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Which football owner bought this Gib yacht? Page 4
Which World Cup winner backs Gib’s Rugby bid? Page 23
Day in the dock!
A GIBRALTAR campaigner is determined to show Theresa May ‘she is wrong’ after travelling to London for a historic Brexit showdown with the UK government. Paul Cartwright has joined fellow members of The People’s Challenge as they prepare to fight the Tories Supreme Court battle to overturn a High Court ruling, that insisted only parliament could trigger Article 50. Despite having his luggage accidentally diverted to Birmingham, he told the Olive Press he was ‘more than ready’ for the historic showdown. “For Gibraltar, it is so important we stay in the European Union,” Cartwright said from the Supreme Court steps, wearing jeans, with his suit 100 miles away.
Challenge
“Even being in the EU, we have had so many issues with Spain. We are here to make sure that parliament’s sovereignty is respected. “We have already won in the High Court so we have proved to the rest of the world that we are right and she [May] is wrong.” The People’s Challenge has raised over £150,000 to fight the case. It is the first time all 11 Supreme Court justices will sit for a ruling, with London School of Economics law professor Michael Zander predicting a huge loss for the government. The case is due to end on Thursday.
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DELUGE!
Two dead and thousands of homes flooded as storms lash Gibraltar and southern Spain GIBRALTAR and southern Spain have been clearing up after torrential rains killed two people and left thousands of homes flooded. An electrician drowned in his van in La Linea less than 24 hours after a 26-year-old woman perished in an underground car park in the basement of a strip club in Cancelada, Estepona. Much of the Costa del Sol was declared a ‘disaster zone’ with millions of euros of damage and thousands of homes flooded. The worst affected areas were Mijas, Estepona, Cartama, Manilva and Casares. Some 235.2mm of rain fell on Gibraltar between Friday evening and Monday morning, approaching double the total average December rainfall, according to MeteoGib. The Gibraltar Fire and Rescue service was called out around 40 times due to flooding with extra staff called in to help with the increased number of calls.
“Luckily enough there were no major issues in terms of injuries,” Deputy Chief Fire Officer Colin Ramirez told the Olive Press. On Monday all schools remained open for a full day other than St. Mary’s. Flooding was reported on parts of Main Street with a rock fall near Beach View Terraces as Chief Minister Fabian Picardo issued a statement urging residents to ‘stay safe’. Several flights into Gibraltar International Airport were diverted to Malaga on Sunday evening and Monday morning, but normal service had resumed by the afternoon. No crimes or arrests were reported by the Royal Gibraltar Police between 7am on December 4 and 7am on December 5 as people stayed indoors.
SAVED: Dawson with son
Up to his neck! EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
GLOOMY: Gibraltar and (below) metro in Malaga
Rescue
He added: “I stupidly didn’t check how bad the weather was outside before going down in the lift. “As I got closer to the basement water started flowing from everywhere and I couldn’t stop it. “Within a minute it was up to my chest and I really began panicking.” Luckily, neighbours came to his rescue when Dawson’s partner Sylina heard his screams. However they were unable to lift the roof of the lift and it was only when he managed to get the lift to rise by half a storey by continually hitting the up button that he had a bit of breathing space. Police were soon on the scene and prized open the lift with a crowbar, pulling Dawson, from Derby, to safety. His car was also left ruined after the building’s basement garage flooded.
See When the heavens opened - Page 6
UNDER WATER: Sabinillas underpass, crushed car in Los Barrios and (right) shopworker in Gib
Let your company and really be seen
A BRITISH expat was pulled from a flooded lift in a dramatic two-hour rescue effort. Bet365 worker Dan Dawson told the Olive Press he feels ‘lucky to be alive’ after he found himself up to his neck in flood water while stuck in a lift during Sunday’s storms. The nightmare happened when Dawson, 46, attempted to save his five-year-old son Kaled’s Christmas presents from their basement in Duquesa. “It was absolutely horrific,” Dawson said. “I honestly thought that was going to be it for me.”
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NEWS IN BRIEF
High time A DEBATE should be held on the decriminalisation of cannabis for recreational and medicinal use, Neil Costa, the Health and Justice Minister, has said.
Threat test TERRORIST threats, serious road traffic collisions and threats to national security have been tested in Gibraltar’s annual GIBEX test.
Staying safe
Picardo abuser guilty A LOCAL man who abused Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on social media has been sentenced to three months in jail. Abdellah Abida pleaded guilty to charges including posssession of a bladed weapon following his arrest in September. Police held him over the Facebook postings, which insulted Picardo and head of the Moroccan Community Association Ali Doussi. Abida will be released from prison as he has already served the time.
A SAFETY campaign has been launched by the Royal Gibraltar Police to keep people safe in the run up to Christmas.
New bill DISABLED people will have stronger protection against discrimination in Gibraltar from this month, thanks to the new Disability bill.
ABUSED: Picardo
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‘A void that will never be filled’
Crime advent calendar
Family of murdered soldier Matthew Boyd reveal ‘unbearable pain’ THE family of Private Matthew Boyd have spoken of their ‘unbearable pain’ after a Welsh boxer was convicted of his murder. Jake Vallely, 24, the selfconfessed ‘hardest man in Brecon’ was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court after a jury heard he used his ‘right arm as a piston’ to punch Boyd, 20, to death. Vallely’s co-defendant, Aaeron Evans, 23, was found not guilty of manslaughter. The court heard that Vallely sent text messages to friends following the attack, saying ‘We’re going down for that’ and ‘I need to get out of this shirt, it’s got blood on it. I think it’s my own’.
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AXARQUIA EXPLORED
the
BRITAIN’S membership of the European Union has increased the average UK wage by a year, economists claim.£1,800 With the EU referendum Brexit just six weeks away, on financial advisors have warned of an ‘economic collapse’ should Britons vote to leave. In total, Britain has generated £4.6 million in trade deals with the EU since joining in 1986 - representing 27% of all our commerce, according to leading consultancy firm Frontier Economics. The latest findings back reports published by the national Monetary Fund,InterThe OECD and the Bank land, that insist the UKof Engis better off in Europe. The deadline for expats ister for their vote is Mayto reg16.
10 reasons to register Page 6
Now you see it, now you don’t. Rusty boat barged away after OP campaign! Page 4
Groundbreaking oral history project challenges life on and off the Rock Page 12
IN 48-HOUR WHISTLE
GIBRALTAR
Better IN Vol. 1 Issue 18
STOP TOUR - PAGES 28-
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Olive Press named top expat newspaper in Spain and world’s 2nd best by 27,000 voters in global survey TOASTING SUCCESS: Some of the Olive Press team with Publisher Jon Clarke (fourth left)
And the award goes to...
The Olive Press takes a gourmet tour of the luxury Queensway Quay in four-page special
Waste of life
Young Gibraltar Regiment private killed in senseless Welsh attack
Page 7
‘
I can’t believe he’s gone, he was my only childhood friend and we were together since we were six. We were in the same class in school, went through everything together, we joined the Army at the same time and still had so much still to do together.” Private Scott Wylie (20), Friend (pictured far left)
PALS: Matthew Boyd (left) with best mate Scott Wylie (right)
TWO men have been arrested after a soldier from the By Joe Duggan Gibraltar Regiment was Royal dered on a night out in murWales. my heart when Grieving relatives poured I woke up and their hearts for Private out heard you were gone. thew Boyd, 20, who diedMat- "You will always be in my lowing a suspected fight fol- heart. I just want you here in with me." Brecon town centre in the ear- His grandmother, ly hours of Sunday morning. Maureen Boyd, added: "We are Matthew's brother a broDarren ken family wrote on Facebook: today. Senseless. "Broke No words for the heartache we
little english. English & Spanish Classes GIBRALTAR T: +350 54034180
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“I am lost for words.He was full of life and always had a smile on his face.” Sergeant Paul Grech (29), Platoon sergeant
TRAGIC: Death of soldier
Matthew Boyd
“His untimely death leaves a huge void in the and his loss will beregiment acutely felt by all of us.” Lieutenant Colonel Ivor Lopez, Commanding Officer
are feeling." Brecon. The soldier had been to comment further. “Apparently there was unconscious some 400found he was attacked and a fight, Brecon is home to the Infantry tres from the Watton mehe has Battle come out of it worse. They School, where the Royal racks, where the regimentBarhas local guys who have been are Gibraltar Regiment and other been training, but later died in rested. The CCTV in that ar- regiments train. hospital. part The soldier's of town is very good. Dyfed-Powys Police family, who cated to Gibraltar from relo“I would say there is less pealing for anyone whoare apNorthwas in ble here than most towns.trou- ern Ireland, were informed the vicinity between 12.30am on we have all heard stories But Sunday, while two men, aged and 1.30am to come forward. local guys who have about 22 and 23, were arrested A Brecon source told on with soldiers. This one fights Monday. ive Press: “Everybodythe Olhere so much more severe.” is just Chief Minister Fabian Picaris very shocked. This do expressed his sadness A Ministry of Defence big place and there isis not a spokes- the at a real man 'tragic confirmed the death and warmth towards the army news' and in 'our thoughts are with said insisted it was ‘inappropriate’ the family’.
