Calls for island pact

THE Balearic Islands Government commemorated Europe Day this week by issuing a statement defending a common strategy for all islands within the EU.

The declaration highlighted the opportunity offered by the fact that Spain will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2023 to achieve an island pact at the European level.

In addition, the Govern celebrated the Union’s 73rd birthday by calling for peace and solidarity with the Ukraine.

An institutional event was held at Es Baluard museum and the Consolat de Mar regional government headquarters, as well as several other emblematic buildings throughout the Balearics, were lit up with blue to mark the occasion on Tuesday May 9.

and the aim is to arrive at 85 by the end of spring.

The new Bicipalma service is financed with EU Next Generation funds and was launched at the end of last year with a completely renewed system of sustainable mobility that allows the public bicycle service to reach 20 more neighbourhoods than before.

It incorporates a total of 930 new bicycles, of which 270 are electric ­ the model most frequently used ­ and 660 are mechanical.

Users of the new Bicipalma service have multiplied by six over the last four months, shattering the expectations of the town hall’s Mobility department, who admit to being “pleasantly surprised” as the initial expectation was to double the number of users over the first year.

The protest gathered 100 vehicles that assembled in Calle Camp de Deu opposite the Brico Depot at 5pm, leaving 90 minutes later to embark upon a circular route through Calle Manacor, Avingudes, Indústria, the Passeig Maritim and back to Son Malferit.

The protesters demanded to stop being treated “like delinquents” and called for a solution to be found for a situation that is “unsustainable and unjustified,” as quoted by a local press source.

Spokespeople for the group claimed that they are accused of not contributing to the local economy and leaving rubbish behind, but insisted that the political authorities are to blame for not taking any steps to remedy the situation.

Others pointed out that Mallorca is the area of Spain with the most restrictions for caravanners and that they need parking areas with 72 ­ hour time limits with more water filling and emptying points ­ one of which is located in Palma.

Keeping clean

PALMA municipal cleaning service Emaya has rein‐forced its team for the sum‐mer with 170 new employ‐ees, extra vehicles and higher refuse collection fre‐quencies. The company be‐gan taking on new workers at the beginning of April ready for Easter, with the summer campaign set to continue until the end of Oc‐tober.

Two plus two

UP to 300 schoolchildren aged five to 13 from all over Mallorca took part in the 10th edition of the Mental Arithmetic Championship at the weekend. Participants had to solve up to 70 mathe‐matical operations in just five minutes with the help of only their mind and an aba‐cus.

Bomb!

PALMA’s Passeig d’es Moli‐nar had to be closed off for half an hour on Friday morn‐ing following the discovery of a mortar bomb. The de‐vice was found buried in the sand near the Rosa de los Vientos by a passer‐by and was removed by the Nation‐al Police explosives unit.

Health centres

PLANS have been rap‐proved for two new health centres in Palma’s Son Fer‐riol and Bons Aires neigh‐bourhoods. Between them the city’s Primary Care ser‐vice will be boosted with 105 extra surgeries, a new A&E department and a car park, with both projects costing a total of €26.3 mil‐lion.

Finca sold

A YOUNG German en‐trepreneur has purchased and redesigned the Finca Son Coll estate near Arta that used to belong to tennis ace Boris Becker. The 13‐bedroom property had been abandoned for several years and overrun with squatters until the new anonymous owner took it over.

APRIL was warmer than usual in Mallorca.

According to the Balearic Islands delegation of the State Weather Agency (Aemet), the average tem‐perature last month was 15.3ºC, nearly one degree higher than normal.

The highest figure was registered on April 29 when Llucmajor hit 33.7ºC ‐ the highest ever April temperature in the town since records began in 1975.