Canarian Weekly Ed 744 by Canarian Weekly

TENERIFE’S BEST BRITISH WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Issue 744 09 March - 15 March 2012

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Five years on, and is there hope for him? Guardia Civil disclose fresh evidence about Yeremi Vargas POLICE are investigating new leads concerning a sevenyear-old boy, on the fifth anniversary of his disappearance from Gran Canaria. It touched the hearts of everyone in the Canaries when Yeremi Vargas vanished, apparently without trace, on 10th March 2007. He had been playing in a field with his cousins near his home in Vecindario, on the south-east coast and simply vanished, just moments after they had been called in for their dinner. Thousands of posters were put up around all the islands of the bespectacled little boy, and his disappearance was the subject of much debate for months. His family and police have never given up hope of finding him and, at a press conference this week, the Guardia Civil reactivated the case, offering fresh hope to his parents by releasing details they are working on in relation to three cars which were all seen in the area at the time. They were a white Opel Corsa, B type, a C type Corsa and a black Renault Clio with tinted windows and a sticker of a white daisy in the back. The Opel is thought to have been driven by a man wearing a cap, and witnesses say there were two people inside, and not just the driver as before. In addition, details of the clothes Yeremi was wearing

have now been described, having been ignored at the time say police, to avoid hoax phone calls. He actually wore beige pirate pants, a brick-red jersey with the inscription Skhuaban, plus orange Nike sneakers with some white and

gold, and blue prescription glasses with yellow pins. There was another twist yesterday (Thursday) when Yeremi’s mother, Ithaysa Suarez, called her own press conference to offer a “substantial reward” to anyone providing a reliable

clue. She also pleaded for ordinary citizens to “help us bring our child home”. She added: “We need our child - we have his empty bed at home. Every night, the family mourn his absence. We are shattered. These five years have been very bad.”

Were you in Gran Canaria five years ago at the time? Did you see anything strange at the port or airport that week? Does any of this strike a chord with you? If your memory has been jogged by these latest revelations, or if you

have even the slightest information, then please call free number 900 300 062, or contact the Canarian Weekly. Europa Press sources, familiar with the abduction, are convinced that these details could provide new witnesses who could, possibly, shed new light on Yeremi’s mysterious disappearance, which occurred in a matter of minutes. The parents reported his absence to the Guardia Civil hours later, and over the next few weeks, family, friends and neighbours joined forces with 100 officers from the Guardia Civil, National Police and the Army, together with hundreds of volunteers, to comb the area in search of any clues. The hunt eventually switched to the other Canary Islands, with specialised troops at each one being deployed to help out. And Spanish Prime Minister of the day, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, pledged to redouble efforts after a conversation with José Segura, the Government’s then delegate in the Canaries. A group from Tenerife even travelled to Gran Canaria to join others protesting against the kidnapping. Posters were distributed everywhere, with a special hotline to call, but all the efforts seemed in vain because Yeremi simply vanished without trace. The Guardia Civil even investigated the purchases in pharmacies on Gran Canaria because Yeremi was asthmatic and needed daily medication. Continued on page 3.

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09 March - 15 March 2012

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Yes, there’s a drought, but there’s still plenty of water on the Island TENERIFE Cabildo has allayed fears of water rationing on the Island following the driest period in several years. And Arona Council is “guaranteeing” the supply in the municipality, as well in Las Americas, Los Cristianos, Costa del Silencio, El Fraile, Guaza, Las Galletas, Palm Mar and Guargacho. That’s because the AdejeArona desalination plant provides water for the town’s lower reservoirs, which supply residents in the above areas. Arona Environment Councillor Antonio Sosa told Canarian Weekly: “Despite having had a very dry winter, with low rainfall, our water is guaranteed because the municipality has less and less reliance on water from wells and galleries.” He added: “We hope be up to 100% of our water storage capacity in early summer, which will cover any issues arising during periods of higher consumption. “But we want to convey to our residents the importance of exercising a rational use and awareness of this

precious resource.” It last rained heavily here in the South one year ago, and there has been no flooding for two years. But overall, the Cabildo is confident that water is still plentiful. A serious drought, leading to restrictions, would affect tomato and banana

producers seriously. But they will be comforted by the Tenerife government’s latest missive, which says that 84% of Tenerife’s water comes from underground sources, and a further 10% from the Island’s desalination plants. That means there will be no serious affects on water

supplies in the short term and therefore, says Jesus Morales, the Cabildo’s Minister for Water, no restrictions are necessary. But he also advises people in business and at home to use water sensibly, and he also warns that the situation could change if the lack of rain continues for much longer. Nevertheless, he said a hydrological study of the Island showed that there were peaks of wet years and others with drought. Morales cited 1994 or 1998 as dry years, with 2002 and 2010 being extremely wet periods, which allowed ground-water to replenish supplies. Jose Joaquin Bethencourt, Minister of Agriculture, has reported that Balten, the company responsible for reservoirs, has made a commitment with farmers to ensure their supplies of water, although they are being asked to be as conservative as possible. Bethencourt also points out that the company has a complex system that enables water generated in one part of the island to be moved to where it is needed.

Five years on, and is there hope for him? Continued from Front page. They also displayed a heavy presence at Gran Canaria airport and the main port to ensure that the child could not have left the island. His picture was posted on YouTube, and more than 4,000 people attended a rally in support of his family. Yellow T-shirts bearing photographs of the smiling boy were made as part of the publicity campaign to highlight his disappearance, while family members described Yeremi as shy and unlikely to have gone off with a stranger. To add to the mystery, Madelaine McCann was taken from the Algarve region of Portugal less than two months later - a few days before her

fourth birthday. But was it just a nasty coincidence? In fact, police soon began to suspect that the same gang could have been responsible for both abductions, although no link has so far been discovered. Madeleine’s distraught parents, Gerry and Kate, promptly launched a worldwide hunt for their daughter, via TV and newspapers, which is still ongoing. It is possible that their diligent hunt for Madeleine may have inspired the police to reopen their Yeremi investigation. But Guardia Civil Captain Felipe Pizarro, from the Judicial Police in Las Palmas, insisted that the investigation into Yeremi’s disappearance had

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never been abandoned. He also said there was nothing to link Yeremi with the abduction of 14-year-old Sara Morales, who went missing in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria’s capital, in 2006. Kate McCann writes on the dedicated Madeleine website they created: “I have been criticised at times for publicising Madeleine’s disappearance. We did what we felt was best at that time, obviously having no experience of such ordeals. “Thankfully, the NCMEC (National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children) has assured us that this was the right thing to do. “People have asked (usually in a critical manner) ‘why has Madeleine received such attention when there are

thousands of missing children around the world?’ “My feeling is that the publicity surrounding Madeleine’s abduction was not inappropriate. Every child in such a situation should receive this same amount of attention, but it shouldn’t be down to the family to instigate it. “The public awareness of Madeleine’s plight has, at the very least, highlighted cases of other missing children, and the extent of the problem as a whole, and from that we can take a small bit of comfort.” Let’s pray that the McCanns’ stupendous awareness efforts over the years will inspire someone to come forward with news that will help solve the mystery of these missing children.

NEWS IN BRIEF We’re game for a laugh TENERIFE is to stage laughter therapy training courses in La Laguna as a pioneer for Spain. Pupils will be accredited with the title of “Monitor” after 200 hours of coaching, and will be qualified to offer independent workshops after completing the synopsis.