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LOSS: Boyd
Outside the court, a statement was read on behalf of the Boyd family by Detective Constable Zoe Powell. “He was born prematurely and he was taken from us prematurely in the blink of an eye without warning,” it read. “Jake Vallely has created a void in our family that will never be filled. He has taken our son, our brother, our grandson and our friend with no reason and no excuse. “No punishment will justify his actions as our son will never knock on our door again. We will never be able to feel his kiss in our hearts again. “This unbearable pain is something we will have to live with for the rest of our lives.”
Vallely, allegedly launched the attack outside a bar near to the Brecon military barracks. Just an hour before the attack, he had proclaimed that he was the ‘hardest man in town’ before being kicked out of a bar for ripping a cocktail menu with his teeth. During the trial, the court heard police found Vallely’s white shirt with Boyd’s blood on it hidden behind a chest of drawers at the local framers where he worked. Witness Kelly Price said Vallely swore and lunged at her before saying “I’ve raped worse than you.” Vallely was described by his boxing coach as one of the top 10 middleweight amateurs in Wales. He will be sentenced on December 8.
GUILTY: Vallely convicted
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Adams nicked
A NOTORIOUS London gangster who had a Spanish hideout has admitted shooting a ‘grass’ in the chest. Patrick ‘Patsy’ Adams, 60, pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to grievous bodily harm with intent. Charges of attempted murder were dropped after the victim, Paul Tiernan, refused to co-operate with detectives.
Fled
Adams and his wife Constance fled following the shooting in December 2013. The north Londoner’s Mallorca villa was raided by Spanish police in 2015 before the couple were arrested in Holland that year. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett told the court: “The shooting was in broad daylight and at close range. What happened seemed to have been personal. He was shot inside his car, which wasn’t stolen.
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THE Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) has launched its Christmas crime awareness campaign. Daily advice on keeping safe over the festive period will be posted on the RGP’s Facebook page and Twitter handle, using #OpGibwatch. Topics range from cybercrime advice and fraud to alcohol-related crime and protecting personal belongings. Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Tunbridge encouraged residents to browse the RGP web pages for information. “Gibraltar remains a generally safe place in which to live and work when compared to other European jurisdictions,” he said. “However, we should never become complacent, particularly because Christmas and the weeks leading up to it traditionally see a significant increase in visitors to Gibraltar, not to mention a marked increase in local and cross border shopping/leisure area activity.”
South African charged after Ocean Village altercation A YACHT worker has been charged with wounding with intent following a row in Ocean Village. South African Shaun Mongie, 37, was remanded in custody
after he allegedly hit another man over the head with a pint glass two weeks ago. His alleged 29-yearold victim was taken to St Bernard’s Hospital and treated for a lac-
eration to his head before being discharged. Two other men were later cautioned over the incident. Mongie is due to appear at the Supreme Court on December 15.
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Is it too late now to say sorry? JUSTIN BIEBER has punched one of his Beliebers after he got a little too up close and personal during the Spanish leg of his world Purpose tour. Video footage recorded by a bystander in Barcelona
shows the Canadian pop star being driven in the back seat of a car with the window down as he approaches a group of fans after his concert. An excited male Belieber puts his arm in the 22 year
old’s window and reaches in to touch him. Bieber, donning big clear spectacles, throws a right hook at the fan, leaving him with a bloodied mouth. It is not yet known if the minor will press charges.
Tales of
Singing success
A NEW book about Britain’s World War Two evacuees has been published. Writer Gillian Mawson’s Britain's Wartime Evacuees contains interviews with hundreds of evacuees, many from Gibraltar. The book, which took eight years to research, looks at the experiences of hundreds of thousands of children and mothers who were sent away or abroad for their own safety. The book also draws on extensive newspaper coverage from the era.
RIP: Manuel
Last laugh THE MUCH-loved actor behind Fawlty Towers' Manuel has died aged 86. Andrew Sachs, who was best known for his role as the bemused Spanish waiter, passed away after a secret four year battle with dementia. Sachs created a cult following through his portrayal of the inept but well-meaning Manuel from Barcelona, who became involved in farce after farce in the hotelbased BBC 2 comedy.
Miss Gibraltar touches down in Washington for the Miss World competition MISS Gibraltar Kayley Mifsud has taken part in the Miss World opening ceremony in Washington. The beauty pageant hopeful attended Thursday's event on the steps of the White House to signal the official start of the 66th pageant. Kayley, who is rooming with Miss Wales Ffion Moyle during her time in the American capital, is gearing up for a crack at the final on December 18. "The ceremony was fantastic and quite emotional!" Kayley said. "I am incredibly proud to be representing my Gibraltar at Miss World 2016." People can now vote for Kayley by downloading the official Miss World app from the Apple app store and Google play.
Capitol thrill
Suited and booted LEFT wing leader Pablo Iglesias has become the latest pin-up in Vanity Fair. Iglesias, leader of Podemos, took a break from hard-talking politics to take part in a fashion shoot to celebrate the magazine’s 100th year in action. He looked dapper in an evening suit, a marked difference from his usual dressed down garb. Iglesias appeared in the magazine alongside the likes of Spanish stars Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
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He starred in most of the 12 episodes aired in 1975 and 1979, where he became a household name due to Manuel's antics. Fans will fondly remember some of Sachs' best moments as Manuel, such as when he tried to hide a dead hotel guest in a laundry basket with hotel owner Basil, played by John Clease. But not everyone was a fan of Sachs' less than flattering portrayl of a Spaniard. His nationality was switched to Italian in the Spanish dub version of the show, while on Catalonian TV3, Manuel was said to come from Mexico and given a Mexican accent.
JULIO Iglesias has been named as one of Australia’s best selling musicians. Sony Australia presented the Latin pop star with an award for the large amount of CDs he has sold while he was on tour in the country. Iglesias first visited Australia in the mid 70s along with Asia and has not stopped touring there since. This year he has sung in 20 countries and is expected to release an album of duets in 2017.
LARRY LAMB has pleaded for his long lost family who lives in Spain to get in contact with him. The 69-year-old actor has not spoken to his first wife Anita, who now lives in Murcia, for more than 40 years. The pair had a daughter together, but Lamb only saw her once when she was seven months old. But it has now been revealed that his daughter, Vanessa, has an 18-yearold daughter of her own, urging Lamb to reach out to the family in a bid to meet his ‘secret’ granddaughter. The EastEnders star said: “I have to say if my daughter or my granddaughter were to contact me, I, and all my extended family would be thrilled. “You can't start denying that sort of thing because it is something deep inside of me.” It is believed that Larry's granddaughter is currently studying at a UK university, while her mother resides in Murcia, where she is a teacher.
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Doctor’s orders on Brexit
KEEPING CALM: Dr Garcia
Smoke screens THE GSD has accused Fabian Picardo of ‘hiding behind smokescreens’ over Gibraltar’s public finances. Opposition leader Daniel Feetham had earlier branded Chief Minister Fabian Picardo ‘the most unashamed populist politician we have ever had’. He fired a stinging broadside at Picardo’s spending which he claimed had created a ‘culture of entitlement’. “Mr. Picardo continues to hide behind smokescreens in order to deflect criticism over the reckless way in which has he managed the public finances in the last five years,” a GSD spokesperson said.
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Reckless
“It is his reckless spending over the last five years that are the cause of early signs within the government of the introduction of austerity measures.” Earlier, the government had labelled Feetham ‘reckless’ after he threatened to make public loans issued by the government-owned Credit Finance Company Ltd if the GSD was elected. “The statements attributed to the Leader of the Opposition at the very poorly attended ‘public’ meeting of the GSD are nonsensical,” a No.6 spokesperson said. “Apart from exposing him to ridicule, they can also potentially expose the Credit Finance Company Limited to huge claims for damages. “Credit Finance owes a duty of confidentiality to its borrowers who are paying a rate of interest designed to produce the returns required for depositors in the Savings Bank.”
