Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 180 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

CAN SALMA HAYEK SAVE ALMORAIMA ESTATE?... TURN TO PAGE 3 Earpiece Don’t let the Don’t let thein banks cash new size banks cash in 39mm www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk xsee 50mm page 13 see page 13

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Vol. 8 Issue 180

Police to scour remote hillside near missing teen’s home after tip off to her aunt DETECTIVES are set to scour a remote hillside for the body of missing Amy Fitzpatrick, the Olive Press can reveal. The area of wasteland, not far from the home of the teenager on the Costa del Sol, is likely to be searched in the next few days. It comes after Amy’s aunt in Ireland Christine Kenny received an anonymous tip off about where her niece ‘had been buried’, following her disappearance on New Year’s Day 2008. “It was very very precise and came from a lady in Ireland,” she told the Olive Press. “She refused to give her name and withheld her number, but she was quite certain. “She said you are the person I need to give this message to and she told me the spot that Amy is buried. She said she had known about it for some time. “She was roaring and crying on the phone. In fact, she was blabbing.” Kenny, who is close to Amy’s father Christopher, added: “The Gardai and Guardia Civil are both now involved and I have been told not to give away the exact spot. “But I can tell you it is not far from where she lived.” Amy had gone missing from

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February 5 - February 19 2014 BURIAL GROUND: Christine Kenny claims caller told her Amy was ‘buried in a remote area’ near her Riviera del Sol home

New hunt for Amy Exclusive By Giles Brown her home in Riviera del Sol, near Calahonda, after a night out with friends nearby. As the Olive Press revealed at the time, the 15-year-old had been unhappy and was not getting on with her mother or stepfather Dave Mahon, a lo-

cal estate agent. She had not been attending school and sources revealed she had even sometimes slept rough in a nearby park. Despite nationwide and global appeals from both sides of the family, she has not been found. Added her aunt: “I really hope they start searching now and that they get there in time be-

A Gibraltar More than Marmite a Morrisons t www.theolivepres

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February 5

- February

the olive press

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5 - February

1919

19 2014

Britain in the Sun? You’re off your If your view of Rock-er... coincides with Gibraltar 5’s TV show Channel have gone to you should Specsavers, writes Belinda Beckett

N 1987, Agent ing sequence 007 parachuted onto the to The Living a would-be assassin, Daylights and,Rock in the openafter sailed off in climes. his yacht for dispatching In those days, more exotic Bond shaken Gibraltar was not the kind of place to leave Fast-forward or stirred. James a quarter of Bond could have a century and berthed his giga-yacht it’s a different and strolled over to the casino in swanky Ocean story: After decades for one Village complete with as ‘Little Britain in theof his trademark Martinis. and Bobbies old-school Tardis police Sun’, on the beat, forging a shiny Gibraltar has boxes tinental – no new ID that is decidedly been contitled Tuesdaythanks to Channel 5’s similarlynight show, now on its second

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Turn to page

Criminal

Killing

This is despite Mahon being expected to be charged over the death of Amy’s brother Dean last year. An inquest into the killing outside Mahon’s Dublin flat has been postponed until March 14. He has admitted to stabbing Dean, but claims it was in self-defence. He has not yet been charged. Olive Press sources reveal that the pair have been drinking regularly at a string of bars near the Los Jarales camp site, in Calahonda. They have been seen a number of times at Los Ktetos and have a new puppy. Mahon recently told the Irish Press the reason for the break was to help nurse Audrey back to full health. “She is

SPAIN has definitely said ‘no’. Tens of thousands of outraged protesters have taken to the streets in Madrid to express disgust at the planned overhaul of the country’s abortion law. In the most draconian laws in Europe, women will only be able to abort in cases of rape, severe foetal deformity and when the pregnancy will compromise the health of the mother. The message from the Spanish populus though seems definitive: they will not accept the banning of abortion and they demand Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon - the minister of justice who proposed the draft paper - to resign. Solidarity protests were also held in Rome, Lisbon, Paris and Hannover, after more than 2000 people had gathered outside the Spanish embassy in Brussels on January 29.

TRANSPLANT: Mum physically and mentally exhausted” he said. As we went to press, it was reported that Audrey needs an urgent liver transplant and had been rushed to the Costa del Sol hospital for tests. Doctors reported that her enzyme count was 2,750 – more than 100 times the normal level.

Many protesters were dressed in purple – a colour symbolising feminism – and carried banners with slogans such as ‘We give birth, we decide’ and ‘Abortion has no place in criminal law’. However Ruiz-Gallardon remained defiant, saying: “You have my word that neither insult nor cry shall make this minister rescind his commitment to fulfilling the policy of regulating the rights of women and of pregnancy.” Under the new rules passed on December 20 women would not be punished for illegal abortions, though doctors could go to jail for up to three years.

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fore anything is moved.” The news comes as it emerges that the mother of Amy and her partner Mahon have been living on the Costa del Sol for the last month.

Spain says ‘no’ to ban on abortion

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Drugs baron jailed after being arrested while paddling around Torremolinos water THE HEAD of a major cocaine ring has been jailed for 16 years after he was arrested paddling around at a water park in Torremolinos. Lee Broadbent, 33, fled to the Costa del Sol in October 2011 where he led a lavish lifestyle while continuing to organise his drug network in Northwest England. He was eventually captured by Spanish police, enjoying an afternoon at Aqualand, in August 2012 after English police obtained an inR.T.A.:AL-4-04-0017. 2ª cat

CRIME NEWS

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In hot water! By Tom Powell

ternational arrest warrant. Members of the gang were jailed for a total of 80 years at Preston Crown Court, all for conspiracy to supply class A controlled drugs.

Pay-as-you-go

Lancashire police launched Operation Oriole in September 2011 to dismantle the gang and their supply chain.

Broadbent flew to the Costa del Sol after police arrested another criminal, Gary Gairns, following his drugs swap with Broadbent in a Tesco car park that day. He carried on giving orders to drug suppliers via pay-as-you-go telephones, which he believed could not be traced. Lee Broadbent, 33, of Poultonle-Fylde was given a 16-year sentence following a seven-week long trial, where he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply co- BARON: Broadbent caine.

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Twits! Police feed gives advice to drug smugglers QUESTION: What’s the best way to sneak drugs through airport security? Answer: Just ask a policeman! “It’s better if you’ve already rolled them and hide them where the sniffer dogs don’t detect them, cigarette packet maybe?” It is certainly an incredible bit of advice… considering it came from the National Police’s official Twitter feed. The feed - which has more than 700,000 followers had been responding to a

tweet by Jotdown Magazine asking: “If you’re travelling abroad and you’re carrying four joints, is it better to have them on you or in the bag you check in?” The feed soon removed the drugs advice and then tweeted a new message. “To avoid any confusion: possession and consumption of drugs in public places does result in fines,” it read. The police feed is the second most followed in the world after the FBI.

Fugitive back behind bars A BRITISH fugitive who was caught in Estepona last October after escaping from prison is now back in jail. Gerard Hagan, 29, fled to the Costa del Sol after he was locked up in 2008 for his role in a £350m cocaine smuggling operation. He has now been ordered to serve the remaining six years of his ten year sentence, with an additional six months for escaping custody. Last year he was re-captured by Spanish police outside a gym in Estepona, in an operation coordinated by the National Crime Agency, and then extradited back to England in November. Police say Hagan, from Liverpool, had been on the run since escaping Kirkham Prison in Preston in July 2012. The 2008 drugs operation failed when an inflatable boat carrying 1500kg of cocaine ashore was overloaded and capsized off the coast of Cork, Ireland. Hagan swam ashore but returned to the water to rescue his accomplice, Martin Wanden. The plot, which involved several other Brits, was organised by former-Met drugs squad detective Michael Daly, who was later jailed for 22 years.

‘Robin Hood’ mayor acquitted

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A CONTROVERSIAL mayor has been acquitted of leading hundreds of workers to steal from supermarkets to feed the poor due to insufficient evidence of criminal activity. Communist Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo, mayor of Marinaleda, is believed to have remained outside the shop in Ecija, near Sevilla, in August 2012, while supporters of his radical trade union SAT took food. A court in Sevilla ruled that he was only there to ‘support what he believed to be a political event’. Gordillo, of the left wing IU party, has become a Robin Hood figure in Andalucia following a spate of supermarket raids and attempts to grow food on private land. He has been arrested many times and paid multiple fines during his reign as the longestCONTROVERSIAL: Gordillo not involved running mayor in Spain.

NEWS

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SAVE

A ALMORAIM

Can Salma save the day?

olive press

Set fair for folk convention

Franz Rocks in ROCKERS Franz Ferdinand are set to headline a brand new festival in Malaga this summer. The Scottish band are rumoured to be sharing the stage with English band Placebo for the Sun101 festival. Not much has been given away about the event as yet, with the website only displaying a brief

Facing the music! FACEBOOK has helped to reunite a Malaga rock band with their stolen equipment after a ‘spectacular’ response from the site’s users. The Free Soul Band, who have been performing locally since 1999, had instruments and equipment stolen from their van while parked in a garage beneath one of their apartments. But after reporting the theft to police, they had no leads to go on and felt completely played out. It was then that one of the members issued a last-ditch appeal over social networking site Facebook. Band members said the results

Instrument thief snared after band launches a ‘spectacular’ Facebook campaign to help

EXCLUSIVE By Giles Brown

LIKE a scene out of Dusk til Dawn, Hollywood star Salma Hayek swooped into Andalucia this week in an audacious bid to buy Spain’s controversial Almoraima estate. The Mexican-born actress was reported to have flown into the estate, near Castellar de la Frontera, by helicopter on Tuesday with her billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault. It would be excellent news for the area, as Hayak is known as a keen environmentalist and would be just the person to promote the beautiful estate abroad. The 14,000 hectare estate became a subject of angry scenes after the government announced its sale last year at an reserve price of €300m. Despite being alongside the Alcornocales Natural Park, it favoured an ‘elite tourism’ development, which would have polo pitches, golf courses and an airstrip. has led to the Junta to attempt to rezone the area SWOOP: Hayek and husband Pinault have flown in to visit It into the park itself to prevent the development from controversial €300m Almoraima estate going ahead. The Olive Press launched a campaign to save the area in the autumn, with a trio of expat writers insisting it would be a THE CREATORS of English folk rock - the del Sol sunshine. disaster to develop it. legendary Fairport Convention - are topping the bill Having hosted the BBC radio 2 Folk Show for It is not known the type of at next month’s first ever Costa Del Folk Festival. 20 years, Mike Harding will act as compere project Hayak favours at this The traditional five-day festival is being held as well as performing himself. stage, although it would unlikely in Benalmadena from March 14. And part of the decision to come to Spain is be destructive to the area. It will be the only 2014 festival appearance definitely the weather.“A folk festival without Her husband is the owner of for Fairport Convention, whose breakthrough rain is just too good to be true!” he told the the Kering group which owns album Liege and Lief was voted the most Olive Press. luxury goods companies such as influential folk album of all time. The festival will be held at the Hotel Alay Alexander McQueen, Puma and Show of Hands, Mighty Doonans, the Demon resort, with revellers encouraged to bring Brioni. Barbers and the Tom McConville band will their own instruments. For more info visit Forbes magazine estimates his also be delighting festival-goers in the Costa www.costadelfolk.com. wealth at $15billion. LA the

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

POOR SOULS: But then Facebook came to their rescue

By Tom Powell were ‘spectacular’, with users immediately sharing the post and within minutes one spotted an item for sale on second hand web- A band member arranged to view friend - and discovered the seller, a site milanuncios.com which looked the item - accompanied by a plain 50-year-old man, had most of their clothes police officer posing as a equipment. suspicious.

Paris’s oil platform

When confronted by police, the seller claimed he had found the equipment discarded in a skip.

PARIS Hilton has launched an online campaign to stop a planned oil drilling scheme in Ibiza. The American socialite launched the Instagram campaign to help spread the word to stop oil exploration off her favourite European destination. Heiress Paris, who has her own TV show, has been visiting the island for years and last year completed her first residency as a DJ at the iconic super club, Amnesia, where she is set to return this summer. The superstar is no stranger to supporting campaigns and is known for her philanthropic efforts, but this is something obviously close to her heart. She has asked her fans to join the campaign, using the hashtag #IbizaSaysNo across social media to help spread the word. See Oil’s not well after drilling approval for Ibiza on page 11.

The one missing item, a valve amplifier, had already been sold but the post office managed to successfully intercept the package. The band posted another grateful message on Facebook that night: “Sound equipment of the Free Soul Band recovered… a million thanks. We did it together.”

Thanks

18 second teaser video to the sound of Franz Ferdinand’s ‘Do you want it’. However, it will reportedly take place on the second weekend of July in the Olympic Stadium. The video begins with the words ‘Are you ready?’ on screen before a countdown from ten and a film of various sites in Malaga, ending with the festival’s logo.

Indie

Franz Ferdinand, led by Alex Kapranos, return to Spain following their headline performance at Malaga’s Palacio de Congresas in 2010. Crystal Fighters, an alternative dance band from London, will also grace the stage to perform songs from their latest album ‘Rave Cave’. French rock band Rinocerose and Lori Meyers, an indie band from Granada, will also take to the stage.

W NE

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THE OLIVE PRESS - 344mm x 256mm

6th February

NEWS

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News IN BRIEF

A splash of colour

DEVOTED: Gunn Jonsson

A SPANISH bank equity scam, affecting hundreds of expat pensioners, has been debated in Parliament. MP Huw Irranca-Davies has demanded Rothschild bank fulfil its ‘moral responsibility’ to customers now living in fear of extreme poverty. The Welsh MP accused the banking group of luring British pensioners in Spain into investing in equity schemes, with many now penniless. Conservative Treasury minister Sajid Javid has vowed to probe the bank about the

Dead loss!

A GROUP of expats are displaying their work at an art exhibition at Venta el Jinete, in Mijas. The show includes works by Richard Woods, Niki Marko and Gunn Jonsson Shabetai, a fashion-and-textile designer who worked in New York for many years before moving to Paris and devoting all her time to painting. Finally, Jane Gomis paints from nature and depicts the abundance of old buildings, gardens and flowers that Andalucia has to offer. The exhibition can be seen at Venta el Jinete until March 10.

Spanish banking scam left them destitute, but now there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the 100 victims, as UK parliament steps in By Tom Powell fate of more than 100 victims of the equity release scheme. The move is excellent news for pensioners, believes Marbella lawyer Antonio Flores, of Lawbird, who is representing many of them. “At a very late stage in their lives they have technically lost everything, they have that feeling of having been cheated, of shame,” he told the Olive Press. “I don’t know if Rothschild did it purposefully, but they

A MAN was prevented from renewing his DNI after police told him he was dead. For the second time, Cristobal Ojeda had been confused with his father by Ronda police, who had failed to update his information.

Hope for penniless pensioners certainly got it wrong, I think they had very bad advice. “In my opinion not assuming liability is as bad as having

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

deliberately cheated.” Irranca argued pensioners were convinced to gamble their life-savings and homes

Corruption in Spain is worst in Europe

on two ‘enticing but ultimately flawed pretexts’. “I say to Rothschild, you have badly deviated from your core values, badly served your brand and reputation, badly served people who regarded themselves as your clients,” he said.

TWO out of three Spaniards believe corruption affects their daily lives, the highest such figure in Europe. The survey by the European Commission also revealed 77% of Spanish people think the level of corruption has risen in the past three years, again the highest in Europe. The report underlines the deep lying concerns over corruption in Spain. An overwhelming 95% of Spanish people believe corruption is institutionalised, beaten only by Greece on 99% and Italy on 97%. The report concluded that legal mechanisms in place across Europe to tackle corruption ‘are not satisfactory’, and that in many places political will to eradicate corruption is ‘absent’. The findings come as another former minister is mired in reports of corruption. Former Public Works Minister Francisco Álvarez Cascos reportedly received at least

Flores believes that after the MPs intervention the pensioners now have a ‘very high probability’ of getting a successful outcome. Customers were told that by investing a loan secured against a mortgage on a property in Spain they would receive a small additional income to their often limited pension. They were also told that by registering a mortgage on this property, they could avoid inheritance taxes for their children. Rothschild is a global financial advisory group and one of the largest financial advisors in Spain.

Outcome

UNDER INVESTIGATION: Cascos ‘took cash bungs’ €41,000 in payments from a corrupt busi- ment in exchange for payments. nessmen’s network between 2003 and 2004. Cascos’ initials allegedly appear on secret He was named in a new report investigat- accounting ledgers relating to the receipt ing alleged Gürtel ringleader Francisco of funds that went to PP campaigns. The Gürtel case is an on-going politiCorrea, who is on bail awaiting trial. Correa was allegedly the leader of a group cal corruption scandal which implicates of prominent businessman who received many senior politicians in the PP, includgenerous contracts from the PP govern- ing the Prime Minister.

Right track THE FOOTPATH between Maro and the Nerja caves is to be repaired. Councillors have given the go-ahead to the six-month project which will create a direct pedestrian link via the existing footbridge over the A7.

Pedalling filth A MAN has been arrested for indecency after police caught him riding a bike around Mijas, playing with himself. The 38-yearold, originally from Valencia, has been spotted a number of times.

Off the menu SEPRONA, the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil in Malaga, has confiscated 320 bird traps which were advertised for sale on the internet. They are designed to kill birds, which are then sold to restaurants for human consumption.

Rat poison clue THE deaths of three members of a Sevilla family in December are being attributed to ingesting rat poison. Mum, dad and daughter were found to have aluminium phosphate in their bodies.

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FEATURE

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

OPINION

the Olive Press INVESTIGATES

Abort the bill! IT is genuinely difficult to believe the Spanish Government, university-educated and ‘democratically’ elected in the 21st century, has drawn up plans to ban abortion. Their body clocks have seemingly hit reverse as they attempt to drag Spain, kicking and screaming, back down its anthropological timeline to an age of sexism, repression and ignorance. The fact women would not be punished for illegal abortions reeks of a return to the horrific coat-hanger dark-alley scenarios of a dark past. But the discontented spirit of the age has fired up a torrent of disgust and outrage across Europe. Like at a music festival when the cry of ‘b****s’ goes up and spreads like wildfire through ten thousand throaty roars. This isn’t a Mexican wave of bandwagon protest; it is a tidal wave that cannot be ignored. Abortion needs to be dealt with sensitively, sincerely and intelligently. But if those in charge are stuck in the last century then they deserve a reality check and a return to the back benches.

Nightmare for Amy THE tragic tale of Amy Fitzpatrick could finally be drawing to a close with the news that police are to begin searching an area of wasteland close to where Amy lived with her mother Audrey and her partner Dave Mahon. All cases where young people go missing are tragic, but Amy’s seems even more so, as stories of a difficult domestic life, missing school and even living rough have emerged. Last year in a fight in Dublin Mahon killed Amy’s brother Dean in what he claims was self defence. The latest sad chapter is the news that Audrey has been rushed to hospital in Marbella, where she has been told she needs a liver transplant. It allegedly follows a month of heavy drinking. Many come to southern Spain to chase their dreams, but for the Fitzpatrick family it turned into the worst type of nightmare.

Rock Solid LONG derided as having little more than warm beer, Bobbies and apes, Gibraltar has undergone a startling transformation over the past decade. Its fascinating mix of cultures stand as an example to the world that the different creeds can co-exist... and there can be no denying the Gibraltarian spirit in the face of what they see as Spain’s bullying at the border. With the financial sector still expanding and the arrival of the world’s first 5-star floating hotel, Gibraltar has a lot to feel good about in 2014. Our special 28-page report on the enclave this issue is proof that the Olive Press’s success goes hand in hand with that of the Rock and we vow to build on it.

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The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

2014: The real numbers behind the headlines Despite some green shoots of recovery, unemployment is still a very real problem for Spain, as more and more people have lost hope of finding a job. A significant 10% of Spanish households are without an earner, a phenomenon which is only getting worse, and agriculture is the only sector not beset with job losses… so much for the much vaunted recovery, reports Tom Powell

HE UNEMPLOYMENT rate is finally decreasing, the labour market is beginning to stabilise and the Government has predicted a timid, yet very real 0.7% economic growth for the year. But ordinary Spaniards still feel mired in the crisis that has dominated headlines and discussion in Spain for the last four years. Last year, millions of people took to the streets in more than 50 Spanish towns and cities to protest against unemployment, high taxes and austerity measures. As recently as November, protesters in Madrid read aloud a manifesto that stated Mariano Rajoy’s PP Government was not capable of leading the country out of economic depression. Smaller protests were held in more than 30 cities around the world, from Vancouver to Vienna, where young Spaniards had emigrated to escape the unfathomable 55% youth unemployment rates, the highest in Western Europe, if not the Western World. So Prime Minister Rajoy’s declaration that the recession-hit economy would begin creating jobs again in 2014 and return to growth raised more than a few unconvinced eyebrows. Spain may have won the battle on paper in hauling the economy out of recession, but the war against unemployment - and more pressingly the challenge of persuading the people that the economy is back on track - will continue for the foreseeable future.

DISCONTENT: Spaniards march while Rajoy (inset) dithers As we are continually told that the economy is picking up despite nobody feeling it in the pocket, the Olive Press decided to take an in-depth look at the numbers behind the headlines. With help from a number of think tanks and agencies, including American analysts Stratfor, we piece together a clearer snapshot of Spain as 2014 gets properly underway.

