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COMMENT
the olive press - July 12 - 25, 2012
OPINION OPINION
Charity starts at home THE Costa del Sol traditionally conjures up images of sandy beaches and glorious sunshine. But one thing you won’t see mentioned in the travel brochures is the issue of homelessness. The problem on the coast has already led the Red Cross to demand a homeless hostel in Marbella, but as our front page story ‘Paradise lost’ shows, the problem is spreading. The recession continues to force many out of work and subsequently for some, out of their homes, with an average of 159 people being evicted every day in Spain as they struggle with rent and mortgage payments. Charities such as Caritas are doing their best to support those in need. But there needs to be more emphasis placed on prevention rather than cure, with greater support networks in place to identify those at risk of becoming homeless. Family breakdown is widely regarded as being one of the key causes of homelessness, leaving expats living away from their families at particular risk. Charity, it seems, starts at home.
Bird’s eye view of hawkers Every day the beaches of the Costa del Sol are swamped with illegal street vendors selling their wares for a pittance. Dubbed ‘looky-looky men’- their efforts to avoid the long arm of the law can often resemble scenes from Laurel and Hardy. But behind the armfuls of ‘designer’ gear is a story often tinged with sadness – and many of these men have suffered appalling hardships and poverty. It’s no surprise that they have had several run-ins with the police which sometimes end violently. Although this aggression cannot be justified, the fact the hawkers must resort to their fists reveals something about the desperation of their situation. Let’s hope the sympathy and acceptance offered by most expats offers them some hope of a stable future here.
All the world’s a stage Nowadays everyone appears intent on finding their 15 minutes of fame. And with the advent of reality TV, YouTube and nonstop news coverage, there is no shortage of sensational storytelling on the airwaves. So why shouldn’t convicts (who are just being banned from cashing in) get a piece of the cake? Of greater concern, it seems, is the audience’s obsession with this sensationalism. The images that flood our TV and computer screens 24/7 have made people accustomed, and indeed desensitised, to tales of violence, debauchery and scandal. So when convicts relay their crimes, the fictional world of the Godfather is brought into reality – and people love it. In this climate, expression becomes nearly synonymous with exploitation while a prison cell becomes just another performance arena.
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HEY roam Andalucia’s beaches in the searing midday heat, offering trinkets, clothes and counterfeit gear to sunbathers – often making as little as €10 a day. Heralding from north Africa and sub-Saharan countries, the tens of thousands of ‘looky looky’ men, as they are pejoratively known, lead precarious lifestyles, living on the very edge of society. Sending the vast majority of their earnings to wives and children in Africa, they are usually left with little to spare and are forced to live in overcrowded squats or small flats, usually two or three to a room. Yet, despite being treated with absolute disdain by many holidaymakers – and sometimes even physically attacked – they are rarely less than good humoured, sporting smiles and gentle demeanours throughout their long hot days. Indeed, it comes as a big surprise to many beach bar owners and tourists alike, that this month two Senegalese men are about to go on trial for allegedly attacking three police officers in Granada last year (see front page). The pair are facing a one-anda-half year prison sentences and a €500 fine and deportation for allegedly putting the officers in hospital and even damaging their van. The men had been standing guard to protect ‘manteros’ who are so-called because they display their merchandise on mantas (blankets) which they can gather up swiftly in order to make a hasty exit if the heavies approach. But, this sort of incident is extremely rare, and most of the time the hawkers are good natured and accept it when their goods are seized. Of course, we must remember, these men are flogging their goods – often picked up from wholesale stores – without licences, often without
WHO YOU LOOKY LOOKY AT?
The Olive Press investigates the underworld existence of the tens of thousands of African street hawkers who ply their trade on Spain’s beaches the right to even be in Spain. success. Many of these goods are now Over in Murcia, Cartagena counterfeited and, as of this Town Hall has recently seized year, it has become more over a thousand articles serious to throughout download and May and June sell fake mer– including chandise and Anecdotal advice pirated DVDs, pirated CDs. designer suggests police fake Under Spanclothes, perish law, street fumes, watchsellers are re- attempts to deal es and sunquired to ob- with hawkers are glasses. tain a licence Meanwhile, half-hearted from their if local police town hall be- who work fore offering with the town merchandise halls - find an unlicenced to the public. vendor is also living in Spain “But each town hall has its illegally, their file will be own exact rules and it’s at a passed to the Guardia Civil. local level the issue needs to “It is them who deal with illebe controlled,” says a spokes- gal immigrants and deportaman from Spain’s National tion,” says a Nerja Town Hall Consumer Institute. spokesman. “It has nothing to do with us,” A Benalmadena policeman confirms a central govern- said: “Regarding expulsion, ment spokesman. some immigrants use the law Local crackdowns however when they want to go back to have had various degrees of their countries. They actually
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ask to be deported so they get their plane ticket paid for, even though the law should only be used against illegal immigrants who are minors.” Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests police attempts to deal with hawkers are somewhat half hearted, with one English teacher describing the ‘Laurel and Hardy’ sequence she saw near Playa Venus in Marbella. “I watched a policeman on a scooter skid to a halt by a group of them,” says Sally Adams, 31, who lives in the Genal Valley. “They all scattered and ran, some dropping their stuff on the way. The scooter gave chase and finally cornered one guy. “The policeman could have quite easily arrested him – he had him by the arm but was still on his scooter – but he hesitated too long and the guy got away again. “Clearly he was not that bothered about catching him.” Other witnesses report seeing police officers chasing the sellers as far as the beach, then giving up once their targets disappeared onto the unforgiving, hot sand. This is confirmed by talking to some of the men themselves.
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