DR Joseph Garcia has called for a ‘sensible, well managed and orderly Brexit’. Speaking to to the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cardiff, Garcia stressed the importance of fluid access between Gibraltar and Spain. During the same meeting, politicians from both sides of the Irish border had raised similar fears about
Kop a look at this
Liverpool billionaire owner John Henry thought to have bought Gibraltar superyacht By Joe Duggan
A LUXURY £68 million superyacht moored in Gibraltar has been snapped up by US billionaire John Henry, who owns Premier League giants Liverpool. The American businessman, who also owns the Boston Red Sox, is understood to have bought the sleek 216foot Ester III, which has been moored on Queensway Quay for around three months. Now renamed Iroquois, the yacht can accommodate 12
YACHTMAN: Henry guests and 17 crew, and has its own helipad, gym, swimming pool and spa including a massage room, sauna and steam room.
Future’s bright GIBRALTAR’S first online startup platform wants to make the Rock a new ‘Silicon Valley’. At a meetup organised by Future Day, ten start up companies from Gibraltar, the USA and Romania presented their business plans in front of Ex-Chief Minister Joseph Bossano. Future Day founder Alex Biet, 28, told the Olive Press he is delighted how the organisation is flourishing, since its July launch. “I got together with a couple of friends who were really passionate about setting up startups,” he said. “There was nothing in Gibraltar where you could meet like minded people. At our last event we had around 100 people. We want to get the right people connected.” He added: “There is a lot of interest here for startups. Gibraltar is a pro-business environment with low tax. We are able to help businesses around the world, but using the infrastructure of Gibraltar.”
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freedom of movement ending between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. “We are where we are and we have to deal with it,” said Garcia. “There are over 12,000 persons, most of whom are Spanish, who cross the border into Gibraltar every morning and then leave after work in the evening.”
THE number of superyachts moored in Gibraltar reached a record high this weekend. A total of 20 superyachts called in at Gibraltar over the weekend, marking a record number. At one point, 19 of the yachts were in the Mid Harbours Marina at the same time. Captain of the Port Bob Sanguinetti said that ‘the new berths at Mid Harbours, im-
proved infrastructure, competitively priced fuel, and a concerted marketing effort are clearly placing Gibraltar firmly on the superyacht map’. The Minister for Maritime Affairs, the Honourable Gilbert Licudi QC added that he was ‘delighted’ with the Port gaining a higher profile across the superyacht community.
A source close to the sale told the Olive Press Henry had recently visited Gibraltar to inspect the luxury vessel, which can reach top speeds of 15 knots (17mph). The boat was bought from a Russian oligarch who had been wanted for questioning on fraud allegations in his homeland. Vneshprombank co-owner Georgy Bedzhamov, fled to Monaco where he was arrested in April after an international warrant was issued for his arrest on fraud charges. The 52-year-old businessman was released on bail after two months.
Stripped
Russia’s central bank had stripped Vneshprombank of its licence after a shortfall of £2.52 billion was discovered at the bank. Gibraltar’s Supreme Court ordered the sale of Ester III on November 15 after a claim was filed by BNP Paribas. It was listed for sale in August through agents Fraser Yachts, who last night confirmed to the Olive Press that the yacht had been sold and paid for in full. Henry, who has a net worth of £1.9 billion according to Forbes, also owns the Boston Globe newspaper and a NASCAR racing team.
Access all areas DISABLED residents will be given greater work opportunities on the Rock. A new disability bill has been passed this month, giving Gibraltar’s disabled residents stronger protection against discrimination. Minister for Equality Samantha Sacramento has also said that the government is adjusting its planning permission policy so that all new buildings have disabled access.
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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Gibraltar Olive Press represents the local and expatriate communities working or living on the Rock with 10,000 copies distributed fortnightly.
OPINION Flood Samaritans IT was a weekend of tragedy and devastation. But the charitable actions of untold numbers of good samaritans have shone some much needed light on an otherwise bleak time for the Costa del Sol. Untold numbers have come to the aid of neighbours, both of the human and furry kind, who became victims of the floods. What a heartening sight to see the TV images and posts of Facebook of people who have offered up their time to help in the clean up operation, organise food collections and carry animals out of flooded sanctuaries. Let us hope that out of these kind acts even stronger friendships will grow.
Supreme battle THIS week’s Supreme Court case is one of the most important legal challenges ever heard in the UK. For the first time, all 11 judges will sit to rule on a decision that could have far-reaching constitutional and political consequences. Journalists from more than 80 countries have assembled in London for the case. At stake is whether the government needs the authority of Parliament to trigger Article 50, the process for the UK to leave the EU. Theresa May’s government believes it has the right to do so. Paul Cartwright and the People’s Challenge are one of the groups that stand in their way. The battle lines have been drawn.
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December 7th - December 20th 2016
€4m €60,000 1,200 Damage has been caused in the province’s streets, according to Malaga’s council.
Worth of damage was done to Estepona police headquarters
Clean up operation gets underway after flood damage leaves Costa del Sol battered
D
EATH and destruction has swept Gibraltar and the Costa del Sol after almost a week of relentless rain. At least two people have died, while hundreds more have been forced to abandon their homes in floods of biblical proportions. Many are still without electricity as emergency centres were set up and the mass clean up operation got underway in dozens of towns. In the worst storms seen in Andalucia in a quarter of a century it is estimated that around 300 litres of rain per square metre fell across the region in 72 hours. In total it is going to cost the Junta a staggering €4 million to cover the damage to streets alone. There were dozens of landslides around the region, while walls and bridges collapsed in many towns. Mud, rocks and dirt have turned many streets in Malaga province and Gibraltar into an apocalypse-esque disaster zone. Incredibly 103 litres of rain per square metre fell in just two hours in Mijas and Fuengirola, causing more than 100 landslides along the Mijas-Alhaurin road as the entire Costa del Sol was put on ‘red alert’. British expat David Blinder told the Olive Press that he has ‘never been more scared’ as he was forced to swerve between debris falling from the cliffs on either side of the Mijas-Alhaurin road.
Emergency incidents were attended across Malaga province by half a million emergency workers, according to Miguel Briones, a Malaga government spokesman
800 Emergency calls in Malaga province on Sunday
When the heavens opened
Scary
“It was the scariest drive I have ever done,” he said. “At least three quarters of the road was blocked and more landslides were falling as I was driving along.” Despite a dramatic rescue attempt by scuba divers a 26-year-old prostitute drowned in an basement brothel in Estepona. Meanwhile an electrician lost his life in La Linea after heading out to repair damaged lines, only to become trapped in his van as the floods rose around him. Washed out cars abandoned at the height of the storm on Sunday morning still litter the streets of towns throughout Malaga, as further downpours continued on Monday. Meanwhile, in Fuengirola local authorities worked around the clock on several flooding sites including on the A-7 motorway. However, just days before the floods, one British expat contacted the Olive Press to complain about the lack of preparation work with water levels already ‘dangerously high’ in the town’s main river. He said: “The river mouth leading out into the sea has not been cleared all week despite the heavy rain. “The water levels are already very high and if nothing is done the town will be under water.” Tragically his prediction was eerily accurate as roads were cut off and houses flooded. And it was a similar story along the coast. In Los Barrios a bridge collapsed, crushing three parked cars, while Gibraltar had 157% of its average December rainfall in 48 hours. With 141mm of rain falling, Sunday was the wettest December 24-hour period since 2009, according to MeteoGib’s Steph Ball. “The highest rainfall ever recorded in Gibraltar was 293.9mm, which fell from January 30 to 31 in 1959,” she told the Olive Press. “I was warning people on Wednesday that this was going to be a very wet spell and to get people prepared. “The worst of it is moving away now. It will keep
A CHANGE THAT LED TO FLOODS
A change in the Jet stream last week and a blocking high pressure over the UK, saw low pressure moving southeast into the Iberian Peninsula where it became slow-moving over the west on Friday be-
fore pushing eastwards through the weekend and Monday. A combination of colder polar air aloft and warm air/seas over southern Iberia led to the very unstable conditions which saw torrential slow-moving and
dry from Tuesday through to the rest of the week.” Meanwhile, almost every home in popular Casares Marina urbanisation saw around a metre of water flood in (see right). Nearby in Manilva, Dutch-run Floria beach bar was left almost desolate as high winds batter the wooden structure. In Sabinillas the A-7 underpass was left completely flooded, while ground floor homes and businesses were left in ruins on either side of the motorway. An emergency centre has now been set up in the town hall for flood victims after it was declared a disaster zone. A townhall spokesman said: “The town hall
thundery downpours affecting large parts of the south, but particularly from the Gibraltar area along the Costa Del Sol where through Sunday the story started unfolding of widespread flooding.