Unemployment

According to official government figures, 2013 saw the first annual reduction in unemployment since 2007, falling by 1.1%, or 69,000 people, while the number of people working or looking for work - fell by 1.2%, or 267,900 people. However, underemployment, labour leakage and crippling youth unemployment continues to plague the country and it looks unlikely that the man in the street will be feeling the effects of the recovery any time soon. So where are all the workers going? While record-high unemployment is the most pressing issue, the reduction of the

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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 Urb Casares del Sol, bloque 21, portal 70, bajo b, Casares 29690, Malaga Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Reporters: Newsdesk Newsdesk@theolivepress.es Claire Wilson Claire@theolivepress.es Giles Brown Giles@theolivepress.es

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PROTEST: Despite claims of improvements, millions take to the streets

workforce is also a multi-pronged problem for Madrid, not least because there is a smaller number of people paying workrelated taxes. Recent, Eurostat data shows the Spanish workforce shrank by 1.7% between 2011 and 2013, which is a real terms loss of approximately 400,000 workers. The headline exodus of foreigners and nationals since the onset of the crisis is one reason for the drop in numbers, but the reality is that many homesick Spaniards return after just a couple of months. A recent study by Carmen González Enríquez, of the Elcano Royal Institute, revealed just 2% of Spanish people living abroad are nationals who left because of the economic crisis. On the other hand, she argues the number who left the country between 2008 and 2012 — rather than the number of Spaniards living abroad - is closer to 700,000 than the official figure of 225,000. Three times as high and most of them, crucially, graduates and trainees, who are vital to the economy’s recovery. It is increasingly clear that startling Government statistics are anything but black and white and should always be taken with more than a pinch of salt. More worrying than the exodus are the people who have simply given up hope of finding a job and stopped looking. Around a quarter of young Spaniards are neither working nor are in education (so called ‘ni nis’), relying on their parents’ or grandparents’ salaries, savings or pensions. This of course becomes even more problematic if and when they resume their search, due to the long gap since their last job and their increasingly rusty skill set and level of expertise. It’s not just the youth that are suffering. A significant 10% of Spanish households are without an earner, a phenomenon which is only getting worse; the number of families in this situation grew 24,600 in the final three months of 2013. And due to the length of the crisis, almost 700,000 households have exhausted their unemployment benefits and do not receive any

FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es form of official income. The silver lining for the government is that total expenditures on unemployment benefits fell by 12.5% between November 2012 and November 2013.

Part time/temporary contracts

Even those that have managed to find work still face a big problem - underemployment. The majority of jobs being created in Spain are part-time and the number of full-time workers dropped by 218,000 in 2013. At the same time, the number working parttime rose by 153,100. The Spanish ministry of employment revealed just 7% of all contracts signed in 2013 were for permanent, full-time jobs, with the remaining 93% being temporary jobs, part-time jobs or apprenticeships. Although these workers are receiving some monthly income, they are still struggling to reach an adequate standard of living and those on temporary and seasonal contracts face an uncertain future. There is little sign of improvement, either. Agriculture was the only sector not beset with job losses in 2013, a trend which looks set to continue into 2014.

The black economy

Official figures are just part of the story, however, and only those who are registered at their local employment office, in order to qualify for unemployment benefits, are officially registered as unemployed. There are people who do not have a job, but are not registered, and there are also those who are registered as unemployed, but still work informally or in the black economy. The informal economy presents an alternative to joining the official workforce. It is extremely difficult to measure, but according to a recent, shocking study, it represents around 25% of Spanish gross domestic product (GDP). The largest such black economy in Western Europe, even higher than Greece. With this in mind, it is unlikely the 26% un-

employment translates into reality.

Property market

The property market is at least one potential ray of hope, especially in the Balearic isles where property sales hit record highs in 2013. Across Spain fewer homeowners fell behind on their mortgage repayments than in the previous year and there are distinct signs in Marbella, for example, that the market is finally turning. However, before the bunting is rolled out it should be noted that half a million Spaniards find themselves in negative equity. Their mortgages are worth more than the property, and experts predict this trend is set to increase.

Tax reform

Despite having higher fertility rates than countries such as Italy and Germany, Spain - like most of Europe - is dealing with the challenges of an ageing population. A reform of the pension sector was approved in late 2013, aimed at offering pension increases below inflation levels. More reforms are likely as the number of retirees grows and the number of workers decreases. While Minister Mariano Rajoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Government has raised taxes since coming to power in 2011, Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiscal revenues have only marginally increased. Madrid is currently working on an overhaul of the tax collection system but even if it is more effective, the high levels of unemployment and shrinking workforce will certainly limit its success. To conclude, Spain is likely to be dealing with the consequences of the economic crisis - from frequent street protests to a decline in support for the government - for the foreseeable future. While the property market may be picking up and there are more jobs being created, most analysts and economists believe that a fast recovery is anything, but likely. So keep hold of your seats, for the rollercoaster ride is not yet over.

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

Olive Press leads, others follow...

MAKE no mistake about it! The Olive Press continues to find itself making the headlines in political, publishing and business circles. 2014 may barely be five weeks old and the Olive Press only just into its eighth year since launch, but the newspaper continues to lead where it left off in 2013. And that is at the front of the pack. In recent days stories originally carried exclusively in the Olive Press, including the investigation into the wicked ways of perennial fraudster Nigel Goldman, have been carried by British national newspapers the Daily Mail, the Independent, and the Sunday Mercury. A British MP also mentioned the Olive Press on Twitter, proving its leading news and feature coverage expand well beyond its local footprint throughout Andalucia. The Olive Press breaks the stories and others follow, assuring both our discerning readers and advertisers that they are part of a success story.

BLANKET COVERAGE: In UK press after our exclusive in-depth investigation (top)

NEWS

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

Primark boss kills himself in shop bathroom THE DIRECTOR of Primark in Algeciras was found hanged in a bathroom of the shop, after staff noticed he was missing during the morning. Michael Carrigan, a 34-year-old Englishman, is believed to have committed suicide while workers thought he was cleaning the bathroom. He had begun the day as normal, but was discovered by staff at about 10am when they realised he had not been seen since the beginning of the day. The store - in the Puerta Europa Shopping Centre - was closed all day while police collected evidence. It was re-opened the next morning. Primark has sent its condolences to Michael’s family and friends and highlighted his excellent professionalism during his career within the company.

www.theolivepress.es

EXCLUSIVE: Media battle as EWN publishers sue for €30,000 in libel case

The Euesdens stole my business

FACING PRISON: Napier

Journalist defends his reasons for launching a blog, which dubbed the Euro Weekly News publishers ‘pornographers’ and ‘thieves’

A BRITISH journalist is facing two years in prison after claiming that the publishers of the Euro Weekly News stole his newspaper and left him penniless. Almeria-based expat Lenox Napier told Almeria’s Penal Court Four that he had been ‘cheated’ by Michel and Steven Euesden, who he had taken on as sales staff at his newspaper. Giving evidence in court, Napier said the Euesdens failed to pay the monies owed at the end of a three-year buyout process of his paper, The Entertainer. He claims the pair then illegally rebranded the paper as the Euro Weekly News, but continued the edition numbers where The Entertainer broke off. Napier, 60, who lives in Mojacar, added they had re-registered the website and the brand behind his back. Defending himself against a libel lawsuit, he said: “I trusted them and hav-

tainer, which leads to the Euro Weekly News site. Napier set up The Entertainer in 1985, along with two friends, and by 1995 they were distributing 40,000 papers across Andalucia. He was at the helm of the newspaper until 1999, when the staff buyout took place.

Brand

CONTROVERSIAL: The first Euro Weekly News issue ing worked hard to set up the newspaper for over a decade I expected to be rewarded. But I got nothing.” He also told the court the Euesdens had purchased several domain names, all including his name, which redirect to their own personal vanity site, www.theeuesdens.com. They also bought that of The Enter-

The deal saw the Euesdens agree to pay Napier an undisclosed monthly fee over three years, and a lump sum at the end of the term in 2002. However, the Euesdens, who live in Mijas, claim they didn’t settle the bill because The Entertainer brand wasn’t Napier’s to sell and that he had concealed debts amounting to more than €300,000. They insisted that the brand was actually owned by someone else (a point that Napier denies) and that they had paid him €180,000, but stopped payments when they discovered ‘the truth’. The pair were in court to sue Napier over a series of blog articles he published about them online following their fallout. A sobbing Michel Euesden told the court how Napier had subjected them to a ‘campaign of terror’ and defamed her and her husband, calling her a ‘puta’ (whore) and the couple ‘a**holes’. The articles appeared in a blog, The Entertainer Online, in which he set up a section called ‘Weeniewatch’, which kept a close eye on the Euesdens. One particular missive that angered the pair was being described as ‘pornographers’ by Napier.

ANGRY: EWN publishers, the Euesdens (top) and their sex contacts magazine, which led to slur His claim had been in connection with a sex contacts magazine, which the couple admitted they had published for a number of editions. They also complained about another blog entry where he had written: “Why don’t you tell the Euesdens to f**k off back to England?” and one which questioned their motives behind a Poppy Day appeal. Defending his articles to the judge, Napier said some of the more fruity language used in the pieces was meant in jest. His lawyer Pedro Rivera Barrachina argued that the comments - which were taken down three years ago by court order - were not libellous as they were ‘open to various interpretations’. He added that Napier had only exercised his right to freedom of expression. He added that Napier’s intention was to demonstrate that the Euesdens had failed to comply with the buy-out terms for the paper. The Euesdens are demanding two years in prison and €30,000 in damages. A ruling is due within the month.

Breaking news . . . The editor has left the newsroom THE government was forced to deny that it had been involved in the sacking of the editor of El Mundo - Spain’s second-biggest newspaper. Officially Pedro Jose Ramirez, known as ‘Pedro J’, stepped down after a decline in circulation and a series of revelations of alleged corruption in the ruling party. Pedro Jose Ramirez has been sharply critical of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, even though El Mundo, part of the RCS group, is considered broadly sympathetic to the ruling People’s Party. Ramirez reportedly left with severance pay of about 15 million euros, despite the circulation of the paper falling by 14% in 2012. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos insisted the government had ‘absolutely not’ been involved in the decision, and praised Ramirez as “a great journalist who has left his mark on an era in Spain.”

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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GREEN NEWS

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Oil drilling approved for Ibiza RESIDENTS of Valencia and the Balearic Islands have become embroiled in a dispute with the Spanish government after it gave approval for an oil drilling project off the Gulf of Valencia. Cairn Energy is planning to drill for oil in the waters off the coast of Ibiza, a project that could have a devastating environmental impact. Ibiza residents are furious about the impact it might have on the island’s tourist industry, particularly given that 90% of its income comes from tourism. The drillers will first have to map the seabed to search for potential hydro-carbons, after which exploratory drilling will begin. This will generate highly amplified sound waves which are dangerous to local marine life. The cannons emit 249 db of noise, which is much more than the pain barrier (180 db) or even the atomic bomb (200 db). There are concerns the project will also damage the habitat if thousands of birds, it will change the migratory routes of cetaceans, and dolphins and turtles will suffer extreme pain and internal bruising.

Slay hounds! Protests to stop the process of hunting dogs (‘galgos’) being tortured and killed after they become too slow to chase hares ANIMAL RIGHTS groups have urged Spain to ban the use of dogs in hunting, which they say leads to about 50,000 greyhounds being abandoned each year. Many of them are tortured and endure agonising

deaths when the poor creatures become too slow to hunt. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Malaga on Sunday (and other cities around Spain) to demand action. Greyhounds, known as ‘gal-

gos’, are used in Spain for hunting, but when the end of the November-February season comes around, their owners often decide they have no further need for them. Campaigners say many are just abandoned and often

GRIM FUTURE: For greyhounds used to hunt

starve to death or die in car accidents. In some cases hunters

Pound Shut Down!

A DOG pound, dubbed ‘an Auschwitz for animals’ has been shut down due to public pressure. The move came after protesters highlighted the plight of hundreds of dogs being kept at the Protectora de Animales in Mairena del Aljarafe, near Sevilla, as reported in our last edition. Regional authorities have agreed to cancel the centre’s licence after inspectors found ‘numerous irregularities’. Activists who broke into the centre in December were stunned by the shocking scenes they found with animals surrounded by their excrement and some even dead. A YouTube video that was seen by thousand around the world showed the pens, each containing dozens of dogs, had clearly not been cleaned

Call of the wild! FOUR dozen Retuerta horses - one of the oldest and rarest breeds in Europe - have been released into the wild in Spain over the past two years. The almost extinct horses were given their freedom as part of a project by Rewilding Europe, a nonprofit group that hopes to turn the loss of rural farming life into an opportunity to boost biodiversity. There are only about 150 of them left in the Doñana National Park, between Huelva NAME CHANGE: Grazalema Park

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

for weeks. Activists later freed over 200 dogs in the raid, the majority of which have now been safely housed. However, at least 100 had to be put down. Nearly 100,000 people signed a petition to demand that the shelter be shut, and several now want charges to be brought against the owner of the pound, Pedro Luis Fernandez Castillo. olive pr ess The animal rights group PACMA denounced the shelter to the Ministry of the EnvironPITIFU L ment in Madrid, as well as the Junta de Andalucia. Earpiece Don ’t let Don ’t let the bank

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dispose of their greyhounds by hanging them from trees or throwing them down wells, or they torture poorly performing dogs by breaking their legs or burning them.

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tsunami Intervie propertyw with Marbel tsar Kristina la Zsekely The Prope fights backrty Queen - Page 19

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Massive scenes outcry afte r horrific of anim at the ‘Aus al chwitz cruelty filmed for anim als’

NEW HOPE: For these endangered horses

CONFRONTATION: Protestors berate Castillo and (left) our story

Silvia Barquero, the vice president of Pacma, a small animal rights party, said: “A ban on hunting with dogs, as already exists in other European nations, would be a measure that would avoid much suffering to all these animals.” A documentary on the plight of the hunting dogs is to go out on Telecinco later this month.

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and Cadiz, living in a single cluster there, any potential disease or calamity could wipe out the entire species. The endangered Retuerta is one of the oldest breeds in Europe and most closely re sembles the race of ancient Iberian horses that populated this region before being domesticated.

Native

What’s in a name?

THE Grazalema Natural Park, near Ronda, is set to get a new name, the Ministry of the Environment has confirmed. The name - taken from the small town Grazalema, which sits in the heart of the park - has always been disputed, mostly because the park actually spans 14 towns in both the Malaga and Cadiz provinces. Declared a natural park in 1984, it is one of Andalucia’s most popular rural tourist destination, with more than 50,000 hectares of mountains, forests and valleys.

Two dozen Retuertas have been released in the Campanarios de Azaba Reserve, an unfenced area near Salamanca, where the horses were once native. Diego Benito, a forestry engineer at the Campanarios de Azaba Biological Reserve, said: “Our idea is to just let them manage the ecosystem themselves. It’s a wild horse. So it’s in its DNA to roam free in the wild.”

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

News IN BRIEF

Charity breakfast THE ‘Manos Unidas’ charity association will be holding a fundraising breakfast in Velez Malaga on February 15. Money raised will go to the charity’s projects in Mauritania.

Off the leash RINCON de La Victoria has unveiled plans for three new ‘dog-friendly zones’ in the town’s public parks. The areas will allow owners to freely exercise their animals without facing fines.

AXARQUIA NEWS

Dig this!

www.theolivepress.es TOP DJ: John Digweed

By Giles Brown LEGENDARY British House DJ John Digweed will headline the first Beach Weekend festival in Torre del Mar this summer. The festival is expected to bring thousands of partygoers to the town from around the region and even abroad. Taking place on July 4 and 5, Beach Weekend has attracted an eclectic line up, which includes Spanish heavy rockers Mago de Oz, flamenco fusion duo Fuel Fandango and the dancehall reggae of Swan Fyahbwoy. The latest act to be added is Love of Lesbian and other leading UK acts are due to be announced. Due to be held next to the Poniente Beach in Torre del Mar, Beach Weekend will also feature a festival market, as well as a camping area and even a ‘glamping’ zone, with retro caravans available for the weekend.

Hot new festival launches this summer in the Axarquia

Love all ALMUNECAR has announced that the town’s cultural programme will focus on love this month. A series of romantic poetry readings are among the events scheduled for February.

I’M LOVING IT: Torre del Mar get’s ready for the Love of Lesbian (right)

All coming up roses

THE long-running saga over Nerja’s sewage plant drew a little closer to completion when the town’s mayor, Jose Alberto Armijo, announced that the first stage of work had begun. At a press conference at the site - located at the eastern end of the town - Armijo said that the administrative work dealing with the site had already begun. NATIONAL police in Rincon de la Victoria staged a dramatic night-time raid on an illegal poker club, confiscating more €5,000 in cash. The raid took place at the premises on the Benagalbon road, surprising 13 people playing on two poker tables. As well as €5,475, the police also seized 1,119 poker chips, 29 decks of cards and a laptop.

And construction will begin ‘within weeks’ and is expected to take 24 months, with the plant fully operational six months after that. The mayor added that the plant had been designed ‘to prevent any problems of bad odours’ entering the town. When completed the plant will be able to handle water treatment for a population of 100,000 (Nerja has a population of just over 23,000) as well as a tertiary system that will allow the reuse of treated water for irrigation.

Chips are down for poker den

The raid is the latest in a series of crackdowns on illegal gambling in Andalucia. In addition to poker, police have also pounced on illegal bookmakers and even bingo games.

CLEAN: Mayor Armijo

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

Sunborn slips in

GIBRALTAR NEWS

ON the Rock

The Olive Press guide to What’s On in Gibraltar over the next two weeks

February 6

Mozart and his Contemporaries Charity Recital for Action for chools – Sierra Leone The King’s Chapel, 8pm Tickets: £10.00 available from Sacarello’s Café Irish Town Gibraltar Crystal – Casemates Square & King’s Chapel All proceeds for “Action for schools – “Sierra Leone”

World’s first five star floating hotel docks in Gibraltar a month before its launch A WORLD first arrived in Gibraltar last week. The Sunborn Gibraltar, the only 5-star floating hotel in the world, finally docked beside the casino, in Ocean Village, ahead of its official opening on March 1. Around a month behind schedule, the 189-room hotel will offer luxury rooms from £228 a night with wifi included.

February 6

Brian Stevendale, the hotel’s chief executive, commented that the final move into position went perfectly and that they would soon been fully staffed and ready to open. Sandra Lamplough, managing director at Ocean Village, told the Olive Press: “We are delighted that Sunborn has chosen

Queens trump kings IT was as true to form as the game itself, when the queens gave the kings a proper run around during a men versus women chess game on Saturday night. The Battle of the Sexes tournament, taking place on a giant chess board, was won 2-1 by the women as part of the Tradewise 12th Gibraltar International Chess Festival. The social event was part of the tournament, described as the ‘world’s strongest open tournament’ by the Times chess correspondent. The event is in full swing all week, with play-

Gibunco again sponsor Lit Festival

THE Gibraltar International Literary Festival, the highlight of the literary year, will once again be sponsored by Gibunco Group. This year’s festival will be held from

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November 14 to 16, although the guests are still under wraps. The first festival last year was a resounding success with speakers including Ben Okri, Kate Adie and Ken Holm.

Ocean Village for its location. “The luxury hotel and conference venue slots into our high-end marina resort perfectly, not least because we offer the convenience of being just minutes from the border and international airport. “Sunborn Gibraltar is a welcome addition to the local

SEXY: Giant Chess

ers including Nigel Short, UK number one Michael Adams and last year’s winner Nikita Vitiugov, nicknamed the Iceman. A total of 70 Grandmasters from all over the world are taking part as well as 130 other players, even including six Mongolians. Reflecting the truly international nature of the competition at Caleta Hotel, some 60 international chess federations are also represented. There was a strong Chinese contingent, including 14-year old Wei Yi, already ranked number ten in his country. Both Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and new Governor Sir James Dutton took time out to visit the tournament. A keen chess player himself, the Chief Minister is looking forward to teaching his son Sebastian, who is nearly two. Planning to get him playing by the age of four, Picardo, said: “Everything in life is like a game of chess, so the quicker he gets to know the rules, the better.”

community, fills a gap in the market for quality accommodation, and we are very much looking forward to its imminent opening.” Much of the preparation work was undertaken by British engineering company Roger Bullivant, which has an office on the Costa del Sol..

Border Watch The Olive Press’ regular section keeping an eye on the Frontier

In come the ‘black berets’

HE growing outcry against the dayto-day disruption caused by the border issues has been highlighted at a large demonstration on the Spanish side of the border. Hundreds of Spaniards attended the rally demanding an end to the current situation, with speakers including La Linea mayor Gemma Araujo Morales. Meanwhile, a group of Gibraltarians have travelled to Brussels to highlight the problems with a ‘noisy, but good natured demonstration’. In recent weeks a new paramilitary style customs squad has also started working on the border. The ‘Black Berets’, as they have been christened by disgruntled motorists, have specialised in increasingly thorough checks on vehicles, even going into the Rock. Among the questions they have been asking people was how much money they had on them. “They even asked me how much was my credit card limit,” said one person stopped. “They then grilled me on why I did not shop in Spain.”

Gibraltar International Chess Festival Gala dinner and Prize Giving, 8.30pm Caleta Hotel For further info www. gibraltarchesscongress. com

February 6

Gun-Salute to mark HM The Queen’s Accession to the Throne Grand Battery, 12.00 noon For further info contact Tel: 00 350 20055083

February 11 -21

Young Art Competition John Mackintosh Hall For further info contact Ministry of Culture Events Team Tel: 00 350 20067241 or email: culture.info@culture.gov.gi

February 19-22

Gibraltar International Dance Festival Organised by M.O Productions For further information contact Tel: 00 350 20071635 or email: mopro@gibtelecom.net

February 20

The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Art-i-Shock Trio Holy Trinity Cathedral, 8pm www.philarmonic.gi

February 22

Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society Wintering Birds on the Rock Princess Caroline’s Battery, 9.30am For further info Jill Yeoman Tel: 00 350 54015060 Email: yeoman@gonhs. org

February 22

Craft & Collectors Fair St Andrew’s Church – Governor’s Parade 10.00 am - 2.00 pm Entrance Fee £1.00 Proceeds to the Church Restoration Fund For further info contact Tel: 00350 54023166 Email: viviend13@hotmail.com

la cultura

1515

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

Artist gets the brush off

THE world famous Lucien Freud (left) cannot find a gallery anywhere in Spain that will take his work, as high insurance costs keep getting in the way. The British artist, who died in 2011, currently has his paintings on show at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, LET’S FACE IT: Insurance and it seems that is where they will stay. costs are too high for Freud Freud was heading for the Prado Mu-

Dome alone!

seum in Madrid, where Manuela Mena, who knew the artist, was lined up to be the commissioner until the costs became too high. The Guggenheim in Bilbao came to the same conclusion, as did Baroness Thyssen, one of the most important art collectors in the world who owns the Museo Carmen Thyssen in Malaga.

