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PICARDO: EU address
‘No Spanish sovereignty’ CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has told the European Parliament there is ‘no question of Gibraltar ever accepting the sovereignty of Spain’. Picardo was addressing the Committee of Constitutional Affairs. Speaking in Brussels on Monday evening, Picardo told Spanish MEP Ramon Jauregui Atondo he ‘detected an element of solidarity’ in the PSOE politician’s questions. But Picardo criticised the Spanish government who ‘have made remarks about the people of Gibraltar and have ‘vilified’ Gibraltar on occasions in the Spanish press.
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Gibraltar news
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Marrache probe
Disgraced lawyer´s release shocks Rock legal world Page 7
Rock fella
Gib´s new man in the Big Apple in Trump denial Page 24
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Probe demand after smoke flare off
OIL refinery bosses have been forced to deny that a big ‘flare off’ could have put locals in danger. It comes after the emergency services received dozens of calls from concerned residents both in Gibraltar and in Spain. The leak at the Cepsa refinery, which went on for hours on Sunday, led to numerous complaints from Olive Press readers, concerned for their health. The government has agreed to take action over the ‘unprecedented level of flaring’ at the San Roque plant over the weekend. A spokesman confirmed the issue will be raised with the EU Commission ‘as a matter of urgency’
Thrive
Picardo said: “People’s lives are put at risk because Spain fails to take the issue of whether Gibraltar has territorial waters to the International Court of Justice. “Gibraltar is not withering on the vine. Gibraltar is not somehow staring at the precipice. “Gibraltar is going to continue to thrive and succeed to the mutual benefit of the people of Gibraltar and the people in the area around Gibraltar.”
Campo of Gibraltar
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February 1st - February 14th 2017
It came after independent MP Marlene Hassan-Nahon insisted: “In this day and age it is outrageous to accept such an environmental liability can remain unchecked.” The GSD’s Trevor Hammond said: “For CEPSA to tritely suggest that there was no risk at all just shows how little oil companies can be relied on to take an honest approach when it comes to matters of public safety.” Cepsa insisted the fumes weren’t ‘a risk to employees or residents’. A spokesman explained that the six refinery torches release pressure from the site’s machinery and are a ‘vital’ security element and the smoke was nothing more than a ‘punctual discharge of gases’ following a light powercut.
Thank you! Gibraltarian mum praises Olive Press for helping publicise her disability case By Joe Duggan
A DISABLED mum has thanked the Olive Press for helping to highlight her four-year ‘housing hell’. Gibraltarian Grace Stevens, 36, had enlisted our help after being ‘effectively stuck’ on the second floor of her housing block since 2015. Using a wheelchair, or forced to walk with crutches, she has struggled to get in and out of her Laguna Estate home, as there is no lift. Now, after we agreed to help, the mother-of-one is finally being aided in her ‘housing nightmare’. “In the last three days I’ve had more help that in the last four years. And I think it’s down to the Olive Press,” she said. “Things are finally happening and I’d like to say thanks for helping to make
this happen.” it is very painful.” The problems for Grace began after She continued: “It has been four years she developed fibromyalgia, a chronic of hell as before that I was homeless nerve condition which makes move- for two and a half years relying on ment difficult. family and friends. Brought on by an abusive seven-year “When my social worker eventually relationship, she allocated me this was left with ‘postplace, it was simtraumatic stress ply inadequate. I disorder’ now relyonly took it as I ing entirely on her was desperate for husband Andy, a my daughter.” former RAF poStevens, who lived liceman, and teenin the UK for ten age daughter, Vicyears until 2013, toria, 18. added: “I’m a loyal But despite batGibraltarian, I was tling repeatedly born here. I just to be re-housed want to be treated - providing all more fairly.” medical evidence HELP: Grace (right) and Andy She continued: “I necessary - she has had to go through been consistently a full referral knocked back by the housing depart- again, just like everyone else, and my ment. doctor here verified my UK doctor’s “I always got a bog-standard refusal,” diagnosis.” she told the Olive Press. “And have It was only on October 21 last year, been stuck in this flat, unable to get in that she was recategorised as a Mediand out easily since 2015. cal A plus housing applicant, the most “I have to fight to get downstairs and urgent categorisation. Yet still nothing was done, says Grace. Thankfully however, this all appears to be changing, with the government admitting this week: “She is being helped by her occupational therapist, social services and housing who are working together to see how she can best be accommodated." Grace added: “In the last Choose one of our great three or four days since the lens offers or get 30% Olive Press got involved, off selected frames there have been conference calls with housing officials to See our ad inside for details. make sure the property I need is the correct specification. They want to do the right thing finally. “So I’d like to say thanks to the Olive Press for making this happen.”
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Hidden histories THE story behind Europa Point lighthouse and Gibraltar University will be revealed in an upcoming talk. Historian Richard Garcia will at the university on February 3 from 10am.
New era THE first government Child Protection Committee has met since being restructured to make it more efficient. In it, attendees confirmed the creation of an ‘operational committee’, which will take charge of individual tasks and projects.
Brexit hope LORDS will hear from a UK minister in the Brexit-focused Gibraltar Inquiry. Robin Walker, of the Department for Exiting the European Union, will consider how leaving the EU could affect the Rock at the House of Lords’ Brexit Committee on Thursday.
February 1st - February 14th 2017
Ball breaker!
A MAN threatened to cut his brother’s testicles off during a blazing family row, a court has heard. Mark Yeo, 30, who lives in Estepona, is alleged to have also abused his grandmother at her home at Royal Oak House in Gibraltar. He faces one charge of criminal damage and one of causing alarm and distress over the incident on No-
Man who ‘threatened to cut brother’s balls off’ is bailed vember 5. The magistrates court heard how Mark Yeo allegedly ‘grabbed his brother George by the shirt’ during the attack. The front door of the property was also allegedly dam-
aged during the incident. Defence lawyer Nicholas Gomez said: “My client says there was a scuffle. An altercation took place. “He says his partner was pushed by another member of the family.”
Go straight back to prison! A FORMER crack addict who broke into a restaurant the day he was released from prison has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. Jason Santos, 26, pleaded guilty after breaking into the Waterfront Restaurant at Queensway Quay in December, 2016. Santos, of Varyl Begg estate, has three previous convictions for burglary and was sentenced to five months in prison in October following the theft of £9,000 from two Ocean Village restaurants. In November, he received a six-week sentence for burglary after stealing £3,000 from a local supermarket. The day he was released, the court heard Santos entered the Waterfront Restaurant at around 11pm with the intention to steal. After the restaurant’s burglar alarm was triggered, Royal Gibraltar Police officers rushed to the scene where they noticed
It was a few days later that Yeo told his brother ‘he would cut off his testicles’, said prosecuting lawyer Carl Rammage. It came after he visited his brother’s Gibraltar home at 3am ‘to try and reason with him’. He was later arrested for criminal damage and interviewed under caution. But this didn’t stop him from again returning to Royal Oak House breaking his bail conditions and where he became ‘argumentative’ with officers. He was remanded because there was a risk of re-offending, the court heard. He has now been released on bail until March 16 when he is due to be sentenced.
Theft charges handprints on the restaurant’s door and a shadow moving on the mezzanine. Some 25 minutes after the alarm was triggered, officers found Santos hiding under a table.
TWO Estonian nationals have pleaded guilty to stealing from several Gibraltar shops. Aivar Sard, 51, and Allan Sakala, 23, were arrested on January 20 and both charged with five counts of theft. The pair pleaded guilty to all charges and were fined £800 each.
Gun arrests FOUR youngsters have been arrested for allegedly pointing a firearm at passersby. Armed response officers swooped on the group who were said to have been driving in a car when the incident took place. A pellet firing BB gun was seized from the vehicle and all four were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. A police spokesman has since described the incident as a potential ‘innocent prank’, but urged people to not act recklessly due to the increased threat level in Gibraltar. “The RGP urges the public to be mindful of the current security state and avoid engaging in activity which might cause alarm in the community”, he said.
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Brave Bimba remembered
TRIBUTES: Bimba and (right) with Charlie
Gibraltar’s Gail Howard all set for London Fashion Week show WHEN the cream of the world’s catwalk models gather for London Fashion Week a Gibraltarian designer will be among them. Gail Howard will take her place alongside Kate Moss, John Galliano and Stella McCartney at this month’s showcase event. The Gibraltar Natwest bank assistant has been working round the clock to finish off her new collection, which will be exhibited at London’s Gibraltar House from February 17-21.
TRIBUTES have been made to a ‘rock n roll’ model who has lost her battle with cancer. Sotogrande model Bimba Bose, 41, died in Madrid’s Hospital Ramón y Cajal, two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Bose moved to Sotogrande, while receiving treatment
with her doting partner, British model Charlie Centa, 24, who she described as a ‘fundamental piece of me.’ Pedro Almodovar is among the wave of celebrities who have paid their respects to the model, who was celebrated for her androgynous looks and worked with designers including Gibraltar’s own John Galliano.
Fashion passion
POSE: Gib designer Galliano´s new show
Destiny
Mother-of-two Gail’s new collection is inspired by the colours and sights of Gibraltar and she booked her date of destiny after winning July’s Runway New Designer competition. “It’s very exciting,” she told the Olive Press. “I was in shock when I won. I didn’t think I would as I was up against graduates. I’ve been busy sewing away. I don’t even manage to sleep some nights. But I can’t wait.” Gail started designing clothes when she was a little girl, spending her pocket money on copies of Vogue and making clothes for her dolls. While in London, Gail hopes to meet fellow Gi-
face OF FASHION SOCIAL media is at the heart of John Galliano’s bold new haute couture collection. The Gibraltarian cited it as a major basis for his new Maison Margiela range, which was unveiled at Paris Fashion Week. It features dresses and coats which have been overlaid with Picasso-esque embroidered faces, a reference to social media users’ ability to alter their images in order to present a fabricated version of themselves. The creations are Galliano’s latest for the Parisian fashion house, where he works as creative director. He landed the post in 2014, three years after he was sacked from Dior for making racist and anti-semitic remarks to customers at a Paris cafe.
TALENT: Gail Howard is going to London Fashion Week braltarian designer John Galliano. “My friend has worked for
him,” she said. “He’s very shy, apparently, but I am hoping we can meet.”
Thy will be done spent more than €1,000 a week on cocaine, is said to have left wife Lyndsey with nothing despite her overseeing his care in his final months. According to expat Lyndsey the pair had fallen out over the Marbella-based singer apparently rekindling his relationship with ex-wife Patty. Speaking for the first time since his death, she revealed how she was dumped over the phone in October, after she had found emails between the pair, which showed intimacy. “I’ve been such an idiot,” Lyndsey said, “Looking back at the way he lived I think I was a fool to think I could tame the wild man of rock, as he was known.” A TRIBUTE night will pay homage to music’s ‘godfather The pair’s Costa del Sol of gloom’. real estate company Status The witty lyrics of Leonard Cohen will be celebrated on Homes, based in GuadalmiFebruary 4 at My Wines Gibraltar from 8.30pm. na, has been closed since the Renowned Gibraltar musician Denis Valerga will host singer’s death in December. the special event, the second of its kind to take place fol- Parfitt died at 68 in Marlowing the success of the first in January. bella after suffering a severe Tickets can be reserved at 350 200 69463 or info@my- infection he is said to have winesgibraltar.com caught in hospital.
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NEWS
February 1st - February 14th 2017
Never forget A MINUTE’S silence was held at Convent Place to remember the six million victims of the Nazi death camps during World War Two. Governor Edward Davis and Chief Minister Fabian Picardo led the mark of respect as part of Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday. Later in the afternoon, more than 400 children from Bishop Fitzgerald school showed a display of butterflies they had made to commemorate the day.
REMEMBRANCE: Gibraltar remembers the Holocaust
Reasons to be cheerful
Chief Minister firmly optimistic as Brexit negotiations intensify
FABIAN Picardo has stressed his optimism over Brexit ahead of his EU talks. Gibraltar’s chief minister painted the Rock as being in a strong position due to the jobs it creates for Spaniards and the ‘changing’ attitude of the Spanish government. He made the comments in an interview with Sky News prior to addressing an influential European Parliament committee on the relationship of the UK and Gibraltar with Spain. “We give jobs to 10,000 mainly Spanish people who come across the border every day,” said Picardo, who argued that border control does not have to be an issue for Gibraltar. “With goodwill I think it will be possible going forward to make it work. “Crossing the border can be as easy or as
hard as Spain likes.” He added that he had noted a positive change in the Spanish government’s attitude. “They haven’t changed their objective (of joint sovereignty) which is disappointing but they seem to be changing in their attitude which gives us an opportunity to go forward in a positive way”, he said.