would like to show solidarity to the victims. “We are urging people to follow instructions given by the emergency services.” He added: “Until the rain has passed do not leave your houses.” And it was a similar story in neighbouring Estepona where the port was flooded and pretty much all frontline bars and restaurants shut up shop and spent the day bailing water. Scottish expat Kayleigh Smith was among 20 drivers forced to reverse down the A-7 into oncoming traffic after floods cut off the road. With cars already abandoned, Smith had to head 100 metres back the way they she came as a ‘small lake’ formed on the A-7 near to Selwo zoo in Estepona. “It was terrible,” she told the Olive Press. “I had to give up trying to get to work as the A-7 was completely flooded and cars were already trapped in the rain. “I was among 20 or so cars who had to reverse 100 metres to the nearest cambio.” Helicopters meanwhile had to be called in, in Cartama to rescue a driver and his dog from the roof of their car. Meanwhile, horses were forced to wade through the floods in San Pedro after an animal sanctuary become engulfed in water. Schools were shut in Estepona, Manilva, Casares, Cartama and Mijas on Monday and many businesses shut for the day to assess the damage. And with more rainy days forecast for the rest of the month, more floods could - unfortunately - be on their way.
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300 85% 76 Emergency calls in Marbella on Sunday
Of Marbella reservoir La Concepcion is now almost full thanks to the rain.
People were rescued from their homes in Alhaurín de la Torre, Cártama, Álora, Marbella and Estepona
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Towns suspended school - Estepona, Manilva, Casares, Mijas pueblo and Cartama Estacion.
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Day Casares Marina became suitable… only for boats
GOT a phone call from a neighbour early on Sunday morning explaining that our road in Casares was basically a river. He told me there was over a metre of water in most people’s houses and that further heavy rain was expected soon after midday. My heart sunk as my plan for a pleasant weekend walk with the kids turned into a day of damage limitation and disbelief. After the heaviest rainfall for a quarter century, my appropriately-named urbanisation, Casares Marina, had become just that... suitable only for boats. My drive down from Ronda was hairy to say the least. The red alert declared meant that almost nobody was on the roads… and for good reason. There were landslides everywhere, debris all over the road and a downpour that even left the mountain goats looking confused. It reminded me of the morning in 1987 when I was working for Barnet Council during the famous storm that wreaked havoc in the south east of England. It was bloody treacherous. The N-340 underpass in Sabinillas was totally submerged and the motorway along the coast was impassable in many places. Only the toll road was open and in two places it was a foot deep in water, with police somehow managing to keep it open. But nothing prepared me for what I found in Casares. My road was still a few inches in water, my back
garden a lake, my house; a swimming pool full of furniture floating around the sitting room. Most neighbours had managed to move their cars, but a few had left it too late and found them completely submerged. One had been awoken to a loud crack at 4am, as his front door caved in to a deluge of water. Within 15 minutes he had a metre of water in his living room and only managed to save a couple of items. Predictably there were no emergency services on hand, no-one from the council helping out and, of course, much of it was to do with a lack of planning: Rivers not properly cleared, pointless walls put up without openings and, blatantly, not enough warnings. This week has been about picking up the pieces. Trying to get through to insurers, trying to get the electricity back and sifting through 20 years of photos, records, CDs and other mementos that could possibly be saved. Of course, in the end it is just stuff and we must remember the two people who died on Sunday. But, ultimately what a strange place Andalucia is where around a third of the year’s annual rainfall drops in just one night. Desastre.
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Sol channel, while others have pleaded for more people to get involved with local relief efforts. Some people have even offered up their properties to those made homeless. Help is also being offered on other Costa del Sol groups, such as Sotogrande Community Group and Manilva Coffee Chat.
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OUR round the clock coverage of the devastating flash floods has broken all of our website records after bringing in more than 295,000 pageviews. Nearly 100,000 visitors from the UK, Spain, the US and elsewhere visited the Olive Press website to hear the latest news and updates. With help from our avid readers sending in pictures, videos and updates, our journalists worked non-stop to report what was happening on the ground - even if it meant working by candlelight!
Political leaders survey damage RIVAL political leaders descended on the Costa del Sol to visit floodstruck communities. Juan Ignacio Zoido, the government's interior minister, Susana Diaz, president of the Junta, Juanma Moreno, president of PP Andalucia and Antonio Maillo, IU Andalucia head, toured some of the worst hit places. Zoido visited Malaga’s emergency flood hub with Diaz, who also went to Estepona, San Roque and La Linea. Moreno was also in Estepona and Cartama, while Maillo went to Casa-
Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi
-final2.68% of Spanish TV talent show Bounce Rate:
By Miguel Jimenez
Good neighbours pull together EXPATS have set up a Facebook group to help victims of the weekend's floods. Dozens of people have already posted in the Help the Homeless and Flood Victims group, which now has over 1,300 members. Clothing and food collections and pet rescues have all been coordinated through the Costa del
lucia’s biggest shopping and leisure centre - 3122 views Visitors: 164,290
res and Estepona. Maillo has led calls for an investigation into the death of a 26-year-old prostitute at the Club California in Cancelada, Estepona and asked the Junta to provide financial support to affected towns. Monetary help from central government may be slower to appear, with the council of ministers not set to discuss the issue until this Friday. While not visiting the affected areas, King Felipe VI has expressed his concern, especially with the situation in Cartama. He spoke to mayor Jorge Gallardo on Sunday night.
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Two missing after search mission
An AGA Company
Two revolutions occurred in 1830. One was in France. The other was in Cooking.
GIBRALTAR Port Authority (GPA) officials assisted Spanish search and rescue teams in the hunt for two people missing at sea. The GPA offered use of its port launch after receiving a call for assistance from Salvamento Maritimo Algeciras station. The Royal Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Defence Police, the Customs Marine Section and the MoD also supported the search and rescue mission. A GPA spokesperson told the Olive Press: “We assisted from our own volition. The search was called off for us at 11.30pm on Thursday night. After that we left it to the
Spanish.” According to reports in the Spanish media, two people fell from a boat as Spanish police gave chase in the bay on Wednesday night at around 10.15pm. One of the missing men is believed to have been wearing a wetsuit and flippers. It is not yet known if he managed to swim to shore. Guardia Civil officers and a rescue helicopter have also been involved in the search mission. Three other crew members were seized by Instituto Armado.
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A 71-YEAR-OLD Scot found floating in a La Linea Marina has been named as Joseph Williams. Guardia Civil officers confirmed the identity of the Dundee pensioner to the Olive Press . Williams was found in the water between bays eight and seven at Alcaidesa Marina, where his yacht had been moored. Local yacht owners told the Olive Press Williams would spend six months of the year in the area before heading back to the UK. One yacht owner at the Alcaidesa lounge bar told the Olive Press: “He had been drinking in a La Linea flat with friends beforehand then came in here for a drink. “His mate offered to walk him back to his boat but he refused.” Police were called just after midday on Sunday and an autopsy was due to take place on
Yacht owner stopped for drink at Alcaidesa lounge before his death TRAGIC: Joseph Williams on his yacht
Monday. A source told the Daily Record: “There was nothing at the scene that raised any immediate suspicion that the man died as the result of a crime but the post-mortem will tell police more.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Beginners’ luck
THE mayor of San Roque Ruiz Boix has said he will introduce tax cuts for entrepreneurs when he cleans up the municipal debt.
Busted NINE people have been
arrested after police uncovered 922 kilos of hashish and one million packs of cigarettes.
Close call A CRUDE carrier and con-
tainer ship have collided in the Bay of Algeciras. Both suffered dents and bruises but no one was seriously injured. TIME OF GIVING: Christmas gift appeal
Present tense
LA Linea charity Hogar Betania is calling for donations of Christmas presents for deprived local children. The homeless centre, which looks after vulnerable Spanish, British, Gibraltarians and foreign migrants, is asking locals to donate new toys for children aged 1-12 years old. Private individuals, companies, clubs and associations are all invited to participate. The toys will be distributed to the children over the Christmas period. Toys can be delivered to Hogar Betania, at 152 Calle Gibraltar behind La Linea hospital and larger amounts can be collected. For more information contact Carmen on c_moya_langston@hotmail.com
New tonic
THE Partido Popular in La Linea have promised to ensure that the building of the new hospital, which has been delayed on and off for years, will be completed as soon as possible.