Lucien Freud, grandson of the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, selected the works for the exhibition during the months prior to his death with his long-time assistant David Dawson. The Prado Museum had a budget of €39.11 million for 2013, although it recorded a loss of €1.096 million in 2012.

A gloomy picture

ACT OF FAITH: Justo is determined to finish his cathedral

BOX OFFICE earnings in Spain fell by more than €100 million between 2012 and 2013. In real terms, 80 million tickets were sold last year, some 14 million less than the previous year. The general feeling is the trend will likely continue in one direction only. Commentators are blaming unemployment, an increase in piracy, and the increased tax on film stubs, a measure introduced by the government in 2012. The surge, from 8% to 21%, slaps Spanish producers with a tax bill which is at least double the size of their counterparts in other European countries.

For more than half a century an ex-monk has toiled every day on his own creating a cathedral like St Peter’s Basilica. He is neither architect nor engineer and had never even worked with bricks before JUSTO Gallego Martinez is a man with a mission - to build a cathedral before he dies. His story is a remarkable tale of faith, hope and charity. During the Spanish Civil War, the then frightened 10-year old witnessed priests being shot and the ransacking of his local church. Then as a young man, Don Justo, as he is now known, worked the land, but left the green green grass of home behind to become a trappist monk. Sadly, after eight years of the strict monastic regime, he was struck down by tuberculosis and had to leave. But he promised that if he ever recovered from that dreadful lung disease, he would build a cathedral. So on October 12, 1961 - the feast of the Virgin of the Pillar

- he started to build his dream dome. What was even more remarkable, was that Justo was neither architect nor engineer and he hadn’t even worked with bricks before.

Permission

To make things worse, he didn’t have planning permission from the authorities in the town of Mejorada del Campo, near Madrid, and when it came to design - “the plans have only ever existed in my head.” But since that moment more than have a century ago, he has toiled on his own 10 hours a day from six in the morning - apart from Sundays when he attends mass at the local church. At first, many people laughed

at him, some cruelly calling him el loco de la iglesia, but Justo remains undeterred, explaining that “it’s an act of faith.” But others have been kind to him - construction companies have donated materials and he has even been given help from a local brickworks. Their charity has made his job a little easier. Justo is also green through and through - using lots of recycled materials, including old petrol drums for the cathedral columns. He gets his inspiration from several buildings, including St Peter’s in Vatican City and even the White House. But there is one thing against him - time. Justo is now 88

Fake El Greco goes on show A FAKE El Greco painting will go on display as part of an exhibition celebrating the 400th anniversary of the painter’s death. According to an expert, ‘Lady in a Fur Wrap’ is not a portrait of El Greco’s mistress Jeronima de las Cuevas - as many art historians would have it - but rather a depiction of a Jewish girl who lived centuries after his death in Toledo in 1614, by an unidentified Spanish painter. The painting was exhibited 170 years ago in London as ‘The Daughter of El Greco’, but there are no record of him having a daughter. Now owned by the Glasgow Museums and Galleries, the portrait has been seen at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and at the National Gallery in London in 2004, where one curator also doubted its authorship and called for an x-ray using modern dating technology. Glasgow museum authorities have yet to carry it out. Despite the doubt surrounding the painting, it will still take its place among 100 El Grecos in Toledo in two months time. ‘’I’m surprised experts attributed it to El Greco, given that it is light years away from his

FUR ENOUGH: This painting is a fake El Greco style,’’ said exhibition curator Fernando Marias. ‘’We will exhibit it anyway - albeit with an advisory - because it is a beautiful painting in its own right and its history is linked to that of the master.’’

and he is well aware that when he dies the whole building could be demolished. It may take another 15 to 20 years to complete - so there are fears that it could prove . . . a mission impossible. Justo does not want to talk about the future and how his body will cope in the years to come. All he can do is hope. He simply gets on with his daily work, piece by piece, building his dome alone.

Cloisters

So how is he getting on with realising his dream? The building shell covers the 20x50 metre plot. Some 8,000m2 have been built or are underway. They include a complex ensemble of cloisters, offices, lodgings and a library. The cathedral has a dome rising to 40 metres with 12 metres diameter. The steel girders were raised on pulleys with the help of his six nephews - because he could not get a crane So far, not one architect or builder has been prepared to take responsibility for his complex and concerns have been expressed over the structure’s safety. Justo has financed his work by renting out some inherited farmland, some of which he has already sold. Donations from supporters and visitors are welcomed. Most of the materials are recycled. The columns are moulded using old petrol drums, the window arches carry the marks of the tires they were moulded in and bicycle wheels have been used as pulleys. Although Justo has received no official recognition, this monument to the human spirit has attracted documentary film makers and tourists have flocked to admire his work of art.

what’s on

alaga. Grease The Musical, Cervantes Theatre – February 6 until 10. Tickets from EUR 18.

lharin el Grande, Malaga. Animals in Distress Charity Auction, Hiedra Restaurant– Friday 7 February, from 7pm. More details available from Chris, 528 239 174.

alaga. Takatta and Paris 15 present Carlos Jean, Polígono San Luis, - February 15. Men on stilts, jugglers, tight rope walkers, ice sculptures, body painting, drag queens, and DJs.

ijas. A Pure Tango, Teatro Las Lagunas - February 15. Argentine tango show. Information: 952 47 25 96.

alaga. Love, The Musical, Alameda Theatre – February 20. A selection of the best love songs from the greatest musicals – Chicago, Cabaret, Moulin Rouge, We Will Rock You, The Phantom of the Opera. Tickets €13.

la cultura in Flamenco

air having y into the empty rces of one he write histor re resou ‘How does but the meag work with nothing to n body?’ in small huma

Brenes o dancer Adrián ted young flamenc a, she is fascina Cornwall meets r de la Fronter but togethe When Jackie town of Vejer ic meltdown, Andalucían is in econom fusion show. the picturesque of his art. Spain peare/flamenco and first Shakes by the mystery to Florence, on the world’s from Spain takes them they embark be ‘flamenco’. what it is to shared journey her exactly And as their shows York, Adrián Kelly finally to New illustrated with o, book, lavishly flamenc or rming loves Spain ining and heartwa everyone who This enterta ging world. raphs, will delight in a challen Lawlor’s photog of the young about the fate or who cares

EXPLOSIVE: Adrian in action

Jackie Cornwall

hand and gently e take your having someon book was like flamenco.’ ‘Reading this the world of with lead you through fall in love ! You could tand but beware and unders ‘Easy to read ters.’ these charac

in Flamenco

A Summer

An extraordinary new book A Summer in Flamenco tells the tale of how theatre director Jackie Cornwall became entranced with struggling young dancer Adrián Brenes and took the decision to help launch his career. Here, the Olive Press presents the first of a three-part serialisation

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

FlaSumm me er in nco

Kelly Lawlor

Adrián Brenes

all Jackie Cornw r Kelly Lawlo s Ureba

Adrián Brene

Ureba

Jackie

DRIÁN danced ‘with his eyes’, drawing the attention of the whole audience. His performance was explosive but deeply resonant, the wildest, most beautiful gypsy you ever saw. As a theatre director, I know a stand- out performer when I see one. We soon became friends and I began to learn more about his art. Flamenco performers are portrayed as lawless ruffians with dubious habits. They drink hard and live fast. They eat hedgehogs, squirrels and cats. Some of it’s true, of course. Carceleros (prison songs) didn’t evolve by accident. But Adrián is rather different. He is meticulously neat and clean. He rarely drinks alcohol and he does not eat cats. He reads Dostoevsky and listens to Beethoven. He speaks excellent English. On stage a volcano of rebellious, resentful protest, in real life charming, pragmatic and kind, Adrián presented an enigma. How could he be both persons at the same time? Where did he learn to write history into the empty air, having nothing to work with but the meagre resources of one small human body? How is this transformation achieved? This was the riddle at the heart of our book, one I was determined to solve...

Adrián I met Jackie on a winding street in Vejer de la Frontera, a charming white town with romantic corners and cobbled alleys, and she gave me a copy of her history book. I told her I lived in nearby Conil, where later she sent me a poem she had written about my dance performance. I was touched and flattered and I named her my Tia Galesa, my Welsh Aunt. The ‘crisis’ affected us young people very severely. I had a good degree but in the winter of 2011, there were no jobs. As for making my living as a Flamenco dancer, I didn’t dare dream of it. I’ve danced in public since I was nine years old, but I still had plenty to learn and like most performers, I’m never satisfied. By the end of 2011, I felt like joining the Foreign Legion or offering my services to a passing circus, but it wasn’t all bad. Jackie had offered me the chance to co-produce and appear in a world first, a Flamenco production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I was also preparing an April show with a local teacher, Charo Cruz. Flamenco dance originated in Rajasthan, Northern India, and travelled to Spain with the gypsies. African and Irish immigrants contributed strong rhythms and percussive footwork. Women danced with their bodies, cre-

A Flamenco night’s dream ating sinuous movements, while men used their feet and legs, maintaining a rigid torso. A Flamenco dancer is called a bailaor, or bailaora, and a singer is a cantaor, but a guitar player is always a guitarrista. Traditionally, the rhythm, or compás was supplied by palmas (clapping) or by knocking on the table with your knuckles. Nowadays, the line-up often includes a cajón, a boxdrum. There are about a hundred different Flamenco styles, or palos, though some

are rare. I was now preparing to dance two of the most popular, tientos and alegrías. But first, I had promised to teach Jackie to dance sevillanas, the traditional dance for feria. We met in Kelly’s patio for the lesson. Sevillanas are folkloric couple dances which have become Flamenco-ised. They consist of four sections, each with three parts. Jackie had trouble with them, but our lesson was hilarious. She claimed she couldn’t dance because I was distracting her by ‘being too hand-

la cultura

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 20141717

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some’. It’s the most original excuse I’ve heard yet…

Adrián Charo Cruz rehearsed my first show of 2012 in her own studio, the Estudios Sylvestres. People talk a lot about ‘authentic’ Flamenco; the romantic myth that you hear the best Flamenco at 5am when the performers have smoked twenty packets of cigarettes and drunk a few litres of supermarket vodka. Nothing could be further from the truth, and any performer will tell you that you need your wits about you when you’re working. Charo’s studio is set in woodland about three kilometres from Vejer. It’s an airy space and very nice to work in. Even so, the conditions were not ideal because we were all working at different levels. My friend Cristina and I were experienced performers, but some of the other dancers had never appeared in public before. Progress was painfully slow, and sometimes I thought the constantly repeated music would drive me crazy. ‘At last! Peace for my ears!’ I wrote after one session which seemed to go on forever. We gave two performances in early April at the Teatro San Francisco, a new theatre in Vejer. The day of the show was marked by a shrieking wind which scattered debris all over the street. A national strike against the government’s austerity measures fortunately failed to close the theatre. I had prepared to dance alegrías in a group. This is the Cádiz palo which expresses fun and excitement, as well as passion and tenderness. It’s known by its ‘tirititran’ refrain and an easily recognisable tune. Alegrás were once described as ‘wild and ecstatic’. They are one of the most complex palos and are used to judge a dancer’s competence. Before the Alegrías, I danced a group guajiras, a palo originally from Cuba. I had to dance with a fan, which when not in use was placed in my waistband. From there, it gradually wriggled

down my leg and escaped onto the floor while I tried to keep a straight face. We got through a lot of fans on that show. After the show, Jackie sent me a message. ‘Surely you must always dance!’ she wrote, ‘the world needs your talent.’ From then on, she did everything she could to help and encourage me in my dance career. She even suggested writing a book about it…

Jackie In March 2013, Adrián heard that he had been awarded a Leonardo da Vinci scholarship to work in Florence for ten weeks. It meant putting the date of A Midsummer Night’s Dream back by a week but I was glad to do it. The scholarship would give him something to look forward to and might break the deadlock in his career. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was cast from inexperienced but talented actors. I set the play in 1953, the year the Americans came to Spain, and dealt with a mainly female cast by reallocating the Mechanicals as

MASTERCLASS: Jackie gets a lesson from Adrian

EARLY SUCCESS: The pair and (above) Midsummer’s Night’s Dream and Vejer dance (below) American housewives. Adrián and Cristina Zájara played Oberon and Titania, accompanied by a crew of Flamenco-dancing fairies. Five flamenco interludes depicted the quarrel and reconciliation of the fairy King and Queen. Adrián had never acted before, despite his experience as a performer. His voice is rich and resonant, but he had everything to learn about expression, pace and projection. As a co-producer, however, he was highly efficient. He recruited dancers and musicians, arranged rehearsals and created the choreography. One number, danced to the tune ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’ was so beautiful that I was lost for words when first saw it a week before the first night. Adrián quickly learned how to use his voice, and his looks and majestic posture made him an excellent Oberon. His performance was witty and I began to appreciate his sense of humour. Our show was a great success, with full houses every night and queues around the block for tickets, and Adrián was able to add acting to his list of accomplishments. A week after the show, I saw him dance with a friend at the spring fair, before waving him off to get his flight for Florence. The next adventure was about to begin. Next Issue: The relationship deepens

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 79.59% full Same week last year: 79.80% Same week in 2003: 57.84% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.35 American Dollars 0.82 British Pounds 1.49 Canadian Dollars 7.46 Danish Kroner 10.48 H Kong Dollars 8.45 Norwegian Kroner 1.72 Singapore Dollars

LETTERS

www.theolivepress.es

Wake up! I HAVE seen pictures of many dog pounds in SpainPitiful report (OP 179) and it is disgraceful the conditions these poor animals live in. Wake up everyone, this is 2014. We are supposed to live in a civilised world, but not here in Spain it seems, where dogs are kept in terrible conditions, hung, thrown down wells, starved, beaten, and kept in rooms where there is no light, food or water. Local town halls are just in this to make money, they do not care what conditions dogs live in. We need to wake up and stop what is going on. The Spanish people who are helping are showing their own government that they will not stand back and let this happen. Chrystine Macphail via email

True horror I WAS horrified by the front page report about the Sevilla dog shelter (OP 179), but grateful that you have made others aware. I have asked Marbella animal charity Triple A if they can help or have any other ideas to publicise the cause. They of course have their own problems housing so many of their own strays. It is essential to remind owners to check an establishment has licences before they trust their dogs with any kennels or walkers. This is a big con-

Van hire alert

Horses sadly born to be losers

HAVING read the report Pitiful (OP 179) about dogs, I want to advise readers of the problem faced by horses in the region. I represent the non-profit Association CYD Santa Maria, which owns Spain’s biggest rescue centre for abused and neglected horses in Alhaurín el Grande, Málaga. In the past few years horses have been put at even greater risk, with so many more ending up in slaughter houses following the economic cern now with people cashing in on dog related income. Sarah Smith, Marbella

Good insight THERE seem to be several conmen and criminals on the Costas like Mr Goldman (All that glisters is not Goldman) and Mr Moore (Expats shocked by arrest) each reported in the OP (Issue 179).

crisis. In 2012 more than 70,000 horses ended up in slaughter houses according to official government data but no action was taken by society to avoid it. Readers able to offer support should call 610 397 027 as we urgently need help.

Readers might like to check out http://www.oregoncounseling.org/Handouts/ PsychopathicPersonality. htm which gives a nice précis insight on the psychopathic personality. The public image of a psychopath is coloured by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde but not all are criminals, though many may seem amoral or even immoral. Many business leaders and politicians exhibit traits of this personality. Read Snakes in Suits and other books and articles. Fascinating stuff.

Veronika Churchley, Alhaurin el Grande

Open threats

Helena McGinty, via e-mail

I have been closely following the reports on Peter Green (New hunt for car trickster OP 179) as I live in the same urbanization. Recently Mr Green approached me and after saying I had grassed him up and told lies about him he shouted he was going to burn my house down. He also ranted and raved and threatened that I had no idea who I was dealing with. This is clear evidence he is a very strange creature

Always check

Chris Brown, Nueva Andalucia

Will people never learn? (All that glitters is not Goldman OP 179). Never ever, take financial advice from or invest money through unregulated ‘advisers.’ It is easy to check whether they are authorised and if you don’t do it I’m afraid that you don’t deserve sympathy. Spanish courts have a history of ‘laughing’ at investors who have lost money this way. Regulated investment products where you pay the investment company directly (and not the adviser) is the only sensible option in my opinion. Steve Laird,Malaga

Saved by OP Thank you for printing the story New hunt for car trickster. I was going to use him to get an MOT without taking the vehicle anywhere, a service he offers for €400. Now I have heard more about him there is no way that I would trust him. I cannot think why the authorities allow him to trade!

Having read the front page article Van hire crooks (OP 175), I also had a similar experience. I paid Jeremy Griffiths a deposit for van hire in June 2013, and am still waiting for repayment of € 180. He has wriggled his way out of repaying it for the past six months. The vehicle we were given had several serious faults including dashboard warning lights continuously on, bare cables hanging from the diesel tank and several dents and scrapes. When I questioned Mr Griffiths about this he said that the vehicle was legal and that someone must have taken off the correct ITV sticker. Jim Monty, via www.theolivepress.es

Inland need While the European Investment Bank cash investment to upgrade Spanish roads is badly needed (OP 179), a lot of the money also needs to be spent on inland road networks. These in many cases are atrocious and yet Spain has no plan to fix or even repair them. Spain really is Third World when it comes to road repairs. Fred Thacker via www.theolivepress.es

Good, but... I see no problem with the proposals reported in the article Holiday homes targeted in new law change (OP 179). This will ensure that rental properties are adequately maintained, safe and kept to an acceptable standard,and if all lets are subject to the same regulation, the usual competitive forces should ensure that let prices do not spin out of control. It would be interesting to hear, however, if and how this law will affect the regulation of a rural bed and breakfast business. My concern would be whether those responsible for regulation at a local level (i.e. the Ayuntamiento) interpret the regulations uniformly and do not impose unacceptable costs for inspections and licences.

Clarissa Church, Marbella

Terry Masson via www.theolivepress.es

Letters should be emailed to letters@theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

CROSSMOT 25

Across

1 Settee (4) * 3 Helado (8) * 9 Realizar (7) * 10 Criadas (5) * 11 Disturbing (12) * 13 Touched (6) * 15 Giraffe (6) * 17 Que Representan (12) * 20 Matorral (5) * 21 Inútil (7) * 22 X-Ray (2, 5, 1) * 23 East (4).

Down

1 Apoya (8) * 2 Granjas (5) * 4 Común (6) * 5 Fighters (12) * 6 Existed (7) * 7 Mástil (4) * 8 Considerablemente (12) * 12 Ranges (6, 2) * 14 Más Clara (7) * 16 Problemas (6) * 18 Artículos (5) * 19 Utilizado (4).

A Gibraltar More than Marmite at Morrisons www.theolivepress.es

ll about

Vol. 8 Issue 180

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014 1919

February 5 - February 19 2014

Britain in the Sun? You’re off your Rock-er... If your view of Gibraltar coincides with Channel 5’s TV show you should have gone to Specsavers, writes Belinda Beckett

N 1987, Agent 007 parachuted onto the Rock in the opening sequence to The Living Daylights and, after dispatching a would-be assassin, sailed off in his yacht for more exotic climes. In those days, Gibraltar was not the kind of place to leave James Bond shaken or stirred. Fast-forward a quarter of a century and it’s a different story: Bond could have berthed his giga-yacht in swanky Ocean Village and strolled over to the casino for one of his trademark Martinis. After decades as ‘Little Britain in the Sun’, complete with old-school Tardis police boxes and Bobbies on the beat, Gibraltar has been forging a shiny new ID that is decidedly continental – no thanks to Channel 5’s similarlytitled Tuesday night show, now on its second

Photography by David Cussen

Turn to page 20

Gibraltar

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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From Page 19

series, which is doing a brilliant job resurrecting the Rule Brittania and fish ‘n’ chips image (ED: Thank heavens most of us cannot watch it in southern Spain thanks to the ongoing satellite signal shenanigans) With 1.1million viewers, it’s publicity; but is it good publicity? There’s the Health and Safety Officer whose car rolls into the sea because he’s forgotten to apply the handbrake… the ‘Jolly Boy’ marine maintenance engineer who is described as one half of ‘a vaudeville act’ by his own mother… the monkey doctor who carries his ketamine gun down the front of his trousers! With the Laurel & Hardy music and narrator Timothy Spall’s dry wit, you wonder who’s making a monkey out of who…or perhaps Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has shares in the programme? The Gibraltar I’ve come to know is far removed from the clichéd ‘land of hope and glorious sunshine’ portrayed by so-called ‘reality TV’. Park yourself in the Rock’s business district on a weekday morning, with its City of London vibe, and count the suits and ties. White collar workers in Gibraltar are too formal for polo shirts and chinos. If in doubt as to how to greet one, try a handshake before a cheek kiss, or hedge your bets with both!

A cultural fusion of Europeans Yet in a land where Cabinet Ministers are prefixed with ‘the Hon’, it’s easier to get an interview at Number 6 (Gibraltar’s equivalent of 10 Downing Street) than it is to pay your electricity bill in Spain. Gibraltarians may be British but they’re not all expats from Essex. They’re a cultural fusion of European immigrants who have settled there over the past three centuries: Maltese, Por-

Photography by David Cussen

Did you know?