Union
Picardo, who flew to London last week to speak in the Exiting the EU Committee, also stated the overriding importance of strong links with the UK. “The EU is important to us but what is more important is our union with the UK”, he said.
“It’s now established that we will continue to have single market access to the UK, which deals with 90% of the work that our finance companies do. “With regards to online gaming, there’s no single market. There is a fractured market so it won’t really be an issue. “And 60% of bets in the UK are dealt with by companies in Gibraltar, so Gibraltar will do really well going forward.” Picardo assured that Downing Street was listening to Gibraltar. “We are working directly with the department for Brexit, especially with the Brexit minister Robin Walker . “We are fully involved in fashioning the negotiations as Downing Street starts to take control of the negotiations going forward.”
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February 1st - February 14th 2017
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The Rock’s only
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local newspaper
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OPINION Smoke and mirrors LAST Sunday’s alarming plumes of smoke seen rising from the Cepsa refinery have raised yet more questions about pollution levels in the Campo de Gibraltar. The government will now raise the leak to the EU commission as ‘a matter of urgency’. Marlene Hassan Nahon has labelled the incident ‘outrageous’ and ‘deeply worrisome’. On the day in question, this newspaper was contacted by several concerned Gibraltarians expressing their fears. For years, people have complained about the thick smoke streaking out of the refinery. Pollution levels in parts of the Campo, as shown by last year’s World Health Organisation report, have breached safety standards. Fortunately, the wind this time blew the fumes away from Gibraltar. But the health fears are real and need to be addressed by Cepsa and those in
and counting … OP passes Facebook milestone after another exclusive-packed year
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HE Olive Press Facebook page has broken through the 10,000 ‘Likes’ barrier! With a decade of breaking news coverage under our belts, we are proud to be the only English-speaking investigative newspaper in Andalucia. Over the years we have uncovered fraudsters, caught wanted criminals, exposed corruption and fought for the environment What have Han Solo, Franco and Prince got in common? Voted BEST expat paper in Spain FREE
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January 18th -
January 31st 2017
January 18th -
January 31st 2017 13 Spain Property Guides
Don’t get caught out when buying in Spain
Issue 12
A VICTORY for mortgage owners has been awarded by the European Court of Justice. The court has ruled that two million mortgage holders in Spain are entitled to additional refunds from the banks because they paid It came due to too much interest. clauses’ that saw the so-called ‘floor fail to lower their most Spanish banks rowers to match interest rates to borthe base rate set the European Central by The court ruled that Bank. it was unfair and that repayments entire life of the should cover the time that interestmortgage during the rates were low and continue to be. When the central bank base rate was lowered to stimulate economy some years the eurozone ago, mortgage repayments should 1.5% to 2%, howeverhave tracked it to many borrowers continued to pay 3.5% and more. The surprise ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Around two million now be set to receiveborrowers should timated to be worth repayments, esbillions of euros.
G
Little slice of home
BRITISH expats are on a buy-to-let spree in London and the south east of England. According to mortgage lender Skipton International there cant rise in expat has been a signifiinvestment over recent years. New figures reveal to-lets are in the UK40% of expats’ buycapital, while 25% are in the pricey south east. “Prices in London have increased significantly in the past ing that capital gainsfew years, meanhave been very attractive for investors,” said Skipton mortgage director “Expats have manyNigel Pascoe. ing and long term reasons for investinvestment is usually the most important.” The trend has occurred come easier to secure as it has bepats, who previously lending for exstruggled with credit checks and recent credit history. Some 35% of expats vestment as their cited long term ining, while another main reason for buy19% of their pension plan. said it was part
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MALAGA province’s €2 million project second biggest castle will finally be La Estrella castle failed to take off almost a decade ago.renovated after a being used duringis spread over 25,000 square metres Spanish TV series the filming of ‘Douglas, el Guardian and is currently which features the A project to give the battle of Teba, wherede Historia’ – a onset of the global structure a face lift was abandoned the castle lies. financial crisis. in 2008 at the It now back on, and will improve accessibility, investigation, consolidate undertake archeological the walls and generally structure. improve the existing
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Bracing for Brexit
Control
“We want to control our immigration from the EU,” said May. “We also recognise the importance of the brightest and the best coming here. We recognise the contribution they have made.” May is believed to favour a workpermit system as she looks to trigger Article 50 by March. It comes as the House of Lords published data showing a border closure with Spain would put 40% of jobs at risk in Gibraltar. The 32 page-report, based on Gibraltar government evidence, estimates 10,500 of the Rock’s 26,000 workers crossed the border daily. “A frontier which lacked the necessary fluidity would therefore put directly at risk the jobs of 40% of the Gibraltar workforce,” said a spokesman. May’s speech was cheered by Leave campaigners, who are pushing for a ‘hard’ Brexit. She said:“We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave,” said May. “The British people voted for change. And it is the government’s job to deliver it.”
SLAUGHTER EXCLUSIVE By Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead and Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH expat has called in police after finding five of her dogs executed in a late-night massacre. The Guardia Civil are now investigating the horrific attack that also left one of Illona Mitchell’s horses with its eye gouged out. The detectives from the environment section Seprona told Mitchell, 48, that it was one of the worst attacks they had seen and were visibly shocked by it. They have put on extra patrols to keep an eye on the estate at weekends and at night. “I am sickened as to why someone would carry out such a cruel and barbaric attack on innocent, defenceless animals,” she told the Olive Press this
Expat’s rescue animals mercilessly killed over ‘hunting row’
in 2004, found the five rescue dogs shot in their pens on January 6, the night of the Reyes (Three Kings). Her beloved seven-year-old Dizzy, ‘one of the friendliest dogs you will ever meet’ and a puppy called Maisie were shot dead at the gates of their pens. Meanwhile Coco and Domingo, were shot in their beds, with Mitchell believing they had cowered in their kennels before being killed in cold blood. Coco, two, had been shot at point-blank range between the eyes, while threeyear-old Domingo was shot through the side of his face. They later found Jack, a six-year-old German Shepherd, having convulsions under a nearby tree, but despite being
rushed to the vets he died 30 minutes later. An X-ray showed he also had a bullet shot through the roof of his mouth. Meanwhile, one of Mitchell’s 12 horses was also attacked, so savagely that its eye may have to be removed. Vets have been struggling to treat the four-year-old, named Rocco, because he has become too nervous and skittish. Deeply traumatised by the attack - that thankfully was not seen by her daughter Ella, 11 - Mitchell continued: “I am so angry that someone would do something as disgusting as this to innocent animals.” Mitchell, from Chester, believes the attack is linked to her recent decision to ban hunters from her huge 173-hectare estate that sits in stunning scenery in the Sierra de Baza.
Slaughter, Issue 257 week. The mother-of-one, above, who bought her estate in mountains near Granada
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Monkey bites fox
Foxes star Louisa bitten by monkey on a trip to Gibraltar
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Gotcha!
Mafia town
BANGED UP: Sammon bundled into police car and (inset) his campervan
How the CEO of organized crime corrupted a town hall PAGE 8
EXCLUSIVE: Expat tip leads Olive Press team to snare one of UK’s most wanted paedophiles
OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER
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Secret Malaga
It’s a true city of culture, but Malaga has so much more PAGE 16
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Issue 251
October 26th
errania de Ronda
- November
8th 2016
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October 26th
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deep, River in high mounta
Rob Horgan goes native in the Serrania de Ronda and discovers backroad gemsthe the Genal Valleyof
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HERE are few places in the beer with an army world where you can drink general … general stands all the rounds!and even fewer where the Ronda, Celebrating a however, is one of those places. bar El Porton, recent promotion with friends ish Legionnairean olé away from Spain’s oldestin quintessential After introducingCarlos Velo is eager to include bullring - Spanquail eggs - Carlosme to the town’s signature me in the party. Iraq, Afghanistan (above) regales me with tapa - jamon and tales from tours the ‘best place and Bosnia before explaining to why Ronda is “I have been in the world’. says, taking aall over the world and seen many things,” back into his swig from his cana and he pushing face. “But Ronda been to.” is the best place his glasses I have ever Originally from ago when he Madrid, Carlos moved to Ronda some 35 years its two nationaljoined the Spanish Legion, naires at present.bases here, counting on which has one of around 800 legion“The quality of can live like a life in Ronda is like nowhere else in Spain. everyone else. gentleman here, in Madrid I I would just be “Everything is like ing from tapasaffordable, if you like you can in your pocket. bar to tapas bar and you will spend the day gostill have change “And the scenery is breathtaking,” he adds. “The walks Continues on
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EAGLE-EYED Olive Press readers helped snag one of Britain’s most wanted fugitives in Spain, just hours after he had been named. Following a tip off to the paper, suspected paedophile Matthew Sammon was dragged from his campervan in a dramatic nighttime raid and whisked away in an unmarked police car. Working closely with informant Daniel Reid, we were able to firstly track down Sammon to Fuengirola, then call in the Guardia Civil to arrest him. On the run for two years, Sammon - a blackbelt in Jujitsu was wanted in the UK for sharing indecent images of children. His seizure came just 10 hours after he was named in Operation Captura and is the quickest recorded arrest in the joint UK and Spanish police operation. “It was a fantastic result,” said Steve Reynolds, from the Nation-
WORDS AND PICS By Rob Horgan and Laurence Dollimore
al Crime Agency, who arrived at the scene after the arrest. “Well done Olive Press and thanks to the expat community for tipping us off, this is the reason we run these campaigns.” The dramatic day had started when Crimestoppers issued its annual list of most wanted fugitives in Torremolinos on Thursday morning. Leading to hundreds of press stories around the world and on national television, the hunt was immediately on. But, it was to popular local newspaper the Olive Press that expat plasterer Reid, 40, reached out to, trusting us to ‘do the job properly’. In a series of Facebook messages, he announced that Sammon, 45, had worked for him
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Within an hour, the Olive Press car, Sammon covered his face team scrambled to Fuengirola, and remained silent when learning from another builder questioned by the Olive Press. that he was currently camped He was then bundled into the out at the feria ground. BMW and taken to Madrid to After a day working nearby, the be fingerprinted and prepared Londoner duly arrived in his for extradition. English-plated cream Moncayo Following the arrest, father-ofcampervan. two Reid said he was ‘relieved’ Parking up, he looked relaxed to see Sammon taken away. as he took his dog for a walk “As soon as I saw his face among around the feria ground and the most wanted I felt sick,” spoke with neighbours. said Reid, from Blackpool. Once identified, we called the “I let him hang around my chilGuardia Civil and Crimestop- dren, we took him in with open pers and so began a tense three- arms and at first were none the hour waiting game, with Reid wiser. sitting in the car beside us. “But we always thought he was Sky News crime reporter Mar- a bit weird, he’s a real loner and tin Brunt was soon there too. never talks about his family. Eventually, as night had well “He creeped my family out so and truly fell, an unmarked much that I fired him.” black BMW arrived and two Incredibly, police did not take any plain clothes detectives swiftly evidence from his campervan inmoved in for the arrest, confis- cluding his computer and other cating his passport and phone. CONTINUES ON PAGE 2 Frisking him at the side of the
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and Coogan
from
met by a man neral company,from a local fu- Dianne, who previously ran I had insurance who asked if a cleaning company in the to ‘cover my husband’s cremation’,” UK. recalled. she She has now made an “It was horrific. official I obviously pital’scomplaint to the hosimmediately welfare department, thought he had died and burst insisting nearly fainted.” into tears. I to have toit is entirely unfair pay It turned out She is alreadyit. paying her husband however, that hospital €12,245 for the the actually fine of 56 years was eration and opand the ‘cremarecovery spell. While she tion’ was merely of the hospital confirmed that his leg. had for not warning apologised “I was told that of the imby pending law - even if cremation cost, it is she believes your little finger this is ‘not ac- ceptable’. you have to pay, so I “The hospital signed on the dotted derstanding was very unline,” said pensioner but it was an unsettling experience as I had no prior added Dianne, warning,” who has lived in Spain with her husband since 2006. Cremation of body parts is amputated mandatory in Spain unless you have a pre-bought cemetery niche or have an donate it foragreement to medical research. A spokesman funeral companyfrom the it on the hospital blamed for not warning her. Xanit hospital was not available for comment. Opinion Page
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Hacked off!