Doctor no MORE than one
hundred doctors and health officials demonstrated to seek an improvement in public health issues in Algeciras.
Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi
-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views
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THE second series of the University of Gibraltar’s history lectures will take place between January 20 and March 24. Tito Vallejo will give talks on Operation Felix and The Evacuation, with Victor Hermida now and DESPITE being delayed by giving aDownload talk on our theapp Northern Jose Feliciano brings guitar magic Defences. begin enjoying the best Spanishtempestuous weather, Jose Deputy Chief Minister Dr Jo- Feliciano and his backing to Gibraltar’s ‘underground’ Jazz news will on the go. a talk on seph Garcia host band also went down a storm Gibraltar’s political develop- at St. Michael’s Cave during Festival, writes Michael Hayes ment. the 4th Gibraltar Internawinter warmer. while Feliciano prepared for tional Jazz Festival. That the concert went ahead The concert opened with lo- his own appearance, giving at all is testament to the cal band Malfunction and the crowd a taster of things hard work of the organisers an energetic set that mixed to come. who had to deal with missed jazz classics with original in- Stojka’s energetic perforflights and other logistical terpretations of songs such mance echoing through the The Olive Pressnightmares. But headline act as Ain’t no Sunshine (When acoustically perfect cave left A GIBRALTARIAN author Feliciano’s performance was She’s Gone) and Abba’s troglodytes eager for more, has journeyed to the heart of worth the wait for the eager smash hit Money, Money, and Feliciano was greeted for Spain! what itTOP means to news be frominthe with rapturous applause on crowd gathered in the stalag- Money. Rock in a new book. mite-encrusted concert cave Long-time Feliciano collabo- his eventual entrance. M.G. Sanchez’s Past: A Mem- and soon everyone was Cali- rator Harri Stojka then gave The legendary musician did oir recounts his family strug- fornia Dreamin’ - the perfect an impromptu performance not disappoint with a varied gles to repatriate his father’s remains to Gibraltar following his death on a cycling trip in July 2013. The tragedy happened durA COMPETITION to find the best photo of in terms of views, icon, history and strength. ing one of the most difficult Europa Lighthouse has been held by the Uni- Twenty of the semi-finalist entrants are now recent periods in Gibraltar versity of Gibraltar. on display at the university. and Spanish border relaAll entrants in Scenes of our Lighthouse had The competition was judged by Dr John Cortions. to include an image of the iconic spot, with a tes, Professor Daniella Tilbury and Chairman The book takes a look at ceremony held on November 23 to select the of the Board of Governors, Jose Julio Pisharell. Sanchez’s experiences livtop three winners from 82 entrants. First prize was won by Francis Noguera, with ing in the U.K, where he exParticipants were asked to capture the light- Marvin Montado scooping second and Anthoperienced racism following house as a beacon and reflect what this meant ny Ladislaus third prize. June’s Brexit referendum.
Identity crisis
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December 7th - December 20th 2016
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performance that mirrored the versatility of his career, ranging from classic bolero sounds to his 19658 hit Light my Fire and seasonal Spanish family favourite, Feliz Navidad. Joined by Stojka at times, Feliciano also brought to the stage Austrian soprano Arno Raunig, whose impressive 5+ octave range perfectly complemented his classically stylised guitar accompaniment. Finishing with a rousing extended version of Feliz Navidad, Feliciano was the perfect antidote to the miserable weather conditions at play above ground, bringing early Christmas cheer to The Rock and ensuring that the latest edition of the Gibraltar Jazz Festival will be one not soon forgotten.
PEDRO ALMODOVAR has said Donald Trump is the perfect inspiration for a ‘disaster movie’. The Spanish director said the reality TV star-turned president elect has a larger-than-life persona that is the stuff of filmmaking lore. He said: “I think that Trump is going to provide a lot of creative inspiration, especially for comedians. He seriously w o u l d inspire a disaster movie.” Speaking at a retrospective of his films at Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art, the twotime Academy Award winner added: “The bad thing is that we are all going to suffer, above all Americans will, “We have to put up with him, and in reality, he should be a seen as a huge disaster.”
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LET T E R S
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Off you go
Tobacco row It is very concerning that a customs officer was injured (Gibraltar Customs officers attacked by Spanish smuggling group, online). I wish the officer and their family well. But I consider it also very disturbing that in the 21st century, the state still considers the ‘smuggling’ of tobacco a punishable crime. In truth, smugglers do not only do this for their own little profit, but they serve the public by providing certain goods cheaper to the public. And I am a non-smoker. We should all be grateful to smugglers who are contributing to a better world. Johan Laotzu, Hampshire
With regards to Brexit, leading banks are set to pull out of the UK early next year (How the economies of the UK and Gibraltar are coping with Brexit, Issue 31) Anthony Browne, head of the British Bankers’ Association, warns that major lenders are poised to hit the relocation button. The Nissan dispute is an early sign of the downturns and the divisions Brexit could bring. Car-maker puts investment plans on hold and the immigration debate intensifies – is this life outside the EU? Pablo Cedron, La Linea
Fighting back Pablo – since your posting Nissan has announced it will continue to invest in the UK with development and building of two new models. Major banks are not poised to move wholesale. Some are looking at rented office space in Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Dublin
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Pulling out in order to be registered locally so they can continue their cross EU business unhindered. With 100% certainty they are not looking at relocating any teams to Spain. With regards to Brexit itself, the government has suffered one legal challenge already stating it should involve Parliament in a vote on the matter. Ironic really when the slogan of the leave campaign was to “take back control, and return sovereignty (to Parliment)”. The government has appealed this decision and it will be heard by the supreme court on December 5. It is unlikely they will overturn the original ruling, but no one can be sure. Will Brexit actually happen ? Every day/week/month that goes by without triggering article 50 is weakening the case. We will see what happens in March 2017 – the date set by the government to trig-
Utterly unique AS a British veteran traveller who has visited around 40 countries now, I thought on my first visit to Gibraltar a few weeks ago that it was the most unique place I had ever been. Given the
ger Article 50. Lee Riccio, UK
Fighting talk
When were the wishes of ordinary British people ever treated with respect (How the economies of the UK and Gibraltar are coping with Brexit, Issue 31)? If they dared to protest they were executed – the Peasants Revolt or Peterloo, for example. Or the fat drunkard telling the police if the Jarrow Hunger Marchers get out of control they should shoot them. The elites were furious when the proles didn’t do as they had been instructed. They don’t want a Brexit, they will find a way to nullify the democratic result and if then the proles/ peasants start to get serious, the uniformed size of and topology of goons will just love to Gibraltar it seems reopen fire – and morons markable to me that it think they live in a dehas an airport at all! I mocracy. work and live in Bristol and am thrilled Stewart Crawford, that there is a diMijas rect flight from Gibraltar to Bristol. Lionel Hutt, Somerset
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Revamped Dining Secrets of Andalucia gets the backing of top chefs and restaurateurs from around the world and region
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NDALUCIA’S top chefs and restaurateurs are backing the relaunch of www.diningsecretsofandalucia. com, the region’s best dedicated restaurant website. A host of star names, including Michelinstar chefs, have come out singing the praises of the new-look site, owned by the Olive Press group, which already has over 100 top places to eat..
December 7th - December 20th 2016
GRILLING: Ferran Adria ‘salutes’ Dining Secrets site
Revamped to include in-depth reviews, Top Five lists and an interactive map of the region, finding a knockout meal in Andalucia
e ctiv era ap t n I m
Extraordinary - Ferran Adria Celebrated Spanish chef Ferran Adria, of El Bulli, told the Olive Press: “I’m sure the website will do very well. People are always struggling to find the very essence of what makes Andalucia great and you are definitely doing your best to find it.” He added: “I love it down here, particularly as Andalucia is in my blood, with my grandmother coming from Huercal Overa, in Almeria. “The region really is extraordinary now and just keeps getting better and better. “There are at least five or six really amazing restaurants here that did not exist a decade ago and creativity is now very much at the fore, with some talented young chefs like Dani Garcia.”
