans to tackle the issue. nated water from Carboneras, a three-pronged which is why the U N is now involved,” he says.

Some of the super-intensive olive groves stretch plan it believes could restore water to a safe level The depleting aquifer is also wreaking havoc on to the horizon. by 2027. the biodiversity of the area.

Tightly packed and only a couple of metres in But for Jose, these measures are inadequate.

‘There is a unique ecosystem not found elseheight, the ground they grow from is turning to “The issue here is a lack of real planning,” he said. where in world,’ states Ian Holborn in his 2016 desert.

“The desalination plan will be impossible in reality report.

Plastic irrigation pipes run down each tree as it’s far too cost prohibitive. The water will have ‘The associated flora and fauna of the habitats line, releasing the nutrients the trees need to to be transported a long distance and there is the that have lost flowing water will die.’ start producing in as little as three years - sev- expense of the process estimated at €60m.

Among the species he lists at risk are the Medieral years less than those farmed by traditional “The cost per ton could well be between €1 to €2 terranean turtle, Bonelli’s eagle, the Chamaeleo methods. which would leave olive plantations bankrupt. chamaeleon, the spur-thighed tortoise, the naWith no shade to protect the pipes from the heat “The only thing we should do is stop licensing trix natrix grass snake and the Mediterranean of the day, the loss of water to evaporation is them but the Junta has started too late. horseshoe bat. high.

“The overexploitation must be stopped by in- He also points the finger at the ‘intensive plantaA ride through the groves reveals a 50x200 me- troducing new laws encouraging cultivators to tions that are rapidly expanding around the park tre elevated reservoir that rises far above the move from super-intensive to traditional farming. and are a major threat due to the ‘high levels of trees with pipes running into the ground.

“This is where trees are at least five metres apart, water required for irrigation.’

According to Ian Holborn of New Environmental- take longer to reach maturity and are left to grow He blames the boom of the plantations on the ists who carried out a study in 2016, 41 of naturally, not ripped out of the ground and EU’s Common Agricultural Policy in Andalucía, these large water reservoirs now replaced after 15 years.” which granted subsidies to encourage agriculexist in the aquifer-depenBack in Los Molinos, David tural production and aid development of the dent area.

Dene voices fears for the rural economy.

All are associated future of the village that Tragically, the ransacking of the aquifer has with agricultural has been his home echoes around Spain. use. since the 1990s, a One hundred kilometres north In Los Velez, giLarge boreprogressive com- ant lettuce farms spanning 500 kilometres have ●● Over exploitation of holes are munity pioneer- been blamed for sapping dry an aquifer used by water refers to when more is found in othing half a dozen small scale producers for thousands of years. being taken out of the source than er parts of eco-living proj- Intensively irrigated olive groves near to the Guaenters it. the plantaects. dalquivir river in Cordoba and Sevilla have also ●According ● to scientist Jose Maria Calaforra, tion, all of David set up been condemned for overexploitation of water.

400% more water is now being extracted than which Dathe Ecocide el Meanwhile, WWF España has demanded the enters the aquifer. vid Dene, Rio de Aguas closure of illegal boreholes and irrigation sys●● There are now around 2,300 hectares of super an envic a m p a i g n tems in the wetlands of Donana National Park intensive plantations in the Sorbas area with an ronmental group and wetlands, which is also under threat of being estimated 1,800 trees planted per hectare. campaignF a c e b o o k drained dry. ●● That equates to four million trees each extracting an er from Los page after no- La Mancha is another hard hit region, with the average of 10 litres a day.

Molinos ticing the rapid Ojos del Guadiana and las Tablas de Daimiel ●● Calaforra estimates that the aquifer is now 100 village, bedrying up of the aquifers among several at risk in substantial square hectometres in size and only has a 10 year lieves conriver in 2013. part to thoughtless agricultural practices. lifespan if over exploitation is not stopped. nect to the “It’s an eco- The European Commission has stated that it is ●10,000 ● people would be directly affected by the aquifer. cide,” he says aware of the overexploitation of different sourcloss of the aquifer “These super inpassionately.“We’re es in the country and considers it a ‘systemic ●● Only 250 mm of rain falls in the area tensive plantations totally dependent on problem.’ per year. are creating an ecothe aquifer for survival.

Back in Los Molinos, David sits down with other logical desert,” he says “This village has been here villagers to discuss the next step in the camwith feeling. since Neolithic times but now it’s paign.

“They are devastating the earth as getting harder and harder to get our wa- A recent festival brought hundreds of people to well as rapidly depleting the aquifer. It’s crazy to ter due to the decreasing flow. the village, where the seriousness of the situaallow so many in a semi-arid zone.

“If nothing changes, we have no more than five tion was unveiled to them over the beat of live “These super intensive plantations are fully or six years left here. music. mechanised. They destroy work opportunities “This aquifer is the future for the next genera- “A problem we continue to have is getting for local people and rob small farmers and local tion. We need to stand up for them and nature.” enough people to speak out,” said David. communities of water. They are a spiral of disas- David has been busy taking on the bureaucratic “A lot of local people have links in some way to ter and destruction.”

Goliaths in his battle to save his village, and all the related companies of the growers.

Despite attempts by Olive Press reporters to the way to the European Union.

“This is why we need more people to help us contact super intensive producers in the area, He has denounced the EU for failure to enforce keep pushing this issue by joining our campaign none could be reached for a comment. directives under Nature 2000, he has fielded a and coming to our events.

The Junta has stated that all cultivators must question in the European Parliament and filed a “This, and demanding law from the Junta to pronow apply for a license to create a borehole, and petition for EU help. He has also enrolled a UN hibit super-intensive olive production in Almeria is beginning to crack down on those which are Special Rapporteur (Dr John Knox) on the Hu- province are the only ways we can make the poliillegal. man Right to a Safe and Sustainable Environ- ticians who have the power to stop them sit up According to a recent report, around 14 have been ment, and hopes he will urge the Spanish Gov- and listen.” sanctioned for illegitimately extracting water. ernment and the Junta to act on the issue.

The Junta has also suggested shipping in desali- “This overexploitation is trashing our human rights, See page 12 for more on Donana.

Focus on facts

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THE Olive Press has been named one of the best English news websites in Spain.

The best investigative newspaper in Andalucia was ranked fourth in the whole country by Feedspot, a global web content provider.

The Olive Press beat a host of English language publications including Costa Blanca News, The Leader, The Resident and Euro Weekly News, which did not even feature on

April 26th - May 9th 2017

Top of the charts

the top 15 list.

The Olive Press website, which gets an average of 150,000 unique visitors a month, also ranked higher than the Daily Bulletin of Mallorca, where The Olive Press will launch a new edition on this week.

It came close behind national newspaper website El Pais,

press agency EFE and European-wide news organisation The Local.

Websites on the list were ranked according to their Google reputation and search ranking, influence and popularity on social media sites, the quality and consistency of articles and Feedspot’s editorial team and expert reviews.

I

T gives me great pleasure to be launching a new edition of the Olive Press in Mallorca.

Our third issue, it will be the start of a steady expansion around the rest of Spain over the coming years to compliment our family of websites, which get up to 10,000 visitors a day.

And what a lovely place to launch our third issue. From its stunning countryside to its pristine beaches, and from its frenetic capital to its rich and varied restaurants, there is so much on offer on the Balearic island.

Yet, like so many people growing up in the 1980s, I had a vision of the island being full of Union Jack shorts and kiss-me-quick hats, all thanks to Lorraine Chase I guess.

So when, living in Madrid shortly after university, I was told that the King and Queen of Spain took their holidays there, I thought perhaps I’d better take a peep.

And what a surprise I got clambering into the Tramuntana foothills, which

IDYLLIC: Graves (inset), view from Tramuntana (above), Gong (top right) were as picturesque as anywhere on That, on the First World War, legendthe mainland. The hiking trails were ary in both its honesty and style. varied and well maintained, the views It was also home to cult 1970s band some of the best in Christendom, and Gong and Richard Branson's personal the villages friendly and charming.

Xanadu, La Residencia hotel, where I And then I found Deia; the home of could just about afford a cup of tea, Robert Graves, a writer I had first read its fabric aspiring a young writer in his at school. His tome, Goodbye to All early 20s.

The history so far

LAUNCH In 2006 the Olive Press launched it’s first issue in Andalucia

2006

2007

first 48 In 2008 the Olive Press published it’s first 48page issue, still with 50% editorial

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First supplement

In 2007 the Olive Press launched it’s website theolivepress.es

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PagE 7 Contact our Marbella Office: Avda De Manolete, Centro Plaza Local 12-13, Nueva Andalucia, 29660, Marbella, Malaga

Talking about the achievement, Jon Clarke, Olive Press publisher, said: “This is great news and testament to both the top-notch investigative reporting by our journalists and the quality of our website.”

“Coming fourth after a national newspaper, national press agency and a paper which has offices in a dozen countries is a fantastic achievement and one that we will seek to better next year.”

A decade in coming

The Olive Press launches a new edition in Mallorca this week, our third.

Here, editor Jon Clarke, waxes lyrical about the island he first visited in the 1990s

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Politicians call for to be permanently British Royal Navy gunships stationed in Gibraltar defiant National Day during speeches

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Blown away

The Rock’s leader was talking alongside his lawyer tine ahead of his wife Jusat National Day, key speech ‘most significant one of the He told the Oliveever’.

Press: “It is particularly auspicious this year with the day commemorating the 75th anniversary of great evacuation as well as comingof the Rock, in the week the Queen becomes the UK’s longest serving monarch.”

A highlight of his watching Kings of week was Gibraltar Music Leon at the Festival.

“Not at the front have got crushed,”as I would “But I was blown he joked.

I saw everyone’s away when hands in the air for Sex on Fire, the best rock song of the As for a date forlast decade.” election contest, his first rebe on November rumoured to “The only person 20, he said: who knows is my wife.”

In 2009 the Olive Press launched it’s first special supplement on Mijas. This was followed by the launch of the website www. allaboutandalucia.com, with now dozens of special exclusive reports on the region

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FIRST Minister Fabian Picardo has given a warm to the Olive Press’ welcome launch in Gibraltar.

The father-of-two paper’s original saluted the reporting and insisted his would give its fullgovernment aid our growth in support to “I am delighted the enclave. to cooperate and to ensure you the help you need receive all those who choose to inform Press for their news.the Olive “Welcome to the media stable in Gibraltar.”

DEFIANT calls battleships to be for British Navy stationed again

By Tom Powell Gibraltar have been in made during a raucous National got the biggest Day rally. cheer, when he A group of 11 British sisted inlivered rip-roaring politicians de- again the Royal Navy should - once - have battleships speeches focussing on recent tensions ly stationed in Gibraltar.permanentand backing Gibraltar’s with Spain “The people of Gibraltar right to selfdetermination. are a part of the Great British family and I would The Casemates crowd like to and white – echoed – a sea of red hend see a battleship here to appreany Spanish ship the patriotic sentiments as Chief to illegally enter British waters,” Picardo delivered Minister Fabian Democratic he said.

Unionist MP Ian centering around the final address, added: Paisley “These are our international a salute to the ‘evacuation generation’ PARTY MODE: of 75 years waters, this is our country, these Gibraltarians ago. our people and are inflatable barbary celebrate National we must support Linking it to the macaque Day with them.” current refugee sis engulfing Europe, cri“National he vowed to “We will never surrender this help as much as rock!” diminished.Day will never ever be cent he roared in a rousing years due to its In fact, it will only plea that ‘sharingpossible under the After environmental waving a letter ofaddress. bigger. We stand is caring’. get But it was Conservative together, red white impact – took place. ‘best wishes’ and from free!” he bellowed.

Then, as the crowds MP for finallythe Queen, the Chief Minister Romford, Andrew gazed up at the Following the speeches, vowed to Rosindell, who red and white speckled Day celebrations increase National tional releasing the tradi- Turner’s in years to come.

Simply the Bestsky, Tina which has causedof the balloons – through the blasted controversy in resound system, signalling the start of an almighty party.

1988

2016 GIbraltar magazine

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8

Mum-on-the-Rock’s Pokemon perils Autumn 2016

Issue 1

Gerald - last of the boatmakers In conjuction with

In 2016 the Olive Press launched a new Gibraltar magazine GibRocks.

2017 Mallorca launch

In 2017 the Olive Press launched it’s new Mallorca edition.

So it was perhaps fate that I should find myself back on the island a decade or so later inspecting idyllic hotels as a part-time job for guidebook Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay.

Not long set up in Spain in Ronda, I was honing my skills as a freelance travel writer at the Daily Mail having spent the previous five years as a news reporter there.

It was during three or four family holidays here that I really got to know the island, its variety and magic.

Perfect as a destination for young families, we rented amazing rustic farmhouses with friends from home and spent our days at the wonderful beaches of Mondrago and Formentor, before decamping early to a village square to sip rose, while the kids darted around and played.

It is fittingly just over a decade since I launched the Olive Press in Andalucia, with a second edition in Gibraltar two years ago, plus various websites and magazines.

It was born out of the need for a real newspaper to get away from the bland and turgid offerings that amazingly still exist on the Costa del Sol. A newspaper to both report on what was really happening around Spain, from its rich culture and nature to, polemically, its dark underbelly of corruption and crime, and particularly environmental abuses.

But above all, I wanted a newspaper to represent its readers, the millions of expats of all nationalities around Spain… to investigate their stories, hear their grievances and try to right some wrongs.

After all, giving them a voice is what a good local newspaper should be about.

I am proud to say we are now very much part of the local community in Andalucia and nearby in Gibraltar, as well as much farther afield through our website.

With our third edition in Mallorca we hope to get under the skin of the island and present it in a positive and original light, with a varied mix of stories.

We will also, of course, investigate wrongdoing and corruption and stand up for the little man, wherever he may be.

We hope to quickly become the expat community's eyes and ears in Mallorca, as we have here, the definitive leader for news and features on the Costa del Sol and by far the most popular paper.

That is our mission. And that is, after all, the DNA of any good journalist or newspaper.

I believe you deserve more than just regurgitated rehashed stories, fake news and Facebook to know what is going on.

Yours Jon Clarke Publisher The Olive Press Group

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Pro-EU campaigner urges expats and their families to use general election votes to push for soft Brexit

By Chloe Glover

A BREXIT expat campaigner has branded the UK’s upcoming general election ‘as good as a second referendum’.

John Moffett of Bremain in Spain insisted that expats had the power to influence the outcome of the EU divorce negotiations by backing pro EU candidates in the snap June 8 poll.

He said even those who have lived in Spain too long to have a vote could have an impact by urging friends and family back in the UK to vote for an MP in favour of ‘at least a softer Brexit or associate EU membership.’