Snapshot guide to Carnival LOS Cristianos Cultural Centre is hosting a photographic exhibition, dedicated to Carnival time, until Monday (12th March). It features pictures taken over numerous years in the Arona municipality.

Flamenco singer’s on show RENOWNED Spanish flamenco singer Estrella Morente is in concert on Sunday at the Tenerife Auditorium Adam Martin, following her appearance at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria the previous evening. The Santa Cruz show starts at 8.30pm and tickets are on sale at www.entradas.com and http:// entradas.auditoriodetenerife.com

Taste of the good life GUIA DE ISORA’S Mercado Agrotradicional is laying on a wine-tasting fair tomorrow (Saturday), beginning at 10am, in the Cultural Centre square.

Stepping up overseas links TENERIFE Cabildo is in talks with the Vueling airline in an attempt to increase its connections with various national and international markets. France, Italy and the Nordic countries are top of the list as fast-growing markets for Tenerife.

Jobs boom in tourism MORE than 5,000 new jobs were generated in the Tenerife tourist industry last month, which was a 2.4% increase on last month’s figures.

San Miguel’s annual snips THE annual Feria de Saldo (liquidation sales fair) in San Miguel will take place on the Carretera General del Sur - the road running through the village - on 17th March from 10am to 7pm. You’ll find up to 50% discounts on a wide range of household goods and clothing.

Ideal site for crafts people A NEW website www.tenerifeartesania has been set up for local craftsmen and women, displaying 700 officiallyregistered businesses, plus their profiles, products and their specialities.

Cop shop on the move? GRANADILLA de Abona Town Hall officials are looking into the possibility of moving the police station and tourist office to El Médano’s main plaza.

Fish market to make splash THE new Los Abrigos fish market should be open in three months. The 242.000-euro project will enhance the fishing industry, create jobs and provide a much-needed and long-awaited service to surrounding villages

Students to get travel grants TENERIFE Cabildo has allocated 88,000 euros in grants to pay towards travel costs generated by university students resident in Tenerife but studying away from the Island during this school year. Officials hope it will encourage pupils to widen their horizons, knowing there are resources available if they wish to study away from home.

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A word from our editor

Promotion plans set for El Medano Las Chafiras Email: editor@canarianweekly.com

traffic chaos LAS CHAFIRAS is the area where our office is located. A grid of no entries and stop signs at the best of times. But, it’s a busy area, you could call it an out-of-town shopping centre, but not under one roof, if you get my drift. Anyway, I digress, at some point in January this year the area become impossible; overnight, road works appeared outside McDonalds, various roads closed and traffic directions changed – not user friendly to say the least. The signage is confusing and if you take a wrong turning then basically you have to go around again, I kid you not! Such has the frustration been here in the office we have for the past weeks been attempting to get in touch with the local council of San Miguel de Abona to ascertain basically what’s going on and more importantly when is this misery going to end. And as we go to print the Mayor of San Miguel de Abona, Valentin Gonzalez Evora has been in touch. I have received a letter from him by email that states basically that the works commenced on the 20th January (so it’s been about six weeks) the work was due to commence in December but they postponed it so that it didn’t hamper the Christmas shoppers and festivities, causing yet more inconvenience. The Spanish press did carry the ‘notice’ to say that it was taking place. The work was originally planned to be general improvements to the drainage, waste etc with a budget of approximately

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225,000 euros the Mayor tells me. However, the workmen found electric channels which were not on their plans; a new project then had to commence to deal with what they found to ensure the safety of the area. The unforeseen additional work has caused delays and the Ayuntamiento of San Miguel de Abona say that the work will be completed within a ‘prudent’ timescale but don’t actually commit to when! The Mayor in fairness wanted to get the message across, and he told Canarian Weekly that they’re doing everything they can, but you can see with your own eyes, it’s going to be a while yet; unfortunately we’re just going to have to grin and bear it. And finally, if you only watch one thing on television this week, then on Thursday tune in to “Our man in…Tenerife” a fly on the wall documentary about the British Consul here in Tenerife. No one here, even the Consulate has seen it yet, so, it will be interesting to see how scathed or unscathed as it were Tenerife emerges. Until next week…

THE municipality of Granadilla de Abona, through the departments of Tourism and Security led by Nuria Delgado and Guacimara González, respectively, is studying the possibility of providing new premises in El Médano for the Tourism office and local police station in the central square of the coastal town. The mayor, Jaime González Cejas, explained that at the request of the departments

mentioned and in order to respond to the demands of business and residents of the town, the new units, says González Cejas, could be operational by next summer. Meanwhile, the socialist councillors argue that this proposal would provide much larger facilities and be better located, in addition to providing better service and security from the point of view of tourism, given the central location of the

square for tourists who visit and also from the point of view of policing. The local coucillors say that the work would meet their objectives bringing the administration closer to citizens, improving the service offered to residents, and promoting the image and aesthetics of this important coastal area. Moreover, due to the measures being undertaken to promote tourism in

the municipality, the Department of Tourism, responsible for the area, councillor Nuria Delgado reports that there are plans to show a promotional video of Granadilla de Abona via an LED display screen, broadcast in several languages, displaying the attractions and benefits available to the thousands of tourists that pass daily through the focal point of South Tenerife.

Canarias Windsurf Slalom Circuit is a winner ANDREA CHUCCHI won the first title of the Circuit held on Los Balos beach, El Medano (Granadilla de Abona), on the 29th February and March 1st. The tournament, which featured the collaboration of the departments of both Sports and Tourism of the municipality was directed by Nuria González and Marcos Delgado, respectively, it was the first of three races that count towards a circuit (speed race between buoys) which will then move to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Among the highlights of this event, five worldclass athletes attended,

among them Asmussen Gunnar German champion 2011, Andrea Chucchi World Champion Formula Windsurfing Master 2011; Markus Poltenstein, World Champion Master 2009, Marco Lang, third in the Austrian Championships. Second place went to the new champion of Germany, Gunnar Asmussen, and in

third place was Vincent Langer. That was in regard to the general test, while qualifying for the Canarian circuit, the top three finishers were Luca Orsi, Daniel Augustine Fuerte and young local, Pablo Claver. Weather conditions allowed this tournament to be completed with complete success, and offered

onlookers and tourists a great show. The next round of the circuit transfers to Gran Canaria in May. The municipal officials stressed that Granadilla de Abona is a worldwide reference point for practicing water sports, so the council is working to develop further events and tournaments in its waters to maintain the status.

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Abama welcomes Real Madrid stars

THE autograph books and camera phones will be out in the Abama Golf resort this week. The third annual Prom Am golf tournament starts on Thursday and once again some big names will be teeing it up.

Former World Football of the year Luis Figo will be joined by former captain Guti and manager Bernd Schuster. Spanish Grand Slam winning tennis stars Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez-Vicario are also attending as is the famous chef Martin Berasategui. Figo’s attendance is a real coup for Abama. He is one of the few players to have played for both

Real and hated rivals Barcelona. He won four Spanish league titles, four Italian league tiltes, countless cups, the Champions League as well as 127 caps for Portugal in a glittering career. Today he is an ambassador for another former club Inter Milan and also works for a charity which fights the spread of tuberculosis.

