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Vol. 1 Issue 15 www.theolivepress.es November 9th - November 22nd 2017
Govt in exile
What do Fatboy Slim, director Paul Haggis, John Travolta, Dean Norris and Pilou Asbaek have in common? They’ve all had links to the Balearics this week find out why inside
CATALUNYA’S beleaguered leader has vowed to fight on from abroad. It came after Carles Puigdemont handed himself in to Belgian police when a European arrest warrant was issued. He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust. A judge in Belgium now has up to two weeks to decide if they will extradite the group to Spain.
Fight Given the whole extradition process can take up to 60 days, it means he may have to run his entire election campaign for the Catalan European Democratic Party from Belgium. His party wants him to fight for continued leadership of the regional parliament in the December 21 elections. Puigdemont denied he had fled to Brussels to avoid justice but that he left because the Spanish government was preparing a ‘wave of oppression and violence’ against separatists. “I’m absolutely convinced that the state was preparing a harsh wave of repression for which we would have all been held responsible,” he said yesterday. “The Spanish state is committing a brutal repression… if we don’t battle repression together, the Spanish state may win this fight.” In a show of support to the deposed president, around 200 Catalan pro-independence mayors travelled to Brussels on Tuesday to stage a rally.
Should have legged it
Expats who lost millions rage at ‘unauthorised’ deals involving ‘worrying’ signing of blank sheets EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan
Pension peril
BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million in a failed pension advisory firm believe their signatures may have been photocopied onto investment documents. Around 300 Brits, most living in Spain, are battling to retrieve their funds after Alicante-based firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM) folded in September, as first reported in the Olive Press a month ago. Boss Darren Kirby left for Australia following the closure of the company’s main Javea offices. Victims, who are spread across Spain, as well as in Ibiza, Mallorca, Portugal, France and Turkey, fear illegal practices after being asked to sign blank dealing instructions. Their pension pots were then invested in high-risk assets which promised to pay out large commissions. One 69-year-old pensioner told the Olive Press he lost €210,000 after transferring €470,000 despite stating he had a ‘low to medium aversion BOSS: Kirby now in Australia to risk’ attitude to investment. “I was asked, ‘Can you sign this he said. blank form. We will fill in the “They should have been looking Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 15:36 details.’ I did that trusting they out for me but they were just would act in my best interests,” feathering their own nests. To
me they knew what they were doing.” He added: “I believe some of the investments were made without my knowledge. I think that is the case because I do not recall signing sheets for all the investments I had.” An email, seen by the Olive Press, shows CWM asking a client to sign and return a blank dealing instruction. Another British expat, 55, who is trying to recover around €200,000, said some pensioners ‘have lost everything’. “My paper work that I sent has been altered, my risk level was changed from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ and my dealing instructions have been photocopied repeatedly for buying and selling assets I didn’t authorise,” he said. “I still have some money left and I am still young enough to get compensation, but my fund
SPECIALIZING IN: CRIMINAL LAW CIVIL LAW BANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) FAMILY LAW
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M
Y
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MY
A PALMA thief is facing 18 months in jail for stealingCY a leg of ham. Prosecutors are requesting CMY the lengthy term for taking the eight kilogram leg of 'CinK co Jotas' ¡ jamon from a shop in the capital. The Iberico ham is valued at €685, and has yet to be recovered.
Find out more on page XX 8
e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es mobile number: 636 307 533 WWW.DEMICCO.CH
rying’. “This negates the very essence of the service they are meant to offer,” said Flores. “It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever. “If standard practice, this is very worrying. has gone down by half and I “Signing blank documents need compensation to get it would be seen back on track. as irregular in a “But some people court of law. The have lost everyproblem with thing and don’t these firms is that have enough to they were all inlive on. One rePENSION vesting in highly tired victim only investments has €50,000 left OUTRAGE risky without the clifrom €480,000.” ents knowing.” Andalucia-based He claimed that lawyer Antonio losses sustained Flores, whose by investors firm Lawbird would hopefully are representbe recoverable ing some CWM as the investments that failed victims, said signing blank into perform, or went bust, were vestment sheets was ‘very worlinked to life insurance policies. Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar are now attempting to recoup CMW clients’ losses. The Olive Press has so far been unable to discover if CWM was registered to provide investment advice with Spain’s official financial regulator CNMV. New quality homes since 1958
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Vol. 1 Issue 13 www.theolivepress.es October 12th - October 26th 2017
As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus
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SPAIN’S prime minister has accused Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing a declaration of independence. Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really declared independence following Tuesday’s nail biting address to the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted he could trigger Article 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalunya is going through - to
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Who’s paying us? EXCLUSIVE
Expats lose millions in life savings through
CONFUSION reigns over who failed should foot the bill for Mallorca investment national and Momentum Penhotels hit by the collapse of airsions. scheme line Monarch. “People are terribly disBalearic hotels are facing a tressed,” Granada-based EXCLUSIVE €10million bill over the colBrooks told the Olive Press. By Joe Duggan lapse that saw the emergency “They have lost large amounts repatriation of over 110,000 of their retirement savings.” back to the UK, many from HUNDREDS of British expats She added: “Some of these are battling to retrieve their Palma. people are going to end up Administrator KPMG told the pensions after losing up to back in Britain on benefits.” Olive Press ‘the debt owed by £20 million in a failed pension “I have nothing but praise for OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby and Monarch to hoteliers will rank investment scheme. (above) team at March Tony Barnett [Trafalgar MD] as an unsecured claim’ against Spanish-based financial advicharity bash and Stewart Davies [Momensory firm Continental Wealth the defunct airline. One Marbella-based tum chef executive]. They expat remain anonymous. “They will have to file a claim to Management (CWM) folded told the Olive Press It is believed at least 300 of have been he sunk “The adviser kept telling magnificent the joint administrators for all last month obliterating many £59,000 through me, CWM’s 900 clients have had ing to recoup people’s in trymoney.” the money they are owed,” said heartbroken Brits’ life savings. realising he had CWM, only ‘This is guaranteed, it can’t go their pension pots decimated, The Olive lost £39,000 below a certain level’.” Press understands it Many of them had transferred a spokesman. with victims shocked to later when his pension trustees sent His money, and that of others discover “It has not been determined their private UK pensions a statement. the value across Spain and France, was vestments had of their in(yet) how much money will be through the company, whose “I couldn’t believe plummeted it. I have put into high-risk ‘professionboss Darren Untitled-1.pdf Kirby has now1 al- 16/06/2017 available to creditors.” dramatically. lost thousands 15:36 of pounds,” legedly moved to Australia. revealed the victim, asking to al investor only’ assets, it has However, a source close to been claimed. the case insisted: ‘There are still many customers who are is highly happy with their pension port- may be possible legal action taken by some parties folio.’ against CWM, based out of Andalucia-based tax specialist headquarters SPECIALIZING IN: Angie Brooks, a leading expert its executives. in Alicante, and C on pension liberation schemes Both the CRIMINAL LAW office in Javea and and the founder of Pension the website M Life, has now launched a fight The group have recently shut. CIVIL LAW to help get victims’ money ebrating were pictured celat a charity ball as reBANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) Y back. cently She is working alongside pen- When as March this year. CM FAMILY LAW sion trustees Trafalgar Inter- to bossthe Olive Press spoke Kirby he ‘definitively’ denied responsibility over the MY crash. “I have lost my world,” CY he said. A close associate of Kirby’s CMY said former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. K “It is still quite raw for them, and they are working out what e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es to do next,” he said. mobile number: 636
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crime
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Tourist thrown into sea after attack
But the king of the night has been transferred back to Palma
A BRITISH tourist was thrown into the sea after a gang of robbers attacked him in Palma. He was left badly bleeding from a head wound and had to be rescued from the sea by tourists. The victim and his friend, both aged around 25, were confronted by two men and three women at around 5am. The group kicked and punched the pair before hurling the Brit into the water. The five assailants were allegedly trying to steal a wallet and that some of the group filmed the assault on their phones.
CRIME lynchpin Tolo Cursach is being transferred back to prison in Palma… but he won’t get bail. It comes after the judge in his corruption case ruled that the ‘king of the night’ was a big flight risk. He also insisted the nightclub boss could also put the safety of various witnesses in danger. The Judge added that various witnesses, including civil servants and police were in his payroll and said he had sufficient financial resources to flee. Cursach's family and lawyers have been arguing for bail due
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
No bail for Cursach to health reasons. It comes after one protected witness in the case claimed police offered her money to leave Spain. The witness, formerly a madame at a brothel, has testified that Cursach paid for orgies with prostitutes for high-ranking Mallorca politicians. She claims two National Police officers came to her home in
September and asked for her passport. The reason for the visit was ‘to give me airline tickets and money to leave Spain to not testify in the Cursach case’. She added that she was later approached by two other officers following a job interview. One officer verbally threatened her, she says, tell-
Olive Press helps in new Maddie doc THE Olive Press has been drafted in to work on an in-depth documentary series on the Maddie McCann mystery. The paper is helping piece together the case of the missing three-year-old who vanished in Portugal in May, 2007. The eight-part Netflix series is being made over two months between Portugal, Spain and the UK. Olive Press editor Jon Clarke was the first British journalist to arrive on the scene following the disappearance of Madeleine from Praia da Luz. He spent the first two days meeting the McCanns and various members of their holiday group, as well as initial suspect Robert Murat and detectives.
RETURN: Jon Clarke (right) back in Praia da Luz Over four separate visits to the Algarve surrounding the case, with various storesort he worked on numerous leads ries published in the British national
press, as well as the Olive Press. Last week, he revisited the resort for the first time in ten years spending two days with the team going through various locations and theories. The series will look at claimed sightings of Maddie in Spain and Morocco, as well as claims that the family were involved. Its director Carl Hindmarch has previously made documentaries on the London 7/7 bombings and the Somme. The definitive programme follows on the heels of successful true crime dramas on Netflix, including Making a Murderer and the death of British student Meredith Kercher in Italy.
ing her she was ‘in a circle she doesn’t know how to get out of and it will cost her a lot’. Cursach, who faces 15 charges including homicide and corruption, vowed to ‘destroy’ rivals in any way possible. The owner of nightclubs, including Titos and BCM, paid a witness 3,000 euros to lodge complaints with the police and town hall about noise from rival club Level.
Wipe the floor clean A PALMA resident has called in police after he was beaten up by a pair of road sweepers. He insists he was assaulted by the EMAYA employees after he complained about early-morning noise outside his flat. He claims he was pushed to the ground and kicked in the row. “One of them took out an iron bar from his truck and threatened me,” he claimed in a police statement seen by the Olive Press. Cops are probing the case.
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Bad break
THE ‘nasty’ girls are on their way home having finished filming in Mallorca. Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson have wrapped the movie Nasty Women, a remake of the Michael Caine and Steve Martin classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Australian actress Wilson said goodbye to the island with a series of videos on social media, one in which she and her co-stars jump into a swimming pool fully clothed. “It’s so awesome to film here and I’m going to miss this
ne ws
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
Video Nasty
place,” said Wilson. In another she posted a photo alongside Mallorca tennis legend Rafa Nadal and in another she praised the film crew.
Hathaway directed the film which is about con artists - one working class, one middle class - who compete to defraud a naive new tech billionaire.
ON SET: Dean Norris HE’S used to forensic crime investigations and snaring drug clans. So it was a welcome break for Dean Norris to simply lie back and chill out while filming for a new movie in Spain. The Breaking Bad star posted a selfie video on Twitter showing himself on his hotel balcony, in Mallorca, looking down on the set. Famous for his role as DEA agent Hank Schrader on the hit drug-dealing series, the American actor has been on the island for a few weeks for the unknown film. Currently he is seen on two hit US TV shows, Claws and Scandal, with a recurring role on the global hit The Big Bang Theory. The week before filming in Mallorca, Dean and the crew were in London for more filming.
