Costa Blanca Olive Press - Issue 21 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

OLIVE PRESS

The

COSTA BLANCA

‘Cover up’ EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. Allen Wilson, a health and safety expert who has worked on numerous drowning cases around Europe, arrived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths of the trio.

Vacuum

Wilson claimed the pool’s design with just one floor ‘outlet’ – instead of two – could have created an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and dragged them under water. It flies in the face of the Guardia Civil’s official investigation, which concluded the three died as a result of their ‘inability to swim’. Their controversial report was thrown into jeopardy, however, when mother and wife Olubunmi Diya insisted all three could swim. Her lawyer, Fuengirola-based Javier Toro, later insisted daughter Comfort had even taken lessons a ‘week before the holiday’. Toro told the Olive Press this week that ‘many lines of investigation remained open’. Wilson, however, went further to claim the report done by the police was a ‘cover up’ to protect the Spanish tourist industry, the resort and the tour operators. “It stinks,” Wilson, who has worked for leading European tour operators Continues on Page 4

EXPERT: Allen Wilson

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January 9th - January 22nd 2020

SWORN IN The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait “QUICK, simple and painless. The pain comes later,” King Felipe told incoming Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at a swearing in ceremony yesterday. The PSOE leader will certainly hope not, having had to endure an agonizing two year wait and three general elections to get this far. It was his second recent attempt at an investiture since the Socialists won the most seats in December’s general election, but failed to win an overall majority. And Sanchez, 47, pulled out all the stops as he cracked heads at a mammoth two-day weekend session in Madrid, after which he finally won the vote by two seats. After years of instability, it is ‘great news for Spain’ insisted one of the country’s best known expats. Irish author Ian Gibson told the Olive

SEALED: Handshake from King confirms Sanchez as leader

Press: “While there are going to be lots of compromises, there will also be solutions.” The Madrid-based writer, who has lived in Spain for half a century, added: “I’m delighted. He’s an amazing man and it’s remarkable to think he stuck it out after being kicked out of his own party and then fighting back. “He has the qualities of a true statesman and speaks very well. He will be a great asset for Europe,” added the Hispanist, who has penned numerous books on Spain. Sanchez was sworn in at Zarzuela Palace after winning a second vote of confidence. MPs voted by a knife-edge 167 votes to 165 to support Sanchez’s left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and a host of other parties. It helped that 18 MPs, the majority

from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The coalition, includes Podemos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Galego Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva Canarias. The parties opposing included the PP, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya and Navarra Suma. Spain’s most recent election was the fourth in as many years as the country failed to form a cohesive government. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo sent a letter of congratulation to Sanchez on being re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and fractious debate’. He also offered his support for the promotion of ‘policies based on the principle of dialogue, understanding

and co-operation between our respective people’. Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention of the pro-independence Catalan party, the ERC, after Sanchez vowed to find a solution to the conflict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s separatist government tried to secede in 2017. The government’s opponents argue Sanchez’ ‘Frankenstein government’ will be too beholden to Catalan separatists and pose a threat to Spain’s national unity. PP leader Pablo Casado accused him of being an ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s future in the hands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000. Opinion Page 6

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CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF

EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade

British fire death

A CONVICTED British conman has been accused of striking again in a car transport scam running up and down the Costa Blanca. Simon Davies, 58, who now runs Mission Impossible Transport from Almeria, was jailed in 2008 for his part in a €450,000 mortgage fraud. But the trickster - who goes by various aliases - has now been denounced to the Guardia Civil, in Alicante, for ‘stealing’ a top-of-the-range car from a British expat. According to Kenny Greenhow, who lives near Ciudad Quesada, Davies has nicked his BMW convertible, worth €8,000, en route to the UK. The paint inspector, from Tyneside, told the Olive Press he had paid £820 (€970) to get his beloved 120i back to the UK, last year. He has not seen it since. “It’s important that police catch up with the guy, and stop other people being conned the way that I have,” said Greenhow, 61, who has also reported

A BRITISH man has died in a house fire near Sotogrande. The 50-year-old suffered from fatal smoke inhalation at his home in Alcaidesa.

Panic over THE UK has called off its emergency preparations for a no-deal Brexit ahead of the expected approval of Boris Johnson’s deal by British MPs. The Civil Service had spent months compiling contingency plans, known as Operation Yellowhammer, only to be told to bring them to a halt on December 23.

Mission Impossible Conman accused of stealing expat’s BMW claims his transport company left it in ‘northern Spain’ due to ‘paperwork problems’

the theft to the UK police. “As long as justice is done and he is behind bars.” Greenhow had first come across Mission Impossible, via an online broker uShip, last summer.

Silent protest

If Carlsberg did smuggling

THE family of an east Asian tourist killed by falling masonry in Madrid have held a silent protest in the capital criticising Spanish authorities of a ‘pitiful’ response to their daughter’s sudden death.

SEVERAL British individuals have been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs by using their drink businesses as a cover. Policia Nacional had been tracking a British man since the arrest of two traffickers back in 2018. According to police, this Brit, and other compatriots, togeth-

er had a network of legitimate international beverage companies, allowing them to transport drugs unnoticed across the continent. Policia Nacional have arrested nine people after finding 239 kilos worth of marijuana buds and 17.8 kilos of synthetic drugs hidden among pallets of beer and other products.

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The company’s profile, which is still on the website, claims to have five vehicles and drivers and ‘has £50,000 goods in transit insurance and £2 million public liability insurance.’ “I got plenty of quotes, and Davies was the cheapest,” he explained. “With the query going through a broker, I thought he’d be legitimate. “But when the car didn’t arrive after its delivery date in the UK, I started digging around and to my horror discovered his reputation and past.” This included damning reviews on sites calling Davies ‘a complete scammer’ and ‘a liar’. Other reviews about a previous company, SD Sameday Couriers, on yell.com gave him one star and claimed he had ‘disappeared’ goods and

VICTIM: Greenhow

FRAUDSTER: Davies and (left) missing car

failed to respond to customer queries. Our research reveals that Davies, 58, is no stranger to fraud. SD Sameday recently shared an address with Cleanrite Ltd and Sparklebrite Ltd in Essex, companies run by his wife, Anita.

Disqualified

Their marriage certificate, available online, shows Simon Clive Davies to have previously been known as ‘Clive Emmanuel Smith’, who was jailed for fraud in 2008. The Lancashire Telegraph reported that Davies (then 46), aka Clive Emmanuel Smith, had been handed three years and six months for his part in a £380,000 mortgage fraud. Shockingly, Davies has other convictions, including when he persuaded an investor to hand over £30,000 to start a new mobile phone business called Callfree.net Ltd, in 2005. What he hadn’t revealed was his banning as a director from 2004 to 2010 after a previous company had gone into liquidation with debts of nearly £200,000. A few years later a bankruptcy

order was made against him in the name of ‘Clive Smith, which again disqualified him from acting as a company director. Despite this, he went on to act as director of property company Safe as Houses Ltd under a different identity. “We are determined to crack down on cheats like these who profit by deception,” said Pat McFadden, of the UK’s Department for Business. When contacted this week, Davies claimed the BMW had simply been left with police in ‘northern Spain’ due to ‘problems with paperwork’. Davies said he was ‘sick of being stopped by Spanish police’, saying the car had become a ‘hot potato’ over unspecified problems with bureaucracy. He failed however to name the police station nor region where he left the car. Davies added he had been in touch with the UK police over the issue. Mission Impossible Transport’s broker, uShip, confirmed to the Olive Press that Davies’ account is currently suspended. Mission Impossible Transport Limited was set up out of an office in Old Street, London, in 2018, and despite a threat of being struck off last year, is still apparently trading. If you know Davies in any of his guises contact the Olive Press at +34 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

Hunt for Russian fugitive switches to wife A TRIO of European MEPs are demanding Spain help track down wanted Russian fugitive Alexander Chikovani and his wife. EU deputies Giuseppe Milazzo, Fulvio Martusciello and Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar have asked Spanish police to seek his current home, believed to be on the Costa Blanca or Costa Brava. They also want the authorities to probe his current business activities in Spain, in collaboration with his Russian wife Ksenia. According to Russian media, Chikovani transferred various assets to his wife, which were set to be frozen by the Russian authorities. Moscow court had ruled that Chikovani had to pay off a series of debts to creditors back home, before fleeing to Spain. However, he was able to transfer much of his property and other assets to his wife, who was able to withdraw the cash in Spain under her name. The court has now ordered Ksenia to return the multi-million euro debts to a series of creditors back home. The court insists she returns the ‘illegally ob-

tained assets to the bankruptcy estate for the payment of multimillion debts to defrauded creditors’. The fraudulent funds are now being used, it is claimed, for money laundering in Spain. According to Russian media, the pair are closely linked to various Russian criminals, ‘who protected their illegal activities for many years’. The Olive Press has discovered that Ksenia and Alexander set up two Spanish companies in Catalunya in 2018 to buy, sell and run hotels, spas and restaurants. Initially set up in Tarragona, they more recently moved their registered address to Barcelona, perhaps to evade the authorities. Alexander’s name was taken off the deeds of one of the companies in February this year. The EU deputies have now sent their request to the Ministry of Justice, which oversees money laundering and law enforcement probes in Spain. Chikovani, who is accused of major financial fraud in Russia, is on the Federal wanted list, as reported by the Olive Press in September last year.

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January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Courting the quokka CHEEKY: Rafa and quokka

when he posed with it during a trip to Australia this Christmas. The Mallorca star took a day off from preparations for the ATP Cup in Perth to visit the animal sanctuary on Rottnest Island. He sent the picture to his 22m followers on Instagram, alongside one IT was one of the funniest selfies of of Hollywood star Liam Hemsworth. the festive period. The world No.1 said: “They are not Tennis ace Rafael Nadal looked as scared to be close to people and we strange as the animal, a quokka, had some fun with them.”

Get digging! EXCLUSIVE By John Clarke

HE is the most famous murdered poet in history. Yet, the mystery of where Federico Garcia Lorca’s body was buried has continued for over half a century. Now investigators may, once again, kick start the search for him, based on a bone found in a park near Granada in 1986. The celebrated Blood Wedding writer was killed by fascists at the beginning of the Spanish civil war, in August, 1936. The homosexual scribe was seized at his home in Granada and later shot alongside three fellow Republicans and dumped in a yet-to-be-identified communal grave. Now the granddaughter of one of those killed - teacher Dioscoro Galinda - has filed an official request to a Granada court to reopen the investi-

Expat historian Ian Gibson lends weight to new push for search for famous murdered poet

BURIAL: Of Spain’s Lorca? gation into their whereabouts. “Spanish society has not yet had the opportunity to bury its most famous Andalucian,” insisted Nieves García Catalan in her request. She based her demands on the recent claims of former Granada Public Works boss Jose Antonio Valdivia, who hinted that a bone found in the village of Alfacar could have been from Lorca.

A long time investigation, which led to digs in three separate locations in 2009, 2014 and 2016, came to a standstill soon after the PP took control of the Junta in 2018. The new demand also includes evidence from celebrated Irish historian Sir Ian Gibson, who has long insisted Lorca was buried in Alfacar. This week, he told the Olive Press: “It’s about time they

Rising Phoenix IT would have been a case of fifth time lucky. But sadly it was not to be for Antonio Banderas on his fifth attempt at winning a Golden Globe award in America. Once again, the Spaniard had to settle for a nomination, as Joaquin Phoenix walked away with the Best Actor award for his role in Joker. It was the second time that Phoenix had bagged the award. Banderas, 59, was nominated for his role as Salvador Mallo in the Spanish drama Dolor y Gloria, di-

RUNNER UP: Banderas

rected by one of the godfathers of Spanish cinema, Pedro Almodovar. The film, which draws on Almodovar’s own life, is set across two timelines. In the present, Mallo is a film director who achieved major success in his prime but is now in his 50s and is quite depressed and lacks

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inspiration. In the past timeline, we witness young Salva’s youth, where he shares a tender relationship with his mother Jacinta (Penelope Cruz), as she tries her hardest to get him a good education in order to find a way out of poverty.

carried on with this search. It is abhorrent that Spain’s most famous playwright and poet is still buried in an unmarked grave.” The Madrid-based writer has written various books on the case and believes that the group were buried by a specific olive tree in Alfacar, before being dug up and later moved. “We believe they are buried under an ornamental fountain, which was due to be dug up, until the PP government got into the Junta in 2018. “This denuncia should hopefully get things moving again and I am fully prepared to give evidence as an expert,” he added. In the court request, seen by the Olive Press, the family asks for the official Guardia Civil ‘service sheets’ in Granada and Alfacar from August 18 to 20, 1936, when Lorca was executed. It also requests official police files on execution orders, anything on the exhumation of the poet and the registration of the transfer of his remains. It also asks for any evidence of those killed around that time by the Red Cross. The other two Republicans killed alongside Lorca were bullfighters Francisco Galadí and Joaquín Arcollas. It is believed 115,000 missing people are still buried in unmarked graves around Spain.

Golden moment IT kept the hordes watching as the countdown to New Year’s Day began. And this year, TV presenter Cristina Pedroche’s annual racy outfit snared a new record for Antena 3. The channel took a record 4.63m viewers as the presenter finally stripped down to a skin-tight gold outfit as the gongs rung midnight. The shiny number, designed by artist Jacinto de Manuel, was revealed at 23.57pm. Called Venus MMXX, it took an incredible 650 hours to make and had been worked on since July. It is the fifth year Pedroche has stripped down to a racy outfit as part of the New Year’s celebrations on Antena 3.

MUNOZ: And Pedroche

The star, who has been married to three Michelin star chef Dabiz Munoz for four years, spent the Reyes holiday in London, where Munoz has a restaurant.

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From Page 1

pool tragedy

on matters of pool safety, told the Olive Press. “The police say it was safe, but I personally believe they would not have the knowledge, experience or ability to carry out this type of investigation,” added Wilson, a former president of the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers, who has worked for TUI and Thomas Cook. He suspects that a drop in water level – reportedly evidenced on pictures after the incident – could have put pool-side skimmers out of action. This would have concentrated all suction onto one floor drain. “There should be two floor vents spaced two metres apart, so you never get more than 50% of suction in a freak event,” Wilson said. “The floor vent looks like a drain in your back garden, so just from the pictures I’m already seeing non-compliance to international standards.” The trip is being funded by Wilson’s current health and safety firm, Studies in Work. A spokesperson for CLC said claims made by Toro and the Diya family were ‘directly at odds with the findings of the police report’. “Exhaustive investigations have confirmed the pool was working normally and there was no malfunction of any kind. “Our sympathies remain with the family at what we understand must be a stressful and desperately upsetting time for them.”

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Action stations

A SQUADRON of US military planes have arrived in Spain in apparent anticipation of conflict following the recent tension in Iran. The military bases of Rota and Moron de la Frontera in Andaulcia have seen dozens of large cargo aircraft arrive in the largest deployment since the 2003 Gulf War. Residents of the small coastal town of Rota and Sevilla town of Moron have reported a large increase of traffic at the nearby base. This included large C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemas-

Rapid arrival of American military planes in Andalucia is set to cause an early test for new leader Sanchez By James Warren

ter III cargo aircraft carrying personnel and military equipment, as well as vehicles and smaller aircraft and helicopters. The arrivals coincided with a controversial US attack in Iran, which killed the head of the elite Quds Force of Iran, Qasem Soleimani, last week.

The move has caused considerable tension between Iran and the US with numerous threats coming from both sides, leading to worldwide concern that conflict is imminent. The move comes after the Olive Press reported that the US had requested to in-

That’s the life!

THERE will be 12 national holidays in Spain this year – the same as 2019, with four of them being locally in the Valencian region. The eight national holidays are January 1, January 6, April 10 (Good Friday), May 1 (Workers Day), August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin), October 12, December 8 (Im-

maculate Conception) and December 25. The Valencian Community will have additional holidays on March 19 (San Jose), April 13 (Easter Monday), June 24 (San Juan) and October 9 (Valencian Community Day). In contrast, the UK has seven public holidays.

A New Year, but are you bringing old issues with you?

’m sure we all woke up on January 1st with a list of resolutions for 2020. You’ll no doubt make use of that new gym membership until at least January 12th, resist the wine in your fridge until… maybe the 4th? We all go into a new year, and indeed a new decade, with the right intentions, but old habits soon take over. A few months into the year we’re already wondering which of the resolutions we attempted would be worth trying again next January!

These are generally trivial things. Will it really do you so much harm to have that nice glass of wine, and perhaps a swift walk along the beach will do you better than a painful hour in a gym anyway? Areas where we can’t be so complacent are with our personal finances, as making just one wrong decision can affect you for the rest of your life.

Get legal There’s a couple of areas that I’d encourage you all to consider as you go into 2020. 2019 saw record numbers of Brits registering for Spanish residency. This was aggressively encouraged by the British government. Chorus were honoured to have been on the panel for dozens of Brexit information events alongside the British Consulate, and these events reached 10,000s of people over the course of the year. The overriding message to survive Brexit in Spain was to

get legal! Many of you will now be resident here in Spain, or on your way to residency, and with that means getting your financial affairs aligned with a new tax system. It’s so important to seek appropriate advice in this area. The number one mistake we see is Brits continuing to rely on financial advice from the UK. Despite having the best intentions, a UK advisor cannot possibly be expected to have access to the right products and indeed knowledge of the Spanish tax system to advise appropriately. As a fully UK qualified financial advisor I can you tell you that the exams I sat there did not arm me with the appropriate knowledge to operate in Spain. It has taken many years of additional training here in Spain for me to be in the position where I have a unique and intimate knowledge of both UK and Spanish tax and financial systems. The risks of receiving advice from a UK advisor are that firstly it is very unlikely their regulation or indemnity insurance actually extends to Spanish resident clients. Chorus have specific licenses here in Spain that ensure appropriate advice and protection for our clients here. From a product point of view, many popular products in the UK can lead to full taxation and indeed sometimes double taxation here in Spain. These include ISAs, and popular products like UK Aviva and UK Prudential bonds. There are specific products designed for Spanish residents

By Sam Kelly DipPFS, EFA, BA (Hons). Managing Partner, Chorus Financial

crease its presence at the base back in December. The naval base at Rota is currently home to a fleet of US Destroyer vessels that were placed there as part of the NATO missile shield in 2011.

Closure

They are tasked to provide a forward mobility base in the event of an attack from Iran. US President Donald Trump issued a request to double the personnel and increase the number of warships docked at the base by 50%. The situation is set to provide the first test for the newly formed coalition government of left-leaning Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. His coalition partner Pablo Iglesias, of Podemos, is already strongly opposed to the existence of the bases and has long campaigned for their closure.

Iranian rape hunt A MANHUNT is underway for three Iranian men accused of raping three American sisters in Murcia. The shocking assault is said to have occurred on New Years Eve after they met the men at a pub in the capital. Two of the women told police they were raped while the third said she fought off her attacker, although she is reported to have been sexually assaulted. Murcia police are investigating the attack on the sisters aged 23, 20 and 18. One of the sisters has been studying in the city. There are yet to be any arrests but the three men were described by the women as being ‘Iranian’, according to Spain’s national TV network RTVE.

Toy story A PENSIONER nearly lost an eye from a toy thrown during a Three Kings parade in Alicante. The Elche parade left the 74-year-old with serious injuries, alongside five other people. Alicante’s Department of Security is now investigating how the woman and two others ended up in hospital, one with chest pain the other after a bad fall.

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that can help with your investment and tax planning goals, whilst providing the best tax efficiency available. Pension planning can be equally complex, with special consideration given to currencies and other issues unique to living overseas, including the tax implications of any income you take. Another area to be wary of is the appropriateness of local advice here in Spain. Remember, as soon as an advisor operates outside the UK, even if they’re from companies that appear to be British on the surface, the rules are very different.

Ethical In Spain we see people tied into products for long periods of time – 5, 8, even 10 years. Although this doesn’t always lead to issues, these tie-ins are no longer legal in the UK, and are often there to facilitate commissions as high as 7 or 8% to your financial advisor. Chorus will always now offer an option without a tie-in and through our ethical approach and full fee-disclosure, our clients can save up to 75% in fees on popular products like Spanish Compliant Investment Bonds and pension transfers. Even for those with existing plans, we can dramatically improve your portfolio and reduce your costs. So, don’t be complacent, it’s easy and stress free to have existing or new financial plans

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www.chorusfinancial.es info@chorusfinancial.es reviewed, and with the right advice you can vastly improve your prospects for the coming year, and indeed the coming decade. If you’d like an initial consultation for free and without obligation please call me direct on 664 398 702 or email s.kelly@chorusfinancial.es.

Investment contracts are intended as medium to long term investments, and all investments have some level of risk. Figures in our articles are examples of what can be achieved and cannot be guaranteed; the value of your investments can go down as well as up. Fees and charges can vary and will be fully explained to you before any advice can take place. This article should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular product.

Chorus Financial is a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), Licence Number FSC1118B, registered with the UK FCA reference 539348, registered with the Spanish DGS and CNMV Nº Registro Oficial 3214.

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Costa to caravan EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

Feminist felony A SPANISH-NIGERIAN woman posing as a senior United Nations (UN) chief has been arrested on suspicion of fraud on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Helen Mukoro, 49, was nabbed by police in Denia after raising funds for projects to empower women as the president of the UN’s Women in Spain. The mother-of-one was put under investigation after a 2018 denuncia from UN Women – in charge of the global empowerment of women – claimed Mukoro was falsely posing as its president. Mukoro, who has Spanish citizenship, also claimed to be a qualified private detective, legal adviser and financial consultant. She previously became known as Spain’s first-ever foreign female presidential candidate for the Teruel-based party Union de Todos. She is nevertheless facing allegations of fraud and misappropriation of funds after she allegedly gathered donations for women’s causes under false pretences.