“We need to focus on the positives-this is as good as we can get to a second referendum,” said Moffett, of La Herradura

OPPORTUNITY: John Moffett

Second chance

TIME is running out to register to vote in the upcoming snap general election.

Expats who have not already registered to vote from overseas have until Monday May 22 to do so.

However, given the complexity of the process, those living abroad have been urged to do so as soon as possible to ensure enough time to process their vote.

Only those aged over 18 who have been living in Spain for less than 15 years can in Granada.

“This is is an opportunity to change things for the better for Britain in terms of the Brexit deal it negotiates.

April 26th - May 9th 2017

Use your vote

register online or by post to have a say in the June 8 poll and must have their passport.

They must have been a registered vot-

“By choosing MPs who are pro remain and pro EU and encouraging your friends and family in the UK to do the same we can give a very clear

LOBBYING: Anne Hernandez

er in the UK before leaving or, if they were too young, must have a parent or guardian should have been registered.

Registrees may apply to vote by post but if in doubt as to whether there is time for your council to send a postal ballot in time for them to return it by 10pm on Thursday June 8, apply for a proxy vote instead.

To register, go to www.gov.uk/ register-to-vote

message to the Government.

“If we vote in lots of them, they could help influence leaders to head towards at least a softer Brexit or associate EU mem-

bership.

“I’m not suggesting it will mean the reversal of Brexit, although this was suggested as a possibility last week by EU

Please sir, can I have some more?

THE JUNTA has urged the government to rethink after it slashed employment grants.

Andalucia has lost €24.3m in funding to encourage more jobs and tackle long term unemployment this year compared to last, the only Span-

ish autonomous region to do so.

In a press release, the body demanded the state to up this year’s €682.61m grant to at least the national average per capita.

It also pleaded for the govern-

ment to create a new Employment Activation Strategy for 2017-2020 for the region, as the previous one ran out last year and to make all communities show how their own grants were spent to make the system fairer.

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Parliament president Antonio Tajani.

“Bremain in Spain will not take an official line on who to back but of course our focus in the coming weeks will be on the general election.”

Moffett, resident in Spain for 11 years, expressed the group’s disappointment at the ban on votes for Brits who have lived overseas for over 15 years.

This is despite a Government commitment to reintroduce them in time for the next election.

“We are angry and frustrated that the Government has broken its manifesto promise,” he said.

Anne Hernandez, Brexpats in Spain co-founder who cannot vote, echoed his sentiment.

“The 700,000 of us in Europe who were denied votes in the 2015 election and EU referendum feel totally disenfranchised yet again.

“The main point of this election is going to be Brexit, which has a huge impact on us.

“All we can keep doing is lobbying for change.”

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Brexit to sexit A FORMER MP has claimed UK politicians discussing going to war over Gibraltar are only doing it because ‘they’re too old to have sex’.

Labour’s Dennis McShane was speaking after Lord Howard’s claim that the UK would be willing to go to war with Spain amid rising Brexit tensions.

Former Royal Navy commander Chris Parry also warned Britain could ‘cripple’ Spain in any military action.

“The men making so much noise in England about Gibraltar are too old to have sex,” McShane told a Spanish newspaper.

“This was their last opportunity to have an erection and that's why they've started shouting against Spain."

McShane also used Spain’s north African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta as an example of Spanish doubled standards.

"Gibraltar is British in the same way as the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish. It’s exactly the same.” he said.

McShane also attacked British Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of Brexit, saying Spain was now ‘in a better position’ following the effective veto over Gibraltar in the European Council’s draft negotiating guidelines.

Nurses slam health service staffing in explosive leaked email EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

THE use of inexperienced staff is putting safety at risk in Gibraltar’s health service, according to an extraordinary leaked email.

The explosive email from concerned nursing staff to a Unite representative, seen by the Olive Press, accuses health authorities of having ‘no longterm plan’ for staffing.

It claims that a high turnover of GHA staff and the use of agency workers on night shifts is affecting safety and care.

The Olive Press understands a planned strike by disgruntled nursing staff last Friday was cancelled at the last minute following a meeting on Thursday with Health Minister Neil Costa.

The email states: “We are losing specialised staff nurses and their positions are covered by inexperienced staff or agency staff without experience.

“This affects safety, skill, performance and care provided to the patient and also affects staff morale.”

The workers also claim that different criteria is applied to British and non-British workers when staff contracts are renewed.

The email was sent ahead of a meeting on Monday between

gibraltar

April 26th - May 9th 2017

11

It’s not safe!

Leaked GHA email extracts “Night shifts are becoming very stressful because vacancies are filled with Agency Nurses without experience. The services provided at nighttime are expected to be the same, but the complement of staff is not. Bringing in inexperienced staff at night affects the safety and performance of our unit.”

“Contract workers are working for several months for the GHA without a contract and without knowing the duration of it. They are receiving very short notice for no continuation. The right to become permanent for people working for the GHA for more than four years is not guaranteed anymore. This creates an atmosphere of insecurity and low commitment which affects patient care.”

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, Unite the Union and the GHA. “There is no long-term plan.

They are using Agency Nurses to cover long-term needs,” it continues.

“The system is becoming more and more stressful by the high turnover of staff employed, with poor commitment as they know they won’t be guaranteed continuation of contract.”

The email went on to allege there was discrimination between British and non-British workers when contracts are renewed.

“Different criteria applies to British and non-British workers when it comes to terms of renewal,” the email said.

“We expect some discrimination between locals and foreigners, but now it seems also there is discrimination between British and non-

British.”

It also claimed that bank night nurses who had worked at the GHA for many years were informed ‘of the cessation of their working activity only the day before’.

The government had not responded to the specific allegations at the time of going to press.

However, following Monday’s meeting with Unite the Union, a government spokesperson said: “The Government and Unite the Union held a very productive and positive meeting in which a structured way forward was agreed to resolve all long-standing industrial issues at the GHA. “The Ministry of Health and

the GHA very much look forward to the successful resolution of these matters.”

Unite and government officials agreed a timeline to address staffing concerns on each ward, starting from May 8.

Meanwhile, independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon said there was ‘evident discontent among staff’ after being ‘flooded with grievances’ from GHA staff at ‘breaking point’.

Hassan Nahon claimed GHA sources had been urged by Unite officials to ‘not ask questions’ during the meeting with Picardo.

She called for the government to introduce an independent assessment into staff’s concerns.

12

G reen

www.theolivepress.es

Eco expo A HUGE green trade fair is coming to Andalucia this summer.

Around 27,000 people are expected to descend on Green Cities on June 7 and 8 at Malaga’s Palacio de Ferias y Congresos.

Among them will be progressive institutions and businesses promoting products and services to help Spain become more eco-friendly and improve residents’ quality of life.

Politicians will also attend the forum to debate green measures in areas such as energy, transport, education, government, economy and the environment.

Red flag MASS anti-bullfighting demonstrations have been called in Spain as the 2017 corrida calendar gets into full swing.

Animal rights activists took to Sevilla’s streets last weekend, while thousands representing some 50 protest groups are expected to attend a nationwide rally in Madrid on May 13.

The rallies were called to coincide with the beginning of the main bullfighting season in Spain, which will last from now until September.

Sevilla’s rally came after a week long pro-animal celebration organised by animal rights political party PACMA. Madrid’s march will go ahead on the same day as Madrid’s Feria de San Isidro, in which 27 bull fights have been planned.

April 26th - May 9th 2017

Junta cracks down on the water thieves of Donana

ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 53.50% Same week last year: 60.55% Same week in 2006: 60.49%

By Chloe Glover

THREE hundred illegal wells have been shut down in Donana in a bid to stop landowners from draining the precious wetlands dry.

Junta officials swooped on the sites which unscrupulous parties had been using to tap an aquifer on which the Sevilla and Huelva-based national park is dependent.

Parting shot

Unscrupulous The closures are part of an ambitious 15-year plan to crack down on the rampant overexploitation of the water source by landowners, who have been using it to irrigate their crops.

Legal wells are also set to be closed through the project to ensure water levels return to a sustainable level in the park, a crucial migration and breeding ground for animals and particularly transient birds from around Europe.

Crackdown The scheme also hopes to find a more environmentallyfriendly way for farmers to obtain water.

“We are aware that it is not an easy matter, nor one that can be resolved overnight, but the work does not stop and

Step in the right direction WALKING trails have been hailed as the key to sustainable tourism in Andalucia.

Teresa Rodriguez, General Secretary of Podemos Andalucia, said that the Junta should do more to showcase the region’s 10,000km of trails as a green, responsible and profitable way to attract tourists.

She made the remarks as part of her campaign to make the Junta bring in a new law called the

‘regulation of walking paths in Andalucia’ which would both protect and promote the routes.

“We need to stop this monoculture beach tourism,” said Rodriguez, who believes promoting walking routes would bring wealth to a much larger area.

“Some 37% of the surface area of Andalucia is part of a rich network of protected spaces and natural parks but this is really undervalued.”

several administrations are involved, not just the Junta but the government too,” said José Fiscal, the Junta’s environment councillor.

The announcement of the closures follows sustained criticism from environmental groups, who believe some well users have been granted amnesty.

According to a report by the WWF last December, it will take in-between 30 and 60 years for the aquifer’s levels to recover completely from the current overexploitation if action is taken now.

HUNTING in Spain could be on its way out as fewer aficionados rush to renew their shooting licenses, with Andalucia leading the way.

A total of 2,936 permisos in the region lapsed without renewal in 2016, much higher than in Madrid (1,803) and Cataluña (1,423), the other top regions with fewest renewals.

Andalucia also topped the rankings for most license applications denied, at 1,377, ahead of Catalunya (587) and Castilla-La Mancha (412).

The government released the figures following pressure by politicians to better regulate the industry but did not explain why the falls had occurred.

Animal rights group AnimaNaturalis heralded the fall in renewals, which it believes is down to ‘growing awareness and empathy’ of animal rights among young people.

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Party spirit JEDIS and Stormtroopers are set to march through the streets of Velez-Malaga when a new cultural festival comes to town.

The council has organised forty five activities including a Star Wars parade, graffiti contest, theatre, photography and literature talks.

Festival Z, running from now until May 1, will be much wider than the old literature festival (Feria del Libro) which previously took place at the same time of year.

Twenty authors from around Spain will travel to the festival, while those who enter the graffiti competition will stand a chance of winning €500.

Festival venues include Teatro del Carmen and Plaza del Carmen, with the Star Wars parade billed to take place through on May 1.

Outcry over plans for ‘great traditional’ bullfight

By Chloe Glover

A PETITION has been launched to ban a bullfight in Velez-Malaga.

Local resident Carlos Jimenez Narvaez is behind the campaign to stop the June 10 event, which he hopes will gain 2,000 signatures of support.

The bull fight, which will take place at the Recinto Ferial and feature famed Cordobes bullfighter Francisco Rivera and Manuel Barea, was branded barbaric by Jimenez, a digital marketer.

He created the petition in response to a statement by mayor Antonio Moreno Ferrer, who claimed the town had a ‘great tradition of bullfighting’.

Velez-Malaga last hosted a

a xarqu ia

April 26th - May 9th 2017

A load of bull!

OUTRAGED: Navarez speaks out

fight in 2012 and does not have a bullring of its own.

“Where is the art in the killing of an animal and leaving it to suffer in agony?,” said Jimenez, who now lives in Madrid.

“They speak of tradition but we have never had a bullring in Velez-Malaga where these acts are celebrated.

“Together we can try stop this from happening instead of sitting idly by.”

Moreno defended the fight, which he said would place the town on the map.

“The show will make our

Taste the traditions

town a place to visit and we thank the organisation that has chosen this town to organise it, where we have a great tradition of bullfighting.

“We invite all the fans to attend the show as an additional incentive to our offer of the sun and beach.

“We believe our businesses will benefit thanks to the visitors who will arrive in our town for it.”

To sign the petition to stop the fight, go to http://bit.ly/2pC3736

Unity in the community

CLOSE-KNIT: Lux Mundi members on a day trip

ANYONE who’s lived on the Costa del Sol for a few years will have heard of Lux Mundi, but they might not know exactly what it is.

So in order to showcase their charitable work to the public, members of the foundation in Torre del Mar are hosting an open day.

Taking place on May 19 at its base on Avenida Moscatel, the

day will help people understand what Lux Mundi does to help the community.

The day, running from 11am to 5pm, will also be an opportunity for visitors to find out about the activities and services it offers, including day trips.

The Lux Mundi foundation was set up in Torre del Mar in 1994 and has also had a base for over 40 years in Fuengirola.

FOLKLORE traditions are set to be revived for a new generation with a day of fun activities in Nerja.

Dance, parades, music and tastings will be on offer at the Dia del Folklore Tradicional on April 28.

Taking place in various locations, it will showcase ‘lots of customs and dances that are still unknown’, according to councillor Anabel Iranzo.

Neighbourhood group Barriada de Las Protegidas is behind the event, which will take place throughout the day and evening.

To see the full itinerary, go towww.nerja.es/prensa/img_notas/programa.JPG

Celebrate good times A LONG-RUNNING cultural week is returning to an Axarquia village.

A flamenco night, procession, nocturnal orienteering and fancy dress day are among the 30 activities planned in Benagalbon from April 28 to May 7.

Horse riding displays, literary events and music are also part of the programme, along with an open-air painting contest.

The mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, which the village sits near, hopes the week will both showcase the wide array of talent on offer in the pueblo while encouraging more visitors to visit it.

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LE TT E R S

www.theolivepress.es Happy holidays

Number crunching

It's just so difficult to imagine the huge magnitude of the events that take place in Malaga and the small villages and towns all over this lovely country (Rejoice in Andalucia’s Spectacular Semana Santa Events, issue 263).

Semana Santa is a wonderful experience to see just once in your lifetime.

You'll never, ever forget the magnitude of the experience and it will live with you forever, whether you're religious or not.

4.7

- Recorded increase of traffic on Andalucian roads in 2016.

40%

less fruit and vegetables are being eaten by Spaniards following a cold start to the year which caused increased prices. arrests.

Bren Taylor, Warwickshire

Red flag

115 The age of Europe’s

LA CULTU RA s

www.theolivepress.e

I’ve s h Petbeen Pos

15 April 12th - April

to a couple of bull fights Spain and enjoyed it a little more than the bulls did (Massive bull gores Spanish matador through throat, tongue and mouth at his debut bull fight, online).

I appreciate the risk and bravery of the bull-fighters, the atmosphere, music and friendliness of the other spectators but I’ll never go again and hope it fades away sooner rather than later.

April 12th - April

25th 2017

25th 2017

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oldest person, ana María Vela Rubio, who lives in a care home in Barcelona.