De Cotta’s Open Day won’t cost you a cent TENERIFE lawyers De Cotta Law are holding an Open Day on Wednesday (14th March), so if you’ve got a pressing legal matter, then seek professional advice. And this month it’s free! All of us at some time or another need the expertise of a professional lawyer who speaks our language. You may possibly have a stressful family matter such as divorce; or your partner has taken the children back to the UK without permission; or maybe you need help with the purchase or sale of a property, or the legalisation of a house. You may want to make a claim after an accident at work or while on holiday; or even to prepare a Will so that your assets in Spain and abroad are protected. De Cotta lawyers not only

speak your language, they are also experts in Spanish, English and international law, and the complexities of the conflicts of law between Spain and the UK and other sovereign states. That is why the English lawyers and Spanish abogados at De Cotta Law are holding an Open Day on Wednesday, from 9.30am to 5.30pm. The company’s specialist solicitor, Jonathan Sutton, will be available for free only on that day for consultations on English law. He will be able to advise our clients on English wills, inheritance tax and Probate, litigation and personal injury claims in the UK. What’s more, all private legal consultations with the lawyers at De Cotta Law throughout the day are completely free. The consultations are bookable, so take a moment to reserve your private consultation by calling 922 719 520, or sending an email to tenerife@decottalaw.net Visit De Cotta’s offices, opposite The Scotch Corner

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bar, in San Eugenio, Playa de Las Americas, Adeje, and take advantage of a free, private legal consultation. De Cotta Law have over 25 years’ experience in Spain. They provide: *The Expertise of English Solicitors *Witnessing affidavits or executor’s oaths *Certifying documents for use in the UK * Drafting wills for assets in the UK or offshore *Witnessing forms for benefits or your state pension *Assistance with divorce forms from the English Courts *Litigation or personal injury claims in the UK You can contact the company at: De Cotta McKenna y Santafé Avda. de los Pueblos Esq. C/ Colón. Parque Residencial Villaflor, Local B-20, 1ª Planta. San Eugenio, Playa de Las Americas, 38660 Costa Adeje, Tenerife España Tel.: (00 34) 922 719 520 Fax: (00 34) 922 724 511 Email: tenerife@decottalaw.net Website: www.decottalaw.com

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Roll up, roll up for April’s Los Galletas annual races THE 16th annual Las Galletas HalfMarathon takes place on 1st April, but get your entries in quickly because places are limited to 800 runners. This event carries prize money and is sponsored by Tenerife Cabildo, the Canaries’ General Directorate of Sports and the Canary Island Federation of Athletics. There will also be a 10 kilometre event alongside the main one, and those interested in either run must register by 26th March via www. mediomaratonlasgalletas. com or check in at the Sports Pavilion in Los Cristianos. Those runners in the north wishing to take part can register at Guzman Sport La Laguna or at Mundisport, Puerto de La Cruz. Entries are restricted to those aged 18 and over and the cash prizes will be awarded on a strictly first-

come basis, regardless of the runners’ status. Trophies will be presented

to the top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s 10k race.

Power for the future - from a great height TENERIFE has seen many changes over the last decade as the Island is slowly modernised. The long-awaited train line from Las Americas to Santa Cruz has been mothballed, but one of the most important projects has been given the green light. Electricity supplier Endesa has confirmed there will be a major new line, which will link

its power plants at Granadilla and Caletillas. The much-needed new link, passing through six municipalities, will be hidden from public view. Work will start soon in Candelaria, Guimar, Arafo, Fasnia, Arico and Granadilla to construct the 124 towers, which will have an average height of 22 metres. The biggest project will be carried out in Arico, which will be the mini hub with half of

all the towers being installed there. The constructions and lines are designed to withstand winds of up to 160 kilometres an hour. That is superhurricane strength and far stronger than any winds ever recorded in the Canary Islands. Some of the line will be underground, from Caletillas and Guimar, while none of the points will go through any residential areas.

Spain is hoping for Euro Soler success GREAT BRITAIN may be scraping the barrel after plumping for 75-year-old Engelbert Humperdinck, but Spain have a different plan for Eurovision success. Pilar Luque, or Pastora Soler to use her stage name, will be carrying the Spanish hopes in May - at the ‘tender’ age of 33!

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Last week, the Spanish public voted for her to sing the song Quedate Conmigo (Stay With Me). It is a slowburning, power ballad, written by Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson and a comfortable winner in a special TVE sing-off. In a similar fashion to the old way the BBC conducted their Eurovision trials with “Making Your Mind Up”, Pastora sang four songs before the public voted on their favourite. The public’s selection went down well with Ms Soler, who

said: “I’m glad it won. It was my favourite and I’m very happy.” But her live performance of the song drew some criticism, and she will have to be better and less nervous when in Baku in Azerbaijan. The bookies were not impressed, either. You can get odds of 40-1 on Pastora winning in May - and history is also against her. Spain has not won Eurovision since 1969, and has finished in the top five only once since 1991.

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Karaoke men still rule roost

Under-18 girls will have to get parents’ consent again THE abortion law reform, which comes into effect in the autumn, means under-18 girls will again have to seek their parents’ permission to terminate a pregnancy. Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, the Spanish Government’s Justice Minister, says the change in legislation will “give the foetus more rights”. The law will also include a series of measures in the

cases of conflict between “the right of the unborn child and that of the mother”. At the moment, girls aged 16 and 17 do not need their parents’ consent to have an abortion, although pregnant teens younger than this still have to seek authority from their legal guardians. Ruiz Gallardón has also announced changes to the Criminal Code, which will spells out that life imprisonment really does mean life for serious crimes such as sex offenders, terrorists or serial killers.

Why should we speak Spanish?

THE people of Tenerife just can’t get enough of karaoke, as singers and supporters proved by descending on Springer’s Bar, on the El Mirador strip in Los Cristianos, on Saturday. They were gathered there, of course, for another round of Tenerife Loves Karaoke, and despite the late change in venue, the place was packed

out for Heat 4, with standing room reduced to a minimum both inside and out. Again, the judges for this Oasis Fm-organised event were faced with a tough task in selecting three sing-off finalists from the entrants. After a long wait because of the closeness of their scoring, plus the checking and rechecking, the judges finally made their decision, and this time the girls out-numbered the boys. Last year, the girls dominated throughout, but the males have shown up

strongly this time, although there were two females and one male competing for the Heat 4 trophy. Much to the delight to the crowd, however, Paul O’Brien went through to book his final place. Oh, what a night, and from what has transpired so far, we can look forward to many more as the competition progresses - and there is still not a female finalist! But there is still time to enter this fun competition at any or all of the remaining heats, and venues and dates

can be found on oasisfm.com Those who qualify for the Grand Final will compete on Saturday, 19th May, at Showtime, Las Americas, for the following prizes: *500 euros in cash *Winning song to be recorded at Villa Studios, complete with a pressed CD *Option of a contract with top agent Paul James Associates *Live performance at the 6th Annual Tenerife Entertainment Awards *Prestigious title of Winner - Tenerife Loves Karaoke 2012

TWO-THIRDS of over-18 Spaniards cannot speak, write or read any English, yet the Spanish are always complaining that Brits can’t speak their lingo! A survey by the Centre for Sociological Research Barometer determined that of the 2,471 people interviewed, just 21.5% said they speak and write English, 7.5% they could speak it only, and 5.5% said they could read the language. Also, 80.5% of the Spanish have no knowledge

of French, and 95.8% don’t know any German. In the case of French, 8.7% said they were able to speak and write the language, 5.6% said they could speak it only, and 4.8% could read it. As for German, a tiny 1.3% said they could speak and write it, 1.7% that they could speak the language, while 0.8% could read it. And 16.6% gave ignorance of foreign languages as the main reason for not wanting to live elsewhere in Europe.