SLUMMING IT: Madonna on Portugal flight
Material girl no more
LEGENDARY pop star Madonna shocked holidaymakers as she chose to fly to Portugal in economy class. Madge - who is worth an estimated £438 million - was spotted on the TAP Air Portugal flight from London to Lisbon. The superstar was wearing jogging bottoms and trainers, a far cry from her usual glamorous image. Madonna was flying out of London after visiting her son Rocco, who lives in the capital with her ex-husband, film director Guy Ritchie. The American star splits her time between the United States and London, as well as Portugal after her son David recently signed to the Benfica football team’s youth academy in Lisbon.
pedestal Game of Thrones star back on favourite island
HOME: For Pilou Asbaek
Mallorca is my second home, I discovered Mallorca at the end of the 80s, with my parents, on vacation, they were looking for the most beautiful place in the world to offer it to artists. My relationship with Mallorca is one of absolute love. When you know the Balearics you want to bring film productions to that island,
especially because of its light and because it does not rain. The greatest pleasures of this life, besides my wife and my children, is to bring people to this island. When I retire I would like to live in Mallorca. Of course I'll have to find a good property for it.”
Real Madrid midfielder Isco appears to have scored yet another goal this year after being spotted out with Spanish actress Sara Salamo. The player is believed to be dating Salamo after they were seen enjoying a play at the Canal Theatre in Madrid. Isco has had a stellar season so far, scoring five goals in Spain’s successful World Cup qualification campaign and becoming the first Malagueño in history to be shortlisted for football’s prestigious Ballon d’Or. He also signed a new contact with Real Madrid this August, which sees him pocketing £105,000-aweek. The contact also includes a phenomenal £634 million release clause.
-Pilou Asbaek earlier this year on Mallorca
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THE first official solo portrait of the future Queen of Spain has been released to mark her 12th birthday. When she eventually takes the throne, Princess Leonor will be Spain’s first queen since 1833.
SPLASH: Anne and Rebel jump into Mallorca pool
Back of the net
Pilou on a
GAME of Thrones star Pilou Asbaek has been back in Mallorca, accepting an award at the Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival. The Danish actor, known for his role as Euron Greyjoy in the HBO smash hit, collected the award at the closing ceremony. Asbaek, whose family live on the island, was awarded the prize for being ‘one of the most promising and influential’ actors and for being a ‘trendsetter’. His parents run a cultural centre in Andratx and earlier this year the island made Pilou the face or a new initiative to strengthen tourist and trade relations with Nordic countries. “We want Pilou to be the image of the other Mallorca, the mountains and rural areas; those values that go beyond the sun and the beach,” said Miquel Ensenyat, President of the Consell of Mallorca at the time.
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Growth warning THE Catalan crisis could see Spain’s economic forecast slashed by 60%, bank chiefs have warned. Bank of Spain bosses also believe fears over independence for the region may send Catalunya into recession. The worse-case scenario would cut €27 billion from Spain’s economic growth over the next two years, the bank said in its November report. A ‘severe and prolonged’ crisis would cut 2.5% from Spanish GDP by 2019. There are ‘significant risks and economic costs’ to the Catalan crisis, the bank warned.
Arms auction IT is an arsenal that puts the English football team’s striking power to shame… although that’s not difficult. In the largest gun auction the Balearics have ever seen 1,717 confiscated guns were put up for sale. The auction had silent bids from a range of local businessmen and companies.
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
Spain is one of the least committed to fighting global warming as globe reaches ‘point of no return’
Poseidon adventure
THE UN has warned ‘not nearly enough’ is being done to cut greenhouse gas emissions across the world. Spain, in particular, is well behind in its actions to help stave off a critical two degree safety limit rise put in place by the 2015 Paris agreement.
Rising
Once this rise has been reached scientists claim the globe reaches a ‘point of no return’ and damage is irreversible. But while the EU has committed to a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, Spain is not doing enough. It currently ranks at 21st out of the 28 countries of Europe in its policies to combat climate change. However, the UN has collectively criticised all governments for not doing enough. “A year after the Paris agree-
Time bomb
ment came into force, we still find ourselves in a situation where we are not doing nearly enough to save hundreds of millions of people from a miserable future,” said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment. The annual review, which started in 2010, said pledges cover
Natural gas for all NATURAL gas will soon be available across the whole of Mallorca. According to energy minister Marc Pons the three gas lines already in place make it possible to cover the entire island with natural supply lines.
A HUGE chunk of money from the controversial tourist tax is to be spent on replenishing the Balearics’ underwater posidonia plant. Around one million euros has been put aside to protect the plant (below) that is a vital component of the fragile marine ecosystem. With around 5% of the marine plant’s area being eroded each year, holidaymakers will be helping Mallorca’s marine life. There are around 7,333 posidonia meadows in the Balearics, with most less than a hectare in size. “We have to make an effort to protect them,” said environment minister Vicenc Vidal. “The plant is a key concern of our legislature because of its ecological role and by capturing CO2.”
only one-third of the cuts needed by 2030 to keep levels below those in 2005. However it is not all bad as the report found that carbon dioxide emissions had remained steady since 2014. The UN says that solar, wind, efficient appliances, planting more trees, and preventing deforestation would plug the gap. The emissions gap does not cover the consequences of a US withdrawal from the accord and should that happen the picture will become bleaker. In terms of ranking Sweden is the current European leader in cutting emissions, while the UK comes in fifth.
Tourist tip THE tourism tax is to be used to fund a trio of new marine reserves on the Balearics. Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will each create a new sanctuary for sea life, adding to the eight marine reserves already found on the islands. The initiative will create four more employees and five new boats for the reserves.
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We understand that such problems are hard to deal with by an individual, but with help in numbers it is possible. Anyone who walks through our doors will be granted full confidentiality/anonymity and will never be asked to disclose any information about themselves they do not wish, and nothing will be recorded or held on any database.
Contact: info@alanomallorca.com tel: +34 66 999 6975 / +34 871 032 689 Plaça del Progrés, 11b, 07013 Palma de Mallorca Illes Balears, Spain
www.alanomallorca.com “We are not a treatment center nor a religious organisation we are simply a group of people who ourselves have found a solution to our addictions”
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Driven crazy Exclusive By Joe Duggan
A BRITISH holidaymaker has slammed rental firm Record Go after the Mallorca office overcharged him hundreds of euros for a broken door handle he did not break. The 62-year-old Londoner says he was quoted €114 to rent a Ford Fiesta during a four-day trip in October. But the property developer, who asked to remain anonymous, was shocked after returning to the UK and seeing an unexplained €225 charge on his credit card bill. “I knew the car door was slightly damaged when I picked it up, but I was too busy to raise the issue,” he told the Olive Press. “The last thing I was expecting was to be charged a week later.” Following the incident, he says he tried to contact the company to complain but ‘you can’t get through to anybody’. A spokesman for Record Go said: “Due to data protection laws we are not allowed to give information to third parties without authorisation.”
THE judge in the Manos Limpias (‘Clean Hands’) extortion case has completed his investigation into 14 suspects. A trial is now set to take place over the right-wing trade union and linked consumer rights’ group Ausbanc. The group is accused of fraud, extortion and threats and belonging to a criminal organization. They are suspected of using Manos Limpias to extort bankers and businessmen and claim money in exchange for withdrawing complaints filed against their companies. It is believed managers even tried to scam the Princess Infanta Cristina out of three million euros in return for withdrawing an accusation against her in the 'Nóos case'.
By Gillian Keller A BRITISH tourist who bit off part of a man’s ear has been fined €18,000 euros and handed a two year prison sentence. The 29-year-old threatened to kill his Spanish victim after attacking him in a Sant Llorenç des Cardassar bar in 2011. It came after the British thug had argued with his girlfriend and he turned on the man who was at an adjacent table. The assailant then launched
A GROUP of burglars have been rounded up for a string of Calvia robberies. The nine men were rounded up in raids last week following some 50 break-ins in hotels and apartments around Magaluf and Torrenova. It comes after a 24-year-old Albanian suspect was held over alleged burglaries in Calvia, Ibiza and Barcelona. It is claimed he used fake homemade key cards and electronic locks to enter victims’ rooms.
No jail for bite attack
himself at the 49-year-old victim ending up sinking his teeth into his left ear and leaving the man with part of his ear lobe on the pavement. Initial attempts to reconstruct the injured man’s ear using the chunk that was
bitten off were unsuccessful. The victim’s wounds took 60 days to heal and he was left suffering with depression and a mood disorder after being attacked. He later underwent plastic surgery.
Isle drink to that!
ILLEGAL Halloween goods worth more than €1.5 million have been seized in raids across Mallorca. Police uncovered 30,000 unsafe items, including costumes for children. The haul included 53 unauthorised fireworks and more than 5,000 fake bags and wallets.
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While trying to separate the two men, the bar owner was also assaulted and suffered injuries to one of fingers. The fine is to be paid to the victim, while the sentence is suspended, meaning the attacker will not go to prison.
Centre forward CIUDADANOS have gained ground among voter intentions in the wake of the Catalunya crisis. According to the latest quarterly poll from CIS, the political party, now has the backing of 17.5% of voters, three percentage points more than in the last survey. Far-left Podemos slipped from 20.3% to 18.5%. Meanwhile, the country's two main parties both lost some backers, with support for the centre-left PSoE dipping from 24.9% to 24.2% while the centre-right PP fell back from 28.8% to 28.0%. The poll was conducted among 2,487 people between October 2 and 11. Only 50.2% of Spaniards described the current economic situation as either ‘normal’ or ‘better’, while 33.8% described it as ‘bad’ and 15.1% as ‘very bad’.
exceptional
DAYS SEPTEMBER 16 - 24
Photo Michel Gibert, photograph used for reference only. Stone Sculpture museum of the Fondation Kubach-Wilmsen.
Halloween horror
A TOTAL of four Mallorca millionaires have made this year’s Forbes Rich list. Iberostar president Miquel Fluxà, president of Melia Hotels Gabriel Escarrer, the directors of Riu Hotels Carmen and Luis Riu and Globalia boss Juan Jose Hidalgo are on the list of 100 richest Spaniards. Billionaire Fluxà is the wealthiest Mallorquin with his estimated worth of €3.6 billion making him the fourth richest in Spain. Escarrer makes number 17 with a fortune of €1.6 billion thanks to an empire of 360 hotels in 35 countries. The Rius have to make do with €500 million while Hidalgo is worth around €400 million. The combined wealth of Spain’s 100-club grew by 2% in the last year to €158 billion.
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Magaluf mob held
Anything but clean
Attacker gets two-year suspended sentence for biting off local’s ear
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
Getting clean ALANO Mallorca is a non-profit organisation. Our aim is to assist those who have a desire to stop drinking, using drugs, or acting on behaviours which are having a negative impact on their lives and others. We understand that such problems are hard to deal with on your own, but with a network of support it is possible to handle even the most sensitive of issues. Talking and sharing with others who have similar life experiences can help to provide clarity and comfort. Hearing from those who have managed to find a new way of living can inspire hope and courage. Various 12 step groups run daily meetings, and these have proven to help millions around the world find a solution. These cost nothing, require no membership fees nor record any personal details.
Our facility and staff members offer a comfortable and sober environment to sit and relax away from the busy world. This is a great opportunity to take a breath, get your head around things and forward plan. Anyone who walks through our doors will be granted full confidentiality and anonymity and will never be asked to disclose any information about themselves. Nothing will ever be recorded or held on any database. The use of our facilities is via voluntary donation and we are open 7 days a week between 10am and 10pm We offer a variety of workshops including life coaching, meditation, yoga and fitness classes. NB. We are not a treatment/detox centre, we do not offer inpatient stays or medical advice/practices, please consult this with your doctor
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F e at u r e
www.theolivepress.es Mallorca’s original community newspaper
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.
OPINION Tipping point IT is clear that whoever signed off and actioned the CWM pension slips had no regard for the people who would ultimately lose thousands of pounds of life savings. These are mostly Brits who who have worked hard, putting away money for their retirement. They needed to see their investments safely grow, not punted on ‘high risk’ ventures for the sake of making a quick buck for the agents. Although the Olive Press is working hard to uncover and expose those responsible - and we vow to get to the bottom of this murky case there should be a legal framework in place so things like this never happen again. Heavy fines, even imprisonment, and certainly being banned from such activity for the rest of their lives would be a start. Expats are fundamental to the success of local economies in Spain and actions like these betray the very foundations to which people come here to live.