The pair met at the G20 By Laurence summit in China Expat slams Dollimore in September but they have yet AN expat hospital over to discuss the has been of Gibraltar. sovereignty stumped over a €525 bill left shock cremating her for payment The Rock is expected husband’s amfor husband’s to be putated leg. a talking point Dianne day given the on Thurs- dlesex, Jones, 73, from Mid- leg cremation claims she was recent inflammatory given comments no warning of the incinerafrom Spain’s considerably foreign min- tion of the limb - nor ister Jose Manuel of its cost - from Xanit was told she harder when she Garcia- Benalmadena. Hospital, in had to pay the Margallo (see ‘unexpected’ bill. below). The conservative It came after Worse than husband Franofficial cis, 76, was has attempted it came just that, forced to have to lobby leg amputated days his EU leaders after the operaabove the knee his quest for to support after years of suffering tion and while from eignty, and joint Sover- vascular disease. husband was her said ‘we will most recently However, the shock recovering at still see the Span- a limb last of losing the hospital. ish flag on Gibraltar month was made very “I came in soon.’
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TRIPPING OUT
THERESA MAY thrash out the is set to UK’s position over Gibraltar at high level meeting witha Mariano Rajoy The UK Primetomorrow. will meet Spain’sMinister leader in Madrid acting to also discuss Brexit. The meeting telephone call follows a shared in July the two they both agreedin which Spanish or British that no should be ‘harmed’ citizen by the Brexit result.
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LOCK up your hijas, Andalucia. Aragon before heading Legendary lothario south. Steve In Malaga, Coogan and sidekick director MiRob Brydon have been chael Winterbottom serving up a third help- and the boys dined ing of TV comedy out at various places while The Trip in Malaga.smash staying at the Gibralfaro The foodie funnymen Parador. have spent Places filming in the summer said to they visited are include the Santander, Rioja, San Sebastian Refectorium and and Aranda. Casa
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THERESA May has vowed Britain won’t accept a ‘half in, half out’ Brexit in a landmark speech that is likely to have long-lasting effects on Gibraltar and all expats in Spain. The Prime Minister issued a 12-point plan to take Britain out of the EU, with Downing Street looking to scrap EU single market and current customs union access. In the biggest speech of her sixmonth tenure, she said: “To be clear, what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” She added Britain would no longer give ‘huge sums’ to the EU, however she conceded that Parliament will have the final vote on the deal. Maintaining the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is also a priority during the Brexit negotiations. However, the border of Gibraltar with Spain was not mentioned.
You read it here first!
M
GIBRALTAR’S new man in the States David Liston has already shown an admirable determination to fight for the underdog. His presence at the recent huge Women’s Rights march came prior to his new appointment, but the impression has immediately stuck of someone who is instinctively on the side of fairness and human rights. The ACLU are determined to fight Trump tooth and nail as he attempts to ban people from seven Muslim countries entering the USA. Trump’s decision is an affront to us all, and to the history of the United States. ‘Give Me Your Poor, Your tired Your Huddled Masses’, says the poem at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Liston’s grandparents are immigrants from Gibraltar to the US themselves, making the long journey by ship to start a new life. He clearly has the Llanito fighting spirit running thick through his veins.
Vol. 11 Issue 257 www.theolivepress.es January 18th - January 31st 2017
and expats’ rights with our campaigns. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the expat community and our advertisers for supporting our work, which nowadays is more important than ever. Here we take a look back at some of our best scoops over the last year, which were picked up by media outlets from the UK to the Netherlands.
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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Gibraltar Olive Press represents the local and expatriate communities working or living on the Rock with 10,000 copies distributed fortnightly.
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Hacked off! Issue 250
Expat Dianne Jones was charged €525 to have her husband’s amputated leg cremated. The surprise bill came after hubby Francis, 76, was forced to have his left leg amputated above the knee after suffering years of vascular disease. The story made weekend papers in the UK, including The Sun.
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After being named among the Top Ten Most Wanted criminals, we tracked down British paedophile Matthew Sammon to Fuengirola. An Olive Press stakeout ensued and we immediately called the cops when we had confirmation that it was Sammon hiding in his caravan. The piece was picked up by Sky News, The Sun and the Daily Mail in the UK, as well publications across the coast.
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2016
Follow us: Holland & Barrett Andalucía
Olive Press named top expat newspaper in Spain and world’s 2nd best by 27,000 voters in global survey
HAT-TRICK of the Olive Press team
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Trio of notorious expats
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are finally behind bars
Better IN
BRITAIN’S membership of the European Union has increased the average UK wage by a year, economists claim.£1,800 With the EU referendum Brexit just six weeks away, on financial advisors have warned of an ‘economic collapse’ should Britons vote to leave. In total, Britain has generated €5.8 million in trade deals with the EU since joining in 1986 - representing 27% of all our commerce, according to leading consultancy firm Frontier Economics.
The deadline to register for postal votes is May 16.
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JUSTICE has finally up with a trio of Costa caught del Sol crime figures. Notorious expats Westley per, Simon Corner and CapMahon are finally facing Dave Capper - linked to thejail time. pearance of Latvian disapAgnese Klavina - has expat pleaded guilty to a fatal hit-and-run cident in Marbella this week.inMeanwhile, Dave Mahon, the stepdad of missing Amy Fitzpatrick, is facing life in prison being found guilty of killingafter his stepson Dean Fitzpatrick. And on-the-run Liverpudlian Simon Corner has been arrested and extradited to after a manhunt over the Spain pearance of his girlfrienddisapLisa Brown.
Turn to Page 2
Curry killer, issue 239 When we heard a black Bentley had ran over and killed a Bolivian mother in Marbella last summer, we hit the streets to uncover the truth. We revealed how notorious Brit Westley Capper and his buddy calmly sipped beers and gorged on chicken tikka just minutes after leaving the expat waitress dead in the road. The story was widely followed in the UK Press.
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Podemos IU pact
PODEMOS and the left-wing IU party will join forces for next month’s general election. The two parties have signed an electoral agreement, which they will now their supporters to voteput to The deal could see the on. coalition secure an additional 14 seats than they have at ent, if all their regional presaffiliations were to stay intact. The IU party, which is merged with the Green would take one sixth Party, seats the two parties of any win on June 26. Podemos secured five million votes and IU one million in December’s inconclusive general election. Since then, Spain has been in political deadlock with ther PSOE leader Pedro neiSanchez nor PP head Mariano Rajoy able to form a government.
Rock steady Meanwhile our presence in Gibraltar is only growing stronger. Since launching a little over a year ago, the Gibraltar Olive Press website has grown from just a few hundred hits per day to more
than 3,000. Just like our Spain edition, we haven’t been afraid to ask the tough questions and print the truth, even if that means ruffling some feathers.
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Irregularities
“On at least one interpretation of Marrache’s evidence to the Parole Board, this convicted fraudster was brazenly proposing to lie to the American immigration authorities and the law firm who were to employ him.” But a source close to the defence has told the Olive Press ‘there had been obvious systemic failures’ which led to delays in the Marrache trial. Indeed, several irregularities in the trial’s proceedings were raised by defence lawyers during the trial. In February 2010 when the brothers were arrested there was no legal aid available to pay reasonable fees to lawyers in complex cases. After a constitutional motion was lodged in 2012 by leading barrister Charles Gomez for one of the defendants, a new system was implemented, which allowed for criminal law barristers to be engaged. The defendant in question had been without legal representation for nearly two years. What is more, Chief Justice Anthony Dudley who originally dealt with the Marraches, was a former junior employee of their law firm, Marrache & Co. Jonathan Goldberg QC, a defence lawyer of Isaac, successfully applied for the Chief Justice to disqualify himself. Several years after the arrests, a magistrate and a judge from England had to be appointed to deal with the case. According to the Olive Press source, this should have been foreseen and would
FREE?: Marrache case rumbles on
7
olive press online
The release of Isaac Marrache continues to cause controversy and raise questions, writes Joe Duggan
T was the case that rocked Gibraltar. The Marrache brothers criminal trial the longest in the Rock’s legal history - lasted nine months with the three exlawyers found guilty of conspiracy to defraud dozens of victims out of £27 million. In front of a packed courtroom, Benjamin, Solomon and Isaac Marrache were sentenced to 11 years, seven years and seven years respectively. During the 2013/2014 trial, the judge at one point even dismissed the jury due to fears they had been subject to tampering. It was just one eyebrow-raising part of a case that has sailed into more controversy following last month’s early release on parole of Isaac Marrache after just two-anda-half years. Questions are now being asked from the top of Gibraltar’s political and legal establishment about the system that has seen Marrache walk provisionally free. In his Supreme Court judgment on Marrache’s release last month, Judge Adrian Jack said it was possible Isaac was now ‘unlawfully at large’. In comments that have sent shockwaves through Gibraltar, Jack said: “The Marrache brothers made extensive and repeated attempts to derail the criminal proceedings against them, unprecedented in Gibraltar or, I suspect, anywhere in the world”. He accused Isaac of brazenly ‘proposing to lie’ to American immigration authorities and a New York law firm set to employ him as a consultant. “On one reading of Marrache’s testimony, he was proposing to tell the American immigration authorities that he had no convictions,” insisted Gibraltar’s most senior judge.
Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on February 1st -www.theolivepress.es February 14th 2017 And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.
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- EXCLUSIVE: Infamous fraudster Isaac Marrache Most read thisordered back to court by Gibraltar judge fortnight on
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The Olive Press have avoided major delays and costs. and Justice Minister Neil Costa ‘carefully “It is as if the Gibraltarian legal system in consider what steps they should take’ over 2010 was either unprepared or not experi- the convicted fraudster’s case. enced enough to deal with the case”, said Failure to do so could damage Gibraltar’s the source. ‘international reputation, said a party The Attorney General also failed in an ap- spokesperson. plication to have a trial without a jury, Costa had discontinued a court applicawhich ‘wasted more time and money’, the tion he filed questioning the parole board’s source said. decision to free Isaac, which led to his reTwo years into the case, the charges lease. against the Marraches changed from indi- An opposition spokesperson said: “It is, in vidual charges to a conspiracy to defraud, our view, not satisfactory that those who which meant ‘truckloads have already lost money, more evidence’ was served should now incur the adon the defence, leading to costs, so that the “If we do not learn ditional delays. grant of parole can be re“If we do not learn from viewed. from past mispast mistakes were are con“Surely, it is incumbent on takes were are demned to repeat them,” Minister Costa...to pursue said the legal source, who his court review of the Pacondemned to readded that the judicial sysrole Board’s decision. tem in Gibraltar needed “His responsibility as Minispeat them” to check itself for complater for Justice requires that cency. he undertakes his statutory The government has said it duties, failing which, his acis now ‘considering various courses of legal tions may have an adverse effect on Gibralaction’ in the Marrache parole case. tar’s international reputation.” A spokesman refers to Judge Jack’s deci- Two and half years after the three brothers sion to issue judgement on Marrache’s pa- were found guilty, the Marrache case conrole as ‘unexpected’. tinues to intrigue. There are surely more Meanwhile, the GSD is demanding No. 6 twists and turns to come.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Hero’s welcome TWELVE heroes, including famed matador David Galván, will be awarded for their work in Los Barrios during the town's public holiday celebrations on February 28.
One big joke A CARTOONIST has lampooned President Trump through his new 46 sketch comic book. Allgecireño Pablo Ríos is the creator of the now hot-selling Spanish language Presidente Trump: Dios perdone a América (God forgive America).
Market leader ALGECIRAS has overtaken Valencia as the busiest port in the Mediterranean, seeing more than 100 million tonnes of container traffic in 2016.
New park A NATURE-BASED recreational park has opened in San Roque, offering a zip line, mini zoo, treehouse and playground, as well as many other activities.
La Linea mayor urges Gibraltar frontier to remain open Exclusive by Joe Duggan
LA LINEA mayor Juan Franco has called for the border with ‘our brothers’ in Gibraltar to remain open. Speaking to the Olive Press, Franco also said he would like more funds to be available for local education. Franco was attending a cross-border networking
C A M P O D E G I BRALTAR
February 1st - February 14th 2017
Border brothers event with cross-border business people at the Palacio de Congreso hosted by La Linea charity Hogar Betania. He said: “For La Linea, the relationship with Gibraltar is vital. Every
Algeciras hunts zombies A PIANIST in Algeciras is looking for zombies to take part in his new music video. Diego Valdivia’s terror-themed video Fobia will feature several extras wearing zombie makeup and costumes. Casting is open to anyone over the age of 15, and will take place from 10am on February 9 at the Florida Theatre, and at the same time on Saturday 11 at the José Luis Cano Documentary Centre.
