“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes” Mark Twain
ISSUE 38
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Saturday 19 May 2012
TENERIFE MP DEMANDS RETURN OF MUMMY ◗A Tenerife MP is urging the Spanish government to return the mummified remains of a native inhabitant of the island. Ana Oramas says the famous Guanche Mummy on display in less than ideal conditions at the National Museum of Anthropology in Madrid should
be restored as soon as possible to its rightful home. The Tenerife authorities have been fighting a succession of Spanish governments for the best part of half a century to have the pre-Hispanic mummy -which left here in the late 18th century and is considered to be the
most impressive of all the Guanche remains held in museums- sent back. Despite various motions in recent years by the Culture Committee of the Spanish Senate calling for it to be given back to Tenerife, Madrid has so far refused to approve the transfer.
CANARIES
Education strike day called for Tuesday ◗Nearly 20 bodies associated with education here have joined forces to support a strike and demonstration on 22 May in protest at the impact in Canarian schools and universities of the recent spate of government cutbacks. Called the United Front for Public Education, the amalgamation of interest groups and teacher and student unions has called for a massive show of support for the 6pm march in Santa Cruz from the Plaza Weyler to the Plaza del Príncipe.
SCIENCE
Largest solar telescope in Europe begins work ◗A new solar telescope which has just commenced operations in Tenerife’s Teide Observatory is the biggest of its kind anyhere in Europe and the third largest in the world. The German-owned Gregor telescope, built by a consortium led by the Kiepenheuer Institute in Freiburg, will enable astrophysicists from Germany, Spain and other countries to study solar phenomena to a level of detail not seen before.
Tenerife wants to bring all its Guanche mummies under one roof on the island. / DA
TENERIFE SOUTH
EARTHQUAKE
TREMORS CAUSE MINI-ALARM IN TENERIFE
Bomb alert pair expected to get off lightly ◗Two Britons who triggered the recent bomb alert at Tenerife South airport are likely to escape with just a fine for their drunken prank, despite calls for exemplary punishment for their behaviour. The pair told crew that they had a bomb in their hand luggage.
The epicentre of the mini-quakes was in the sea off Tenerife. / DA www.diariodeavisos.com/thesupplement
◗Parts of Tenerife felt two mini-earthquakes on Tuesday evening. The first tremor, measuring 3.3 on the Richter Scale, was felt in the east of the island, inclu-
ding Candelaria and was followed by a replica which measured 2.6. The epicentre was identified as a spot deep under the sea between Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
2 The Supplement
Saturday 19 May 2012
MURDERED GRAN’S FAMILY SEEK ANSWERS ON ANNIVERSARY
Canaries to resist Madrid education measures
Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The family of an English woman brutally killed in Tenerife exactly a year ago have expressed anger and frustration at the lack of progress made in the case. Jennifer MillsWestley’s horrific death at the hands of deranged Bulgarian Deyan Deyanov, who chose her at random as she shopped in Los Cristianos and beheaded her with a large knife in front of petrified customers, made the headlines around the world this time last year. Deyanov, who had a history of psychiatric problems and spent time in hospital in Britain months before moving to Tenerife, appeared in court just days after Mrs Mills-Westley’s death and was remanded to the psychiatric unit of a prison. However, 12 months later, to the great frustration of her family, a decision has yet to be made over whether he is fit to stand trial. Reports from Spain indicate Deyanov was moved discreetly to a secure psychiatric unit in Seville. His lawyer, Francisco Beltrán Aroca, has said he was ‘not in his right mind’ when Mrs MillsWestley was killed. Beltrán is quoted in the media this week as saying he believed it would be ‘a long time’ before the case reaches court, due to his client’s mental condition. The slowness of the legal system here is proving a massive source of anguish for the family of the 60year-old grandmother of five, who have enlisted the help of their local
MPs Keith Simpson and Chloe Smith to try to get answers about the case. Mr Simpson, Conservative MP for Broadland in the family’s home county of Norfolk and a former Shadow Foreign Minister, confirmed he has been in touch with the Foreign Office about the case trying to get information for the family and had recently spoken
with David Lidington, the UK’s minister for Europe. Mrs Mills-Westley’s daughter, Sarah, told the BBC, which gave extensive news coverage to the anniversary: ‘I am absolutely devastated by the loss of Mum; she was my best friend and life will never be the same. It’s impossible to comprehend how viciously she
was killed. We have so many questions that are, as yet, unanswered’. Missing Abroad, an organisation that offers support to families of victims of foreign crimes, is also helping. A spokesman said the family was awaiting news of a potential trial in relation to the killing but had yet to receive details of any forthcoming court appearance.