Come together What an incredible scene to see local people, including many expats, coming together to clean up our local beaches. Plastics and sewage not only ruin the environment but also seriously threaten wildlife. Events like the cleaning up of Can Pere Antoni bring a community together because they connect people who share the same values and aims. And who wants to see a dirty beach anyway? Our beaches need this sort of dedication especially since tourism numbers are creeping up year on year. Tourists aren’t going to go out of their way while on holiday so it falls on the residents to take pride in where they live. We salute you.
Depòsito Legal PM: 610-2017
Publisher/ Editor
Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es ADMIN
Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618
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Volunteers establish a beachhead to clean up Mallorca’s most polluted playa, writes Gillian Keller
S
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
Sand, sea and sanitary towels
UNDAY morning on Palma’s Can Pere Antoni, and the Dos Manos cleanup is underway. Dozens of volunteers, young and old, comb the beach for rubbish. Some of what they pluck from the sand is not for the fainthearted. “One little boy found some sanitary towels,” a volunteer says. “I didn’t even have the heart to tell him what it was.” This summer, Can Pere Antoni has been swamped with a fetid brew of pollutants. Raw sewage gushing into the sea, plastic, littering the beach and molten slags which - campaigners believe - leaked from building work at Palma Port have all contributed to the problem. The beach even lost its coveted blue flag as a result of the yukky detritus. Can Pere Antoni’s woes have spurred Australian environmentalist Brad Robertson into action. The diving instructor and founder of marine research group Asociación Ondine, put out the call for volunteers to clean up the beach. By 11am, some 150 pairs of willing hands were assembled. “We decided to do it at Can Pere Antoni because it’s one of the most polluted, filthy beaches on the whole Balearic Islands,” Brad tells the Olive Press. “The sewer system here in the Bay of Palma is a disaster and needs a massive upgrade. Every time it rains it gets bypassed so you have got the storm water and the sewage going into the same filtration system. Now when we get rain it goes straight in the sea. “That’s why if you are walking down the paseo on a rainy day and you look out onto TEAM EFFORT: For volunteers clearing up Can Pere Antoni beach the water you will see a nice big brown Areas (MPAs). These havens to replenish if we all do something positive, it is a big patch.” change. He added: “People need to realise that all marine ecosystems and fish stocks under “In the Balearic Islands and Mallorca there this sanitary waste that is coming through threat are created using rigorous scientific are traditional local markets and stalls. You our toilets - your toilets - shouldn’t be put data provided by Ondine’s expertise. So far, eight marine reserves and one madon’t need to go to the big supermarkets. in the toilet in the first place.” rine national park - less “If everybody on the Balearics went to local The Dos Manos clean-up, than 6% of the Balearic markets and took their reusable bags, the arranged after the summer waters - are now protected. reduction in our own plastic pollution that season crowds have deisland of Sa Dragonera we generate from our homes would be abparted, is just one facet of We have created The is the most recent addition. solutely massive. Brad’s environmental work our own unique But on dry land, the need “If we take a few steps backwards and emon the island. After gaining for action is no less pressbrace those traditions we are going to have his divemaster certificate type of plastic ing. And while today’s a massive change here on the islands. So in the Great Barrier Reef, clean-up has a practical Carrefour, take note!” pollution here Brad moved to Mallorca in purpose, the initiative is The burned plastics that have mottled Pal2009, setting up Ondine also about educating the ma’s shores this year are another mountEscape, a Mallorca-focused public. ing problem. outdoor holiday company. “To my understanding, it’s only in Mallorca With Asociación Ondine, Brad and the “People think that on an individual level we have burned plastic in the sea as a base team have worked alongside the Balearic they don’t have the power to change anyfor construction. We have created our own government to create Marine Protected thing. But our population is so large that unique type of plastic pollution here,” says Brad. During Sunday’s clean-up, some 900 kg of rubbish - including razor blades, syringes, cigarette butts and sanitary waste - was collected on a stretch of beach no more than 500 metres long by 30 metres wide. A haul of shame. This is despite local authorities getting wind of the Dos Manos clean up and, in a damage limitation exercise, dispatching a clean-up tractor the previous night. Nevertheless, it’s vital that locals, expats and local authorities work together. “We are not battling against the governPRESERVATION: Nearly a ment. These groups of people that come tonne of waste was cleatogether we see as a positive step forward red from the beach for the community to work together with the government to improve the Balearic Sea,” says Brad.
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Exclusive By Joe Duggan
Hollywood legend Paul Haggis talks Trump racism, sex scandals and the Catalan Crisis in an Olive Press exclusive direct from Mallorca’s film festival
OVIEMAKER Paul Haggis doesn’t shy away from controversial topics. In a glittering Hollywood career, the Oscar-winning screenwriter/ director has taken aim at racism (Crash), the Iraq War (In the Valley of Elah) and euthanasia (Million Dollar Baby). Going Clear, a 2015 documentary, dealt with his departure from the controversial cult of Scientology. More recently, he’s been squaring up to Donald Trump. Speaking on a sunny Palma Hotel Cort terrace the morning after receiving the inaugural Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival Vision (EMIFF) Award, the 64-yearold film veteran tells me: “When Crash first came out, a review said: ‘I’d like to say this film is relevant. But it’s not. Because we don’t have these problems any more’. “But ten years later, it’s even worse. Certainly Trump is really helping it come to the surface. He’s allowing us to see how truly racist our society is by championing those racists.” “Perhaps it’s good because we actually get to face what’s there rather than pretending it’s not, he adds. “That’s the only good thing you’ll ever hear me say about Trump.” Twelve years after Crash landed Academy Awards for Best Picture and Screenplay, it’s central theme of racial tension rages on in the US. Crash was revisited in a special LEGENDARY: Paul Haggis screening at EMIFF. But while Trump rides roughshod over all “But it took 30 years for this to come out. norms of presidential behaviour, Hollywood That tells you something about power. One continues to be convulsed by one of its gravthing that makes it particularly vile is that in est scandals. Allegations this case one was being asked against Harvey Weinstein to give up your integrity in orhave broadened from sexual der to get your dreams. While Trump harassment and assault to “To take that sacred dream rape. More than 60 women and defile it, it’s pretty fucked rides roughshod now claim the ex-Miramax up.” producer attacked them. over all norms The Canadian upped sticks for Haggis condemns WeinNew York after 40 years in LA, of presidential stein’s ‘vile behaviour’ as tired of the Hollywood movie ‘the lowest form of humanmonorail, and cuts a more behaviour ity’, but claims Hollywood ‘is unassuming figure today. no different than any place Dressed smart-casual in black else’. jeans and jacket, he’s an ev“Do women experience that in their lives eryman star who blends in with the crowd. and careers here? I bet the answer’s yes. It’s He likes to write in cafes, around day-to-day just in Hollywood everything is writ large,” he people. says. “That’s what I was doing all day yesterday, I
PREDATOR: Harvey Weinstein’s actions are ‘fucked up’, says Haggis
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Visitors: 125,673 Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Hillary Swank was writing in the cafe here,” he says. The same sense of social justice that drew Haggis to found the non-profit organisation Artists for Peace and Justice permeates his films. A new documentary, Ward 5B, is the story of a group of LA nurses who tended patients in the early 1980s AIDS epidemic. “This was a time of great fear. Nobody knew how AIDS was being spread,” says Haggis. “Doctors were wearing full hazard suits to treat patients. Trays of food were being left undelivered because people were afraid to go into the room and breathe the same air. “It’s about the importance of reaching out and touching people when they are at their lowest.” Tracing our common humanity is an overarching theme of Haggis’s work. Think Matt Dillon’s racist LA cop caring for his dying father and redeeming himself with his heroism. Or the shared horrors of Japanese and US soldiers in Flags of Our Fathers/ Letters From Iwo Jima. “We should focus on what unites us, not what divides us. I think it’s easier to find differences than similarities,” he says. While he admits the Catalan crisis is something he knows little about, the current need to delineate rather than embrace cultural differences, to build political walls and barriers, is one his work appears at odds with. “We are looking at ways to pull ourselves apart from others. To say, ‘I’m me, I’m not you’. That’s not just in Spain, that’s in America right now,” he says. “That’s too easy, often. My movies certainly speak to that. I think you can infer from that what I think.” Nevertheless, Haggis is reluctant to explain his films’ meanings. Admitting he never watches them, the movies can speak for themselves, he says. “I think filmmakers who do that make a big mistake. If it asks the right questions still, if it moves you, it does its job,” he adds. Despite the honours and the accolades, Haggis retains a hunger to learn. Surprisingly, the first man to pen Best Picture Oscar-winning films in consecutive years admits he still goes to writing school. The chance to talk with and learn from, new filmmakers in Palma attracted him to the festival, he says. “After Crash, I got a phone call from Oliver Stone. He called me and said, ‘Can I have dinner with you?’ I said, ‘Of course you can, you’re Olive Stone’. “I had dinner with him and he spent two hours asking me questions. This is one of our greatest film makers and he’s asking me questions? “That level of humility and curiosity is one of the things I value most. If you lose that, you stop being an artist.”
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A NEW Almodovar book examines the BEPedro ‘APPY! films of Spain’s most famous director. Universo Almodovar by cinema historian Jose Luis Sánchez Noriega uses 100 words or phrases from the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s work to explain some of the central themes in movies like All About My Mother, Volver and Julieta. Download our app now and John Waters, desire, aesthetics, mothers, begin enjoying bestsociety Spanish are among the melodrama, sex the and on the go.in the book. topicsnews addressed
Fatboy heads to Ibiza
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Legendary DJ making soundtrack for documentary about the Balearics’ rave scene land’s rave scene. “With the incredible 2,000 year history of this magical island as a subject and
Gold Star
AMERICAN film director Ari Gold hailed the Evolution Mallorca Film Festival after his movie Song of Sway Lake opened the week-long event The film,which stars Rory Culkin and Robert Sheehan, follows two young friends’ search for a rare 1940s vinyl record at an idyllic lakeside mansion.
the genius of Fatboy now on board to produce a soundtrack you can dance to, we believe this film will take event media to a whole new level,” he said. The first scenes are currently being shot on the White Island. Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Quentin Cook, is one of the UK’s most iconic performers and DJs, claiming 10 MTV Music Video Awards and two Brit awards during his career.
Art dilemma THE Catalan crisis has thrown up questions about some of Spain’s leading museums and art collections. Barcelona’s Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, has seen visitor numbers dip, a spokeswoman confirms. And Catalunya’s museum of medieval recorded only 66,000 visitors in October compared to 72,000 last year, a 12 % drop. Salvador Dali left his work to the Spanish people when he died but founded a museum in his Catalan hometown of Figueres. And with uncertainties over the region’s push for independence, there are fears state funding for Catalan institutions could be at risk. “The current situation does not leave us indifferent and we expect the evolution of events like the rest of Catalonia,” says a spokeswoman for the Miro foundation.
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November 9th - November 22nd 2017
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FATBOY Slim has signed up as music director for Julien Temple’s new film Ibiza - The Silent Movie. The smash-hit DJ will curate the soundtrack for the documentary, which promises a ‘compelling audiovisual journey into Ibiza’s bohemian soul’ Temple, who has directed acclaimed documentaries about the Clash, Joe Strummer and Glastonbury, has turned his camera’s gaze to the party is-
9
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
NEW BOOK: Final installment in Fallon’s trilogy
Ring of Flames
A NEW book by expat writer Joan Fallon (above) will make the perfect present this festive season. Ring of Flames is the exciting conclusion to Fallon’s alAndalus trilogy which delves into Spain’s Moorish roots in Cordoba when the Omayyad dynasty was on the cusp of losing control. It follows the emotional exploits of the same family from the first two books, The Shining City, and The Eye of the Falcon. However, this time the rightful caliph alHisham is under threat from pretenders who are seeking the throne for themselves so Ahmad and Rafiq must plan an escape in order to survive. Fallon said: “I visited the archeological site of Madinat al-Zahra, just outside Córdoba and was fascinated by it. The more I read about the 10th century, the more I wanted to write about it.” Her other works include Daughters of Spain, Santiago Tales, Spanish Lavender, Loving Harry, The Only Blue Door, Palette of Secrets, The Thread That Binds Us and The House on the Beach. The book is available as a Kindle ebook and paperback.
asty treats
EVERY weekend in November 'Food Passion' is on at Port Adriano. Local quality restaurants are offering special set menus at affordable prices to promote everyone has a chance to taste their gastronomy.