Our roundup of the best nearby Semana Santa processions, writes Laura Duckett

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residents upcostumes are normal visitors to the holding the fervently-held religious both residents and nazarenos by year.

SEA of robe-clad streets and country every cover their faces in tradition. is where most choose to march down the instruments The nazarenos shame for the sins Andalucia of festivities, with spend the week choices being Seechos of brass a steady os- mourning and the year. the most popular committed throughout and drums form (capirotes), tra- villa and Malaga. alTheir conical hats of the parades and crimitinato.

If you’re not sick you can see during are familiar to those ditionally worn by clowns Scenes like this what the magic a physical manifestation an ready here’s festival. one nals, are that have experienced first glance, it’s Santa, and as of this shame. At but underneath the the colourful that is Semana and most lavish sight, of Spain’s largest hotly anticipated unnerving celebrations, it’s

A

237 Number or organ transplants performed in a

Follow us on Facebook ‘Posh Pets Spain’

Sevilla

Mijas

to grown accustomed the centre will have Those who live in beat of the bands persisting throughout hunthe steady drum the sun sets, floats (tronos) carryingof the the night. And as surrounding lovingly carved statues streets. dreds of candles Christ light up the is La MadrugaVirgin Mary and Jesus until of Sevilla’s processions The most famous takes place from Maundy Thursday dressed da (dawn), which this, you’re likely to see women emoGood Friday. Duringflamenco dresses expressing their in black lace and Andalucian dance.of Good Friday, as tion through the iconic climax on the morning at the city’s cathe-

The processions and floats arrive is Giralda and the the nazarenos, bands to watch this from and dral. A good place Flags, palm leaves the whiteBishop’s Palace. flowers inject with a washed streets while flourish of colour their heavy floats weave narrow way through the streets every day.tell the The processions of story of the Passion music, Christ through floats and movement. sight, It’s an amazing resiand one the proud of dents – a community and exSpanish natives to pats – look forward each year.

quarter in Andalucia, (January - March) breaking the previous record.

Marbella

place evProcessions take includery day in Marbella, march ing a sombre silent which on Maundy Thursday Holy Sepdeparts from the passes ulchre Chapel and town through the historic centre. through The tronos carried more the town often weigh and the than 5,000 kilos, at differprocessions start evening, ent times in the day. This depending on the end with year, the week will de la Iglesia a mass at the morning, Incarnation in the from followed by a march SeParroquia de Nuestra Encarnación. la de ñora

Malaga

been celSemana Santa has than ebrated here for more declared 500 years and was Toura Fiesta of International ist Interest in 1980. religious, Although its origin is a social it has evolved into culcelebration of Spain’s of Spring. ture and the start celebraUnlike many of theof Spain, tions in the north affair, but it is not a sombre that an exuberant spectacle animates all senses.

Hundreds of thousands celebrathe visit Malaga for the floats tion, with some of inside the too big to even fit bechurches they travel tween.

4,818 transplants were

Estepona

descend on Thousands of touristsSanta, and the Estepona for Semana vibrant processions coastal city holds They include a throughout the week. on Monday evening march of children which is carried and one with a trono sight. The Coby women – an unusual the Cofradía del fradía del Cautivo, de la Veracruz the Amor and the Cofradía brotherhoods in are the principal march to celecity, and all members of Jesus Christ. brate the resurrection

Stephen Flack, England

Safety concern

performed by doctors in Spain last year, making the country the world leader in organ transplants.

The average speed cameras were only ever installed as a pilot scheme to see what effect they would have (British expat demands to know why speed cameras removed from notorious A7 accident black spot, issue 263).

The new state-of-the-art cameras that can detect speeding and whether you are wearing your seatbelt etc have already been installed in Malaga, and perhaps they wish to install those cameras in the area between El Faro and La Cala?

Either way I absolutely agree that new cameras must be installed again as motorists have been speeding past me the last weeks in excess of over 140kmh!

€244,000

The median price for property listed on Kyero Spanish property portal.

718,542 travellers

passed through Malaga airport over Semana Santa - 195,894 more than last year.

Sean Peck, Malaga

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Anything but a dump

Mogul’s Marbella TV debut

PAGE III

Tivoli world makeover

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A dedicated Spanish architect has spent more than 30 years turning a rundown cement factory into his perfect home and office space

Page XI

BAD PRACTICE

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Mijas Costa See page 11 xx

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Vol. 11 Issue 262

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I’m backing British expats ALBERT Rivera is giving his ‘total support’ to British migrants living in Spain.

The Ciudadanos leader told the Olive Press he realised the importance of British expats and tourists on the costas.

In the week Brexit is being invoked, he promised to back our rights to stay here.

He later told a rally in Mijas he was going to be fighting corruption in Andalucia over the coming years and hoped to bring a train line to the coast.

BACKING BRITS, PAGE 9

T is a practice that most property professionals had hoped was a thing of the past.

But Olive Press Property can reveal that tionable practice of charging buyers the ethically quesrearing its head again on the Costa del as well as sellers is Sol. According to sources, at least two agents in the Marbella area have recently stung their buyers with bills of up to 5%. scene’, especially when you consider The so called ‘finder’s fees’ are in addition they already have very from taking com- high purchase taxes mission from the seller. which are often in “We as agents are paid by the sellers excess of 10%.

“It’s disgusting,” said Terra Meridiana’s and we never nothing wrong with finder’s fees if you Adam Neale, “I have a fee to a buyer,” he said, “On the whole our industrycharge works ent beforehand, but I have heard from agree it with the cli- very well as it is, without the need to start charging such high certain agents are adding a 5% fee with several buyers that additional fees to buyers. We should be encouraging them to invest here!”

“It’s bad ethics and gives agents on the no prior warning.

Costa del Sol a bad Ben Bateman name.” of Holmes in Sotogrande added he was aware of the practice happening ‘in a few cases’.

Mike Smith, Chairman of Marbella-based agreed that charging potential buyers First Choice Spain, “It is totally unethical and gives our business a bad reputasuch fees was ‘ob- tion for sharp practices,” he said.

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EXCLUSIVE: Agents unite as some ‘bad apples’ are slapping finders fees on buyers without warning

“I have no objection to agents operating but I do object when these so called with a finder’s fee, without declaring from the outset that buyers bill both sides He added: “When unscrupulous agentsthey will be doing so.” abuse the system by adding extra amounts, the whole industry suffers.

“Beware of this sharp practise.”

Legal expert Antonio Flores added that such practises can be deemed illegal.

“It is not illegal to have your commission with the agreement of the vendor,” he built into the price, The problem is when an agent adds told the Olive Press. but does not tell the buyer or seller. a commission on top “This happens when the agent is the middle man and the parties are not in touch via their lawyers.

This is actually a criminal offence.”

Granada’s new eco-village

PAGE XIV

Andalucia’s highest towns

Have you been a victim? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

STRUGGLING TO SELL YOUR SPANISH

PAGE XVII

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Expats take legal action on double glazing firm over thousands of ‘missing’ euros

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

March 15th - March 28th 2017

CANCER BATTLER

MORE than 160,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org asking for a street in Marbella to be named after brave cancer sufferer Pablo Raez.

The campaign has been set up in response to Raez's inspirational campaign to increase awareness, as well as the num-

ber of bone marrow donations.

Raez sadly lost his battle to leukaemia in February, but not before launching a campaign that went viral, its aim being to increase donors from 230,000 to one million.

The petition has now been submitted to Marbella mayor José Bernal.

MISSED: Pablo Raez

Homeless plea 4

Eviction

“We are really grateful we have this hut for now, but it has no running water, electricity, heating or gas.

“I’m really worried what effect living in these conditions will have on Paul’s health and my own,” she continued.

The couple, who moved to Spain 15 years ago, had fallen into financial difficulties last year when Paul had to stop working when he had a pacemaker fitted following a heart attack.

As he was unable to continue running his mobile car valeting service they quickly fell behind in the rent.

“The heart attack left him dependent on crutches to walk which meant he couldn’t work for 18 months,” added Leslie.

After receiving a letter in January from the landlord telling them he was taking them to court, they were evicted on March 7.

“It was horrible to find police and bailiffs banging on our door telling us

We’ve got Andalucia covered

5

Olive Press story helps homeless couple March 1st -

Long term expat couple need urgent help after being forced to live between their car and a hut

By Chloe Glover

A BRITISH couple have pleaded for help after eviction left them living between their car and a shed.

Leslie and Paul Dunt are desperately hunting for somewhere to live for themselves and their 17 rescue dogs after being thrown out of their home in Coin.

Paul, 56, who has a pacemaker, and Leslie, 63, who has a serious back problem, now fear for their health, as they struggle to survive on a small plot of land of a friend in Alora.

“We can’t believe what’s happened,” said Leslie, who comes from east London.

SOUGHT: Boss Vincent Ware and (above) Rudi

A DETERMINED expat is devastated after being told she cannot have the drug she has been campaigning for.

Doctors told Coin resident Becky Baker, who has cystic fibrosis, she is now too ill to have the Orkambi drug, despite being well enough when she first requested it a year ago.

It is the latest blow for Becky, 32, who spoke to the Olive Press last issue (see left) after Malaga’s Carlos Haya hospital, where she NEWS Br-exodus - as they is a patient, said she was no longer fight to leave UK!eligible for for a lung transplant due to having too low a lung function.

She had been campaigning to have American drug Orkambi legalised in Spain, which thins mucus, to help Coast clear those with the progressive lung condition.

“For the hospital to only say now I could have had the drug were I betback on your ter when I began to campaign to get Due money long ago is so gutting,” said Becky, originally from it so mortgage?

Spanish Somerset.

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fibrosis believes Expat with cystic help save lives new pills could

of EU citizens THE numberUK actually inleaving the last year.

By Chloe Glover creased by 17% the amount In the year of Brexit,to the EU or is pleading for of people returning increased A BRAVE expat denied a vital moving elsewhere help after being 103,000 in one operation. from 85,000 to lung transport who has cystic year.

Becky Baker, revealed that relies on an New figures also fibrosis, currently as UK breathe.

Spaniards registering oxygen mask to from Coin, is fell by 2,000. a residents also The 32-year-old, readers to get has been Meanwhile, there asking Olive Press campaign in the number sharp increase the country folbehind a nationwide new US of Brits leaving June 23 result to legalise a pioneering lowing the shock drug called Orkambi. for somelast year.

She is also searching the Office for able to help her The figures from one who may bemedication. show that National Statisticsthe UK rose find alternative live,” said Becky, emigration from “I just want to Spain with her in 2015 to now and before by 9%, from 297,000 who moved to lungs. from Burn- BRAVE: Becky Baker, cluding my newa chance that I 323,000 in 2016.

20 mum Sarah Spencer Málaga to push in Somerset “If there was treatment or a Fibrosis Quística ham-on-Sea more its legalisation. to could get in the UK I would go years ago. campaigning stay alive every for there is re“I’m fighting to life and am in “We’ve been for the past year transplant back but the weather I don’t get it legalised single day of my to repair for my lungs and expensive costing now if I’d WORK is underway constant pain. kilos (1.25 stone) and yes it’s patient per year…. ally bad wrecked by I would be here Malaga beaches “I’ve lost eight months alone, €120,000 peryou consider that think other last December’s floods. it stayed. in the last few pills a day and but when knows of any will be spent who are using have to take 50 fed at night as some people to take their oth- “If anyonethat may help I would A total of €4.1m sand and rehave to be tubemany calories as now don’t needor stay in hospital treatment them as I am on restoring of love to hear from at the mo- pairing the infrastructure er medication I’m burning so so high. from feeling very down my heart rate is Spanish doc- it’s not bad.” coastal areas stretching recently refused ment.” the Axarquia.

Spanish doctors “At the moment, been who has a campaigning Manilva to a lung transplant, anything to help tors won’t do only keep me to give Becky her main hope Becky, called See Off CF Spain, Diggers have alreadystretch website which had been me. They will sand from one a fundraiser for hopes to launch cystic fibrosis moving to another in Estein of survival. stable. of beach which is legal I have amyloidosis Marina, research into more “But Orkambi, that has been “It’s because Becky. pona and at Casares a cures. as well,” said the US, is a drug both badly hit with Becky to lung function by “They said that even if I had To get in touchhelp, go to www. which were proven to boost too the conhow to from floods. of kidney transplant and would find out thinning mucus. it, as would lots dition would return organs, in- seeoffcfspain.com “I’d love to try know here.” other other people I up with charity damage my She has teamed

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MAKESHIFT: Leslie and Paul are living between a Ford Fiesta and a hut

are desperate and don’t know what to do.”

Their good samaritan, a local Spanish landowner, jumped in to help after seeing a plea a friend of theirs had posted on Facebook.

He quickly offered blankets and dog food and allowed them to live in the hut on his land.

“But now we need someand permanent thing would be over the moon if anyone out there could help us.

“We almost have enough to pay a deposit and would find enough money somehow.

“We just need a little help to get us over this hump.

It is incredible how quickly you can fall here.”

to leave.

“Fortunately we were able to move our belongings to

our neighbours’ houses temporarily and live in our Ford Fiesta, but we

Anyone able to help can contact Leslie and Paul via newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

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29 March

To advertise: +34+34 951951 273273 575575 To advertise: Secrets DiningDining Secrets The Olive Press Insider’s Guide

The Olive Press Insider’s Guide

Olive Press readers react to Gibraltar leader Fabian Picardo’s suggestion that Gibraltar could integrate with UK 'if Spain pushes us' and the wider impact of Brexit.

No regrets Great Britain existed for 300 years without Spain and will carry on doing so until the Gibraltarians wish otherwise.

Germany once again is trying to control feeble Europe by stealth but Britain saw the light.

Others have not but eventually will follow.

You can keep Europe with all its woes, but it will cost you dearly.

Britain is in the 21st century whereas Germany and Europe are still in the 19th century.

Carlos, Spain

Give it back Gibraltarians can associate with whoever they want.

What they can’t do however, is determine the fate of the territory they occupy.

According to the UN, Gibraltar is a colony on Spanish territory that must be decolonised.

The legal basis for the colony is the Treaty of Utrecht, however that treaty never conferred sovereignty.

The treaty expressly states that the ‘propriety’ was yielded ‘without any territorial jurisdiction.’

Moreover, the treaty imposes a number of clear restrictions on the use of Gibraltar by the British, including a clause that stipulates that if the UK were to relinquish its ‘propriety’ then Spain would have first option over ‘the town and castle of Gibraltar.’

Both Britain and Spain accept that this means ruling out independence for Gibraltar for as long as Spain retains its claim.

The terms of the treaty thus clearly evidence that Gibraltar is part of Spain’s sovereign territory that is currently occupied conditionally by the United Kingdom.