Great initiative - Frank Rottering Frank Rottgering, of El Muelle restaurant, in Arriate, near Ronda, consistently voted one of the best in Andalucia, said: “Dining Secrets is a great initiative and vital for the region. It is a great website for information and easy to follow. “It also has a great range of restaurants in all eight provinces of Andalucia. He added: “One thing for certain in Andalucia you probably have one of the best range of good produce of anywhere in the world. We can get fabulous and diverse ingredients locally. “Dining Secrets is all about exactly that. Fingers crossed for your success.”
has never been so easy. coming. “It is great to finally have a site that gives The El Bulli maestro, added: “There are so us access and opinion on those places that many unknown gems here and amazing don't live off starlights, bling, Alaskan crab ingredients. It is great what you are doing claws and caviar,” said Mark Wardell, boss and I salute you.” of one of the coast’s biggest hotel Sunset He and many other of Spain’s leading Beach Club in Benalmadena. chefs are regularly resharing posts on our “We need to support the little guys that live dedicated Instagram and Twitter feeds for and breath quality food, value a n d the site. great friendly service… and t h e r e These include America’s Eleven Madiare so many places out there. son Park star Daniel Humm, who ex“It is great to see that Dining Secrets plained: “Dedicated sites that chamhas already found so many of them pion real authentic food are vital around the region." for the industry. And you guys Restaurateur Andy Chapell, of Moclearly know your onions.” lino del Santo, in Benaojan, near Meanwhile, Madrid’s creative Ronda, added: “Andalucia reRodrigo de la Calle, who has ally needed a dedicated site like retweeted a number of our this, where we can all share our articles, insisted: “Andaluthoughts and experiences.” cia is an amazing place and Speaking to the Olive Press reI love it down here. Dining cently in Marbella, Spain’s most Secrets is a great resource. I famous chef Ferran Adria said: am sure it will do well.” “Championing the best of AnFrench masterchef Joel Rodalucia has been a long time in CELEBRATED: Roubuchon buchon added: “Good luck with the venture.” Uncovering the best-kept culinary secrets in the region, publisher Jon Clarke has been scouring the region’s eight provinces since launching the book edition of Dining Secrets in 2008. Owner of Marbella’s successful Unsatisfied with TripAdvisor recommendSala Group Ian Radford thinks Dining ice cream parlours and sub-standard ing Secrets will be a ‘fantastic adtapas bars, Dining Secrets brings in depth, dition’ to the Costa del Sol’s food honest and expert reviews of restaurants and travel guides. With the power around the region. of the Olive Press online pres-
Fantastic addition - Ian Radford
ence, i’m sure Dining Secrets will really support the promotion of the very best venues available on the coast,” he said. We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing it grow.”
Important work! Andy Chapell Andy Chapell, boss of one of Andalucia’s longest-running rural restaurants Molino del Santo, in Benaojan, near Ronda, said: “I’m delighted to see the new and updated Dining Secrets. I love individual places where people are doing thoughtful and creative food served in pleasant environments so look forward to exploring the area with Dining Secrets on my phone. It’s really important that we all share our thoughts and experiences to support all of the places doing such good work.”
SUPPORTIVE: Daniel Humm says site is ‘vital’
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Picture-perfect meals are to be enjoyed across Andalucia. Check out the best food photos around the region on Dining Secrets of Andalucia’s Instagram feed or via Twitter @DiningSecrets
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Turning down a life in the air force, Jose Melero has set up one of Andalucia’s most famous fish restaurants, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia publisher Jon Clarke
S
TANDING at the pass, with orders flying out by minute and waiters baying for dishes, Jose Melero exudes an impressive Zen-like calm. It is fortunate this seasoned chef turned down a career in the air force to run his fish restaurant, which is probably one of Andalucia’s most famous. For on a busy summer day he can be serving over 350 people… and over the three months of summer around 18,000 meals. A haunt for celebrities, politicians and chefs from all over Spain, El Campero is best known for its amazing blue fin tuna. Cooked in almost 30 different guises, that include tuna lasagna and three types of tuna salad, you can even eat the heart and eggs, a delicacy, which come in at around 300 euros per kilo. Mormo, medallones, contramormo, tarantelo, the best cuts though are morillo and ventresco, which cost around 50 euros per kilo.
December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th 2016
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ZEN-LIKE: Chef Jose Melero in El Campero And Melero – often dubbed ‘the master of tuna’ – is scrupulous about where he gets the endangered fish from. “We never buy tuna less than 30 kilos in weight and mostly around 10 years old,” explains Jose. “We are extremely careful who we buy it from and we freeze it at minus 60 degrees – or ‘calidad sashimi’ – so we can use it all year round.” He adds: “I think the rules on catching blue fin tuna need to be strict and I think they are finally starting to bear fruit with numbers picking up again.” He has spent over two decades perfecting his art, having first set up a restaurant in Barbate’s port with his father. Now in a modern place in a rather
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La Sala, Marbella nondescript square, El Campero is a four-speed operation, with everything from formal dining room to bar tapas. And on a Tuesday lunchtime in November the place was packed to the gills. Top tips… the traditional tuna encebellado, or stew, was deli-
cious served up with oregano, onion and pepper, while the carpaccio of tarantelo with wasabi was superb. Best of all was the tartare though, which comes from the tuna tails. It literally melted in the mouth, like good tuna is meant to. Oh, to eat every lunch here.
Brilliant food and staff! The food was absolutely excellent and was matched by the friendly and bubbly staff who always make sure you are being attended to without harassing you. Will definitely be visiting again. I recommend the sticky pork belly, to die for! - James on La Sala
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Patria, Vejer
El Muelle, Arriate
We love this place. We have been going since it opened and have taken vicarious pleasure in watching it grow into one of the best restaurants in Andalucia. Thomas and Ase are delightful and perfect hosts. The food is wonderful and using local ingredients it produces dishes that you will not find anywhere else in the area. It is the first place we think of going every time we visit our house in Vejer. I am wary of being too fulsome as I don’t want it to become too difficult to get a table! If you are in the area, make the effort to go up to Patria, I promise you will not be disappointed. - Damian C on Patria
I’ve been coming to Frank’s fantastic place since it opened around five years ago and watched it develop into one of the most charming, consistently good quality places to eat in Andalucia. His local chef Isa Molinillo, from Setenil, just keeps getting better and better, there are loads of specials and Frank is the best host by a country mile! - Alfred Clark on El Muelle
Venta el Castillejo, Olvera Castillo de Monda, Monda A place one can see from the road - it's semi-hidden. Approach is down either of two tracks. The setting is rural, calming and beautiful. Charming family running the business. Food is simple, but excellent in quality. Fine lamb, and the best tomato salad in Spain. A place impossible to leave without feeling much better. Well worth a visit. Patrick Mearns on Venta el Castillejo
One of the most picturesque settings in Andalucia, the Castillo de Monda is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. While it isn’t the cheapest, the brilliant food is more than worth it. On my trip we had oysters in orange ice, a delicious steak tartar and a refreshing tomato salad to start. This was followed by the lamb which literally fell apart at the lightest of touches. Presented beautifully, the service was also top-rate. The only downside being the acoustics... With a party of 50 people at the end of the dining hall, with singer in tow, the racket made the dining hall feel somewhat like a school canteen and made it almost impossible to chat across the table... I am sure with smaller groups this would not have been a problem and we were just unlucky. Also in the summer an outside terrace is available and again would help with the noise issues inside. - Rob on Castillo de Monda
Three top picks
Arrieros, Cinares de la Sierra restaurant | lunch and dinner
WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM ESTACIÓON DE ARRIATE | ARRIATE (MA 7400, KM 4) 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 CLOSED ON MONDAYS
IN terms of true secrets – real hidden gems – this comes right at the top. Few places have such a smack in the gob, romantic impact right from the word go. The fact that you have to hunt high and low for it in one of the last cobbled street villages in Andalucia certainly helps. Linares is about as good an example as any of what Spain must have been like in the Middle Ages. No frills, no big signs, the modern world thankfully at bay . . .and one of Andalucia's most alluring restaurants. Arriero fits in perfectly. A small simple meson, with an unobtrusive front door and sign, you walk into the typical village house with trepidation. Well restored with wooden beams, a large open fireplace and a huge pebble pattern floor typical of the area. You dine in two parts; in the main entrance hall, or a side annexe, when it is very busy on weekends. Simply furnished, while the menu is no flag of adventure, its strength lies in the carefully chosen and lovingly prepared local, and mostly organic, ingredients. Bought by a successful photographer Luismi, who is now the cook, and his elegant wife primary school teacher Adela, who is front of house, you couldn't ask for nicer hosts. “We get our meat straight from the local slaughterhouse,” she explains. “We want it fresh and the best quality possible. It helps to be living in the pork and ham capital of Spain.”