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21st 2017 Vol. 11 Issue 278 www.theolivepress.es Noember 8th - November
RONDA Our guide to Spain’s most beautiful town
CLOSE CALL Expat anarchist who tried to kill Franco
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beleaguered CATALUNYA’S leader has vowed to fight on from abroad. It came after Carles Puigdemont handed himself in to Belgian police when a European arrest warrant was issued. He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust. A judge in Belgium now has up to two weeks to decide if they will extradite the group to Spain.
British grandmother, 77, knocked out trying to defend publican attacked by thug with broken glass
A SUPERGRAN has been labelled a ‘true heroine’ after she jumped in to save a pub owner from being bottled. The 77-year-old expat Elizamade a lunge to hold him back. beth Trueman didn’t hesitate “But as she grabbed him he Given the whole extradition when she saw the attacker turned round and smacked her process can take up to 60 days, smash his beer glass and lunge in the face. it means he may have to run his at publican Paolo Mortoni. “It was a big punch and it entire election campaign for the The Glaswegian pensioner knocked her straight to the Catalan European Democratic stepped in when a drunken ground. Party from Belgium. builder got into a heated argu“It was terrifying...She was fight to him wants party His ment with Mortoni over the out cold for three minutes, she for continued leadership of the payment of a round of drinks. could have easily died!” regional parliament in the De- The regular of Bar Mortoni, in Luckily Trueman, a regular the stop to Mortonis tried The cember 21 elections. Fuengirola, RELIEVED: visitor to the coast, where her Puigdemont denied he had fled attack, getting battered to the came round to Brussels to avoid justice but ground and knocked uncon- like that,” wife and co-owner daughter lives, Hayley Mortoni told the Olive that he left because the Span- scious in the chaos. Continues on Page 2 ish government was preparing “She was so brave wading in Press. “She didn’t hesitate and a ‘wave of oppression and violence’ against separatists. “I’m absolutely convinced that the state was preparing a harsh wave of repression for which police. A BRAVE expat chased down and a snap of the thief to give to we would have all been held grabbed a robber after she stole It was a real team effort.” responsible,” he said yesterday. But when the family called the her grandmother’s purse. “The Spanish state is committo reMary Turner, 52, ran after the fe- Policia Local, they were told Civil, ting a brutal repression…if we male thief who had nabbed the port the crime to the Guardia don’t battle repression together, which they did later that day. purse by slicing a hole through it. the Spanish state may win this her go, “My great-granddaughter saw “We ended up having to let fight.” I what happened and told my grand- which is annoying even though In a show of support to the dedaughter, who ran after the thief, have got my stuff back,” continued posed president, around 200 grabbed her and put her in a head- June, from London. pro-independence Catalan others lock,” said June Turner, 69, based “I now just want to make them mayors travelled to Brussels on aware of this woman and let in Torrox. Tuesday to stage a rally. careful.” be should “I then got my phone out and took know they LOCK: Thief
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Catalan crisis As the independence storm clouds continue to gather over Catalunya, our readers discuss Spain’s biggest crisis in 40 years
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November Miss Teen 8th - November 21st 2017 Gibraltar, Mrs Wedding Dress and Mrs Europe. Whatever next in the long-running saga of Gibraltar’s pageant obsession?
Brussels brouhaha 1
Pageant Power, see Page 6 PUIGDEMONT: On bail
Stand off THE Belgian authorities have up to two weeks to decide if they are to extradite Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to Spain. A judge released the acting president on bail after he handed himself in to police when a European arrest warrant had been issued. He and four other politicians are accused over charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust. Following a long 10-hour Sunday court ruling he was not deemed a flight risk and will continue to live in Brussels for now.
Fears
Given the whole extradition process can take up to 60 days, it means he may have to run his entire election campaign for the Catalan European Democratic Party from Belgium. HIs party wants him to fight for continued leadership of the regional parliament in the December 21 elections. Puigdemont has consistently said he refuses to return to Spain because he fears he will not get a fair trial and under the current charges he could face up to 30 years in jail. Plans for a general strike in Catalunya are being drawn up for this week, while a mass protest is being planned for next Monday.
Fishermen demand urgent action after continual incursions into Gib water by Spanish fishing vessels
NET-MARE! STAND-OFF: Police intercept a Spanish boat, while (right)
FURIOUS Gibraltarians are demanding stronger action as Spanish fishing boats continue to abuse the Rock’s territorial waters on ‘a daily’ basis’. An investigation by the Gibraltar Olive Press has discovered that one boat, the Virgen Carmen I, entered Gibraltarian waters at least seven times last month alone. According to the 1958 Geneva Convention on territorial waters this activity is firmly forbidden, with a three mile coastal zone around Gibraltar clearly under British sovereignty.
EXCLUSIVE By Joe Wallen
Local fishermen argue that Spain has a more than ample 4,964km coastline and boats like the Virgen Carmen are clearly flaunting the rules to antagonise Gibraltarian fishermen The boat was spotted fishing on October 4, 5, 9, 11, 17, 19 and 24 off Eastside, but also at Western Mole. Many other Spanish vessels have also been spotted operating illegally in Gibraltarian wa-
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ters in October, including the Nuevo Leon. A former RGP policeman Michael Sanchez fears that a ‘dangerous standoff’ is imminent and could lead to a serious incident. “Things could get heated quickly and people could get injured,” said Sanchez, who now monitors the movements of ships in Gibraltarian waters. He claims the slightest confrontation could lead to unwanted heightened political tension between the two territories. Another maritime source con-
a map shows one such incursion
firmed to the Olive Press there away with a slap on the wrist. was currently a ‘very danger“The most I have seen is our poous’ climate over fishing rights. lice going up to a boat and tell“Spain refuses to take her claim ing them to leave,” said Michael over our territorial waters to Sanchez. “But that has no effect the International Tribunal for as they just come back later. the Law of the Sea,” he said. “Gibraltarian waters need to be “The country prefers to use protected. And it needs to be the Law of Force instead of the done now!” Force of Law. This has led to very dangerous situaWhen contacted tions at sea.” the government The illegal floatclaimed it was doing nets used ing all it could to by the Virgen stop the incurCarmen I and sions. other Span“The Enviish boats ronmental can damage Protection Gibraltarian Unit regularly fishing vessels challenges perand local habisons regardless tats. of nationality,” a Spanish boats do spokesman said. not follow Gibraltarian “Spanish fishing vesfishing quotas that ensure sels are regularly challenged sustainability. when in our waters, with a “Gibraltar has strict environnumber of cases currently bemental rules,” said the source ing processed. in the yachting industry, who “We cannot catch everyone asked to remain anonymous. who breaks our laws every time “Illegal Spanish fishing in Githey break them regardless of braltar is directly contributing their nationality and some, reto the continued depletion of grettably get away with it.” endangered species, such as In July last year, Spain arrested the white grouper and the Euthree Gibraltarian fishermen ropean eel.” accused of fishing in their local Much of the fury from local waters, leading to mass profishermen stems from being tests on the Rock. fined for fishing illegally while Spanish fishermen seem to get Opinion Page 6
In Gibraltar
This clown (Puigdemont)would say anything to try to get away with what he has done. Interesting that Brussels seems to be a safe haven for criminals of this proportion. Maybe a good place for the ISIS leaders to run and hide...? Peter Redrin, Palma de Mallorca
Kakistocracy ‘Kakistocracy’ is a term that was first used in the 17th century (Thousands march in prounion Barcelona demo, online). Derived from a Greek word, it means, literally, government by the worst and most unscrupulous people among us. More broadly, it can mean the most inept and cringeworthy kind of government. The term fell into disuse over the past century or more, and most highly informed people
have never heard it before (but to kids familiar with the word ‘kaka’ it might resonate.) It is certainly a good term to describe the current crop of Spanish politicians Chas Smith, Granada
Catalan exodus This is so sad. Led by an imbecile (Puigdemont), who has no concept of what he has done (Hundreds of firms move HQ from Catalunya, online). He is delusional and the families of those affected by this dreadful situation, are left in a void of despair. Jill Handley, Sevilla
Independence day? The independence movement started hundreds of years before Puigdemont, who after parliament elections was appointed president instead of Artur Mas by the elected majority. This is not about whoever is elected president. I think insults and persecution just makes the independence movement grow stronger. Ketil Naess, Norway
May day Breathtaking hypocrisy from Theresa May. (UK refuse to recognise Catalunya independence,online) They scream from the rooftops that Catalunya and Brexit are different situations, but the basic principle remains. Sovereignty and independence are sought in both cases. (Even though it would be a disaster for each) Stefanjo Jones, Madrid
Win win Couldn’t think of a better place to be stranded than Mallorca. We had an extra week there thanks to the Volcanic ash cloud.
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And lose work? As a precaution, we will never travel with Ryanair again.
A no-deal situation could be good, as Brexit may then never come to fruition (Jean Claude Juncker blasts UK’s nonsense, online). Remember that it is Parliament that makes the decision and walking off a cliff-edge is unlikely to be popular.
Gillian Griffiths, Swansea UK
No confidence Stay? OK, fine (British expats allowed to stay, says Alfonso Dastis, online). And health care? And care homes? And Britain continuing to honour pensions and associated inflation increases? And freedom of movement? And future wannabe immigrants? All far too glib and not enough detail to give confidence to anyone. The whole Brexit thing is a mess and should be abandoned, like the hot potato that it is Anonymous, Mallorca
Fred, Andalucia
Candle in the wind Sedition - incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority (Thousands of Catalans attend candlelit protest, online). You don’t need candles just a good lawyer! Enough said. Anonymous, Mallorca
Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress
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Issue 15
onda
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11 In a special pullout travelNovember 9th - November 22nd 2017 section, the Olive Press presents a few good reasons to pack your bags www.unicasaronda.com and fly to Malaga this info@unicasaronda.com winter for a short break
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
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History comes knocking
TIMELESS: Horse takes a drink at Almocobar gate and (right) Moorish tower
Picture by Jed Neill
Ronda is a cobbled gem where visitors are quickly transported back in time, writes Jed Neill
I DETAIL: Ronda’s historic doorways and arches are centuries old
www.facebook.com/frikingronda
F you were planning for a tour guide but forgot to book in advance... don’t worry, just follow your feet and Ronda will do the rest. Perched on an inland plateau driven out of the earth like an offering to God, it isn’t hard to see why the historic gem is the gift that keeps on giving. Crammed full of historic buildings, churches and museums, despite what Ernest Heming-
way once claimed (that it was a town to merely spend a romantic weekend in bed), there is so much to see and do in Ronda. However, at 800 metres high, and totally encircled by mountains, it’s not for the faint-hearted so get prepared to do some serious walking. My tip is to start at the bottom, where you will Continues on Page 11
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Picture by Geoff Scott Simpson
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timeless gem BEAUTY: Old mosque, new of the old town, a typical restaurant and famous bridge From Page 12
find few tourists and where, best of all, you can easily park your car. Down near the Arabic Baths in the Ocho Canos district you will find an old, atmospheric part of town where the ancient weary travellers usually first arrived in Ronda. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries they’re the best preserved baths in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. The steam baths were an obligatory firstport-of-call for all ‘outsiders’ to freshen up before finding a place to stay. Sadly, the taps have been turned off but the horseshoe arches are a great reminder of the influence and cultural importance the Moors had here.