It is high time that the UK decolonised Gibraltar by returning the territory back to Spain as mandated by the UN and stipulated under Clause X of the Treaty of Utrecht.

In this way the UK would not only comply with its obligations under international law but it would also enable the current residents of Gibraltar to continue to reside within the European Union.

Alonso F, Spain

info@simply-shuttles.com

revealed that he was offered a €187 discount if he did a bank transfer immediately.

“The man’s impossible to deal with,” said Jones, 69.

“We could never get him again.

“We have used another company now. I just want my money back from Ware.”

Another victim, Pete Jones, paid Ware half of a €9,000 quote for bifold doors in his as deposits on contracts kitchen in October. that were never completed, After hearing nothing for some up to €20,000.” five weeks, Jones was told Kaiser, who lived in London

by Ware via text that he was for 30 years, began work at having computer problems the Marbella-based compaand that work would start ny four years ago working ‘imminently’. as a salesman and on social “Of course, nothing hapmedia. pened,” said Jones. “Since However, it soon became then I have been constantly apparent that boss Vincent trying to contact him withWare, also 58, was not de- Jones, claims he never two patio doors in Estepona out luck. heard from Ware again af- last October. livering what he promised.

“I am sure, like others who One victim, expat Graham ter transferring €2,000 for Jones, from Cheltenham, have lost money, plea for there is very little Becky that can be done.

“I think exposing his practices will at least help people in the future.”

A HOMELESS couple towards a deposit for a

By Chloe Glover One client, hotelier have received much needflat, which they are in the Andy Chapell, was ed financial help thanks to plight last issue. process of looking for. forced to go to court Kennedy, who runs the “If it wasn’t for groups an Olive Press story. to demand the reLeslie and Paul Dunt, who Help the Homeless Costa and people like Joel, we turn of €800 paid were left sleeping between del Sol Facebook page, wouldn’t be as close to for a safety fence, their car and a shed, have said the money had been finding anywhere,” said which never arbeen offered €500 by left over from a recent Paul. “We are very graterived. good samaritan Joel Ken- group fundraiser. ful for their generosity and Malaga Court ruled nedy who read about their Paul will put the money support.”

DONOR: Joel

AN employee at a well known glass and windows company has come clean after dozens of clients complained about unfinished work.

Expat Rudi Kaiser, 58, revealed that tens of thousands of euros of work has not been completed by his former firm Andalucia Glass & Steel.

He admitted he ‘could not take it anymore’ after receiving a barrage of complaints and being cited in various court cases.

“I have been tarnished by this company and I’m not happy about it,” the German told the Olive Press this week.

“We are talking about large Lastpaid MARBELLA of money, amounts LANDMARK FOR ditch

Joining Spain?

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A WORD IN YOUR SHELL LIKE: Olive Press reporter Joe Duggan interviews Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera

March 29th - April 11th 2017

I

The Olive Press Gourmet Guide

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

So long, farewell The people in the UK still believe Gibraltar is its property and forget that residents there don’t really like Britain or the British.

A majority of locals work for EU companies.

I don’t think anyone here in Spain is really afraid of British pounds leaving.

After all we have the US, Germans, French, and Chinese for a start, and those UK pounds always seem to come at a moral cost.

Face it Brits, the rhetoric over there for the last few years has made you quickly unwelcome here.

Enjoy the tax haven you are creating for the rich and enjoy the dystopia your media is actively trying to hide from you.

Nuria, Spain

Troubled waters Gibraltar and the UK can do whatever they want, of course.

But adding Gibraltar will be too harmful for the UK when it starts negotiations about its divorce from the EU, and even more with regards to its future trading prospects.

Anonymous

Selective memory?

Gibraltar is a cancer not only for Spain but also for the whole EU. That’s why the frontier will be closed or strictly controlled.

Anyway, the best part of what he said is this: “Picardo urged Spain to enter dialogue, to cooperate with mutual respect.”

It seems he forgot he supported the warmonger campaign headed by the The Sun and that venerable old fart Michael Howard.

Juan Foster, Spain

Go green

Drug problems

We have all the power we need coming daily, for free, from the sun (Spain criticised by European Climate Foundation for reliance on carbon energy power, issue 263).

Storage issues are being solved by Tesla, which is building a gigafactory in the US which will double total global solar power production capacity from a single site.

Photovoltaic (solar) panels continue to improve in efficiency and fall in cost at the same time with the rate of improvement now allowing them to provide the cheapest industrial production of power when compared to all other methods (fossil, nuclear et al).

The reason we don’t have PV panels being installed on our roofs today is because the government decided it would be better to protect the established monopoly (whose infrastructure we have already paid for in the form of grants, subsidies and bills) to keep open the revolving door to executive jobs for life after politics along with the justification that the existing infrastructure wouldn’t be able to cope with the huge spike in domestic feed in production.

Synthetic cannabinoids are rubbish, real ones are much, much better and much safer also (Spanish police arrest two Brits after discovering €3.5m-worth of drugs '80 times stronger than cannabis').

Legal highs are only there because drug laws and prohibition in general has failed.

Ironically, in USA states where cannabis has been legalised, regulated, taxed and sold, either medicinally or recreationally through dispensaries, there doesn’t seem to be this problem with legal highs.

Bob Boulder, Cordoba

Three Cheers

Roberto, Madrid

Personally, we have the Olive Press website to thank for our final decision (Olive Press named one of best English news websites in Spain) not to buy into the Spanish dream, to instead only rent and keep a toe-hold in Blighty.

The site has served up many words of wisdom from commentators like Stuart Crawford (of blessed memory) Bob Boulder, Jane G and many others, not least of all Fred, who takes no prisoners when stating his opinions on Spain and its many drawbacks.

So thank you OP, long may you reign, at or near, the top of the heap.

Stefanjo, Estepona

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

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Send your informati on to newsdesk@theolivep ress.es

A look at some of the festival’s most interesting snaps

what’s on

I

nternational Festival of nations, April 27 May 1

Representatives from all over the world meet in Fuengirola, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the food, culture and customs of places like Japan, Morocco, Cuba and more.

C

armen, April 28

Based on Bizet’s iconic opera, this show combines classical Spanish dance, flamenco and ballet choreographed by Yolanda Gaviño, who has worked with artists including Ricky Martin and Celia Cruz.

M

A plaque marking the 150th birth anniversary of a leading for news in Spain!

SpanishTOP actress has been presented to the theatre named after her. Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, bestowed the honour during a ceremony at the María Guerrero Theatre in Madrid.

It kicks off a number of activities this year paying homage to the actress, who was also a theatre director and producer who performed with Sarah Bernhardt among other stars of her day.

um-and-Dad Things, April 28

A comedy about family moments and falling in love with hilarious outcomes. Performed by Luisa Merlo, Juan Meseguer, Marta Valverde, Naim Thomas and Alberto Delgado. Tickets from €10.

PHOTOBOMB: Spongebob floats over Sevilla parade

T

oy Story the Musical, May 7

An adaptation of a childhood classic. One day, Andy decides to give all of his toys away. Turns out they’re not very happy about it. Tickets from €20

Music from Mali TWO documentaries about Malian musicians will kickstart Gibraltar’s first ever BrightMed Film Festival.

They Will Have To Kill Us First is the tale of two musicians enduring life in Mali after Islamic jihadists ban music.

The film, shot partly in refugee camps, was described as ‘miraculously hopeful’ by the New York Times.

Mali Blues follows revered musicians Fatoumata Diawara and Bassekou Kouyate as they fight to express themselves when their musical culture is threatened by Jihadis.

The films’ directors will be travelling to Gibraltar for the festival screenings, which are free to attend at the Leisure Cinema.

One of the musicians featured will play concerts in Commonwealth Park on June 7 and St. Michael’s Cave on June 8.

A Q&A session will take place after the screening of each documentary.

The festival is part of the Gibraltar World Music Festival’s GWMF2017 Uprising.

Do you have a what’s on?

April 26th - May 9th 2017

WAITING: Nazarenos wait for the trono to arrive and above right, Nazareno adjusts youngsters outfit

DISTRACTED: Drummer boy daydreams

THE endless drumming is finally over, and the smell of incense has long dispersed.

But photos of Semana Santa are still surfacing.

Some view the week as a sombre, thoughtful occasion. Others regard it as a representation of Spain’s exciting culture.

Most would agree it’s an event on the Spanish calendar not to be missed, especially in Andalucia, which is where the majority of visitors to Spain during this time arrive.

The elaborate parades are punctuated by huge tronos carried by dozens of nazarenos, all hooded. These are the images we are used to seeing.

But we asked for your best photos - quirky and original - of the event, and here they are.

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BLASE: Banderas clutches trono

Festival fever? Get the Vaccines!

THE Vaccines, Years & Years and Charli XCX are the latest acts announced for this summer’s star-studded music festival on the Rock.

London-based rockers The Vaccines are currently one of the hottest bands on the planet, with their last album English Graffiti a huge worldwide hit.

They have played with and supported The Rolling Stones, Arcade Fire and the Stone Roses.

The latest additions to the lineup come two weeks after Fatboy Slim was confirmed as the headline act for September’s MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling at Victoria Stadium.

Other acts announced today include ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock’s Allstar Band and 80s stars Black Box and Go West.

Tickets are available from the Gibraltar Ministry of Culture, City Hall, John

Mackintosh Square, Gibraltar. Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 17.00.

Children aged 12 and under are eligible for a free general admission ticket as long as they are accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

These must be obtained in advance from City Hall.

For further information on the event visit gibraltarcalling.com

tel: 0034 952 597 035 www.poshpetsspain.com Follow us on Facebook ‘Posh Pets Spain’

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April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

As Picasso’s masterpiece turns 80, a Madrid exposition sheds light on the Malagueno artist’s dark journey. Laura Duckett reports

P

ICASSO was living in Paris when German bombs rained down on the Basque city of Guernica.

Stark black and white photographs plastered over the front pages of L’Humanité and other French newspapers were the first visual representations he saw of the bloodshed and devastation.

Those images became his inspiration for one of the world’s most iconic paintings, a universal howl against the atrocities of war which brought 3.6 million visitors to its Madrid home at the Reina Sofia Museum last year.

Picasso’s choice to paint it in monochrome has been cited as a deliberate effort to represent a photographic record of the genocide, despite its avant garde style.

This year, as Guernica turns 80,

STRIKING: Haunting motifs puzzle academics

Guernica revisited

CELEBRATED: Guernica attracts millions to Reina Sofia Museum

the museum is marking the event with an exhibition delving into its role in Spanish politics and culture. Titled Pity and Terror: Picasso’s Path to Guernica, it will unite 180 of his artworks under one roof from now until September 4.

Picasso had originally been commissioned to paint a mural for the 1937 Paris Exhibition. But he abandoned his original idea in favour of the mural-sized painting on discovering what had happened in his homeland.

Its unveiling that summer garnered little interest. Few people fully understood it as Picasso resolutely refused to discuss its symbolism.

Brutality

Destruction

In fact, the official German guidebook to the exhibition advised against visiting Picasso’s ‘hodgepodge of body parts that any fouryear-old could have painted’.

Later it would tour the world and become the focus of countless scholarly works analysing its striking motifs.

The most haunting symbols are the bull and the gored horse. But look beyond those and you can learn about the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and peer into the mind of the Malagueno artist.

Guernica scholar Anthony Blunt separates the painting’s central pyramid into two groups: the first containing the bull, horse and bird, the second with a dead soldier and various women in different manifestations of grief.

The overwhelming female presence is representational of the ratio of men to women in the town at the time of the bombing. Most men were away fighting.

Art historian Patricia Failing says:

Picasso used the minotaur motif throughout his pieces, and it’s said to represent his alter ego.

However, he himself said that the bull in Guernica signifies brutality and darkness, and that the speared ‘workhorse’ represents the people of Guernica.

Under the horse lies a dismembered soldier. On his palm is a stigma which symbolises martyrdom. In his other hand he clutches a broken sword out of which a very faint flower grows – often interpreted as a symbol of hope.

Picasso’s choice to exclude colour has been cited as a deliberate effort to represent a photographic record, despite the painting’s avant garde style.

SYMBOL OF PEACE: Guernica was transported to Spain after Franco´s death

Grisly fragmented motifs remind us of a tragic moment in Spain’s history, but the canvas itself has a story of its own to tell.

Beginning its life at the Spanish Pavilion in Paris, it subsequently toured Scandinavia and was exhibited in Whitechapel Art Gallery, London. It Almost was then sent to the US to help raise as famous for money for Spanhis biting wit as ish refugees and his artistic prowess, “The bull and the housed in New when a German horse are imporYork’s Museum Gestapo officer looking tant characters of Modern Art at Guernica asked in Spanish culbefore travelling him, ‘Did you do this?’, ture.

Picasso around the counPicasso is said to have himself certainly try and then to retorted, used these charSouth America.

‘No, you did’. acters to play many It was under Picasdifferent roles over so’s express wishes time. This has made the that it was not delivered task of interpreting the speto Spain until the country becific meaning of the bull and the came a Republic. It arrived here, horse very tough. Their relation- weathered and worn, in 1981 – ship is a kind of ballet that was six years after Franco’s death – conceived in a variety of ways where it now rests, a symbol of throughout Picasso’s career.” peace that will outlive us all.

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The soundtrack of summer

DREAM TEAM: David Giles and Martin Tye of Crazy Music Production

READY TO ROCK: Foreigner set to perform at Marbella´s Tennis Club Puente Romano

Huge acts to play major music concerts in Marbella this summer

M

ASSIVE music stars will dazzle Marbella this summer.

Platinum-selling rockers Foreigner and US pop singer Michael Bolton are among the party-starting acts who will perform at the luxury Tennis Club Puente Romano for prices to suit all pockets.

The concerts are the latest coups of major events promoter Crazy Music Production, which brings the best live music to Marbella..

Foreigner, who wrote smash hit ‘Cold as Ice’ will get the party started on June 11 when they will play as part of their much-awaited 40th anniversary tour.

Billy Ocean, Heather Small the voice of M People and Right Said Fred will get eighties fans grooving on July 6, when they host their one-off Crazy 80s Live show.

They will be followed by US soul jazz great George Benson, who will set the night alight on July 21.

The summer showcase will reach a crescendo on August 10, when Michael Bolton takes to the stage for an emotive end of season night.

The acts are the latest coups for Crazy Music Productions founders David Giles and Martin Tye, who banded together in 2012 through their passion for music and love for Marbella.

Tickets for the shows cost from €35, with gold VIP passes including a cocktail and separate VIP entrance.

To book, go to www.crazymusicproductions. com .

SOUL MAN: George Benson

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la cult

Captain Edward Geary’s extraordinary life on the open seas involved espionage, intrigue and danger, discovers Joe Duggan

A

S the sniper’s bullets cracked against a Caracas pavement, Captain Geary knew he was in trouble.