A FORMER British expat is battling punishing demands from the UK taxman (HMRC) after she lost her €400,000 pension pot in a Spain-based fraud and had to flee home to survive. The 66-year-old pensioner is now facing financial ruin, from her new home - a static caravan site near Bournemouth. Cassie Jones transferred her UK pension offshore, via QROPS in 2015, as many expats have done, but the badly-invested funds left her with just €16,000 two years later. Jones - who was forced to sell her villa in the Algarve, Portugal, to survive - is now being punished by HMRC with a €70k tax bill for violating a five-year double taxation treaty. “I miss my old expat life, my home, the lady with the goats

UK pensioner faces punishing bills from the taxman after losing her entire pension pot in Spain-based investment scam

down the lane, my trying to speak the language, badly, and laughing – it’s all gone,” she told the Olive Press. “But I won’t give up justice. If my story can protect others in some way, I am willing to speak up.” Jones lost her money after investing it through Costa-Blanca based Continental Wealth Management (CWM). Its boss Darren Kirby convinced her to transfer her pension from decades into in the UK’s technology industry, promising her a 10% annual profit. But the non-FCA regulated company recklessly invested her pension (alongside

Taking its toll

A TOLL booth worker has revealed the appalling abuse inflicted by angry drivers who don’t want to pay road charges. The employee of five years said he had ‘been spat on’ during a long campaign of harassment from motorists. It comes as two Spanish tolls were scrapped, meaning 135 toll booth workers will be left jobless. Tolls on the AP-4 (Cadiz to Sevilla) and AP-7 (Tarragona-Valencia-Alicante) were phased out last week. The AP-7 along 82km of the Costa del Sol, which costs €12.60, with another €3.30 added for the extra 20km up to Guadiaro, in the Campo de Gibraltar, is not set to be scrapped until 2054.

CONTRASTS: Cassie’s caravan and high life Jody hundreds of other expats) into toxic investments that paid instant commissions to advisers and were doomed to fail, according to Olive Press investigations. Advisers correctly told her she could save UK income tax, between 25 and 40%, by transferring her pension via QROPS and making pension withdrawals in another EU country. But she had ‘no idea’ that if she returned to Britain within five years, the double taxation treaty would be void and her backdated pension withdrawals liable to UK income tax. “HMRC do not recognise victims of failed pensions, nor reasons for breaking the fiveyear treaty,” she continued. “Until you can submit proof of genuine reasons you then are under a criminal law investigation. “If your situation means you

can’t afford accountants or lawyers, then you keep selling homes and downsizing until you live in a tent, or on the streets under a cardboard box.” She is now appealing that HMRC recognise her as a pension scam victim, while she is fighting for compensation from those involved. A spokesperson for HMRC said: “We empathise with anyone who believes they have been misled about their pension investments and encourage them to report scams to Action Fraud. “HMRC has done much to combat pension scams, leading to the removal of over 600 overseas schemes in 2017, further safeguarding taxpayers and their savings. “We will continue to come down hard on scammers who we identify, working closely with the Pensions Regulator

Carted out A MOROCCAN couple have been arrested for trying to smuggle a Palestinian boy into Spain inside a shopping cart. The unnamed woman, 38, and man, 34, were stopped by police at the Melilla-Morocco border on Monday after police noticed the cart seemed to weigh heavier than it should. They removed the layers of groceries to discover a 10-year-old Palestinian boy clutching onto his documents. In May 2019, one migrant was found hiding in the glove box of a car as it tried to pass

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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

OPINION Deep end

British con-artists in Spain are as old as package holidays. From timeshare scams to bogus TV boxes and cowboy builders to investment tricksters, the Olive Press has exposed them all. We strongly advise all readers to double check online reviews, relevant industry rating sites and word-of-mouth to determine where it’s safe to entrust your hard-earned cash. When that fails, it is of vital importance to make denuncias with the police and contact regulators when a service provider lets you down. And finally… remember to contact your campaigning local newspaper! Our team of professional journalists are committed to seeking out the truth of the matter. Last year we exposed over a dozen conmen, fraudsters and sex offenders and even succeeded in shutting down a bogus holiday rental site that cost British holidaymakers thousands of euros. Where you the readers need to be protected, we will not hesitate to do the same again.

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AWARDS

2016 - 2019 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2019 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

January

29th 2019

16th - January

29th 2019

Meatis retreat of poison’ - organiser

‘Spinach away carnivore weekend Page 17

Elixir of 7Andalucia ways southern We reveal the a health kick Spain provides Page 18

Epidemic

of the investigatorProgram the The principal director of Public Healand study and Marrugat, of Epidemiology IMIM, Jaume illustrath of the latest figures error, the said: “The margin of maxite, with littleof initiating thegrowing importance to reverse the society. in our mum effort the of obesity epidemic only way to reduce eco“It is the social, health andin the enormous that will emerge nomic costs being overweicoming years.” related to cancer and Diseases diabetes, ght include heart disease.

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Vol. 13 Issue 310

THE uncle of little Julen Jimene z, whose body pulled out of a was on Saturday, well blasted state has secutors who proare seeking a reckles s homicide charge

against him. David Serrano secution alongsiAlcaise is facing proowner of compa de Antonio Sanchez, ny Triben Perfora nes, which origina cioBoth are facing lly dug the well. and four years between 18 months behind bars and be ordered to pay could costs borne by up to €1.5 million in rescue mission the state in the biggest Marbella lawyerin Spanish history. is representing Antonio Flores, who Alcaise, told the Press he is devasta Olive ling from losing ted and is still ree“It is a very sad Julen. situation and totally unfair,” he insisted . “This family really poor and are are in no way respon sible. “If anyone it is respon sible it professional who dug the well. is the “By law he should have plugged hole with concre the Speaking from te and he didn’t.” Palo, Malaga, the family home in El bought the landhe added: “They only wanted to use two months ago and “We will fightit for horses. as hard as we prevent him having can to to face these charges." Little Julen fell down the openin January 13, sparkin g on operation involvi g a 13-day rescue and costing the ng 300 specialists state at least €1.5 llion. miHis lifeless body was recovered the wreckage from AN invest igatio at around 1.30am n has been launSaturday. last ched after an See The World

(Free

or paid for) www.theolivepress .es January 30th - February 12th 2019

Death probe

EXCLUSIVE

See page 17

for)

- January 29th

2019

s scale and ceman show (right) poli ning while d well ope er, were ices surroun a fast food work rgency serv Maria Garcia, e’. SCENE: Emeld’s media on site ster Pedro ‘dead insid Dollimore, Prime Mini (above) wor By Laurence ontin and It came afterted support for the coutmare. Pablo BalbBamber t’s worst nigh Sanchez twee Jose, while he appreciaCharlie lan for IT is every parenjust two years old, trah gh. ple, whic no in Tota wasn’t enou Their little boy,, cramped space with don’t know the gesture, the ted need action… we still pped in a dark him. he fell into “I just ds t my son.” one able to reachgive family and frien a a nearby farm when anything abou dad, who lost a three hole. At first his criesstopped hearing those said he 107-metre deepation was quickly spar- The desperate bed two years ago,had fallen hope, but they A rescue oper rapidly grab he year-old son long time ago. is watching as hun-- ked and the story has world, while the heard Julen crying after ing around the gency servi Now the world the well. but he could rts and emer Julen Jime- headlines t parents have been sleep into cry, expe son of s my . dred distraugh “I listened to to reach little well ever since from ces attempt edly fell down the tiny in a car next to the I be?” dad and tra- not do anything.” doza, 49, nez, who alleg in Malaga on Sunday.rts “Where else could o said, “Even here I Builder Carlos Men Totalan, told the Roci of expe lives in le well in Totalan desman Jose of the coup to bear. Malaga, who a crack team But despite scene, rescuers say it will am too far from himand I cannot reach Olive Press: “Relativescouple of monthe land a ’t even have a now on the 24 and 48 hours until they “My son is in there only bought didn een they betw Vicky ago, be ths his wife, him.” a tool shed. e there, just for the villad that he and reach the boy.were enjoying a day with hous adde He dy on le His parents were cooking paella “It’s a real trage only 600 peop the family and ge, there areare really devastahere and we ly. cle if ted for the fami absolute mira “It will be an alive.” he comes out tsapp Wha or Call on Page 5 Continues

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UK BASED

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led police to Olive Press tip off human remaia mysterious set of It came afterns. British expat Ni-

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Smith & Laure cholas Smith nce Dollimore , 63, got in After meeting after discovering touch the former bricparts of a sku- garden. The dad-of-four klayer ll, jaw and leg Leicester was from find, and authenticating the left stunn the Olive Press TMbone in his back he happe SEE PAGE tipped ned upon the ed when the Guardia discovery Civil immediatel off 35 FOR Cops were on while buryin the scene at y. INFORMATION g his home his dog at his home within the hour of and had taped 12 years on the off Costa ying out the area before carrdel Sol. a full excavation. They He believes THE COAST’S PREM the bo- week: told the Olive Press this IER, nes are those “We can confir CARE PROFESSIONENGLISH SPEAKING HEARI m that a of set of huma NG ALS AND AUDIO a teenager, n remai LOGISTS appears to have who located on a prope ns have been rty in the La murdered and been Cala area. See pages 39 & ried at his homebu- “We cannot comm 40 La Cala de Mijas in ther as this is nowent any furan ongoing . investigation.” Smith believ bones could es that the UK BASED be up to 100 years old, a *Offer ends med to him byfact, confir30/11/18. N the police. ot valid for The East Midla renewals. S ubject to c pat also believ nds exonditions. nes could be es the boReliable private the cause of hire transfer a series of super for Spanish services for any natural occasion BUYING OR

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There were more gruesome goings on in February, as we reported how British grandmother Valerie Butroid’s dead body*Offerwas kept in her Marbella home for a year by ends 30/11 /18. Not valid for renew als. Subjec t to condit ions. her daughter (Issue 311). Meanwhile, questions abounded after a Marbella chiringuito opened by Pamela Anderson and Eva Longoria was torched to the ground. Elsewhere, Chris Stewart’s beloved Driving Over Lem2/8/18 17:01 ons country was under threat from a new series of mega-pylons being built in the Alpujarras (Issue 312). Over in Mallorca, British filmmaker Carl Whiteley, who mixed with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, was left in a coma after an unexplained balcony fall (Issue 48). But there was also a heartwarming tale to round off the month, as 80-year-old Hector Baglietto survived a boat crash off Gibraltar and heroically swam to shore (Issue 91). 2

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On the eve of Andalucia day, we look at the history of one its most famous group of residents, gypsies

Issue 26

ss.es Febru ary 14th

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Celebrities join ts furious expa stop and locals ton’ ‘abominatio of pylons sets to ruin serie of celebratedys tourist valle

LET IT GRO W Expansion for two more market approaches years, growth of as this winter 17%

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SPAIN’S property market is expected least another According to two years, experts have to continue growing predicted. for at down until at a leading Catalan institute, ITEC, there It comes after least 2021. will be no slow crisis, with a last year saw sales reach Meanwhile, 9.7% year-to-year increase their highest since continued to the 2008 from January pared to the the number of sales in October ments in the be in the top three destinations to September. same month world for Brits. statistics (INE). Growth in 2017, accordingrose by a huge 17% The only regions for property com- ly, Sevillawas particularly strong investwhere sales to official government New home sales ic Islands, in Murcia, up fell province saw were up 15% 53%, and interesting- quarter. the latter of which saw were in the Canary and a Growth was to 7,971 and also strong 50% spike. a significant resales up 17% Meanwhile, 3% drop in Balearto 43,536. na in particular with a across the board in Catalunya, the Spanish the last rise And it was and Barcelo- Spain’s biggest appraisal house price index hotspots like of 31%. such as Barcelona the Costa del company, showed published by Sol and Costa Tinsa, Blanca which The Mediterraneanand Madrid were up 9.4% prices in the big cities coast shot up in Islands up 2.3%. 7.8%, and the November. Balearic and Canary

Heartbroken family and wife filmmaker spea k out after mysof British balcony fall tery

We uncover 26th 2019

As Spain adds 11 new towns we explore them there, how their unique to its ‘most beautiful’ see Belissimas architecture list, helped get page XXVI

Deal or no deal everything expa, we break down about the UK’s ts need to know divorce from the EU

for)

- February 27th

- February

February 2019

I MISS MY BROTHER www.theolivepre

February 13th

www.theolivepress.es

From medieval to modern

power a facing plants, and one of onlypolluting couple are dozen around of thecoal-burning A BRITISH expat learnt aone power plants left in Spain. ‘disaster’ after they y masts (left) is Balearic Govern ‘monstrous’ electricit back garden. ment to be built in their wife Karen, Armengol has president Fran62, and cina met with farm Steve Holdup, a self sufficien menttofficials from all energy governeven 61, who live on ironically departm and land ents along with from near Orgiva, could ofEndesa power the CEO of to plan the phased lose their sole source way. are in the have closure. also ensured solar panels, which ,They who moved jobs will be saved and that all existing The retired teachers decade ago, claim transitioned to by new from Cumbria a kept the dark model. in the they have beeny REE,The twofound oldest parts of and only energy compan are aset friend. to close down inthe power plant from January 2020. out about the pylon “From Press: other OliveThe two sections will Steve told the rebuilt wehours reduce operating house fantastic a to having years until ago, we’ve 1,500 hours a year for from scratch tendisaster. August 2020, then just EXCLUSIVE 500 hours year into 2025. it ended up with aour per life savinguntil By Charlie Smith “We put all of having to live with and now we face directly behind our Global a 220 volt tower THE sister of a British filmma The plant ser-be home.” who plunged from must ker and adjoining their closed by 2025, but If built, the towerwill through lorca has spoken a balcony in Malearlier rightclose if the second natural gas link to the mainla of her heartbreak vice road will cutpanels. as her brother nd is finished beremains in a coma field of 13 solar fore then. y gets aa in German hospital. in as “So somebody "It wasMorocco y from necessa Emma Whitel ry to propose a load of electricit–aand ey told the Olive at the back tower change last night this change Press losing result of putting in up the she end energy was we is ‘still speechless’ and of our house andyglobal an opportunity model after her brother Carl for ourselwe have islands for our from Lincoln Whiteley, 39, in that the little electricit donenot can been has leave “It shire, anyone be- floor hind," said preside fell ves.” He added: you could flat in Palma a from his firstnt "It isr fashion fortnight ago in the most chevalie a solution that Armengol. myster ious fits circumstances in with the Climate Change Law imagine. . The ‘friend of and is also a guaran tee oflived t - with the likes the stars’ - who mixed in the ed Lecrin work. has continu t pylon projec , who Oli- for the employees," she continu , told the and Johnny of Sylvester Stallone g protest agains to take Howardfor two decades ed. Depp - smashe long, snakin dly necessary When take these the to above) join head open at around project While suppose Morocco to Europe, Valley first d his two section is Press: “The Dr Robert (inset s close in an argum our valley 2020,across 11pm, following FAMILY: (Left) the Baleari electricity fromthe untouched beauty ve EXCLUSIVE ty Stewart and c Islands ent with his Sister Emma massive pylons less have devasGLE: Christ it is set to ruin wife, Esther from made the reBy Tim McNul and (right) ation. It will CO2 menta-iatelywill emit Muñoz, 33. by tens of thou- an abomin10% POWER STRUG Lemons novel to a Carl with Sylve environimmed Palma’s lorca's of the area, enjoyed each year. – Mal- Carl’s ences emissio er Chris Over famous - added his namegning ster Stallone ns alone will drop sister Emma where Carl stillSon Espases Hospital, She To tating consequ l interests are sands of nature lovers gion No ically. campai X-GENESIS drumm that fi(Say and wife Esthe of financia e day. the 33% econom immediately “I lays in a coma. said: “We made the journe Of Hajoined collectiv again private od over the will and The Di No A Las Torres high vol- lly and r miss place, a ‘Vale Stewart has ‘motorway’ of growing the proposal. ples, but that’s argue like other cou- some it, a Balearics to be y from the UK to the pretty my brother. His progre leaving, as The Towers) group arguesa ‘devasta- “It’s a magical expats battling former 80s star Doc- riding roughsh Moors called it, everybody has people, ght against a the Anss is own problem with as the much the for ’, have of her ppiness ‘critically ill’ no their “Thenfresh air. and conserThese include the Blow Monkeys, the rightswake of heedless destruc tage towers would s. power lines planned change, but wesame, there is still “The I heard a noise, tourism and agricul- place of natural beauty Alpujarras region. li- ever, a brother. neighb tor Robert, from are praying for ran out and the Olive Press, ting effect’ on health. who told recover Driving dalucia’s iconic the Stewart y.” a because she our banged on our door, saw him lying his head busted - whose TM “I ture, as well as been launched, while vation. giant pylons will scarlocal ves in the tion,”week. hon- Meanwhile blood everywhere could The British author , “She was upset hear Lucy crying. his wife Esther and I rang the with A petition has over a thousand peo- “These pe, could destroy the the estly don’t that n e a r b y this day the tide will turn and more bulanc will ambecaus denied landsca e straigh e of all the noise.” L e c r i n “One ble, sustainable ways so... a protest saw the village of Con- tourist businesses and ravage k n o w in hisshe had been in any way involve The accountantt away.” horror plunge d She explain ple march near. V a l l e y , reasona but seemingly not yet; continu w ment. h local on ed, “I just a TM for Januar environ ed want t all prevail; She told the Olive that the couple him on Sunday y es again.” which is no benefits at only just to the barricad it was re- char protest, which included many to had happen to wake up and tell us what Press that her 30. say,” band, with of “There are must fight to stop them.” The ed. I want to hus- central moved into a new flat also set to it’s back comes after , is the start whom - we region, E outrage children people she be m in Electrithe Palma The has and m away from to this nightmare a Lucy, y Red a daught and expats be badly TM ism is vital a energy compan that we the scheme. told the gust nine, may have fallen after er only just getting usedthat they were After nominated assite a f f e c t e d vealedEspaña (REE) plans to install many to stop s singer Robert Ecotour a new brain are living.” of wind or due to their home. which wasUntitle a e “It de pylons ca was Monkey Heritag O d-1.pdf the scan giant l a i v e after having to being ‘dizzy’ windy 211 Blow on Carl’s by fractur 1 16/06/2017 UNESCO World for having a network of some before Carl fell, night and two hours confirmed skull, meanwhile, doctors a few drinks. 15:36 P r e s s Speaki project. in 2017, mainly oldest olithe two valleys. ed to his wife that door open and the wind blew the and after re- hospitang at Palma’s Son Espase “ O n c e across See pages 40 he is stable some of the world’s shut has

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Call or Whats

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Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva

- January

As Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke send we turns 50 ck up che him for

Spain of men in by the year A HUGE 80% or overweight be obesenew study has warned. from 2030, a of to researchers Institute According del Mar (IMIM), women the Hospital Research although with Medical to be affected, 55% set will be less a still concerning Spaor obese. overweight published by the estiThe study, of Cardiology, were nish Journal in 2016 there adults mates that million overweight50% of some 24 70% of men and in Spain, to inwomen. is expected if nothing That number three million current crease by to counter the is done the Spatrends. already costing per Obesity is service €1.9 billion nish healththe current projections billion year, but could exceed €3 say this next 11 years. over the

BEST

dence that a no confi soon as next May admitted happen as vote could but said it did not show Wednesday, were willing to support. what deal MPs leader added that she The embattled with the DUP and ‘sethe would hold talkstarians from across nior parliamenify what will be required house to ident ort’. teto secure supp000 UK citizens regis For the 300,in Spain, it is still not clear it, red as living they will have after Brex e what rights ances by Spanish Prim despite assur o Sanchez. rved whateMinister Pedr to s will be prese “Their right rio,” he said, in a bid ver the scena a no-deal Brexit. be allay fears over that clarity would May also said citizens in the UK and needed for EU EU. the in to ns British citize nt will now be forced The governmeB’ for Brexit within three reveal a ‘plan amentary days, expected working parli ary 21. to be on Janu

Voted

Head office

Issue 309

on the rise Obesity is will cost in Spain and service the healthnot tackled billions if will

Voted

Malaga propertne bestmagazi

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Vol. 13

the UK goturmoil after BREXIT is in recorded one of its bigvernment has tary defeats in modern gest parliamen s, voted history. 118 Tory rebel esa May’s Ther MPs, including ster Mini e against Prim a majority of 230. eBrexit deal byr Jeremy Corbyn immby Labour leaded on the opportunity the diately seize of no confidence in tabling a vote government. trophic defeat, the hou“This is a catas its verdict on her deal. se has delivered l has reached the end Delay and denia he said. of the line,”

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in The year began with alth Spain See free He t British expats in Spain Supplemen inside scene still facing the uncera erts rush to Mijas Cost FREE as global exp fourth day tainty of unresolved dler enters rch for tod sea te era Desp Brexit chaos – some things never change. Our first front page of the year (Issue 308) carried the news that the Spanish Prime Minister had promised British expats their at rights would remain unchanged after Brexit ‘no matter what’. Total defe Weeks later the world held its breath as rescue efforts began for little Julen Rosello, the two-year-old who fell down a Malaga well (Issue 309). little Parents say the n Olive Press journalists were at the site alongJulen fell dow while well on Sunday friend side the global meplaying with ence No confid Expert claims dia, before it Voted it is ‘almost t boy Spanish tha BEST hunting impossible’ well emerged Julen expat dogs is inside the r claims paper killed while builde ‘weeks had died and a Mijas Costa my beloved in sealed it he rescue pup Spain ago’ family legal batTommy A-team who ‘Julen family See page 5 nd tle ensued. COULD SET OF famously fouers last HUMAN BONES must NOT DUG UP IN GAR Chilean min to help DEN BE BEHIND HAU In other news NTING? be charged!’ year flown in rt effo rescue the British PM ion Rescue operat l be predicts it wil hours Theresa May (reanother 24-48 s che rea it before member her?) still Julen say couldn’t get her Junta bosses ‘first situation is the the Brexit deal through of its kind in Olive Press he world’ lps Parliament. police after exp uncovers body at of The month was a ‘teenager’ back gardenin his TM AVEL rounded off with the grisly tale of British expat INTR E GRIM JANUARY: SURANC Nicholas Smith (left) who unearthed the ‘human From poor Julen to back garden burial remains’ of a teenager in his back garden in Mijas 2 Tel: 902212312823 282 (Issue 310). 90

96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 69908

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Portuguese ballerina. Then there was the almost unbelievable collapse of Thomas Cook, the Catalan riots, while Spain eventually dug up General Franco. Royals including Harry and Megan, and a sweating (or non-sweat-

January

www.globelink.c

Publisher / Editor

A look back at the biggest s landmark year

n a year marred by Brexit and culminating in the rise of Boris Johnson (left) to become Prime Minister, there have actually been other stories holding the attention of expats in Spain. For one, pop star Julio Iglesias found out he had a lovechild by a

Government in action Another month, another election. The cogs of democracy in Spain are clanking again in what has seemed a year of repetitive headlines with two general elections and two winning parties without an absolute majority. To British expats, many without a vote, it may seem a chore to read up on Spanish politics. But you should do: for a new government means a turbo-charged Spanish state ready to enact a backlog of laws that will affect each and every one of you. From Brexit to the environment and from new laws governing scooters to social justice, expect a raft of new measures regulating our lives here. Whether you’re a fan of socialism or not, a democratically elected government in power, at last, is good news for Spain. And there is no doubt Pedro Sanchez is a gentleman and a fighter and with Pablo Iglesias alongside him, he has one of the most intelligent party leaders in Europe. Now we can all move forwards for the next four years without another darn election.