More jobless despair as figures go through roof U N E M P LOY M E N T continues to rise to record heights in Spain as the Government fails to get to grips with the country’s economic crisis. Dire figures released for February show that, officially, there are 4,712,000 people out of work, which is the highest total since records began in 1976. It’s also a steep rise of 2.4%, or 115,000 people, from January and an eye-popping 9.6% (415,000 more), than the same time last year. Engracia Hidalgo, Secretary of State for Employment, said:

“It is a very difficult time for the Spanish economy. This is why we need to make sure our labour reforms work. “These measures are designed specifically for the recruitment and employment of the young, women and other groups who are struggling to find work.” The new labour laws are controversial. The key plank is the slashing of the severance pay from 45 days to 33 days per year of full employment. This measure is aimed at encouraging businesses to employ more staff. Spain’s current employment laws are weighted strongly in favour of the employee, and leaves companies struggling

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to be competitive, particularly on the international markets. It remains to be seen if the new measures will make a massive difference, but what is certain is that dole queues will get bigger. The current figure covers the last trading quarter of the year, when Spanish economy shrank by 0.3%. So, with the Government expecting this figure to worsen to 1.5%, it is clear that there will be many more job losses. And the real numbers of jobless could be far more than those released. The National Statistics Institute believe that the actual number of those unemployed could be as much as 600,000 higher.

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Gerry’s Irish customs are always music to the ears! GERRY’S the perfect all-rounder, either side of the Claddagh Bar in San Telmo, Los Cristianos, and he’s pretty good in the kitchen as well! That’s because, apart from being such a likeable Irish character and a great chef, Gerry sings and enjoys banter with the audience - and he’s a supreme multiinstrumentalist, as anyone who’s seen him in action will testify. After some mandolin and banjo plucking, the guitars come out, followed by penny whistles, the flute and other traditional Irish implements that make it sound as though you’re actually in a bar in Ireland. Gerry encourages all sorts of singers and players on to the stage with him, and he often has surprise guests from his motherland turning up - some of them famous!

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Sandra and Gerry have recently celebrated their fourth anniversary at the Claddagh Bar and are proud

to be one of the busiest livemusic venues in the area. The bar was designed to be a traditional and authentic

Irish bar: put it anywhere in the world and you imagine you could actually be in the Auld Country! The atmosphere and guest appearances make it a venue well worth checking out and, with the light evenings in Tenerife rapidly approaching, watching the sunset over the beach view from the first floor level is stunning. Gerry has a musical past

that took him to Germany, Scandinavia, Majorca and the US, where he amassed a selection of musicians who have become frequent visitors to the bar, sometimes by surprise. He even had a few gigs in England before settling over here. And the man from Galway, in the West of Ireland, is always excited when St Patrick’s Day comes around,

which happens to be next Saturday (17th March). That’s because there will be various musicians on stage non-stop throughout the day and night (from midday) including the Riverdance spectacular at 7.15pm. Free, exclusive T-shirts are being given away - 200 in all and there’ll be children’s facepainting, an extra outside bar, green beer and, of course, the traditional Irish menu. When he’s not on stage or delivering speeches from table-tops, Gerry is in the kitchen making home-made traditional Irish stew, Irish sausages and mash, cabbage and bacon He also serves an excellent own-cured ham, which is available to satisfy your taste buds in between supping your favourite pint to wash down the terrific Irish ambience. It is truly a venue to experience, and it’s no wonder the place is full of regulars and - year after year - happy, smiling visitors.

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Showtime offers the complete package for a great night out By Jamie Drew LAST Wednesday was a rare night off for me, so an invite to Showtime to watch The Sound of Musicals really put the icing on the cake. On arrival, venue manager Dan Lawton was greeting guests, along with the cast of the show, which was a really nice touch and made the evening feel a little more special. Moments later, the wine is flowing at the table, and Dominic James takes to the stage to welcome the audience. It’s not long before he has everybody at ease with his comedic way of getting across the formalities of where the toilets are and, of course, where the bar is and so forth. Dominic has a great personality and, even before he says anything, his big, pearly, showbiz smile and terrific stage presence, tells

you straight away he’s going to be good - and that’s before he sings a note. You won’t be disappointed, either, because both he and the rest of the cast deliver the goods from start to finish. While the guests eat a tasty meal, they are entertained by Nathan Jones, a swing singer whose choice of songs was perfect for the atmosphere, which was full of anticipation for the main event. There is no set time for the start of the main show: it begins when everyone has finished eating, and not before an off stage announcement for the “Five-

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minute call”. Every theatrical technique is used at Showtime to enhance your experience, from the excellent sound system and stage lighting, to the way you are treated by the entire team. The waitresses are dressed immaculately and are so efficient that you really don’t notice they’ve been to your table until you see your glass has been re-filled. More wine sir? Erm, go on then! The music fades to silence, the house lights dim and chatter in the audience falls as the attention shifts to a blacked-out stage. The

overture begins and the musical story starts to unfold. The male and female lead characters are Tony and Maria and, with the opening scene from West Side Story, you may be thinking that the names are only for that section of the show. You’d be wrong. The clever way in which it is written sees Maria travel to Paris and the sultry ways of the Moulin Rouge, and then on to Les Miserables and Chicago, to name but a few. Max the show’s other male character, is played by Jason Segade, and the chemistry between Tony and Max during their dialogue is so engaging. Something I didn’t expect was the acting which, again, grabbed my attention and was hooked into the story. Playing so many different characters throughout the show must be difficult, so top marks. Jo Lennard, who plays Maria, is an excellent singer with perfect pitch and a lovely balanced vibrato. This makes her voice ideal for songs like

I Dreamed a Dream, which gave me goose bumps when she reached the crescendo notes. Jo also dances in the show, but not to the fullest extent right now as she is expecting a baby and will shortly be taking a sabbatical to bring another Loony Lennard into the world. All the best Jo. We can’t wait to see you back on the boards. Another welcome surprise is the comedy. With quick oneliners and a sharp script, even the Victor Meldrews of this world would find it difficult to keep a straight face. Also, I cannot say enough about singer and dancer Tammy Louca. For me, she made my night - in a word: “Hilarious!” Tammy plays a few different characters throughout the show and is never far away from the comedic element. And none more so than the nun she plays in The Sound Of Music scene. It is the funniest moment of the night and I, for one, will be going back to see this show, if only to watch

Tammy again. So funny! One of the hardest dance routines for a troupe has to be the Can Can. Well, Tracy Cutting, Karly Dell and Tammy made it look so easy. Their marking and spacing was spot-on, their costumes outstanding, and not once did they drop a step or their smile during this exhausting routine. This show ticked all the boxes for me and it now, definitely, will become a regular thing. There is also transport available, picking up and dropping off at various places in the south of Tenerife. For reservations and general enquiries, call Dan Lawton on 669 622 622. There is really no more to be said other than: go and watch. No, go and experience The Sound Of Musicals, at Showtime Las Americas. This particular show format finishes its run at the end of the month to make way for the next instalment, which again promises to exceed your expectations at Showtime.