ON GUARD: Outside the Governor’s residence

CLOSED DOWN: Franco shut border

• The height of the Rock is approximately 426 metres or 1400 feet • The distance between Gibraltar and the coast of Africa is 24 kilometres or 15 miles • The Rock was formed approximately 200 million years ago and is composed of Jurassic Limestone • The UK pound can be used freely in Gibraltar, so there is no need to convert UK notes to Gibraltar ones. However, Gibraltar banknotes are not legal tender in the UK and will not be accepted there • In recent referendums the nearly 30,000 Gibraltarians who live on the Rock voted overwhelmingly to reject any involvement by Spain in their government • Queen Elizabeth II last visited Gibraltar in 1954 • The border was closed by Franco in 1969 and was shut for 13 years, only reopened partially for pedestrians in 1982 before being reopened fully in 1985

ROYAL VISIT: Queen in 1954

Looking for a job in Gibraltar or planning recruitment for your company? We can help you find work or new staff in: • • • • •

IT • Marketing • Secretarial Legal Services • Online Gaming Human Resources • Investment Banking Company Administration • Accountancy Finance • Insurance • Compliance

Whether you are actively seeking a change of role, a new direction for your career, a temporary or contract position or planning recruitment for your business, contact us today and one of our consultants will be happy to discuss your requirements and advise on the most efficient and cost-effective method of recruitment. Email your CV today to info@fcr.gi or call us on (+350) 200 62541 or pop into our office for an informal chat.

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Gibraltar

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 201421 21

The continuing sovereignty dispute has seen Guinness World Record traffic queues at the border and the return of virtual siege conditions – and over the centuries the Gibraltarians have survived 14 of those. So Spain, take note. Whatever guerrilla tactics are planned next, Madrid might do well to remember that Gibraltar’s new Governor (the Queen’s representative), is an ex-Royal Marine general who served in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan! If the locals were as daffy as Channel 5 suggests, would Gibraltar’s economy be growing at 7.8% a year with only 3% unemployment. The Britain that’s not in the sun would like those statistics! Last summer, El Pais reported: ‘If it had been part of the IMF ranking of nations, Gibraltar would have the fourth-highest income per capita in the world, at 47,847€ a year’. That’s double Spain’s and you get the same sunshine, without the VAT! FORTIFICATIONS: Gib was once practically a fortress The social security’s on a pay-as-you-earn basis, attractive to tuguese, Genoese, Moroccans, Sephardic Jews …a global vil- impoverished freelances like me paying into Spain’s crippling, lage in more ways than one (the youthful Chief Minister most anti-entrepreneurial, autónomo system. likely went to school with his doctor and everyone knows every- Low corporate tax attracts big business and low fuel costs attracts big cruise liners. On the first working day of 2014, Cuone’s business). nard’s Queen Elizabeth docked in Gibraltar, deAlthough English is the official language, most livering a potential 2,000 big-spending tourists locals also speak Spanish, a lilting Spanglish If the locals were to the shops in Main Street at a stroke – and patois called Llanito and, sometimes, their anas daffy as Channel 180 more liners are on the way this year. cestral mother tongue too – a veritable Tower 5 suggests would With up to 5,000 visitors also arriving daily by of Babel. land and air in high summer, it’s a wonder they Gibraltar’s economy The glue that bonds them is their fierce national can all fit into an area 16 times smaller than be growning? pride. What would Rajoy give to inspire one tenth the municipality of Marbella! of the patriotic flag waving Gibraltarians demonBut Gibraltar lives up to its tourist board slogan, strate on National Day, when there’s more red ‘More than you can imagine’, packing as much and white running through the Rock than in the eponymous into its 6.2 square kilometres than any leading Costa resort. sticks of chewy stuff they sell on Brighton Pier. For a population of 30,000 souls they punch way above their If you want to crunch numbers, that’s 52km of military tunnels, weight, coming second in Microsoft Network’s Hero of 2013 140 natural caves, 240 Barbary Macaques and a 1-millionpassenger airport terminal (although you can’t yet jet to anyawards for standing up to bully-boy Spain.

Sticky business

THE END OF EUROPE: Europa Point and Africa beyond where but Britain, turbo-prop flights to Morocco are due for take off in April with Your Flight). A hangover from its former days as a military fortress, Gibraltar is big on pomp and circumstance, turning out in force for the Queen’s birthday parade and Changing the Guard on a daily basis. There’s a celebration of something every week, plus a version of the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival and a pop festival like Glastonbury’s, without the mud and marijuana. The next excitement (allegedly this month, but don’t hold your breath), will be opening of the Sunborn, the world’s first fivestar floating yacht hotel. In short, there are more compelling reasons to visit Gibraltar than monkeys and Marmite from Morrisons (the Rock is said to hold the chain’s most profitable store) and you don’t need to queue. It’s only €1 to park on the waste land beside the frontier (note: Make sure to get there early though) and it goes to the unemployed people of La Linea, who are stuck between a Rock and a hard place quite literally. So take a large pinch of rock salt when you tune into Channel 5 next Tuesday and enjoy - it’s the last in the series!

Photos by Jon Clarke

Have a coke and a smile as Gibraltar’s apes get ever cheekier and more of a menace, writes Tom Powell

MAJESTIC: An ape at the top of the Rock and (inset) inspecting a Coke can

RABBING food out of bags, snatching someone’s glasses and sneaking through a kitchen window... but this one (inset right) takes some beating. This little monkey has a penchant for all things sweet, including a can of coke. Now numbering around 300, the Barbary Macaques are the only wild monkeys in Europe. A major tourist attraction, but also at times a vicious menace, and, according to folklore it has long been claimed that Gibraltar will no longer be British if the monkeys leave. Winston Churchill certainly appeared to believe so, shipping over extra macaques from North Africa when their population fell to just seven during the Second World War. Signs have sprung up warning people to steer clear of the monkeys and feeding them is illegal, punishable by a fine, yet

attacks continue to grow more and more frequent. Last month, one Gibraltar family came back from work to find that their kitchen had been raided. “It was a huge shock. They had taken a lot of food and made a hell of a mess,” said a friend. Environment minister Dr John Cortes, a biologist, warned that they have ‘lost their fear of humans’, at the launch of a 2012 Government campaign to increase public awareness of their dangers. Traditionally Gibraltar’s most famous residents have roamed free on the rock’s upper reaches, but a cull of 25 was ordered in 2008 when they began to descend upon the tourist hot-spots of Catalan Bay and Sandy Bay. With the monkeys now making themselves at home in the built-up areas, some tourists and residents are calling for stricter measures to avoid attacks.

HABITAT: But new bat prefers dense foliage to caves

Crevice-dweller wings in

A FINE: For feeding monkeys

species of bat was discovered on Gibraltar for the first time ever in December, during a netting session at the Botanical Gardens. The Isabelline Serotine bat was spotted to the delight of a specialist team from the UK who were supporting a study by the Gibraltar Museum. Their findings suggest the Rock is a prime site for bat migration and are confident the species list will continue to increase. The bat is found north of the Sa-

hara, from Morocco to Libya, and is believed to be a crevice-dweller, favouring habitats with dense vegetation and access to water.

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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A genuine melting pot

MULTI-FAITH MEETING: The different religious leaders of Gibraltar meet up

Gibraltar can teach us all how multiculturalism should work, writes Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke

GOT my first real sense of the fascinating mix that makes Gibraltar unique during a visit to the cinema. It was the night of the Oscars and I was appropriately watching The King’s Speech and in the King’s Bastion leisure centre, no less. The place was rammed to the rafters with local families and groups of friends, most of

whom seemed to know each other. And there was a real frisson of excitement, the British film being rightly up for various gongs. But as I sat back to enjoy the trailers I noticed for the first time something very special about this small enclave. In front of me was a row of Jewish friends, while below them was an Asian family and across the steps a Muslim man and his girlfriend. And they all knew each other and swapped banter and pleasantries. Indeed there was a palpable sense of togetherness and pride among the rows of ordinary Gibraltarians who came from every persuasion and faith.

Proud

OPEN: Like most Gibraltarians, Jon Clarke (right) found First Minister Picardo ‘approachable and personable’

888 - a decade of gaming

HEY have now been at the forefront of online gaming for a decade. Based in Gibraltar, 888 Holdings PLC is one of the world’s most popular online gaming, entertainment and solutions providers. “We allow both players and B2B partners to enjoy a worldclass gaming experience,” explains a spokesman. “We also provide an enjoyable work environment where people are challenged and motivated to excel, where flare is rewarded, compensation is fair and the balance between work and family is respected. “Individual development is encouraged and advancement is based solely on merit.” The company is constantly expanding and advises that anyone looking for work to visit its Facebook page (888 Gibraltar), where you will get regular updates on vacancies. They also ask you to ‘like’ it.

It was a real eye-opener, even for a Londoner, like me. For in this true melting pot of beliefs, there was one abiding trait; they were all utterly proud to be British. It should be a lesson to us all, for while I have never been a fan of nationalism, it certainly beats racial segregation and hatred... and is sadly extremely rare these days. It took me a while, but I have really got to like Gibraltar. There is something about the efficiency of its businesses, the ability to adapt to change and the warmth of its people, which appeals to me. People give you the time of day and are always prepared to stop for a chat. They are interested (and interesting) and are rarely without an opinion on this or that. Even their leader, a high-flying Oxbridge lawyer is personable and approachable... someone to share a bit of banter with, to have a chat about the footie or who’s on the bill at the Benicassim festival this year. But above all, it is the fabric of the place that I so admire. Once away from Casemates and Main Street, there are so many hidden corners, a surprisingly amount of well preserved buildings, a treasure chest of history and even some terrific nature walks. And thank the lord; there may soon be a few more places to stay.

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Gibraltar

Raising the game Gibraltar is a place where business is done face to face, as Giles Brown reports

IBRALTAR has well and truly shaken off its image of being a backwater with British bobbies, red telephone boxes and its famous apes. The Rock has carved out a new role, embracing new industries such as internet gaming and financial services, which has opened up new employment opportunities. As well as well-known international firms establishing and in some cases expanding their operations, recent years have also seen young Gibraltarians setting up their own business. Although the British Overseas Territory may only have a population of around 30,000, there is a new found sense of identity among Gibraltarians. Although current delays at the border have had an impact on high street businesses, tourists are still flocking to the Rock.

Cruising

Gibraltar is a hugely popular cruise destination, and in recent years the majority of its hotels have undertaken substantial renovation programmes. Currently, tourism accounts for around 25% of GDP, with more than 8.1 million visitors each year spending a combined £210 million. The opening of the world’s first 5-star floating hotel this year as well as major international hotel chains looking at potential sites in Gibraltar will also increase the accomodation options. Gibraltar’s modern new international airport as well as the introduction of regular flights to new destinations has also underlined that there is a growing confidence on the Rock. And the recent performance of the newly recognised national football team has also added to the feel good factor! But it has been the growth in the areas of legal companies, accountancy firms and online gaming that have been so no? OW KN U O Y DID

Gib: A Business Briefing

What you need to know

CONOMICALLY Gibraltar appears to be rock-steady with an economy formed largely of four main sectors; financial services, the online gaming industry, tourism and shipping. Tourism has soared since the turn of the century and now accounts for around 25% of GDP, while Gibraltar has also become a hub for online gaming and betting, employing about 1,800 people, and around 60% of UK bets now being placed with Gibraltar-based firms. The Rock’s position at the opening of the Mediterranean was vital in its growth as an important port and it is still used by approximately 10,000 ships seeking supplies, changing crews and refuelling each year.

ticeable over recent years. There are numerous big accountancy firms based on the rock, including Deloitte, Grant Thornton and Baker Tilly, while the number of employees in the gaming sector amounts to around 1,800 at present. “Gibraltar is a great place to do business and it is getting better by the day,” explains Russell Hood at First Choice Recruitment. “It’s true that the Rock has changed massively over the past few years but one of the things I like about it is that it reminds me of doing business in the City of London in the 80s. Business tends to be done face to face and

It is also visited daily by cruise ships, mooring in the cruise ship terminal whilst their passengers explore the British Overseas Territory. The financial service sector consists mainly of insurance, investment and company management services. With corporation tax sitting at 10%, compared to 20-23% in the United Kingdom, it is easy to see why Gibraltar is popular with these businesses. Intriguingly, if Gibraltar became a nation in its own right, its 30,000 inhabitants would enjoy the fourth highest GDP in the world (£39,132) This, however, is unlikely to happen as the Gibraltarians overwhelmingly voted to remain part of Britain in the 2002 referendum (98.48%).

that’s the key. “I also love the fact that its so friendly, people are professional without being stuck up, it’s informal though there is the formal side of it.”

Tricky

Hood however, believes that there may well be some tricky times ahead over the next 12 months, particularly due to changes in gaming laws. It comes after the UK Treasury announced that it plans to impose a 15% tax on gambling profits based on their location, not where the gaming company is registered.

Cave’s Rock of Gibraltar

HOPEFULLY a few Gibraltarians will know the words to veteran rock star Nick Cave’s 2003 hit Rock of Gibraltar – but for those who don’t, below is a reminder. The song from the artist’s Nocturama album uses the metaphor of Gib’s political situation to describe a love affair that is ‘betrayed like the Rock of Gibraltar’. Let me say this to you I’ll be steadfast and true And my love will never falter The sea would crash about us The waves would lash about us I’ll be your Rock of Gibraltar Sometimes it’s hard And we’re both caught off guard But there’s nothing I would ever alter The wind could howl round our ears For the next thousand years I’d still be your Rock of Gibraltar The best thing I done Was to make you the one Who I’d walk with down to the altar

You’d stand by me And together we’d be That great, steady Rock of Gibraltar Under the big yellow moon On our honeymoon I took you on a trip to Malta And all through the night You held me so tight Your great, steady Rock of Gibraltar Could the powers that be Ever foresee That things could so utterly alter? All the plans that we laid Could soon be betrayed Betrayed like the Rock of Gibraltar

The forthcoming changes are already being blamed for 90 redundancies at William Hill and 30 at Betfred, officially put down to help ‘streamline’ their businesses. “With the POC tax coming in at the end of the year we are all pretty sure that the online gaming industry is going to decrease by 50% here, but nobody knows for sure” says Russell. “The rumour mill, however, is in overdrive.” It’s not all bad news, however. Gibraltar has seen its established financial sector continue to grow with corporate service providers and insurance companies expanding their operations. Financial services and finance is where a lot of the future for Gibraltar will lie and it is becoming a bigger insurance hub all the time. “People want tax efficient structures that are totally above board,” explains Russell. “So everybody is very heavily regulated now.” Charlene Lugnani-Locke is one of the new breed of entrepreneurs setting up in Gibraltar. While people are highlighting industries such as finance as important for the future, there is still space for niche businesses such as the Gibraltar Soap Shop. The high leases on Main Street ruled it out as a location, but effective marketing as well as having a unique range of products have resulted in a successful few opening months. “We have a niche here at the moment and there is a huge demand for natural products” she says.

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Heading for the heights! Walking journalist and respected rambler Guy Hunter-Watts offers a fabulous alternative look around the Rock

IRST associations of the southern European coastline are all too often of crowded beaches, busy coastal roads and blocks of holiday apartments. Few conjure up visions of the wilder beaches of the Costa de la Luz or the tail end of the Sierra Subbética, the mighty chain of mountains which rises up a few kilometres inland from the Costa del Sol, of the wilder beaches of the Costa de la Luz. One of the best though is a walk - known as the Gibraltar Circuit - which offers walkers a fabulous three to four hour trip around the enclave. I was bowled over when I discovered this mesmerising trail thanks to my friend Freddie Vasquez of local legal firm Triay & Triay. The highlight of the walk – so long as you have a head for heights - is the footpath that leads up the sheer southern face of the Rock, popularly known as Mediterranean Steps. This giddy path has recently been restored by

the Bonito Trust and you’ll be marvelling at the derring-do of those who built it. There are many more treats in store. After negotatiating the steps next comes Douglas’ Path which cuts along Gibraltar’s rugged spine with huge views both east and west. The next challenge comes in the form of Charles V’s Wall which you descend via a series of steep flights of steps. And to end an already magnificent circuit up pops Ingliss Way leading back towards the start point of the walk through a thick stand of Mediterranean scrub. It beggars belief to think that the cut-and-thrust of Main Street is just a few hundred metres away. It is a wonderful stroll and well within the capabilities of anyone in good health who walks on a regular basis, provided, as I have said, that you have a good head for heights. Find this walk and 50 others in Guy’s book Coastal Walks of Andalucia

STROLL TO THE TOP: The walk is not for the faint hearted

Gibraltar

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VISTAS: The views from the top are amazing

HE walk begins in front of Landport Gate just beyond the drawbridge. From here cut through two tunnels to reach Casemate Square. Head along the square’s left side then continue to the far end of Main Street passing John Macintosh Square then The Convent. At the far end of the street pass beneath an arch then cut right across a pedestrian crossing. Bear left, traverse a second crossing and head on past Queen’s Hotel. Angling left you reach the hotel’s entrance. Here cross the road, pass right of a restaurant to the lower station of the cable car then angle left across a car park to the gateway to the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. (20 mins)

Beyond the gate climb two flights of steps, pass a statue of Elliott (commander of the Rock during the Siege of 1779-83) then after 15m bear left up a narrow path. Climb another flight of steps then continue up Olive Tree Climb which merges with a broader path which leads to a red post box. Here cut left at a sign Exit Upper Rock and climb past The Rock Hotel’s swimming pool. Passing through the gate to the gardens continue parallel to Europa Road to a footbridge, cross the road then head up Engineer Road. The road climbs steeply to the gates of the Nature Reserve of The Upper Rock. Continuing to climb the road leads to another set of gates and a ticket box (40 mins) (it’s worth 50 pence and a short detour to visit one of the hypothetical sites of the The Pillars of Hercules, Mons Calpe). Angling left beyond the ticket box to a barrier you reach the beginning of Mediterranean Steps. Passing a metal gate you follow the steps along the near sheer face of Gibraltar’s southern flank. Passing a signboard

Gibraltar Circuit via the Mediterranean Steps & Ingliss Way THE NITTY-GRITTY Distance: Time required: Rating: Total height gain: Map(s): Water:

10 kms 3.5/4 hrs Medium 525m IGN 1:50000 series Algeciras 1078 No springs so take plenty

detailing the fauna of the Upper Rock the path cuts left and climbs steeply: ropes help your upwardly mobile course. Reaching a bricked up building (1 hr) angle right through a tunnel beyond which you pass two bunkers: the views from the platform just beyond the second one are breathtaking. Angling left the path zigzags up to a signboard describing the Rock’s unique flora. Passing a group of antennae you reach the highest point of the walk as vistas open out to the west. Angling left and descending you reach the entrance gate to the World War II Tunnels. Here cut right down a narrow road for 400m to a junction and sign 1789-1897. (1 hr 25 mins) Here cut right past a barrier: you’re now on Douglas’ Path which angles up to the ridgetop through thick Mediterranean scrub where it reaches O’Hara’s Battery. Continue along the spine of the Rock, now descending, to St Michael’s Road. Angling right here you pass a signboard telling of a Spanish attack on the Rock in 1704. Continue along the road then pass beneath an arch where Gib’s resident apes often gather to look at tourists. Beyond the arch you reach the top of Charles V’s wall. Continue up St Michael’s Road, angle right at the first fork then climb to the top station of the cable car where there’s a café and a viewing platform up to the right: close encounters of the ape kind are guaranteed as well as mesmerising views of Africa and the western end of the Costa del Sol. (1 hr 40 mins)

Retrace your footsteps to the top of Charles V’s Wall (WP19) then cut right and make your way down the first section of wall. Cutting right then left, drop down its second section. Cut right at a brick building then left through a gate and continue down the third section of wall to a picnic area. Exit onto Queen’s Road where, just opposite, you’ll see a sign for Ingliss Way. Follow the path up past an old bunker. 15m before reaching a tarmac road the path cuts left and threads its way through thick Mediterranean scrub. Crossing a plastic pipe you reach a fence. Cutting right the path climbs then arcs left, parallel to a low wall. Angling left and descending across two metal pipes you come to a road. (2 hrs 15 mins) Cut left for 50m then angle right along Queen’s Road. Reaching a Give Way sign continue straight on towards the entrance to The Great Seige Tunnels, angle left down Willis road for 200m then loop hard right. After 150m angling once more left past The Moorish Castle you reach twin Give Way signs. Here angle right and drop down to a crenellated tower then follow the road as it angles left. Just as it arcs once more right past two huge palms cut left along a One Way street. Reaching a sign for Castle Steps turn right down a flight of steps which angle right then left to a junction. Turning right along Engineer’s Lane you return to Main Street. From here retrace your steps to the start point of the walk. (2 hrs 50 mins)

INTREPID: HunterFindaProperty_126x170_Advert_Layout 1 Watts on the walk

03/02/2014 12:33 Page 1

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 201427 27

On the Up!

TRANSFORMATION: From a bustling local community and back, with new bollards and steps (far right)

VER a quarter of a century ago, Gibraltar’s Upper Town was a veritable social hub, brimming with kiosks, shops and cafes and children running around in the streets. But due to a series of land reclamation and social housing schemes in the 1990s, much of the local population relocated to the west side of the Rock. The only people left behind were the elderly and the area soon became rundown and dreary with no cafes, shops or any life to speak of. The community spirit, street parties and camaraderie were all but snuffed out and days of mothers sitting on the steps of Calle Comedia to shoot the breeze as they watched over their kids, had all but gone. Despite continual promises of ‘urban renewal’, nobody wanted to buy in the old town because the area was so dilapidated. There was so much housing stock inhabited by people on benefits and sit-

Gibraltar’s Upper Town, the scene of long term dilapidation, is geting a much needed spruce up with a new boutique hotel and cobbled streets, writes Rebecca Faller ACCESS: New escalator ting tenants that landlords could only charge peppercorn rents, so in-turn they never had the necessary funds to maintain their buildings. Subsequently the facades started to crumble along with the civic pride. Only now is the old spirit finally starting to come back thanks to a government programme to resettle its own tenants into brand new accommodation leaving whole tranches of property available. It has led to these properties slowly be-

ing put out to government tender, with the proviso that any successful bidder must prove they have the funds to purchase and refurbish the entire property to a suitable standard within a two-year time frame. A successful street-restoration programme involving the installation of cobble-stones, wrought iron railings, ornate lampposts and hanging flower baskets is making the area attractive to a new generation of buyers.