FRIDAY 3rd
day, 20,000 people cross the border. Gibraltarians also cross over and spend money in bars and cafes. “If the border closed the economy of La Linea would suffer.” Franco said the Town Hall’s high debt caused funding difficulties, and highlighted ‘low education levels’ as a cause for concern with unemployment over 35%.
Suffer
He added he hoped to meet Spanish foreign minister Alfonso Dastis to discuss concerns over a possible post-Brexit border closure. “The people in La Linea and Gibraltar are brothers,” said Franco . “I think there will be a change in thinking with the new minister - Alfonso Dastis - compared to Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo. “I think Dastis understands the town and its problems, and his sensibilities are better than Margallo.”
Fowl play HALF a tonne of cocaine hidden amongst frozen chickens has been confiscated in Algeciras port. Two people were arrested after more than 445 kilos of cocaine were found inside a freight container which was on its way from Brazil to the United Arab Emirates. The narcotics were found in 14 bags distributed amongst frozen chickens. The two detainees were from Algeciras and Malaga.
10 times in one night A MARRIED couple have been arrested in Algeciras for 10 robberies in one night. The detainees allegedly stole a large amount of machinery from a petrol station under construction. They are also accused of stealing batteries from trucks parked at La Menacha, as well as the robbery of seven different store rooms.
OF FEBRUARY
Dutch blues-rockers and winners of the 2012 Dutch Blues Foundation Award for ‘Best Dutch Blues Band’ , The Juke Joints, have been setting fire to international stages for no fewer than 33 (!) years. The last few year’s has seen them firing away in Spain, Norway, Great-Britain, Belgium, France, Ireland and ‘hometown’ Holland. The new CD ‘Heart on Fire’ (released by Continental Records) contains 10 infectious Juke Joints originals and the Dr. Ross classic Cat’s Squirrel and the penned by Australian rockabilly singer/guitarist Louis King’s song Funny Little Valentine, received the passionate, greasy Juke Joints treatment and seamlessly fit in the coherence of the album. On this 9th studio album (follow-up for the ‘Going to Chicago’ CD the band recorded in Chicago with producer Ronnie Baker Brooks and ‘guests’ Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater and Ana Popovic) The Juke Joints have like never before succeeded in translating the steamingly hot energy of their live shows into a brilliant studio sound. The Juke Joints played festival and club shows in Ireland, Engeland, Latvia, France, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switserland, Austria, Spain and the USA and shared stages with the best that blues has to offer: Kim Wilson, Buddy Guy, Walter Trout, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, The Paladins, The Nighthawks, Bonnie Raitt, Sonny Landreth, BB King, Roomful of Blues, George Thorogood, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Johnny Winter, Alvin Lee, Bernard Allisson, Joe Bonamassa... THE BAND: Peter Kempe - Lead Vocal / Drums / Mandolin Michel Staat - Guitar Sonnyboy vd Broek - Harmonica / Vocal / Accordion Derk Korpershoek - Bass / Vocal
www.thejukejoints.com
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Rock Bar(4th time they perform)
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AFTER 26 years, 11 albums and countless blistering BE shows,‘APPY! the Juke Joints have succeeded in stretching their limits with undoubtedly their best and most diverse album yet, Heart on Fire. Now they are set to bring their popular sound to Gibraltar and Estepona this week. When Juke Joints leadsinger/drummer Peter Kempe visited the 2008 Chicago Blues Festival, he was so impressed with Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater’s performance, simply had to have a word Download ourheapp now and with himbegin afterenjoying his show. This resulted in an invithe best Spanish tation to their Kwadendamme Blues Festival in news fired on the on go. all cylinders and The Juke 2009. Eddy Joints excelled as his backing band. It led to more shows around Europe and the determination to record together. The contact with Eddy Clearwater opened up the doors to the legendary Stax studio and in June 2010 they made the long-awaited trip to the home of the blues, Chicago. They recorded what surely must be their magnum opus, with a collection of songs that includes plenThe Olive Press ty of the high energy rhythm ‘n’ blues, shuffles and boogies that have earned them so much praise. TOP for news The highly diverse album in is toSpain! be released worldwide and should win The Juke Joints global recognition as one of the most energetic rock rollin’ blues bands around. You can catch the band at Rock on the Rock in Gibraltar on February 3 and at the Louie Louie bar in Estepona February 4.
la cultura
February 1st - February 14th 2017
what’s on
C
hinese New Year, February 1
World’s talent flocks to second Gibraltar Backgammon Championship
Backgammon Championship. The 2017 championship, which has prize money of £110,000,
Twice the size! THE Gibraltar Electronic Music Festival has promised to be “double the size” when it returns this summer. The popular dance festival will be held on Saturday August 5 at the Victoria Stadium, the same location as 2016. Artists performing have not yet been announced, but organisers teased fans with a Facebook post, promising it will be “double the size of last year’s edition!” In 2016 the festival welcomed 14,000 people over two days with sets from acts including Lady Waks, Subselective Crew and Jeremy Gomez.
9
February 1st - February 14th 2017
All coming Back
SOME of the world’s finest backgammon talent is heading to the Rock for the second Gibraltar
9
takes place at the Caleta Hotel from February 8-12. It follow last year’s successful inaugural tournament, with Gibraltar also joining the European Backgammon Association in 2016. THE Gibraltar International Dance Festival This year’s masters has announced a performer with a world- event will feature class pedigree as this year’s adjudicator. UK-based Jodie Clark will oversee the event, 2015 world champiwhich takes place at John Mackintosh Hall on Ali Cihangir Cetinel from Turkey. Theatre from March 2 to 4. She has won the Dancing Times Choreogra- Akiko Yazawa, the phy Award and performed musical theatre, Japanese 2014 World cabaret and contemporary dance across the Champion, will also take part, with 2008 globe. Director Seamus Byrne said: champion Lars Tral“M.O.productions is delighted to bring over bot competing. a highly qualified and experienced individu- The tournament is al in the world of dance. played as a qualifying “We are confident that Jodie Clark, as a round with 7 Matchprofessional adjudicator from the British es to 11 points. Federation, will contribute towards the de- All players who velopment of our young performers.” didn’t win five For more information contact mopro@ matches play in the gibtelecom.net consolation.
Dancing Queen
Celebrate with the Gibraltar Chinese Association from 3pm-5pm at Casemates. Contact Yongnan Zhang on 350 54026322
G
ibraltar Backgammon Competition, February 8-12
There’s £30,000 to be won at this competition at the Caleta Hotel, featuring a welcome cocktail, sightseeing lunch and prizegiving dinner. Registration free at www.gibraltarbackgammon.com.
G
ibtalks 2017, February 11
Come along to the John Mackintosh Hall between 10am and 5pm to hear a range of local speakers give 15-minute talks on a range of subjects, modelled on the TED phenomenon.
U
niversity of Gibraltar Lecture Series, February 3
As part of a Gibraltar history series, Richard Garcia will be giving a lecture on the University Site and Europa Point at the University from 10am11am. Register interest on 35020071000.
Come and see what Prior Park can offer your child
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Shake, rattle and roll
Jivers, strollers and rock ‘n’ rollers beat the January blues at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Rewind Weekend at Benalmadena’s Sunset Beach Club. A fun filled weekend kicked off with Jive Lessons on the afternoon of Saturday January 28 before guests enjoyed the first of two superb shows - The Rock ‘n’ Roll Rewind Show with Ricky Lavazza and the coasts number one Rock ‘n’ Roll band The Memphis Trio. The fun continued on Sunday with the Classic Car Show, a Hawaiian themed BBQ and a 1950’s Trivia Quiz. There was more VIP treatment at Ricky’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends Show - an evening celebrating the music of Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard, Roy Orbison, Billy Fury and more.
February 1st - February 14th 2017
I
T’S easy to miss Felipe Conde’s workshop. Spain’s most revered guitar maker is modestly tucked away in a Madrid basement, a stone’s throw from the Theatre Royal. But then, Felipe Conde Guitars doesn’t need to flaunt its name. Since 1915, this family of luthiers have furnished guitarists with the very best and, like Rolls Royce, the Conde name carries its own mark of excellence. Bob Dylan, David Byrne, John Williams, Lenny Kravitz, Leonard Cohen and Camarón de la Isla are among the many guitar greats who chose Condes. The late Algeciras maestro Paco de Lucia even spent his youth practicing flamenco in the old Conde workshop after his father relocated to Madrid. Felipe Jr’s father, Felipe, learnt songs and techniques from the budding young genius, whom he describes as ‘quiet and timid’. “My grandfather, Mariano and great-uncle Faustino made Paco de Lucia’s guitars,” says Felipe Conde Jr, 25, the fourth generation to work in the family trade. “They had a really close relationship with him. Paco came to Madrid when he was 12 or so. My great uncle and grandfather would babysit him. Paco’s father would say, ‘Take care of the kid. Just make sure he is playing’.”
Guitar shrine
The basement workshop is a guitar shrine where rows of finely tuned, highly polished instruments line up behind a glass cabinet. On the wall, photos of flamenco stars beam out. In the corner is a collection of vinyls by artists playing with Conde guitars. Nowadays, Felipe Jr works alongside his father Felipe and 27-year-old sister Maria. But the shop’s roots can be traced back to the 19th century, when founder Domingo Esteso - Felipe’s great, great uncle - first learned the trade. After opening the first shop at 7 Calle Gravina, Esteso exported guitars to Argen-
la cult
PUNTERS: Dylan (left) Paco de Lucia and (right) Cohen
tina, where the country’s strong tango tradition and wealth ensured a healthy trade. But during the Spanish Civil War’s long siege of Madrid, Esteso developed a lung disease and died when he was unable to get penicillin. His widow Nicolasa Salamanca and nephews Mariano and Faustino took over the reins. Felipe senior and his brother Mariano Conde Jr. were next in line. The heyday for Spanish guitar making was the 1960s when, Felipe Jr tells me, most of the guitars in the world were made in Spain. But despite the passing decades, the Conde sound has remained distinctive, he says. “It was very easy to recognise our guitar years ago as it was pretty unique,” he says. “It’s still easy to recognise, but it depends, everyone plays differently. But more or less I can recognise it.” Following Leonard Cohen’s death in November, the celebrated international artist’s moving speech at the Prince Of Asturias Awards was widely c i r c u l a t e d on social media, revealing an astonishing secret not even the Conde family knew. Cohen had played a Conde guitar for 40 years. The speech was an extraordinary, poetic h o m - age to Spain, to flamenco and to Conde craftsmanship, with Cohen acknowledging the debt he owed (see speech excerpt page 7). It came as a complete surprise to the Conde clan that one of the world’s most famous musicians had one of their guitars and actually attributed it to his success. “When he bought the guitar from my grandfather, Leonard Cohen wasn’t famous, he was really young,” says Felipe Jr. “My grandfather liked classical guitar and flamenco music. They were really into Spanish musical tradition more than a young guitarist who probably not that many people knew in Spain. “When they gave Cohen the Prince of Asturias prize he spoke and we were like, ‘Wow, he has one of our guitars’. We didn’t know. You don’t hear very often any words of gratitude from the artists that play your guitars. After the speech we had contact from his management, which was quite cordial. “A similar story happened with Bob Dylan. He met a classical or flamenco guitar player and he said, ‘Which guitar are you playing’. They said Conde Hermanos. “That’s how we promote ourselves. If good guitar players play your guitars, other players come to you. We never spend money advertising ourselves.” The pursuit of excellence starts with the
A Conde was the instrument of choice for Paco de Lucia, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Joe Duggan gets a behind-thescenes look at a Spanish classic
Guitars fo
FAMIL their w
raw materials. The day I visit the workshop, Felipe has travelled to Valencia to source wood, some of which is imported from as far away as Mexico, Canada and Brazil. Once selected, the wood is dried naturally for years. Different guitars need different wood. For clas-
si bo “F so gi “S
tura
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uitars or stars
February 1st - February 14th 2017 February 1st - February 14th 2017
‘Wood never dies’ - Leonard Cohen “I have a Conde guitar, which was made in Spain in the great workshop at Number 7 Gravina Street; a beautiful instrument that I acquired over 40 years ago. I took it out of the case and I lifted it. It seemed to be filled with helium, it was so light. And I brought it to my face. I put my face close to the beautifully designed ro-
LY SECRET: The Condes hard at work in workshop
ical guitars, the soundboard - the main curved ody of the guitar - is spruce or red cedar. Flamenco guitars need to be a really direct ound, really percussive and bright. Cypress ives a lot of those qualities,” explains Felipe. Spanish cypress is the only wood we use that
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comes from Spain. But anywhere in the Mediterranean cypress is most commonly found in cemeteries. Cypress is really skinny and tall. They say it brings the souls to heaven.” It’s a beautiful image, one Cohen or Dylan would be proud of. From death springs music,
sette, and I inhaled the fragrance of the living wood. You know that wood never dies. “I inhaled the fragrance of cedar as fresh as the first day that I acquired the guitar. And a voice seemed to say to me, “You are an old man and you have not said thank you; you have not brought your gratitude back to the soil from which
that most life-affirming and timeless human endeavour. A Conde flamenco guitar can cost anything from €2,500 to €9,500. But anyone raising an eyebrow here should consider what goes into making them. Felipe Jr spends around two months making just one. And after finishing in the workshop, he continues toiling at home. The finest wood is imported from around the world and meticulously examined before it is bought. Sometimes it is dried for decades to ensure the best sound. Conde also guarantees your guitar if it breaks (although any Pete Townshend-esque acts of deliberate sabotage aren’t covered). Factor in all that love, skill and care and it’s clear these guitars are more than worth the price. “You don’t get rich being a guitar maker,” Felipe Jr tells me. Of course, the Conde guitar has always been closely linked to the flamenco community. At world-famous Madrid venues like Casa Patas, aficionados can appreciate the genre’s masters at work. The crowds, and the money, are in the capital. “An Andalucian would probably get mad at me but a lot of the best flamenco in Spain is in Madrid,” says Felipe Jr. “Traditionally the artists have come to Madrid to get known and make money. All the good artists come here and they become better because they all play together.” As we talk, Felipe Jr. shows me two guitars he is currently working on (he always makes two at the same time so he can work on one while the glue is setting on another). He points to wooden extensions added to the legs of his work table over the years to cater for his growing height (he began working here aged 16). The patience and devotion required means this is not for everyone, he says. A vocation, not a job. “I spent four years studying sociology at university, but I decided I didn’t want to do that,” he says. “I really enjoyed the workshop more. Travelling around the world, working with wood, meeting artists.” What is he working on right now? “I cannot say,” he smiles. “It’s a secret. We’ve launching a new model next year.” Perhaps for the next Leonard Cohen, waiting to take up the mantle.