The US Coast Guard captain’s work with the Venezuelan navy had led the CIA to make him an offer. It wanted to oust Venezuela president Rafael Caldera and replace him with Hugo Chavez. The CIA wanted Geary to spy on the Venezuelan navy top brass. Geary refused to betray his friends.

Now the CIA wanted him dead, he says.

“I was supposed to meet one of my contacts in a hotel in Caracas,” he says.

MUTINY: Marlon Brando aboard HMS Bounty Replica

“The day before I got a note under my door saying let’s meet in a restaurant. As I was walking to the restaurant at 7.30 that night a sniper started shooting at me.

“Fortunately the guy was a lousy shot. I ducked and got out of the way. I ran for cover behind a car, got to my hotel room and changed my underwear.”

Welcome to the extraordinary world of Gibraltar’s own man of intrigue and espionage.

Some 25 years on from his Venezuelan escapades, Geary has swapped chasing South American drug cartels for the calmer waters of Gibraltar. A maritime chartered surveyor (among his many areas of nautical expertise is valuing yachts and ships), Geary is the best in the business. This month, the Casares resident was awarded the prestigious Chartered Surveyor Expert of The Year award.

“There are lot of maritime experts around the world,” said Geary, who describes himself as ‘I'm a bit over 50 and under 100’.

“For someone from little Gibraltar to be considered the number-one expert is really an accolade.”

Captain co

ON DUTY: Le Geary with A Fossy of Vene Coastguard a on Venezuela guard US Coa operatio

Rubbing shoulders with Pablo Escobar´s informants...all in a day’s work It’s yet another outstanding achievement in a career where the incredible has become commonplace. Geary claims to have survived four assassination attempts during his time in South America.

Rubbing shoulders with informants for Pablo Escobar, recovering a stolen yacht from Mexican drug lords and uncovering South America’s main funder for Hezbollah were all in a day’s work for Geary.

But the California native’s career of derring-do began in the sedate surroundings of a Gibraltar office in 1973.

“I was chief accountant for an engineering company in Gibraltar, J.J Mackley” he says.

“I worked for a period of time until I realised this is not what I want to do.”

Geary studied naval architecture and naval nautical science before going on to work as a marine surveyor in the Caribbean. From here, he joined the US Coast Guard, setting up all search and rescue teams in the Caribbean.

Because of the success of that mission Geary was asked to train the Venezuelan

navy and coastguard division, and was instrumental in introducing women for the first time. He was then commissioned as a captain in the Venezuelan Navy and Coastguard.

“That can’t be done by an American citizen,” he says. “I got hold of the US state department and said, ‘Can I accept this commission?’ They said yes.”

But Geary’s popularity with the Venezu admirals and generals had piqued the osity of US authorities. One day, he wa proached by a mysterious fellow Amer “He said, ‘I’m station chief of the CIA i racas. We are concerned President R Caldera won’t follow Washington’s line want to put a man in the Presidentia ace that we can control. That man is

tura

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April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

courageous HIGH PROFILE: From left Hugo Chavez and US astronaut Buzz Aldrin

eft, Admiral ezuelan and right, an Coastastguard ons

uelan e curias aprican. in CaRafael e. We al PalHugo

21 21

Chavez.’”

Geary says the contact told him left-wing firebrand Chavez was being paid by the US to work with them. Geary claims he was offered a lump sum, plus a healthy monthly payment, to uncover incriminating information on the Venezuelan military.

“Jason my son, who was about ten or twelve years old, was staying with families

of the admirals and generals while I did the training,” said Geary.

“He became almost a family member of senior officers of families of the Venezuelan military. Because Jason knew the kids they sometimes say something that can be used for intelligence.

“The CIA said, ‘We are afraid when we start promoting Chavez there could be a coup d-

etat by the military to overthrow the Chavez rican mercenaries to reclaim a boat stolen forces. If we have compromising informa- by Mexican drug lords. tion on these senior officers we can neu- “I told them, ‘I will give you five thousand tralise them if they cause problems’. dollars each if we are successful. If we “I said, ‘These are my friends, I are not we may all be dead,” he refuse to do it’. They threw told them. me out and discharged The group overpowered me. Then they emthe crew and sailed barked on a prothe boat back from gramme to try and Cancun. kill me.”

Danger lurked Geary, who reat every corner fers to the CIA for Geary as as ‘the world’s he pitted his most dangerwits against ous terrorist a succesorganisasion of murky tion’, says he underworld survived two characters. assassinaOne man tion attempts named Abbas, by sniper fire. whom Geary Another time suspected of his car was alfraudulently most run off the claiming four milroad while he was lion dollars from driving from Carashipping underwritcas. ers, called Geary to his “His food was then poioffice one day. soned at the Hilton Hotel in “Every flight of stairs had Santa Margarita. two guys with shotguns,” said “I had so much information they did Geary.”He said, ‘Have you ever not want to get out,” says Geary. “I CAPTAIN: Geary seen 50 million dollars’? Behind had found that the CIA was paying him was a huge safe. He opened boat captains to not challenge ships carry- it up, floor to ceiling were hundred dollar ing drugs from Colombia and going through bills. “I found out later Abbas was the prinVenezuelan waters. cipal funding source to Hezbollah in Cen“I was aboard one ship when this hap- tral and South America. They would take pened so I had this all documented. The brief cases of cash and go to Beirut.”

CIA is involved in drug trafficking. The drug As well as his South American escapades, money was being used to finance all their ships, he has valued Greenpeace’s Rainescapades in Central America. bow Warrior and a replica of the HMS “You disagree with the CIA and they will Bounty. In a 2005 court case, Geary testitake you out.” fied against astronaut Buzz Aldrin over a Following his discharge, Geary sued the NASA undersea lab being turned into an CIA and US Coast Guard in Federal Court underwater hotel. in Miami. He won, although a government Life may no longer hold the daredevil elegagging order -later overturned - initially ment it did in South America, but it is clear prevented him from speaking out about Geary loves his work in Gibraltar. the case.

“I enjoy the challenges. It’s just at that But the intrigue didn’t end there. stage of my life I had to deal with a lot of “My lawyer was mysteriously killed in a challenges that I don’t have to deal with road accident,” says Geary. “Nobody to this over here,” he said. day can explain what happened.”

“One day I’m dealing with a superyacht in Geary’s life is worthy of a Hollywood film Algeciras or Gibraltar, the next day I might (Geary has written about his experiences be surveying a passenger ship in Greece. in his book Cheque Mate - Fables and Tales “I meet fascinating people and work is nevof the Unexpected and website www.ship- er the same.” surveyor.com.”)

None quite so fascinating as Captain EdOne episode saw him hire three South Af- ward Geary.

22

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BOSSES: Cox and Wells

IN COME THE BIG BUCKS! A HUGE US property fund is splashing €45 million on three new Costa del Sol developments.

The American bosses behind Real Capital Solutions have snapped up sizeable plots in Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis and continue to look at further opportunities along the coast.

The company, based in Marbella since 2013, already has five other developments, including The Retreat, in Elviria.

“We have spent around €86 million here so far and have a fund of €100 million to spend,” explained Managing Partner Peter Wells, based in Colorado.

“We are one of the largest developers on the Costa del Sol and our emphasis is on distressed properties.”

He added: “Also we do things transparently and always try and deliver on price and quality.”

The company - which made hundreds of millions buying and selling distressed properties in the US - has 16 staff working out of its office at Centro Plaza.

Local boss Taylor Cox, added: “The coast is really starting to come alive and it’s a pleasure to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”

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Booming July predicted following ‘pause’ in run-up to EU referendum Special report by Iona Napier ESTATE agents in Spain and Gibraltar are lining themselves up for the busiest July on record.

It comes as some British buyers put purchases on hold due to the forthcoming EU referendum on June 23.

Most agents the Olive Press spoke to confirmed they had various sales currently ‘paused’ awaiting the result, despite the British market remaining strong.

The majority believe that the expected result - to stay in Europe - will lead to the pound strengthening with a red hot summer of sales to follow.

Ben Bateman, at Holmes Sotogrande, described the referendum lead up as a ‘pause for thought for British buyers’ due to concerns over the weak pound.

“After a remain vote however, we expect to see a strong finish to the year - and a sudden wave of bids from British buyers,” he told the Olive Press.

One agent in Gibraltar has gone one step further actually employing extra staff for July. Savills director Sammy Cruz-Armstrong said: “Everything is on hold due to Brexit, but I am convinced we will stay in Europe and am taking on extra staff in July to deal with the expected deluge of business.”

Benahavis agent Scott Marshall of Proper-

Roll on Remain tieSpain, meanwhile, described the pause as ‘very psychological’.

He said: “It’s a combination of the uncertainty of the vote and the exchange rate right now.”

While many agents have a couple of sales currently on hold, some have seen more.

“We have up to ten sales currently on hold until after the referendum,” said Victor Witkowski, boss of Castles, in Manilva.

“Buyers are not necessarily pulling out, but they are biding their time to see what happens.”

Fellow Manilva agent, Shani Hamilton, also confirmed a slowdown, but added: “We are predicting a huge influx of business as soon as a decision is made.”

Where is Gillian buying?

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Where are the coolest Airbnbs?

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Deals

Spanish property sales by nationality and quarter

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com Source: Registradores Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016

Either way, official statistics out this month confirm the British market remains strong and tens of thousands continue to look for their dream home.

Respected analyst Mark Stucklin insists that foreign demand for Spanish property was up 16% in the first quarter with Brits the biggest group of foreign buyers at 22% of the market share.

“The British still dominate the foreign market for property and there is no evidence of a noticeable decline in demand as yet,” he said.

And certainly not everyone is suffering.

One agent, Graham Govier of Inland Andalucia has seen ‘no negative impact’ at all during the referendum lead-up.

“In fact it is the opposite. Prices are extremely cheap right now and we are selling two times as many properties as we were last year,” he said.

He added: “My salesman Paul - already a bit of a local celebrity - has just completed his seventh consecutive sale and people are buying because they can see that the incredible deals won’t wait around for them forever,” he added.

Paul made headlines in the Olive Press last year when he sold an impressive nine properties in a row.

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British buyers are not slowing down despite Brexit

Brits still coming

BRITS are taking a ‘keep calm and carry on’ approach to buying homes in Spain.

That is the verdict of Spanish property website Kyero’s Download our app now and Richard Speigal, who said begin enjoying the best Spanish British interest was still strong despite the triggering news on the go. of Article 50 towards the end with the UK being hostage to far from going into reverse of March. The findings were the negotiation cycle, it seems - in fact, British visitors to based on visits to and search- that Brits are happy to take a Kyero.com have increased by es on the website throughout ‘keep calm and carry on’ ap- 30.2% over the past year.” proach to buying homes in Speigal also revealed that the month.

“With Prime Minister May Spain,” said Speigal, head of Chiclana de la Frontera in Cadiz is currently the ninth most emphasizing how slow the research. location for those DEMAND for luxury prop- Brexit process is going to be, “Interest has slowed, but is popular buying in Spain. erties soared last year Press with The Olive He put its populara 31% rise in sales across ity down to its ‘easy Spain. access to the real TOP for newsreport in Spain!

A Knight Frank Spain’, architectural puts this down to the rise AN ABANDONED industri- has lain empty since the and culinary charms of the non-EU buyer with al landmark is to undergo a early 2000s. and being a ‘great a ‘strong Latin American huge renovation.

Once complete, the combase’ to visit attracpresence’ in Madrid and Malaga’s former Intelhorce pany will seek final permistive nearby destinaan influx of Middle Easttextile factory, built un- sion to construct new, intions such as Cadiz, erners to Marbella. der Franco’s orders, will terlinked buildings, which Gibraltar, Portugal The €1-3m price bracket be turned into a distribu- will be used for storage. and Morocco. is now the estate agent’s tion centre for a children’s The work, due to be finThe average asking most active market segclothing firm. ished by 2019, will double price across Kyero. ment.

A total of €68m is to be the distribution capacity com’s 200,000+ Over the last three years, pumped into refurbishing for firm Mayoral, which delisted properties is the demand for luxury the 27,000m2 architectur- cided to embark upon the now at €244,000 - a properties in the country ally protected space, which project due to rising sales.

5.9% increase from has increased by 80%. last year.

Property of the Week

High rollers

Phoenix rises

Don’t worry about the British... rising demand from Spain and elsewhere means Costa del Sol property is still selling strongly

Costa del Sol still hot property

I

T’S that time of the year again when we there was a return to growth in three of the put together a report on the Spanish four local markets we serve on the Costa property market, focusing particularly on del Sol: Marbella, the largest market we the Costa del Sol. deal with, recorded a rise of 3.5% for the This quarter the headline figure is that na- quarter, although sales were down by 7.7% tionwide housing sales fell by 2.7% in the year-on-year. Estepona witnessed a rise of last quarter of 2016, compared to the third 6% over the quarter, although, compared to quarter. But it’s not all bad news, sales the same three months of last year, nearly were still 7.4% higher than during the same 4% fewer sales went through. period last year. In fact, 90,327 residential The much more modestly sized, but generproperties, including both resales and new- ally more expensive, market in Benahavís build homes, were sold, the did see a drop-off of 20% highest quarterly sales figcompared to Q3 and almost ure for October to Decem17% in comparison with Q4 San Roque and ber since 2012.

2015, but this is typical at Here at Terra Meridiana, Sotogrande saw the end of the year as overwe track and compare data seas buyers tend to wait from a variety of official total sales climb a until spring before searchsources – notaries, regis- huge 26.7% for the ing for property in the area. trars, national statistics inHowever San Roque, where quarter stitute, and the ministry of the exclusive enclave of Sopublic works - to give buyers togrande is located, saw toand sellers a snapshot of tal sales climb a huge 26.7% trends in the marketplace for the quarter, albeit down and our perspective on it.

4.6% compared to the final quarter last We had expected a decline in sales in Q4 year.

2016, as the market – particularly in many Meanwhile, property prices for the country coastal areas traditionally popular with as a whole grew faster than in Q3 2016 Brits – feels the effects of Brexit. Combined and continued to climb at a higher rate with the continued low exchange rate be- for the quarter than in Q4 2015. Despite tween the pound and the euro, the share some concerns among commentators, the of British buyers appears to have fallen off increase in property prices nationwide consharply, although the gradual recovery of tinues to follow a positive trend, but is far demand from Spaniards and other over- from overheating, although larger increasseas purchasers is making up the shortfall es in places like Madrid and Barcelona into a large degree. dicate consistently strong demand in urban After a somewhat lacklustre third quarter, areas.