Pictures of Jennifer Mills-Westley’s head lying on the ground caused shock worldwide a year ago. / DA
The Canarian government will not add extra hours to teachers’ workloads or increase class sizes to save money, despite the recent instructions received from central government in Madrid. Regional education minister José Miguel Pérez this week ruled out the two measures, which have caused controversy across the country since they were announced by Madrid a few weeks ago. Pérez, who is also the vicepresident of the Canarian government, called a meeting of school heads and inspectors in Gran Canaria on Wednesday to outline the potential effects on the region’s education system of the new austerity package approved by the Rajoy government. However, he insisted that the Canaries, which have their own education powers, would resist the pressure to save on teaching staff. ‘These steps go in the wrong direction and the country will pay the price, I am sure. We must try and do exactly the opposite’ said Pérez.
Funders sought for Los Tarajales project DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Historian challenges Cubillo assassination origin of Canaries’ name attempt film premiered Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A long-held theory that the Canary Islands earned their name on account of the presence of dogs seen by early visitors may well have been a major translation error. As most textbooks note, the name is derived from the Latin name Insula Canaria, meaning ‘Island of the Dogs’, which was applied originally to Gran Canaria but then extended to all the islands. Two large dogs appear in the official crest of the Gran Canaria capital, Las Palmas, to this day. The association arose from a record of an expedition 2000 years ago ordered by Roman emperor Octavius Augustus and led by Mauritania’s King Juba II.
Juba and his men allegedly reported seeing ‘vast multitudes of dogs of a very large size’ and for years the Canaries have therefore been linked with dogs. However, José Juan Jiménez, a curator at Tenerife’s Museum of Archaeology says what the Juba expedition saw were large numbers of sea lions (monachus monachus) which were probably erroneously described by the sailors as ‘sea dogs’. The incorrect association was retained when the expedition findings were translated into Latin by historian Pliny the Elder several decades later and has remained ever since. The theory was outlined by Jiménez during a public lecture on the subject this week in the Natural History Museum in Santa Cruz.
Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A film on the attempted assassination of a Canarian independence leader over 30 years ago went on release this week but not everyone is pleased at the exposure it has received. Antonio Cubillo, head of the Mpaiac organisation that fought the Franco regime for self-determination for the Canaries in the 1970s and still a vociferous advocate of independence, almost died when he was stabbed in the stomach in April 1978 at his exile home in Algeria. His nephew, film-maker Eduardo Cubillo, has just completed a detailed documentary narrating the events leading up to the assassination attempt,
including an interview with the man recruited by Spain’s intelligence services for the job. The première of Cubillo: history of a State crime drew many independence supporters and public figures to the TEA Arts Centre in Santa Cruz. However, some are angry at the publicity given to a person said to be responsible for acts of terrorism in the 1970s. Antonio Medina, a relative of a woman injured when a bomb planted by Cubillo’s organisation exploded in Gran Canaria airport on 27 March 1977, says he should not be treated as a hero. ‘His bombs killed and maimed many people and he is indirectly responsible for the air crash which killed nearly 600 at Los Rodeos Airport’ said Medina.
Arona mayor José Alberto González Reverón has urged the private sector in Los Cristianos to help meet the cost of the redevelopment of the Los Tarajales beach in return for authorisation to operate lucrative activities once it is completed. The 10-million euro project, which has been held up by the lack of funding, would probably be fast-tracked by the Spanish government if evidence were submitted as soon as possible that local hotels and businesses are prepared to meet the bulk of the cost of the work. According to the mayor, 3040 year concessions for activities such as sunbeds, beach bars, jetskis etc, could be granted to anyone willing to put up the funding. Reverón and other officials outlined the current status of the Los Tarajales plans at a meeting this week with representatives of the resort’s business community.
The Supplement
Saturday 19 May 2012
American window for La Gomera’s ‘silbo’ whistling
Rock Coast Festival cancelled DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife
CBS News features island ‘language’ Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
La Gomera’s famous whistled ‘language’ is to have an audience of several million in the United States. American channel CBS News sent a team to the island to film aspects of its Silbo whistling for a programme to be screened tomorrow, 20 May. The channel says the whistling is a perfect example of successful efforts to rescue a cultural heritage that was in danger of dying out. For tomorrow’s Later on Sunday Morning show, a Silbo demonstration was organised for the reporters in La Gomera a few days ago. The island’s Cabildo says the programme, which attracts an audience of around 6 million, is an excellent shop window for La Gomera and its special traditions. The coverage comes a few months after European news channel Euronews sent a film
crew to record the use of the whistled language in various parts of the island as part of its Learning World series. After a concerted effort by the island and regional authorities to achieve recognition for the unique, age-old form of communication, Silbo Gomero was inscribed on Unesco’s prestigious List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. According to the citation given by the UN body for its decision, ‘Silbo replicates the islanders’ habitual language (Castilian Spanish) with whistling. Handed down over centuries from master to pupil, it is the only whistled language in the world that is fully developed and practised by a large community (over 22,000 inhabitants). The whistled language replaces each vowel or consonant with a whistling sound: two distinct whistles replace the five Spanish vowels, and there are four whistles for consonants. The whistles
3
The whistling has featured on various TV programmes of late. / DA
can be distinguished according to pitch and whether they are interrupted or continuous. With practice, whistlers can convey any message. Some local variations even point to their origin. Taught in schools since 1999,
the Silbo Gomero is understood by almost all islanders and practised by the vast majority, particularly the elderly and the young. It is also commonly used during festivities and ceremonies, including religious occasions’.