this fragrance arose.” And so I come here tonight to thank the soil and the soul of this people that has given me so much. “Everything that you have found favorable in my work comes from this place. Everything, everything that you have found favorable in my songs and my poetry are inspired by this soil.”
MARIA CONDE: And (below) finished guitars
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la cultura
War art
Spanish Civil War Paris Expo pavilion restaged in London, writes Chloe Glover
I
T unveiled two of Spain’s most radical art works to the world. And now the Spanish Pavilion of the 1937 Paris International World´s Fair, which showcased Pablo Picasso’s Guernica and Joan Miro’s The Reaper for the first time in public, has been recreated in London. The Duke Street Gallery is housing the reconstruction of the small art space at its Art Revolutionaries exhibition until February 10 to showcase its importance to a new audience. The gallery’s aim is to highlight the retrospective importance of its content, which
February 1st - February 14th 2017 February 1st - February 14th 2017
THE SPANISH PAVILION: The country´s building at the 1937 Paris World´s Fair
It depicted a Catalan peasant wearing a barretina hat holding up a sickle in one hand, his other raised in a Republican clenched fist salute, his face contorted in a cry of despair. Mysteriously it disappeared after the exhibition, never to be seen again, leaving historians only with black and white photographs to prove it ever existed. Miró’s grandson, Joan Punyet Miró, still hopes his grandfather’s work may resurface one day. He said: “El Segador reflectGUERNICA: Picasso´s arresting work and ((right) Miro ed the pain, suffering and was shockingly ignored revolutionary angst of the by most art critics until Catalan people, on seemany years later. ing how their identity, their The structure, once language and their culture housed in the centre of the risked being engulfed by a city, was built by Spain’s Renationalist victory.” publican government during the Other artists also played an country’s devastating civil war. important role in the Republicans By selecting two radical left wing artists, 1937 expo pavilion. the government’s aim was simple - to high- Works by Julio González, Alberto Sánchez light the horrors of the conflict that were Alexander Calder, and José Gutiérrez Sobeing inflicted upon its people at the be- lana led visitors on a tour of republican hest of Spain’s right wing Nationalists. Spain. But they were They all served to highlight the posishamefully overtive role of culture, looked at the time in education and popular favour of totalitarian traditions in countering exhibits by the Rusthe devastating effects sians and Germans, of the civil war. who were ultimately Barcelona’s Mayoral awarded the prizes gallery is responsible for best pavilions. for bringing the exhiPainted in an outbition to Duke Street, rage over the Nazi which opened its doors and Italian Fascist this month. bombing of the Its staff worked tireBasque village of lessly to try to overcome Guernica, Picasso’s their biggest problem- to canvas stood in the choose in which colours gallery at a towering to paint Miro’s contribu3.49 metres high tion. and 7.76 metres After much deliberation, wide. they decided to recreate Although created in it by scanning and stitchhis Paris studio, he ing together black and finished it on site. white photographs, so It was there that, as to not present a false as legend goes, representation. a workman from Revolutionary posters the German paviland propaganda materiion spotted it and als were displayed in asked Picasso if it the 1937 pavilion, plus ACTION ART: A poster by Ramón Puyol was his work. original posters and “No, yours,” he programmes for the fair, countered. and drawings by many of the artists. A harrowing mural of tortured souls sur- To Miro’s grandson, the pavilion still holds rounded by a gored horse, a bull and flames, great importance. it was hoped Picasso’s work would generate “For many of us people born in the 50s and much-needed international financial aid. 60s, the pavilion continues to have a very But it only did so in the months after the special meaning,” he said. expo when it went on worldwide tour. “We lived during the latter years of the dicMiro’s The Reaper (El Segador) was equal- tatorship, the transition period and the arly arresting, at 5.5 metres high. rival of democracy.”
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MILITARY THREATS
A LAZER-TAG company is challenging trade licence restrictions over CHINESE corporations its military appearance. have urged stronger links Lazer-tag is a team activity in which with Gibraltar, following participants dress up in mock-army a successful government gear and attempt to ‘shoot’ members of the opposing team with trip. Trade companies in Shang- harmless laser guns. hai and Nanjing want to Special Ops Gibraltar used to allow Download our app now and ‘continue to develop closer patrons to play the game on local begin enjoying the best Spanish beaches and at Europa Point. relations’ with the Rock, whichnews could on thehelp go. turn it
NEWS IN BRIEF
Smiles at Santander
However, police have clamped down on the activity, saying that in the wake of terrorist attacks in Europe, the appearance of military uniforms and realistic guns could cause unnecessary alarm. The owner of the company has appealed to the Magistrates’ Court after being issued a trade license with conditions.
SPANISH bank Santander has reported a net profit of €6.2 billion in 2016, a 4% rise on the year before and €80 million above analysts’ forecasts.
Crystal clear
into ‘a hub’ for Chinese businesses. Finance minister Albert Isola revealed the promising news upon his return from the country, where he had been holding meetings on strengthening relationExclusive by Joe Duggan ships in the fields of trade, The Olive Press communications and fiBUSINESS chief Edward Macquisten nancial services. TOP for news in Spain! “We have been asked to has welcomed the ‘degree of certainty’ continue to develop clos- Theresa May’s Brexit speech has given er relations with all the Gibraltar. parties we met and work Speaking to the Olive Press, the chief exof the Gibraltar Chamber Of Comis ongoing to achieve ecutive merce said Tuesday’s speech by the prime this,¨ he said. minister ‘confirmed what everyone else “I am confident that Gi- had assumed’. braltar can begin to devel- In Tuesday’s Lancaster House speech, op into a hub for Chinese May laid out a 12-point plan for EU withbusinesses with assets and drawal, including leaving the single maroperations outside of Chi- ket. na. Macquisten said: “Locally, it’s given a “The Government will greater degree of certainty on the UK’s be working hard to de- approach to leaving the EU. velop these new channels “Some people in the UK had said, ‘leaving the EU doesn’t mean you’re leaving the throughout 2017.”
Property Property
Business boss welcomes ‘certainty’ following May speech
single market’. Yes it does. “Certainty is always welcome in a business environment.” He added: “She could have been talking about Gibraltar in her speech. “Like the UK, Gibraltar is very internationalist in its outlook, its ethnic makeup is really diverse.” Although May made no mention of Gibraltar, Macquisten said it was encouraging she identified the common travel area between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. “There are thousands of EU citizens -
AGONY ANT
YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
Police forces: Understanding who does what
Spain’s complex policing system comes with its pitfalls
S
pain’s federalization process has added layers and layers of bureaucracy to everyday living. Currently, there are around 100,000 different laws, norms, decrees, statutes or ordinances and within them, 67,000 belong to the 17 regional communities. Something similar, albeit on a manageable scale, happens with the diverse police forces; these organizations do not operate in the same areas and it is not altogether clear which one does what in the different urban areas of Spain. There is Guardia Civil, in charge of road traffic, arms and explosives, policing the coasts/territorial waters and drug smuggling therein, and environmental crimes. The National Police deal with drug trafficking, organized financial crime, border controls and issuance of identity cards and passports. In some areas of Spain, there are also regional police (“Mossos” in Catalonia or “Ertzaintza” in the Basque Country) and locally, Local Police patrol the towns and cities. But this distribution is far from clear cut and overlapping of functions is rife. Here are some examples: a few months ago, in Ceuta, a verbal public dispute erupted between the Lieutenant Colonel of the Guardia and the Chief of the National Police
with both accusing each other of “trespassing” their duties. It has also transpired that the case of the American pilgrim murdered in the “Camino de Santiago”, in 2015, could have been resolved months before had it not been for a local rivalry between the two main forces. In the Basque country (2014), two dangerous criminals were freed after being detained for robbery despite having outstanding warrants for their imprisonment. In Tenerife, following an argument on who was in charge members of the Local and National Polices almost came to blows at a fire scene. And in Malaga, the investigation of domestic violence cases has been transferred from the Local to the National Police and Guardia Civil, much to the anger of the former. In some areas, the difference groups “join forces” in a most bizarre way: in a municipality in Asturias, Local Police will deal with surveillance and road traffic during the day, the Guardia Civil do it at night. Finally, to add more confusions emergency numbers also vary: 062 (Guardia Civil), 091 (National police) and 092 (Local Police) although the generic 112 is now the most widely used: a bit of common sense, at last.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com
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workers, tourists - plus 7,000 Spaniards that cross the border each day,” he said. “We can see no justifiable reason why those people should lose their jobs because Gibraltar is outside the EU. “What May said about the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland gives a degree of confidence here that if her team is going to be working hard to deliver a practical solution on that border, a similar work effort will be made vis a vis the Gibraltar border.” He added: “Spain can try and use it as as bargaining chip. But there are jobs to be done here. The salaries those people earn in their Gibraltar jobs are spent in Spain. “And if you speak to any organisation in the Campo they are concerned. They are all very keen to ensure that border fluidity is maintained.”
WiFi all the way RENFE is to expand the WiFi service launched last year on some Madrid-Sevilla trains to the entire national AVE fleet. The €148.6 million contract to provide the service was landed by Telefonica.
Hotel high HOTELS on the Costa del Sol received more than five million travellers in a year for the first time ever in 2016.
Jobs on the rise NATIONAL unemployment has dropped to a seven-year low of 18.6%. In Andalucia it dropped 6.51% in 2016, the region with the second-biggest decrease after Catalonia.