2013 saw the completion of the beautifully integrated Engineer Lane multistorey car park with public lift and escalator service into the upper reaches of town, another incentive to relocate, and already the area around Castle Ramp, New Passage and Ansaldo’s Passage is starting to see green shoots of growth. The old St. Bernard’s Hospital is being completely renovated to house a new school and community playground, and a nine-room boutique hotel complete

with a cafe-bar will open to the public at the end of this year. Government has just announced more properties available for tender so by the end of the decade the Upper Town is set to witness a renaissance. One hopes that, much like Tangier and Tarifa, the arrival of the first boutique hotel will create a knock-on effect and soon the cafes and shops will come back to help return this neglected part of the city back to the vibrant core of yesteryear.

Gibraltar

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JUMPING FOR JOY There are three types of dolphin swimming around the Bay of Gibraltar... and the best way to see them is via the ‘Jolly Boys’, out of Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun

LOOKED back at the iconic Rock as we sailed away with the wind in my hair - and a little less glamorously - the spray in my face. We were on board Dolphin Adventure’s catamaran in search of dolphins in the Bay of Gibraltar. As it turns out, the bay is the permanent home of three different species; common, striped and bottlenose, with transient dolphins visiting the bay for food, shelter and to breed in their hundreds. They are attracted to the area by the clean water coming from the Atlantic which is rich in nutrients and brings lots of smaller fish such as sardines and mackerel that the dolphins feed off. We had been warned as we set off from

EYES PEELED: with Dolphin Adventure Marina Bay that you see fewer dolphins in winter and there was a chance our search would be in vain, but everyone on board remained optimistic as we scanned the waves. Sure enough minutes later we spotted a pod of around 20 striped dolphins and

our captain Angie headed straight for them. “To be honest we almost always see dolphins and if punters are unlucky we give them a voucher so they can come back another day for free,” explains our guide Tony, from Dolphin Adventure, better known as one of the ‘Jolly Boys’ from popular TV show, Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun. “In the summer they come together and you can see them in their hundreds. “In the wild they live for 35 to 40 years whereas in captivity the common dolphins live for 15 years,” adds Georgia. It was a magical feeling to watch these creatures in their natural habitat, with the common and striped dolphins playing together. They had soon come right up to the boat, swimming at our feet and playing with us, seemingly as curious about us as we were of them. You could even hear them breathing as they came up for air - they can hold their breath under water for up to five minutes - and swam around and under the boat. Iwas completely mesmerised watching them and time stood still until they vanished just as quickly as they had arrived. It was clear from the smiles on board, that everyone had enjoyed the experience as much as I had. “It is the best job in the world,” smiled Tony. You had to agree, it couldn’t be far off.

Winging it across the Straits GIBRALTAR has long been a key location for spotting migrating birds. The Strait of Gibraltar is the narrowest crossing point for birds migrating to Europe and Africa, resulting in over 200 species of birds regularly being recorded flying overhead. The vegetation on the Rock provides an inviting temporary home for these species of migratory birds that stop to feed before continuing on to their journey over desert and sea. The main bird watching season runs from February to October, but those wanting to see the greatest variety of species should visit during mid-April to mid-June. During this time, birds such as the Egyptian Vulture and storks are still migrating north and most of the summer visitors have arrived to breed.

INVITING: A temporary home

For further information please call (00350) 200 50650 or visit www.dolphin.gi

BORN FREE: Common, Bottlenose and Striped dolphins

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FOCUS: THE PEOPLE OF THE ROCK

Puff Daddy

Maurice Stagnetto’s family business has been the Rock’s leading provider of fine Cuban cigars – and a lot more - for over a century

AURICE Stagnetto’s office on Main Street is a true step back in time. Then again his family business Lewis Stagnetto has been running since 1870, initially as a grocer’s shop, also selling the enclave’s finest cigarettes and cigars. It was from this wood-paneled office upstairs that his father and grandfather before him used to work – both coincidentally taking photographs from its window of the high street flooded below, some decades apart. There are pictures and mementos all around, including some lovely old grainy shots of his family with General Montgomery and Ted Heath on various visits to the Rock. Best of all, is a selection of cigarette packets from the 1940s, which were all made by the company, before competitors from outside destroyed the business in the 1950s. “It was a thriving business, mostly roll-your-own, until the likes of Camel and Players started coming in, but we just had to accept it and move with the times,” explains the Tangier-born businessman, who joined the family business at 22, having studied law at Kingston Poly in London.

HISTORY: Maurice (top) and (above) his grandfather with General ‘Monty’

They have certainly adapted well, opening no less than four shops on the High Street and 10 pubs and bars around the enclave. “We started to distribute Heineken in the 1950s and are one of the oldest distributors in the world,” explains Stagnetto, who is also the President of Gibraltar’s Rugby federation. But, more than anything, the company prides itself as having the best selection of fine Cuban cigars on the Rock. It is certainly an impressive climate-controlled shop, a ‘casa de la Habana’ franchise, at 41, Main Street with the cigars provided by celebrated Hunters & Frankau in Chelsea. “We get them exclusively trucked down for us,” continues Stagnetto, a regular visitor to Cuba, who smokes two or three cigars a week. “I started after I gave up smoking cigarettes and they are fantastic for a bullfight.”

FOCUS: THE PEOPLE OF THE ROCK

OST people were sceptical when Tony Hernandez and his business partner Glen Sanders decided to organize a Gibraltar wine festival last summer. “We tried to get all the main wine distributors on the Rock interested,” explains Hernandez, 42. “We told them we hoped to get 500 people to turn up and they said; ‘Never – you’ll never get that many!’ and left us to our own devices.” It says a lot about the pair behind My Wine that come the weekend in September, no less than 3000 people rocked up for the event. “It was fantastic and so we are already planning something similar for later this year,” continues Hernandez, who has

BUBBLING UP!

worked in wine for 14 years and has numerous qualifications under his belt. With a fantastic nose (certainly helped by an earlier career in the perfume business), he has managed to gather a wonderful selection of international wines

in his shop, near Casemates Square. Appropriately a vault, which maintains a cool temperature in summer, the pair have selected a superb range of wines from no less than 18 countries around the world. There are some impressive Burgundies, Champagnes and Bordeaux’s from France and the shop can order any First Growths its customers might want from a contact in Catalonia. But, perhaps more excitingly, there are some fascinating New World chestnuts, including every single one of Francis Ford Coppola’s wines from California. The one thing the pair don’t push is Spanish wine. “All my rivals sell Spanish wine; we are more interested in international wines and in particular, smaller, less commercial ones.” This is immediately obvious, although they do have some great Sherries, and they have recently also introduced a new ‘gourmet’ section. And most days they also organize wine tastings and corporate events next door in their wine bar with tapas. Visit www.mywinesgibraltar.com

In Gib for the day? Pop along at 12 pm for our daily wine tastings! We’re just 150m down the road to your left as you exit the Coach Park

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Gibraltar

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Leading insurer since 1876

HEY have been providing insurance for well over a century. In fact Capurro Insurance & Investments Ltd is a family firm dating back to 1876. The company is an insurance intermediary, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and approved to provide cross-border insurance services in Spain and in Portugal. As approved Lloyd’s Coverholders, they can provide house insurance for properties located in Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal or their islands. The properties may be either primary homes or second homes and may be owner-occupied or rented out to tenants. “The Capurro Insurance business model is all about providing clients with financial peace of mind and protection of their family and possessions by giving good advice and offering valuefor-money, while enjoying job satisfaction, so as to achieve long-term, steady growth but maintaining stability, company values and reputation,” explains a spokesman. For more information Capurro Insurance & Investments Ltd, at 20 Line Wall Road, or call 00350 2004 0850 or visit www.capurroinsurance.com

ANIMAL KINGDOM: For centuries the Rock has been a haven for apes, while (left) a trio of dogs used for smuggling, (bottom) troops survey the bay and (right) a flood on Main Street. Meanwhile (top right) taking off from the old runway

At 888 Holdings Plc. we recognize and believe that our employees are a large asset to the success of our great organisation, the reason why this still makes us one of the largest and growing companies in the e-gaming industry; 888.com, a public limited company.

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Orwell: ‘Gibraltar Chronicle was more or less pro-Fascist’

OST famous for his novels 1984 and Animal Farm, not many know that British writer George Orwell spent two days on Gibraltar in 1938, noting down his thoughts on the Rock. He had stopped off there, en route to Morocco with his wife, after suffering a serious injury from fighting for the Republican Government during the Spanish Civil War. His notes include musings on various local newspapers, including their adverts and political standpoints. He said of the Gibraltar Chronicle, now the longest-running newspaper in the world, that it was ‘more or less pro-Fascist’. He also mentioned a destroyer, the Jose Luis Diez, that lay in the harbour, as well as the Rock’s wildlife. “Population of the town is about 20,000,” he noted. “Largely Italian origin but nearly all bilingual English-Spanish. “Many Spaniards work here and return to Spain every night. At least 3,000 (of them) refugees from Franco territory. Authorities now trying to get rid of these on pretext of overcrowding.” He continued: “Standard of living not very low, no barefoot adults. Fruit and vegetables cheap, wine and tobacco evidently untaxed or taxed very

VISIT: Orwell visited in 1938 little.” “No English sugar or matches, all Belgian… Some of the shopkeepers are Indians and Parsees. “The Barbary Ape is said to be now very rare at Gibraltar and the authorities are trying to exterminate them as they are a nuisance. “At a certain season they come down from the rock and invade people’s houses and gardens.”

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The boat’s come in Ocean Village is in safe hands with the arrival of a fantastic new 5-star floating hotel this month, writes Sarah Drane

S Spain’s Economy Minister spreads the good news that GDP could grow by almost 1% in 2014, a completely different story lies across the border in Gibraltar. Less than an hour’s drive from Marbella, facing the African continent a mere 14 miles across the Strait, Gibraltar has an economy for the world to envy. Over the last five years, throughout the global economic turmoil, Gibraltar’s GDP is estimated to have grown by 7.8% in 2012/2013 alone – and is ranked in a global top 20 for growth globally. Its staunchly British community of 30,000 enjoys a GDP per capita of £41,138 and unemployment is less than 3%. How does it do it? The answer is that the 6.8km² territory attracts a remarkable amount of new investment. A legal system based on UK common law, low business-friendly taxation, no CGT or VAT, little red tape, EU membership and regulation, OECD White List status, a strategic geographic position, English language, Latin flavour and year-round sunshine, have all helped the economy to flourish with shipping, financial services, tourism, and more recently, online gaming (28 e-gaming firms now account for 20% of Gibraltar’s GDP), forming the keystones.

Competitive

Arguably Gibraltar’s finest modern day success story is the mixed use resort of Ocean Village. Comprising striking blue glass-clad residential towers, an array of retail units, 4,500m² of office space, and leisure facilities from a Health Club to dolphin tours, sailing to diving schools, this is Gibraltar’s ‘stay play dine’ epicentre. And, what’s more, very exciting plans are afoot for the location in 2014. Starting with marinas, positioned on the coveted sheltered western side of the Rock, Ocean Village and neighbouring Marina Bay cater for even the largest of superyachts. Not only are berth costs highly competitive, but fuel is the cheapest you’ll find in the EU – around 40% lower than Spain. A new floating glass-domed office has arrived from Amsterdam and is currently being refitted for marina use and, from February 2014, a very special superyacht will be in town – Sunborn Gibraltar. The 144 metre 189 guest room 5-star yacht hotel with swimming pool, sun decks, spa and fitness centre, VIP casino, cocktail bar, fine dining and top floor restaurants, a grand ballroom and conference area for up to 500 people, brings a new level of deluxe hospitality to Gibraltar – and indeed Europe. Sunborn Gibraltar will, for some time, be the only 5-star yacht hotel in existence in the world and fill a genuine gap in Gibraltar’s hotel offering for premium service and quality facilities. Sunborn Gibraltar will slot into the high-end marina resort perfectly. Moving onto office space, World Trade Center Gibraltar (WTCG) is back on track. With its application approved by the World Trade Centers Association back in October 2010,

an anchor tenant and negotiations are ongoing for a ‘big five’ accountancy firm and a New York securities trader. Elsewhere in the resort a further 900m² of eco-friendly healthy-working offices are under construction with completion scheduled for spring. These will host a private bank and European lottery company, bringing a further 100 desk-based jobs to the Rock.

Cuisine

COMFORT: The rooms on the new Sunborn floating Hotel (top left) are classic 5-star luxury the £45m project is now expected to break ground in the first half of 2014. From the same developer as Ocean Village, and within walking distance of Gibraltar’s new £65m international airport terminal, WTCG offers 16,260m² of flexible five star office space across seven storeys. Contracts have already been issued to

Finishing with leisure, soon to join the established Irish and British pubs, champagne bar, cafés, and all kinds of cuisine from pizza to tapas, Cuban to Indian, is Chinese restaurant Shanghai Gardens. Furthermore, Ocean Village’s hugely popular casino, the only one in Gibraltar, has undergone an exciting change of hands. Gryphon, a Swiss subsidiary of Austria’s Novomatic Group, has bought the busy venue from Gala Coral Group – thus wrapping up the British betting group’s exit from the casino sector. It is in very safe hands with Novomatic Group, a recognised provider of high-tech gaming equipment in 80 countries, as well as a world class operator of casinos in Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, the Czech Republic and Chile.

Gibraltar

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30/01/2014

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How to get well! Gibraltar businesswoman Anna Moffatt has set up a new wellness centre, after consolidating her property business Find a Property. Here she explains why...

HE age of stress is definitely upon us, and by stress I don’t mean feeling tired, getting headaches, being irritable, etc, I mean the dangerous stress we cannot see, but feel through other symptoms and generally ignore. This is the state of mind and body I am interested in and the state I am trying to highlight to people who are living in a constantly exhausted state. Symptoms I often come across are total fatigue or manic behaviour, the feeling of heightened excitement and desperation and of total depression. Then there is hair loss, rapid weight loss, weight gain, rapid heart rate, especially at night, feelings of anxiety, night sweats, nightmares, many of which can be put down to classic symptoms of flu or normal everyday feelings resulting from late nights and too much partying. However, BE AWARE, these symptoms can be a result of your body being completely over stressed by many things including high toxicity, bad diet, excess alcohol, heavy metal poisoning, over-work and an inability to process packaged foods. The great thing is you do not have to live like this and can achieve an enormous change in the quality of your life, while ensuring that serious disease and illness in the future is significantly reduced. To help in that quest I have recently set up the wellness centre on Main Street. It has become apparent that more and more people are seeking help from alternative remedies. They know that prescribed drugs can sometimes make the situation worse and cause more toxic overload on an already exhausted body.

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

Dream, Believe, Achieve with Cambridge 800! Losing weight has never been easier. Mandy and Ian Lister lost weight with Cambridge 800 and look at them now! They were finalists in our 2013 Slimmer of the Year competition. With a nutritionally balanced Cambridge Step Programme to suit your needs and guidance on a one-to-one basis from your Accredited Cambridge 800 Consultant, you too can achieve your goals just as Mandy and Ian did.

ENTREPRENEUR: Anna can help you with your health at her new centre Although, of course, prescribed drugs are sometimes necessary, rest, vitamins and mineral supplements and a good diet consisting of lots of vegetables and protein can change your body and the way it behaves. I guarantee it can have a positive effect on your emotional and mental state. A simple consultation at my centre will show you how to do it and which are the key areas for concern. A good start is to cut down on sugar, wheat, fruit juice, alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks. Drink plenty of water, eat plenty of green vegetables and eat a fair portion of protein every day, including eggs, lamb and chicken. Fish is ok but as little as possible as it cuts down the risk of mercury poisoning from our heavily polluted seas. Try to chill at night at least two hours before bed, put down the iPad and switch the TV off to rest your brain, you will sleep better. The main aim of the centre is not to make you beautiful from the outside by using harmful chemicals but to work on inner beauty and heal you from within. For more info visit Wellness Centre Gibraltar at 113 Main St, or contact us at 00350 20076604 or reception@wellnesscentregib.com

Don’t go on a diet, choose Cambridge 800 and find the right Programme and support to lose weight for good. Believe in yourself and you will achieve your goals.

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Creating synergy between mind and body We offer: • Accupuncture • Nutrition Advice • Energy Healing • Counselling • Hair Analysis (to test for toxicity) • Sports Massage Therapy • Cranial Sacral Therapy We are also commencing our weight loss program for 2014 two • Meditation meetings per week, get fit and healthy for summer.

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FOCUS: THE PEOPLE OF THE ROCK

Built from scratch A

AMIABLE: Eddie Lucas

FTER a couple of years working in the Gibraltar civil service Eddie Lucas figured there had to be something more exciting to do. It was the heart of the 1980s property boom and he saw a gap in the market… to open a builders merchants. Now 27 years on and things are still going strong for Interbuild, one of Gibraltar’s key suppliers of materials for the construction business. “I saw an opportunity for materials,” explains the friendly

Builders Merchants Interbuild has been going for nearly three decades thanks to the drive of boss Eddie Lucas

Gibraltarian, who had previously earned himself an MOD apprenticeship. “I think we developed fast due to our strong belief in putting the customer first – without exception.” The merchants’ supplies a range of products, from range ovens to paint and

U KNOW

DID YO

Gibraltar

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

T has become a hit film starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara (above) and has even been nominated for five Academy Awards. So it bodes well for Gibraltar that the so-called ‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ chooses the Rock as her ideal escape at the end of the massive selling Millenium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. In the final part of the trilogy Lisbeth Salander jumps on an early morning flight to Malaga before taking a taxi straight to the enclave,

Dragon Tattoo girl chose Gib ‘a place that is not like anywhere else’. While there she meets a Financial Times-reading German businessman at the Rock hotel and spends time with her secretly gay lawyer Jeremy Stuart MacMillan, who is administering her huge multimillion euro fortune from his small back street office. She even manages to feed the Barbary apes and go on an all-day bender starting at Harry’s Bar.

An extremely positive end to the third of the trilogy of books The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, the book paints a strong and vivid picture of the place. And, as there are already plans to turn the remaining two books into films then the Rock can be expecting some high profile visitors at some point soon.

from fireplaces to kitchens. “We try to supply only the finest products around, tried and tested products we would only be too happy to have in our own homes,” adds Lucas, who has a keen interest in local politics. Around 90% of the products are imported from the UK including Dulux paints, British Gypsum, Hammerite, and Black & Decker. The business also works with Rangemaster ovens, Bosch appliances and Tempur mattresses and pillows. “Interbuild can boast of having supplied materials to virtually all new developments on the Rock, from basic brick and blocks to roofing tiles, luxury kitchens and appliances to paints and street furniture,” adds Lucas. “Our motto ‘Working Hard for Your Business’ remains to this day and it is our code of practice. I am confident you will find our competitive service and customer support hard to match,” he adds Visit Interbuild at Unit 12 The New Harbours, Gibraltar. Tel (350) 200 74567 or email sales@interbuild.gi

LISTENING IN: Daryl hears out a customer

No normal corner shop

T’S anything but your normal corner shop... and it’s been around for a while. Well, since the second world war to be exact. And another thing about Corner Shop Ltd (above), it is not actually a corner shop, it is really a chain of two shops selling perhaps the best quality paints and home decorating equipment on the south coast. Run by an amiable Gibraltarian Daryl, it stocks all the leading UK brands including Dulux, Cuprinol and Hammerite.

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The Official Distributor for

t. (+350) 200 78452 t. (+350) 200 40600 f. (+350) 200 70083 e. sales@cornershop.gi

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Gibraltar

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Cancer boost from STM Nummos

It’s simple to get a yacht registered in Gib, writes Jonathan Stagnetto

Plain Sailing

IBRALTAR’S situation at the gateway to the Mediterranean, its British Flag Registry and the facilities provided by its local marinas means that it is ideally placed to service all registration, mooring, repair and maintenance needs associated with the yachting world. All vessels registered in Gibraltar are registered as Brit-

ish flag vessels with documentation being identical to the UK requirements and are required to fly the Red Ensign. Gibraltar’s status within the EU exempts it from levying VAT on goods and services as it does not form part of the EU’s Common Customs Tariff area. For this reason, if you register your yacht in Gibraltar you pay:

Up for the cup

AiméeJay Intimates is the best place to find the right swimsuit size

INDING the perfect swimwear wardrobe to take you through the long summer on the coast can take some planning. The secret to feeling more confident in swimwear is to find a style that fits well and flatters your shape. This is achieved by wearing cup-sized swimwear instead of dress sized triangles held up by an ever tightening knot on your neck. Once you have been bra fitted by a professional, try swim styles with built in bra support that work with your proportions, regardless of your dress size. Aimée of AiméeJay Intimates, in Gibraltar, explains: “We have over 400 bra sizes in swimwear, and offer different size tops to bottoms to allow top or bottom heavy ladies to find a perfect fit whether they are a 26B or 38K. “Placing a bra inside a suit, tankini or bikini changes a ladies shape and offers her confidence down the beach with no more gaping or squashing involved!” Give it a try and see why cup-sized swimwear is set to lead the market in 2014.