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Live Arico News Our thanks to … All involved in last week’s fund-raiser at Restaurant Maria, El Nautico Suites, Golf del Sur, where we raised 1,102 euros and also celebrated Eugenio’s birthday. Solange and the staff provided a fantastic supper, and entertainment was put on by Suzy Q, Alfie B, Jan Monroe, Andy Phillips, Tanya Tevaro and Colin Stevens. And also to those performing and supporting us on the Top Square, Golf del Sur, on Saturday. The fund-raiser brought in just over 400 euros, and entertainment was supplied by Colin Stevens, Robbie Dominic, Nick Page, Tanya Tevaro, Graham, Suzy Q and Jan Monroe. There was also a rendition of the Full Monty by bar owners and staff Dave Slippers, Howard

Owen, Simon Taggart and Ben. And, as usual, they stole the show. Upcoming events Team Live Arico are tackling the Las Galletas Half-Marathon on Sunday, 1st April, after many months of training. The team, comprising Tony Bailey, Michaela Bridges, Eugenio Da Mommio (who founded Live Arico), Sue Havenhand and Tanya Huffinley, are aiming to raise as much money as possible for the many dogs in their care. If you can sponsor either individuals or the team as a whole, text your pledges to 629 388 102, or email sue@ livearico.org Refuge opening hours Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm, and weekends by prior arrangement with Eugene (648 918 943).

Shape up and party ARE you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba programme is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dancefitness party, which is moving millions of people towards joy and health. Beccy is an established, licensed Zumba instructor and has been teaching in the south of Tenerife for over a year. Being licensed means she is part of the official, worldwide phenomenon, and she is kept up to date with all the latest music, dances and programmes,

including an active Zumba gold class, concentrating on the active, older population and beginners. Beccy also has a license in Aqua Zumba, ready to launch for summer 2012. So call for her class info on 635 794 314. Ditch the workout and join the party! Programme Mon: 10:30am - Polercise Las Americas Wed: 10:30am - Ritmania Wed: 6pm - Castle Harbour Thur: 10am - Polercise Las Americas Beccy is staging a Zumba demonstration tomorrow (Saturday) in association with Ritmania at 1pm in the Church Square, Los Cristianos. See you there, and please feel free to join in.

Santiago del Teide invests in the future The work of improving the beach of La Arena in Santiago del Teide, will this year go out to tender by the Tenerife Cabildo, with an estimated budget of three million euros. This project to improve the beach of La Arena, joins two further important projects for the municipality - the

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extension of the beach in Los Guíos, amounting to 400,000 euros, and the improvement of the square costing 800,000 euros. The improvements are part of the Canary Islands Tourism Infrastructure Plan that is provided by the central government. The local Mayor, Gorrin, also announced that the tourism office will be closing in Los Gigantes, in April, for three months to enable refurbishment.

Rivero wades into oil row with PM PAULINO RIVERO has challenged the Spanish Prime Minister to come clean over the controversial Canary Islands oiling-drilling project.

The Canarian President is worried about the lack of clarity from new PM Mariano Rajoy. Oil exploration is scheduled to begin this year off the coast of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, a move which is not backed by the local government. Rivero says there are more questions than answers and believes the Spanish Government has failed to do all the necessary research and development. He used his personal website paulinorivero. com to slam Rajoy and demand answers: “Are you aware of the risks, and are you prepared to mortgage the future of the Canaries? Does Rajoy know all the risks this would result in? The Canaries would like to know why you, the Prime Minister, intends to drill in an area that is so sensitive and so dependent on the sea and natural environment?”

It’s a smart, populist move by Rivero. A recent survey showed that over 60% of residents on the two islands opposed the drilling. All the major political parties are also in opposition, with the exception of Rajoy’s Populist Party. The oil exploration experts have already stated that any drilling will be 100% safe, with no risk to the ocean or livelihoods. So Rivero, by trying to draw a concrete response from Rajoy, is ensuring any future problems are

the responsibility of the national rather than local government. “It is said that no country would give up that source of wealth (from any oil discovery), but the Canary Islands is hardly comparable with any other because it has such a reliance on tourism and the biodiversity the Ocean brings,” said Rivero. “Do you (Rajoy) support this initiative, while knowing that no jobs will be generated and that we could be playing with a

source of income (tourism), which provides 30% of our total income?” Rivero is in a no-lose situation. By backing popular opinion, he maintains a strong, social stance, safe in the knowledge that any discovery will benefit the islands financially. Or will it? The exact location of the drilling is undecided and the further away it takes place, the closer it gets to Morocco - and the possibility of an international row

The new First Lady of F1 THE timing was perfect! On International Women’s Day yesterday (Thursday), Maria de Villota was unveiled as the F1 test driver for the Marussia team this season. The Madrid-born 32-yearold has certainly paid her dues. Maria, daughter of former F1 driver Emillio de Villota, has competed in Spanish F3, the Daytona 24Hour race, the Euroseries 3000 and Superleague Formula Championship. She was thrilled to hear the news: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a Formula One team and gain important experience to help me progress my career, including the chance to drive the new car later in the year at the Abu Dhabi test.

“I will be joining the team trackside, so I’m looking forward to working alongside them at the first race next weekend.” Maria is not the first female to turn a wheel in F1. That honour went to Maria de Filippis, who started three races in 1958. Fellow Italian Lella Lombardi started 12 races between 1974 and 1976, scoring a point in the 1975 Spanish GP. Marussia team principal John Booth said: “We are pleased to welcome Maria to our test-driver programme, which will enable her to be integrated into an F1 team environment and gain a vast amount of experience that will be useful to her career progression.” The team called Virgin Racing last year have had a turbulent winter. Their car was declared safe to race only this week, and the delay has cost them vital track-testing time.

Animal shelter’s urgent request for a new home MADAT Animal Shelter, in Charco del Pino, has been sheltering and caring for Tenerife animals for the past two years, and is a registered charity. Now, though, staff need urgent help to find a new location because the current site is not working out for them, and they have until the end of the month to move out. Regina Queder, the shelter’s President, says: “We are looking for a location that would allow us to house 1015 dogs and 25-35 cats, and also cater for a family of three. “We prefer the location to be in the south of Tenerife, as this is where we do most

of our work. We can pay a maximum monthly rental of 600-700 euro, which must include utilities.” If you can be of help to MADAT ((Manos Amigas De los Animales de Tenerife), which helps unwanted, abandoned and lost animals to find new homes with loving owners, please contact the following staff members: Regina (Spanish/German) 648 137 071 Chantal (Dutch/English) 636 126 766 You can also contact the refuge at info@ madattenerife.com Log on to www. madattenerife.com Or find it on Facebook at http://www.facebook. com/#!/madat. tenerife?sk=wall

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World News

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Fallen brothers THE Army has paid tribute to six fallen “brothers” who have been named by the Ministry of Defence after being killed in the single deadliest attack on UK troops in Afghanistan since 2006. Lieutenant Colonel Zac Stenning, Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment said:“Six of our brothers have fallen. It has been a sad day.” The soldier from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment has been named as Sergeant Nigel Coupe, aged 33. The five soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment are Corporal Jake Hartley, 20; Private Anthony Frampton, 20; Private Christopher Kershaw, 19; Private Daniel Wade, 20; and Private Daniel Wilford, 21. “It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must

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confirm the names of the six service personnel missing, believed killed, in Afghanistan since Tuesday 6 March 2012,” the MoD said in a statement. The soldiers, who had only been in Afghanistan a matter of weeks, were killed while travelling in a Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle. It was hit by an explosion on the border of the provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, near Lashkar Gah. Their families have already been informed. The MoD said it did not plan to release further information about the six soldiers until they have been formally identified. As experts are having to use DNA techniques to confirm their identities, this may take several more days. The release of the fallen soldiers’ names comes as the head of the Armed Forces, General Sir David Richards, said Britain would “hold its nerve”.