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

FREE

Mad for Murals see page 8

livepress.com Vol. 4 Issue 91 www.gibraltaro

February 27th - March 12th 2019

‘RUBBER MAN’ BOUNCES BACK

Plane terror

THIS is the dramatic moment a British Airways plane hit heavy turbulence while trying to land in Gibraltar. The clip, which went viral on social media, shows the plane tilting violently from side to side while attempting to land. One Gibraltar resident, said: “I was in that plane, it was very scary indeed.” Another witness of the plane, that was eventually forced to divert to Malaga, wrote: “It was awful! Never seen a plane rock from side to side as much! I’m still shaken by it!” British Airways confirmed the plane was diverted due to strong winds and that it landed safely in Malaga. Opinion Page 6

EXCLUSIVE

AGAIN AN octogenarian fisherman whose boat was smashed on rocks during strong winds has told the Gibraltar Olive Press how remaining calm was key to staying alive. Pensioner Hector Baglietto, 80, was forced to swim to safety and clamber over jagged rocks when his sixmetre fibreglass ship, Tyjack, ran aground close to Europa Point (pictured left). The former fireman, who had been fishing when a three-metre wave slammed his vessel onto rocks, told the Gibraltar Olive Press: “I am lucky to be alive.” He added however he was ‘never afraid’ when he got into trouble during strong winds last Tuesday.

Best to remain THE Gibraltar government waded into a dramatic day in Parliament yesterday, insisting the cancelling of Article 50 and staying in the EU would be ‘the best possible outcome’. A spokesman made the comments, just hours after the UK’s Labour Party announced it would support a second referendum, while Theresa May confirmed MPs would get a vote on whether to delay Article 50 on March 13. Gibraltar said it would back a ‘remain’ outcome in any new referendum, despite the many concerns it had over EU institutions and countries. However, the Rock remains concerned over the delay of the so-called meaningful vote for MPs until March 12, just two weeks before the UK departure date.

80-year-old Hector Baglietto tells Olive Press how he survived dramatic Europa Point boat crash

EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto

“That first wave knocked me forward, cracking my rib and half-flooding my boat,” Baglietto, a former Gibraltar footballer, revealed. “The next wave threw it onto shallow rocks. It was very scary. If it had capsized I would not be here to tell the tale.” Speaking at his Glacis Estate home, he revealed: “I then waded across the rocks while being lashed by the waves until I got to dry land near the Europa Point cottages.” He continued: “I was soaked right through and in quite a lot of pain, also with a broken toe and plenty more

Consequences

REPLICA: Of boat while (above)

brave Hector

If May’s deal is rejected, MPs will then vote on whether they want to leave the EU with or

treated the ‘shaken’ without a deal on March 13, bruises.” Despite his inju- Service before he was a vote is held on exries, he added that he was Gibraltarian,to St Bernard’s before Article 50. tending ‘very calm’ throughout the transferred for medical atten- “The Government is conordeal thanks to his de- Hospital cerned about the consequenction. cades of experience. explained how he es of an extension for obvious The grandfather, who is Hector been brought up in a reasons,” the No6 statement one of 11 children, is known had of fishermen in Cata- added. family ‘rubber the as to his friends Gibraltar will continue to Bay. man’ as he always manages lan brave local, who re- brace itself for a no deal Brexto get back up without seri- The from the Admiralty it. tired position of the Governous injury. Service at 50, admitted “The is that Gibraltar must “It is a nickname that I have Fire st time he ment

2019 round up

a year! www.theolivepress.es

stories that made 2019 another r for the Olive Press ing) Prince Andrew hid from the British press out here in Spain. There were numerous floods across the country, a Mercadona crimewave, a Champions League final, celebrity weddings and even a scrape with Paul Hol-

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

May We ve go he powe was he umphan head ne g ac ng he O ve P ess on pages n Ma o ca n he mon h o May ssue 318 Th s was he s o y ha om Ma o ca o A can e o Anda u c a expa s we e o n ng gyps es and Down synd ome cand da es on he ba o s s n one o he mos d ve se e ec ons n Span sh h s o y n o he news he e we e wo huge gove nmen a b unde s as much oved expa nu se y Won de and n Ma be a was c osed down due o a counc e o wh e a M as based B sh ex

You n o Sp n

M as Cos a

WE’VE GOT THE POWER! w

lywood of Great British Bake Off fame. Spain also saw the birth of not one but two new Olive Press newspapers. This year definitely has a tough act to follow. But in the meantime, here are the top news stories of 2019:

91 Trial shocker

March

H s ory was made n March as he O ve Press aunched s our h newspaper on he Cos a B anca The paper s rs ron page carr ed a c ass c s ory abou a ne ghbour y n wh ch one expa re o ced as h s ne ghbour was orced by po ce o cu a row o cy press rees ssue 1 Meanwh e M che n mup pe Marbe a che Dan Gar c a angered green groups w h a new ch r ngu o n a pro ec ed area ssue 314 and p ucky group o Br sh expa s rave ed o London o pro es aga ns Brex – he arges pub c demon s ra on s nce he raq War

RA N URANC

902 123 282 pa had h s passpo cance ed by he UK Gove nmen ssue 317 A B sh expa was a so cu ed o s a ng a o es fi e n Ne a wh e he wo d a so sa d goodbye o penn ess B sh comed an F ed d e S a who was ound dead a h s M as home GOODBYE: To longtime controversial expat Freddie Starr

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HOUSE RULES

ANXIOUS expats breathed a sigh of relief this week after Parliament voted to wrestle back control of the Brexit process in yet another humiliation for Theresa May. The fresh blow for the British Pri-a me Minister has put the future of million expats in Europe firmly into the hands of MPs, who are expected to vote against a hard Brexit. It comes after thousands of expats joined a million marchers at a mas-

GROWING PAINS

What drove this expat to cut off his member?

Celebrating the end of the Spanish Civil War

AN expat is celebrating after his nuisance neighbour was told to trim a row of ‘intrusive’ trees, following an Olive Press probe. American expat Gordon Capps, 59, is overjoyed after police confirmed they had ordered his Portuguese neighbour to cut the line of cypress trees to just 1.5 metres in height. Capps had sought our help after the ‘disturbed’ 30-something neighbour planted a dozen trees alongside his garden fence, threatening to block his stunning views of the Sierra de Bernia y Ferrer. The 59-year-old film worker said the move was the ‘last straw’ in a bizarre ongoing feud with the neighbour, who he claims recently approached him with a rifle on his shoulder. “It feels like he’s putting up 12 middle fingers at us,” Gordon,

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As well as asking the town hall to check if he had a licence for the rifle, the September 2018 missive asked if local police could speak to him about his dogs. Capps claimed he was ‘worried for his life’ and that the neighbour appeared to have ‘mental health issues’. Another neighbour, Spaniard Jaime Serra Ortola, 43, has also denounced the neighbour for ‘death threats’ against him and his dog. “I’ve denounced him countless times and the police have twice been round. It’s fair to say he is unhinged,” he told the Olive Press. The feud began when Capps put up a low bamboo fence to create some privacy from the neighbour who spied on him while swimming, and then reacted furiously, screaming ‘this is war!’ Capps now fears the trees will not only block his view, but the roots could destroy his pool. The Olive Press was unable to speak to the neighbour, despite various visits.

and armed neighbour at home of his ‘threatening’ CONCERNED: Capps points Benissa last March with his everything about it, except French wife Catherine, a retiwho worked as a prop master that one thing.” for CSI Las Vegas, told the Capps, from Los Angeles, red yoga teacher. But things quickly began to Olive Press. bought his stunning villa in “We love this place, we love

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April

Desp te temperatures hott ng up n June the mood was re at ve y coo among Tottenham and L verpoo fans gathered n Madr d for the Cham p ons League F na O ve Press reporters n the Span sh cap ta watched as the Reds 2 0 v ctory passed a most w thout nc dent ssue 319 One man not ce ebrat ng was Br t sh bus nessman Robert Mans fie d Hew tt As we reported on our front page ssue 320 he spent a year of h s fe ocked up w thout charge n the notor ous Botafuegos pr son after be ng fa se y fingered n a drugs ra d on a garage

go awry with his neighbours, who he insists refused to be friendly ‘from the outset’. Capps, who trained as a paramedic, claims the neighbour’s four dogs barked continually and their owner hid inside the house whenever approached. Despite calling in the Guardia Civil to investigate and contacting the mayor of Benissa for help, he said the neighbour refused to negotiate a compromise. A letter to the town hall, seen by the Olive Press, pleaded for help, insisting the man was deliberately threatening them and that he carried a gun.

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

Page 14

Costa Blanca home is voted best in Europe

As spr ng came around t was Mer cadona h tt ng the head nes on the Costa de So after a spate of thefts from expats at Spa n s b ggest supermarket cha n ssue 316 From across the front er on the Rock came the Government s huge announcement of a £300 m on and rec amat on p an to create the V ctor a Keys deve opment ssue 94 The f rst of severa O ve Press art c es on Cont nenta Wea th Management CWM on the Costa B anca ssue 2 a so revea ed the seedy bus ness hab ts of Darren K rby

Continues on Page 4

Border battle as nuisance neighbour forced to cut down intrusive cypress trees

Page 7

WORRY: One of the posters at the huge antiBrexit demo

June

PROTEST: Puns, pets and expats were all in attendance at the antiBrexit march in London at the weekend

sive anti-Brexit protest in London at the weekend. “It was great to be there making of history I hope,” said Sue Wilson Bremain in Spain. “It is not the first time we have vobited with our feet, but it was our ggest ever march contingent,” she added. so “It was a sign of commitment that

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Issue 28

April 2019

DREAMY: Period home

ROCK STEADY

HE average property price in Spain has grown for two consecutive years for the first time in a decade. The national average house price rose from between 3.9% to 8.4%, according to various sources. Along the Mediterranean coasts and on the islands, where most foreigners buy, the average price hike has been 4.06%, according to Tinsa, Spain’s leading property appraisal company. But the figures have mostly not yet made up for the big drops during the long six year recession, with the exception of the

Prices rise for two consecutive years, while mortgage values continue to grow

Balearic Islands. “Prices have been rising most years since the recovery began, but nothing like they did in the boom years, and nowhere near enough to claw back the ground lost in the bust,” explained respected analyst Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property Insight.

However, he added ‘at the very least, the data suggests that the Spanish property continued to grow last year.’ Mortgage lending to home buyers meanwhile was up 6.1% in January to 19,390 new loans, according to the Association of Spanish Notaries. The average new loan made in January had a value of €135,616, an increase of 0.9% in a year. As long as mortgage lending for residential acquisitions continues to increase, as it has done for the last few years, the Spanish property market is set to grow.

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Power grab

SPAIN’S PP party has set out audacious plans for a power grab to take control back from Valencia and the other autonomous regions. Leader Pablo anCasado his nounced commitment to strengthen the up central government’s role in the run to the national elections in a fortnight. He insisted that such a move would prevent corruption and lead to a drop in taxes. see It comes as the party attempts to off the threat from an insurgent Vox the described has Party, whose leader autonomous parliaments as the ‘cancer of Spain’. Under the plan, the PP wants to increase resources for regional government delegations and paralyse any further transfer of power to the regions.

Supremacy

see Casado insisted the move would Spain being administered ‘more effectively’. his The election hopeful stated that reparty would carry out a sweeping view of how the regional authorities operate looking at ‘efficiency and equity.’ Spain’s quasi-federal political system to of ‘autonomous states’ was added the constitution in 1978. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose party drafted the the constitution, strongly opposed plan, insisting the PSOE would defend ‘tooth and nail’ the principal of regional self-government.

Vol. 1 Issue 2

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FACE THE MUSIC EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

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THE beleaguered boss of a failed wealth management company which allegedly lost expats more than €20 to million has ignored a summons court. Darren Kirby, of Alicante-based Continental Wealth Management (CWM), failed to turn up at Denia court on March 26. he sources Press Olive to According was due to turn up, alongside former business partners, who did turn up. The case involves a trio of investors, of who lost substantial amounts in money when the company folded 2017. foKirby allegedly fled to Australia llowing the collapse, finally returning to Alicante last year. “Darren has been sent a Burofax court the so for, which he didn’t sign will now have to pursue him in other ways,” a source said. “A judge is dealing with this and it’s under legal review,” he added. in “We understand he is currently

Vol. 1 Issue 15 www.theolivepress.es

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BACKING DOWN: Carles

Confusion reigns

FIND OUT WHY INSIDE

beleaguered CATALUNYA’S to fight on leader has vowed from abroad. PuigdeIt came after Carles in to mont handed himself a EuroBelgian police when was ispean arrest warrant sued. politicians He and four other of reare accused on charges misuse of bellion, sedition, disobedience public funds, and breach of trust. now has A judge in Belgium to decide if up to two weeks the group they will extradite to Spain.

Expats who lost millions rage at ‘unauthorised’ deals involving ‘worrying’ signing of blank sheets EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

Pension peril

SPAIN’S prime minister has accused Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing a declaration of independence. Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really declared independence following Tuesday’s nail biting address to the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted he could trigger Article 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalunya is going through - to

who lost up BRITISH expats a failed pento €20 million in believe their sion advisory firm been phosignatures may have docutocopied onto investment ments. extradition most living Given the whole up to 60 Around 300 Brits, to retrieve rying’. very essence process can take in Spain, are battling he may have “This negates the are meant to after Alicante-based they were days, it means election their funds of the service they “It is a blank me they knew what Wealth Manto run his entire the Catalan firm Continental offer,” said Flores. wherever, doing.” folded in Sepsome of campaign for Party agement (CWM)reported in the cheque to invest He added: “I believe European Democratic were made tember, as first whenever. the investments this is I think from Belgium. him to fight Olive Press a month ago. “If standard practice, without my knowledge.I do not left for AusHis party wants of Boss Darren Kirby of very worrying. that is the case because for all the documents for continued leadership in tralia following the closure ofhalf and I Javea “Signing blank recall signing sheets has gone down by to get it the regional parliament would be seen the company’s main elections. investments I had.” need compensation the December 21 by the Olive as irregular in a fices. he had An email, seen asking a cliback on track. who are spread across Puigdemont denied court of law. The to avoid jus- Victims,as well as in Ibiza, MalPress, shows CWM “But some people with a blank fled to Brussels left because problem Spain, ent to sign and return France and have lost everytice but that he these firms is that was lorca, Portugal, dealing instruction. thing and don’t fear illegal practices 55, who the Spanish government they were all inof oppres- Turkey, Another British expat, around to sign blank have enough to preparing a ‘wave vesting in highly against after being asked is trying to recover pensionlive on. One rePENSION risky investments sion and violence’ dealing instructions. were then €200,000, said some pots tired victim only the cliseparatists. OUTRAGE without convinced Their pension assets ers ‘have lost everything’. has €50,000 left “I’m absolutely preparing invested in high-riskout large that I sent ents knowing.” “My paper work my risk level from €480,000.” that the state was repression which promised to pay He claimed that has been altered, ‘medium’ to Andalucia-based a harsh wave of losses sustained have all commissions. pensioner was changed from lawyer Antonio instrucinvestors for which we would by One 69-year-old he whose he lost ‘high’ and my dealing Flores, been held responsible,” photocopied would hopefully told the Olive Press Lawbird tions have been firm after transferring and sellrecoverable said yesterday. be is com- €210,000 despite stating he BOSS: Kirby now in representrepeatedly for buyingauthorise,” are that failed “The Spanish state repression… €470,000 aversion Australia as the investments bust, were ing assets I didn’t ing some CWM mitting a brutal repression blank inhad a ‘low to medium to perform, or went policies. he said. investment. victims, said signing ‘very wormoney left if we don’t battle to risk’ attitude to you sign this he said. state linked to life insurance looking “I still have some enough to vestment sheets was Momentum together, the Spanish “I was asked, ‘Canwill fill in the “They should have been am still young Pension trustees now attempt15:36 We my fund but they were just and I may win this fight.” 16/06/2017 for me 1 to the blank form. To get compensation, but and Trafalgar are Untitled-1.pdf that trusting they out clients’ their own nests. In a show of supportaround details.’ I did ing to recoup CMW interests,” feathering deposed president, would act in my best losses. so far been 200 Catalan pro-indepentravelled to The Olive Press hasif CWM was dence mayors to stage unable to discover investBrussels on Tuesday registered to provide Spain’s offia rally. SPECIALIZING IN: ment advice with CNMV. cial financial regulator LAW

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As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus

They’ve been getting stoned for centuries. Now UNESCO is interested in Mallorca walls. SEE PAGE 6

BACKING DOWN: Carles

SEE PAGE 20

SEE PAGE 10

Who’s paying us? EXCLUSIVE

CONFUSION reigns over who should foot the bill for Mallorca hotels hit by the collapse of airline Monarch. Balearic hotels are facing a €10million bill over the collapse that saw the emergency repatriation of over 110,000 back to the UK, many from Palma. Administrator KPMG told the Olive Press ‘the debt owed by Monarch to hoteliers will rank as an unsecured claim’ against the defunct airline. “They will have to file a claim to the joint administrators for all the money they are owed,” said a spokesman. “It has not been determined (yet) how much money will be available to creditors.”

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Expats lose millions in life savings through failed investment scheme

national and Momentum Pensions. “People are terribly disGranada-based tressed,” Brooks told the Olive Press. “They have lost large amounts of their retirement savings.” She added: “Some of these EXCLUSIVE people are going to end up By Joe Duggan back in Britain on benefits.” “I have nothing but praise for HUNDREDS of British expats Tony Barnett [Trafalgar MD] are battling to retrieve their and Stewart Davies [Momen(above) team at March pensions after losing up to OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby and tum chef executive]. They £20 million in a failed pension charity bash have been magnificent in tryinvestment scheme. It is believed at least 300 of ing to recoup people’s money.” Spanish-based financial advi- One Marbella-based expat remain anonymous. CWM’s 900 clients have had Press understands it sory firm Continental Wealth told the Olive Press he sunk “The adviser kept telling me, their pension pots decimated, The Olive Management (CWM) folded £59,000 through CWM, only ‘This is guaranteed, it can’t go with victims shocked to later last month obliterating many realising he had lost £39,000 below a certain level’.” discover the value of their inheartbroken Brits’ life savings. when his pension trustees sent His money, and that of others vestments had plummeted across Spain and France, was dramatically. Many of them had transferred a statement. their private UK pensions “I couldn’t believe it. I have put into high-risk ‘profession- However, a source close to assets, it has the case insisted: ‘There are through the company, whose 15:36 of pounds,” al investor only’ lost thousands is highly possible legal action Untitled-1.pdf Kirby has now1 al-16/06/2017 been claimed. boss Darren still many customers who are may be taken by some parties revealed the victim, asking to legedly moved to Australia. happy with their pension port- against CWM, based out of folio.’ headquarters in Alicante, and Andalucia-based tax specialist its executives. Angie Brooks, a leading expert Both the office in Javea and on pension liberation schemes the website have recently shut. and the founder of Pension The group were pictured celLife, has now launched a fight ebrating at a charity ball as reto help get victims’ money cently as March this year. back. When the Olive Press spoke She is working alongside pen- to boss Kirby he ‘definitively’ sion trustees Trafalgar Inter- denied responsibility over the crash. “I have lost my world,” he said. A close associate of Kirby’s said former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still quite raw for them, and they are working out what to do next,” he said.

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They’ve been getting stoned for centuries. Now UNESCO is interested in Mallorca walls. SEE PAGE 6

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As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus SEE PAGE 10

EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

HUNDREDS of British expats are battling to retrieve their pensions after losing up to £20 million in a failed OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby pension investment and (above) team at scheme. Spanish-based finan- March charity bash cial advisory firm Continental Wealth Man- Many of them had agement (CWM) folded transferred their prilast month obliteratvate UK pensions Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 ing many heartbroken through15:36 the company, Brits’ life savings.

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reports

whose boss Darren Kirby has now allegedly moved to Australia. One Costa-del-Solbased expat told the Olive Press he sunk £59,000 through CWM, only realising he had lost £39,000 when his pension trustees sent a statement. “I couldn’t believe it. I have lost thousands of pounds,” revealed the victim, asking to remain anonymous. “The adviser kept telling me, ‘This is guaranteed, it can’t go below a certain level’.” His money, and that of others across Spain and France, was put into high-risk ‘professional investor only’ assets, it has been claimed.