• No VAT in Gibraltar • No Import Duty (if your vessel is not based in Gibraltar) • No tax on the sale of your vessel Under the laws applicable to yachts registered in Gibraltar in the name of limited companies it is: • Not necessary for shareholders or company directors to be nationals or residents of Gibraltar

• Not necessary for the vessel to be surveyed annually • Not necessary for the skipper to hold any form of mariner’s certificate in the case of pleasure yachts under 80 GRT.

Entitlement

The persons entitled to be

owners of British Flag vessels registered in Gibraltar are: • British nationals • Citizens of the European Union resident anywhere in the EU. • Companies incorporated in British territories and having principal places of business in these jurisdictions. Non-EU nationals can therefore make use of Gibraltar Companies as approved vehicles for the ownership of their yachts under the British Flag. All vessels registered in Gibraltar, be they in the name of Gibraltar companies or EU citizens, are required to

ADVICE: Jonathan Stagnetto appoint Registered Agents in Gibraltar to attend to all Registry and Radio Licensing requirements for the vessels in Gibraltar. For more information contact Jonathan at FORM-A-CO (Gibraltar) Ltd at formaco@ gibraltar.gi or call (350) 200 79959

TM Nummos Life SL have boosted cancer awareness and raised funds for the Gibraltar Society for Cancer Relief with their last coffee morning. Organised by Sonia and Vickey Fendley, they raised over €1300 thanks to generous donators such as RAD ONE Sotogrande, which gave a full body scan worth €1000, and Humanline, which donated a full health check among other prizes. The company is an official intermediary for health insurers BUPA, Interglobal and ALC Health and is committed to finding individuals and businesses the most suitable insurance. “With STM Nummos, the service doesn’t end once a client has bought their health insurance; we continue to provide advice and assistance on all aspects of the policy,” said a spokesman. “We are committed to treating clients as names, not policy numbers and they are dealt with on an individual basis, not through a call centre.”

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t: +350 200 79959 f: +350 200 79894 e: formaco@gibraltar.gi www.formaco.gi Licensed by the Financial Services Commission Licence Nos. FSC00467B/FSC00468B/FSC00469B/FSC00802B

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Gibraltar

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Just can’t get enough!

“T STATE OF PLAY: It’s the afternoon of Friday January 24 and the Olive Press is still going strong at the ICC shopping centre by Casemates Square, in central Gibraltar

THE OLIVE PRESS IS NOW DISTRIBUTING 4,500 COPIES ON THE ROCK Here are the main places stocking the Olive Press in Gibraltar: • Café Fresco • O’Reileys • Ibex Insurance • Morrisons • Elliot Hotel • Sacarello’s • ICC Shopping Centre • Cafe Solo • Café Rojo

• Colourworks • Rolex • Caleta Hotel • Interbuild • Ibex Insurance • Eroski city (Waitrose) • Gala Casion • King’s Bastion

WICE as many clients and half as much stock,” is how Mike Nicholls,chartered accountant and man aging director of Gibraltar’s international estate agent, Chesterton, defines his current dilemma. Ever since Spain introduced its new 720 form - which requires Spanish residents to declare their overseas assets - and then subsequently imposed the stringent border controls, his agency has been inundated with requests for residential apartments both for rent and for sale. “Yet there has been no new property being built on any scale in Gibraltar for some time,” he adds. “Ten years ago, there were 14,000 jobs in Gibraltar. Today there are 22,000. In that time just 3,000 properties have been built. That’s far too few to accommodate the many relocating employees and high net worth individuals who wish to live here,” adds the agent,

IBRALTAR has a fairly good standard of health and unlike the UK it has not been affected by the recession. In fact, the Gibraltar Health Authority offers a range of healthcare services including Acute, Primary Care and Mental Health Services, which are funded by government revenues and those registered within the scheme. This means that healthcare services for contributors are free of

Demand is outstripping supply as local agencies, like Chesterton, are currently inundated with requests to buy or rent property on the Rock who works out of an office in Ocean Village. As a result of this demand, property prices are rising at a healthy rate (said to be around 8% last year) which makes estate agents happy. But can the prices continue to go up in 2014 and what will happen to the market this year? “Well we are happy as we are selling three times as many properties as this time last year which is great. “However, we are depleting the pool of

IN RUDE HEALTH

charge and prescription costs have been kept at a low rate of £2.50 per item or a maximum of £7.50 no matter how many items you need. As with the UK, residents who fit into categories such as low income are exempt from these charges.

HAPPY: Chesterton’s Mike Nicholls

available property stock and without a significant building programme; Gibraltar is going to price itself out of the market.” He continues: “Luckily the Government is embarking upon a construction programme of apartments for local residents and we expect that to free up properties for the open market, but it will take a while, two to three years. “Meanwhile, this forthcoming year is all about keeping our ears to the ground and allocating apartments to waitUnlike the UK, elderly Gibraling clients just as soon as they tarians benefit the most in become available. We just the system, with pensioners can’t get enough properties!” being able to receive care in the UK due to an agreement International estate agent which mirrors EU regulations. Chesterton was established in And because the territory London in 1805, and opened has a more limited range of its doors in Gibraltar in March specialties, they also pay for 2008. It claims to be the largpatients, together with an est agency in Gibraltar and its escort, to receive treatment client base is individuals and in UK hospitals such as The companies relocating from Royal Marsden Hospital, Guys abroad predominantly for tax and St Thomas’ Hospital. and lifestyle reasons.

Gibraltar Landlords make a killing

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HERE has never been a better time to be a landlord in Gibraltar. A combination of new arrivals, border problems and a tighter tax regime in Spain, have created a major scarcity in places to rent. According to Anna Moffatt of Find-a-Property it is now ‘extremely difficult’ to find a home to lease on the Rock. She currently only has two properties on her books and when one three-bedroom house came up in January, she had five potential clients fighting over it, literally on the doorstep. “It was madness. All five cli-

And sales market healthy too with growth of around 8% last year

ents turned up around the same time, each with the 1,800 pounds deposit. It was so hard to decide who should get it and we had to be fair to give it to the

first to have called,” she explains from her office, near the Elliot Hotel. She estimates that the average landlord is making an

eight to nine per cent return per year, at present. “Property prices have gone up around 8% too, so it really is a healthy market,” she adds.

Savills: Into our third year! AVILLS Gibraltar is now entering its third year. Located in Irish Town, the office is part of an international network

of more than 500 offices and associates around the world. “We have offices throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, offering a broad range of specialist advisory, management and transactional services to clients all over the world,” explains a spokesman. The Savills brand, with its distinctive logo, is a major presence in the industry and with Gibraltar’s international

DYNAMIC: Savills boss Sammy with Fabian Picardo

presence growing, a distinctive brand like Savills is good for the enclave. Savills has a multi-disciplinary office, which opened in February 2012, offering, residential sales, commercial sales and lettings, development and planning services. “We have a unique combination of sector knowledge and entrepreneurial flair, but our main focus is to deliver an outstanding service for our clients,” added the spokesman. “In the market that is challenging like never before, we candidly believe that old fashioned team values are more important than ever. Clients of Savills will find that our drive and dynamism are a real part of the way our team does business. Our team provides a comprehensive range of services to landlords, tenants, developers and investors alike. Perhaps our strongest suit is the art of negotiation, not least because we strive to hire the best people in the industry.” Find us at www.savills.gi

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 201441 41

HEALTHY: Buena Vista is a great place to invest Paul Gibson, chartered surveyor, at NP Estates agrees that things are looking healthy for the market. He believes that over the last year there has been a big increase in people locating to Gibraltar from Spain due to the tightening of tax rules. “And there has been further pressure on the limited housing stock from companies continuing to expand or relocate here,” he explains. “The unreasonable border controls imposed by the Spanish Government have also added to the issue.” The shortage of rental property

has led to people actually buying properties in order to have somewhere to live. “Investors also continue to be active in the market and we are often able to pre-let prior to completion.” He believes that at the top end of the market demand has also improved with a substantial number of sales completing in 2013; property development also continues at the ‘Buena Vista Mews’ development and at the ‘Sanctuary’. “I expect demand to continue in 2014 in all sectors with January having been a busy month,” he adds.

COOL BY THE POOL: At the Sanctuary

Your professional introduction to Gibraltar Property, tax, relocation

Over 200 years of property experience and over 70 offices worldwide

Chesterton 20 Ocean Village Promenade Ocean Village Gibraltar

T: + 350 200 40041 F: + 350 200 44011 enquiries@chesterton.gi chesterton.gi

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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WHERE TO EAT

Gibraltar

DYNASTY: The first Sacarello clan to arrive in 1817 and (right) the bustling restaurant today

A family affair

Jon Clarke picks out a selection of interesting spots to eat on the Rock

T’S been going for nearly two centuries, and Sacarello’s is never anything but rammed. A true Gibraltar haunt for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea or supper, this charm-

ing old café is one spot that doesn’t seem to be able to do anything wrong. Whatever you fancy, you will be looked after, but when it comes to coffee it cannot be beaten. “I grew into the business,” says current manager Patrick Sacarello, 61, whose great-grandfather Bartholomew founded the existing business in 1888, following in the footsteps of his Italian grandfather, a trader, who had arrived on the Rock in 1817. “Although I studied at a London university, I ended up back coming back to coffee because it’s such a beautiful business.” With nine nieces and nephews, Patrick is hopeful the Sacarello dynasty will continue going strong after him.

AL FRESCO: Diners at Cafe Solo and one of its celebrated pasta dishes

Another café that is extremely popular with the locals is the centrally-located Café Solo on Casemates Square, which has a terrace, almost always full at lunchtimes. You sit with wonderful views of the Rock and watch the world go by as you eat a great range of dishes and specials of the day. A mixture of Italian and Mediterranean food, it is popular on Trip Advisor and the owners are a friendly pair. For a more formal fine dining experience you should head to charming Queensway Quay, a millionaires playground, where houses start at £4.2 million mark. Here, you will find the long-established Waterfront restaurant, as well as the excellent Landings, which has counted John Prescott, First Minister Fabian Picardo and a variety of Coronation Street stars as guests. “We get a lot of wealthy yachtie types too,” explains owner Ann Hudson, who heralds from the south coast of England. The menu is also appropriately grand, with a superb mix of exciting dishes and plenty of adventurous cuisine. This season’s highlights include a delicious duck leg and a seafood salad of lobster and prawn, beautifully presented with a slice of goats cheese, baby grapefruit slices and a free range egg.

WHERE TO STAY

Exciting year ahead SCENIC: Caleta Hotel

T is an exciting year ahead for the Gibraltar hotel scene. Apart from a floating five-star hotel – the Sunborn – which is scheduled to arrive in Ocean Village this month, there is a new Marriot and even a boutique hotel on the drawing board. But, perhaps one of the most exciting changes will be the complete redevelopment of the Caleta Hotel, long the enclave’s best sited hotel, on a headland with fantastic views along the Costa del Sol and off to Africa. Consistently winning the award for Gibraltar’s Best Hotel at the

World Travel Awards, its manager Franco Ostuni, is now set to oversee a renovation of the hotel, as well as the construction of a completely new five-star hotel next door. “It is certainly an exciting year ahead,” he explained. Other hotels worth considering if you fancy a proper break in Gibraltar are the Rock Hotel and the excellently sited O’Callaghan Elliot, right in the heart of town. Sitting just off Main Street, it sits off perhaps the enclave’s prettiest square and has a good range of facilities.

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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The Full Momy

HEN he started out in the property business there were four estate agents on the Rock. “Now there are around 30,” he explains from his office, right next to the seat of government in Gibraltar. “And I have certainly seen rather more than one change in my time.” That amounts to 53 years in business… and right now things are looking fairly rosy for Gibraltar’s property market. “It’s certainly first class from a letting point of view,” says the sprightly 77-yearold, who is - as ever - impeccably dressed with one of his trademark bow ties. “As far as sales are concerned, people come here for tax reasons. They come with two million pounds, buy a flat, and have residency. That’s good news. “For everyone else, especially people coming from the UK, the banks and the building societ-

Property market is healthy on the Rock, reckons Solomon Levy MBE

ies are not being as cooperative as they used to be and they should be. “The market has been affected and although Gibraltar only has 30,000 people we are part of the world and the financial crisis has affected us.” Affectionately known as ‘Momy’, the former mayor of Gibraltar has one small confession to make to the Olive Press about modern technology. “I’ve been working for 53 years but don’t know how to turn on a computer,” the life-long Arsenal fan admits. “The only thing that I really use a computer for is to order my bow ties!”

Soap shop cleaning up!

HE Gibraltar Soap Shop is one of Gibraltar’s sweetest smelling success stories. The store, located in Cornwall’s Centre, is the brainchild of Charlene Lugnani-Locke, who first began making soaps with her mum at home. The shop offers a huge range of soaps in every conceivable shape and size, as well as body scrubs, derma rollers, face care products, candles and even snake venom (more natural and better for you than Botox) and bee venom (Kate Middleton is a big fan). All of the products are made from carefully selected premium natural ingredients, and the Gibraltar Soap Shop prides itself on its environmental credentials. “It’s been an ambition for years,” says Charlene “My mum started making soaps at home so I’ve been doing this since I was little and I just carried on. “We make the majority of the products that we sell here” she continues. “People don’t realise that many products that claim to be natural actually have chemicals and additives that are bad for you.” Everything there smells delicious and looks good enough to eat, quite literally in the case of the soap lollipops. “When we first opened people thought that we were a cake shop and were asking if we sold bread!” laughs Charlene.

CHEMICAL FREE: The products of the new soap shop

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Property

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Top place to invest Spain is doubly attractive to buyers looking for residential and commercial property SPAIN has been named one of the most attractive countries for investors looking to buy both residential and commercial property. The country ranked joint first with Ireland in a survey carried out by the Urban Land Institute. The report highlights that investors are becoming increasingly comfortable with taking more risk in search of returns. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this is Dublin, which

has risen dramatically in the city investment rankings, moving up from 20 in last year’s report to second in 2014.

Highlights

The weight of international capital is also leading investors to turn to other recovering markets, such as Spain. The report highlights that 67% of respondents believe that there are now good buying opportunities in Spain, with the acquisition of the

Parque Principado mall in Oviedo by Intu and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board for €162 million highlighted as an indicator of mainstream interest in the market. However, sceptics argue that debt is very hard to attain and that it is a risky market to invest in before there are signs of any growth. The resurgence of investment in Ireland and how far the Spanish real estate market recovers, will be two of the key stories in 2014, the report suggests.

The house of cards! MORE than half a million Spaniards are suffering from ‘negative equity’. This means that if they lose their home, they would still be indebted to the bank, according to financial comparison site Kelisto.es. It is a situation that the company predicts will get worse and a trend which has increased from affecting 0.3% of mortgage holders to 9.5% in the past five years. Estefanía González , responsible for personal finances at Kelisto, said: “The number of people affected has not stopped growing. “The most significant increase occurred in 2011, when the number of ‘bubble’ mortgages grew a spectacular 847% over the previous year. “In terms of money, the estimated figure has been put at €13 billion, with the estimated average difference in the value of the mortgage against the value of the property being in the region of €22,216. This is based on an average mortgage of just over € 100,000. Meanwhile, the average price of housing in Spain has fallen by 38.5% from € 245,313 in 2007 to € 150,787 in 2013. Homeowners in Catalonia and Madrid are the most affected by the phenomenon, with housing valuations falling 47.2% and 43.4% respectively. Of the total 581,441 homes that were worth less than their loans in 2013, 42.6% were concentrated in these two communities. Third on the list of most affected regions is Valencia, where 11.6% of the total number of properties which are now worth less than the mortgage are located, a total of 67,181 homes, slightly ahead of Andalucía with 66,418, but considerably ahead of the next in place, Castilla y León, with 26,668.

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

Property

News IN BRIEF

On the up ... SPANISH banks are showing signs of promoting residential mortgage and car loans again for the first time since the crisis, with recent annual results from major lending institutions showing massive home sales from balance sheets last year at discounts of nearly 50%.

… selling up GERMANY’S Commerzbank has hired investment bank Lazard to sell its entire real estate loan exposure in Spain worth about €5bn. The move marks the bank’s biggest such operation in Spain. Potential buyers include banks and private equity groups mainly from the US and UK.

Daylight robbery THE number of burglaries has increased as a result of the economic downturn, according to Linea Directa. A total of 90% of homeowners told the insurer they would like to see the law strengthened to prevent this kind of crime.

www.theolivepress.es

Top of the bill!

FEWER Spanish homeowners in Spain fell behind on their mortgage repayments in December 2013 than a year earlier, according to Fitch Ratings. The ratings agency said that the volume of loans entering arrears in Spain is slowing as the economy stabilises, although the volume of loans in late stage arrears continues to increase.

Discounts

In the last quarter of 2013 (Q4) the level of loans in arrears between one and two months stood at 1.4% compared with 1.7% in Q4 2012. Data collected by Fitch suggests that servicers are more actively pursuing the

BALANCING BOOKS: Fewer homeowners are falling behind on repayments

sale of properties taken into possession, which is resulting in higher discounts on original valuations. For properties sold in 2013, the average discount was 71.5% compared with 48.3% for all properties sold since 2009. These heavy discounts, along with a steady increase of defaults seen in PROPERTY sales hit record highs across the Bale- recent quarters, drove the volume of defaulted loans aric Islands in 2013, according to market insiders. A total of 30 villas priced at over EUR 5 million sold higher to 3.6% in Q4 2013 in Mallorca, with the exclusive Port Andratx magne- from 3.3% three months ago. tising a significant proportion of the new buyers. Germans were by far the biggest investors in Mallor- The oversupply of properties on the market has can, followed by Brits and Scandinavians. Across in Ibiza, between 18 and 25 villas priced lead to continual declines. above two million euros changed hands in 2013. One In addition, banks are real estate agent said it has come into 2014 with ne- looking to offload the siggotiations on five separate properties on the table, nificant number of properties on their balance totalling in excess of €10 million. Buyers have included French, German, English, sheets and are therefore accepting heavy disSpanish and Portuguese citizens. counts.

Mallorcan magic cast its spell

Au revoir, France, hola, España

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RECENT survey by the UK’s leading online real-estate portal, Rightmove, found that Spain has overtaken France as the place most British buyers will look to purchase a second home in the future. The popular website’s specialised foreign property section surveyed more than 3,000 people last autumn to find out where they are planning to buy abroad, and their reasons for doing so. One of the goals of the poll was to understand prospective buyers’ motivation when acquiring a property overseas. The results revealed that more than half (51%) of all potential purchases would be for use as a second home, while over a third (36%) of respondents intended to move to their new home abroad permanently, and the remainder (13%) were buying for investment purposes. France continued to be first in the rankings for those planning to emigrate, ahead of Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. Many of those planning on starting a new life abroad said they chose the UK’s European neighbours, rather than destinations further afield, like Australia, Canada, and the US, to stay closer to family and friends. But, when it comes to choosing somewhere they would like to own a second home, Spain led the rankings for the most in-demand destination. The UK’s traditional favourite, France, still accounted for 23% of the total, but Spain was 37% of respondents first choice for where they would be looking for a place in the sun. Shameem Golamy, head of overseas at Rightmove, said: “Spain has always been

The Property Insider by Ad am Neale

a popular location for buyers and this report, coupled with being the most popular search, shows it’s set to become even more popular. As well as people looking for a place for their perfect holiday home, there are also those looking to buy as an investment due to the number of rental opportunities buying a property out there will bring.” According to another survey by Rightmove Overseas, published last November, Spain also came out top of the list of countries in which British property investors would choose to buy in 2014, ahead of the US, France, Greece, and Italy. Spain’s combination of climate, culture, cuisine and close proximity to the UK, with many destinations on the coast and inland served by short flights with low-cost airlines, helped put the nation in first place. And price reductions of up to 50%, compared to the market-high in 2007, have certainly attracted investors. Rightmove Overseas register an average 500,000 searches a month for the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, alone.

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Notta lotta bottle

COCA-COLA is looking to close four of its 11 bottling plants in Spain in a move that would affect 1,250 jobs, the company has announced. The company’s Spanish subsidiary, Coca-Cola Iberian Partners, plans to shut its plants in Asturias region, the Balearic Islands, Madrid and in Alicante, the union said in a statement. Union UGT said it was seeking to negotiate with CocaCola to head off the closures and would launch strikes and demonstrations to press its position. The company said it would try to place 500 of the affected workers in other positions and offer the rest early retirement or attractive termination packages. The news follows that of the latest unemployment figures, which showed the proportion of jobless Spaniards remains at around 26%.

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the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

The Olive Press fortnightly business section taking a look at the Spanish economy and offering tips on how to save AND make money

SPAIN’S black economy has flourished as the country struggled through a brutal economic downturn. A new study released by the Finance Ministry estimates off-the-books activity accounts for 24.6% of Spain’s economy at the end of 2012, up from 17.8% before the crisis began in 2008. The shadow-economy problem is now one of the worst in western Europe. A report last year pegged Greece’s black economy at 24% of GDP, Italy’s at 21%, and Spain’s at 19%. Another report from 2013 estimated that 1 million Spaniards work off-the-books.

Incentive

Many officially unemployed people do ‘mini-jobs’ in the black economy, while some who hold legal jobs supplement

Black economy is now the worst in Europe, at 24.6% of the economy their income with underground work. The study says Spain’s government exacerbated the black-economy problem by raising taxes as it sought to reduce budget deficits—increasing the incentive for businesses to go underground—while

New-look microwave

A TEAM of researchers from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) has developed an ultra-compact microwave oven which will be marketed for use in hospitals, hotels and nursing homes. The microwave, which is just nine centimeters high, is designed to heat up food trays in a different manner while saving space. This new microwave includes two compartments, one for soup, meat, fish and other foods suitable for heating, and another for products and objects that cannot be heated, such as fruit, salads or cutlery.