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A CRACK team of experts has been formed in a bid to finally solve Marbella’s long-standing problem with illegal construction.

Four of Spain’s top urban planners hope to draft a new urban plan (PGOU) for the town, which still has to rely on an outdated plan from 1986.

They hope to put an end to 11 years of planning headaches, which intensified in 2015 due to a Supreme Court ruling.

The court deemed unfit for use a PGOU created in 2010 to help officials decide whether 33,000

Action time Experts bid to solve Marbella’s illegal building woes buildings constructed illegally under former mayor Jesus Gil could remain.

The main jobs of planners Diego Vera, Luciano Pare-

Scouting around SCOUTS and Guides have appealed for help to find a new home.

First Fuengirola Scouts needs to find new premises before September, as the Ark Christian Church group, who they rented a space off in the Las Rampas Centre, has moved to a different location.

The mixed sex group had been holding meetings in the hall for over 20 years and currently has around around 100 members aged five to 18.

Leaders have already approached various town halls, business and community leaders and have now asked for local residents to send them venue suggestions.

“The Scouts and Guides have been unable to follow the Church to its new location, which has effectively left them homeless,” said Lynne Armitage, Brownie leader.

“The venue we require needs to be a sizeable space, child friendly with a strong roof and reasonable access for parents to drop off and collect children. “It must have access to a toilet and ideally, running water. “In total, the units only meet for around 8 hours a week and over two nights (currently Thursday and Friday) so we are not in a position to pay large amounts of money to rent premises on a monthly basis; we would prefer to pay an hourly rate.”

Anyone who has a venue suggestion should email robert. troost@britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk

jo, Jose Maria Baño Leon and Manuel Rebollo Puig will be to try legalise some of the 30,000 existing buildings constructed illegitimately.

They will also try form a progressive PGOU for the future, which will cost at least €170,000 to put into action.

Once drafted and put out to tender, it is estimated it will take up to five years to become law.

This is due to having to be approved at several levels including the Junta.

Until then, the 1986 PGOU will remain in force.

April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

Safe as houses A STUDY has been launched to investigate the sustainability of Malaga’s recent tourist accommodation boom.

The city’s Urban Environment Observatory (OMAU), a research organisation, wants to find out exactly how many properties are being used as hotels, hostels and apartments in the historic centre.

It will then use the data to decide if action needs to be taken to ensure properties remain available for residents.

The news of the study comes after Malaga Council revealed that action would be taken if the number of beds available to tourists in the area topped 15,000 to ensure properties are still available for residents.

Building confidence

Despite the recovery of the market, there are still some huge differences between what was loaned in the good times and the market value of the property now.

D

espite the recovery of the market, there are still some huge differences between what was loaned in the good times and the market value of the property now. o Building activity is increasing. o There are many new individual villas, though the financial rationale of those is uncertain as there are still so many available for sale, with those having had the choice of the best sites in the past. o New flatted developments are also being created with the developers presumably been reassured by the appropriate percentage of reservations off plan. o Older ‘skeleton’ developments that were not completed during the last boom are being acquired and completed by new developers. o There is ‘no sign of housing market overheating’, says Bank of Spain. Generally, that is probably the case. However, in certain popular areas there must be a risk that everything is proceeding along a very similar course to before the last crisis. There is increasing demand from many nationalities, with the Nordic buyers still prominent.

However, the statistics show that there has been a significant drop in acquisitions by UK buyers, presumably linked to Brexit. o Having said that, we have noticed no reduction in the number of building surveys that we are being requested to carry out by UK potential buyers. These are almost exclusively of existing properties, some of which are in good locations. Buyers report that they are still able to negotiate reductions from asking prices and we refer you to the statistics below. o The market dependent upon Gibraltar, both due to proximity and business, is undoubtedly the most nervous of all. The effects of Brexit will be a radical and far-reaching, but everyone has to wait until the UK/EU negotiators finally agree their deals.

The attitude of Spain with regard to sovereignty will be significant. o With Easter marking the start of the main tourist season, it is to be expected that the authorities will be

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ALL PROPERTY MATTERS RICS BUILDING SURVEYORS & VALUERS

BY CAMPBELL FERGUSON

For peace of mind follow working strongly to enforce their rental licence requirethese property buying rules ments, which exist now in the majority of Spain.

Properties that have a rental licence should have an increased Your Property value, but yet we are not seeing many beingFindmarketed with that as an asset. o Average values of asking prices, buying prices and Valuations were all higher than the last quarter.

Instruct Instruct Surveyor Lawyer o The average of all the propertiesBuilding inspected was €2,503 euro/sq m, which is much higher than the previous quarter. o The % difference between asking pricesBuyand actual with Knowledge & Confidence buying prices this quarter – first quarter 2017 - 6.94%, which is lower than the last few quarters. +34 952 923 520 o As before, we have also noted a number of properadmin@surveyspain.com surveyspain.com ties where optimism by owners and agents has encouraged them to increase asking prices. o We are also still noting that new build properties are being sold at significantly higher prices than similar existing property nearby, especially regarding apartments.

That must lead to the buyers experiencing an immediate significant drop in value as, if they have to sell, they will not have the marketing power of the developer and may even be competing against that. o Despite the significant reduction in demand from British buyers, they are still by far the largest individual sector of the expat market. Strong interest from Nordic countries is seen, but their population is limited and therefore is bound to reach a level where the majority of demand has been satisfied.

Strong Belgian demand has been noted recently, which we understand may be due to tax changes within the country. o All in all, the market appears to continue at a steady pace with the gradually recovering Spanish economy beginning to bring in more buyers and those from Scandinavia, Germany and France making up for the reduction in British demand. o However, Brexit and all the other political happenings within the world are likely to keep a continuing uncertainty as to future prospects.

Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com

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BUSINESS round-up

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Pay+TheolivepressEs day AMAZON has announced the launch of a new hi-tech BE ‘APPY! online payment system in Spain.

The retail giant’s Amazon Pay means the payment and delivery information stored on a customer’s account can be used to comDownload our app now and plete transactions. enjoying the the besttime Spanish It willbegin reduce spent paying forgo.goods onnews on the line by removing the need to enter multiple passwords when shopping on participating third-party websites.

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

Poverty issues SPAIN has the third highest rate of child poverty in the EU. The United Nations Children’s Fund has released a report which places the country behind only Romania and Greece.

The percentage of children living below the poverty line in Spain is estimated to be 40%, the result of the economic crisis in 2008 and years of austerity which followed.

The government cut child spending in 2010 by 15% which had a negative impact on education quality.

It’s said that the elderly in spain were much better cared for than children during the crisis.

Holiday funds

It’s hoped that the innovaThe Olive Press tion will reduce the chance of shopping cart abandonTOPincrease for news in Spain! ment and sales.

On top of that, it will keep up with customers’ expectations for a speedy and TOURISM businesses are convenient online experi- set to get a multi-million ence, said Giulio Montem- euro boost to help attract agno, GM Amazon Pay EU. more visitors.

More than 33 million cus- Entrepreneurs and small tomers have used Amazon businesses who want to crePay to complete online ate something new or improve an existing service in transactions.

Andalucia can now bid for Junta funding.

A total of €4.1 m is available to help enterprises develop their products or services in terms of accessibility or

Tourism businesses can now bid to win Junta funding sustainability. The aim is to make them more diverse or healthier.

A further €1.2m will go to entrepreneurs who have an idea that could make a significant impact on attracting tourists.

The fund is the latest at-

tempt by the junta to encourage more ecotourism in the region to make the sector more sustainable.

“Eco tourism is one of the areas that best represents the future of tourist activity,” said Francisco Javier Fernández, Junta councillor

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

for tourism and sport.

“This is due to the new trends and demand for experiences in destinations that support sustainable development.

“Ecotourists want to make a responsible trip that helps to conserve the environment and improve the wellbeing of local people.”

Interested parties must submit a bid on the Junta website before May 13.

NEWS IN BRIEF Go green AN ECO convention has united 900 progressive business leaders in Malaga.

They showcased ecofriendly and sustainable projects at the New Economy & Social Innovation Forum to highlight that one can make a profit while benefitting the planet.

Big business SPAIN’S live events revenue reached a staggering €223.3 million last year, according to the country’s promoters association APM. This is a 14.7% increase on last years figure of €194.6 million. Bruce Springsteen attracted the most visitors with 160,000 fans attending the River Tour.

Golden ticket THE ‘golden visa’ scheme introduced to give large investors and highly qualified professionals residency permits seems to have paid off. Three years after it was introduced, 2,236 investors have benefitted, bringing in €2.16 billion.

Health trip SUPERMARKET Spar is making waves in Spain with new shops and an innovative health store concept.

There are more than 1,000 Spar stores now across the country are more are on the way.

The first Spar Natural has also opened in Gran Canaria, specialising in organic, vegan, gluten and wheat free products.

Customers will be able to book sessions with professional nutritionists, physiotherapists and other experts.

28 28

www.theolivepress.es

Dig for victory A SPANISH company has constructed one of the longest tunnels in the world.

The 17.5m in diameter tunnel that stretches three km across Seattle in the USA was engineered by ACS through its US subsidiary Dragados USA. Designed as a replacement for traffic currently using the Alaskan Way Viaduct, it has taken seven years to create and involved using a huge five storeys high tunnel boring machine called Bertha, one of the largest in existence.

Drivers are expected to be able to start using the tunnel in 2019.

ANDALUCIA has the most inventors in Spain.

A total of 506 patents for industry were registered in the region in 2016, more than Madrid which had 457 and Catalunya on 453, according to a report by the state’s Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas.

It said that Andalucia registered 14.5% patents than the year before, much higher than the 0.9% national average.

It now means that almost 20% of all Spain’s patents are from Andalucia, which equate to 8,450 products.

Last year 331 patents were registered by private individuals, 97 by universities, 62 by companies

business

April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

Super South Andalucia leads the way in the number of patent registrations and 22 by public bodies.

The Agency for Innovation and Development of Andalusia (IDEA), which helps parties require patents, believes that its campaign to highlight the importance of protecting inventions is behind the rise.

The report, which looked

at patent registrations throughout Spain, said that much more work had to be done to encourage female inventors, who register substantially less patents than men.

In Spain it costs €1,000 to register a patent nationally and €10,000 to €15,000 nationally.

The office estimates that ten percent of patents registered come to market and are marketed.

Home grown DOMESTIC produce is set to be promoted across Spain thanks to new laws on product labelling.

The new requirements set out in a draft bill aim to highlight the country of origin of products including liquid milk, powders, yogurts and butter.

The guidelines, which will be trialled for two years, mimic similar rules launched in France and Italy.

Their purpose is to promote domestic produce, so foreign companies could lose out.

To be eligible for a ‘made in Spain’ label, companies must provide details of the origin of milk or other products used.

Jobs boost MORE jobs will be created this year than previously thought thanks to a slow but recovering economy.

Employment growth is now projected at 2.4% for Andalucia, up from the 2.1% estimated three months ago.

Figures published by Unicaja bank suggest that 14,000 more people will find employment in 2017 than in 2016.

The bank’s analysts have predicted that unemployment in the region will decrease by 7.2% compared to last year, better than the 5.7% rate projected at the start of this year.

But unemployment remains a key worry, with 26.9% of the working age population estimated to still be out of work during 2017.

business

www.theolivepress.es

April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

Very Good Friday

Three’s a charm SIR Richard Branson has unveiled a third luxury villa on his Mallorca estate.

The UK business giant repurchased the Son Bunyola estate for a reported €11 million after selling it some 13 years ago following a row over planning permission.

The Virgin CEO left the island in a huff when local politicians rejected his proposal to build the world’s best eco-resort.

But he has now bought back the land with hopes of creating a luxury holiday destination.

The new villa within Son Bunyola is called Son Balagueret.

AS an English lawyer who has specialised in wills, trusts and estate law for over 15 years, and as a property owner in Andalucia, I have been carefully following regulation Brussels IV and the potential impacts of Brexit.

The regulation affects you if you are a British owner of a Spanish property who has retained British domicile and have not applied to be become a Spanish citizen or declared yourself a resident in Spain.

But what does the regulation do?

If you have connections with more than one country, you need to know which country’s law will decide who inherits your estate.

Spread over three floors, it includes a secluded central courtyard, a private heated swimming pool and glorious views of the whole estate and northwest coastline.

The estate’s central and uninhabited finca dates back to the mid 13th century.

The picturesque Son Balagueret is surrounded by vines, citrus fruit trees and hundreds of olive trees.

Its new villa can sleep six adults with an additional day bed.

Branson, who used to own the La Residencia Hotel in Deya, continues to visit the Balearic island.

Post-Brexit wills British lawyer Dawn Joughin explains how new regulations could affect you

Changes

This is important because the laws of many countries say certain shares in your estate are reserved for close family members (this is sometimes called forced heirship).

Under English law, you can usually leave your property to who you want in your will including to a trust.

Trust law is not a concept that’s recognised in Spain.

Each country has its own rules to decide which law applies. The interaction of these rules is often complicated, making it uncertain who will inherit your estate.

The new regulation aims to reduce this uncertainty by introducing common conflict of laws rules for the EU member states to which it applies. These rules apply to those who have died on or after August 17 2015.

But it may change the effect

of wills and other estate planning put in place before that date.

Although the regulation does not apply in the UK, it affects the way conflict of laws rules in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland interact with the rules of the EU member states where it does apply.

In countries where the regulation applies, such as Spain, the default position is that the law of the country where you are habitually resident when you die governs succession to your

estate as a whole. The default position is overridden however, if you were more closely connected with another country when you died (for example, because you had only just moved out of it) or if you choose to apply the law of your nationality instead. You can make the choice in a will or codicil.

The EU Succession Regulation may change what happens to your estate when you die. You may need to change your will (including any foreign wills), or make

a will if you don’t already have one. Advice that you have received in the past may no longer be correct.

However, the effect of the new regulation should not change when the UK leaves the EU. If you are a UK national, you can choose to apply the law of the jurisdiction within the UK with which you are most closely connected.

Some important effects of the regulation are: Who administers your estate.

How your estate is taxed.

Who can make claims against your estate.

Which court decides any disputes about your estate Make sure you take specialist advice about your estate. Dawn Joughin is a lawyer, qualified in England and Wales, with over 15 years experience in wills, trusts and estates law, and is available for meetings in your area by arrangement.

Contact Dawn on: 0044 8452579449 or 0044 7817868804 djoughin@excellolaw. co.uk

Bad chat

UNDER FIRE: Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel

SNAPCHAT CEO Evan Spiegel has come under fire for allegedly saying Spain is ‘too poor’ for the app.

It comes after details of a court case involving former employee Anthon Pompliano were released into public filing.

In the complaint, Pompliano claims Spiegel shot down his ideas to drive international growth for the photo sharing app.