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Record demand THE recent cold snap caused a record high in electricity use. The Gibraltar Electricity Authority has said that usage reached 42MW, a level which in the past would have crippled the system and left the whole of Gibraltar without power. The new, improved system is capable of supplying this demand however, with a
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A SENIOR lawyer has said the UK and Gibraltar should be deemed as 'one entity' in their freedom to provide services. European Court of Justice (ECJ) advocate general Maciej Szpunar's view follows a case between the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) and Britain’s tax authority. The GBGA is challenging a new tax imposed on the industry in 2014, which requires all UK-facing operators, no matter whether they are located in or outside the country, to pay 15% on revenue from UK gambling customers. Britain’s High Court asked the ECJ whether Gibraltar has the constitutional status of a separate territory to Britain. "The application of EU law to Gibraltar does not create new or supplementary rights between the UK and Gibraltar that are in addi-
generating capacity of up to 76 MW. Residents used more power than usual as they tried to keep warm during the recent cold spell, which saw unprecedented snowfall in nearby areas of Spain. The authority also attributed the peak to a high number of new properties now being in use.
Taxing times EU lawyer says Gib and UK ‘one entity’ in key gambling case tion to those flowing from the UK and Gibraltar constitutional law," said Szpunar. The court heard Szpunar 'takes the view that, for the purposes of the freedom to provide services, Gibraltar and the UK are to be treated as one entity'. Therefore the UK has the right to impose the domes-
tic tax, because it is not covered by EU law, which would bar London from introducing a tax having an impact on another EU state. Although the ECJ is not obliged to follow its advocate general's opinion, it often does. "The Government will not comment until the final judgement of the European Court."
Off centre
Safety assured A NEW company will provide extra security to Gibraltar International Airport. The Government has signed a 12 month contract with Redline Assured Security, which will give additional ‘quality assurance’ to ensure the transport hub remains safe. The UK-based organisation’s main work will be carrying out a range of tests and assessments to identify any potential areas for improvement and give advice on how to better protect both people and the airport’s assets. It will also work with the airport’s director of civil aviation Chris Purkiss and the Government of Gibraltar to help develop aviation security processes and standards. Redline already works with over 40 airports and almost 50 airlines around the world.
Due diligence The Gibraltar Stock Exchange is now giving companies the option of third party due diligence. The innovative strategy was announced last week among a raft of initiatives striving to reduce the detrimental impact of Brexit. Due diligence was already compulsory in listing or joining the GSX, but now
member firms can opt to work with an approved third party to provide commercial due diligence. The GSX has designed a due diligence handbook to accompany this process. Managing Director Nick Cowan said that the move would provide “additional clarity on the commercial aspects.”
SPANISH foreign minister Alfonso Dastis has claimed Gibraltar won’t ‘be at the centre’ of Brexit negotiations. The former diplomat said Gibraltar was ‘perfectly free’ to make a life for itself outside the EU as he called for a trade deal to be put in place with Britain. Dastis, who replaced the much-maligned Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo in November, has spoken more cautiously than his predecessor. “My personal opinion is that we won’t put Gibraltar at the centre of negotiations,” he told the Financial Times. “The situation is actually very clear and there is nothing for us to ask for: the UK leaves the EU and Gibraltar leaves the EU. If Gibraltar wants to make a life outside the EU, they are perfectly free to do so.” Dastis also called for a ‘transitional agreement’ to be put in place between the EU and the UK. “It would actually be good, while we speak about the separation, to also define where we want to be in terms of a new framework [for EU-UK relations],” he Dastis. “We are interested in getting a result that is good for both sides. ¨We won’t give up that interest for the sake of strict procedural requirements.”
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BOSSES: Cox and Wells
IN COME THE BIG BUCKS! A HUGE US property fund is splashing €45 million on three new Costa del Sol developments. The American bosses behind Real Capital Solutions have snapped up sizeable plots in Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis and continue to look at further opportunities along the coast. The company, based in Marbella since 2013, already has five other developments, including The Retreat, in Elviria.
“We have spent around €86 million here so far and have a fund of €100 million to spend,” explained Managing Partner Peter Wells, based in Colorado. “We are one of the largest developers on the Costa del Sol and our emphasis is on distressed properties.” He added: “Also we do things transparently and always try and deliver on price and quality.” The company - which made hundreds of millions buying and selling distressed properties in the US - has 16 staff working out of its office at Centro Plaza. Local boss Taylor Cox, added: “The coast is really starting to come alive and it’s a pleasure to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”
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Booming July predicted following ‘pause’ in run-up to EU referendum
ESTATE agents in Spain and Gibraltar are lining themselves up for the busiest July on record. It comes as some British buyers put purchases on hold due to the forthcoming EU referendum on June 23. Most agents the Olive Press spoke to confirmed they had various sales currently ‘paused’ awaiting the result, despite the British market remaining strong. The majority believe that the expected result - to stay in Europe - will lead to the pound strengthening with a red hot summer of sales to follow. Ben Bateman, at Holmes Sotogrande, described the referendum lead up as a ‘pause for thought for British buyers’ due to concerns over the weak pound. “After a remain vote however, we expect to see a strong finish to the year - and a sudden wave of bids from British buyers,” he told the Olive Press. One agent in Gibraltar has gone one step further actually employing extra staff for July. Savills director Sammy Cruz-Armstrong said: “Everything is on hold due to Brexit, but I am convinced we will stay in Europe and am taking on extra staff in July to deal with the expected deluge of business.” Benahavis agent Scott Marshall of Proper-
Remain
tieSpain, meanwhile, described the pause as ‘very psychological’. He said: “It’s a combination of the uncertainty of the vote and the exchange rate right now.” While many agents have a couple of sales currently on hold, some have seen more. “We have up to ten sales currently on hold until after the referendum,” said Victor Witkowski, boss of Castles, in Manilva. “Buyers are not necessarily pulling out, but they are biding their time to see what happens.” Fellow Manilva agent, Shani Hamilton, also confirmed a slowdown, but added: “We are predicting a huge influx of business as soon as a decision is made.”
Where is Gillian buying?
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Deals
Spanish property sales by nationality and quarter
www.spanishpropertyinsight.com Source: Registradores Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
Either way, official statistics out this month confirm the British market remains strong and tens of thousands continue to look for their dream home. Respected analyst Mark Stucklin insists that foreign demand for Spanish property was up 16% in the first quarter with Brits the biggest group of foreign buyers at 22% of the market share. “The British still dominate the foreign market for property and there is no evidence of a noticeable decline in demand as yet,” he said. And certainly not everyone is suffering. One agent, Graham Govier of Inland Andalucia has seen ‘no negative impact’ at all during the referendum lead-up. “In fact it is the opposite. Prices are extremely cheap right now and we are selling two times as many properties as we were last year,” he said. He added: “My salesman Paul - already a bit of a local celebrity - has just completed his seventh consecutive sale and people are buying because they can see that the incredible deals won’t wait around for them forever,” he added. Paul made headlines in the Olive Press last year when he sold an impressive nine properties in a row.
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Residents may be removed from housing list under potential new rule
THE Spanish government and opposition parties have laid out a protocol requiring banks to return money overcharged to mortgage holders with ‘floor clauses’ HOUSING applicants who in theirDownload contracts. our app now and have been on the waiting list for up to 18 years deThe new plan, begin enjoyingwhich the best inSpanish volves a mandatory pro- spite rejecting offers may on the go. cedurenewsand timetable, be removed. should save almost two Housing Minister Samanmillion homeowners from tha Sacramento told Parliahaving to take long drawn- ment that she might review out legal action to reclaim the current policy. At the moment, people the money. It comes after the European Court of Justice ordered Spanish banks to Olive Press refund The customers who had not been properly informedTOP about the ‘claufor news in Spain! sula suelo’. The clause prevented their mortgage repayments from being reduced below ‘floor’ level as interest rates plummeted in the economic crash.
Housing shake-up are only removed from the list once they turn down a house three times. “It seems like there are people who, for some reason,
In 2011, 110 applicants joined the list with a total of 266 people waiting. One person has been on the list since 1999.
MOUNT Alvernia nursing home is set to add 24 more beds in a major refurbishment programme. The centre will incorporate the extra facilities by relocating staff facilities and administration areas. Minister Neil Costa said: “The Government is always looking at ways in which to improve and develop the services we provide to elderly citizens. “There is always a surge in hospital admissions during the winter months and we are determined to tackle it decisively by providing new resources and extra facilities. “The Mount Alvernia refurbishment project is an excellent initiative, which, when completed, will release bed space at St Bernard’s Hospital.” GJBS has been commissioned to carry out the works on behalf of the Government.
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or every property sale to be registered, an Energy Efficiency Certificate (CEE) must be included within all the documents. The Regulations state that the efficiency rating must be displayed in all selling and letting promotional material and a copy of the full certificate made available to every property enquirer. Despite that, the convention appears to be not to obtain that certificate until contracts have been signed and everyone is on their way to the notary. I suppose it will take a few agents and owners being substantially fined for people to comply with the regulations. Study of the energy certificate should be a part of a buyer’s consideration of a property. In the south of Spain, the energy consumption in a house will reach two peaks: in winter when heating is required and in summer when air conditioning comes into play. How efficient the house is in retaining heat in winter and avoiding it in summer, is what the energy certificate is all about. There are two linked energy certificate associated with a property. The first, titled ‘Certificado de Eficiencia Energetica de Edificios’ is the one prepared by the Spanish qualified professional, using the mandatory computer programme with all the pretty colours and photographs. The professional then uses this form to complete the application to the certifying authority (here, that is the Junta de Andalucía). The application is the green one with the ‘Junta de Andalucía’ heading and when approved it has the all-important etiqueta at the end, date and time stamped and indicating when it expires 10 years later. When
have been on this list for a long time and are continuously offered houses and continuously reject them,” said Sacramento.
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instructing professionals Instruct to prepare the cerInstruct Surveyor tificates it is essential Building that this, togetherLawyer with payment, refers to obtaining this all-important label. We see many times that it’s only the computer printout that is obtained and there Buy with Knowledge is panic close to the notary date when it is re& Confidence alised that the Junta-approved etiqueta has not been obtained. The CEE is important for three reasons. +34 952 923 520 Connect with us! The first is that it describes the whole house admin@surveyspain.com surveyspain.com – floor, wall and window areas and orientation; construction materials and their energy transfer efficiency, plus the same for windows and doors; and equipment, energy source and power use for heating and cooling, including hot water. That information is then applied to an appropriate formula that provides an indicator of the energy and carbon dioxide released by the property, and the total energy consumed by the property, split between heating and cooling. These indicators are then compared to the best (A) and worst (G) house types. The second reason is that it describes how the energy efficiency can be improved, sometimes by relatively small changes such as new hot water heater or solar water heating. And the third and immediate reason is that the IBI (property tax) is reduced by up to 20% for energy efficient houses. When added together with the cost of energy savings, the return on a small investment can be significant. So, when you are buying a property, demand a copy of the CEE before you even start negotiating the price. Responsible valuers and building surveyors will be taking it into account when advising you on your purchase.
Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com
Hotel room boom INVESTMENT in new hotels in Spain reached €2.15 billion last year, new figures have revealed. The statistics represent the second biggest increase in a decade, beaten only by 2015’s figures. Four and five star hotels attracted the most investment as international companies continue to be interested in growing the luxury market. The investment boom comes as building on Marbella’s new €300 million luxury hotel - yet to be named - begins this year. It comes after newly released figures show the Spanish economy is close to its pre-crisis levels.
INVEST IN GIBRALTAR’S PROPERTY MARKET Whether you are looking to buy off-plan or invest in the current market, we can help you make the right decision.
Contact Lorraine and Aidan: The Old Bank, 17-21 Cannon Lane, Gibraltar, P.O. Box 1418 T: +350 200 48532 E: info@npestates.com www.npestates.com
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LETTERS
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Only in Gibraltar! It´s a good result but probably won´t stop Article 50 from being triggered (UK Supreme Court rules parliament must...online). Hopefully it will mean some amendments that could help stave off a hard Brexit. I hope some more spanners are thrown in the works. Judy Smith, Estepona
Focus on yourselves It seems to me that it is the Gibraltarians who are getting nervous and not the Spaniards with the Brexit? But...it is what the UK wants and you want to be part of the UK, so...get used to it. And do yourself a favour, don’t you worry about the ‘Spanish’ workers and try to focus on your own issues. Pablo Cedron, Estepona
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Marrache scandal!
Big Blow
It is incredulous that the Judge presiding of the case was once an employee of the Marrache brothers (Infamous fraudster Isaac Marrache...online). As always the taxpayer picks up the tab for the arrogance of the big wigs. Wasn’t the Marraches’ accounts audited? How the hell could they get away with it for so long. It is not just the judiciary that has taken a blow - the legal profession in Gibraltar looks just as bad.