Family tax relief hopes Cultural industry’s tax break

THE government has slashed the tax on the sale of works of art as a ‘first step’ to help the culture industry, which has been hit by the impact of a 21% sales tax. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government decided at a ministerial meeting to cut the tax by more than half, to 10%. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said: “It is a measure to support creators of works including paintings, sculptures, art galleries, art dealers, antique dealers and the world of plastic arts in general. “It is a first step. We believe we should take a series of measures, including on taxes, to promote and defend culture in Spain.” The tax hike was introduced in 2012 in a bid to rein in the ballooning public deficit. At the same time, it eliminated a special 8% sales tax for cultural products including cinema and theatre tickets. The sales tax on art works in France was 10%, Germany 7% and Belgium 6%.

FINANCE Minister Cristóbal Montoro has announced that the Government will review family tax relief ahead of the next tax reform. Mr Montoro reiterated the Government’s commitment to helping Spanish families and promoting equality of opportunities. As part of this he proposed a modernisation of Spain’s family taxation. This meeting highlighted a growing need to ensure all family members are treated fairly by the tax system. In addition, Mr Montoro was urged to introduce more incentives to file jointly. This could involve, for instance, taxing family units as a single taxpayer. The Government’s objective is to factor in the evolution of Spanish society, including most notably gender equality. Ultimately, the reform would seek to encourage women’s participation in the labour market, further foster gender equality and help achieve a better work-life balance for mothers.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Growth boost ECONOMY Minister Luis de Guindos said that the gross domestic product would grow by close to 1 % this year compared to the current official figure of 0.7%. It would be the highest rate of growth since the crisis began.

Bonding time

failing to implement ‘efficient tax control’. Spain has only one tax inspector per 1,928 taxpayers, compared with one to 729 in Germany. Jordi Sardà Pons, a professor at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, said the problem was also made worse by what many deem to be an unfair tax system. Sarda said: “There are great companies and great family fortunes that pay very little by finding legal means to reduce their tax bills. “This contributes to tax avoidance by other taxpayers, who feel that “if the rich do not pay, why do I have to pay?” See 2014: The real numbers behind the headlines on page 6.

SPAIN’S government bonds are at their strongest levels for years, despite ongoing economic turmoil. Yield spreads are at their lowest for four years as the market considers government bonds as a safe haven investment.

Profit boost SPAIN’S banks have reaped significant profits thanks to their large holdings of domestic sovereign bonds. The lenders snapped up the high yielding bonds after borrowing cheap money from the European Central Bank.

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52 52 the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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Desigual plots world domination in ambitious expansion programme

Design for growth

A SPANISH fashion label is accelerating its expansion in Europe and emerging markets in a bid to cash in on the predicted rise in demand for women’s apparel.

Barcelona-based company Desigual is also expanding into the perfumes and shoes market. The colourful brand has gained a reputation for bold marketing, offering free clothes to shoppers who

By Claire Wilson arrive in their underwear to special sale parties. After expanding outside Europe three years ago, it is now targeting

Ex-printer was a ‘real artist’ in his forging of €50 notes POLICE have released more information about ‘an artist’, who could prove to be one of Europe’s biggest ever forgers. The 60-year-old man, who detectives describe as a ‘real artist’, was picked up at his house in Toledo, surrounded by fake €50 notes. “It would be easy to fool anyone with these bills. They’re very well done,” explained a detective, adding that the man was a self-taught graphic artist who had previously worked in the printing business. He said: “This type of counterfeiter has a big ego and a big drive to excel. “Logically they keep trying to outdo themselves because its an illegal product and the better it’s made, the more popular it will be on the black market.” Following a year-long investigation, officials from Spain’s national police and Europol detained the man in the garage of his house. Police said the quality of the man’s bills – and the sheer volume he produced – had

made him one of the top counterfeiters in Europe. Police were able to recoup notes worth €310,000 but there are believed to be millions of euros of fake notes on the streets, thanks to him. The garage of the man’s modest home had been turned into a workshop, with every inch of its cramped, messy space filled with printers, stamps and ink cartridges.

Microwave

Police also seized a homemade oven, described as a type of microwave, designed to dry the counterfeit notes. Full pages of printed-out €50 notes sat on a worktable, waiting to be cut. Crumpled-up printouts of rejected notes sat in the rubbish bin. Along with his signature €50 notes, police found stacks of dollar bills, which will be sent to the US for further analysis. A box full of printer paper was also seized, with the heads of former American presi-

MONEYMAN: The ‘artist’s’ workshop and (right) the man himself

dents embossed several times on each page. Police say the man also falsified passports for various European countries. Four others were arrested as part of the operation, including the man’s 45-year-old wife. The three others, said police, worked to introduce the counterfeit notes into the economy. More arrests are expected in the case, as police believe the man worked with a team of about 30 people.

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

Real fraud is in the courts!

T is a well-known fact that when one is not happy with a court decision, it is generally possible to appeal at the same court and/ or the Court of Appeal (Audiencia Provincial), depending on the type of case. This is something common to most legal systems in the world. Of course, the same dispute submitted to different judges can also render different results, and lawyers may employ different courses of action, legal strategies or judicial routes depending on how they feel they can best achieve their aims.

Conflicting

Even more crucial is the handling of evidence, its timely submission and further authentication, if questioned by the other party, as well as the general handling of the proceedings by different lawyers. All of these elements can produce logical, but conflicting court decisions. However, what is not logical is to find that three national criminal courts (in three different provinces), faced with the same claim drawn up by the same lawyers - on behalf of clients located in various parts of Spain. Each

Justice system is ill-equipped to deal with fraud cases, writes Antonio Flores, as was the case in the recent Landsbanki case with the same claim and the same proof. But this is exactly what has happened in the Landsbanki case, brought by a group of victims of Landsbanki Luxembourg in three different provinces in Spain (Málaga, Alicante and Mallorca). What is most interesting about this scenario though is that two of the courts consider that there is no criminal case to answer whereas the third, has decided that the case should proceed. Differing views in fraud cases are particularly concerning, because while one judge may feel that a complaint is just a means to speed up a resolution of a mere civil dispute, another may see it as a clear (and more serious) whitecollar crime. It goes to sum up my opinion that the Spanish judicial system is particularly ill-equipped to deal with fraud cases.

sales of €1 billion this year – from about €820 million in 2013 and €440 million four years ago – and plans to add 100 stores a year for the next three years. Director of Operations Manel Jadraque plans to build a powerhouse brand to rival those of French luxury group LVMH, where he worked for a decade before joining Desigual. “In the next three years we plan to grow about 20-25% a year,” he said. “The big idea is to double the company every four years.” Global consultancy firm McKinsey predicts the global women’s apparel market will grow almost 5% a year for the next decade, rising from a historical average of just over 3%. Emerging markets are set to account for over half of the sales, rising from 37% today. “The market for fashion will double in the next 10 years,” said Jadraque, who sees competition between 20 companies

Market mumbles

including Spanish rival Inditex , which has grown fast to become the world’s biggest clothing retailer with more than 6,000 outlets.

Mission

Founded in Ibiza in 1984 by Swiss designer Thomas Meyer – still the company’s sole shareholder – Desigual says its mission is to put at least one item into every wardrobe in the world. The company currently sources about 80% of its goods from China and India, but plans to increase production in Europe as it seeks to improve quality. Jadraque was optimistic about the economic recovery in Spain, where Desigual expects to hire 200 of the 1,000 new staff it wants to add to its team of 4,000 employees this year.

with Mark Rickard

All eyes on Carney

ITH Interest rate announcements in both Europe and the UK, the market will be focusing on what Mark Carney will do, or imply he might do in the future. He seems to be very much in charge, and the markets are hanging on his every word/decision. In these fragile economic times such leadership qualities are being widely respected, his speech in Davos, and his address regarding Scottish devolution and Scotland dropping out of Sterling, were highly influencial. Let’s see what his next move is?

Last Week

BOLD: Desigual

Last week in the UK Q4 GDP came in at 0.7% and the economy grew by 1.9% in 2013 allowing for revisions. Mortgage approvals jumped to 71,600 in December, the highest reading since January 2008.

IN CHARGE: Carney This Week

Monday 9.28am Manufacturing PMI Jan previous 57.3. Tuesday 9.30am Construction PMI Jan previous 62.1. Wednesday 9.28am Services PMI Jan previous 58.8. Thursday 12pm Bank of England MPC decision. Friday 9.30am Trade Balance Dec previous -£9.439bn. Friday 9.30am Manufacturing Production Dec previous 2.8% y/y.

Europe

Last Week

In Europe we saw further evidence of Germany hold-

ing Europe up with the IFO business climate survey climbing to 110.6 and the unemployment rate dipping to 6.8%. However inflation continues to grind lower and now stands at 0.7% - a worrying trend for the ECB policymakers. There was a small improvement though in the unemployment rate to 12%; however the economy overall in Europe still looks very fragile.

This Week

Monday 8.53am German Manufacturing PMI Jan previous 54.3. Monday 8.58am EU Manufacturing PMI Jan previous 52.7. Wednesday 8.58am EU Services PMI Jan previous 51.0. Wednesday 10am EU Retail Sales Dec previous 1.6% y/y. Thursday 11am German Factory Orders Dec previous 6.8% y/y. Thursday 12.45pm ECB Interest Rate Decision.

Contact HiFX to help you with your international transactions, call in at Centro Plaza, call 951 203 986 or email olivepress@hifx.co.uk

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53 53

Advertorial

CAN YOU AFFORD TO RELAX THIS WINTER KNOWING THAT ‘FATCA’ IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER?

he deadline for completing Form undeclared offshore assets should leave 720 may well have passed and you in no doubt that top of your priority if you bothered to complete the should be to restructure your savings and form you may be wondering what investments so that they provide maximum Hacienda will be doing with all the tax efficiency in the jurisdiction where you information they have gathered and are resident. how this will affect you Spain has not acted in isolation, personally. Alternatively the UK government has been Spain has not you might have ignored the busy ratifying agreements with acted in isolation in situation completely and the Channel Islands and the be bracing yourself for a ratifying agreements Isle of Man for full disclosure of hefty fine or investigation for full disclosure of information following on from perhaps you have decided the accord that was reached information to renounce your Spanish with Switzerland at the end of residency but at the same last year and which came into time continue to enjoy the Spanish effect in January. lifestyle by remaining in the country Now the UK Chancellor has set about tackling more than the allotted 183 days. the offshore centres such as Cayman and Whatever your personal thoughts the BVI to ensure that information is passed unequivocal ambition of all governments directly to HMRC who in turn have agreed to around the world to go to war on share their findings with their counterparts in

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FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AUTOMATIC DISCLOSURE UNDER “FATCA”? Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

2014 – Bull or Bear? W HEN you look back at market movements in 2013, it all becomes remarkably easy to see when was a good time to invest and when it was not. Overall, 2013 was a good year for equity markets; for example, the FTSE 100 share index closed the year 14.4% higher than its opening point in January but that is only part of the story. The actual high point during the year was on 22nd May and the low point, just a month later on 24th June. Had you invested at the top of the market in May, come the year-end you would be looking at a 1.3% loss. With the gift of hindsight, you would have invested in January, exited the market in May and re-entered in June – by the year-end you would then have been looking at gains in excess of 27%. Sadly we are not blessed with hindsight and even the most experienced of fund managers with their sophisticated technology and research cannot predict with that much accuracy of course. Looking ahead to 2014, what does the year have in store for us? Having opened the year on a relatively high point, it is little surprise that markets have fallen back and, as always, there are many reasons why this might be the case. Against a backdrop of improving world economic news, you would expect markets to respond positively but clearly

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PARTNERSHIP: Good news for golfers

SPANISH firm Liberty Seguros has been elected as the number one for golf insurance across the globe. They signed a contract in Malaga with the Association of Directors and Managers of Clubs and Golf Courses (AEGG), entitling all members to the best possible insurance. AEGG is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to boost and develop the role of Golf Club managers, making it the ideal partner to help Liberty Seguros expand in the golf insurance field.

Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, said: “This agreement is very beneficial to the organisation, to be able to count on a partner such as Liberty Seguros is a breakthrough as they will be able to offer us comprehensive cover that can be adapted to our specific needs.” The policy also covers Personal Accident Cover for death, permanent disability and medical expenses resulting from accidental injury at the golf course. Visit www.libertyexpatriates.es for more information.

that is not the case. Don’t forget, market prices today are typically looking ahead Six months or so and trying to allow for what is to come. An aspect could be profit taking, which will impact short-term prices, but more significantly will be the withdrawal of stimulus introduced over the last four years from the Federal Reserve in the US and the Bank of England in the UK. This will need to be done carefully as they tread the fine line between withdrawing stimulus and supporting a fragile economic recovery. Having said that, in the UK, we have

seen the Bank of England move away from targeting inflation in favour of focusing on lower unemployment and here the statistics are looking much brighter with unemployment falling and the number of people actually employed in the UK reaching all time highs. Mark Carney, Govenor of the Bank of England has stated that interest rates will not start to rise in the UK until unemployment falls to around 7% but he has been quick to state more recently, that he does not see rates rising in the near future, despite unemployment coming down somewhat faster than expected.

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Fury over no-food doll

OUTRAGEOUS: Nenuco won’t eat

A SPANISH toymaker has been slammed by health campaigners for producing a doll that refuses to eat. Nenuco Won’t Eat, which is on sale throughout Europe, turns its head away when a child attempts

to spoon feed it. It comes with a magnetic feeding spoon, and while at first it refuses the food, when the spoon is turned and pressed against the doll’s mouth a switch is triggered which makes it eat the food.

British health campaigners argue it encourages children to develop eating disorders such as anorexia. But the manufacturers say the issue has been blown out of proportion.

Celeb diet dangers

Research reveals that people on high protein diets are more likely to develop kidney stones HIGH protein diets - popular with celebrities - increase the risk of kidney disease, say researchers at the University of Granada.

Central heating bad for slimmers CENTRAL heating could play a part in our bulging waistlines, according to Dutch experts. They claim higher temperatures remove the need to burn calories to stay warm, so therefore mild cold homes and offices could be an easy way to slim down. The Maastricht University Medical Centre group say 19C is the optimum temperature for balancing comfort with calorie-burning.

Controversial high protein diets such as the Dukan diet, developed by former French GP Pierre Dukan, also involve minimal starch and car-

bohydrates. The study revealed that people on the Dukan diet - popular with celebs such as Jennifer Lopez and Kate

Middleton’s mother Carole - are more likely to develop kidney stones. Scientists gave ten rats a 45% protein diet and another ten a normal diet over a period of 12 weeks, which is the equivalent of nine years in human terms.

Top of transplant league SPAIN remains number one in the world for organ donations, latest figures show. Lung transplants rose by 20% in 2013 and pancreas transplants went up 10% with about 15% of families approached in Spain refusing consent for organ donation The organ transplant system began in 1989 and identifies potential donors by closely monitoring emergency wards. When they learn of a death, coordinators tactfully talk to the grieving families to get permission to harvest organs and help save the lives of others. Italy and Portugal have employed a similar system and their organ donation rates are now also on the rise. Rafael Matesanz, the director of the National

Risk

Organisation of Transplants, said: “You have to break the news of the death well, explain the details of the procedure well and really listen. And the family almost always agrees to donate.”

Although the high-proteinfed rats lost 10% of their body weight, they also had 88% lower levels of urinary citrate and their urine was 15% more acidic, putting them at a much greater risk of kidney stones. Dr Virginia Aparicio, of the University of Granada, said the effects of the Dukan diet can be offset by eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables.

Spain and UK in health level tie

SPAIN has been classed the 13th most healthy country in the world jointly with the UK - in a study compiled by the World Health Organisation. The report found 100% of Spanish people have access to safe water, and a low 27% of the Spanish diet relies on carb-heavy foods such as cereals, grains, and tubers. The study reveals that 26.6% of Spaniards are obese, and 11.3% have diabetes. The country was joint 13th with the UK, in which 8.3% has diabetes, and 100% have access to clean, safe water. While only 4% of the country is considered undernourished, 26.9% is obese. The top three are the Netherlands, France and Switzerland.

OP Columnists A Marbellous Come-back! “A

56 the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014 56

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Standfirst Belinda here xxxxxxxxx

caption Marbella

PLACE to make a fortune, spend a fortune, drink shots, get shot – whatever takes your fancy – that, at its heart, is Marbella,” wrote Piers Morgan in 2010, when the kudos of the celebrity resort city was at an all-time low. But no matter how much mud ex-British tabloid editors can sling, it doesn’t stick for long in a Mediterranean microclimate, where 320 days of sunshine turns mud to dust, in time. That time is now, according to the financial pundits. The economy’s recovering, the property market’s rallying, the glamour’s back … maybe it never wholly went away. The aristos who put Marbella on the jet set map still give

Papal Photo-bombing

T was time for a new set of publicity photographs for my other job. I have a couple of radio shows on Talk Radio Europe and, with the website having a revamp, it was decided that they needed some pics doing. As an aside, radio presenting is a job I was born to do. It’s a job for madmen as you sit in a sound-proofed room, talking to yourself and playing music when there could be no one listening (Ed: Most likely is). The shots were taken behind the desk, complete with microphones, computer screens, CD players and the large plasma screen that

we take news feeds on in the background. I tried my hardest to look suitably serious and was rather pleased with the result. “If you squint really hard, you look like a budget Jason Statham” was one comment. But it wasn’t until I looked at the photo last week that I noticed that the ex-Pope Benedict was on the the plasma screen, apparently glaring in my direction. Yes, I was being photo-bombed by the Pope. But in a month when a Mother Superior has been up in court in Ibiza charged with

a damn about its future. For once, the story dominating recent local news wasn’t about money-laundering Mayors, tawdry Marbella Belles and tone-lowering Towie stars. The ‘Great Skyscraper Scandal’ rallied some seriously high society: lThe Duchess of Alba, most titled noble in the world lCrown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, heir to the Saudi throne lPablo von Hohenlohe whose uncle Alfonso (a German prince) was Marbella’s ‘Founding Father’ People who pack the clout of a wrecking ball and aren’t afraid to take a swing with it! They did that this January, lending their pijo

to a public protest that demolished plans to turn Marbella into a cheap copy of Dubai with a skyline of 50-storey mega-towers. For the first time in a long time, a Marbella Mayor bowed to public pressure – and with greater alacrity than Jesús Gil once issued building licenses to print money! It’s good to see democracy back in action and people who haven’t trashed their I ♥ Marbella T-shirts. What sizzles for me? lAvenida del Mar, strutting cocaine smuggling – you must be able to snob appeal with marble stash more than a couple of grammes pavements and Salvador Dalí in a good sized wimple – perhaps this sculptures. is a sign of my true calling. Alas, a quick lThe dawn-to-dusk clubbing. search of the Internet couldn’t find me I’ve had to give it up for media suitable religious order, so I am toying cal reasons but it’s still fun to with the idea of setting up my own. And watch the bright young things the Little Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence boogying at Nikki Beach or has a certain ring to it... Ocean Club and thinking, All this talk of the Vatican reminded me of a classic exchange with a good friend last thank God I’m too old for all year. He had been misbehaving with a girl that youthful angst and eyelash batting! with a steady boyfriend, and was concerned with lThe chiringuito culture. running into him at funcBarefoot fine-dining with the tion. “Trust me” I said as sand between your toes is we strode into restaurant HE’S BEHIND YOU: Beady-eyed de rigeur, although you have “I’ve more chance of to look the part (a sarong by Benedict becoming Pope than us George at Asda won’t cut the seeing him here”. idea what was going on. But my mostaza)! As my friend headed to the mate, spotting the boyfriend lCharity chic at the Cudeca bar, I ran straight into said boy- came up with a classic line. friend, who thankfully had no “Your usual, Pontiff?” he shout- shop where you can rummage for discount cast-offs that might once have been worn by a countess. lThe cool elephant/shaped T’S certainly winter up at the casita, the wind rattling the win- beach showers that squirt dows as I write this. Living on a lake, with the Sierra de las Nieves water from their trunks. behind me, it can get a little chilly. So I tend to wrap up warm. lThe Boob-Job Mountain. But it backfired when I popped down to a bank in Marbella to Landmark La Concha, check a transfer had come in. (That’s one of the joys of freelance whose pert peak reminds work. You spend 10% of your time working and the other 90% me of the gravity/defying chasing cash. Apart from on this newpaper, obviously). I charged into the foyer of the bank, bobble hat pulled down, scarf wrapped breasts you can get at the around my face and sporting Aviator shades, and bounced off the cornucopia of cosmetic surglass door that normally opens. As I picked myself off the floor, I gery centres noticed the staff looking extremely concerned, with the manager lThe Xcess Factor. The swankiest hotels, the flashinervously dialing a number on his mobile. It then dawned on me that bank staff thought I was trying to rob them. est yachts and motors, the I quickly whipped off my cold weather gear and was greeted with chichi-est shops, the wildest relived smiles. After all, the last bank job I can remember carrying parties… You’re probably too out was on my sister’s Piggy Bank. young to remember opening night at Puerto Banús in 1970. The Aga Khan, Hugh Hefner and Princes Grace of Monaco were among 1,700 guests who feasted on 20 kilos of beluga caviar served by 300 waiters bussed in from Seville while a 27-year-old Julio Iglesias earned 125,000 pesetas to serenade them. The equivalent of €30,000 today! Marbella ain’t the 1940s MAKING A WITHDRAWAL: Giles at the bank fishing village where Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe HEN I was pubbroke down in his Rolls lic relations exRoyce and decided to stay ecutive for a well known Marbella ‘We don’t screen our custom- on for a bit. But it’s still got restaurant, I recieved an ers for previous criminal re- classy connections. “The email demanding to know cords. Otherwise we would Marbella of my uncle’s day why I had allowed Nigel have a half empty restaurant will never return,” says PabGoldman to review the es- and, last that I heard, the Lit- lo, the Prince’s nephew. It’s tablishment. The gist of the tle Sisters of the Poor weren’t better now, in many ways … email was that the man was great tippers!” but changed.” a known fraudster. I no longer work in restaurant But not that changed. It ‘Unfortunately’ I smugly replied public relations... doesn’t have skyscrapers!

talk radio europe

60s STYLE: Caption Alfonso von Hohenlohe and Brigitte Bardot in Marbella

Stick up kid

And finally

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monthly youth and education section the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014 57 57 38 57

treme

Helping hands across the sea A NEW YORK museum is extending its work with autistic children across the Atlantic by setting up a similar programme in Spain. The scheme will create a support network for parents of children with autism, helping them find ways to request improved programming at schools and include their children in community life. It was made possible thanks to a $73,000 grant awarded in July by the US State Department and the American Alli-

New York museum extends its work with autistic children across the Atlantic to help the plight of youngsters in Spain ance for Museums. Michelle Lopez, programme manager, said: “We applied together with the Madrid museum so they can create a

Three of the best!