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It is believed at least 300 of CWM’s 900 clients have had their pension pots decimated, with victims shocked to later discover the value of their investments had plummeted dramatically. However, a source close to the case insisted: ‘There are still many customers who are happy with their pension portfolio.’ Andalucia-based tax specialist Angie Brooks, a leading expert on pension liberation schemes and the founder of Pension Life, has now launched a fight to help get victims’ money back. She is working alongside pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum Pensions. “People are terribly distressed,” Granadabased Brooks told the Olive Press. “They have lost large amounts of their retirement savings.” She added: “Some of these people are going

to end up back in Britain on benefits.” “I have nothing but praise for Tony Barnett [Trafalgar MD] and Stewart Davies [Momentum chef executive]. They have been magnificent in trying to recoup people’s money.” The Olive Press understands it is highly possible legal action may be taken by some parties against CWM,

based out of headquarters in Alicante, and its executives. Both the office in Javea and the website have recently shut. When the Olive Press spoke to boss Kirby he ‘definitively’ denied responsibility over the crash. “I have lost my world,” he said. A close associate of Kirby’s told the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still quite raw for them, and they are working out what to do next,” he said. Opinion Page 6

former member of staff. “It was a prestigious place but one she day they just shut the door,” said, asking not to be named. Victims had raised fears about being asked to sign blank dealing instrucintions and their pensions being vested in high-risk assets which paid large commissions. One pensioner based on the Coshe ta Blanca told the Olive Press lost €210,000 after transferringa €470,000 despite stating he had low to medium risk attitude. “I was asked, ‘Can you sign this blank form. We will fill in the detaiact ls.’ I did that trusting they would said. he in my best interests,” out “They should have been looking for me and they were just feathering their own nests. To me they knew what they were doing.” Lawyer Antonio Flores, whose firm Lawbird is representing a number of victims, said signing blank investment sheets was ‘very worrying’. of “This negates the very essence financial advisory services,”said Flo-

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England.” The Olive Press exclusively revealed how CWM abruptly folded in 2017, salosing hundreds of expats’ life vings in the process. the The firm, which was based out of Marriott Hotel, in Denia, had ‘eight to ten’ telesales staff and clients sca-a ttered around Europe, revealed

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NO SHOW: Darren Kirby

res. “It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever. “It is very worrying as they were investing clients’ money in highly risky investments as well as dubious hifunds just because they paid the gher commissions.” by He added that losses sustained investors should however, be recofaiverable as the investments that led to perform, or went bust, were linked to life insurance policies. got When the Olive Press finally he hold of Kirby in October 2017,lost denied all responsibility. “I have my world,” he said. Are you a victim or former staff member? Do you know more about at the case? Contact the Olive Press newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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It comes after the Rabobank in London warned that a no-deal Brexit could end in euro-sterling parity, while last week saw the pound plummet to an eight-month low. British expat Karen Watling, from Sheffield, claims she has lost as much as a third of her monthly budget. “Over two years this has caused us problems financially,” she told the Olive Press. “Prices and commodities have also risen so it has been like a double hit.” The exchange rate was an average 1.24 in 2014 before climbing to an average 1.38 in 2015. However the year of the referendum saw the average fall to 1.22 before falling again to 1.14 in 2017. This year so far has been lower at 1.13 and it currently stands at 1.12. Brexpats in Spain has called for a government-run internet bank offering basic current accounts, debit cards and the option to carry out international and national transfers online. The group even suggests ordering RBS - the only bank in the UK in which the government has a stake -

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Vol. 13 Issue 307

A BRITISH businessman - who attended Eton with David Cameron and Boris Johnson - is seriously ill in an Andalucian prison having been accused of drug smuggling. Robert Anthony MansfieldHewitt, 51, was arrested after police swooped on his rental home during a short business trip to Gibraltar two months ago. The consultant engineer, who insists he is innocent, has yet to be charged over the 1.5 tonnes of hashish police found in the garage of the villa he rented through Airbnb. He insists he has absolutely ‘no connection’ to the drugs that were being stored at the rental in Campamento, in San Roque. The owner of the villa, the Olive Press understands, was charged for importing cocaine into Gibraltar last year. In the case, that has strange parallels to the plight of Scottish student Robbie McMiller, MansfieldHewitt was woken up and ‘dragged out of bed practically naked at gunpoint’ by police officers at 8.30pm

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daily for his illness.” After spending two days in a cell, he appeared in front of a judge at San

Roque court before being sent to Botafuegos prison. Ford is concerned he has not been receiving the correct medication, after he collapsed in shock as his ‘body started to shut down’ on the way to prison. He was rushed to ICU at Hospital Punta de Europa where his survival chances were described as ‘touch and go’.

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“The doctor said he hadn’t been CAPTION: given his medication and his liver was functioning at just 15%. His heartbeat was almost non-existent and he was delirious.” His lawyer Jose Maria Castro Escudero believes he is now being administered the correct medication, but still remains in a critical condition. The nightmare began after police were alerted to the stash after following a man of Moroccan nationality, who pulled up outside the property and attempted to get into the garage. Police found 48 packets of hashish weighing around 33 kilos each, or almost 1.5 tonnes. If found guilty he could be sentenced to up to six years in a Spanish prison. According to his lawyer he is ‘fighting every day to free Robert’ and get him bail, meaning he would likely have to report to police once a month while he awaits

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“Rob is a lovely, lovely guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s a sensitive soul, it’s just awful what is happening.” The teacher added that Mansfield ‘just a hair’s width’ from losing his is tal home in Emsworth, Hampshire.ren“We have just been able to stop repossession order, but the courts the are saying if they don’t hear news shortly it will have to happen,” he said. “I’ve written so many emails to different government departments and feel like I’m banging my head against

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embezzling €7 million in public funds. The Policia Nacional found that the Consortium of Bomberos Cadiz took out mass early retirement insurance policies. But when their employees retired early, chiefs siphoned off the money from the payouts. Authorities also found discrepancies in the consortium’s training courses. Large sums were paid to a company to provide training courses, but no evidence has been found that these courses took place. Meanwhile, irregularities were also found in grants and subsidies, which cops believe were used to pay for private trips. The irregularities date back to 2008 and cops believe at least €7 million has been stolen by those at the top.

Costa del Sol hotel has three months to fight decision before it is demolished

A HOTEL is to be knocked down for not having enough class! Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista de Rey must be demolished within three months, a court has ruled, Andalucia’s Superior Court of Justice ruled that the hotel falls short of its four-star requirement.

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than permitted. Although the town hall and developer maintain this excess was later corrected, the judge ruled that the rectification would have taken place after the granting of the licence, so does not count. The building has 61 apartments and 46 parking spaces. The original building was granted planning permission by then mayor Enrique Bolin in 2001.

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SMUGGLERS’ WALL

POLICE officers have formed a human wall along a beach in La Linea to ensure that the construction of a beach wall went ahead. The wall, between the church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen and the perimeter wall of the fishing port of La Atunara, hopes to

deter drug smugglers from using the beach as a drop off zone. A combined police presence of Guardia Civil, local and national officers were present as fears grew that drug smugglers would try and disrupt the work.

ing victims. However, a comprehensive Olive Press investigation exposed his scams that involved stamps, coins and gold. We also revealed how he and his close pal Barry Nathan wined and dined up to a dozen criminals, anonymously, through the food column. He eventually fled the country following our expose, but we soon tracked him down to the UK, where he had changed his name by deed poll and was selling coins and antiques on eBay from a small Berkshire cottage. He was quickly found guilty under English law of conning people and given a suspended prison sentence only due to health reasons. “And because he promised to never go back to his online cons,” one of the British victim explained. But this is apparently not the case with two victims claiming he is still using eBay to sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps from his unpaid flat in Brighton, using the names ‘gqtrading’ and ‘gqtrading2’. “We are pretty sure he has broken his bail conditions and will have to finally go back to prison,” said one victim. “The nerve of this man is unbelievable.” His landlord last night insisted he should have known something was up from the start. “When we met to sign the contracts I thought he was a bit slippery, I went to pay for my coffee only for the barista to tell me he had left without paying his bill.” He continued: “He paid for the first couple of months but then just stopped. He told us his account had been frozen due to a money laundering investigation, which is probably true. “He then told us to stop contacting him and accused us of harrassment. “Now he is claiming he is seriously ill and can’t work to make payments. “We’ll see him in court.” Opinion Page 6

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One bizarre reason for the denial bail was that investigators found a of panese ‘Katana’ Samurai sword in Jahouse, which they said constitutedthe a lethal weapon. Shockingly, it wasn’t until May 27, month, that he finally had a court last hearing. However, despite attending the court in San Roque, the Olive Press was unable to get into the hearing. In a document now seen by the Olive Press, prosecutors are seeking years and eight months of jail time four and an €8 million fine. However a verdict was meant to have been delivered within 10 days, but has yet to be made. “They offered to let him go if he pleaded guilty,” added friend Ruffle, “But Robert refused, he is a man of great ethics and will fight this to the very end.” Meanwhile, friend of 20 years, vicar and RAF Padre Rebekah Cannon has also described the ‘hopeless’ situation as ‘a stalemate’. Hewitt’s PA Pillie Ford told the Olive Press: “This is now not just a joke, it has gone beyond limits. This is an innocent man… the real man in question is hiding in Gibraltar.” Robert’s lawyer, Jose Maria Castro Escudero, failed to comment in time for press. Eroski billboard.indd 1

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FRIENDS and family are rallying round a seriously ill British man EXCLUSIVE set to spend Christmas 15%’ having collapsed By Elisa Menendez behind following sion bars in Andalucia. his incarceration for our visits, in June. the garage of the Robert Mansfield-Hewitt, can’t talk to him but since we rental home in “Robert is not well - he and none of 51, sti- Campamento. needs a us speak ll insists he known walking stick and Spanish, nothing about His PA, a €5.5million haul Pilar given one. He also he’s not been know what to do.” we just don’t of hashish Olive Press Ford, 54, told the to told found in a San she has now go back into hospital.me he has She said one friend has managed rental property heRoque Airbnb sed a raffle and raised organi- Meanwhile, friend to €200 for stayed at on a him to buy of 20 years, fly get in touch and is planning to business trip six months Vicar Rebekah Cannon, books, to Spain pens as Christmas shampoo and in Chichester, based sit him in in the New Year to viThe Chichester engineer,ago. presents. prison. has also described (pictu- “He’s locked red right) who has According to his severe liver is absolutely up in a hell hole and the ‘hopeless’ situation as ‘a stacolleagues he disease ascites, is may finally be charged ‘miserable’ and Christmas devastated to spend lemate’. this week ‘confused’ at having there,” said Ford and could face up who to six years in festive season lockedto spend the works alongside the Brit prison if found guilty. at electrical company Neither an appeal up. Letters He has been denied from his local Ltd in Gibraltar. Genco Holdings bail twice, MP or UK press reports She is exasperated with one reason ped him get bail over have hel- “He’s been stuck in solitary not reach him on that she can- panese ‘Katana’ being that a Jaconthe telephone Samurai sword for which he has the offence, finement. Imagine that, was allegedly found an inno- and while her letters have arrived still not been cent man charged. in Spain, they are and keeps the Olive Press has in the house, all returned to am I here?’ We just asking ‘why sender without Mansfield-Hewitt, The judge refused learnt. don’t know being opened. bail in OctoPhD, has been in who has a what to do.” “It’s all one way, ber given the ‘quantity he sends us leof drugs tafuegos prison - Algeciras’ Bo- Ford, who visited him seized, which were a fortni- tters but we can’t get in touch. which houses ght ago, located in the ETA terrorists - since I garage, and the is extremely concerned don’t even think his family presence June after about his health, 1.5 tonnes of drugs after doctors got their letters through thehave tana weapon in the livingof a Kawere found in said his pri- stated in room’, ‘liver was functioning son,” she told the TM court documents Olive Press. at “Robert obtaihas to request permisTurn to page

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ding to a close friend and neighbour back home in the UK. And worse than that, he faces losing his home, as the rent has not been paid for months. “It’s just awful and the authorities Spain are burying their heads in in sand,” said Cliff Ruffle, 57, who the has known Mansfield for years.

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WHILE it’s foggy in the Pyrenees and in the Alps, I’m taking the sun near they’re shivering the top of Spain’s second highest mountain. It’s early December and yet the Sierra Nevada still remains warm during the day. Some people t-shirts and everyone is looking tanned. are skiing in Even better, my elevenses of a croissant, apple and a Coke come to less than €10 euros... and that is at a restaurant halfway up the slopes! “Here we sell the weather, not the number of kilometres,” explains Juan Luis Hernandez, boss of EOE ski school. “And the prices have hardly gone On top of that you are just over an hour up for years.” from the beaches of Almunecar and half an hour to the celebrated Alhambra. That is hard to beat. What is certainly changing in the Sierra Nevada though is the dedication to move forward. Believe me, I’ve been coming for 15 years... and this is the 10th anniversary of the Olive Press’ special supplement on the resort. New kilometres of pistes are added every year and this year - by amazing fortune - it snowed so heavily in November, the resort opened a week earlier than expected, with a record 40,000 skiers enjoying the De-

Voted

FRUIT growers in the Axarquia are facing a 60% reduction in water use from the La Vinuela reservoir with no solution in sight. The Junta has decided to limit its use as the reservoir is already at 22.7% capacity and could drop even lower if the dry weather keeps up.

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Friends send festive gifts to ‘innocent’ Brit spending Christmas in solitary confinement in Algeciras prison

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cites, who has not been getting his medication regularly, if at all, it has been 365 days of hell. Police had been alerted to the garage the rental property in Campamentoof which Robert claims he never steppedfoot inside - when a Moroccan man was seen trying to break in. As the Olive Press reported last year, the home was owned by a man with previous convictions for drug dealing and Mansfield had a business he worked with in Gibraltar But that seemed irrelevant when was taken in front of a judge at San he que court 48 hours later, who sent Rohim to prison to await trial. He has since been denied bail three times, despite suffering serious health issues, which led him to be rushed to hospital on two occasions. His health is still ‘touch and go’, accor-

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on June 27. Colleagues and friends told the Olive Press that Mansfield-Hewitt, who has a PhD and no criminal record, is an ‘innocent man’ and has been wrongfully imprisoned. They added that the Chichester-raised engineer is currently in a critical condition and is being held in the medical wing at Botafuegos prison in Algeciras - a dangerous jail, which notoriously houses a number of Basque ETA terrorists. The Brit, a consultant at electrical company Genco Holdings Ltd in Gibraltar, who regularly travels to the Rock, suffers from severe liver disease Ascites and walks with a cane. His PA, Pilar June Ford, 54, said she was ‘horrified’ when she received a call from her boss screaming at La Linea police station. She told the Olive Press: “He was at the station shouting ‘please help me, help me, bring me clothes, there’s loads of drugs in the house.’ It was horrible. “I rushed there with a huge bag of medication, which he needs to take

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aboutthe olive press - October 30 - November AXARQUIA 12 2014 ierra Nevada

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Everyone has heard of the claims that it is hot enough in Andalucia to cook an egg on the pavement... we visited Ecija, the ‘Frying pan of Spain’, to test out the theory, CRACKING JOB PAGE 6

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WELCOME to the most beautiful in Spain,’ toothless town local Jorge calls out in broken sweat from myEnglish as I wipe the brow. (OK, so look like a tourist, I still despite four years Spain.) in I had just hiked liana which has up to the top of Frigiindeed been crowned one of the country’s pueblos, as plaques most picturesque through the village will tell you at A 10-minute every turn. from Nerja, it’sdrive up from the coast white-washed the pearl in a string of villages glistening hills of the Axarquia in and its nearby the nada neighbour, GraEither way, this the Costa Tropical. eastern end of is the very laid-back boy, take it fromthe Costa del Sol, and near Marbella, me a ‘westie’ based it really is a breath fresh air. of “This is our little paradise,” grandfather Jorge, beams who has lived here

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IT was supposed to be a run-of-the mill business trip. Robert Mansfield-Hewitt had rented a room in what seemed an ordinary apartment in San Roque and was set to attend meetings in Gibraltar. What the 51-year-old engineer didn’t know was that someone was using adjoining garage to stockpile 1.5 the nes of hashish, worth a whopping ton€5.5 million. The Chichester man found out hard way when he was cuffed in a the dramatic raid on the property last June. And despite urgent appeals from family and friends - as well as his local in the UK - he has been locked upMP in Algeciras’ notorious Botafuegos prison since then. Home to ETA terrorists and murderers, Hewitt - who has a PHD and is an avid poet in his spare time - will have been held for exactly one year on June 27. For a man with severe liver disease as-

June 2019

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Life in the laid-back East (of the Costa del Sol) has never seemed more appealing, ‘West End Boy’ writes Laurence Dollimore

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BRITISH pensioners in Spain claim to have lost more than a fifth of their spending power over the last two years as a direct result of Brexit. Richard Hill, vice president of Brexpats in Spain, claims plummeting exchange rates, taxes and a rise in the cost of living have caused significant income losses. It comes as the pound sunk to a new low of just 1.10 to the euro last week, as worries of a hard Brexit magnified. The pensioner, who claims he’s around 22% ‘worse off’ since the referendum, believes expats will struggle regardless of whatever deal is reached ahead of Britain’s exit from the EU. The pensioner added: “The significant problem at this stage with Brexit is the fluctuating exchange rate. “Obviously fluctuations are normal, however the steady downward trend is seriously affecting people.”

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A CRAFTY new traffic camera raked in more than €600,000 in fines from unsuspecting drivers in its first five months, new figures have revealed. The camera on Ronda’s famous Puente Nuevo (above) issued 18,000 fines to drivers going into the old town at restricted times. The town hall is €650,000 better off, after the site registered an average of 120 offences a day. Tickets are €70, reduced to €35, if offenders pay early, but the ppy-snapping camera has caused hawidespread outrage. “Both my husband and I were fined in the same week, and we both already have official passes into the old town,” one local expat, based in Ronda, told the Olive Press.

xarquia &

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See page 17 After being locked up for a YEAR evidence against him, the Olive alongside terrorists without any charge and with no Press demands to let Robert Mansfield go…

AN overwhelming majority of our readers are not offended by the term ‘expat’. That’s the initial result of our online poll which asked ‘Do you find the use of the word 'expat' to describe British and foreign nationals living in Spain offensive?’ The vote came after a barrage of emails to the newsdesk complained of the Olive Press’ use of the word, requesting that it be switched out for ‘resident’ or ‘immigrant’. However a snapshot of our readers’ opinions revealed that two thirds were not bothered by the term. On our Facebook poll, there have so far been 881 votes. Out of those, 656 said ‘no’, while 223 said ‘yes’. The results were repeated on Twitter, where 68% of 80 votes said did not find the term offensive. they

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September

Oh what a wonderful year! July The Olive Press went from strength to strength in the summer, as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Costa de la Luz supplement. We also congratulated our columnist Bill Anderson on becoming the first British councillor in Mijas. July also saw a grinning Robert Mansfield-Hewitt (left) walk free from Algeciras’ violent Botafuegos prison, thanking the Olive Press for our campaign for his freedom (Issue 322). It was also a good month for Javier Sanchez, after it was proven by a Spanish court that Spanish pop star lothario Julio Iglesias was in fact his father. There was another anniversary too, as we celebrated the 100th issue of the Olive Press Gibraltar, which splashed on a pledge by Chief Minister Picardo to ‘fight Brexit’.

ROYAL ROMPS: From Andrew’s summer sojourn to Sotogrande, to Harry’s green credentials in Ibiza

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Tensions ran high in September, as British expats took to the streets of Spain to protest the harmful ‘nodeal’ Brexit threatened by the new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Issue 326). Our exclusive poll also revealed that a shocking 27% of British expats in Spain still wanted Britain to leave the EU. And then, a story that rocked the world – the collapse of Thomas Cook. Olive Press reporters across the country recorded the plight of some 70,000 Brits, whose holidays with the travel giant had left them stranded in Spain (Issue 327). In other news dogged Olive Press hack Simon Wade was given a bloody nose after he was headbutted by a young man while investigating squatters in Formentera del Segura, Alicante (Issue 13).

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Vol. 13 Issue 325 www.theo livepress.es August 28th - September 10th

TWIST OF FATE

2019

The British expats who Brexit and proud SEE are proPAGE 7

Spain battered by tornadoes and hail in series of weather phenomenons

CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome ’ have grown after 16 children contaminated medicatio were given n on the Costa del Sol. Infants developed hypertrich osis - excessive body hair growth omeprazole which had - after taking been contaminated by minoxidil – the active ingredient for alopecia medicatio Some 13 babies had initially n. nosed with the condition been diagmore cases linked to the before three were discovered earlier tainted drugs Officials believe the this month. could have affected up contamination cian pharmacies and to 30 Andalumore than 50 batches of the drug. Malaga-based pharmace pany Farma-Quimica Sur utical comfound to be the source of SL has been The affected batch the batch. 11072/10/42 and most is from lot have been recalled while any missing packets are being tracked down. Parents have been advised medical help if their child to seek given the formula and check has been with their pharmacy if they have affected lot. Hypertrich purchased an ‘werewolf syndrome’, isosis, known as CHAOTIC: (Top right) tion characterised by a rare conditornado in Malaga excessive hair of goats and (right) growth anywhere on a person’s which killed dozens lightning strikes across body. while (above left) cars Those with the condition swept by rapids southeastern Spain and (above right) a cally been subject to greathave historieast of Madrid huge hailstone which Mancha region in somes cases forced interest and fell in the Castilla La to perform in travelling circuses and freak Spanish authorities have shows. said TORNAD this inOES, rivers of cident is isolated to children’s formula cious storms have struckhail and fero- six warehouses destroyed. and that adults taking omeprazo across Spain The this weather le capweek in a series of frightenin phenomenon was caused rapids after 40 litres of hail fell per sules should not worry At least 50 vehicles were g by colliding winds, square metre in just 10 damaged in minutes. a process oping symptoms. When about devel- weather incidents. Arganda alone while several the children Campillos in Malaga DANA (Depresión Aislada known as Spain’s meteorological agency stopped taking the prescriptio vineyards saw AEMET en Niveles recorded n their tornadoes destroy power several huge Altos). more than 9,300 lightning were also completely destroyed. hair growth subsided. Residents, who had been strikes in six hours. root olive trees, causing lines and up- This is similar to the famous temperatures close to 38Csweltering in warnings to residents toblackouts and - or cold drop - according to gota fria The hail storm caused serious the day belocal mete- ing in several floodstay in their orologist homes. Jose Luis Escudero. villages south east of the fore, were forced to shovel hail out of Opinion Page 6 their capital, homes and businesses. It came with Some 70 goats were killed and at least Madrid,as the streets of Arganda, near Pinto among Arganda, Valdemoro and “The storm started the worst hit. were turned into ferocious around 6pm and only lasted about 10 minutes Parts of the M40 and M30 but has motorway were cut off while lines s caused a disaster,” one local said. and 9 of the metro were5 “I have been living here for 20 years and have never seen anything also affected. like it.” According to meteorol- One shop owner says his premises ogist Benito Fuentes, looks like it has taken a tonne of hail strong storms are com- and said there are scenes of chaos as businesses are totally flooded. mon in August. “The rain has been fairly Meanwhile, Valencia saw a huge storm heavy but it is not un- light up the skies last night while its usual for this time of the whole coast has been placed on orange year. At the end of sum- alert for strong winds and rain. mer, the atmosphere is The Balearics too, were struck by Auunstable, which causes gust downpours yesterday, causing air streams to collide. severe flooding in Mallorca and Ibiza This leads to quite strong - the latter of which saw sewage pipes rainfall and storms,” he burst, sending human waste into the Port of Ibiza. said.