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This was, after all, the most westerly outpost of the Kingdom of Granada the last bastion of the Moorish empire in Spain, holding out against the ever-probing Christian armies until just six years before the final fall of Granada in 1492. “The baths mark the beginning of so much in Ronda,” explains Juan Francisco, 31, who has worked at the baths for 14 years. He is currently training to be a tour guide in the town and claims it is ‘not dissimilar’ to doing the ‘knowledge’ for cab drivers in London, taking two years to complete with an enormous amount to learn. From here, Moorish visitors would have walked up alongside the ancient city walls to the thenheavily guarded Archway of Philip V, known as The Moors Armchair. It is the main entrance into the old city and was rebuilt in 1742. It is a must to see before trudging up the renaissance steps to the charming Casa del Rey Moro - and its impressive mine - which was visited by Michelle Obama and her entourage three years ago. From here, you can easily get lost in the old town of Ronda, which is a maze of cobbled streets and passageways largely cut off to traffic. Generally keep heading uphill and you will be well as recalling the horrific (most insist inventon track for the main attraction. The Puente Nuevo is Ronda’s most recogni- ed) incident in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls where Franco’s sable and spectacular sight, nationalists are thrown into the separating both the old and new ravine to their death during the towns. This is certainly the most famous bridge in Spain and The bridge adopts Civil War. The best place to see the probably among the best known human features bridge in all its glory is from around the world. the Arco del Cristo, a short, but Taking 34 years and a shockwith drooping steep walk down the hillside toing 50 deaths (more than the eyes and a long wards some more ancient hisEmpire State Building and the toric ramparts of the old town. Eiffel Tower) to build, this 390face From here the bridge adopts foot feat of engineering really is human characteristics with remarkable. And all the more so drooping eyes and a long face, with its surrounding countryside almost as if it is despairing at the lines of tourand adjacent buildings. Looking down you certainly feel the full force of ists barging against each other along the top. what an incredible engineering feat this was as Back on the main thoroughfare and the town’s neo-classical architecture unfurls from Plaza Espana up towards its marvellous bullring. Sauntering along Virgen de la Paz the buildings sag onto the road with a big bellyful of windows and latticed shutters while neighbouring shops lean into one another as if they were commenting on what ever stray traveller happens to be walking past. Families, friends and tourists form huddles in the alleys and streets nearby browsing the shops or filling up in a huge range of largely average restaurants - see our best professional picks later in this supplement. The town’s main hub is Calle La Bola (or Espinel depending on its mood) a long pedestrianised street full of shops and with its bustling Plaza del Socorro square a little way up. Here you will find a stunning church and the ancient ‘casino’ where the father of Andalucian independence Blas Infante demanded the region be self autonomous in 1918. There is a statue of Blas outside. At the tourist information centre, multi-lingual Alicia Lopez says tourists simply do not spend enough time in Ronda. Although that is changing as more and more tourists do stay for at least one night. “Give Ronda more time,” she pleads, “at least VISTA: Across the amazing tajo landscape two or three days because if you’re here for
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November 9th - November 22nd 2017
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Picture by Jed Neill
Picture by Geoff Scott Simpson
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
SITES: Bullring during the annual Goyesca fight, Palacio Mondragon, Almocobar gate and local witches
Irish novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941) “Ronda with the old windows of the houses, the eyes which spy out hidden behind the latticework so that their lover might kiss the iron bars.”
Trailblazers
The word on the street from some of Ronda’s famous visitors… German poet Rainer
Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) “It is here, in Ronda, in the delicate penumbra of blindness, a concave silence of patios, leisure of the jasmine and the light sound of water, which summoned up memories of deserts.” one day you’ll struggle to see everything.” At the tourist office you can buy a special €8 ticket giving you access to the Palacio de Mondragon, the Museo del Bandolero, the Arab Baths and the Puento Nuevo museum, which is excellent value. The first three though are an absolute must and will keep you occupied for hours. Let’s also not forget the largest and oldest bullring in Spain - the beating heart of Ronda. A stunning structure, beautifully maintained with some fabulous Goya etchings in a side building, it is yet another must-visit spot. Legend has it that when a nobleman fell from his horse and risked being gored to death,
Maria Rilke (18751926) “The spectacle of this city, sitting on the bulk of two rocks rent asunder by a pickaxe and separated by the narrow, deep gorge of the river, corresponds very well to the image of that city revealed in
Picture by Jon Clarke
Syrian prince Abu’l-Fida (1273-1331) “Elegant and lofty city in which the clouds serve as a turban and its towers as a sword belt”
American author Orson Welles (1915-1985) “A man is not from where he is born, but where he chooses to die.”
without hesitation local hero Francisco Rome- over. ro (b 1698) leapt into the ring and distracted The bullring is encircled by roads named after the bull by waving his hat, and two of the 20th century’s most then killing it. famous icons - Ernest HemingHalf a century later, Romero’s way and Orson Welles, who Orson grandson Pedro (who has a both spent considerable time Welles spent statue outside the bullring) in the town, with the latter beinvented the modern bullfight considerable time ing buried here, his ashes scatusing the muleta - a red cape tered in a well at a bullfighter’s used to attract the bull’s attenestate near the town. in town and is tion. Further up Virgen de la Paz you buried here September’s annual Goyesca reach the Alameda del Tajo, bullfight in 18th century cosa beautiful tree-lined promtume pays tribute to Ronda’s enade, which is the perfect rich matador history and is famous the world place to see out west over the Tajo gorge to-
wards the Sierra de Grazalema in the distance. If time is no issue I would recommend the Museum of Ronda in the old town, which is a firm reminder of the clash between the towns Moorish roots and it’s Catholic architects. And there is, quite simply, so much more to see if you have the time. And nearby are a dozen amazing towns and villages to keep you occupied for easily a week. ‘The whole city and its surroundings are a romantic set,’ Hemingway once wrote and it is true that Ronda is a place in which nature and culture unite to exhibit the best of both worlds.
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Battle stations It’s the moment Napoleon’s unpopular army is finally sent into retreat by a legion of local townsfolk. Pitchforks, muskets and all... And Ronda Romantica in spring is a must-visit event
Picture by Jon Clarke
SNAPPER: Geoff Simpson
An eye for the arts HE has the quintessential photographers eye, whether it is capturing Ronda’s tajo at dawn or getting up close and personal with Spain’s rarest wild animal the lynx. Now visual artist Geoff Scott-Simpson has opened an eponymous gallery in Ronda showing off all his fabulous works. Simpson, who worked as a gem valuer for the likes of Cartier, De Beers and Sotheby’s, has very much returned to his first love - nature. His skill behind the camera has led to some phenomenal encounters from stag fights to thunderstorms. The career change led Simpson to collaborate with wild life hero Sir David Attenborough to find some of Britain’s most beauti-
ful landscapes. His photos truly make you believe you were there yourself, maximising the effect of light to reveal the landscape’s ethereal qualities. The artwork is available in glass acrylic or metallic mediums as well as museumquality paper. For those who would like to improve their photography, Simpson also offers individual and group workshops including a private tour to capture the Iberian lynx in Andújar. The workshops cater for all sorts of levels from beginners looking for tips to international photographers looking for an edge. Visit www.geoffscottsimpson.com
Plucking amazing! TALENT: Ronda guitarist gives fascinating nightly shows explaining the different Spanish instruments
YOU can certainly hear the influence of Spanish guitar just wondering the streets of atmospheric Ronda. The air is frequently thick with the pleading sound of authentic Spanish guitar and it is no surprise to learn that a few famous flamenco rhythms come from the city, while one local musician Vicente Espinel apparently invented the first five-string guitar. “There’s no institution that validates the quality of music played on the street. It’s just a feeling of freedom,”explains guitarist Paco Seco, who moved to the town with his English wife Lucy a few years ago. Originally from Sevilla, the internationally-acclaimed musician has toured the world with his unique fusion of classical and flamenco guitar. The father-of-three has his own band and with his wife launched the successful Ronda Guitar Festival in 2016, bringing in musicians from as far and wide as Italy and now Costa Rica. The pair are doing a great job for the town, showing off an amazing collection of instruments, mostly guitars of course, plus a nice mix of CDs and other excellent wares at their centre on Calle Padre Mariano Soubiron. They also have a nightly live session from 7pm, which is anything but your cliche touristic flamenco event. During the hour-long show Paco cleverly explains the history of Spanish guitar, playing up to
half a dozen different instruments and in numerous styles. His own compositions - a kind of flamenco fusion - are inspired and he could easily sit alongside the likes of Andres Segovia or Paco de Lucia when it comes to fast-moving fret work. www.rondaguitarhouse.com
-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views
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Property
November 9th - November 22nd 2017
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November 9th - November 22nd 2017
olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs Picture perfect BE ‘APPY! A STUNNING Mallorca mansion with an arty touch is on the market for €7.5million The seven-bedroom villa, which features orange trees, a natural spring and a swim- Balearics Download app now and ming pool, holds aour guesthouse one of only and a room forenjoying staff. the best Spanish begin On salenewswith Engel & two Spanish on the go. Völkers,and just a ten-minute drive from Pollenca, the luxu- regions to see rious pad is nestled in Mal- property prices lorca’s March valley and is a mere 45 minutes drive from increase the airport. With parts of the house dat- THE price of older property ing back to the 12th century, in the Balearics increased by it combines tradition with a 0.8% in October with Palma Olive Press de Mallorca showing the largmodern The renovation,which est increase in Spain. was carried out in 2014. The islands saw the second TOP forhas news in Spain! The main house a sculpture by Spanish artist Manolo largest rise in the country, beValdes with French sculptor hind only Madrid, according Bernar Vernet also adding a metallic piece. A further sculpture by Ugo Rondinone can be found on the back terrace with all three available for purchase.
Palma prices jump to Idealista, with prices in all other regions falling. Palma de Mallorca saw the largest price increase of any
Palma spruce up
PALMA de Mallorca’s streets are set for a €9.8 million clean-up. The Town Hall announced the extra funding which will see pavements, roads and drainage networks enhanced and improved.
regional capital, with the cost of property jumping 2.2% last month Across Spain, prices dipped by 1.8% with average property prices now €1.562 per square metre. Property in the Balearics is the third most expensive in Spain, costing on average €2.401 per square metre. The Basque Country (€2.505) and Madrid (€2.502) remain the costliest parts of the country. Idealista based its findings on 314,271 property advertisements in its database.
Millionaires’ row MORE than 7,000 Balearic residents are worth more than a million euros. The number of millionaire households rocketed by 14% between 2012 and 2015, new data shows. Altogether, 7,317 residents declared a wealth of more than seven figures, according to the government’s tax agency. The combined wealth of all the islands’ millionaires was more than €20 billion. Tax on Patrimony is paid by everyone on the island with wealth of more than one million euros. The amount of this tax paid rose to €3.2 billion, up by 18.7% from 2012. The tax paid increased at a quicker rate than the number of millionaires.
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Finishing Touch MORE residential properties are being completed now than any other time since the crash in 2008, latest figures reveal. Between January and July, 33,085 homes, mostly apartments, were finished according to the Ministry of Public Works. This represents a 39% increase from the same period last year. In 2007, there were 641,419 properties completed. The following year that figure plummeted by 94%. Properties across Spain became waiting rooms for investors. However, this year private developments have gone up 37.4%, whereas local authority properties have actually decreased. The total amount of money spent on finishing these buildings rose as well to just under €4.4 billion.
Safe cities A NEW report reveals Barcelona and Madrid are among the safest cities in Europe. The Economist Intelligence Unit analyses 60 cities across the world and ranks them in order of personal safety, healthcare, security infrastructure and digital security. Tokyo is the safest city in the world but Barcelona and Madrid lead the table in terms of security infrastructure in buildings, bridges, and emergency services.