THREE of the best IGCSE results in Spain were achieved by students at Swans International School in Marbella. Sara Benkirane (French first language), Libby-Rose Bruce (Drama) and Maria Bravo (French second language) came out on top of the entire country. Deputy Headteacher Rob Maldonado said: “Their teachers and the school as a whole, are incredibly proud of the girls’ achievements, proving that the combination of their ability and dedication to their studies has paid off handsomely. “They fully deserve their rewards.”

space for these families who don’t have a community for their children with autism.” The groups have held joint sessions - using Skype to connect and are sharing their artwork and programmes. The classes in Queens are taught by the parents of the eight children, with the assistance of staff, Lopez said.

Connect

Work with the group in Madrid - with the parents of six children - has already started. Parents are sharing videos and photos and creative interventions from their sessions with the families in Madrid, helping them find different ways to connect. The idea behind having the parents teach, with guidance from staffers, is that it will make what is learned more robust and sustainable in the community. The programme meets at the museum once a month, and will run until June.

The wild side!

SM headmistress Miss Kirkham takes a walk on the wild side by inviting a host of hairy beasts into school, by Sian Kirkham LET me start by explaining that the hairy beasts were not the children – although some staff could have done with a post Christmas trim! But seriously, you would be forgiven for thinking we had turned into the British Zoo of Marbella (BZM) with all the animal keepers, quadrupeds and interesting insects roaming around the school corridors last month! As part of our ingenious plan to keep the children excited about upcoming topics, we organised several Wow Days. And with a new animal topic approaching faster than a teacher sprinting to the staff room for their morning coffee, we pulled out all the stops. So it was no surprise to see Foundation Stage children staring in open-mouthed wonder when staff from the Benalmádena Butterfly Park arrived with butterflies, cocoons and hairy caterpillars. Not to be outdone - and in scenes reminiscent of the film Jumanji - a zookeeper from Selwo quickly followed suit armed with horns, teeth, fossils and an elephant (okay maybe he didn’t bring the last one). Unfortunately, I had to stop him from throwing a net over the lesser-spotted Mr Prescott in the playground, but that’s a story for another day. Following that stampede of visitors, Jan Weima from animal shelter Triple A arrived with a puppy. The children enjoyed petting him – and the puppy too! Meanwhile, in a classroom far, far

THE WOW FACTOR: Zoo day was a hit! away, the force was strong with Year Two, who dressed up as aliens and astronauts for their Space Wow Day. Under the expert guidance of space cadet Miss Potter, the youngsters created their own solar system using model planets. Elsewhere, it was like Supermarket Sweep in the neighbouring Mercadona when Year Two and Three learned how to purchase healthy food for their Healthy Eating Wow Day. Pupils then prepared healthy snacks before dissolving into scenes of lip-licking rapture during a subsequent picnic on the beach! Shortly afterwards, the playground served as the launch site for Year One’s Journey Wow Day, where they released helium balloons containing messages - in the hope that someone will find one and email the school saying where it landed. And finally, it was less ‘H20’ and more ‘H2whoooaaa’ as Year Four and Five performed Singing in the Rain to show parents what they had learned about water. Keep your eyes’ peeled for next month’s column on our Chinese New Year celebrations!

the olive press - February 5 - February 19 2014

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News IN BRIEF

Melon jolly MURCIA accounted for almost half, 47%, of Spain’s melon exports in 2013. Just over 194,000 tonnes of melons were sold abroad, some 87% of the region’s entire production. The value of those exports surpassed the previous season’s figures by €133 million.

Ham, bang, thank you Sam!

Chelsea’s star striker Samuel Eto’o knows the score when it comes to picking his favourite ham

Life on Mars RESEARCHERS have found that it is possible to grow different types of plants in the soil of Mars. They planted a range of seedlings in Martian soil and everything germinated - some within a matter of hours. Now NASA is planning to grow plants and vegetables – such as turnip and basil – on the Moon, by 2015, in a bid to see if humans can live and work on the Earth’s natural satellite.

Grape power SPANISH researchers have developed a healthy additive from grape seed extracts. The extracts have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making them useful in the prevention of chronic illnesses caused by ageing.

HAM FAN: Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o

CHELSEA striker Samuel Eto’o has given a clear indication that he would like to return to playing in Spain...and it’s got nothing to do with his dictatorial manager Jose Mourinho. Eto’o from Cameroon apparently misses the country’s ham. When asked about where he might play next, if he would consider Spain again, he told a Spanish radio station: “I will always like Barcelona, but I personally prefer Mallorca. “I miss everything (in Spain), my colleagues, my friends, Barcelona, the

Cash boost for vineyards

SPANISH vine growers are set to receive almost €130 million in financial support from central funds, a slight rise on last year’s contribution. The cash - which was approved in discussions between central and regional governments - will be used to establish or replant vine-

NICE SLICE: Chelsea star’s favourite ham is under new regulations

weather, the Spanish ham.” The comment came as the country’s famous jamon iberico will have its quality and status protected under new regulations passed by the Board of Ministers. Not to be confused with the cheaper serrano ham, jamon iberico is a very expensive cured ham made from black Iberian pigs. The new regulatory framework was prompted by over-production, undefined quality controls and prices sometimes lower than Serrano ham. Miguel Angel Arias Cañete, Minister of

Agriculture, said that there are now three categories of jamon iberico - so consumers know exactly the quality of the ham they are purchasing. These categories will be signified by coloured labels: RED for entirely acornfed pigs, GREEN for pigs fed just on natural food and WHITE for compoundfed pigs. The label will also inform the consumer of the purity of the pig breed used. Jamón ibérico only accounts for about 8% of Spain’s cured-ham production and is not widely available abroad.

Paint your flagon!

yards, change grape varieties, or adapt production to meet the requirements of particular regional wine brands.

Efficient

The contribution forms part of a restructuring and conversion programme, intended “to help producers take advantage of market demand for Spanish wines in general”, and some denominations in particular, said a government document. The Castilla-La Mancha region is to receive the most, nearly €68 million. Andalucia will receive 5.5 million, and other major

GRANTS: More money set to go to wine producers recipients are Extremadura (13.8m), Catalonia (9.2m), Valencia (8m), La Rioja (6.1m), and Aragon (5.7m). The Minister of Agriculture for Castilla-La Mancha, María Luisa Soriano, said

the programme had so far transformed 35,000 hectares of land in the region and that it was leading to “more modern, efficient vineyards and varieties (of grapes) that responded to market demand”.

A CONSORTIUM of Spanish researchers has developed a new plastic made from fruit waste that can be used to manufacture biodegradable spectacles. The researchers from three technological centres have

been working on the project for the past year. The bioplastic material is made by fermenting citrus subproducts and will also be usable by other industries, such as the packaging and

Full of vitamin . . . see! CASH CUTS: Andalucia loses agricultural grants

Growing problems for farmers

ANDALUCIA has lost €418 million in agricultural grants. Despite producing around 25% of the country’s domestic agricultural GDP, the Ministry of Agriculture has cut the region’s allowance, generally €2000 million, by almost a quarter. The funding comes via the Common Agricultural Policy and the cuts relate to the 2015-2020 period. The region is home to 37% of Spain’s registered growers and some 269,000 funding recipients. Rural development will be hit hardest by the cuts. A Junta spokesperson said: “Andalucian agriculture has become a little poorer after this decision.”

A SPANISH vineyard is painting Hollywood characters on vintage wine barrels in a bid to attract younger drinkers. Laovejabala - founded by Raul San Cristobal and Enrique Martin - has adorned their products with pictures of Bruce Lee, Dirty Harry, Charles Chaplin and scenes from Pulp Fiction. Martín has been working for 12 years as a graphic designer in San Sebastian and more recently as a freelance graphic artist in Logroño. San Cristobal has been working in various architectural and engineering projects for 15 years. The two entrepreneurs came up with the novel idea and approached the Bodegas Contador winery in the famous La Rioja region. Now all the stars are coming to light in pop art form to promote the wines.

EYE SPY: Orange aid for spectacles

automotive sectors. The study forms part of the OPTOBIO project, which seeks to give use to all waste generated by the agro-food inFEELING FRUITY: That’s the dustry to reduce its impact and develop Russians sustainable opticalophthalmic products. During the first year of research, scientists have focused their efforts on optimising the production process, SPANISH fruit and vegetable export volumes to non-EU countries increased the preparation by 2% up to September 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. and processing of And the main customer once again was Russia - grabbing a masthe biomaterials sive 167,256 tonnes of fruit and veg. In real terms 614,743 tonnes were exported, according to the Governand the optical opment. timisation. Other non-EU destinations for Spanish fruit and vegetables were Switzerland They now aim to and Norway. conclude all optimiSpanish exports to Russia between January and September 2013 regissation procedures tered a 12% drop compared to the same period in 2012, mainly due to and study the posthe drop in fruit export volumes, which fell from 160,644 tonnes in 2012 sibilities for the to 126,718 tonnes in 2013 (-21%). biomaterial’s apOn the other hand, export volumes to Switzerland and Norway increased. plication in other Switzerland received a total of 104,084 tonnes (+13%) and Norway tosectors. talled 65,799 tonnes (+8%).

The Reds love their greens

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It’s top of the shops!

MERCADONA has maintained its position as the most valued retailer in Spain, a market research survey reveals. A total 76% of respondents to the survey, carried out by IPSOS, said that they would recommend shopping at the country’s largest supermarket chain Mercadona. The annual report placed Mercadona ahead of; El Corte Inglés, who were recommended by 71% of respondents, Carrefour (47%), Alcampo (39%), and Día with 30%.

Stone me!

Mercadona led the way in all of the questions, most notably 82% of people said that they valued the quality of Mercadona’s produce and services. In another IPSOS survey released this week, the president of Mercadona, Juan Roig, was ranked alongside Banco Santander chairman Emilio Botin and the founder of Inditex Amancio Ortega as one of the three most influential businessmen in Spain.

FRENCH entrepreneurs are in hot water - after attempting to pass off Spanish stone fruit as French produce. According to a report filed at France’s fraud office, a number of people and four supermarkets may have turned a blind eye over transactions of plums, nectarines and apricots. The alleged irregularity is not a new issue. When French supply volumes dropped considerably last year, many producers and intermediaries started buying directly from Aragon and Catalonia in order to sell the fruit under French brands. This season, France has only produced around 260,000 tonnes, while Spanish exports increased by almost 25% compared to the previous campaign.

Slow boat to success

El Lago has upped its game (and kept prices down!) since joining the Slow Food Movement, writes Jon Clarke

T is the one Michelin-starred restaurant on the Costa del Sol that people tend to forget. Lost in a maze of urbanizations by a golf course at the back of Elviria, El Lago is hard to find and harder to stumble upon. And don’t expect Trip Advisor to send anyone up there, it being 49 on a list of restaurants for Marbella. But that’s what makes it great… You have to want to go there, which forces it to live up to its billing: For in order to entice people up on the 15-minute drive from Marbella, the food must, of course, be excellent. And the good news: It is not for nothing that El Lago, sitting on Greenlife Golf, has had a Michelin star for nine years. It has consistently impressed the inspectors by continually reinventing itself over the last decade. These days, adhering to one of the finest philosophies in food: Use local. Indeed, since the restaurant became a member of the excellent Slow Food Movement last year, the quality of the food has got better and better. While it may not be quite as exotic, the ‘vast majority’ of its food comes from Andalucia, even Malaga province. It is anything but easy to adhere to the ‘KM 0’ concept of the movement that was set up in Italy, as an antidote to fast food and, in particular, McDonalds culture. But, chef Diego del Rio is having an admirable go. And best of all, he is managing to keep prices down by using good solid local ingredients.

HEALTHY: Sea Bream with cauliflower ‘3 ways’

WINNER: Venison and (top) chef Diego You can order a la carte, but I would recommend one of the two tasting menus, the longer ‘gourmet’ one with seven courses and nibbles coming in at 63-euros-a-head, plus iva…Three fish courses and one fantastic loin of venison, this was exceptional value and cheap by Michelin-star standards. As Diego comes from the Ronda area (Pujerra in the Genal Valley, to be exact) he knows where to wheedle out the best local ingredients, including chestnuts (celebrated in his village), mushrooms and vegetables.

Unfashionable

And there were plenty of local winners such as his sea bream, cooked with a fantastic tower of cauliflower, served in three ways; raw, mashed and pureed, or his onion soup with shavings of squid and a poached free range egg from the Guadalhorce Valley. A parpatana of blue fin tuna – an unfashionable area between the neck and head – was beautifully cooked with roasted red peppers, aubergine, garlic mash and in its own juices. And it looked fabulous. But by far the best, a real stand-out dish, was the aforementioned deer loin, from Andujar, near Jaen, that was deliciously tender and served with sautéed mushrooms and dried fruits and a sprinkling of parmesan. A wonderful palate-cleansing pudding made from Guadalhorce Valley mandarins was another winner, leading to the grand finale of custard cream with cinnamon sponge cake. A wine list was heavy on Spanish and particularly local Andalucian fare, as one might expect, and owner Paco happily steered me towards a reasonable €30 Rioja, Predicador. What more to say? Forget the location and décor… this was a definitive 8.5/9 out of 10.

Restaurante El Lago Marbella. Urb. Elviria Hills, Avda. Las Cumbres, s/n, 29600 Marbella, Málaga 952 83 23 71. www.restauranteellago.com

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Big heartshaped day

Valentines Day is the perfect opportunity to woo your loved one, via the kitchen, writes Tom Powell

Roast salmon and asparagus It’s love at first sight when succulent salmon meets aphrodisiacal asparagus in this one-pot-pleaser... lPre-heat the oven to 200C. lTip new potatoes and 1 tbsp of olive oil into an ovenproof dish and roast for 20 minutes, until they are starting to brown. lToss the asparagus, trimmed and halved, in with the potatoes and return to the oven for 15 minutes. lAdd cherry tomatoes and vinegar and nestle salmon fillets amongst the vegetables, then drizzle more olive oil over and return to the oven for a final 10-15 minutes. lScatter over basil leaves and serve everything scooped straight from the dish.

VALENTINE’S day is just one big heart-shaped excuse to eat mouth-watering, heart-melting food, our one true love. Wonderful meals aren’t only found on menus, in fact, the best dinners are undoubtedly those you prepare yourself… and your loved one will certainly appreciate it all the more. Cooking is a labour of love and whether you’re a Heston Blumenthal aficionado or a beans-ontoast connoisseur, it shows you care and takes you to the heart of the meal and the root of the

flavour. It takes far more thought and care to create exciting, enticing food than it does to fall back lazily on the default flowers and chocolates combo. And why not experiment with some of mother nature’s own aphrodisiacs; avocado, almonds, honey and figs are all bound to cause a stir. So with love in the air and rumbling in the belly, treat that someone special to these romantic recipes without stepping out your front door (except, of course, to buy the ingredients).

Parmesan-stuffed medjool dates wrapped in bacon For a Valentine’s ‘date’ to remember... lPull the pits out of large Medjool dates and stuff with a small chunk of Parmesan cheese. lCut slices of bacon in thirds and wrap each piece around a stuffed date. lPlace them seam-side down on a baking sheet and bake at 180C for 10 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through.

Steak in red wine sauce When all else fails, steak will still be there. Everyone loves steak and everyone loves red wine, you simply can’t lose... lSeason two fillet steaks with black pepper before adding to a sizzling hot, large nonstick frying pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, without moving them. lSprinkle with salt, turn them over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. lRemove the steaks, turn down the heat and fry chopped shallots in butter until softened. Pour in red wine, add thyme, and reduce by two thirds. lStir in redcurrant jelly and mustard and season before returning the steaks to the pan to heat through in the sauce. lServe with your valentine-veg of choice.

Raspberry and scallop salad Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than this lip-smacking combination of raspberries and scallops... lToss fresh salad leaves together in a large bowl and top with raspberries and slices of mango, avocado and red onion. lPreheat a large frying pan and drizzle with olive oil, season the scallops with salt and pepper and fry them until they are brown on each side. lMake the dressing by adding honey, red wine vinegar, olive oil and lemon juice to a mixing bowl and mix well. lAdd the scallops and drizzle the dressing over the salad to serve.

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EMAIL: RESERVATIONS@LASALABANUS.COM - WEB: WWW.LASALABANUS.COM

san

pedro

alcántara

Thursday 13th February

Frank Sinatra

A TRIBUTE TO THE MOST FAMOUS CROONER OF OUR ERA

(10€ cover charge plus IVA)

Thursday 20th February

Paul Maxwel THE PIANO MAN

Table Reservations Recommended Call 95 150 6249 ● info@LaSalaSanPedro.com

the Sell your property THIS WEEK with an online ad reaching thousands for just

49,99 euros www.allabout andaluciaproperty.com

Covering Andalucia in 2014 with over 200,000 papers EE (130,000 digital) and around 220,000 visits to the R F website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

olive press

Telephone: 951127006

February 5

February 19 2014

www.theolivepress.es

(brought to you by the OlivePress)

Skinful can lead to skin cancer

Pay back

FINAL WORDS

CAJAMAR has been ordered to payback €6000 to a customer in overpaid mortgage interest. The move follows the outlawing of so called minimum floor rates in mortgage contracts in May 2013.

Plenty in store CARREFOUR Mijas has opened its doors. The 10,000 square foot store boasts a sushi stand, regional and international produce, pharmacy, electrical goods section and a large food hall.

Bradley boost for Andalucia

BRITISH cycling hero Bradley Wiggins will be pedaling through Andalucia this month on the Ruta del Sur for the Vuelta a Andalucia tour. The 2012 Tour de France winner will race with team Sky, beginning the five-day event in Almeria on February 19. The cyclists will race through Vélez Malaga, Málaga and Jaén on February 20, before La Guardia de Jaén and Cabra on the 21st. On Saturday February 22 Wiggins and co will battle it out through Sanlúcar La Mayor and Sevilla. The final day, Sunday 23, will see them soaring through Ubrique before eventually finishing the tour in Fuengirola.

ANTENA 3’s pitlane reporter Nira Juanco has been voted F1’s prettiest journalist by fans during testing at the Jerez track. Her timing is also excellent… as just as she finished one piece to camera, Lewis Hamilton’s crashed his new Mercedes into the barrier behind her. An early contender for ‘photobomb’ of the year!

Melanoma risk is dramatically increased by drinking in the sunshine By Tom Powell

People power MORE than 300 people took part in a protest in Castellar de la Frontera against the proposed sale of the La Almoraima estate near the town. During a meeting after the protest, plans for a march in Madrid on February 22 were discussed.

Lights, Camera, Crash!

A close encounter! A PLANE flying holidaymakers from Ibiza to Manchester encountered a near-miss with a ‘rugby ball-shaped’ UFO last summer, it has been revealed. The captain of the Thomas Cook plane reportedly ducked as the strange object raced through the air

towards the aircraft, certain that it was going to crash into them. He reported the spooky incident to the aviation authorities, but they could not establish any earthly identity for the object which was spotted as the plane was over Reading.

EXPATS you have been warned: Drinking a skinful in the sun increases the risk of skin cancer by 50%, claim experts. Scientists are urging people to be careful about alcohol consumption while outdoors. Enjoying three or four drinks a day does more than make us forget to put sun cream on, it triggers a chain of reactions in the body that makes the skin more vulnerable to melanoma. Even one drink a day raises the chances of developing melanomas by 10%. But for heavier drinkers it can be up to 55%. The ethanol in alcohol is ingested and converted into acetaldehyde, which may render the skin more sensitive to harmful UV light. “This can lead to far greater cellular damage and subsequently cause skin cancers to form,” said researcher Dr Eva Negri. The researchers, whose studies are published in the British Journal of Dermatology, reviewed more than 6,200 patients with melanoma.

Die hard Barca fans Muddled in Malaga urn fitting MALAGA airport is one of the most confusing Nou Camp burial foreign airports for Brit-

DIE-HARD Barcelona fans now have the chance to be buried under the club’s stadium in a new mausoleum with room for 30,000 urns. There will initially be space for 500 urns at the cemetery of Les Corts for either 50 or 99 years, with prices starting at €3,000. Fans will eventually be able to buy large ceramic slabs decorated in Barcelona memorabilia and store family members remains behind it.

ish people to get around, according to new research. Holidaymakers have been left baffled by bad signage at the airport, which came top of the nationwide survey commissioned by car hire broker Holiday Autos. Other Spanish destinations did not fare well either, with Alicante and Palma de Mallorca making it onto the list. Sydney Airport was found to be by far the most straightforward to navigate.

Working like the devil THE SPANISH Catholic church is training more priests to perform exorcisms after a rise in supernatural practices. The Archbishop of Madrid selected eight priests to undertake exorcism training in May, to deal with a rise in cases of demonic possession. It is also part of the church’s effort to tackle self-proclaimed exorcists who perform unauthorised exorcisms.