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In August (yes August!), tornadoes and hail storms battered the Costa del Sol, while a shocking string of ‘werewolf syndrome’ cases saw children suffer excessive facial hair growth after taking a dodgy medication (Issue 325). Over on the Costa Blanca, a court ruled in favour of the victims of the aptly named Jane and Bill Scammell, who stole €270,000 from an elderly couple to fund their glamorous lifestyle (Issue 10). There was also a horny tortoise on the loose after it escaped from its British owner (Issue 12). Meanwhile Mallorca was reeling, as the island woke to the news that a muchloved British expat bar, Betty’s, was fighting for its life after its owners were subjected to vile homophobic abuse (Issue 60). The Balearics were at the centre of another huge story when Harry and Megan had their environmental credentials questioned over the use of a private plane to jet into Ibiza for a family holiday (Issue 61). Finally, the exclusive golf courses of Sotogrande drew a panicking Prince Andrew, who escaped to southern Spain amid the storm of his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein.

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AN Olive Press journalis attacked after exposing t has been a ‘violent’ gypsy family allegedly squatting and stealing electricity. Simon Wade was chased down the street and headbutted man tore off his glassesas a young and tried robbing his camera in on the Costa Blanca. broad daylight The dedicated journalis t was photographing alleged squats, pat homes, when the man next to exflung open the door with chest exposed and a tattoo reading ‘I die for my family’. “My specs can be replaced, and the bruising will fade, but here are living with thisdecent people 24/7,” Wade said. A denuncia was made Guard, who revealed the to the Civil perpetrator was a ‘wild beast’ with a string of convictions. EXCLUSIVE It comes after British By Timothy McNulty resident, Ena Cummings, 53, contacted ing gypsies had thrown us claim- BORIS Johnson has managed into the Virgen del Rosario‘dead rats’ silence Parliament, but British to pool and repeatedly set complex’s pats in Spain have shown they exterraces on not be cowed will fire. into a harmful nodeal departur “They're stealing electricity and wa- Brits around e from the EU. ter,” the Formentera del the country are moident told the Olive Press.Segura res- bilising to oppose the shutdow n

Expats take to stree reveals unflinching ts as Boris shuts Parliament and exclu sive Olive Press poll Remain support and stand up for their Protests have spread EU rights. to the Costa del Sol where pro-rem paigners are planning ain camOur Rights march in a Protect Malaga on September 22. It comes as an exclusive online poll by the Olive Press revealed an astonishing 73% of expats remain

staunchy in favour within the Europeanof remaining Union past the October 31 deadline (Pages 6-7). The Facebook poll shows that had they been able to participa te fully in the biggest ‘democra tic exercise for generations’, the expat vote would have proved decisive.

Damage

MEET AND GREET WITH PETE WHILE LIAM STEALS THE SHOW AT GIBRALTAR CALLING FESTIVAL

Opinion Page 6

“We are the people most affected and we didn't get a say, that is what is most unfair,” said protest organiser Valerie Lawrence, Torrox, in the Axarquia68, based in . “Most of us could not postal votes went missing.vote and “Now we are just trying to stop COUP: Protesting MPs Brexit or at least minimis e the surround Speaker Bercow damage,” added the retired Yorkshire woman. Commons doorkeepers intervened It comes after an alarming as other report issued two weeks treasury ing Greenopposition MPs includago spelt MP Caroline Lucas extreme danger for expats in var- helped up signs emblazoned with ious ways. the words ‘silenced’ amid cries of The leaked Yellowha ‘shame’. mmer document warned of issues over pen- The PM has claimed the governsions, healthcare and crossing bor- ment will use the suspension to ders, particularly in press ahead with negotiations with the EU to reach a deal, Gibraltar. while still The warnings howev- ‘preparing to leave without one’. er have not stopped "No matter how many devices this Parliament invents to a five-week shutdow tie my hands, n I will strive to get an agreeme of Parliament begin, nt in amid chaotic and an- the national interest," he said. gry protests in the "This government will not delay Brexit any further." House of Common by opposition MPs. s It comes after Johnson was warned Scuffles broke out he could face legal action if he chooses to ignore around speaker John new legislation Bercow’s chair as passed by Parliament blocking a Labour’s Lloyd Rus- no-deal Brexit. The law received Royal sell-Moyle made assent on symbolic bid to pina Monday and forces Johnson to Bercow in place late seek a delay until January 31 2020 unless MPs approval on Monday night. a deal by October 19.

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2019 round up

www.theolivepress.es

November

October was a month of several shady expats for the Olive Press to investigate. First came Nadine Dijkman, a notorious Dutch businesswoman in Sotogrande accued of taking €300,000 from a couple’s property purchase into her personal account, and not paying her staff (Issue 328). Then it was the turn of former US conman ‘the Chief’ – Karim el indio Ismaili – who caught our attention in Mijas after being bizarrely accused of nicking wooden planks from neighbours (Issue 329). Next up was Jody Smart, the well-known expat fashion designer, accused of using €1 million from collapsed financial firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM) on the Costa Blanca (Issue 16). Nadal also ended an almost two-decade wait by wedding his childhood sweetheart Xisca Perello in Mallorca, while in Gibraltar Fabian Picardo was re-elected to serve as Chief Minister for a third term (Issue 108). And as if that weren’t enough, Spain’s Socialist Government took the decision to exhume the remains of General Franco, while Catalunya faced over a week of violent protests-turned-riots after Spain jailed nine of the region’s separatist leaders.

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A VEGA Baja mayor has demanded €80m in flood aid for the devastated Murcia region. Los Alcazares leader Cervera insisted a majorMario Perez tion project should be flood retenimplemen ted urgently to prevent the sort of serious flooding that happened in September. He told the governme this week that it is alsont in Madrid serve the Mar Menor, vital to prebadly hit by the so-called which was The week of heavy rain Gota Fria. deaths of millions of fish led to the and the destruction of dozens of homes. He insisted future floods needed to Continues on Page

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

POLICE on the Costa Blanca have been slammed allowed a confused andafter they tated British great-gradisoriento walk out of a policendfather station into the dead of night alone. The massive surge - off The family of pensione the recent Catalan crisisthe back of Pearce, 68, are demandir Philip ng anof Islam - could see the and a fear swers from Benidorm DISAPPEARED: Philip ing 15% of the seats in party seizwhy he was released police over (above Pearce on Septemright) the last picture enjoying a drink (above), while The expected gains Parliament. ber 10, at 3am. of the pensioner in damage centre-right will seriously Alicante Airport They now fear for his life after he “It’s absolutely gut-wrenching for which could lose over Ciudadanos, has ther-of-three. half been missing for an alarming its us as a family, not knowing seats, while the ruling PSOE two months. and left wing he is and why he disappea where Owner of Alicante Transfer Podemos are also expected s, red. And in a shocking email David McQueen, said to suf“I just want him home fer. he has so badly. I spent ‘four British Consulate, seenfrom the miss him so much.” to five’ hours every Vox, which has pledged by the Olive Press this week, day Spain from immigran to ‘defend’ there are Philip was known to be suffering ings scouring abandoned buildts, is predictsuggestio and traveller commun ns of a breach of duty from the early signs of ed to finish third in the country’s ities of care. tia, but was ‘happy and demen- around the Costa Blanca. fourth general election in as many The official email years. when he left for Alicantesmiling’ “I even sent my dog out with a with a GoPro camera pensioner had clearlyreveals the friend and travelling The latest polling suggests to search in every Vox, led partner. he ‘did not remembe told police He was having by Santiago Abascal, bush r where he a good holiday we’ve and in every corner, but its 24 seats in Spain’s will increase was staying’ nor where 350-seat parhe was until he left his Playa Levante said. found nothing,” McQueen liament to 46. from in England. hotel at 5.30pm on Septemb er 9 “I’ve got 130 taxi to buy cigarettes before he drivers lost who his start Wallet bearings and was taken Failed to at 4am and finish police. The consulate email Meanwhile Albert Rivera’s at 2am, but none of CiuPhilip was carrying also stated Two months on, Lee told dadanos will be reduced neither his ive Press the Ol- the hotels and esfrom 57 to passport nor his wallet 14. In the 40dB poll a when search and request for ‘a ground tablishments have he was taken by a gain 14% of the vote, Vox is set to sniffer dogs’ has gone seen a alongside the stranger to unanswe sign of PhilPP in second place with Benidorm’s Policia Nacional red, sta- left searchin while the family are ip.” 91 seats and the PSOE 21.2% and tion in the Old Town g for answers. coming The just first family with 27.3% and 121 votes. has midnight, as CCTV footage after “We just need closure on wheth- spent con- er my dad The PSOE’s predicted firms. is still alive or not,” ting up weeks putvictory would see the party posters and Lee said. However, what is not clear handing is seats than in April’s with two less how out flyers “But apart from claiming and why he was allowed last election, prompting another headache the station three hours to leave sent out some drones to have of his missing father for its to look, around Benidorm leader Pedro Sanchez the police “The police are simplylater. form a government. as he tries to not an- anything don’t seem to be doing with contact details. swering our question at all.” A spokeswoman for Pearce, 41, told the s,” son Lee It comes as scores of British Opinion page 6 Olive Press idents res- the British Consullast night. have spent weeks ing for signs of the search- ate told the Olive grandfa- Press it ‘does not A DANGEROUS lurch to the right could see Spain’s anti-imm igrant Vox party becoming ers in this weekend’s the kingmakgeneral election.

Your expat

Big Chief in local mischief Theft row involving horse-riding Indian with ‘Cherokee roots’ is former con man from the US EXCLUSIVE By Robert Firth

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Green row over Spain’s biggest new theme park Page 48

CHIEF CON: Karim was involved in a series of US fraud cases

FEATHERING HIS BED: Karim accused of stealing wood for his luxury apartment and (right) report from US involved in a political scandal that In the legal claim, seen by the Olive rocked the Caribbean Island of Mont- Press, the manager of the Altavista serrat in the 1980s and briefly led to development, Antonio Navas, claims the arrests of the island’s former chief Ismaili stole the wood for his five bedroom luxury mansion, also in the minister. In the bizarre case, that involved theft, Valtocado area, with 360 views and he was described by lawyer, Leon St. swimming pool. John, in the Florida Sun Sentinel, as It came when a gardener at the site ‘the brightest and most enterprising claimed to have spotted Ismaili and another man loading planks of wood con man I have ever run across’. It came before his conviction in 1986 into a 4x4 in June 2018 and informed for mail fraud when using his real Navas who contacted police. name ‘Lakbir Moulay Ismaili,’ he He then filed a denuncia to the Guarscammed manufacturers of custom- dia Civil in Fuengirola a few days later, with the initial court hearing in ised vans out of $43,210. In the clever scam, he deposited mon- July, that year. ey that was meant to go towards slick Ismaili now lives with his partner photography for sales brochures into Carmen Beneyto Simon, who works in the Mijas tourism office and runs his own bank account. Moroccan-born Ismaili received a an export business called ‘La Diosa suspended sentence, and was fined del Carmen’ from the couple’s home $1,000 as well as being forced to re- address. It also claims to have offices in Palm pay the money. But then he did it again, this time un- Beach, Florida, where Ismaili used to live. Abdul der a different name, Karim Ismaili, having legally changed his When the Olive Press tried to talk to name in 1990 and set himself up as a Ismaili about the claims, he refused to comment. financial advisor. Perhaps inevitably bound to go He did however contact Altavista wrong, he was convicted at Kansas manager Navas claiming we had firstCourt in 2002 of defrauding an Amer- ly demanded money from him and ican couple of $70,000 given to an in- then sent him various threatening vestor who purportedly wanted to buy messages. He later insisted by email that one of their shares in a company. Ismaili failed to inform them that the his workers merely took a single plank of wood worth €60 accidentally. investor also owed him $1.2 million. Which brings us to the present day, “The worker returned that wood to with the current court case, which Altavista in the presence of the Guardia Civil and explained that he did not started at Fuengirola Court last year. know was the line between the property and Altavista’s,” said Ismaili.

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s how he chased and pinned Gibraltar security guard reveal fatal Costa stabbing down an alleged murderer, after EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto

A BATTLE-hardened security guard for Gibraltar’s Chief Minis-a ter has chased and pinned down suspected murderer. Brave James Abecasis told the Olive Press how he tackled the knife-wielding attacker as he fled the scene of a fatal stabbing on the Costa del Sol. reFather-of-one Abecasis, 28, vealed how he chased the alleged in killer, a Brazilian, after stepping to try and stop the vicious attack outside a nightclub in Estepona. While most people wou ld have left the scene, the former him soldier said his ‘instinct’ told to chase the attacker, who was running away. he “I went flying after him and as rounded the block I tackled him to the floor, getting grazed on my hand as I took away the knife from him,” he continued. “I then held him down with a club security guard until the police arrived a few minutes later and cuffed him.”

Do you know Karim? Have you had any dealings with him? Contact newsdesk@theolivepres.es Opinion page 6

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CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has insisted that legalizing abortion without a referendum would be like ‘shoving progessivism’ down Gibraltarians throats. In an exclusive interview with the Olive Press, the leader, who was recently elected to his third consecutive term, said his government needed to be ‘realistic’ with such hot topics. While he confirmed he was pro-abortion, he insisted: “We have to deliver the progressive agenda in a way that doesn’t break our society.” “Conservative society has adopted our agenda because we have ensured we’ve respected the freedom and liberty of those who wish to disagree with us.” He added ahead of next referendum: March’s “There are others who are so progressive, they would force things down the throats of those who disagree with them. “I think that’s actually so progressive that it becomes anti-libertarian.”

EXCLUSIVE CHAT with the Chief Minister See Page 4

Violent

21/6/19 13:30

Gibraltar-born Abecasis - who spent four years with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, much of it in the Middle East - had been on a night out with friends. When they came out of the Mykonos nightclub in Estepona, at 4am, a fight quickly broke out between two strangers. It has since emerged that Sabiel nillas hairdresser Abdessamad Ammali, 21, from Morocco, died within minutes of the stabbing. He had accidentally spilled his beer over the attacker, it has since emerged. “They were on the floor hitting each other and no-one had intervened,” he told the Olive Press. to That is when he decided he had do something.“Someone held one the Royal Gibraltar Regiment of the guys and INSTINCT: Abecasis served with I held the other, who I had faceto-face,” he revealed. “It was really violent and there was literally a UK BASED river of blood as his attacker must have hit an artery,”

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TRAGIC: Victim Abdessamad (top), blood at the crime scene (centre) and police arriving at Estepona Port

IT will go down as the hottest decade on record. on With temperatures soaring, both land and sea, global warming has become a major issue for Europe. With temperatures about 1.1C above the average from 2010 to 2019, desertadded. ification has been spreading, in particAbecasis revealed that his army ular, through southern Spain. training has helped him through The provinces of Granada, Malaga and life.“I definitely don’t regret it,” Almeria are at serious risk, while Murhe said. “I am proud of what I did. cia and large parts of Valencia are also Even the judge at the initial court in danger of semi-desert conditions. case hearing this week told me The ‘exceptional’ heat around the how brave I was.” world was announced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as climate activist Greta Thunberg (pictured) arrived in Portugal by boat in en route for a key climate summit Madrid this week. to stay in the capital for two See page 19 She is settaking part in a huge demonweeks, stration this Friday. Opinion page 6

revealed Abecasis, who has been working in the Chief Minister’s “I security team for four months. think I will have a few flashbacks he because of all the blood there,”

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LANDMARK: The remains of dictator Franco removed from Madrid shrine

comment on individua l cases’ such as Philip’s. A Policia Nacional claimed ‘helicopters’ spokesman scrambled to search forhad been Philip on various Benidorm hillsides. However, he failed to answer questions about the exact details of his release from the whether sniffer dogs station or and ground searches had been deployed or would be soon.

Have you seen Philip? Get in touch at newsdes k@ theolivepress.es

December

voice in Spain

ON the face of it, it’s just another ordinary neighbours’ dispute. Now in court, it hinges on skip-loads of wood allegedly stolen from a property development on the Costa del Sol. However, what makes it a little different is the involvement of a colourful local character, who rides around Mijas dressed as a Red Indian. Known as ‘el Indio’, Karim Abdul Ismaili, 70, has been accused of stealing €15,255 worth of objects, mainly wooden planks at the Altavista development, near the town. But other locals warn that he may also be involved in offering colourful investments to unsuspecting expats in the area. And drilling down into his past, people should certainly be wary. For Karim - who goes by the name ‘Carim Cherokee’ on Facebook - is a serial fraudster who conned victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the USA, the Olive Press has discovered. The pensioner - who is for known his long black and hair feather headdress - was embroiled in a string of fraud cases in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also

2019

Vol. 13 Issue 329 www.theolivepress.es October 23rd - November 5th, 2019

How we nailed a corrupt Champagne socialist MP Page 14

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Another milestone in November – the Olive Press Costa Blanca Sur / Murcia was born. Duty of care A roaring first front page splashed claims after missing British on the Mar Menor crisis and the great-grandfather was allowed to news that a missing British grandfaleave police station at 3am in clearly ther was allowed to walk free from a disoriented state police station in a disoriented state. Right turn And who could forget when grumpy British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood threatened to fill in the Olive Press cakehole just for asking a question. There was also the news that Swedish teen activist You Greta Thuntotal doughnut! berg was stranded in Find out what’s eating Paul Hollywood America in on Page 3 need of a lift after the location of the Chile COP25 climate conference was switched last minute to Madrid (Issue 330). Meanwhile we reported how Triple A, the beleaguered Marbella animal shelter – vehemently supported by another local paper – slammed allegations that it allowed the slow and agonising deaths of animals. We also splashed on the connections between Irish and Dutch gangs and local criminals after three suspected murders in three months (Issue 331).

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RIOTS AND WEDDINGS: Catalans take to the streets, while Nadal finally tied the knot

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October

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

TRAGEDY AND TRICKSTER: December marked the deaths of conman David Klein and a trio of tourists in Fuengirola

The final month of the year began with the news that notorious scammer and Euro Weekly News columnist David ‘the Dogman’ Klein had kicked the bucket (Issue 332). Meanwhile, James Abecasis proved that Gibraltarians are rock solid, after the Chief Minister’s security guard revealed how he tackled and held a knife-wielding thug who stabbed a clubber to death in Estepona Port (Issue 111). Up in Murcia an unlikely group of expats were forced to take to the streets and defend their community after a series of muggings (Issue 4). A bumper festive final edition of the year also delved into the ‘Costa del Crime’ in a special report by author and journalist David Baird, following a string of shocking gangland killings along Spain’s southern coast (Issue 333). There was a Christmas Eve tragedy too, as three members of the Diya family drowned in a swimming pool at the Club la Costa World resort in Fuengirola. And finally, a rollercoaster 2019 ended with a nightmare before Christmas as Boris Johnson led the Tory Party to its best general election victory since Thatcher, giving him a mandate to govern Britain for the next five years and make good on his primary campaign promise to ‘get Brexit done’.

January 9th - January 22nd 2020 Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

Christmas miracle Readers react to ‘rebel’ Catholic priest who opened doors to the homeless over Christmas (Issue 20, pg 8)

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The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

SERIOUS: Fabian Picardo GIBRALTAR will ‘make a success’ of tough ‘challenges’ in 2020, the Chief Minister has said. In his New Year’s speech Fabian Picardo mentioned details of a major investment to be announced in the next couple of weeks Picardo said everyone must work together with ‘stoic sacrifice’ by asking for less ‘to secure our children’s future’. He noted the ‘critical importance’ the MoUs and Tax Treaty which of lowed Gibraltar to take part in althe transition period. Picardo highlighted the ‘dangers and opportunities’ of leaving the EU, pointing out the agreement of a common that was a ‘Brexit Bonus’.UK

Respect

However, the Chief Minister promised to remain firm in agreements over future relations with the EU after the expected final departure date of the end of 2020. “Any negotiation for Gibraltar such a deal will be conducted for for braltar by a team led by me or by GiJoseph Garcia,” he said. “Such negotiations must be based on mutual recognition, mutual respect and an understanding that nothing can ever be imposed on Gibraltar. “The Government I lead is willing walk away if the terms proposed to not favour Gibraltar or respect do our red lines.” This would mean Gibraltar could opt out of a deal which gave other countries like Spain a greater say on the future of the overseas territory. After congratulating Pedro Sanchez on forming a coalition government, Picardo will have breathed a huge sigh of relief he would not be up against a more right-wing Spain.

RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote PEDRO Sanchez has become Spain's official prime minister after winning a second vote of confidence yesterday. The PSOE leader will govern the country for the next four years, after an agonizing two-year wait and three general elections. Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, was forced to recall MPs to sit for the over the weekend to confirm his victory.first time It was his second attempt at an investiture vote since the PSOE won the most seats in December's general election, but failed to win majority. The vote saw MPs in Spain'san overall vote either 'yes' or 'no' to Sanchez's congress proposed left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias's Podemos party and a host of other parties. After a heated afternoon session, he won a knifeedge victory of 167 votes against 165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up by MPs from Podemos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Unidos Galego

LEAVERS: Trio of Brits in Spain OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition victory Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva CaIn his letter, he referred to the two narias. men’s shared desire to look beyond ‘the eternal It was no surprise who voted against issue’ of soverthe lefteignty and he extended the hand wing coalition, with 165 MPs from of friendship on the Partido behalf of the people of Gibraltar. Popular, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, He also offered his support for the Navarra Suma and others saying promotion of 'no'. ‘policies based on the principle of The left erupted into applause, with dialogue, understanding and co-operation between ding tears, when it was revealed some shedour rethat Sanchez spective people’. had clinched the vote. Key to Sanchez’s victory was the Representatives screamed 'si, se abstention puede!' while the pro-independence Catalan Republican of Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was Left photographed party (ERC), which agreed to sit in tears. Spain’s most recent election out ter Sanchez vowed to find a solutionthe vote affourth in as many years as the country was the failed to litical conflict that has dogged Spain to the poform a cohesive government. since Catalunya’s separatist regional government “It’s great news for Spain,” leading tried to secede in 2017. panist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive expat HisPress. “There are going to be lots of compromises, but also solutions.”

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Onto the streets

PROTESTERS have taken to the streets as the fight for Palma’s terraces continues. Dozens of angry restaurateurs gathered on Calle Blanquerna to voice their disapproval of new terrace rules, which could see around 500 terraces affected. Under new rules, pavements will have to be a minimum of 2.5 metres free of any obstructions, leaving little space for tables. It could mean dozens of expat owners - the majority in Santa Catalina will no longer being able to serve clients outside their premises. Protesters argue that the street has 'more than reasonable space for both pedestrians and the terraces’. “The current dimensions have not caused any problems before," said a spokesman for a new group opposed to the plans We All Fit in Palma. A petition has so far garnered

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nearly 1000 signatures, while the island’s PP party has come out in support of the restaurants. Restaurant owners in Santa Catalina meanwhile, insist that a ‘one rule fits all’ new law will be very damaging to them. Italian Luca Veronesi, at Prosecco, said: “We all rely on these terraces to make a living. Shut mine, I will have to lay off staff for sure and may even be forced to close.”

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VILLAGE IN THE CITY CAPTION:

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HE clinking of wine glasses, clicking of designer heels and the cacophony of foreign languages… welcome to a typical lunchtime in Santa Catalina. Palma's trendiest neighbourhood is often described by locals as 'the village in the city', and there is no doubt look and feel about it. it has a very distinct With the city’s best food market, some of its most exciting restaurants some of the coolest shops, and, bit by bit, that Santa Catalina has it is little surprise become - by the

square metre - one of places to buy in Spain. the most expensive The area may be small wide, stretching from - only seven streets Calle Joan Crepsí - but Feixina park to busy it has literally exploded over the last few years. There has been a huge influx of expat buyers, in particular Scandinavian, and Santa Catalina today is vastly that Palma residents different to the area remember just a decade ago. Continues on Page

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EXCLUSIVE: First pic of Romanian thug imprisoned for attacking Cursach witness

The vicious attack on so-called ‘witness 29’ came after he had testified to the courts over Cursach’s drug trafficking and sex parties arranged for police and nightclub magnate. politicians. www.theolivepress.es

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Vol. 1 Issue 23

The Olive Press spends a week in fashionable Santa Catalina

case. SEE MORE IN Florian Bogdan Puscasiu, from Sibiu, attacked the man to warn him against givTHE RESTAURANT ing evidence in the ongoing case, which SECTION began a year ago with the arrest of the INSIDE1 216/06/2017 Untitled-1.pdf 15:36

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Is this Mallorca’s hippest barrio?

Amazon walk-out

MORE than one thousand Amazon workers in Madrid are set to stage a twoday strike on March 21 and 22, in protest of alleged plans to block salary increases and reduce wages for working weekends. Avenida Rey Jaime 1, Santa Ponca, 0034 871Find 510 277 out more on page XX 15

Bobbed in

A MESSAGE in a bottle has been discovered in Mundaka, near Bilbao eight years after it was written by a boy in New Zealand.

Shame on you

EUROPEAN Court of Human Rights has condemned Spain for violating the free speech of Catalans who burned pictures of the monarchy by wrongfully imprisoning them.

Over it

ALMOST 60% of workers in Spain do not receive any financial remuneration for working extra hours, a study by recruitment agency Adecco has found.

The attack, which took place in the victim’s garage, is believed to have been ordered by Cursach, who is on trial for murder, money-laundering, extortion, bribery and corruption. During the sickening March 15th - March 28th 2018 assault the victim was dragged to the ground A MINOR who escaped from a juve- Theand kicked while being teens have now been charged nile centre has viciously attacked a withtold hecrimes would be killed hate robbery. gay couple (right) in Palma. he continuedand to speak Theif shocking assault occurred on He and two others, including a girl, February out. 24, when the young gay Puscasiu, and a boy who was UKalso BASED lists his from a ju- couple were who walking along Calle profession venile centre, allegedly, kicked and Arxiduc. as a builder websites, has also TRAVEL punched the victims after shouting Theon From front twisted trio mocked been ordered verbal abuseINSURANCE to pay them for and stealing their back- their before plus punching and city, where she had been plana sexuality fine of €7,200, pack. kicking them the face.to ning to hide his body. €8,000 inindamages for Spanish the witness for the injuAfter 48 hours of questioning residents ries received. she finally admitted to killing The court heard how the lad after an argument, but www.globelink.co.uk the witness, denied she had strangled him, who worked as a waiter in as the autopsy ruled. the VIP zone of CurIn three routine interviews at 96 626 5000 sach’s club Titos, was the beginning of the search, po+44 (0) 1353 699082 lice said the Dominican native Continues on Page 2 VICIOUS: Puscasiu worked for Cursach demonstrated an ‘extreme coldness’ not indicative of someone who was missing a loved one. Police became more suspicious when she failed to give them her mobile phone, before claiming she had lost it. Not wanting to let her know she was under suspicion, police He backed it up with a WhatsApp message told the parents to act normal sent to a key witness by the judge stating: clude with Cursach and his business partner Sbert officially charged on a total of 16 around her while they zeroed in ‘Let’s end these sons of b******’ on their target. Another lawyer representing the co-accounts, including murder, extortion and Gabriel’s mother insisted his cused Bartolome Sbert alleged that Pe- corruption. father Angel certainly had nothnalva has ‘intimate friendships’ with the Cursach, who owned or ran 30 nightclubs and bars on the island, faces 80 years in ing to do with it. police. “He is a wonderful person, Let A new judge, Miguel Florit, has now re- prison after running Mallorca as his own no one doubt him. I will be by placed Penalva and will work closely with personal fiefdom for four decades. One of Judge Penalva’s last actions was to his side because we have to prosecutor Miguel Angel Subiran. overcome this together,” she The investigation stage is about to con- sentence a Romanian man to three years in prison after he viciously assaulted a key said. witness in the case. “It is very difficult to digest the Florian Bodgan Puscasiu atloss of a child knowing that the tacked ‘witness 29’ after he had person you loved killed them.” testified in the courts over CurAnd in a remarkable plea for sach’s drug trafficking and sex calm she pleaded that the torparties that were arranged to rents of rage directed against ing violations. buy off police and politicians. Ana Julia needed to stop. Some of these affected safety, includDuring the sickening assault “I do not want everything to ing emergency exits. the witness was dragged to the end with the rage that this Calvia town insists a reopening deground and kicked while being woman has sown, Gabriel does pends on the violations being cortold he would be killed if he connot deserve it,” she pleaded. rected and the establishment becomtinued to speak out. “Although there was no happy ing fully licenced. It is believed that Cursach orending, the fish is swimming dered the violent assault. towards the sky,” she added.

e Lions Threpub Hate crime Best English Pub in Palma trioGreat food

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Judge discraced and sacked From

MALLORCA’S biggest ever corruption trial has been thrown into turmoil after the judge was kicked off the case. Judge Manuel Penalva has been replaced over concerns that he had ‘lost his impartiality’ in the controversial Tolo Cursach case. In shocking claims, the lawyer working for Cursach, Enrique Molina, insisted that the judge was being ‘manipulated by third parties’.

MALLORCA’S most famous nightclub is to remain closed. The Balearic High Court has ruled BCM in Magaluf must stay closed after losing its licence. It comes after the Cursach Group appealed the decision by Calvia town hall from last year, insisting it was working hard to correct the issues. The club's licence was revoked after inspections found numerous build-

cursach case

End of an era

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DOZENS of police officers, politicians and businessmen have been charged in Mallorca’s worst ever corruption case. A total of 35 people - also including

- the Police, prostitutes and cocaine charged 35 key establishment figures with links to the Cursach case

...but there are plenty of reasons

DISGRACED: Cursach arrives at court, while (top left) two previous front pages

By Gillian Keller

be civil servants and lawyers - are to prosecuted over their links to Mallorca’s infamous businessman Tolo

to be cheerful...

There’s so much to read in this bumper Olive Press special festive edition

‘King of the Night’ Cursach. The group are being charged over their links to the nightclub mogul, who allegedly bribed and corrupted the island for decades. They include two former police chiefs and two Palma town hall to bosses, all of whom are alleged in have taken money or other bribes return for special favours. Judge Enrique Morell has charged inthem with a total of 15 crimes, of cluding extortion, trafficking influence, blackmail, false documentation, corruption and crimes against public health. poMany of them, including 11 local licemen are accused of partying with prostitutes in Cursach’s numerous nightclubs including Tito’s in Palma. They are accused of taking cocaine, the at alcohol - and even free sex various clubs over many years.

Blackmail

We trace the origins of Spain’s legendary Costa del Crime Page 6

Hit the slopes with the pros in snowy Granada Untitled-1.pdf

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rassment. Rival nightclubs and anyone opposing him would be routinely harassed and intimidated by the officers, while also receiving excessive inspections. The prosecution is asking for eight years in jail for the officers, who have entered a plea of not guilty. for Visit www.theolivepress.es indepth features on Cursach

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The Mijas Costa

Diving in

PLUS Go home cooking with these biscuitbaking nuns this Christmas

Andalucia Issue 334

They include the former police chief Juan Miguel Mut, head of the Patrulof la Verde, Gabriel Torres, and head Palma security Guillem Navarro. It comes after a long investigation into the affairs of businessman Bartolome Cursach, previously under the judge Manuel Penalva and public prosecutor Miguel Angel Subiran. ofThe Judge strongly attacked the ficers, who he has probed in a shocking 50 separate cases of blackmail and threats between 2009 and 2016. up The case has now been broken pointo two parts, the crimes of the lice and those of the civil service. In particular, the officers are accused of supporting Cursach and his busihanesses, protecting the clubs from

ANDALUCÍA

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Vol. 13 Issue 334 www.theolivepress.es January 8th - January 21st 2020

FINALLY! The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve.

Allen Wilson, a health and safety expert who has worked on numerous drowning cases around Europe, arrived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths PEDRO Sanchez has become Spain’s official prime minister after winning a of the trio. second vote of Wilson claimed the pool’s design confidence yesterday. The PSOE leader will with just one floor ‘outlet’ – in- next four years, after govern the country for the stead of two – could have created an agonizing two-year wait an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and and three general elections. Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, dragged them under water. from Madrid, It flies in the face of the Guardia was forced to recall MPs to sit for the Civil’s official investigation, which over the weekend to confirm his victory. first time It was his second attempt at an investiture vote since the PSOE won the most seats Continues on Page 2 in December’s general election, but failed to win an jority. The vote saw MPs in Spain’s overall macongress vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and a host of other parties. After a heated afternoon session, he won a knifeedge victory of 167 votes against 165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up by MPs from demos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Unidos PoGalego NaEXPERT: Allen Wilson tionalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva Canarias.

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition victory It was no surprise who voted against the In his letter, he referred to the two coalition, with 165 MPs from the Partido left-wing men’s shared desire to look beyond ‘the eternal Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, Popular, issue’ of soverNavarra eignty and he extended the hand Suma and others saying ‘no’. of friendship on behalf of the people of Gibraltar. The left erupted into applause, with He also offered his support for the ding tears, when it was revealed that some shedpromotion of Sanchez had ‘policies based on the principle of clinched the vote. dialogue, understanding and co-operation between Representatives screamed ‘si, se our repuede!’ while spective people’. Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was photographed Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention in tears. Spain’s most recent election of the pro-independence Catalan Republican fourth in as many years as the country was the Left party failed to (ERC), which agreed to sit out the form a cohesive government. vote after Sanchez vowed to find a solution to the “It’s great news for Spain,” leading political expat flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s conist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. Hispanseparatist regional government tried to “There are going to be lots of compromises, secede in 2017. but also solutions.” He added: “Sanchez is an amazing Terrorists man and it’s remarkable to think he stuck it The government’s opponents out argue Sanchez’ kicked out of his own party and then after being ‘Frankenstein government’ will be came fighttoo ing back. to Catalan separatists and pose a threat beholden “He has the qualities of a true national unity. While Sanchez appealedto Spain’s for calm, statesman and speaks very well. He and called on MPs to overcome the ‘atmosphere of will be a great asset for Europe.” irritation’, his adversaries went on the offensive. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian PP leader Pablo Casado, accused him Picardo also sent a letter of con‘extremist’ who had left the country’s of being an future in the gratulation to Sanchez on being hands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and In a tweet sent after the vote, Sanchez fractious debate’. “Spain is entering a time for defending wrote: dialogue and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence and fights for social justice. Today is the dawn of a time of moderation, progress and hope.” Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000.

5).

aryMoore sees the EU, essentially, as a political Rose a home, themand give(Leave They hip pg 7). The 325,love. Issuegive proud, they dictators their bags packstates, they sour turns all it when Butis the opposite. There are 28 sovereign reality l animals beautifu on those to become backs ly chose their voluntari which and turn the UK, including would UK the that glance. believes Dunne second a Steve even d. without associate to goinglocked in so. I’m Notstarve death, terms. tonot on WTO betterhave left to fairMany been and chapter quoting by page letters ere. your down somewh up weigh chained or property a rented the intobelieve looks that Steve ndSpanish I recomme butyou in verse, don’t , they have the Then Trump That that he knows. any industry of their specifics retheir with do to all spayed, pets getting is trying to get a trade deal with an EU-free UK should trade deals you all you want to know: Trump’s tellligion. animal of any the females to let it is ok But for have speaks Brent Mahler Finally, labels. US-first have either they born are they as and force babies, armed EU their an of wary citizens UK of a number in the them put or ideas them, are drown these , or neck However the an ever closer union. andsnap . policy. I am not EU rubbish withand people crushed specific bybe bin to floated of proyearsfrom cars. 40-plus thrown at the worried dogs being edinsidious more witness I have h, bag Mail,inTelegrap by the the EEC/EU a carrier paganda found dogs was our own One ofagainst What did Sun. The course, of and, Times Express, die. to sun full in tree a from hanging anwas so hesole why asked he wasold say when hours Murdoch of survivor the and She was onlyalong the lines of: “When I go into ti-EU? Somethingl Belgian ds. shepher beautifu EU.” The 10 they do what I say: when I go to the are No.six d humans as for usask It’s disgrace ent! an appointmsuppose had to hehow on is thatful implicati

Use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide (agua oxigenada) to clean black mould – far less toxic than bleach and very effective (Breaking the mould, pg 28). Door and windows open in the day is also a must. Let’s the damp air out and warm air in. Rebekah Disa, London

He’s called a rebel priest. But isn’t this the basic foundation of the Church? George Buz, California

Double standards

Moneylenders

I hope those living in EU countries who voted leave will have the decency not to apply (Leading MEP supports EU citizenship for British expats in Spain as Brexit date looms, online, December 19). Denise Bland, Alhaurin el Grande

And they wonder why religion is going out of fashion? They usually don’t practice what they preach, but welcome people’s money in their coffers! Anne-Marie Willis, Andalucia

Political Jesus

It seems that a lot of people say that they are Christian and like to publicly be seen going to church, but that’s as far as their charity goes. Let’s face it the Tories who profess to be religious and pious introduced austerity and food banks; if they saw Jesus on the streets now with his followers the police on horseback would be summoned to kettle and arrest all of them. Stephen Taylor, Heckmondwike

Really?

So, being a nice person means to rebel this days? Telubesc Marie,

Not a rebel

A rebel priest! Never heard of him being described like that. I can assure you Padre Ángel is very famous for his good work and not just at Christmas Mairi Panelli, Madrid

to be the compassionate ones, how wrong this is. Lorraine Islip, Malaga

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

Bad karma No good deed goes unpunished as they say. Terrible thing to happen hopefully she doesn’t lose heart (Search underway for ‘kind-hearted’ British woman whose bicycle was stolen while clearing plastic from Denia beach, online, December 18). Dave Keogh, London

No fear I am in something of a quandary over expats’ reaction to the activation of Brexit. I pay my taxes, both national and local, in Spain. I also pay HMRC in the UK although I no longer have a vote there - what happened to ‘No Taxation without Representation?’ I pay my Social Security. I drive a taxed car on Spanish plates. I shop locally and drink local wine. I participate in local village festivities where I am on the ‘Padron’. What have I to fear from Brexit? Peter Miln, Campanillas

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OP QUICK Crossword Across 1 Head armour (6) 5 Missing (6) 8 Retaliation (8) 9 Exclamations of surprise (4) 10 Island in central Hawaii (4) 11 Immense (8) 13 Stylist (11) 18 Plan of attack (8) 22 Bedouin (4) 23 Angry (4) 24 Cosy (8) 25 Artificial limb (3,3) 26 Mistakes (6)

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The government’s opponents argue Sanchez’ ‘Frankenstein government’ will be en to Catalan separatists and pose too beholda threat to Spain’s national unity. While Sanchez appealed for calm, and called on MPs to overcome the ‘atmosphere of his adversaries went on the offensive. irritation’, PP leader Pablo Casado, accused him ‘extremist’ who had left the country’sof being an future in the hands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. In a tweet sent after the vote, Sanchez “Spain is entering a time for defending wrote: dialogue and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence and fights for social justice. Today is the dawn of a time of moderation, progress and hope.” See page 23 Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000.

Tel: 952 147 834

www.globelink.co.uk

952 147 834

Terrorists

He added: “Sanchez is an amazing man and it’s remarkable to think he stuck it out after being kicked out of his own party and then came fighting back. “He has the qualities of a true statesman and speaks very well. He will be a great asset for Europe.” Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo also sent a letter of congratulation to Sanchez on being re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and fractious debate’.

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Total lack of care Expats come to live here, they take on dogs, cats horses (In Spain and maybe even cated three animals Get edu are abandoned every five minutes, Online, Janu-

Cleaning tips

Down 2 Nonsense (7) 3 Cocktail (7) 4 Flavour (5) 5 Exhausted (3,4) 6 Body of honeybees (5) 7 First prime minister of India (5) 12 Metal-bearing mineral (3) 14 European mountain (3) 15 Pencil sketch (7) 16 Prison (7) 17 Installation for nuclear fission (7) 19 Stage (5) 20 Saudi Arabian currency (5) 21 Kent coastal town (5)

All solutions are on page 23

LA CULTURA

Cakes and ladders Spain’s oldest Three Kings parade in Alcoi is a foodie’s heaven and an HSE officer’s hell, writes Joshua Parfitt

IT would leave health and safety experts quivering in a corner back home in Britain. And yet every year the Cavalcade of the Three Kings sees hundreds of school-age children scaling second-floor balconies on bright red ladders with giant parcels on their backs. The pages still go in blackface, making the event a po-

Tate crime

A BRITISH man has been charged with criminal damage after he trashed a €23.5 million Picasso painting. Shakeel Massey, 20, from London remains in custody for the attack on the Spanish artist’s Bust of a Woman (1944). The work of art is housed at London’s Tate Modern and the gallery has now removed it from public display. It was reported to have been ripped although the venue has not revealed any details regarding its condition. Malaga-born Pablo Picasso created the piece, which portrays his lover Dora Maar in Nazioccupied Paris. “The work of art is with our conservation team for expert assessment. Tate Modern remains open,” said a gallery spokesperson. A Met Police statement said: “Detectives investigating an incident of criminal damage at the Tate Modern, Bankside, on Saturday, 28 December have charged a man.” Massey is to attend a pre-trial hearing at Inner London Crown Court on January 30 after being denied bail.

litical correctness crisis to boot. But this is untouchable tradition here, where every 5 January since 1885, local teenagers have distributed gifts to terraced houses all around the Alicantine city’s central Plaça d’Espanya. And it is these traditions that have cemented Alcoi as the most famous host of

Spain’s nationwide festivals celebrating the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. “Alcoi has the oldest continuous cavalcade of the Three Kings in all of Spain,” Gaizka, an 18-year-old traditional dancer, tells me. “I love it because it reminds me of the excitement of Christmas time when I was a child.

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

That sinking feeling

“Parents sit by the cavalcade with their toddlers, and hold them up to receive a kiss from a Melchor, Gaspar or Baltasar riding in on camelback.” Gaizka then cracks his castanets to music from 18th century rural Spain and leads the cavalcade down from old town at 6pm towards a nativity scene with a waiting Joseph, Mary and Jesus. “It’s something that, if you’re from Alcoi, you carry the festival in your blood,” Gaizka says.