Keys Isl nd to the
Ancient living
November 9th - November 22nd 2017 November 9th - November 22nd 2017
By Amanda Butler Propert y of the week
The prehistoric village of Santa Eugenia is perfect for those who love the quiet life
S
ANTA Eugènia is a small rural village in the Pla de Mallorca situated just 10km from Palma. Sites in the area nearby date back to prehistoric times, with a prominent example of ancient civilisations being the Son Vidal talayot which, along with 13 other sites around the village, contain a number of caves which were once used as dwellings and burial chambers. The name Santa Eugénia is taken from Bernat de Sant Eugénia, who was one of Jaime I of Aragon’s leading advisors and who became the head of the Mallorca Knights Templar. Bernat was given the farm at the base of the hill which now bears his name. With a resident population of around 1,300 people, Santa Eugenia represents one of the smaller villages on the island where the local customs and traditions that are all too commonly overlooked in popular tourist resorts can still be experienced. Things to do
This is a small rural village with the number of shops, restaurants and bars reflecting this. There isn’t much to see apart from the nice views across to the mountains, however there are some nice walks from the village including a climb up the hill to the monument to the Sacred Heart and Queen Isabella of Spain. It also has its own Lourdes Cave on the road south west to Ses Olleries. Look out for the sign by the large wall as you leave the village and climb the steps to the hillside cave and its images of the Virgin Mary. Living in Santa Eugenia For real authentic Mallorca living in completely rural and quiet countryside Santa Eugénia is perfect, and only 15 minutes to Palma if in need of the hustle and bustle of the city! This area offers good value for money with a 4 bedroom village house starting from €500.000 and a detached home from €750.000 upwards of €3m.
Delightful country home in the middle of the Mallorcan countryside and only 20 minutes to Palma. 5 Beds ● 5 Baths ● 590 m²- Living ● 116000- m² Plot ● Pool ● €1.790.000 ● Ref: 10033
Fully renovated to a very high standard with views over the rear garden of this lovely 100 year old property. With 5 double bedrooms (3 en-suite), beautiful spacious lounge and dining area, a large modern kitchen with separate service kitchen and utility room. An inviting live-out terrace overlooks a landscaped mature garden with a large pool and BBQ area. 2 outbuildings are currently used as an art studio and small gym. There is also a fruit orchard, vegetable garden and a large field for multiple uses. Lots of storage. PROPERTY WANTED!! We need more properties to add to our portfolio for several clients looking at present.
Contact Amanda J Butler to buy or sell your home: Tel: +34690075169, www.mjcassociates.net. Your professional one stop property shop around the Island!
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-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views
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Tax hike
Flagging it Easy rider +TheolivepressEs
FLAG sales in Spain are at their highest since the BE ‘APPY! EASYJET has agreed a €40 million deal with country won the 2010 Air Berlin to take over part of its operations. World Cup as a result of the The UK carrier will snap up landing slots for Catalan crisis. 25 A320 aircraft as well as 1,000 German crew Vendors are reporting a and cabin. brisk trade on Spain’s naAir Berlin, which was popular with Mallorca tional flag as well as the travellers, was declared insolvent in August Catalan independence flag and was bailed out by the German government. Download app now and the Estelada and the our tradi“This will enable easyJet to operate the leading tional Senyera.begin enjoying the best Spanish short haul network at Tegel connecting pasThe Estelada lone star repnews on the go. sengers to and from destinations across Gerresents independence and has been popular with secessionists since democracy returned in the 1970s.
Hundreds of firms exit “Since the Catalan crisis it Catalunya as has been crazy,” said DanThe Olive Press iel, a Madrid flag seller. crisis intensifies Jose Luis Sosa Días, who Crazy
TOP for news owns a flag-making factory in the capital, said they had been ‘overwhelmed’ by demand. Of the 18,000 flags it made in the week prior to the October 1 referendum, 10,000 were prompted by the Catalan crisis. “We sold about 35,000 flags in 50 days. Normally we might sell 500 or 600 in a month,” said Sosa-Dias. “In the 38 years I have been in Spain it is the first time I have seen so many flags on balconies and houses, and at demonstrations as Spaniards said ‘I am Spanish’.”
in Spain!
SOME 1,700 companies have moved their headquarters from Catalunya since
the October 1 independence referendum. Business leaders fear the
The commitments PALMA is set for a €50 million regeneration boost. City mayor Antoni Noguera announced the cash injection for 2018 as part of his ‘Palma, Our Commitment’ project. The extra funds will help improve street cleaning, public transport and re-building work in the capital. “'Palma, our commitment' will be be one of the largest amount of funds that has been devoted during democracy,” said Noguera. The project says ‘Improving the city is everyone's job. Palma is also close to you, please, love it’.
OU will have read earlier in this issue of The Olive Press about failed investment schemes and pension liberation scams sold to unsuspecting expats by unscrupulous, so called ‘advisers’. It is not my place to name names, nor to comment on the lifestyles of those involved or even how they manage to sleep at night. However, I thought it would be prudent to discuss the importance of choosing the right adviser.
No need to fear, just be clear
many and the rest of Europe," easyJet said in a statement. The firm’s share prices rose 1.32% on the news.
Exodus
Sandy shores
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Catalan economy,which accounts for a fifth of Spain’s GDP, will be damaged by the current crisis. Following the referendum, Spain slashed its growth forecast from 2.6% to 2.3% over fears the Catalan impasse will harm the economy. Shares in Catalan banks dropped on Spain’s Ibex-35 index, with CaixaBank seeing its price slide by 5% and Sabadell losing 6%. Spain’s third and fifth biggest lenders respectively,
Get legit The importance of qualified and regulated financial advice
But what does it all mean to investors?
Dealing with a correctly regulated, well qualified, Independent Financial Adviser is hugely important, particularly in markets such as Spain where un-regulated, high-pressure salespeople (cannot be termed advisers) still exist. Think about it for a moment. Would you consult an unqualified, unregulated doctor? There are many reasons to ensure your Financial Adviser is legitimate, such as:
but now applies to all regulated firms. What is meant is essentially: Advice must be suitable to you as the client given your current circumstances, future objectives, risk awareness (or lack of it), affordability and long-term plans. Your adviser must treat you fairly, honestly, appropriately and in a timely fashion. Cold calling, pressure selling and outright con-men do not treat customers fairly.
What if you need to Complain?
Not happy with the advice or attitude of your adviser, need to complain? Well if you are using an unregulated person, tough luck! as you have no recourse to complaint, or at least none that will get you anywhere. Regulated firms must have a robust complaints procedure in place for when things don’t go according to plan and must treat your complaint seriously, investigate it thoroughly and report back to you in a timely way. Regulated firms must have suitable Professional Indemnity Insurance in place also.
Independence
Qualified Advice
(DipFA, degree level qualification), Certificate of Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP, only for UK Mortgage Advice) or the much older and less relevant Financial Planning Certificate (FPC) which was replaced by DipFA.
Protection
Regulated Financial Adviser Firms must be a registered legal entity, they must have sufficient capital adequacy (finan-
No interest
But Adrover insists authorities should also charge up to five times as much for the new tourist tax. “Tourists continue coming in massive numbers. It would be a way of eliminating a type of tourism that has no interest for us,” he said. “We have to pay for water desalination plants somehow. The water we had was enough for the residents. “And we also have to pay for roads. Despite the excellent tourist season this year the number of improvised huts for schools has increased.” Balearic tourists now have to pay double the tax during the peak season, with a levy of up to €4 a day to help pay for ecoprojects on the islands.
Finance writer, Sandy Paterson, of Blacktower, who is here to help make the most for your finances
I am amazed at the number of expats who take these conmen’s word for it and do not check credentials and qualifications before parting with their life savings. I am asked frequently, ‘why do I need to deal with a regulated adviser, what difference does it make?’
Do you want your house re-wired by an unqualified electrician who was a window cleaner until last month? Thought not, then why would you approach an unqualified Financial Adviser who was a double-glazing salesman last month? Ask you adviser what qualifications he or she has and get proof. Most real Expat Financial Advisers originated in the UK system and the qualifications are: Diploma for Financial Advisers
both were first to shift headquarters from Barcelona, sparking an exodus from other concerned companies. “When you lose CaixaBank, a symbol of Catalunya, it’s demoralising. Companies like Sabadell are going to move their top management, and then it will be assets leaving,” said Carlos Rivadulla of the association Empresaris de Catalunya (Catalan businesspeople). “The same thing that happened to Quebec is going to happen here.”
THE Balearics tourism tax should be quadrupled, a Mallorca environmentalist claims. Jaume Adrover, spokesperson of Terraferida, blamed ‘disappointing’ government measures for failing to curb the number of tourists. The new tourism law, which was passed on August 23, will see property owners fined up to €40,000 for renting out flats without a licence.
cial resources), they must have professionally qualified individuals in Advisory, Compliance and Management positions. In addition, the Regulator insists on robust and efficient systems of control and administration being in place. All of this means that you are protected from the firm simply disappearing.
Treating Customers Fairly
This came out of UK regulation originally,
Is your adviser really independent, or are they simply product salespeople for a bank or investment company? True independence means being able to select the most appropriate plan for you from all of the available marketplace. This demands a depth of experience and access to all available providers of insurance, investments and pensions. Ask your adviser if they are restricted in what they can offer.
What should a well-regulated firm look like?
I can only comment on myself and Blacktower as an example. The company operates via 16 offices in 10 countries including Spain, Portugal, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany, Malta, Cayman Islands and Gibraltar. Blacktower is regulated to conduct business in all of
these countries. Picking out the UK and Spain as examples you will find Blacktower authorised and regulated In the UK by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), known to be the strongest regulator worldwide. In Spain, Blacktower is Licensed via “passporting” arrangements from the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar whose regulatory model is based on the UK system. Blacktower is also registered by both the Dirección General de Seguros (DGS) and Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) in Spain. I am personally authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) purely for UK based clients. I am also Licensed via the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) for clients elsewhere including Spain. The value of financial advice One last point to make regarding the importance of good advice. A recent report by the International Longevity Centre in the UK stated: “The results strongly demonstrate the positive value of financial advice for consumers – both amongst those who are wealthy and those who are less wealthy” They further reported: “Those who took advice were significantly more likely to save more as well as to invest in the equity market”. The ‘affluent but advised’ group accumulated on average 17% more in liquid financial assets than the equivalent non-advised group, and 16% more in pension wealth. The ‘just getting by’ but advised group accumulated on average 39% more in liquid financial assets than the equivalent non-advised group, and 21% more in pension wealth. Food for thought, don’t you think? Got a question? Then Ask the Expert and drop Sandy a line.
Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission. Licence 00805B and is registered by both the DGS and CNMV in Spain. Blacktower Financial Management Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Chipping in Monarch’s moral maze MONARCH Airlines has admitted it has a ‘moral obligation’ to repay the £60 million (€68 million) bill for flying tourists home. UK taxpayers stumped up after Britain’s fifth largest carrier collapsed on October 2, leaving 84,000 passengers stranded including many in Mallorca. But owners Greybull Capital ‘concurs wholeheartedly’ with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s call for it to pay up if it profits from Monarch’s administration. A Greybull spokesman said: “Any stakeholder who finds themselves in-pocket at the end of the administration process would be under a moral obligation to contribute to other stakeholders.” In Britain’s largest peacetime repatriation, The Civil Aviation Authority used 567 flights to get passengers home.
SPANISH workers in the UK are a huge net gain for the country, according to government statistics on EU migrants. The latest HMRC statistics, from 2013/14 give a breakdown of the contributions of each nationality, paired with how much they receive in benefits. Spain is the sixth largest taxpaying nation in Britain, contributing some £802 million in income tax and national insurance each year. That figure equates to more than ten times what Spaniards claim in benefits, which is just £62 million. After France, the secondbiggest taxpaying nation is Poland – whose 790,000
Spanish migrants in UK pay more than TEN TIMES in taxes what they claim in benefits, new figures show
migrants handed over nearly £2.2bn to the UK economy. But Greece had the biggest gulf between what’s paid in
tax and claimed back from HM Revenue and Customs. Greeks in Britain pay a staggering 31 times more in tax (£439m) then they claim in HMRC benefits (£14m). The figures do not include Department for Work and Pensions benefits, like jobseeker’s allowance or disability payments. As well as a wide range of ‘indirect taxes’ migrants pay, from VAT to duty on petrol, beer or cigarettes, corporation tax or business rates.