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Judy, Gibraltar
The judiciary in Gib is a typical post-colonial affair. Local judges have been over-promoted and the brains of the legal profession are all in private practice. One good thing that has come from the Marrache debacle is that now experienced judges like Adrian Jack are being employed to cover the lagoon of experience and ability that existed in 2010. I work in financial services and Gibraltar PLC needs a competent judiciary to give certainty and compete with other jurisdictions.
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make it up.
Foul smell
Minister Costa has to explain why he changed his mind. This smells terrible and does Gibraltar no credit. Steve Candal, UK
Now to add insult to injury to the taxpayer the government is likely to take Marraches’ side against the judge. You couldn’t
We’re leaving Two Prime Ministers said there would not be another Referendum (Supreme court rules parliament must vote to trigger article 50, online). So these numbnuts who
Henry Rogers, Marbella
keep harping about another referendum need either a hearing aid or are just plain stupid. But one thing is for sure, whatever you do we voted to leave legally and WON and we will leave the EU that is the re-
ality, you can drag it on and on but we will leave the undemocratic EU block and our country will be ours again without their EU sticky fingers in our Government, law and business. Linda Kaye, UK
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BREXIT Bulletin
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February 1st - February 14th 2017
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Bad news for spanish economy to 17 million Britons visited Spain last year.” wwSome 300,000 Brits are known to live in Spain, but that figure may be as high as one million as many expats do not register properly. There are fears that further falls in the pound will make fewer Britons want to travel, while retirees living in Spain will have less purchasing power. “I will also tell you that the United Kingdom is the first destination for Spanish companies’ investment and our third commercial
SPANISH prime minister Mariano Rajoy has said Brexit is a ‘serious threat’ to Spain because of how many Brits live in and visit the country. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Rajoy pleaded for Europe to remain united and said Britain’s departure from the bloc threatened Spain’s economy. “Brexit is a serious threat,” Rajoy said, “Without wanting to go into other considerations, I will only tell you that one in five tourists who come to Spain are British, and close
DEFIANT: Rosindell
Slam the door! A UK MP has said Britain must ‘slam the door’ on Spain’s cosovereignty hopes. Conservative’s Andrew Rosindell, a longtime champion the Rock’s right to self-determination said the UK must make clear ‘without room for doubt’ that Gibraltar will always remain British. “It is the inhabitants of the Rock who must decide the destiny of their homeland and nobody else,” he said. Rosindell, who campaigned for the Leave campaign, made the comments on the pro-Brexit website BrexitCentral in an opinion piece on Gibraltar called The UK must embrace Gibraltar more closely and not allow it to be a dispensable pawn in the Brexit talks.
Young minds YOUNG people have remained optimistic about the UK economy despite being the group most opposed to Brexit. Spending on meals out and essentials including groceries and discretionary items increased steadily in the last three months of 2016. Confidence among the 18-34 age group rose to its highest level since advisory firm Deloitte began its quarterly consumer tracker. It comes before the Bank of England is expected to upgrade forecasts for the second time in three months on Thursday as the UK economy continues to defy expectations of a turndown post-Brexit.
We’re not your prey FABIAN Picardo has condemned Spain’s post-Brexit offer of joint sovereignty as ‘predatory’. The chief minister claimed that the Spanish press were presenting the recent offer of joint sovereignty to Gibraltar as ‘generous’. Speaking to the Exiting the EU select committee, he made it clear that there was no chance of Gibraltar accepting the offer. “This is the generosity of the predator that thinks that its prey is finally prone and it’s going to take the price it’s been seeking to extract for the past 300 years,” he said. “Neither the people of the UK nor the people of Gibraltar are a prey that is on its knees seeking any generous offer from the people of Spain.
Spanish government has ‘generosity of the predator’, says Picardo “I think there is a widespread support for the people of Gibraltar and if Spain thinks the government of the UK or indeed the people of Gibraltar haven’t got the stomach to stand up for full exclusive British sovereignty going forward I think they’re misreading the situation.” In an echo of a J.F. Kennedy Cold War speech, Picardo declared: “Gibraltar will pay any price, bear any burden and meet any hardship in the context of ensuring we have a future that is bright and exclusively British post-Brexit.”
Tourism threat THE President of a leading hotel chain in Spain has said the tourism sector is beginning to feel the effects of Brexit. Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Melia Hotels International, said a slowdown ‘is already being noticed’ among Brits, who usually book their holidays in advance. Although last year was a record-breaking year for Spain’s tourism industry, Escarrer warned that could change in the coming months. He added that any void left by Brits would likely be filled by the growing German and Scandinavian markets. Melia Hotels International has 370 hotels in four continents.
Fight for your rights! NICK Clegg has urged Gibraltar to make ‘ferocious demands’ to get a good Brexit deal. The former Deputy Prime Minister said that the Rock would be ‘at the very bottom of Theresa May’s preoccupations’ during this week’s Brexit negotiations. Clegg, the Liberal Democrats’ Brexit spokesman, made the comments while responding to a former Your Gibraltar TV reporter at Queen Mary University in London. “The fate of Gibraltar will be at the very bottom of the list of preoccupations of Theresa May
when she is in those negotiations”, he said. “The fact that the Prime Minister has chosen to persist with the hardest, most remorseless and unforgiving form of Brexit just demonstrates how, never mind Gibraltar, she doesn’t care about Scottish opinion, Northern Irish opinion, opinion dare I say it in London either.” Clegg, who has a Spanish wife, added that the Rock must be “very ferocious and uncharacteristically uncompromising in your demands of London.”
Brief By Charles Gomez Charles Gomez is away
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partner,” Rajoy added. He went on to say that Britain’s divorce should inspire the EU to be ‘more cohesive, more effective in its decision-making and with better political ambition.’ The PP leader added that elections in France and Germany this year will be ‘decisive’. He said: “Spain… hopes that its two biggest partners will maintain their pro-EU vocation and their determination to push forward a project which despite all its imperfections is the best political initiative the world has seen in centuries – the EU project.”
UK supreme THERESA MAY confirmed that devolved administrations will not play a decisive role in Brexit before meeting with leaders from across the UK. The prime minister said that they will ‘not agree on everything’ but that she hoped the meeting would be ‘constructive’. “We will not agree on everything, but that doesn't mean we will shy away from the necessary conversations and I hope we will have further constructive discussions,” May said. “We have also had the Supreme Court judgment which made clear beyond doubt that relations with the EU are a matter for the UK Government and UK Parliament. “We should not forget that that means MPs representing every community in the UK will be fully involved in the passage of Article 50 through Parliament.”
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February 1st - February 14th 2017 January 4th - January 17th 2017
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Gibraltarian food cookbook is still a big hit for locals and tourists alike
Wake up and smell the coffee A COFFEE giant has denied that it has plans to open in Gibraltar. Starbucks has officially confirmed that it has ‘no news to share’, following rumours that plans were afoot. The response comes after a suggestion on the Speak Freely Facebook page that a branch may open in the World Trade Center complex. “We have no news to share regarding a store opening in Gibraltar”, said a spokeswoman for Starbucks. Many of those who commented on the Facebook post voiced their opposition to a Starbucks opening. Christopher Nunez said: “These places kill the atmosphere of local coffee shops all around the world. We have great coffee shops here and next to us in Spain.”
A BOOK celebrating the Rock’s rich cuisine is flying off the shelves. Mama Lotties-Gibraltarian Inspired Recipes is still continually having to be restocked both in Gibraltar’s shops and online more than two years on from its release. Packed with 76 recipes that celebrate the terri-
Feb 1st - Feb 14th 2017
Cooking up a storm
Breaking bread
TALK croissants and contracts at a new business over breakfast event for women. All business women on the rock have been invited to attend the Women in Business Gibraltar networking session at O’Callaghan Elliott Hotel on February 9. Taking place from 9 to 10am, it will also be an opportunity for prospective members to find out more about the association while enjoying a morning meal including fresh pastries and fruit. To register, email jennifers@gibtelecom.net
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tory’s rich and diverse hisflour-based calentita are tory, it has proven to be a just some of the recipes big hit with both locals and that feature in the book. tourists alike. “The main comments I get The book is the brainchild are that the recipes are of top local chef Justin simple to make and most Bautista, who of the ingredilooked to his ents are already grandma’s dishin the cupes for inspiraboard, or that tion. they bring back “The book has great memobeen a success ries of people’s and continues to childhoods”, sell, both locally said Bautista. and internation“I think the ally,” he said. nostalgic fac“It’s sold a few tor has played thousand copies a big part here, and continues to many of the be bought by lomid and older cals and tourists, generations which is great. don’t want to “I keep restock- SUCCESS: Bautista lose the recipes ing the shops aland have purmost monthly.” chased them to pass them Comfort food pasta favouto their children, to have in rites timpana and macarotheir new homes or to take ni cheese and the chickpea to university.”
FEAST: Eastern promise
Tongue Thai’d TRAVEL south east Asia in just one night at an upcoming food and wine pairing event. Chef Shaun Zammitt has promised to take hungry diners on a whirlwind gastronomic tour of Bali, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia at his pop-up event at My Wines Gibraltar on The Strip.
Delicious
Comprising of four courses, he hopes to use the meal to showcase local delicacies and cooking techniques that he discovered in the region while on his honeymoon. Wines will be paired for each dish by My Wines. Ticket prices have not yet been announced but bookings can be made by calling 350 200 69463.
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FTER an overdose of food, family and festivities over Christmas and the New Year, there was nothing I wanted more than to hibernate for the entire month of January, to allow my liver, waistline and bank balance to recover. Unfortunately, this fantasy was scuppered only a week into the year as my son turned to me one morning and asked, ‘What are we doing for my birthday party, mama?’ The monkey’s birthday is slapbang in the middle of January, which writes off any chance of one of those fabulous Marbella beach bashes, wild pool parties or water park outings that his summer birthday friends throw each year, so I conceded that a shindig at one of the indoor play parks might be the safest bet, ‘as you can never be too sure about the weather in January’, I told him. The child scrunched up his face and took my hand. “All I want for my birthday is a football match,” he explained. “I’ll invite all my friends to a park, and we’ll have two teams, and a referee and picnics and cake... And no adults,” he added. I suddenly had visions of 30 hyperactive eight -to-nine-year olds, high on sweets and fizzy drinks, running feral around Nueva Andalucia like The Lost Boys in Neverland, or worse - a
Columnists
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February 1st - February 14th 2017 Feb 1st - Feb 14th 2017
Sunshine, good times, boogie!
Marbella diaries
By Natalie Rose Kern
BIRTH BASH: No adults allowed scene from Lord of the Flies! “You can have a football match,” I finally agreed. “But we’ll have it in the garden, so that everyone can come inside
if it starts to rain,” I reasoned, relieved that I could blame the weather as I thwarted his whimsical boyish dreams of bedlam with a sensible solution.
The White Stuff
The whole class was invited... and friends from football...and neighbours...and their brothers and sisters, until it seemed that half the neighbourhood was going to be attending the ‘football match’ and for a brief moment I panicked that, God forbid it should actually rain, we’d never fit all of them into the house! On the morning of the party, my fears evaporated as brilliant sunshine beamed through the windows of the kitchen where my little team of helpers worked away furiously, making sandwiches, blowing up balloons, dicing, slicing, chopping and mopping in anticipation of the impending chaos. The next four hours was a blur of smiling faces, screaming children, music, madness and orchestrated mayhem as I directed games of musical statues and pass the parcel between goals, penalties and cake.