Spiegel allegedly said he had no intentions of expanding into countries like Spain and India as they were too poor.

In a response, Snapchat said the claims were ‘ridiculous’.

“Obviously Snapchat is for everyone!” it said, “It’s available worldwide to download for free.”

Twitter users in India and Spain have called for a boycott of the app.

29 29

BY THE BOOK: Law help

SPAIN has shattered forecasts for Easter tourism figures this year.

The strong results were not exclusive to the usual coastal hotspots as cities and rural enclaves also saw a soar in visitors.

Public Works Minister Inigo de la Serna said ‘things could not have gone better.’

The minister said overall occupancy rates were up 10% on last Easter.

Over the Semana Santa weekend, Mallorca enjoyed 70% occupancy rate, a 5% increase on last year, showing the island’s increasing popularity with tourists.

“Our economy keeps growing, and this new push makes us optimistic about growth forecasts for the Spanish economy,” he said.

Figures released by industry group CEHAT show occupancy rates were between 85% and 90% in inland destinations, and at 90% on the coasts.

The Costa del Sol had an average occupancy rate of 83.57% while Cantabria reached 100% on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

At least two million Brits are thought to have travelled abroad for Easter, with the majority flocking to Spain.

It comes after a record-breaking 2016 which saw more than 75 million visitors who spent more than €75 billion in the country.

Following the booster Easter, the tourism industry is hoping to set another record this year.

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32

education

www.theolivepress.es

Top marks THE head of Andalucia’s Junta has made a pledge to create university grants for those with good grades.

Susana Diaz wants to give allowances to students who do well in their studies at public institutions in Spain to remove barriers to higher education for those from poorer backgrounds.

Allocated according to the financial status of the student’s family, the grants would be used to help pay for accommodation and transport.

The promise is the first to be made by Diaz in her campaign to become general secretary of the left-wing PSOE. She said that her policy would be part of her larger effort, should she ever become prime minister, to reform the state university system and reward ‘students who strive to do well.’

April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

What a whizz

WHEELS OF FORTUNE: Fuengirola riders

Andalucia revealed as top region to study Spanish in Spain

By Chloe Glover

ANDALUCIA is the most popular place to study Spanish in Spain.

This is despite the frequent criticism from language ‘purists’ that Andalucians swallow their word endings and speak a dialect unintelligible to some.

However almost one third of the 153 Cervantes-accredited centres are based in the region due to its appeal to foreign students.

Malaga is the most popular province in Andalucia to study the language, with 23 Cervantes-accredited centres - almost half of the

HAVE wheels will travel is the new motto of Beavers and Cubs from Fuengirola Scouts who now understand the art of bicycle maintenance after taking part in a group session to learn how to oil chains and change tyres.

They celebrated receiving their cycling skills badges with a bike ride along the town’s riverside park to a nearby park.

Anyone who wants to join the group, which meets every Thursday evening, or become a leader should check out www.fuengirolascouts.com or call 610 755 995.

Language of success region’s 48 centre total.

Hot on its heels are Sevilla, Granada and Cadiz, which also welcomed many of the 25,000 language students who flocked to Andalucia last year.

Most came from Great Britain, Scandinavian countries, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Provincial governments have recently launched new bids to attract even

more foreign students to the region, who spend an average of €1,200 over several weeks.

While Malaga is currently

the fourth most popular city in Spain to study Spanish, Julio Andrade, Malaga Council’s tourism councillor, hopes it will claim first place by 2020.

Cadiz councillors hope to make their province more attractive to students from new countries such as Poland, where they recently unveiled a huge promotional campaign.

Brain drain MORE than half of Spanish college students would prefer to work abroad.

Only 46.6 % of the 500 polled

by Barcelona’s prestigious Instituto Químico de Sarrià University want to find a job in Spain It found that 70.8 % prefer to work in the USA, with only 8.56% wanting to work in Great Britain and 6.6% in Germany.

Other countries mentioned included Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands, China and the Arab Emirates.

Apple was revealed as the company most sought-after by would-be job applicants, followed by Google and the Spanish company Inditex.

Testing times UNIVERSITY entrance exam dates have been announced.

Students who want to go to an Andalucian institution will take tests between June 12 and 14 at centres across the region.

Each must sit at least four exams in Spanish language and literature, a foreign language and the history of Spain and their bachillerato specialism.

They can also opt to sit four more tests in other subjects to boost their overall admission grade.

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Food, drink & travel www.theolivepress.es

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April 26th - May 9th 2017

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Feast for the eyes

Meat investment THE Swiss-based Bell Group is expanding its presence in Spain.

It has bought out cold cooked meats specialist Nobleza Iberica and contributed around €40m towards a new Serrano ham facility near Madrid which will offer 100 new jobs.

Nobleza Iberica has an annual production capacity of some 150,000 hams and 1,000 tonnes of charcuterie.

It specialises in the production of high-quality Iberico ham, and offers ‘the ideal supplement to Bell’s current product range’, said a spokesperson for the group.

CASARES looks set to be the goat-to town for haute cuisine no kidding.

A top TV show is highlighting the Andalucian white village as a new culinary hub.

The popular Aqui La Tierra show on Spain’s main channel La 1 recently broadcast an interview and cookery demonstration with the local Women’s Association (Asociación de Mujeres de Casares), in which its president showcased the village favourite, goat with asparagus and pepper salad.

The TV team filmed another piece on Quesos Sierra Crestellina farm in the village, where they found out how the family company makes its award-winning goats cheese.

Joffrey Charles is a French chef born and raised in Normandy. He has worked, for the past decade, in fine dining restaurants in Mont Saint Michel, Val D’Isere, Corsica, Dublin and London.

Iceberg glut A BOX of Iceberg lettuce has fallen by two euros in Spain.

Overproduction due to increased farmland and recent weather conditions means some companies are selling boxes of the popular salad ingredient for just €3 each.

Around 80% of Spanish lettuce is exported to much of Europe and a number of Arab countries.

However it is said that when production in Germany, Poland and Serbia starts, that amount will decrease.

Settled DONALD Trump has settled a lawsuit against a Spanish chef.

The US President sued Jose Andres, originally from Asturias, for almost €10 million in 2015.

It came after Andres backed out of a contract to open a restaurant at Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. Andres’ reason for pulling out was Trump’s derogatory comments against Mexicans.

The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed but it seems to have ended amicably.

“I am pleased that we were able to resolve our differences and move forward cooperatively, as friends,” Andrés said.

Contemporary fine dining

OPEN: Tuesday to Saturday Wednesday 3 course Taster Menu – 29.95€

tel: 658 748 919 reservations@joffreyslasmimosas.com Urbanización las Mimosas, 3A, La Cala De Mijas, 29649 Mijas, Málaga

By Chloe Glover

LA CALA will be in the spotlight next month when a couple of its newest restaurateurs are filmed for a top TV show.

A crew from Channel 4’s A New Life in the Sun is coming to the Mijas Costa resort to follow the journey of former Irish TV star Lisa Burgess and chef Joffrey Charles de Saint Georges, who have just opened restaurant Joffrey’s Las Mimosas.

Due to start filming in May, the team hopes to present an aspirational story of the British and French expat pair chasing their dream for its upcoming second series.

“It’s quite exciting,” said Lisa, 49, who was a longrunning fashion expert for TV3’s Ireland AM before moving to La Cala last No-

La Cala culinary duo to star in top Channel 4 show

STARS: Lisa and Joffrey

vember.

“They want to showcase what it’s like to set up

a restaurant in another country and one of the producers who knows me got in touch because they saw I was moving to Spain.

“I don’t mind the cameras but Joffrey may find it tricky at first. I hope he doesn’t swear!

“I think it will be good to get the publicity. My goal is to get the restaurant into the top 10 on Trip Advisor for La Cala, while Joffrey has his heart set on getting a Michelin star.”

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34

www.theolivepress.es

Food, drink & travel April 26th - May 9th 2017

Simply the best!

Spain’s fine dining restaurants have popped up on several top restaurants lists. Laura Duckett showcases the best.

I

T’S a country famed for its paella and patatas bravas.

And let’s not forget that distinctive crimson spice, paprika, that gives many of its dishes their fiery edge.

But Spain isn’t famous for its dishes in isolation – many of the country’s top restaurants are being voted among the best in the world by both

critics and diners.

This year, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants cites three Spanish establishments in its top 10.

TripAdvisor’s list names two in its top 10, and Elite Traveller´s Top 10 also features two Spanish restaurants.

Here we highlight the very best of Spain’s top five restaurants.

El Celler de Can Roca Girona, Cataluna

THE highest-placed Spanish restaurant on this year’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants list claims third place after New York’s Eleven Madison Park and Italy’s Osteria Francescana. It’s also at number three on Elite Traveller’s 2016 list.

Opened in 1986 by sibling duo Josep and Joan Roca who describe it as a ‘free-style restaurant committed to the avant-garde’, it’s rooted in family values. The pair learned to cook from their mother and grandmother from a young age before graduating from Girona catering school, and in 1998 their youngest brother, Jordi, completed the trio.

The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars, but most important for the Rocas is that their diners are happy with the food. And there’s no doubting that is the case.

35

www.theolivepress.es

April 26th - May 9th 2017

April 26th - May 9th 2017

Martin Berasategui Lasarte-Oria, Pais Vasco

TripAdvisor’s current list of the 25 best fine dining restaurants places Martin Berasategui in Pais Vasco at number one. It’s named after the owner who has the most Michelin stars in the whole of Spain - seven in total!

Berasategui trained as a pastry chef in

France at the age of 17. He earned his first Michelin star at 25.

His Spain restaurant has garnered some excellent reviews - ‘outstanding’, said one.

‘God exists on this earth’, said another. If that doesn’t give you an idea of the calibre of food to expect here, nothing will.

Asador Etxebarri

HOW!

how can we tempt you to visit Molino del Santo - the award-winning hotel near Ronda?

Atxondo, Pais Vasco

1) 2)

Mugaritz

Errenteria, Pais Vasco

Sixth place on the World’s 50 Best list goes to this Basque Country restaurant whose focus on unique barbequed dishes packed with flavour has attracted wellearned attention.

Run by Victor Arguinzoniz, the restaurant features custom-made equipment which allows chefs to chargrill anything from porcini mushrooms to caviar. Firewood is carefully selected to work in harmony with the local produce, resulting in a truly oneoff culinary experience.

Azurmendi Larrabetzu, Pais Vasco

At number ten on TripAdvisor’s list

35

Number nine on World’s 50 best restaurants list is Mugaritz in San Sebastian. The food served here is described as techno-emotional Spanish. Why? It’s a sensory as well as culinary experience. A three-hour dinner here consists of around 25 creations which weave a tapestry of stories and emotions with “flavors, textures and aromas that you can enjoy and feel using your hands to stimulate all the senses.”

The brains behind the business is award-winning chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, whose experimental cooking has earned him a rebellious reputation.

But many would agree that breaking the rules creates the most interesting works of art.

is Azurmendi, run by Eneko Atxa in Biscay.

It’s also number two on Elite Traveller’s list. One diner described their experience as ‘a meal of a lifetime,’ while another described it as an ‘incredible experience -

3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

WE COuLD TRy: Our Amazingly Good Food recommended by The Times.

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nothing like it in the world.’

And the building housing it is equally impressive thanks to photovoltaic solar panels, a geothermal electrical system electric car charging station.

Elite Traveller names its most exceptional dish Pigeon, Deuxell and Cauliflower.

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36

www.theolivepress.es

36

Food, drink & travel April 26th - May 9th 2017

Michelin-starred chef Celia Jimenez has shared two of her favourite recipes with Olive Press readers.

But to put their cheffing skills to the test, they must guess the quantities themselves.

In the soup

Spicy snail gyozas with Iberian ham and smoked broth

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 12.00 til 22.30 Kitchen closed 15.30 til 19.00 Sunday 12.00 til 16.00 Closed on Monday Reservations: elgarden2016@gmail.com

Garlic cloves Onion Carrots Virgin olive oil Snails White wine Grated tomato Spices to taste Gyoza wrappers Kombu seaweed Ham bone Whole root vegetables for stock Katsuobushi (dry tuna)

Cod confit with orange gnocchi, molten leaves, tomato seed and olives

Ingredients:

• • • •

Honey Soya sauce Mint infusion Mint blossom (to garnish)

1)Chop garlic, onion and carrot, put in a bowl of virgin olive oil and saute all the vegetables until they are well cooked.

2) Add the snail meat and continue frying before adding the wine, grated tomatoes and spices.

3) Simmer until the liquids have evaporated.

4) Remove from the heat and place in the gyoza wrappers before sealing them and placing in the fridge.

5)Make a smoky stock by heating cold water together with the Kombu seaweed.

Add a ham bone and some whole root vegetables. When boiling, add the Katsuobushi and remove the seaweed.

6) Simmer for 10 minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool before straining and setting aside.

7) Steam cook the dumplings in a pan for around three minutes or until the water has evaporated.

8) Heat the broth and flavor with honey, soy sauce and the peppermint infusion to serve.

9) Chop the tuna into small cubes and place into bowls.

10) Then add one gyoza into each, along with the smoked broth and mint blossom.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cod Extra virgin olive oil Lettuce leaves Lambs lettuce Rucula Chives Tomato seeds Sherry vinegar Salt Potato Orange juice Black olives Pea sprouts for garnish

1) Cook the cod in the vacuum with extra virgin olive oil (AOVE), reserve it and then at the last moment to remove bones.

2) Wash the leaves and blend them with the seeds of tomato, olive oil, sherry vinegar and salt.

3) Mash the potato, adding in the orange juice, place in a piping bag and squeeze out onto clingfilm or a greased tray. Each gnocchi should be approximately 3cm long.

4)Cook in batches in lightly salted water for two-to-four minutes, removing with a slotted spoon when they rise to the top.

5) Grate the orange peel and sprinkle it onto the gnocchi.

6) Grind the black olives with the olive oil to form a paste.

7) Place all the different components artistically onto plates and decorate with pea shoots.

Come and enjoy historic Cape Trafalgar with us

Avda. Trafalgar 102, Los Caños de Meca, Costa de la Luz tel: 956 437 255 CalifaVejer.com

www.theolivepress.es

health

Estepona’s first public hospital is ‘go’ after a decade of delays

Eye-opener

L

AST month we announced that all eight of our Spanish stores now have Digital Retinal Cameras, one of the latest pieces of technology being used by forwardthinking opticians. However, we realised that not many people knew about the technology and what it can do, so here we’ll be answering your questions.

WORK on Estepona’s first public hospital will finally begin in May. Construction will start during the first fortnight of next month, Mayor José María García Urbano has promised.