David Rathband had planned to move to Oz THE twin brother of blinded policeman PC David Rathband has told Sky News he had been making plans to leave the police and start a new life with him in Australia. Darren Rathband said his brother, who was shot in the face by Raoul Moat in July 2010, felt he did not have a worthwhile future as a police officer. PC Rathband was found hanging in his home near Blyth, in Northumberland, two days after returning from a lengthy stay with his brother, who lives in Adelaide. Darren said his brother, who was 44, had come home to talk about his future with his estranged wife Kath and to discuss his plans with Northumbria Police. The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Sue Simm, said last week she had been trying to arrange for PC Rathband to return to work in April as a road safety officer.

“I think really it probably wasn’t enough for him,” said Darren. “He didn’t see that he had a role that he wanted to do in the police service.” He said he and David had discussed the idea of him living in a specially-built house on adjacent land. “We were planning a future,” he added, “We looked at buying a house with some land. David could have his own independent living accommodation with a pool. “We even discussed how

he would have his own letter box, his own door and he could be independent. “He was so positive in regards to that, we thought we were sending him home to finalise his business and then he would be coming back.” Darren, himself a police officer, said his brother struggled with his blindness and tried to avoid situations where people had to help him. “He had to rely on other

people to do just the simple day to day tasks and he was very, very proud,” he said. “Whilst he was at our house he asked us to do nothing and when we offered to make him a drink he’d say ‘Oh it doesn’t matter, I don’t want a cup of tea’.” A public service on Monday March 19th will follow a private family service. It’s being organised by Northumbria Police on behalf of PC Rathband’s wife and two children.

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Morrison’s make a profit MORRISONS, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, has reported an 8% rise in annual pre-tax profits thanks to a surge in budget food shopping. Profits for the year to the end of January grew to £935m, up from £869m in 2010/11, beating City forecasts and outperforming rivals. Like-for-like sales at the retailer, which has 455 stores in the UK, rose by 1.8%. But despite the growth, Morrisons said it expected “a challenging year in 2012”. The retailer, which had record numbers of customers pass through its doors, attributed the good results to its emphasis on fresh produce and low prices. Its budget M savers range performed particularly strongly, while the fact that Morrisons produces half of the fresh goods it sells in its stores also paid off. Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips told Sky News: “We are a very different business from our competitors because we are entirely focused on food.

“We manufacture so much of our food, we have our own facilities - we have a farm where we get our meat from... that’s unusual, it’s not done elsewhere in the UK.” Mr Philips, who took over from Marc Bolland, now boss of Marks and Spencer, in 2010, added: “This has been Morrisons’ best year yet with another good financial performance and growth ahead of the market. “We know that 2012 will be tough, and we will be working hard to deliver even better value for our customers.” The retailer plans to expand

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by a fifth over the next two years, with a big focus on convenience stores. It intends to open 37 new stores in the current financial year as well as expand its online business. In their annual statement, Morrisons noted it had experienced a “rise of the professional shopper” with customers taking time to shop around, looking carefully to search out value. “This trend played to Morrisons strengths,” said the report. The chain, which employs 130,000 people,

currently trails Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s in UK supermarket market share. Rival Sainsbury’s had a good Christmas but Britain’s biggest supermarket Tesco performed badly, sending shockwaves around the industry. The majority of UK retailers are struggling as shoppers are hit by rising prices, muted wages growth, and Government spending cuts. Consumers are also worried about a stagnant housing market, job security and the impact of the eurozone debt crisis.

Stranded surfer defies series of shark attacks

A KITE surfer fought off repeated shark attacks during a two-day battle of survival after becoming stranded in the Red Sea. Polish champ Jan Lisewski, 42, became stranded during an attempt to cross the waterway from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. According to media in Poland, Mr Lisewski’s kite suddenly deflated after the wind stopped during the 124-mile crossing. He was two-thirds of the way through the journey from the Egyptian town of El Gouna to Duba in Saudi Arabia when the incident occurred. As nightfall approached the Gdansk-born champ and instructor sent an SOS message from an emergency transmitter - but it took nearly 40 hours for Saudi coastguard officials to locate him. During the first night Mr Lisewski fired a rescue flare

towards a Red Sea fishing vessel but it did not alter course towards him. Mr Lisewski wrapped up his kite to make a raft on his board so he could snatch some sleep. His only sustenance was a small supply of water, energy drinks and two energy bars. On the second night he said the surfboard drifted towards a reef where he was attacked by up to 11 sharks. He said he fought off the sharks, some apparently up to 18ft long, during an allnight battle. “I was stabbing them in the eyes, the nose and gills,” Mr Lisewski told Polish state news agency. Mr Lisewski, who only suffered exhaustion and dehydration during the ordeal, said he usually does not carry a knife but his brother Piotr urged him to take one. “Maybe he had some kind of premonition,” he said.

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EastEnders actress torso found in east London canal DIVERS are searching a London canal for the head and limbs of EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie after her torso was discovered floating in the water.

Frogmen are trawling Regent’s Canal in Hackney, east London, hoping to find the legs, arms and head of the former soap star, 29. Miss McCluskie’s brother, Tony, 35, is understood to have been arrested on suspicion of murder, just days after he circulated ‘Missing’ posters asking for help to trace her. It is understood Miss McCluskie was living with Tony, who is currently being interviewed at an east London police station, until she disappeared last week. “The smallest detail could be important,” the posters read. Scotland Yard said that divers were renewing their search of the canal after the

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limbless torso was recovered from the Broadway Market stretch earlier this week. “Police were initially contacted by a member of the public who had noticed something suspicious floating in the water,” a Met spokesman said. “The torso was recovered by divers from the Met’s Marine Support Unit and additional

searches are due to be carried out in the water.” Miss McCluskie starred in the soap as Kerry Skinner on more than 30 occasions in 2001. Her character arrived in Walford as a friend of Zoe Slater and the great niece of the late Ethel Skinner. She briefly dated Robbie Jackson and got him to propose to

her. Her brothers Tony and Danny had organised the hunt for Gemma after she vanished a week ago. They put up posters asking for help in tracing her, even including their own mobile telephone numbers for people to call with information. After Miss McCluskie’s disappearance, friends and family members carried out

searches in the area and handed out leaflets. Co-stars Brooke Kinsella and Natalie Cassidy both appealed for help finding her on Twitter. Kinsella has become a prominent anti-knife crime campaigner since her brother Ben was murdered in 2008. She tweeted: “Gemma McCluskie has been MISSING

from Bethnal Green since Thursday please get in touch if you have seen her.” Cassidy, who played Sonia in the soap, also posted: “Gemma McCluskie, missing since Thurs, if u have sn her/ have any info PLS contact @ CarlyKarma ... #FindGemma.” Neighbours of Miss McCluskie have reacted with shock following the discovery. Margaret O’Carroll, 88, said: “I’ve seen Gemma grow up around here, this is terrible. “She lives in that maisonette with her mother and one of her two brothers. She’s very nice, a nice girl. “I didn’t know she was missing, then my son told me about a body being found. The whole thing is scary, dreadful.” Another neighbour, who did not give her name, fought back tears as she said: “I’m so shocked, this is not something you hear about every day.” Detective Inspector John Nicholson, who is leading the murder inquiry, has appealed for witnesses.