Powder can send even the most respectable folk crazy
W
hen I was a small boy growing up in the wilds of Staffordshire, it al- ally see my breath – and normally my breath ways seemed to snow on my birth- isn’t that bad. Coffee in hand, I wandered out onto the terrace and was amazed to see La day in January. Seeing as we lived in a house that was ac- Concha, Marbella’s emblematic mountain, cessible only by country roads, the fact that blanketed in white. Not just a few faint flakes the route between me and my prep school but proper alpine stuff. A quick recce up the was covered in a thick white blanket would track a little later revealed that the snow lay normally have meant that I would be granted only a few hundred feet above the Istan road, a few days off school, so that I could get on and was the heaviest fall since the 50s. with the serious business of setting up my Friends in Coin and Benahavis had posted photos of gardens covered in snow and in Scalextric. Ronda they were wanMy plans for a day of dering around mutslot car action, howtering about White ever, were more often Walkers and ‘winter is than not scuppered by coming’. The Refugio my dad. Having raced de Juanar was jamat Le Mans, competed packed with parents at the ‘green hell’ of and children building the Nurburgring and snowmen and having driven in the World snowball fights, while Cup Rally from London the disaffected youth to Mexico, the matter of San Pedro made of a few snowflakes their annual pilgrimwasn’t going to put age up to Ronda, built him off. With steely a snowman on the professionalism and bonnet of their Seat great skill, he would Leons and then raced strap me into the back at breakneck speed of the car and we’d set back down the the off, picking up a few coast, to try and arrive more small boys who with said snowman had the bad luck to SNOW-CAPPED: La Concha still intact. They make live on our route. He’d their own fun in San deliver us safely to the school gates and then Pedro... would be back for a second lap at 4 o’clock. I was never very popular with the other boys Personally I thought the only sensible thing to do to celebrate my birthday was to go for an in January... When I moved to Spain, however, I aban- impromptu dip in the (bloody freezing) waters doned the idea of ever seeing snow on my of the Istan lake. And in the split second before I hit the water and my screams echoed birthday. Until this year. I woke with the usual mid life crisis feeling down the valley, I reflected to myself as I of impending doom anyone in their very late glanced up at the snow-covered La Concha: ‘I 40s will identify with. As I stumbled blearily know I wanted something white and powdery into the kitchen I noticed that I could actu- for my birthday, but this is ridiculous.’
The party was a resounding success and, as I emerged exhausted from the kitchen at the end of the afternoon, a wide grin stretched across my face as I witnessed all of the parents bopping enthusiastically on the grassy dance floor and wobbling about in the late afternoon sun as they joined in a game of musical statues. Cake was cut, wishes were wished and both adults and children whooped it up until darkness and exhaustion prevailed. As I tucked the monkey in that night, we relived the afternoon’s adventures. “Thanks for a great party, mama,” he whispered, “but I knew it wasn’t going to rain. It never does on my birthday.” I kissed his forehead, “You never know, my love,” I murmured, “you just never know.” Three days later we awoke to freezing temperatures and, as we rounded a corner on the school run, the majestic La Concha Mountain loomed over us, its snowy cap glistening in the morning light. Snow had fallen overnight and had hit the coast with the heaviest snowfall in decades. “I didn’t know it could snow in Marbella,” the monkey exclaimed, elated, and I gazed up at La Concha and smiled. As with everything else in Marbella, you just never know ...
-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views
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Sport
+TheolivepressEs Olympic talk BE ‘APPY!
Natural pride
THE possibility of a world cup match being played at Victoria Stadium has been knocked by a diary clash with Gibraltar Calling. Formerly known as the Gibraltar Music Festival, the MTV-backed event is scheduled to be held in the Victoria stadium on September 2 and 3. A match between Gibraltar and Bosnia
Gibraltar hosts its first-ever international futsal match
Dream come true
Promotion
Aiming high YOUNG footballers could stand a fighting chance in upcoming UEFA qualifying matches. Gibraltar’s team will face the likes of Macedonia and Armenia in the group stage, which will kick off from March. Altogether, the Rock’s players will face six teams in their attempt to secure a place in the 2019 UEFA Under 21’s cup. These also include Russia, Austria and Serbia. Gibraltar’s first game will take place against Austria on June 8, with a home match scheduled against Armenia on June 13.
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Double-booked BLOW
The talented sportswoman will talk for 15 minutes on her love of the discipline and how she got involved THE Rock’s national futsal in it after moving from team described their first Welwyn Garden City Press to the ever competitive match on The Olive Rock. home turf as a ‘childhood As well in dream come true’. TOP as forappearing news in Spain! the Olympics, Cassar also Gibraltar took on Montenedid Gibraltar proud when gro at the Tercentary Sports she represented the terri- Hall but were handed a tory at the Commonwealth heavy 1-8 defeat. Games in Delhi in 2010. Speaking before the match, forward Lee Buhagiar said: “These are the moments we dream of as a kid… regardless of the outcome, it will be my career highlight, I just hope the Gibraltarian crowd leaves the stadium proud of our performance.”
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AN OLYMPIC gymnast is to reveal the story behind her rise to fame at an upcoming speaking event. Georgina Cassar, 23, who competed for Great BritDownload our app now and ain in the 2012 London gamesbegin will be one of Spanish the enjoying the best main news speakers at GibTalks on the go. on February 11.
February 1st - February 14th 2017
Secretary of the Gibraltar Futsal division Karl Zarb said the match was ‘extremely important in promoting the sport and increasing awareness and participation.’ “Expectations locally are always going to be high but realistically we have to un-
FIRST MATCH: Gib Futsal
derstand that Montenegro is very strong and experienced and ranked much
higher than us,” he said, “Therefore we have a very tough match ahead.”
Off the bench GIBRALTAR keeper Jamie Robba has left Torquay United in search of more game time with St Josephs FC. As reserve keeper, the international player did not make it off the bench for a single Torquay game this season. “I don’t want to stand in his way” said Gulls boss Kevin Nicholson, admitting that Robba’s lack of game time had been “hurting his international chances”. Robba’s contract has now been cancelled by mutual consent, and he is is set to return to Gibraltar in the hope of cementing his place in the national side. The 25-year-old will replace Jordan Perez as keeper for St Josephs FC.
Herzegovina was also due to be held at the stadium on September 3, but may now have to be played in Portugal instead. A spokesman for the government said that the GFA “were made aware at a very early stage” that the stadium would not be available on this date, and that the festival was “of enormous international commercial and reputational value to Gibraltar.”
Back in the saddle
ONE of the world’s toughest cycling races is coming back to Andalucia this year. Almost one quarter of the brutal 3297.7km long La Vuelta will take place between August 30 and September 3 in the region, which was entirely missed off the contest’s route last year. Coin and Motril are among the starting locations for the five gruelling Andaluz stages, which will also pass through the cities of Malaga, Sevilla and Granada and the mountains. The thrilling 21-stage race will this year start in Nimes in south France on August 19 before making its way down the eastern coast of Spain. It will hit Andalucia on August 30, when over 200 cyTWO British sprinters clists will ride from Lorca have been rushed home af- stage.
Lucky escape
ter a life-threatening crash last week. James Ellington and Nigel Levine were at a training camp in Tenerife when their motorbike was hit by a car driving on the wrong side of the road. Both sustained pelvic injuries, and Ellington also suffered a broken tibia and fibula and a facial fracture. In an Instagram message after the accident Ellington said: “I do not know how me or my training partner Nigel are still alive.” The two were flown back to the UK for admission to hospital in London, and a British Athletics spokesman has confirmed that they are both now conscious and stable. Both athletes will miss the 2017 season, and there are doubts as to whether either of the men will be able to compete again.
If you have a sports story, contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575
ROUTE MAP: La Vuelta
They will set off from Motril the following day to Antequera’s dolmenes before tackling Andalucia’s longest leg at 197km from Coin to Sevilla on September 1. The two toughest tests will be from Ecija to Sierra de la Pandara and Alcala la Real to Alto Hoya de la Mora in the Sierra Nevada, when riders will climb up to 1,675m. They will then fly to the Pyrenees before heading to Madrid for the final stage on September 10.
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Gibraltar Arc
FINAL WORDS
A TEAM of Andalucian scientists has reconstructed for the first time what Gibraltar looked like nine million years ago, proving that its shape has changed completely.
Action stations CHARITIES will join forces to host a bumper cancer awareness day. Eight good causes will host activities and give out information at the Piazza on February 4.
Chilly dip MISS Gibraltar Kayley Mifsud joined local Stuart Felice for a swim in the sea last week, supporting him in his goal to fundraise for cancer research with a dip a day for a year.
Vol. 3 Issue 37
Rock’s new man in New York posted photo at Women´s March in Big Apple EXCLUSIVE by Joe Duggan
GIBRALTAR’S new man in the US David Guerrero Liston has told the Olive Press he ‘was not marching against the Trump administration’ at a recent Women’s March. Liston posted a Facebook photo of himself at the New York City protest days before his new role was announced. Up to five million people across the globe took part in the marches, say organisers, which this year were widely seen as having a strong anti-Donald Trump agenda. But Liston told the Olive Press he was there ‘to express my support for many people’. Liston said: “Gibraltar and the US have a proud tradition of embracing diversity, welcoming people from other countries, and protecting the rights of individuals.
Long lives the Queen
www.gibraltarolivepress.com Feb 1st - Feb 14th 2017
THE Queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee. February 6 will mark 65 years since Queen Elizabeth II was ordained. She already became the longest-reigning monarch in British history in 2015 when she overtook Queen Victoria’s record of 63 years. Large-scale celebrations are more likely be reserved for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 – although any events will take into account that the Queen is due to turn 96 that year.
Trump card
“I was not marching against the Trump administration, with which I enjoy excellent relations, but in favour of the rights of my fellow Americans.”
He added: “I was also carrying on a proud tradition in the US, which is free expression, and the notion that one need not agree with everything the government does to still be a patriot. “Above all, “I was marching in my individual capacity and certainly not in my official capacity as Gibraltar’s representative in the US.” Liston can be seen (above) holding an American Civil Lib-
erties Union (ACLU) banner, which has raised more than £19 million to fight Trump’s executive order restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The current leader of the Gibraltar-America Council, Liston’s grandparents emigrated from Gibraltar to the US in the 1920s, and he is replacing the retired Joe Carseni. “My grandparents travelled over the ocean from Gibraltar to start a new life in America but their hearts were always home in Gibraltar, where my heart is as well”, said Liston, who is also a partner at a New York law firm. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, welcomed Liston, saying: “David is already well versed on the positive issues that Gibraltar needs to project in the United States and I am certain that he will serve as a bridge to further cement cultural, heritage, commercial and political ties between our two countries.”
Ocean Spa Plaza · Ocean Village Completion Early 2018 Superb Two Bedroom Apartment · £ 525,000
Internal area approx. 86 sq m External Terrace area approx. 40 sq m Set in Gibraltar’s famous Ocean Village Marina, with its bars, restaurants, 5* hotel and forthcoming World Trade Center, Ocean Spa Plaza is a haven of high end luxury accommodation, with hydro and thalassotherapy spa, lush tropical gardens creating a revitalizing retreat. For more information contact our Sales Team
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A CONFECTIONER has raised over £1,000 in a charity baking challenge. Talented Charles Harrison earned £1150 for Cancer Relief after locking himself in his kitchen over the Christmas period to make hundreds of pan dulces. He sold the goodies all the rock before giving the money to the Gibraltar-based charity, which provides free support to cancer sufferers on the Rock. Thanking him for his work, Deborah Huxley of the centre said: “We can also confidently say that they were absolutely delicious judging by the sample batch we were lucky enough to have at the Centre. “Thank you so much Charles for the hard slog in the kitchen, you have really brightened up our January, we promise all your hard work will be put to good use in the coming year.”
Chess achievement
Food for all
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Sweet success
A BIG-HEARTED teen has praised the generosity of Gibraltarians in a charity food drive. Nicole Britto of Westside School was overwhelmed with the amount of products people donated to help Nazareth House, the Rock’s soup kitchen, feed those in need. She collected dozens of bags over the Christmas period after posting a request on Facebook for donations. The charity will now use the food to make meals at its Hospital Hill venue. “I thought that collecting donations would be a good thing to do”, said Nicole, 18. “I would like to thank everyone who helped to get the word out or donated. “I’d also like to specially thank the ladies in the kitchen who devote their time to making the food. “Together we can all help to make a difference.” The soup kitchen provides food, clothing and showers for those in need.
GOVERNOR Edward Davis has praised the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival as a 'remarkable achievement'. The Caleta Hotel event attracted over 250 players from over 60 countries, including some of the world's top players. The chess festival, which is in its 15th year and climaxes on Wednesday, has been called 'one of the strongest in the world' by the Financial Times. Davis told competitors: "I would like to salute you all, your ability on the boards and also your loyalty to this competition. "If it was not for you, it would not happen. Keep coming back and I wish you all the best of luck in the competition and in your matches." He also praised Brian Callaghan, who helped to organised the first festival 15 years ago. "Brian had an idea, he had a vision, he was bold, innovative, and it has been a great success," said Davis.