Playstation

The Kings arrive at Plaça d’Espanya around 8pm, before fireworks and church bells go off as they walk towards the baby Jesus with their gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then from 8pm until 10pm, the Kings continue their journey around Alcoi leaving the pages no time to catch their breath. “The packages are bloody heavy,” says Rafa, an 18-year-old page carrying a huge parcel at the foot of a red ladder. “The children don’t think of us when they ask for a playstation!” “In the past families would give us a shot of some spirit or other on the balcony, but they’ve banned that now due to bad behaviour.” Still, on what bartenders tell me is the busiest day of the year, there’s still plenty of time to have a caña after the show and sleep it off and eat your way through bank holiday Monday.

A FASCINATING exhibition on the world’s most famous sunken ship has opened in Murcia. The Titanic: The Restoration exhibition allows visitors to enter a raffle to win a replica of a wash basin that was fitted in second-class cabins on the ‘unsinkable’ vessel. The handmade piece made by Spanish company Bathco, is considered identical to the original style, and verified so by the Titanic Foundation itself. A similar one was sent to former president Barack Obama.

Perfumes on a budget WE all like to smell good but sometimes the designer perfumes and colognes we love just cost too much. Well, we’re not alone, it seems, as Youtubers and beauty influencers have been curating lists of budget smells in Mercadona and their designer doppelgangers. From Chloe to Jean Paul Gautier, the exhaustive list of comparisons put together by Diario Sur lets you know which designer spray the budget options smell like. FOR HER Rose Nude de Mercadona = Chloé Flor de Mayo = Trésor de Lancôme Zinnia cuenta con cierto = Eau de Rochas 9.60 rosa = Davidoff for Women Cool Water Como Tú Sueños = Pleasures de Estée Lauder Como Tú Fantasía = Nina de Nina Ricci Oud Noir = Oud Rosé privé de Armani Enciende for Her = CH by Carolina Herrera Las Monogotas de Manzana = Be Delicious by DKNY (Manzana verde) Hortensia H (Cyprum) – Jardín secreto

Royal ap

January 8th - January 21st 2020

he portrayed herself as nobility from a long Moorish/Andalucian bloodline. Yet birth records indicate she was 100% Irish, born in County Sligo to “common stock”. She claimed her name was Maria Dolores (“Lola”) Montez, but her birth certificate states her official name as Eliza Gilbert. She was considered to be breathtakingly beautiful, intelligent, courageous and above all, independent. Others considered her as egocentric, manipulative and temperamental to the extreme. She was known to the public as a lustful dancer, but behind the curtain, she was a political force who mingled with European monarchs, artists and intellectuals. To be sure, her life was full of contradictions, but she possessed one trait that nearly everyone could agree upon: She was a charismatic seductress of the highest order.

ENCHANTRESS: Lola Montez

ENCHANTED: KIng Ludwig I

spiders that had invaded her undergarments. She did not leave much to the imagination as she often did not wear her bloomers. Audiences were enthralled. But Eliza’s mother described her her run on the British stage was daughter as “fanciful, wayward, short-lived. She was recognized and given to fibbing”. One school as the former Eliza Gilbert and teacher recalled Eliza’s “beauti- booed off stage. Exposed in the ful countenance” with a “habit- press as a fraud, she fled to the ual expression of indomitable Continent. Europe had not seen self-will”. Young Eliza courted anything or anyone like Ms. Monscandal from an early age. She tez. Lola was outrageous in ways eloped as a teenager and not that were beyond beauty and surprisingly her marriage didn’t sexuality. She had enormous last. Her much older husband appeal and powers of seduction. was able to win a judicial divorce Her Spider Dance garnered the on grounds of Eliza’s adulterous attention (both positive and negbehavior. At 20, she was a “wom- ative) of kings, the press, artists, an with a past”. With her reputa- theatre managers and most imtion in tatters, she fled to Cadiz, portantly the public. It was her Spain in an attempt to reinvent roll-call of lovers however which herself. She studied Spanish vaulted this “tigress persona” to dance, customs and language. international celebrity. Knowing full well that Spanish In Paris she met composer culture was very Franz Liszt. His much in fashion concert tours in Victorian Lonattracted wildLola mimed don, she decided ly enthusiastic to return to Enaudiences and the crushing gland to launch royalty throughof spiders that out Europe. her new career as: “Lola Montwith her had invaded her Lola, ez -The Spanish immense powDancer”. undergarments er of seduction, Eliza, now known initiated a very as “Lola”, booked public love afpassage on a ship fair which would to Southampton. There, she deeply affect Liszt’s music commet The Earl of Malmesbury—a positions and his personal life. prominent nobleman and a gen- The composer was so infatuaterous art patron. Immediately ed with her that he would write charmed by Lola’s magnetic glowing letters of recommendapersonality, the Earl used his tions that opened the doors for influence to book her dancing her in music venues throughout debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre Europe. In Paris (post-Liszt) she in London. He would later write frequented the fashionable that he was among the first to be high-society salons where she ‘‘duped by the beautiful and wily befriended the city’s most popuLola Montez”. Her behavior later lar literary bohemians. There she in life would suggest that it would won the confidence of novelist have been unusual for Lola not Alexandre Dumas—a social dyto have traded sexual favours namo in Paris with a unique stawith the Earl. tus among Parisian high society. Her performances were unlike He would later write the classics: anything the London audiences The Count of Monte Cristo and had ever seen: “The Spaniard The Three Musketeers. Their rodances with the body, the lips, mantic dalliance was legend but the eyes, the head, the neck, the short-lived. heart .... her dance IS Spanish Lola made friends easily-espepassion” wrote London’s Morn- cially among journalists and ing Post. Her tour-de-force was wealthy men. Alex Dujarier was a routine which became known both. He was the drama critic as The Spider Dance. With her and owner of La Presse -France’s head thrown back, eyes flashing most widely-read newspaper. and fluid burlesque like aban- Dujarier was swept away by the don, Lola mimed the crushing of fearless and lighthearted spirit

Meet Eliza Gilbert…a.k.a. Lola Montez .

Enthralled

of Lola’s personality. They too became lovers, but it didn’t end well for young Alex. When one Parisian art patron criticized Lola’s dance routine, Alex challenged the man to a pistol duel. Dujarier was shot and killed. He died in Lola’s arms.

Eccentric

Lola moved on to Munich where she captured the heart of Bavarian King Ludwig I. Ludwig was an eccentric monarch and notorious ladies’ man. Upon meeting Lola, he stood motionless, and gazing upon her enormous appeal, he is said to have become truly bewitched by the 61-yearold monarch became obsessed with the 21-year-old dancer. In a short time, Lola became a royal mistress, lavished with jewels, a pension and a small palace. Ludwig crowed her “The Countess of Landsfeld”. Over time however, Lola did little to gratiate herself to the King’s subjects. Lola was discourteous to the queen. She flaunted her questionable morals, had a disdain for etiquette and insulted her audiences. When she started meddling in Bavarian politics it became too much for the locals. There were riots replete with arson and physical violence. The lords of Bavaria, by royal decree, revoked Lola’s rights and demanded she leave the country. Ludwig protested claiming: “I would rather lose my Crown!” He got his wish. King Ludwig I was forced to abdicate giving up his crown. Lola once again was seductive in ways which often ruined some of the most influential men in Europe.

Allure

Once again , Lola was forced to flee the country. She headed across the Atlantic where she toured the United States and later Australia. However, as her beauty began to fade, her dance routine became less “art’’ and more “stripper burlesque.” She would find religion, tried lecturing and writing a book, none of which resulted in much distinction. Sadly, Lola died in New York on January 17 1861 when she was just 39 years old. It would be easy to write off

LA CULTURA LA CULTURA

pproval

January 8th - January 21st 2020

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Jack Gaioni reveals the fascinating story of Lola, the fake Spanish dirty dancer who captured a king’s heart

what’s on Panto time THE Careline Theatre in Alcalali presents Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in English, from 1518 January. Shows include four evening shows and one matinee. Tickets €12, book online via www.carelinetheatre.com

Quiz night FORMENTERA del Segura is holding an unmissable quiz evening at the wellknown Rumours Bar at 8.30pm on January 9, with laughs guaranteed and free entry.

Rhythm of life SEDUCED: Franz Liszt Lola as a scheming high priced prostitute. It would not be a stretch to moralize that her life was a display of egotism and vanity. It would be easy to make the case that she used sexual manipulation to run roughshod over everyone around her. Yet

ICONIC: Lola’s Spider Dance in a way, Lola was an example of allure, intelligence, daring and forceful will that challenged the constricted roles allowed to women in the Victorian Age. She had the uncanny ability to charm some of the most powerful and influential men in Europe that

could further her aspirations. She fought to free her own life from society’s prejudices and restrictions. Lola achieved fame and success (such as it was) on her own terms. Lola knew exactly what she was doing. We don’t have to like her life to admire

her life. In her book, The Arts of Beauty, she best summed up her life’s philosophy: “To all Men and Women of every land Who are not afraid of Themselves Who trust so much in their own

souls that They dare to stand up in the might of their Own individuality To meet the tidal currents of the world.” R.I.P. Lola

SAN LUIS is holding an excellent jam afternoon, known as the Sunday Jam on January 12 at Reflections Bar. It kicks off at 2.30pm and all musicians and singers are welcome to come along and join in the fun.

PROPERTY On the up Dear Jennifer: 14

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Property values soar but still less than 2007 peak THE Costa Calida saw some of the biggest price increases last year. The Murcia area saw an 11% increase in value of property,

one of the highest in Spain. While this still leaves homes 43% lower than at the 2007 peak, it is a sign that prices will continue to rise this year.

Cool down

THE average price of new housing in Spain has risen 4.5% in 2019, but mostly thanks to provincial capitals. According to the Appraisal Society, price per square metre is on average €2,453, while in Barcelona and Madrid it is €4,433 (average annual growth 6.1%) and €3,627 (average annual growth 6.6%) respectively. In the rest of the 400 municipalities analysed by the appraiser, the average price per square metre at the end of 2019 is €1,682 per square metre, with an increase of 1.8%. Prices are expected to slow down in 2020.

Across the whole of the Murcia region prices have gone up by 2.8%. This is just above the annual rise of 2.6% during 2019, claims valuation firm Tinsa. In northern and northwestern regions, there has been an overall decrease in values, with properties in Asturias dropping by almost 4% in a year. Blackspots such as Ciudad Real in central Spain have seen values drop by over 10%. In the Murcia region Spanish properties are still worth a third less than in 2007.

What makes Jennifer Cunningham Insurances so different?

good question and I can offer you a number of answers. I started my company over 26 years ago, originally working from home and developing the business slowly. Once established, I employed staff and rented a large office in Javea port, where I am still to this day. How life has changed for me since, and for the better. I realised when I moved to Spain that there was very little help available, and what was available was normally in Spanish. There was no private health insurance, no funeral plans and no insurance dedicated to the expat, and little customer service. So I started my business selling health insurance for a British company, along with funeral plans. Having lost my husband in Spain, I realised how difficult it was to arrange a funeral and the costs were enormous. Being very disciplined myself (probably due to my time in the Air Force), I have a strong work ethic. I used to work from home during the

day, and I would go out early evenings making home visits until I was busy enough to take someone on to help me. From those early days when I worked tirelessly, I built my company and now have seven offices. I demand from my excellent and loyal staff that they treat all my clients with respect, courtesy and honesty and offer them the best service possible. I pride myself that the after sales service is the best – a service very rare in Spain. I have a Claims Administrator and a dedicated Renewal department, who will make sure that as your circumstances change, your policies could change, and you should remain fully aware of your coverage. These are just some of the reasons why we are so special. We are more than just a voice on the phone, offering good, old fashioned service. Not always the cheapest, but the best, working with Liberty Seguros and ASSSA healthcare, who both provide special expat policies and are the best in the market.

For more information or a quotation, please call one of my offices or visit the website www. jennifercunningham.net

SOLD!

+34 965 270 636 info@coastandcountry.properties www.coastandcountry.properties

When it comes to selling your property, choose people who care. List your property with us...

BUSINESS

Green money SANTANDER has committed itself to being carbon neutral in 2020. It comes after the main Spanish banks presented a joint pledge to reduce their carbon footprints at the COP25 climate conference in Madrid. Santander, which employs 200,000 people worldwide, will now offset all the emissions it generates. The bank already achieved reductions in its emissions and electricity consumption by 27% and 36% respectively between 2011 and 2018. Around 43% of Santander’s electricity is already renewable and it has promised that all of its electricity will come from green sources by 2025.

No tickets to ride

Sensible Spaniards

xxx

FOUR out of 10 Spaniards would use their ‘El Gordo’ winnings to pay off debts, it has been revealed. Murcia is the region most likely to try and get rid of its debts with the prize money (43.6%), while Andalu-

January 9th - January 22nd 2020 cia is the least (36.6%), according to a new poll by iAhorro bank. Spain’s famous lottery attracts millions to buy tickets every Christmas, with the hope of winning the €4,000,000 jackpot. The second most common option for spending winnings is buying a house (26.8%), third is adding to a savings account (23.5%) and fourth is splashing out on family and friends (10.5%).

No silver lining

THE number of people employed in Spain has increased by 2.02%, according to new government data. Figures from the Ministry of Employment show that there were 384,373 more registered workers in December 2019 than in the

Number of ‘employed’ increases, but at slowest rate since recession

same month in 2018. This leaves the country’s total workforce standing at 19.4 million, although the actual employment increase

is the lowest in six years. Not since 2013 – a year when employment rates took a kicking from the last recession – has there been

A TOTAL of 147 train stations have stopped selling tickets at their ticket offices. The move by railway companies Adif and Renfe is a response to lower passenger rates at smaller stations. Andalucia is the most affected region, with 20 stations no longer selling tickets at offices, while Castilla y Leon has 15, Castilla-La Mancha (15), Extremadura (12) and Galicia (10). As of January 1 ‘face-to-face’ ticket sales will only be maintained at stations which have more than 100 passengers per day. Ticket machines are to be installed at all stations, where they aren’t already, and tickets can now be bought at Correos.

such a small increase. Steady rises have continued for the last six years, until last summer when the number of those registered with Social Security as ‘employed’ hit record levels. However signs of exhaustion have been reported and a similarly weak decrease has also been registered in unemployment levels. In the last 12 months unemployment has fallen by 38,692 people, the lowest decrease since 2012. The drop in unemployment also slowed down locally and Malaga only reduced its figure in 2019 by 2,764. That meant 148,485 were registered as unemployed at the end of the year, a drop of 1.83% – half that of 2018. Yet despite the slowdown, Malaga is still reducing its number of unemployed at a faster rate than Andalucia (-1.37%) and Spain as a whole (-1.21%).

Helping hand

BinckBank Saxo Bank has announced its first seminar of the new year. Kaspar Huijsman will be leading the Tips and Trends talk in Marbella on January 23 from 15:30 - 17:00. The talk will provide a general overview of the current state of the stock markets, highlight current insecurities, evaluate the sectors to consider and those to avoid, and assess the risks involved in investing. The event is suitable for investors and traders of all levels and the bank’s friendly team are there to help you and will be around for a cocktail afterwords. Sign up for one of the last remaining places at www. binckbank.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

THE ageing of fish, artificial intelligence in the kitchen and the challenges of allergies are three of the subjects to be tackled at Spain’s leading international food festival next week. Now in its 18th year the culinary congress, Madrid Fusion, will also address the relationship between neuro-marketing and haute cuisine, as well as ethics and environmental responsibility. A stunning range of speakers have been lined up for the three-day event, which kicks off on January 13. They include Cadiz’s Angel León and Marbella’s Dani Garcia, as well as Juanlu Fernandez, of Lu, in Jerez. Madrid’s innovative three Michelin star whizkid David Munoz is being joined by Alicante’s Alberto Ferruz, from BonAmb, in Javea.

Tradition

Flying in from abroad are legends such as Kojo Kimura, from Tokyo, as well as Ivan and Sergey Berezutsky, from Twins Garden, in Moscow, Rene Frank, from Berlin, Vicky Cheng, from Hong Kong, and Isabella Poti, from Italy. Some of the highlights of the event include Joan Roca’s keynote address on sustainable cooking on the 13th. The celebrated Catalan chef from el Celler de Can Roca will be joined by his brother Josep the following day looking at food intolerances and allergies. One of the most interesting seminars is on fish ageing and features Australian

Holiday rentals up LAST YEAR closed with over 81,000 holiday apartments registered in the region, nearly double the number recorded in 2015. Figures released by the Valencian Community Tourism Board show that the Alicante region, in particular, has seen the biggest increase. Unregulated tourist flats came under scrutiny last decade, especially from the hotel industry, because of a perceived lack of standards and guarantees. Such was the uproar, that the Spanish government introduced the Tourism Law that threatened sanctions on owners that didn’t register their property in a tourist registry. Online platforms such as TripAdvisor insisted that clients show their registration number, otherwise holiday homes would not be promoted. It comes after the Supreme Court fined AirBnB €30,000 for hiding registration numbers.

Flying high Alicante Airport has seen an incredible 8% increase in travellers having dealt with over 15 million passengers in 2019. A busy summer and ‘an extraordinary good low season’ meant that the 13.9 million figure for 2018 was smashed even before the busy festive season.

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Fusion of fun Artificial intelligence and fish ageing on the agenda as international culinary jet set land at Madrid Fusion Joshua Niland, from Saint Peter restaurant. He is joined by Dani Garcia from Marbella’s Lobito de Mar. On the 15th the subject is revisited by Japanese chef Kimura, of Sushi Kimura. Another fascinating session is described as a ‘world first’ looking at ‘Artificial Intelligence and cooking’. The event features Munoz, from DiverXo, as well as Fernando Sáenz from DellaSera, alongside Juan Carlos Martínez and Carolina Martín from Spanish company I+DEA Siro Foods. Two chefs from the Murcia region, David Lopez, from Local de Ensayo, and Maria Gomez of Magoga, will host a session called ‘The Truffle of the desert’. Famous Russian chefs Artem & Alexei Grebenshchikov, of Bourgeois Bohemias, in St. Petersburg talk about their success on the 14th. On the 15th a session, Malaga, Tradition and Michelin stars, features Diego Gallegos from Sollo, in Fuengirola, José Carlos García, from Malaga, and Juanjo Carmona, from El Lago, in Marbella.

POINTED: Kimuna

SESSION: With Munoz

TALENT: Poti

ALICANTE’S: Ferruz

Boca battle

A PAIR of Andalucian chefs are to do battle at Madrid Fusion over who makes the best sarnie! Irene Garrido, from Gastrobar KGB in Malaga, is joined by Angel Rodriguez, of Palo Cortao, in Sevilla, along with four other sandwich specialists from around the country. The winner of the seventh Concurso de Bocadillos de Autor, on January 13, will scoop a cup and a cheque for €1,500. The two runners up will get cheques for €300. The event sponsored by bread brand Saint Honore Perlage, gives each contestant an hour to make the perfect gourmet bocadillo. They can use any one of five different loaves from the firm, along with any ingredient. Previous winners included Raquel Garcia from the Benahavis cookery school. The first two winners of the coveted prize came from Valencia; Raul Lopez, of Casa L’Art, in Alicante, and Juan Casamayor, from Restaurante Moltto, in Valencia.

Gastro: Angel Rodriguez

LOCAL: Raquel Garcia

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

S the temperatures drop and the mountains around Spain ‘white up’, a host of romantic weekend escapes and family capers open up. While skiing is on many tourist and expat agendas, simply getting up into stunning mountain scenery is enough for most. Sitting by a fire, reading a good book, taking a bracing stroll, followed by a massage or dip in a spa is a wonderful way to relax during winter in Spain. Here, the Olive Press offers 10 options to find yourself in soaring hills and peaks around the country.

Winter Olive Press editor Jon Clarke picks out his top ten seasonal chestnuts in the Spanish mountains - and they’re not just for skiing

La Pleta

Baqueira Beret (Lerida)

This Pyrenean gem sits in the heart of Spain’s most regal skiing retreat Baqueira. While you may spot any number of Spain’s Royals taking to the slopes, you can equally happily hole up and enjoy the interior of La Pleta with its stunning snowy vistas. As well as a spa and Alpine style rooms, it also counts on noless than four restaurants, each with their own style and pricepoint. (www.lapleta.com)

Casa Irene Arties (Lerida)

In breathtaking mountain scenery you can’t avoid being impressed. Since 1974, Casa Irene has been serving visitors to the stunning Valle de Aran area, a dream for walkers and skiers, sitting just six kilometres from the celebrated nearby slopes of Baqueira. There are just 22 rooms, each very Alpine in style, as well as its own spa, pool and highly-rated restaurant. (www.hotelcasairene.com)

Terra hotel Bonansa (Huesca)

Well integrated into the rolling landscape, the Terra hotel in Bonansa is leading the way in eco-accommodation. High in the Aragon Pyrenees, it has been carefully built with bioclimatic and contemporary lines. A stylish escape, it was designed by architect Alejandro Royo, who was born in the village, and counts on just six suites. The area is perfect for walking and birdwatching in winter. (www.hotelterra.es)

Vinas de Larrede Larrede (Huesca)

Looking like an Alpine chalet, constructed of Siberian wood and with its ornate carved balconies, charming Vinas de Larrede is the very epitome of a mountain retreat. It is also an award-winning hotel for both its romantic luxury and innovative cuisine. Even better, the 17-room boutique hotel sits in the Valle de Tena, just 20 minutes from the Pyrenean skiing resort of Formigal and you can rent skis and gear at the hotel. For nature lovers the breathtaking Ordesa National Park is just 30 minutes away. (www.hotelvinasdelarrede.es)

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

wonderland La Vella Fraga

Solsona (Lerida)

This historic 11th century country estate (or masia) sits at the entrance to the Catalan Pyrenees. Sitting in 300 hectares of its own stunning woodland scenery, in winter expect it to turn white with snowy peaks as a backdrop. Just 90 minutes from Barcelona, its 13 rooms are all well appointed and feature plenty of antique furniture (www.hotelvellafraga.com)

Hotel Kenia Nevada Sierra Nevada (Granada)

This grande dame of the Sierra Nevada resort, in Granada, couldn’t be better located or established. Just 100m from the main ski lift, as well as 200m from all the resort’s main restaurants, its staff are friendly and bend over backwards to ensure you have a fabulous stay. The rooms are comfortable, without being luxurious, but there is a heated indoor pool and a full massage and spa area for apres-ski relaxation.