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Bullfighter gets back in the ring A SPANISH bullfighter has returned to the ring just five months after being gored through the face and losing his sight in one eye.

A new low-budget British gangster film ESSEX seaside town Southend-on-Sea has become the setting for a new low-budget British gangster film. While most crime capers are set in London, the writer and director of Hard Boiled Sweets not only uses Southend as the backdrop but also integrates the town as a “character” in the film. David Hughes told Sky News: “We’ve kind of reimagined Southend

as a kind of Las Vegas of the third world so it’s not exactly a realistic portrayal of the town. “The whole movie is kind of my love letter to hardboiled American crime fiction, people like Raymond Chandler… but it is all shot through a very English sensibility: hence, Hard Boiled Sweets.” Filming in the seaside town did have its difficulties, with many locals making their presence known while shooting at night on Southend strip.

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Hughes said: “We had a lot of unauthorised interaction from the Essex boys who thought it was very humorous to beep us and make us aware of their presence during takes. “But it became integral to the part. Southend is very much a character in the movie.” With an ensemble cast of little-known actors, the film was shot on a very low budget. Hughes admitted: “It’s very tiny, we’re not actually allowed to tell you it’s that tiny.”

“Everybody worked on it for the love of the script,” he added. But despite the lack of budget, the independent film caught the eye of distributor Universal Pictures and is being released in selected cinemas this week. Actor Scot Williams, who plays ex-con Johnny, said: “It doesn’t have a protagonist, it has a bunch of antagonists. “You root for everybody. They are all bad guys but we want each of them to win.”

Juan Jose Padilla performed in the southwestern town of Olivenza in front of a jubilant crowd. Wearing an eye patch and dressed in a glittering green and gold outfit, he said he was returning because of a need “to win, to triumph, to be a better man”. The 38-year-old has partial facial paralysis and speaks with a lisp after being pinned to the ground by a 508kg (1,120lb) animal in the city of Zaragoza in October. The bull’s horn ripped into Padilla’s lower jaw and emerged next to his eyeball. Assistants had to distract the animal so Padilla could be recovered from the ring and taken to hospital. He was lucky the horn did not enter his brain. Justo Algaba, the tailor who made the suit for his return, said laurel wreath designs had been stitched into the

costume because they were traditionally used to “crown the brows of audacious combatants and great heroes”. Known by his professional name of the ‘Cyclone of Jerez’, he had little trouble killing his first bull before dedicating the second to his tearful father, who embraced his son after the kill. Padilla was awarded one ear for each of his two kills. The maximum accolade a matador can achieve is two ears and a tail for each bull slain. A capacity crowd of around 5,400 people packed into the town’s historic bullring, which was built in 1854. “He’s been looking forward so much to starting this new phase in his life,” said his manager, Diego Robles. Padilla was given a standing ovation and carried out of the ring on the shoulders of fellow bullfighter Serafin Marin.

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UK card fraud falls Whitney’s will is published WHITNEY HOUSTON left all of her assets to her daughter Bobbi Kristina in her will, according to reports. Bobbi Kristina, 19, will receive the proceeds from all of the late singer’s money, furniture, clothing, personal effects, jewellery, and cars, according to details published by US news show Inside Edition. The inheritance will be placed in a trust until she is 21. She will get more money when she turns 25, and the rest when she is 30. Houston’s mother, Cissy, is the will’s executor, with her brother Michael and sister-inlaw Donna trustees. Bobbi Kristina was born during Houston’s troubled

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marriage to singer Bobby Brown. A copy of part of the will, first drafted in 1993 and amended in 2000 when she was still married to Brown, was published on the show’s website. The last testament states that if her daughter had died before Houston, her assets would have been shared between her ex-husband, her mother Cissy and other relatives. Houston was found dead on February 11 in a Los Angeles hotel room, aged 48. Toxicology results which could confirm the cause of death have yet to be released. She was laid to rest in a New Jersey cemetery next to her late father, after a funeral ceremony celebrating her life on February 18.

UK credit and debit card fraud has hit a 10-year low with criminals resorting to cheque and telephone scams.

Card losses fell by 7% year on year to reach £341m in 2011, the lowest figure in a decade following a threeyear reduction of nearly 45%, Financial Fraud Action UK said. Meanwhile, online banking fraud losses fell by 24% to £35.4m in 2011, despite a surge in phishing attacks which rose by 80% year on year to reach around 111,000 in 2011. But telephone banking losses increased by around a third and cheque fraud losses saw a 17% rise in 2011 as more cheques were simply stolen and altered, the figures show. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Barnard, head of the industry-sponsored dedicated cheque and plastic crime unit, said: “As technological advances have made our payments more secure, we’ve seen a spike in more simplistic crimes. “Many scams involve

customers being conned into handing over their cards and pins or their telephone banking security details by someone calling, pretending to be their bank or police. “Our appeal to the public is to be wary of any unsolicited phone calls or emails. “Never hand over your card and pin or bank security details in full as neither your bank or the police will ever ask you for these.” Card identity theft losses dropped by 41% year on year while fraud from skimmed

or cloned cards was down 24%. UK cash machine fraud dropped by 12%. But fraud on lost or stolen credit and debit cards rose by 13% and fraud from cards going missing in the mail rose by a third (34%) year on year. Financial Fraud Action UK said the continued upgrading of chip cards has played a major part in cutting fraud, as well as improved sharing of intelligence within the industry and with law enforcement bodies.

Cards with an “updated integrated circuit card verification value” have been rolled out since January 2008 and have helped to thwart fraudsters trying to harvest card details by tampering with chip and PIN terminals. Greater use of up-to-date anti-virus software and banks providing customers with extra software such as hand-held devices to log on to internet banking have also helped drive down online fraud, Financial Fraud Action UK said.

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Community News

A fond farewell to Maggie, cake-maker extraordinaire FAMILY and friends of Costa del Silencio resident Maggie Mosedale gathered to celebrate her life at a church service, following her death in Candelaria Hospital. More than 70 people attended the service, conducted by Pastor Bill Jeffery, at Silencio Church in Coral Mar on Friday 2nd March. Memories of Maggie were shared by those at the service, who included family members who had travelled from England. Maggie was well known in Costa del Silencio, where she and her husband, John, had been regular winter visitors for many years. She had recently taken residencia with a view to spending much longer here in their sunshine home, where she loved to be. Her welcoming and friendly personality made her popular in the community. and her cake-making abilities were widely-known and enjoyed. “Maggies’ cakes” had been a firm favourite of customers at Las Galletas seafront restaurant The Pink Parrott for many years. Tributes were paid to her at the service by family members, including her widower, John, and Maggie’s

best friend, Sylvia. Maggie had cancer and died in Candelaria Hospital on 24th February aged 64. Cremation took place in Santa Cruz on Thursday, 1st March. The family requested no flowers, but friends were invited to make donations to the Spanish cancer-fighting charity, Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer. The total donated was 1,095 euros, and the family wish to thank everyone concerned for their donations. John Mosedale said: “I am so grateful to everyone for all their support and help and messages of sympathy. Maggie will be so sadly missed by the many people who knew and loved her. “I would like to say how grateful I am to Silencio Church and Pastor Bill Jeffery for his caring assistance, which helped to comfort us and cope with our pain and grief.”