Next week-end’s Rock Coast Festival, which had been billed as the biggest event of its type ever to be staged in in the Canaries, has been called off. Organisers LM Productions issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon announcing that it had taken the ‘painful decision’ to pull the plug on the 3-day seafront festival in Santa Cruz for financial reasons. As reported here last week, an unexpected 2x1 offer was interpreted in many quarters as open admission by the organisers that advance ticket sales for the festival were going poorly, despite the positive media coverage here, in Spain and in other parts of Europe. LM says it invested heavily in the event but received almost no institutional support from government bodies, despite the massive publicity Rock Coast was bringing to Tenerife and the Canaries. It apologised deeply for the inconvenience caused by the late cancellation and said it did not rule out trying to organise the festival at a future date in ‘better circumstances’.
4 The Supplement ◗BASKETBALL
La Palma ‘relief’ at play off outcome DA Santa Cruz de Tenerife
All’s well that ends well would appear to be the sentiment at UB La Palma basketball club, despite concerns that the side may not be able to carry on next year in Spain’s LEB league. Elimination by fancied Navarra in the deciding game of the first round of the promotion playoffs means the club does not have to find the money needed for a second round of five games, three of them away from home, against Melilla. Since there were no plans to take up a place in the ACB league if promoted, club bosses are highly relieved at the outcome. The worry now is that the current financial difficulties could prevent La Palma, the surprise team in the LEB this year, from continuing. The club survived the season thanks to its agreement with premiership side Gran Canaria, who paid the wages of young talents loaned out to La Palma for the recently-ended season. Renewal of the agreement is by no means certain.
SPORT
Chairman upbeat on promotion Concepción looks back on ‘difficult season’ for CD Tenerife Diario de Avisos Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Under-pressure Tenerife chairman Miguel Concepción gave a rare press conference this week to review events during the recently-ended league season and look forward to the first round of the promotion playoffs, which begin this Sunday. Concepción candidly admitted that not returning to Division 2 at the first time of asking would be ‘a big failure’ for the club although he was fully confident that the team and coaching staff would battle to the end to secure promotion. ‘We are optimistic as to our chances but have to take each game at a time. We will work hard in the first leg away and hopefully finish the job at home’ said Concepción in reference to the 2-leg tie against Catalan side Badalona, who finished 4th in one of the other Division 2B groups.
Medina ‘my idea’ The chairman also revealed that the idea of turning to Quique Medina as a replacement for Andrés García Tébar to improve performances in the final games
not be looking outside again to resolve the problem’, said Concepción. The chairman paid tribute to fans who have turned out in massive numbers all season, producing attendances averaging around 9000 for home games: ‘we felt it was only fair to reward their loyalty by not charging season ticket-holders for the home playoff games and keeping the usual prices for non-holders. The fans have shown their unconditional backing right to the end of the season’. Tenerife will have to CD Tenerife chairman Miguel Concepción. / DA adapt to an artificial playing surface tomoof the season came originally rrow against Badalona and will from him. ‘I am not in the least be hoping that past performansurprised by Medina’s success. In ces on astroturf this season will fact, it was me who suggested not be repeated. Of 4 games plahim to director of football Pedro yed, the team picked up just 1 Cordero as the person to take point from a possible 12. Howeover from Tébar. He was here at ver, the players are confident they the club already as manager of can deal with the surface this the reserves and I felt we should time when it really counts.
Saturday 19 May 2012
FOOTBALL
Football clubs express shock at funding withdrawal ◗The Canaries’ two big football clubs have slammed the government’s decision to cancel its sponsorship as of next season. Las Palmas and Tenerife were informed on Wednesday by regional tourism minister Ricardo Fernández that they would no longer receive public money for advertising the Canaries on their travels. The clubs say the decision puts toplevel football here at risk.
ATHLETICS
Heatwave puts paid to 7 Islands Ironman bid ◗A triathlete’s bid to complete 7 Ironman challenges in 7 days in the Canaries ended in La Gomera on Monday when he had to pull out due to the scorching temperatures. Josef Ajram was hospitalised during the cycling leg of the challenge, having completed a 1h30m swim. His goal was to cover 26.6 km in the water, 1260 km in the saddle and 294 roadrunning in a week.