Las Mugas Formigal (Huesca)

There are few ways to get closer to the slopes than to literally sleep next to them. The exclusive handful of igloos - called Las Mugas - that sit at 1,800m in the skiing resort of Formigal - are a brilliant way to eat and sleep surrounded by snow. You are taken up to these ingenious tents by snowmobiles from the main resort and will enjoy 24-hour service and dinner served up after a hard day on the slopes. At night, the stars will be your main companions. (www.formigal-panticosa.com/mugas)

Cortijo rural las Navas Parauta (Malaga)

Appropriately sitting in the Sierra de las Nieves (Sierra of the Snows) at 1,100m high above the Costa del Sol, Cortijo las Navas is one extraordinary escape. Halfway along the road to Ronda you take a right turn into the recently turned National park and drive for 10 minutes into the hills. A stunning old farmhouse, while it has been reformed it is very much a rustic, not luxury, retreat, where the focus is on hiking and nature. The owners live next door and manage the enormous hunting estate, culling and preparing various game, such as boar and deer, for guests to eat. (www.i-sierradelasnieves.com/cortijo-rural-las-navas/)

Hotel El Lodge Sierra Nevada (Granada)

If money is no object then you should consider whiling away a weekend in El Lodge, in the Sierra Nevada. The sister hotel of the five star Marbella Club, this is the very epitome of mountain luxury. Originally built for Spain’s king, it was always set up with luxury at its heart and these days Spain’s top celebrities and captains of industry stay here. There is a heated outdoor pool, jacuzzi and Turkish bath and plenty of luxury trimmings like boot warming, while you ski literally from the door. (www.ellodge.es)

Can Borrell Meranges (Girona)

Can Borrell is one of the most remarkable rural escapes in Spain. Set in the Medieval hamlet of Meranges, in the Catalan Pyrenees, this charming rural hotel sits at a staggering 1,500m and has wonderful views in all directions. Rooms are simple but comfortable and you can walk from the door up into the nearby peaks, which are covered in snow in winter. Best of all there is a wonderful restaurant and you can hole up in the cozy lounge reading books or playing the numerous board games with your kids. www.canborrell.com

HEALTH

www.weekender.news

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

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Triple transplant

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl with a rare condition affecting just 10 children globally has been saved with a triple organ transplant. Little Iria was born with a mutation of the NEK8 gene, which causes tissue sclerosis by BPT and organs to stop working. After being with runners and yoga born enthusiasts heart failure, the youngtopping the list. ster underwent a heart According before to doctors boardtransplant, discovered she had liver certiﬁ ed plastic surgeon problems, for which MD she Walter L. Bernacki, on medication. ofwas OhioputPlastic Surgery in But after her liver failed, Central Ohio, at“The Barcelonewest surgeons non-surgical contouring na’s Vall body d’Hebron Hossystem Cutera’s truSculpt pital isperformed a liver transplant. iDand that kidney uses radiofrequency Spain’s first child to under(RF) technology to target and go a triple organ transplant permanently destroy fat in your has said she is ‘happy’ and trouble (think muﬃ n tops plansspots to return to school.

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Good news for expats and Spaniards as Mediterranean diet voted healthiest in world

loving their truSculpt iD results. In a separate study of individuals who had the procedure, 100 percent said they were satisfied, would get it done again and would refer a friend for truSculpt iD. And everyone felt better in - or out of - their clothes. So, if you’re thinking about looking into a new kind of personalized body sculpting without resorting to drastic weight four measures, find a months truSculpt afiD ter giving birth to her provider near you by searching son Leo in January 2011. and love handles) - in just 15 of Skincare Physicians in https://trusculpt.com/find-aEating a Mediterracomfortable minutes with no Chestnut Hill, MA. provider. nean diet could also downtime. We have found that By and large, people are help preserve kidney the treatment works on all skin function in thousands of patients who have altypes, sizes and physiques, ready had transplants, including individuals who new research suggests. were previously not considered Figures suggest around candidates for body contouring a third of patients who procedures.” receive a donor kidWhat’s more, truSculpt ney lose function withiD produces an average fat in a decade of the reduction of 24 percent, and life-changing operation. But scientists have found visible improvements are seen following the fish and in 6 to 12 weeks following the nut-heavy diet, which first treatment. Multiple areas can be treated in one session,

Men stub it out

THE number of men lighting up around the world has fallen, although a quarter of Spain still smokes, it has emerged. The World Health Organization (WHO) figures show that the number of men smoking has fallen for the first time ever. But Spain is still one of butthe additional by BPTheaviest smoking nations mayinbe require the EU and sees 52,000 smokrunners ing-related and yoga enthusiasts results. deaths a sculpting year. topping Three the list. quarters of Spanish “TruSculpt i According to board-to exciting smokers have tried ditch new de certiﬁedthe habit, plasticwith surgeon non-surgical bod the low success blamedMD on ineffecWalter rates L. being Bernacki, The lower abdo nicotine patchesin andhandles gum. can be tr of OhiotivePlastic Surgery

Looking sexy, svelte or built in your clothing is one thing. Looking better in the buff is a whole other ballgame. Clothing - even low-cut necklines, shortshorts or tight-fitting tees - can hide your flaws and accentuate your assets, but when you are nude, there’s nowhere - or way Central Ohio, “The newest single 15-minut cuts back on red meat, according non-surgical body contouring treatment session - to hide anything. to the results could help keep the or-If you published Clinical system is Cutera’s truSculpt have been very p want to in lookthe better gan healthier for longer. Journal of the American chilli peppers body foursculpting r uses radiofrequency naked, you are not alone. Far iD thatEATING Academics at the Uni- Society of Nephrology. times a week could cutachieve your with th (RF) technology to target and from it. More and more people versity of Groningen in Gomes-Neto said: “In- risk of dying from a heart atfat in your system,” says are into healthy scientific living and permanently the Netherlands followed creasing evi- tack, destroy scientists have claimed. (think muffi n tops 23,000 gettingdence fit these days. good trouble spots Jeffrey S. Dover 632 kidney transplant has The demonstratResearchers followed and lovevolunteers handles) - over in justeight 15 of news ed is that is finally Skincare P years patients for five years. thethere health benefits minutes nowho something do about comfortable Chestnut Hill, M and found thatwith adults ate Dr Antonio Gomes-Neof you the canMediterranean chilli regularly Wepeppers have found that were it that diet doesn’t on involvecardiovascugiving downtime. By and larg to and his team gave less likely the treatment workstoondie all prematurely. skin up carbs doing participants a score belar and andsweets, kidney health. And they 40 % less types, sizes and were physiques, tween zero and nine for “Wecrunches show orhow excessive havingkidney likelyindividuals to die fromwho a heart athow much they adhered transplant including invasive cosmetic surgery.recipients tack according to a report to a Mediterranean diet.Fully with higher adherence to not considered one-third of were previously in the Journal of the AmerPatients with a score Americans of the opt Mediterranean candidates body contouring for minimally diet icanfor College of Cardiology. seven had a 29% lower risk are less likely to expeprocedures.” invasive fat reduction or body Capsaicin – an anti-inflamof kidney function decline. rience function loss of What’s more, truSculptand the matory compound sculpting treatments to look They also had a 32% lowtheir kidney transplant.” substance that creates the an average fat better in the buff, according to iD produces er risk of kidney failure, burning is thought of 24sensation percent, –and a new survey of 500 men and reduction to be the reason are seenfor this. women from Cutera, Inc. And visible improvements in 6 to 12 weeks following the those who exercise regularly are most likely to have a first treatment. Multiple areas body-sculpting treatment, with can be treated in one session,

Hot stuff!

Things looking up Bye bye Viagra as revolutionary new shockwave therapy is radically improving sex lives

A REVOLUTIONARY new ‘shockwave therapy’ is improving sex lives on the Costa Blanca. The pioneering method, invented in Switzerland, treats erectile dysfunction with ‘permanent effect’. The treatment is more commonly used to crush kidney stones, but has so far invigorated the sex lives of over 20 patients at Clinica Britannia without any side effects. “It’s the first time this machine has been used in Spain for erectile dysfunction,” Dr Vicente Mera, owner of Clinica Britannia, told the Olive Press. “The results have been excellent.” Penetrating the penis to a depth of 40mm, the machine uses shockwaves designed to ‘stimulate circulation’. “Think of the penis like a tree with roots, and what we are doing here is stimulating those roots,” Dr Mera explained. “It’s almost like producing muscle through exercise.” The machine is similar to abdominal muscle stimulators, though it’s in the

shape of a ‘gun’ and applied to the penis and groin area in six sessions over a six-week period. Dr Mera, an expert in anti-aging, said he has treated patients aged from 45 to 80-years-old so far, though suitability depends on a number of factors, including habits such as smoking. “The person suffering from erectile dysfunction is often the last to realise,” Dr Mera added, saying that sufferers do not, most likely, have a reference point. “But we can now say ‘bye bye viagra, and hi hi shockwave therapy’.”

Come and visit us. We will inform you. CLINICA BRITANNIA, 16 BIS (next to 16) FIRST (not Ground) Floor, Ejercitos Españoles Av Tel 965 837 553 - 24H 607 255 755

HEALTH

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Back to School

HEALTH

APPOINTMENt

By Jeremy Kenton

With divorces on the increase among the over-50s, medical expert Jeremy Kenton looks at the perils of sexual promiscuity

Drop in the overweight THREE out of ten children in Andalucia are obese or overweight, new government data has revealed. Rates have decreased slightly, but since 2011, the number of overweight kids has remained steady at 21%, according to Ministry of Health figures. Obesity prevalence has dropped from 17.7% nine years ago – when the Comprehensive Plan for Childhood Obesity was introduced – to 11.8% in 2019. An average of 25,600 children are treated for being overweight or obese in Andalucian medical centres every year. More boys than girls are overweight, while children aged nine to 12 are most at risk.

The wobbles You may think that loose teeth can only be solved by dentures, but Karan Sud Dental’s fibrebond technology can save you the time, effort, pain and cost

SUFFERING with loose teeth? You may have been told you will now need dentures or implants. But this is not actually the case, especially with regards to the front teeth. At Karan Sud Dental, in Calpe, we use fibrebond technology to splint loose teeth together and replace missing teeth. This innovation uses a resin-based fibre, placed behind the affected teeth, that can strengthen them without having to pull them out and allows you to keep your teeth for much longer. Dentures are bulky, and affect both taste and function. They also can jeopardise the health of remaining teeth. Dental implants in the anterior region - or front teeth - are also very complicated. They involve surgery, and take a lot of time, effort and expense. With fibrebond technology, however, you can save on all of these things, as well as pain. If you have mobile or missing teeth, please call us to see if you’re a suitable candidate for this innovative treatment.

Dr Karan Sud British dentist Calpe

“Very pleased with my new dental treatment from Karan and the team. My teeth were loose, but this treatment solved the problem completely. I am usually very nervous around the dentist, but the procedure was pain-free and the aftercare was easy and exceptional. Well done.” Glenys Cook

For more information visit www.ksuddental.com Tel: (+34) 965 837 553 - 24h emergency: (+34) 602 612 688 Clinica Britannia, Avda Ejercitos Españoles 16, first floor, Calpe

With an increase in the divorce rate in the over-50s, sexual promiscuity is on the increase. On par with this increase, there has also been a rise in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as 60 becomes the new 20. Genital warts and gonorrhea cases have jumped by 56% in the last ten years in the 50-65 age range in the UK. Chlamydia, the silent STD which does not always show symptoms, is also on the increase in the over 50s. Holiday destinations abound for single men and women with sex sometimes being as important as sun, sea and sangria. Internet dating sites also show a marked increase in over 50s seeking not just love and companionship, but one night stands. Even Age Uk now publishes a series of pages on their website offering advice on a series of sexual issues. There appears to be a ‘throwing caution to the wind’ attitude in older lotharios not using condoms as protection for their sexual encounters. I questioned a number of 60-year-olds who are blissfully unaware of the risks of unprotected sex and regard it as only for unwanted pregnancy. One person said to me that his target females are all ‘over 50’ and so

believes protection ‘is not needed as they can’t get pregnant and I can’t get AIDS as I don’t do it with men’. Such sexual ignorance is rife amongst many as they see no need for safety precautions in the throes of passion. But even oral sex has a number of risk factors of which many are unaware. Two years ago I interviewed some

swingers at a swingers club for a TV station and I was horrified at the fact that although perched on the bar was a massive bowl of sweets, there was not a single condom insight. Governments rightly are pushing sex education for the young – but it appears they need to aim their advice at the more senior end too.

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

GetTING ConnectED

Breaking the umbilical chords

By Loraine Gostling

COLUMNISTS

Loraine Gostling’s wish for the new decade is that it takes some inspiration from its ‘roaring’ predecessor

SO, here we are then. One hundred years ago we headed into the Roaring Twenties, so I’m hoping the next decade sees some changes to the crap music we’ve had to endure over the past few years. Now, I know some may disagree with me – ‘cos I am pretty much fossilised by now – but really, someone needs to take the new Twenties by the nose and up the game by kicking out the same four boring chords used in every pop song since Barney the Dinosaur sang I Love You – You Love Me. I will not deny the fact that Baby Shark has a certain appeal to those who wish to annoy the hell out of their friends and family, and it deserves every cent of the $24 million revenue, but, really?! (“doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo”). As usual, I had no idea what I intended to be my subject base this week, as the past 27

or so days of Christmas fever have lost me somewhere in the region of 1.020.000 brain cells – and that is only since December 25th! But, thankfully, the guys and girls on my Javea Connect Facebook group have been pretty well behaved this year. It was quite refreshing to see a post on the group asking people what they have done to make them feel proud. The stats tell us that well over 10,000 people engaged in that post, and they were happy to tell us their stories, which ranged from publishing a book, to helping charities, to rescuing animals, to finally getting to grips with learning Spanish, to saving a life, to managing not to kill a spouse and – most importantly it seems – overcoming the fear of a Labour Government! So there we have it, a new year, a new decade. Another blank page is now about to be written, so what is my New Year greeting to everyone? Well, aside from the usual clichéd ‘health and happiness’, I would like to wish you all an Ed Sheeran-free decade of living in hope that someone, somewhere, is about to change those four chords and hit the Bigtime!! Oh... and Happy Brexit (almost forgot about that bugger!)

O Little Town of Rojales

Farm Flash By Susan Weeding

On Christmas Eve, the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre takes in two equines in need of shelter It was the day before Christmas Eve, and for Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre it was another busy routine of caring for our 120 horses, ponies and donkeys. Just to make matters worse, one of the three workers was on holiday, and another had his day off. Rod had to make a trip to the Alicante Horse Hospital, and Sue had already headed off to the Charity shop to work. It was hectic to say the least! And just then – you guessed it – the police phoned to say there was a little pony and donkey wandering around and desperately in need of help. So, no sooner had Rod returned, he headed to meet the Policia Local in Almoradi. Being the time of year it was, they felt it fitting to call the little pony Mary and the white donkey Joseph. Mary, 12, and Joseph, 10, really were in quite a state of neglect – particularly Joseph, whose feet were horrendously overgrown. Following essential hoof treatment by farrier Enrique, and a full check-up by Dorothea, we discovered they both had microchips.

The police were very keen to have all these details, as they intended to track down the owners and make a denuncia. Then the second surprise: Mary might be in foal. We kid you not; they are awaiting an ultrasound to confirm this Christmas miracle! Although it puts the EHCRC under even more pressure, it’s so encouraging to be part of a forward-thinking approach to animal welfare. The police especially were very grateful, as without us they would not be able to rescue these animals quickly and push for prosecutions. Sue, Rod, the 120 equines, 5 pigs, 6 dogs, 16 cats, parrots, budgies, chickens, peacocks and Christmas the goose, oh and the mouse in the house, would like to wish you all a very happy new year. And, given the festive season when we wish peace and goodwill to all man – and animal – kind, maybe you will consider supporting this deserving Charity throughout 2020. To donate, volunteer or visit on an Open Day, visit www.easyhorsecare.net.

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SPORT

PREMIER League star Adama Traore has revealed he is yet to decide on whether to play for Spain. The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, who has netted five goals this season, was born in Spain to Malian parents. The 23-year-old said he hoped his league form would get him another call-up from Spain after he couldn’t take up the national team’s offer the first time around due to injury. “My mentality is to work for the team and the performance for the team gives me half a chance with two international teams and I am happy for that,” he told the BBC.

Basques topple Catalans

THIS week marks the start of the second round of the Euroleague – Europe’s top tier basketball competition. In the final gameweek of the first round, we had an all-Spanish clash as Baskonia and Barcelona went head to head with the Basques managing to hold on and defeat the Catalans by just two points, 76-74. This was a much needed win for Baskonia who have now moved to a record of 7-10

and sit in 12th place, four places outside the play-offs. This defeat meant that the Blaugrana – another nickname for Barcelona – slipped to third place in the standings, allowing their arch rivals Real Madrid to move ahead of them into second. The Queen – as Madrid is commonly referred to – defeated French champions ASVEL Villeurbanne, 87-77, and moved to a record of

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Helmet, 5 Absent, 8 Reprisal, 9 Aahs, 10 Maui, 11 Enormous, 13 Hairdresser, 18 Approach, 22 Arab, 23 Waxy, 24 Intimate, 25 Peg leg, 26 Errors. Down: 2 Eyewash, 3 Martini, 4 Taste, 5 All gone, 6 Swarm, 7 Nehru, 12 Ore, 14 Alp, 15 Drawing, 16 Slammer, 17 Reactor, 19 Phase, 20 Riyal, 21 Hythe.

SUDOKU

Wolves’ wandering Spaniard

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

End of the road

Baskonia defeat Barcelona in all-Spanish derby as first round of Europe’s premier basketball league comes to a close 14-3, one win ahead of Barcelona. The fourth and final Spanish team in the Euroleague this season is Valencia, who de-

feated Alba Berlin from Germany, 91-77. With this win the Bats – Valencia’s nickname – moved to 10th place with a record of 8-9, lying just outside the play-offs due to head to head results. While the two El Clasico rivals seem to be cruising through to the play-offs, the other two Spanish teams have their work cut out for them and need to come up with some big wins in the second round in order to get all four Spanish teams in the play-offs, for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

SPAIN’S greatest Formula One driver, Fernando Alonso, has suffered heartache at the Dakar Rally, with a ripped wheel that cost him over two and a half hours. The former two-time world champion retired from F1 in 2018 but has not stopped racing. Recently he has taken part in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, which covers uncharted miles of desert. Sand dunes 250 metres tall are just one of the many difficulties the drivers have to face. Although Alonso wanted to win the Dakar Rally, he said he was realistic about his chances as a rookie in an event that requires lots of experience, and this accident proves just that. Alonso and his co-driver – Dakar legend Marc Coma – ended up fixing the problem themselves and drove the final 120km without any front brakes.

ALONSO: Fixes car

POLICE have broken up a gang that was allegedly planning to steal from a rival gang, kill one of their men and then frame him for the theft.

Bullseye

FINAL WORDS

A WOMAN has had to be hospitalised after she got struck in the eye by an airborne toy during Dia de Los Reyes Magos parade in Alicante.

Have your cake TWO military personnel have found a €10,000 cheque in their traditional Three Kings roscón cake. The Leónbased bakery Conrado put the cheque in as part of an annual tradition that has seen sales balloon across Spain and even Europe, selling well over 12,000 roscóns this year.

Blind turn A BLIND woman has denounced a shoeshop in Valencian that she claims kicked her out for entering with her guide dog. An employee has hit back saying she asked the woman to leave because the shop was closed and not because of discrimination.

OLIVE PRESS

The

Gang bang

FREE

COSTA BLANCA

Vol. 1 Issue 21 www.theolivepress.es

Your expat

voice in Spain

January 9th - January 22nd 2020

Lucky skywalker

Wall of shame

Toddler cheats death after walking high rise tower ledge while ‘mum in shower’ THIS is the moment a toddler cheated death by walking along the ledge of a Spanish

Poke in the eye A MOTHER is demanding compensation from the Murcian government after a boy poked her daughter in the eye at school. The woman has asked €200 from the regional Ministry of Education following the incident at an education institute in Los Alcazares.

block of flats while her ‘mother was in the shower’. The video, taken by a horrified The compensation was intended to cover taxi expenses while taking her daughter to hospital and three lost days of work. The Legal Council of the Region of Murcia has advised that the Government is not responsible for the accidental injury of an unknown cause. It said teachers cannot be held responsible for the incident, and suggested the claim would be disregarded.

onlooker, shows the unidentified tot tiptoeing along a narrow section of the building’s exterior. She can be seen emerging from the window, before venturing along the corner of the block, where there is no barrier. Using her hand for support, she reaches a balcony before she doubles back and climbs through the window. The young daredevil is thought to be from a young Finnish family, who are holidaying in Tenerife at the apartment in

Playa Paraiso, Adeje. Police reportedly didn’t find out about the incident until they saw the video on Spanish TV channel La Sexta on Monday. The unbelievable footage was posted on the ‘I Love Tenerife’ Facebook group. An accompanying caption read: “OMG! This toddler managed to climb out of this building window whilst the parents were taking a shower. “This apparently happened over the weekend at a property in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife!”

SAUSAGE, corn on the cob, sardines… These are just some of the offending ingredients included in the worst paellas of the year. Jamie Oliver already angered Spain for his use of chorizo and now the Olive Press has compiled a Top 10 of the ugliest examples of Spain’s signature dish. Paella originates from Valencia and the traditional recipe consists of ingredients such as rice, chicken, rabbit and beans amongst others. For the full list visit www.olivepress.es