Finally

37 37

What is Digital Retinal Photography?

By Chloe Glover

He hopes it will be completed in 18 months, four months less than previously suggested but 10 years after the hospital was first promised.

Situated in the Urbanizacion Santa Maria 7km west of Estepona, Garcia said the state-of-the artcentre will also cost nearly €3m less to build than estimated, at €15m instead of €17.7m.

April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

Build up

FIRST: Work will begin on the new hospital next month

UTEOgensa-Helopav has been awarded the construction for the 14,300 m2 building, which will have an A&E with a helicopter pad and a paediatric ward as well as surgi-

ANDALUCIA is home to the oldest person in Europe.

Ana María Vela Rubio, who celebrated her 115th birthday last October, was born in Puente Genil, near Cordoba.

The former dressmaker takes over the title from Emma Morana of Verbania in Italy.

cal, consultation and diagnostic units.

It will serve Estepona’s 70,000 residents along with those from nearby towns such as Casares and Manilva, as well as the ar-

ea’s tourist population.

Estepona Council decided to fund the build with help from private funders after work on a previous Juntafinanced hospital plan stalled.

The Junta will foot the running costs and be responsible for its management when it opens.

Morana was the last living person Up to now, people born in the 1800s, and was the oldest have had to conperson in the world before her death. tinue to travel The oldest known person is current40km to the curly Jamaican Violet Brown, who was rent nearest public born in 1900. hospital in Marbella.

115 years young

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Why is digital retinal photography important?

It is becoming an increasingly valued part of eye examinations. More than just testing your sight, optometrists can make a comprehensive health assessment by using retinal photography alongside conventional procedures. It is also a fantastic tool for safeguarding sight.

What does it do?

This sophisticated process uses a camera to take a picture of the back of the eye – the only part of the human body where the microcirculation of blood can be observed directly. The state-of-the-art technology helps to identify changes that might be associated with certain eye conditions such as diabetes, hypertensive retinopathy, macular degeneration, optic nerve disease and retinal holes or thinning. The ability to save images creates a lasting record for ongoing monitoring. If necessary, the optician can refer patients directly for further medical examination to their hospital or general practitioner.

Can it really identify health problems too?

In addition to helping opticians identify sight-related problems, digital retinal photography can also highlight the signs of a range of other conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke risk and symptoms associated with brain tumours. This allows patients to seek medical help before symptoms become noticeable in many cases.

Specsavers Opticas is located in Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. To find your nearest store and book an eye test with visual health check visit www.specsavers.es.

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restaurant | lunch and dinner

U

nlike the majority of my forty-something contemporaries, I have thus far managed to avoid both getting married and having children. This means that I am able to bask up in splendid male isolation at my cottage on the lake, unencumbered by distractions such as Peppa Pig on permanent loop on the television, and those awkward silences when I forget an anniversary.

Single life also means that I can indulge in what I lightly class male idiosyncrasies.

I can potter around the

Columnists

April 26th - May 9th 2017 April 26th - May 9th 2017

Charity begins at home

Reflections on the life of a singleton

casita in my hooded dressing gown like an Andalus version of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Although my rather fanci-

Easter Mummy

ful images of myself as a rogue Jedi were somewhat shot down in flames when I posted what I thought was

A festive Easter with some mishaps along the way

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Marbella diaries

By Natalie Rose Kern

I

love Easter in Spain. The week-long celebrations, the fasting and feasting, the pomp and ceremony of the religious festivities…

And then of course there’s the chocolate.

But despite my very best efforts, this Easter didn’t go quite to plan…

Mad Hatter

The Olive Press Insider’s Guide

www.allaboutandalucia.com

The spring festive period kicked off with an Easter bonnet competition at the monkey’s school. Boasting a dressing-up box to rival Lady Gaga’s, I got stuck in after work, eager to create a fantastical Mad Hatter creation, and by 1am, the living room floor resembled an explosion of felt, ribbon, glitter, playing cards and flowers, and I smiled triumphantly at the finished piece.

“Ta-da!” I exclaimed the next morning, throwing open the bedroom door as I went to rouse the sleeping child from his slumber, whacky Easter bonnet perched on top of my head – and he smiled, “I like it,” he nodded, “But it’s a bit crazy!”

On the journey to school, I felt confident that my work of art had a good chance of winning a prize, that is, until we parked up outside and I saw the parade of millinery masterpieces adorning the heads of the other children.

There were wind turbines, flashing lights, and exquisite hand-painted papier maché fabrications.

“I don’t want to wear it anymore!” the child mumbled, frowning up at me from beneath the wonky top hat, and I ushered him into school, reminding him, “It’s the taking part that matters.”

The Easter Mummy

There is a whole new way to discover Andalucia @allaboutandalucia @aboutandalucia @allaboutandalucia All about Andalucia

I’d set my alarm for 7am on Easter Sunday, determined to have all the eggs hidden before the monkey awoke, and remembering the many years of failed attempts of scurrying around the garden unobserved - including the year that it began to rain as I was darting around the bushes in my nighty. By 8am, fuelled by coffee and an Easter egg or five, I was climbing trees, tip-toeing through the flower beds, and hiding eggs with acrobatic dexterity, only to be told by the child upon his awakening, “I think I’m too old for the Easter Bunny, Mummy… I know it’s you.”

Working holiday

As single-working-mother-freelance-writerjournalist life never stops, the two weeks of

a very 'Star Wars' photo of myself on social media in the aforementioned hooded garment, only for a Marbella yummy mummy to comment: “Awwww. You look just like a little hobbit”. Hardly the look I was going for...

The other idiosyncratic aspect to my single male life is my filing system. As a freelance writer and broadcaster I tend to collect random articles ripped from newspapers, magazine clippings and receipts for absolutely everything. I file these in what could aptly be described as 'just struck by a tornado style’. An American friend once came to visit with her children, took one look at the house, turned to her daughter and uttered the immortal line: “you see kids? This is what happens when a man lives alone!”

Sloppy

school holidays were planned out like a military operation and, between activity clubs and sporting events, I was able to juggle it all perfectly…almost. Just as I was applauding myself for my organisation precision, a meeting was called for a charity event thrown by a magazine for which I write. As I was on the organising committee, I had to attend the meeting despite having no childcare option lined up, so I dragged the monkey along, telling him: “Sit quietly, please, I won’t be long.”

The charity organisers, fashion show stylists, venue owners, and media members were all in attendance, led by the flamboyant Filipino transvestite fashion editor, Miss J, who commanded the meeting with drama, flair and exquisite showmanship, turning on his heels and flicking his hair as we all gazed on mesmerised.

As we were wrapping up, Monkey joined us at the table. “Excuse me, may I ask you a question?” he asked, suddenly interrupting Miss J, who stopped in his tracks, and glanced down at the child. “Yes dear?” he said.

“Are you a boy or a girl?” he asked, and we all fell silent.

“What do you think, dear?” J answered him, and the Monkey furrowed his brow.

“I think you’re a boy,” he said eventually.

“You’re right!” Miss J answered, “But what makes you say that?”

“It’s your beard!” came the monkey’s reply, and you could have heard a pin drop.

For a moment I dared not breathe…until suddenly Miss J erupted with laughter, and the

My single sloppy style came to an abrupt end when an ex needed a place to stay for a few weeks. Being the gentleman that I am (plus the fact that we lived together for a period that she famously announced as 'nine years of hell' at my traditional Boxing Day bash a few years ago, so I owe her one.) I offered her bed and lodging at the casita.

Things have changed since her arrival, mainly due to the fact that her storage unit wasn't ready in time, so my living room had so many boxes that it looked like a FedEx depot for a week.

Then there is the small problem that her cat has yet to bond with mine, even though they are mother and daughter. Cue growling, hissing and yowling around the casita at ungodly hours of the morning.

The plus points, however, are that she's brought a 'woman´s touch' to the casita. The kitchen is organised in a logical way, which means that I can't find anything and brought growling, hissing and yowling around the casita at ungodly hours of the morning when I woke at 6am to do the breakfast show and couldn't find the coffee pot. And my bathroom is sparkling. I actually thought I had an avocado green bathroom unit, when in reality it just needed a good clean!

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sport April 26th - May 9th 2017

Friday 17th - St. Patricks Day

Knocked out 2.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 4.00 pm 7.00pm 9.00pm 10.00pm

April 26th - May 9th 2017

If you have a sports story, contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

39 39

Rough treatment

Cheltenham Races All Ireland GAA Club Finals 4€ Biddy Mulligan´s Golf Society Party Live Music with John Maddocks Ireland U20´s vs England U20´s Ireland Women vs England Women Live Music with Alan Shiels

BAYERN Munich have lodged a complaint with UEFA about violence from Spanish police against their fans.

It comes after ‘violent attacks’ by officers against German fans during halftime of the Champions League quarterfinal match against Real Madrid.

t r a d i t i o n a l

St. PATRICKS DAY menu BARCELONA´S dreams served all day of winning the Champions Guinness, Kilkenny, Magners €4 League have been crushed.

St Patricks Day Shots Juventus’ defence proved too €2 sturdy for the Spanish champiFACE PAINTING ons after a 0-0 result. saturday 18th - 6 Nations Final Day 1.30pm with Scotland Italy defeat This paired avs3-0 3.45pm France vs Wales in the first legIreland has vsknocked the 6.00pm England 9.30pm Live Music with Layla team out of the runnings.

But fansSunday stood 19th in support at the - Premier League 1.00pm stadium Middlesbroughas vs Man Utd Camp Nou emo3.15pm Spurs vs Southampton tional team left the 5.30pm members Man City vs Liverpool pitch. 9.30pm Live Music with Sean Murray FC Barcelona haveour saved their page for our Virtual Tour, Check out Facebook season with their El Clasico winWhats Coming Up Special Offers, at La Liga,Biddy where they faced old Mulligans BiddysLaCala Tel: 952 494 877 rivals Real Madrid.

"I feel happy to be able to work in a club that always wants to win everything. It is not a good night and it is not a good moment for Barca fans, but we will fight until the end," said coach Luis Enrique, who will step down at the end of the season.

A club spokesperson said: “FC Bayern finds the Spanish police’s actions as misplaced and excessive.”

The club will also ask the Spanish police for a statement of events.

Bayern lost 4-2 during the match, which saw Real Madrid progress to the semifinals.

Scrums with soldiers Ronda expat swaps life on the oil rigs for hard tackling

DEFEAT: Neymar

Skate date ACROBATIC skating demonstrations are set to wow audiences at an upcoming international fair on the coast.

Professional inline skater Strada will showcase his impressive tricks every day during the Feria de los Pueblos in Fuengirola from April 27 to May 1.

Starting at 2pm each day in the Recinto Ferial, he will slide, spin and jump off a specially constructed handrail to highlight the sport and encourage more people to get involved.

AN expat Ronda rugby coach has swapped life at the bottom of the sea for teaching Spain’s army the art of tackling.

Danny Hutchinson, 53, worked as a saturation diver for oil rigs where he would spend 28 days straight in in a compression chamber in the murky depths of the ocean.

But after the global oil crisis saw prices slump, the Harlequins fan turned to his first love and started coaching rugby in Spain.

Three years on, the Arriate resident coaches three local sides, one of which is the Spanish Army’s legionnaires.

“They certainly have plenty of courage,” he told the Olive Press.

“I have been working with them for two months now.

We have to be careful in case they get injured and are not able to go to work.

“They throw themselves into it. They think they have to

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

throw 15 men into a ruck.

It’s effective in a way, but leaves you a little exposed at the back!”

Former scrum-half Danny took over his local club three years ago, rechristening them Los Bandoleros.

After introducing a new training regime, he got a call from Alhaurin rugby club, who he has taken to the quarter-final of the Andalucia League three times.

“The standard in Spain is improving all the time,” said Danny. “We have a beautiful stadium in Ronda and the Federation of Andalucia Rugby do a good job.

“It’s all about promoting the sport. My dream is to have an academy of rugby here and make this the centre of rugby in Andalucia.”

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Avda. Ricardo Soriano 12

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advice

SPANISH city Aviles now holds the Guinness world record for seating the most people at a table on the street simultaneously - 11,836 in total, surpassing previous winner, Metepec in Mexico.

Sexism row PRIVATE Madrid school Juan Pablo II Catholic school is being investigated for sexual discrimination after female pupils were offered a crochet class instead of a trip to the Real Madrid stadium.

Sounds familia THE Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is the first place in the world to top 100,000 traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.

Vol. 11 Issue 264

British student carries Semana Santa trono in Malaga A STRONG-ARMED Brit became a star of the Semana Santa parades.

Harry Morgan, a 21-yearold Oxford University student, made TV and newspaper headlines after being spotted helping to carry one of Malaga’s weighty tronos through the streets.

While most English tourists would have been found watching from the sidelines, Morgan, who is living in the city on an Erasmus exchange, first became entranced with the processions after seeing one last year while in the Basque Country.

The 1.94m (6”3) tall Bristolian decided to get stuck into the action this year after it was suggested by a teammate he plays rugby

www.theolivepress.es

April 26th - May 9th 2017

A DUTCH expat is looking to sell his prized collection of books in Andalucia.

The retired academic who lives in Laujar, Alpujarras has amassed 30 volumes of Encyclopedia Brittanica, measuring around two metres long all together and a large collection of Bertrand Russell books.

Among the books is a copy of the second edition of Principia Mathematica, which is being sold elsewhere for €850.

He is willing to deliver the books all together anywhere in Andalucia, or anyone interested can pick them up from his home.

Email rudiholzhauer@hotmail.com for more information and a complete list of titles available.

Shoulder to shoulder

HEAVY DUTY: Brit carries Semana Santa trono

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with in the city.

He reached out to the city’s Descendimiento brotherhood, one of the Christian groups that lead the processions, and was accepted as one of the men to carry the Virgen de las Angustias trono, which is estimated to weigh half a ton .

“I was very excited to be involved in such an important cultural event,” said Morgan, talking to La Opinion de Malaga newspaper.

“We have nothing like this in England so it was a little bit strange for me “I’m not a believer but thought the cultural experience was incredible.”

Winging it MALAGA Airport’s falcons are being readied for action.

A group of falcons will be used to prevent other birds from interrupting takeoffs and landings - a significant threat to flight safety.

It’s just one of the quirky measures the airport’s wildlife committee will put in place to ensure flight safety this summer.

Landfill

Other issues discussed in a recent meeting include cutting down the number of unauthorised landfill sites which attract flocks of birds in the Guadalhorce valley area.

The committee also talked about controlling the amount of unauthorised pigeon coups, and removing nearby ponds.

The airport has been using falcons for years to prevent bird strikes.

This year the need is all the more great, with millions set to arrive on the Costa del Sol.