Breakdown
How much tax gets paid by people from each country? 1. France £2.3bn 2. Poland £2.2bn 3. Ireland £1.9bn 4. Italy £1.3bn 5. Germany £1.2bn 6. Spain £802m How much do they claim in HMRC benefits? 1. Poland £911m 2. Lithuania £207m 3. Portugal £203m 4. Romania £129m 5. Netherlands £128m (13. Spain £62m)
Hi ho, it’s off to work we go MORE than three quarters of Balearic workers are happy with their jobs, a new study shows. Altogether, 77.5% of staff on the islands enjoy their careers according to a survey by recruitment firm Adecco. It makes the Balearics the 11th most content workforce in Spain.
Workers in Murcia (84.4%) were the most content with those in Andalucia (77.75%) fifth on the scale. Altogether 53.3% of staff surveyed believe job happiness ‘is here to stay’. However, 28.9% believe companies will forget about the happiness of their employees in the
near future. More than eight out of ten Balearic employees cited good relations with their colleagues as the most important factor at work. Flexible hours and a good boss were the next most popular reasons with a good salary fifth on the list.
Palma takes over Barcelona’s roles PALMA ports and conference centres are set for a boost due to the Catalan crisis. Event organizers MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) have announced that congressional events due for Barcelona will be diverted to other cities. Conventions and cruise ships will also be dispersed, many to Palma, as tourist areas and ports cannot be secured in the unfolding Catalan crisis.
Diverted
Lisbon, Berlin and Frankfurt have already taken on some conventions that have been cancelled in Barcelona. Many travel agencies are receiving requests from customers to be diverted to ports instead of a stopover in Barcelona. Palma is expected to pick up a good portion of their tourism. Low-cost airlines are also making strategic decisions regarding Barcelona, pulling flights out of the politically charged city.
AGONY Property ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
Beware!
What expats need to know about investment funds in Spain
T
HE collapse of Continental Wealth Management, an Alicante-based advisory firm, has left tens - possibly hundreds - of investors worried sick. CWM was not regulated to provide investment advice in Spain and was loosely regulated to provide insurance advice, through German-based Trafalgar international (who also do not appear to be registered in Spain). In the world of the investment ‘smoke and mirrors’ expat business, where few things are what they appear to be and what’s real is often portrayed to be something else, clarifying concepts becomes a necessity. So, let’s get under the bonnet of these clandestine firms (this article does not allude to properly regulated advisory companies) to know what are the real chances of victims caught by the lack of scruples of runaway bogus consultants: ♦♦ Most of the IFAs currently operating with the expat market in Spain are not regulated. ♦♦ Equally, some of the insurance or pension providers have never been regulated to operate in Spain (Old Mutual Isle of Man, Premier Group Isle of Man, Generali Worldwide Insurance Guernsey, RL 360º etc.), thus falling foul of Spanish laws that declare all such policies in violation of national laws and consequently, null and void. ♦♦ Very often, investments are carried out via ‘life-insurance/assurance compa-
nies’ that provided wrappers, whole-oflife or unit-linked policies. These policies are linked to an investment portfolio. ♦♦ Whether offered validly in Spain or not, life insurance policies linked to an investment are being declared void by the Spanish Supreme Court because they do not consider them life insurance policies. The reasons? Well, the calculation of the premium and payout lack ‘actuarial’ methodology, there is no transfer of risk from insured to insurer and it is irrelevant for the insurer if the insured party lives over a certain date, or dies. ♦♦ Courts ruling on the nullity and voidness of a life insurance policy will order the company to reimburse the premium in full (minus any surrenders made), plus annual legal interest and without detraction of fees or commissions charged. ♦♦ Financial or insurance mis-selling can be said to be automatic where the agents are not regulated (nobody can provide valid advice if not regulated). This violation of mandatory laws implies the responsibility of the principal (i.e. insurance or pension providers). ♦♦ Claimants should aim for Insurers, Investment Funds and Pension Providers. ♦♦ Lawyers should be able to identify the best way forward, always aiming for compensation (and not retribution).
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com
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THE Hairy+TheolivepressEs Bikers have published their new Mediterranean Adventure book featuring recipes from BE ‘APPY! Spain. The Hairy Bikers’ Mediterranean Adventure includes ‘hearty and healthy’ recipes from their forthcoming prime time BBC Two cookery show celebrating the ourof appSpain, now and culinaryDownload delights France, begin and Italy. enjoying the best Spanish news on the go.
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The recipes will be ‘fresh, classic, easy and seasonal’, with publisher Amanda Harris promising the collection would be the duo's ‘most delicious and irresistible’ yet. Oliveto Press "We areThe so thrilled be publishing this landmark because they celebrate food recipe collection," she said. in the most enthusiastic and TOP for news in Spain! "The Hairy Bikers continue inclusive way. They comto top the book charts bine expertise with passion
Famous bikers’ new book and cooking show will focus on Spanish cooking
Bottoms up TWENTY one Balearic wines have been presented at Spain’s prestigious Guía Peñín de los Vinos de España 2018. The wines from six different bodegas were among 1,300 of Spain’s best wines being judged at the Madrid festival. Among the denominations represented were D.O. Binissalem Mallorca, VT Mallorca, Pla i Llevant and VT Formentera.
and huge amounts of fun and friendship. This is most delicious and irresistible collection yet."
Bikers Si King and Dave Myers said: "We’re so excited about our new book and introducing you to lots of
“This event is the best reflection that Spanish wine has an important sector of quality wines, breaking the tradition of cheap wine,” said director general Adolfo Gatell. It comes after a difficult year for Mallorca and Balearic wines, with the harvest down by 11% from 2016. There are more than 70 wine bodegas in Mallorca with a growing tourist industry allowing holidaymakers to sample the whites and reds on the island.
fresh, Med-inspired recipes. We have been on a journey to find the undiscovered, h i d d e n Mediterranean. And who doesn¹t want a taste of the sun in the middle of winter? We can’t wait to share our new recipes with you. We hope you love cooking and eating them as much as we do.
SPAIN’S food exports to Qatar have soared by 43% so far this year. Ambassador to the Middle Eastern state Ignacio Escobar said sales to the country have been increasing by around 25% each year since 2015. “We are setting a record, because from January to August 2017, our food exports to Qatar have risen to 43%,” he said, “and for the first time we have exceeded €23mn.” He added: “What we are experiencing now is that more and more operators in the Qatari market are going directly to Spain instead of buying through the usual channels. This means they are getting fresher products at a much more competitive price because they are getting rid of the middle man in the process.”
Love, love will take you there...
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Microwave shocker
Pinot greenio
A BRITISH mum and daughter have blasted a holiday company for their ‘cold and inedible’ food during their pricey all-inclusive holiday - where a microwave was placed in their dining room underneath a ‘just in case’ sign. Carly Morley and daughter Emma, from Edinburgh, had booked their €1,300 trip at the Globales Playa Santa Ponsa via Thomson, which was rebranded as TUI, last week. After allegedly being told the
SPANISH winemaker Miguel Torres has said wineries must aim to be carbon neutral. “In 10-15 years, I think it is perfectly possible we will see wineries which are carbon neutral with zero carbon emissions,” he said. Climate change poses stark risks for vineyards, which may be exposed to more extreme weather that will see traditional grape varieties struggle. Torres has committed to reducing carbon emissions to 30% below 2008 levels by 2020. His family business has consistently set aside 11% of its annual profits for environmental projects - €12 million this year. It now has a biomass boiler in Penedes, cutting 1,300 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Solar and photovoltaic installations have also enabled the Penedes winery to generate 25% of its own electricity needs. Other eco efficiency measures include optimising water resources and reducing average bottle weight, insulating vats and transportation.
British pair told to use microwave at all inclusive hotel restaurant in their own hotel was closed due to not being busy enough, the duo claim they were sent over to the sister hotel next door. However Carol claims that once there they were met with a ‘fishy, stinking’ restaurant with ‘stone cold’ food and a microwave set out for the diners with the ‘ridiculous’ notice stuck above it. Claiming they were ‘too
Straining alive SCIENTISTS from Mallorca university UIB are joining forces with engineers to determine the best strain of olive. Researches want to create an olive that can withstand harsher weather conditions, failing farming models, and the recent plague known as the ‘olive ebola’, which is spreading throughout Spain. The perfect olive will yield a higher profit through using less resources and producing more oil per olive. Some 6,000 olives, comprised of three different varieties, have been planted in Son Mesquidassa for the study. Next year the experiment will add different irrigation conditions as well as an array of pruning options.
scared’ to eat there for fear of becoming ill, Carol and Emma, 27, say they were then forced to splash another £600 on eating out instead. Carol, 51, said: 'It was terrible. The place was absolutely stinking. We didn’t dare eat any of the food - I was scared in case I’d get ill. “If Gordon Ramsay went there, he’d shut it down. It was a nightmare for us. We’d already paid £1,150 for an all-inclusive holiday - you don’t expect to spend extra money on food when you pay for that. “We hadn’t accounted for it in our spending money and in the end, we spent around £600 extra on eating out. “We had to go to McDonald’s for dinner sometimes because we didn’t expect to be eating out and hadn’t brought enough money. You don’t expect that when you pay for a holiday.” The hotel has so far refused to comment.
LEGEND: Jose Andres (centre)
Yes way, Jose A SPANISH chef has managed to feed Puerto Ricans more warm meals than any NGO or government body since the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria. Double-Michelin starred Jose Andres, 48, has provided more than 2.2 million warm meals and sandwiches to disparate parts of the American territory using a network of kitchens, supply chains and delivery services, in one month alone. It has so far cost around €400,000 and amassed hundreds of volunteers. Andres, from Asturias, ‘admonished volunteers to add more mayonnaise to sandwiches, keep the temperature up on the pans of rice and serve bigger portions’. He was shocked when other organizations, he assumed had things under control, were asking him for help. “In my life I never expected the Salvation Army to be asking me for food,” he said. “If one of the biggest NGOs comes to us for food, who is actually going to be feeding Puerto Rico? We are. We are it.” The Spaniard previously formed the nonprofit World Central Kitchen after he went to Haiti following the devastating 2011 earthquake, and was in Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey helping to organize volunteer efforts. He has now left Puerto Rico and has left a working team in his place, saying that as groceries and stores are beginning to open, he didn’t want to ‘take away their business’.
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CAMBRIDGE Weight Plan is bringing its life saving treatment to Spain to help those at risk from developing diabetes. Its ‘buddy’ program pairs people up with a consultant who creates a tailormade program of weight loss to suit the individual needs of that person. It has become so successful in the UK that the NHS uses it as the firstport-of-call for diabetes treatment. This intimate consultation means that people get hands-on advice on a weekly basis so tracking your progress has never been easier. It is frightening to see diabetes on the rise across the globe and if current figures are right then by 2035 the number of people living with diabetes would make up the worlds third most populous country. Excess body fat accounts for 80% of the risk for type 2 diabetes, however, genes, age and exercise are also other contributing factors. If left untreated it can have life threatening consequences, including kidney failure, vascular problems and eye disease. The results of Cambridge Weight Plan’s 800 kcal Meal Replacement Diet have been fantastic as a recent study showed that body weight had reduced by over 10% in 8 weeks. This significantly reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A MALAGA olive oil has been crowned the best in Spain for the fourth year in a row. Finca La Torre received the award for the Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an accolade unmatched by any other Spanish company. Based in Bobadilla, the estate has been producing olive oil since 1260 using herbs, earth and other organic materials for flavour, its owner’s claim. Olive grower Víctor Pérez, 35, who trained as an agronomist at the University of Córdoba, applied to work at the farm after seeing an advert in a local newspaper. He said the success of the farm is due to its diverse workforce. “I think that having a team of workers from different countries favours us, because each of them enriches the project by contributing their own particular perspective,” he said. “We started picking the olives early in October, and the early harvest allows us to obtain more fruity, green and fresh juices.” The farmers use sheep to naturally fertilise their 34,000 olive trees and make cheeses as well as vinegars. Spain is the largest olive oil exporter in the world, with the majority of farms in Andalucia. There, 35% of farm workers work with olives. Exports of the ‘liquid gold’ are expected to soar by at least 45% over the next nine years.