Orobal kids smile their way through ‘lessons’ at Accion THE children of Orobal, the special needs and family centre, enjoyed a therapeutic visit to Accion del Sol, where they relaxed around the dogs and puppies and spent a happy time there last week. Animals are known to be therapeutic for people of all ages, and especially for children with special needs, and it was pleasing to see so many happy, smiling faces from the Los Cristianos centre. Arona’s Protection Civil also paid a visit to the Granadilla refuge to help teach schoolchildren the importance of animal care and welfare. Officers also explained how some of the dogs ended up on the streets of Tenerife. El Fraile schoolkids were also at the refuge, so it proved to be a busy, educational week at the centre. Staff at Accion del Sol firmly believe education plays a major role in animal welfare, supported primarily by the sterilisation or castration of dogs to prevent unwanted litters. As reported in Canarian Weekly last week, Arona Town Hall has renewed its initiative with Accion after an extremely successful opening year. Every dog taken from the

streets by Protection Civil and delivered to Accion receives five-star care and full medical treatment. This includes all the necessary injections, a microchip, passport and, most importantly, each animal is sterilised or castrated, deflead

and freed of the painful heartworm disease which is rife here in Tenerife. The treatment ensures that all the dogs have a clean bill of health and are ready to greet their new owners. The centre’s next fundraising event takes place on

Easter Sunday (8th April) and will include fun runs with your own dogs (or those from the refuge), an obstacle course, Easter-Egg hunt and lots more fun and games. If you would like to adopt a dog from the refuge, either pay a visit or learn more details by calling 922 778 630.. The centre is open MondayFriday from 3-6pm and is situated at the Granadilla Industrial Estate, Exit 51 on the TF1 and right next to ITER, the ecological windmill park. Should adoption be too big a commitment, but you would still like to help Accion del Sol, then why not walk the dogs on the nearby beach and surrounding countryside? They always welcome a bit of TLC and an adventure.

K9 supporters feeling at home in Our Place THERE’S always a friendly, welcoming atmosphere created by Sharon & Fluffy at Silencio’s Our Place cabaret bar. And they made sure K9’s fund-raiser there on Monday was a social and financial success, thanks primarily to their input, and that of compere Aidy Evans. The tombola and raffle were hugely successful, and there was lots of interest in the book stall, manned by Meryl and Jim, the knitted doggie coats and blankets made by Lin, and the newlydesigned K9 T-shirts from Tee Candy. There was also an auction for Fluffy’s giant penguin, which raised 40 euros, thanks to the combined efforts of the Presley family,

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who successfully re-homed him. However, no charity fundraiser would be a success without the talents of the artistes who provided varied entertainment throughout the evening. So K9 offer many thanks to Pip Brown, Brad Chermside, Leslie Presley, Gordon Rigley, and Becky Brooks for their time and effort, keeping the audience amused and happy. There were three “special” guests from the UK in the audience: Sheila and Arthur, parents of kennel manager Hazel, and Blanche, mother of kennel maid Lin. Also, grateful thanks to the K9 volunteers for their help on the night and to all present, who contributed to an enjoyable evening which raised a total amount of 325 euros.

Incidentally, there are three further K9 events during March. On Sunday 25th, there is a Tea & Cake afternoon at James Brasserie, Island Village, San Eugenio, from 2-4pm. The event includes drawing for the kids, a book stall and raffle. Further info from Kay on 626 759 007 Monday 26th sees the biannual sponsored walk from Alcala medical centre at 10am to Playa San Juan and return. This is followed by a lively Cabaret afternoon at Bar El Veril in the Alcala Plaza from 2pm, hosted by Christine and Stevie D. There were 40 raffle prizes last time, and early indications are that there will also be a similar amount this time. Further info from Mikey at 619 678 384, and sponsor forms are available at

the K9 shop in Alcala or can be requested from mikebtenerife@yahoo.co.uk Saturday, 31st March, gives K9 the opportunity to say “Thank You” to its volunteers and supporters by providing them with an afternoon of fun, chat, reminiscing and a buffet. This takes place from 3-6pm at The Heritage Bar, Los Cristianos. Entertainment is provided by Aidy Evans and guests throughout the afternoon, and there is a quiz at 4pm and the buffet an hour later. In addition, a huge Bottle & Teddy tombola will be held, as well as a raffle and the usual stalls. All old and new supporters are very welcome, but we do ask that you RSVP to 619 678 384, or to the above email address to assist us with numbers for catering.

09 March - 15 March 2012

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09 March - 15 March 2012

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09 March - 15 March 2012

Television Guide

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THE RESIDENT'S Our Man in… Tenerife Thursday 15th March Channel 4, 22.00

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The three part television series featuring Tenerife’s British Consulate among other Spanish consuls draws to a close with Tenerife and Barcelona making up the third and final episode of this fascinating series on Thursday, 15th March, at 10pm. It was filmed last summer and demonstrates how consular staff are so important to those Britons who find themselves in trouble. The series Our Man In… provides unprecedented access to the work of the consular staff, and demonstrates just why the British Consulates in Spain are among the busiest in the world. It reveals the consequences of failing to prepare properly for a holiday. And even if you’re staying with friends and family, travelling without insurance could cost you many thousands of pounds if you’re injured abroad.

Scott & Bailey Gardener’s World Friday 9th March, BBC2, 20.30

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09 March - 15 March 2012

For those of you that enjoy the Good Life A new series of Gardeners’ World is on our screens on Friday. With the return of Monty Don we see him plant bare-rooted raspberries in his renovated fruit garden at his Herefordshire home, Longmeadow, and he has a go at thinning overgrown honeysuckle. Meanwhile, Carol Klein looks at a wild species of hellebores that’s thriving in ancient woodland in Hertfordshire; Joe Swift begins his guide to garden design; and Rachel de Thame travels to Harold Hillier’s renowned garden in Hampshire to experience the sights and scents of blooming shrubs.

Monday 12th March, ITV1, 21.00

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Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp resume their partnership in eight new compelling episodes of the northern-based crime drama Scott & Bailey. Acclaimed writer and co-creator Sally Wainwright has written the second series after once again joining forces with Consultancy Producer Diane Taylor, a retired Detective from Greater Manchester Police. Their unique partnership allows viewers and authentic look at the realities and responsibilities of working within a murder squad like Syndicate 9, a Major Incident Team within the Manchester Met Police. Blending the gritty fast pace murder investigations with the warmth and chaos of their individual private lives, D.C. Rachel Bailey and D.C. Janet Scott have a robust and engaging friendship which enables them to draw upon each other’s strengths and investigate the untimely and unnatural end to someone’s life.

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Friday Friday Friday Friday Friday

Missing BBC1, 14:15