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Orange sheep, no window sills and Spain’s Crystal Palace... my first year in Mallorca
L
One year in
IKE most people these days, the first thing I reach for in the morning is my phone. Through blurry eyes I see who’s updated Facebook, emailed, trounced me at computer scrabble or sent a text. Being an hour ahead of the UK usually means that there isn’t much to be seen and gives me the head start to get things moving! One of the most enjoyable things is that Facebook informs you what you were doing on this day in former years. It just so happens that it is exactly a year since I arrived here at 4am by ferry from Barcelona a year ago. Yes unbelievably it has been a whole sills. I had never given window year and I have experienced a full sills a single thought until they weren’t there anymore. It meant cycle. Early ‘winter’ – and I still smile at nowhere for that vase of flowers the use of that term here – was a or picture frame. I still miss them great time to arrive. Most people now. that are full time residents are The most obvious difference was the driving style. not working so My partner had we were able to to rein himself integrate very in many times nicely. The first thing I and we soon We could buzz a live around seeing noticed was that developed and let live atthe island and all it had to offer all the sheep were titude. We were the newbies and plus of course orange we had to get the whole place used to driving seemed to have around the outone festival after side of roundanother, it was abouts and the ‘just go for it’ just one great big party! The first things I noticed were school of lane merging. that all sheep were orange. Were Yes it was blindingly obvious that they really born that way or was life would be a whole lot less someone dying them? I still don’t stressful if you didn’t have a deknow the real answer although cent car. Hence I pride myself on someone suggested it was be- the old banger that is ElPandO. cause they lived amongst orange It always starts, gets me where trees…. Oh come on! Then there I want to go cheaply and if the was the way all windows opened bodywork gets damaged who’d inwards. That means no window know? I certainly wouldn’t, given
Mallorca diaries
By Lesley Keith
the state of it already. Of course we have to keep reminding ourselves that we are not on holiday (seriously, we aren’t) and that we live here. That daily walk down to the beach for a coffee and ensaimada each morning was costing the two of us over €200 a month! That was a bit of an eye-opening moment when I worked that one out I can tell you. As we weren’t working and had a very tight budget, we were pretty shocked at the price of just about everything, but we soon accepted that’s how it is here and got on with it. Let’s face it the sunshine, beaches and beautiful country walks are all free so we soon got over it, the rest can be budgeted for. As a keen football fan I have to admit I was a tad disappointed by the performances of the island team Real Mallorca which seriously left a lot to be desired. At €35 a ticket, to see them get demoted means you have to be a real dyed in the wool football fanatic to stick with them. This is a shame because they have the most amazing stadium with wonderful views from the upper echelons. A bunch of us expats would huddle together, trying to be optimistic and encouraging, almost impossible when you regularly see defeat rescued from the jaws of success every time. As a Crystal Palace fan I am sadly used to this but my partner, who follows a little unknown team called Chelsea, finds it much harder. Yes it’s been a wonderful year and I’m looking forward to the next one. Now let’s see if I can justify the cost of those daily elevenses.
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Sports & yachting
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Classic+TheolivepressEs yacht+TheolivepressEs +TheolivepressEs was once owned by Bee Gees BE BE‘APPY! ‘APPY! BE ‘APPY! manager and John Paul Getty
t h e i r work cut out with these rising stars in tow.
A VINTAGE yacht has been the toast of Mallorca this month. The 80-metre Talitha, which Download Download ourapp appnow nowand and app nowour and was builtDownload in 1930,our was moored begin begin enjoying enjoying thethebest bestSpanish Spanish the best Spanish in Palmabegin Bay enjoying for a week. news thethego.go. Built in news Germany, theonon boat on thenews go. once belonged to Woolworths owner Charles McCann. During World War Two, it was requisitioned by US authorities and used as a patrol boat. Following this, Greek shipping magnate Maris Embiricos snapped up Talitha, which The The Olive OlivePress Press The Olive Press was then called Elpetal. It was later owned byfor HolTOP TOP for news newsininSpain! Spain! Spain! lywood TOP mogulfor andnews musicin entrepreneur Robert Stigwood, who managed the Bee Gees and Cream and produced Grease and Saturday Night Fever. In the 80s, US millionaire John Paul Getty snapped up the vessel, which is still believed to be owned by the Getty family. With room for 12 guests and 17 crew, Talitha can reach speeds of 15 knots.
Talitha drops anchor in Palma
Hire and higher THE Balearics is still Spain’s number-one destination for yacht hire. During the 2017 season the islands were the most searched online by holidaymakers looking to rent a vessel. Palma Port and Ibiza led the way as destinations according to Spain’s largest boathire company Nautal.
Big splash BALEARIC yachts have been making a splash at the 2017 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS). Around 17 leading Balearic yachting organisations were represented at the fair, including Astilleros de Mallorca, GYG, BMComposites and BWA Yachting.
Lion’s roar ENGLAND’S Under 17s are the new world champions thanks to an inspired second-half performance in which they overturned a two-goal half-time deficit to win 5-2. Barcelona forward Sergio Gómez scored both of Spain’s goals to give them the lead as the halftime whistle blew. Unperturbed, England came out and set about dismantling Spain’s lead with Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi causing havoc down the wings. Morgan Gibbs-White drew England level before Manchester City’s Phil Foden turned the game on its head by putting England one goal ahead. Two more goals came in the space of four minutes as Marc Guehi scored from close range in the 84th minute before Foden soon followed with his
second of the game. England coach Steve Cooper said: “I’m so proud of the performance. Two-nil down, we played our way, we didn’t stop, we stuck to our game plan, we stuck to our style. We’re building for the future and that’s the way to do it.” The win is more good news in light of the under-20s being crowned world champions while the under-19s won the Euros. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola added: “Big congratulations to the manager, all the staff and the players because for English football they need that. It is the step England need.” The players were seen celebrating, in what is now a rare scene for English football, by drinking the bar dry. England’s senior team will have
Boats, bikes and automobiles…
Catalan boost THE Balearics yachting industry is set for a boost from the Catalan independence crisis. Large yachts of more than 20 metres that would normally spend the winter in Barcelona are staying in Palma, according to one Mallorca expert. “Now, these boats don’t want to leave Palma,” said José María Jiménez, president of nautical organisation APEAM.
WINNERS: England Under 17s beat Spain 5-2
Back in action
I
Hamish Goddard whizzes through the island at the Driving Mallorca Rally
T’S with great pleasure that I return to my regular column in the Olive Press with apologies for my absence. I have had my head down settling into my new role with E3 Systems, certainly the island's – and most probably the Mediterranean's - top marine communications company, servicing many of the most beautiful and opulent superyachts in the world. Sad as I am to leave my lovely colleagues at Baxter Marine, there is no question that E3 presents a fantastic opportunity at the very top end of the market. With so much to learn in such a dynamic communications sector, there has been little time for gallivanting around in sailing boats, classic cars or motorbikes - until last weekend and the second instalment of the Driving Mallorca Rally, open to different classes from road-going to fully-spec'd rally cars. It was an event in which we had the Russell Stevens Trophy to defend from our win last year and I was again lucky enough to be invited to co-drive for Gordon Cox in his laser-blue supercharged Lotus Elise – and whilst the driving itself is demanding and difficult, reading pace notes whilst being a passenger in a car driven on the limit over these particular roads is certainly not for the faint hearted either... The first stage took place from the Genova Military base, over the extremely twisty but newly resurfaced Col de sa Creu to Calvia, with the second stage from Es Capdella to Andratx – narrow and bumpy - be-
PEAS IN A POD: The Goddard experience fore looping back to Parc Ferme in Palma and repeating this circuit three times. There's something weird about the stage to Andratx which always has me reaching for the sick bag. Being in an opentopped Lotus without the necessary Nomex attire
and roll cages gave me renewed respect for those that climbed into their hot and claustrophobic fully spec'd and roll-caged rally cars - and went somewhat faster than we did... The afternoon stages were from Lloseta to Alaro past Castell San Miguel– again bumpy and narrow – and then the ultra-fast stage from Sencelles to Algaida. As the Parade Class were the first to go, two loops of these stages meant that the final run from Sencelles to Algaida was run in near darkness for us - and complete darkness for everyone else. Prize giving took place in Lloseta with the Russell Stevens Trophy for the 'Spirit of Competition' awarded to Ali and Sally Ashworth in their rip-snorting new rally-spec Ford Puma. I guess that our contribution was that we didn't crash in the wet and treacherous morning stages and that I managed to keep grinning like a dead Elvis throughout, without actually throwing up until we had passed the chequered flag.. All in all, a more sedate pace this coming weekend, when we are sailing off to Isla Cabrera, unsure and perhaps apathetic about whether the only restaurant on the island - with its sadly appalling reviews is open in November.. This beautiful and unspoilt National Park island archipelago couldn't be more in contrast with the raucous noise and smells of last weekend. Variation is the key!
visit e3s.com or call us on +34 686 634 038.
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Banged up massive! A DOZEN members of a Spanish rap group are each facing two years in jail for ‘glorifying terrorism’ in their song lyrics. Spain’s Public Prosecutor claims Colectivo La Insurgencia ‘systematically extols’ the terrorist organisation GRAPO and ‘maintains a subversive tone against the constitutional order’. They are now facing a fine of €4,800 each as well as two-year prison sentences. One of the group, Saul Zaitsev has called the charges ‘an absurdity of immense disproportion’, saying his music is not a crime. “I don’t think anyone has been encouraged to commit crimes after listening to me,” he said. It is not the first time rappers in Spain have been convicted over You live in continuous subversive song theft by the employer or lyrics. by the State that tries to Valtonyc was senexploit you. tenced to a three‘Revolution, the only salvaand-a-half-year tion. prison term for We’re sick of them trying to insults against the sell us solutions and ilcrown earlier this lusions, we have fallen year, while Pablo again. Hasel received two years in 2014 for Andar, by Saul Zaitsev celebrating terrorism.
Rafa who?
bit harsh
Employee who turned up early for work is sacked
A SPANISH supermarket has fired one of its employees for working too hard. The Lidl in Barcelona sacked the worker, named only as Jean P, because he turned up to shifts an hour early to prepare the store for visitors. The man has worked at the branch for 12 years but the store received complaints from other employees who were
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starting to get annoyed by his early bird antics.
xxxx His termination notice read ‘for very serious labour breaches’ saying he had ‘made orders, changed prices or replenished entire pallets of items.’ CCTV footage showed Mr P turning up at store at 5am spending ‘between
Bed bugs ruin €2,300 holiday A BRITISH couple claim their holiday was ruined after they were badly bitten by bed bugs on a Mallorca holiday. The couple Sue and John Berry claim they were left ‘mentally scarred’ after suffering dozens of bites at the four-star Levante Park Hotel, in Cala Bona. “It was my husband’s first holiday away in ten years and within a couple of days it was ruined. I had bites all over my body and he had them on his legs,” said Sue, 63. “They were on my neck and chest. We looked like we had a disease. I was really embarrassed and it felt like everyone was looking at us.” The couple claim they could feel the bugs crawling on them during the night, but weren’t allowed to change rooms despite the stay costing €2,300. “I was so exhausted and started to cry with frustration as we were covered in bites and it was so sore and uncomfortable,” continued Sue. “That night we sprayed the bed with something the maid had given us but woke up and could see the bugs crawling over us and the bed.” The Berrys complained to the hotel and the holiday company who told them there would be a six-month wait for a response. A spokesperson for Tui said: “We’re aware of the situation and are investigating the matter as a priority.”
49 and 87 minutes’ prepping the store without signing in for his shift. According to company policy this broke their strict rules about paying every employee for the exact amount of time they worked. Lidl is one of the largest and fastest growing supermarket chains in Europe, and has more than 530 stores across Spain.
RAFAEL Nadal was refused entry to the Paris Masters courts because a guard didn’t recognise him. The tournament employee had no idea who the World No.1 was, and the awkward moment was captured by French TV.
Surprise
"Hello sir, have you got your pass?" the security guard asked the world's most famous tennis player, and a surprised Nadal responded: "I don't have it with me." The guard asked Nadal who he was and got the world-renowned name in response. The Spaniard was then immediately allowed through to the training courts. Nadal later pulled out from the tournament with a knee injury.