La Costa, El Ejido WILD horses wouldn't normally drag one to El Ejido... and unless you have a fruit and veg business, chances are, you won't even have heard of it. But this big market town, which sits in heart of Almeria's famous plasticulture belt, has one of Andalucia's best restaurants. Ignore the town and its modern, purpose-built blocks, ignore the environs and the plague of plastic greenhouses that strech out in all directions, but miss La Costa at your peril. Run as a family business, with chef Jose at the reigns, the restaurant has just got better and better as the demand for winter vegetables in northern Europe has grown.
Aponiente, El Puerto de Santa Maria ANGEL LEON is to fish what Ferran Adria is to, well, most other things. One of the trio of Andalucia's cookery wunderkinds (Dani Garcia and Kisko Garcia being the others), he has spent the last ten years getting to know his sea-food. And what a surprise you are in for. Not just content with
knocking out cod and chips, at Aponiente you will have a fish supper you will never forget. Shrimp served in a rolled up prawn fritata, fried fish served as bread sticks (they are actually an unfashionable fish called acedias carefully stuffed with Iberican ham), this is ingenious.
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Hard facts
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The lack of systems and rules in the property game in Spain is ridiculous
N most northern European countries, including Scotland, but sadly not England, all sellers of properties have to provide factually correct information packs - ‘Home Reports’ - to potential buyers. In some countries, these are prepared by state registered inspectors, whilst in others the estate agent is legally responsible for any errors or omissions. If the packs prove to be significantly erroneous or even fraudulent, the seller can withdraw from the sale, even after they have moved into the property. Unfortunately, it's a completely liberated system in Spain, where nobody takes responsibility for anything and even the buyer can renege, pleading ‘in good faith’ if they didn’t check anything themselves. Property descriptions by agents on the internet and in their details, can be at best ‘mistaken’, but sometimes, either through their or the seller’s ‘optimism’, appear to be deliberately misleading. What has brought on this rant? We are researching properties all the time and this morning we’ve found a property listed seven times by different agents on a multi-listing website, that are all different in price, floor area and plot size, but which all have photos that are either identical or are clearly of the same building. And how many will have a current Nota Simple and Energy certificate available for all enquirers, as required by law? Damn few in my experience. The Nota Simple I can understand, as some properties take months and years to sell and to keep it no less than 3 month’s old would be a running expense. But the energy certificate
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Remain
Gibraltar are in Spain and ESTATE agents up for the busiest July on lining themselves put purrecord. British buyers EU It comes as some due to the forthcoming chases on holdJune 23. referendum on Olive Press spoke to conMost agents the various sales currently firmed they had the result, despite the ‘paused’ awaiting remaining strong. British market that the exThe majority believe to stay in Europe pected result - pound strength- will lead to the hot summer of ening with a red sales to follow. at Holmes Sotois Ben Bateman, the referendumfor property fund A HUGE US million on three grande, described ‘pause for thought splashing €45Sol developments. lead up as a due to concerns over new Costa del bosses behind British buyers’ The American Solutions have the weak pound.vote however, we expect to a remain Real Capital sizeable plots in - and a sud“After year the to snapped up see a strong finish from British buyers,” he and Benahavis Estepona, Mijas den wave of bids to look at further and continue gone one step told the Olive Press. the coast. Gibraltar has extra staff for opportunities along One agent in based in Marbella employing The company, further actually has five othSammy Cruz-Armstrong since 2013, alreadyincluding The July. Savills directoris on hold due to Brexit, Europe “Everything in er developments, stay said: will we Retreat, in Elviria. in July to deal but I am convinced on extra staff and am taking deluge of business.” with the expected Scott Marshall of ProperBenahavis agent
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around €86 mil“We have spent and have a fund lion here so far to spend,” exof €100 million Partner Peter plained Managing Colorado. Wells, based in the largest devel“We are one of del Sol and opers on the Costa is on distressed our emphasis properties.” we do things He added: “Also always try and transparently and and quality.” deliver on price which made hunThe company - buying and selldreds of millionsproperties in the ing distressed working out of US - has 16 staff Plaza. its office at Centro Cox, added: to Local boss Taylor really starting “The coast is it’s a pleasure to come alive and part of the live in such a beautiful world.”
Where is Gillian buying?
pause as described the tieSpain, meanwhile, of the uncertainty ‘very psychological’. combination of He said: “It’s a exchange rate right now.” curof sales the vote and the have a couple more. While many agents unsome have seen rently on hold, ten sales currently on hold “We have up to said Victor Witkowski, til after the referendum,” in Manilva. but boss of Castles, necessarily pulling out, hap“Buyers are not their time to see what they are biding Hamilton, also pens.” agent, Shani are Fellow Manilva but added: “We as as soon confirmed a slowdown, influx of business predicting a huge a decision is made.”
Deals
sales by nationality
Source: Registradores
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lost his deposit in 2008 when the developer failed to meet bank loan repayments and went bust. Until now, banks have not been accountable for returning the lost deposits, but a court ruling in 2013 now means that banks must return deposits. In total 100,000 Brits are said to have lost €4 billion in deposits on off-plan properties that were never built. Bufete Salmeron confirmed it isfollowing up Hurst’s claim as well as a number of other British investors.
A luxury housing development is to receive €250 million investment. London-based Round Hill Capital is the developer behind the ambitious Palo Alto 75 home project in Ojén, which will start to be constructed in January. The 50 hectare gated community will initially include 60 two, three and four bedrooms and 15 penthouses of three and four bedrooms, which will go on the market for in between €440,000 and €1 million . A health club and a business centre will also be built and residents will benefit from 24-hour security. José Antonio Gómez Sánchez, mayor of Ojén said the project would benefit the whole of the Costa del Sol, due to the fact that “it will invigorate the area, both socially and economically.”
years experience in
ALL PROPERTY MATTERS BY CAMPBELL FERGUSON
RICS BUILDING SURVEYORS & VALUERS
For peace of mind follow these property buying rules (CEE in Spain) is inexcusable. It lasts for 10 years, is obligatory to have to register the sale, Find Your both the seller and the agent will Property be fined if the Junta’s inspectors find it's not available to potential buyers, and still the majority of properties on the Costas are marketed without it. That’s just silly. Instruct Instruct Talking of silly things, there’s Now Building SurveyorBrexit.Lawyer there’s talk of more potential for ‘Brexit Lite’ or ‘Brexit Descafeinado’ as I’ve heard it called here, where the UK will pay the EU to keep some of the privileges. So,Buywewith pull out of the Knowledge Confidence EU to save money and then&pay that money to receive less privileges than we had before. That’s clever! The Brexit effect may+34only be creeping into the 952 923 520 Connect with us! UK economy, but it'sadmin@surveyspain.com hit here with a bang. A recent survey by surveyspain.com Spanish Property Insight has reported that the Spanish Property Registrars have recorded 16% less sales to UK buyers in the 3rd quarter 2016 compared to last year; the first drop for many years. The overall picture in SPI’s survey was of a big decline in British buyer interest in the months leading up to, and just after the referendum, with that interest now continuing at a much lower level. But it's not bad news for everyone. The reduction in numbers of UK sterling buyers was compensated for by euro or other currency buyers, taking advantage of reduced competition and sterling sellers being prepared to accept lower euro prices as the conversion to sterling meant they were still receiving more pounds than expected. So, parlez-vous anglais, sprichtst du Englisch, spreekt u Engels, pratar de Engelska, or even ¿habla usted Inglés?
Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com
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this month statistics out and Either way, official market remains strong their confirm the British continue to look for tens of thousands that fordream home. Mark Stucklin insists 16% Respected analystSpanish property was up eign demand for with Brits the biggest group in the first quarterat 22% of the market share.for of foreign buyersdominate the foreign market of a notice“The British still is no evidence said. he property and there demand as yet,” able decline in everyone is suffering. And certainly not Govier of Inland Andalucia the One agent, Graham impact’ at all during has seen ‘no negative are extremely referendum lead-up. opposite. Prices as “In fact it is the and we are selling two times cheap right now as we were last year,” he said.of many propertiessalesman Paul - already a bit sevHe added: “My - has just completed his a local celebrity sale and people are buying enth consecutive see that the incredible deals because they can for them forever,” he added. last won’t wait around in the Olive Press headlines Paul made sold an impressive nine properyear when he ties in a row. 2015 Q1 2016
and quarter
sight.com 2015 Q4 Q2 2015 Q3 www.spanishpropertyin 2014 Q1 2015 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q2 2014 Q4 2013 Q1 2013 Q3 2013 Q1 2013 Q2
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bella in 2004. “We loved holidaying in Spain and it was a natural step to buy,” he said. “Until now I had written off the money, however we have renewed the case now that some similar cases have seen their money returned.” Legal firm Bufete Salmeron has already retrieved lost deposits a number of Spanish firms and Hurst has now asked them to pursue his claim. Hurst, like thousands more,
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ENGLAND’S World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst is desperately fighting to recoup hundreds of thousands of euros lost in a Marbella property nightmare. The 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero is among thousands of British citizens hoping to recoup money lost during the property crash. Soliciting Marbella-based law firm Bufete Salmeron, Hurst is hoping to reclaim the €270,000 he put down as a deposit on a dream hope in Mar-
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At risk of getting the boot UP to one million EU citizens living in the UK are at risk of deportation, the government has been warned. The 3 Million, a campaign group lobbying for the rights of non-British citizens living in the UK, has told the home secretary it would take 47 years to process all the applications for permanent residency. Each application is 85 pages long and there are currently three million EU citizens residing in the country, and there has already been a backlog of 100,000 applications.
Support for Gibraltar offered by European Green Party A EUROPE-WIDE Green Party has vowed to fight for Gibraltar’s right to remain in the EU should a hard Brexit go ahead. European representatives for the party are exploring ‘all options’ to keep Gibraltar in the EU. The European arm of the Green party (GreensEuropean Free Alliance) pledged its support to Gibraltar, as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland. At a conference in Glasgow, a spokesman for
Green guide the party said: “All options will be explored to ensure Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar and their people can retain their membership of the EU.” The European group currently holds 5 0
Brief By Charles Gomez
Europe and not just its ‘admin offices’ are going through a paradigm shift
P
CAREFUL WHAT EU WISH FOR
ARADIGM is a fine word bequeathed to us by our Greek cousins, the ancestral defenders of Europe (watch the Battle of Thermopylae in Zack Snyder’s Hollywood box office triumph 300). A paradigm(“paradeignma”) shift is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions. To my mind the question is not what is changing but what is not changing? If as recently as 2015 Angela Merkel, Martin Schultz, Jean Claude Junckers and Donald Tusk were the accepted, if greyish faces of European polity; that has changed. Rightly or wrongly many among the 500,000,000 EU citizens see them and their ilk as woefully detached from their own realities and aspirations. The shift away from internationalism is happening at great speed. Post the Brexit referendum Theresa May has understood that the tectonic plates are shifting. At the Lord Mayor’s banquet in early November the Prime Minister spoke of “change in the air” and warned the political élites not to ignore the people who she said: “see their communities changing around them and don't remember giving their permission for that to be the case.” I think that these are only the early tremors of a political earthquake which could shatter the EU as we know it today. Looming ever closer, it would seem, is a breed of politicians the like of which Europe has not seen for many decades. As I write the Austrian presidential election has not taken place; it is due on the 4th December. The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) candidate Norbert Hofer is apparently in with a very good chance of
becoming President of Austria. In France the Front National’s Marine Le Pen seems headed towards the Élysée Palace at elections taking place in 2017. Another right-winger Geert Wilders is hotly tipped to be the Dutch Prime Minister in elections also set for 2017. In Germany, a right –wing party formed as recently as 2013 has already won seats in 10 out of the 16 German regional governments and 6 seats in the European Parliament and in opinion polls has scored higher than Frau Merkel’s Christian Democrats. Then there is Poland and Hungary and so on. Self-conscious Europeans tend to look across the Atlantic at our colonial cousins (for we have cousins everywhere) for moral justification and support. In Washington they now see a nationalist President Elect, Donald Trump, vocal admirer of Brexit battler Nigel Farrage. So what impact will the tilt to nationalism and the right have on the “European Institutions”? They certainly will not remain dominated by the middle of the road folk that now run them. The European Council after all is comprised of the heads of state or government of the Member States. Similarly each member of the European Commission is appointed by a Member State and it is obvious that the current broadly centrist commissioners will not survive the paradigm shift. Judges and Advocates General of the European court of Justice are also appointed on a country by country basis. Think about it. It would be foolish to think that even as the European pendulum swings to the right, the European Union will remain a bulwark of middle of the road liberalism; it will however be a very powerful machine in the hands of whoever takes over.
Readers of the Olive Press are invited to discuss this or any other legal matter with Charles Gomez by emailing charles@gomezco.gi
CHARLES GOMEZ & COMPANY BARRISTERS AT LAW
seats in the European Parliament with MEPs from Sweden, Luxembourg and Greece making up most of that number. Scottish Greens European spokesperson Ross Greer added: “The Greens are committed to respecting Scottish democracy.
Fantastic
“It has been fantastic to have our European family in Glasgow this weekend, not just offering their solidarity but meaningful support for our position of staying in Europe. He added: “It is clear that Scotland as well as Northern Ireland and Gibraltar will have Green allies throughout the 27 other EU nations, ready to fight our corner when Westminster will not.” “The challenge is now for us to explore every option which will make our European future possible, including that of a referendum on independence, which would allow Scotland to take our place in the European family of nations as a full member state.” Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have met several times since the EU referendum to discuss the prospect of a post-Brexit pact between the two countries.
Softly does it ZAC Goldsmith’s loss in the Richmond by-election in London could force the UK government to opt for a softer Brexit. Sarah Olney from the Liberal Democrats - a pro-EU party - won the election with a swing of 23% from Goldsmith in what was dubbed the ‘Brexit by-election’. It prompted the government to release a statement insisting that ‘this result doesn’t change anything’. “The government remains committed to leaving the EU and triggering Article 50 by the end of March next year,” it read. But analysts have said the result - now part of a wider trend of Lib Dem resurgence - could leave Conservative MPs in marginal seats nervous about the impact of a hard Brexit on their futures, while also encouraging Remain-leaning MPs to be more confident in demanding a vote on Article 50.
Suicide tragedy A BRITISH man who was ‘anxious’ over Brexit was found hanged by his wife just weeks after the referendum result. Kirkpatrick Macmillan, 69, had a breakdown in June after becoming extremely fearful that the UK would vote to exit the EU. He could not sleep at night and sought help from a psychiatrist, but promised his GP he ‘would never’ end his life. But just over a month after the result, his wife found
him hanging in their home in Kent. Assistant coroner for South East Kent, Christopher Morris, said: ““This is a very, very sad case, he sounds like a very remarkable human being. “His wife Pauline was confronted by the most terrible discovery. She found him hanging by a scarf around his neck. “Attempts were made to resuscitate him but he tragically died the following day.”
Lights, camera, Brexit! A TV drama about Brexit is in the works. The critically acclaimed writer James Graham has said his new series will ‘specifically tackle what happened’ in the run up to the vote. “I think [Brexit] is going to be the main occupying idea in all writers’ heads for the next five or 10 years,” he said. Graham’s previous TV dramas include a play set in a polling station, The Vote, which aired on More4 on the night of the 2015 general election.
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GIBRALTAR is looking to strengthen financial ties with its African neighbour through a series of business roadshows in Morocco. The Gibraltar Tourist Board and the Finance Centre Department both THE University of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Academy held events between Noof Music and Performing vember 27 and December Arts (GAMPA) are collabo- 1 in Marrakesh, Casablanca and rating on a newDownload initiative ourto app now and Tangier. Minister for Tourism, Gilpromote local creative tal-the best begin enjoying bertSpanish Licudi and Minister ent. news on the go. The two institutions have for Commerce Albert Isola signed a Letter of Agree- led the delegation. ment, a framework on shar- Mr Licudi said: “It is iming resources to benefit per- portant that we establish formers and musicians. fluid commercial and Developing performing arts business links with Mocourses, programmes to rocco. raise public awareness of music and the performing Markets arts and visits byThe artistsOlive and Press academics will form part of “We have substantial histhe partnership. torical links with the North TOP for news in Spain! “The educational benefits of African country and music and the performing also have direct air arts are well established,” links with Tangier said Professor Daniella Til- and Casablanca bury. which can assist in “To add to this we have a developing further great pool of talent locally business ties. that needs nurturing.” The move comes after a “This will open up meeting in May to identify new markets for the the needs of Gibraltar’s cre- benefit of both the ative community, with both tourist and finance parties agreeing to work to- industries on both sides of the Strait.” gether jointly. Isola Christian Santos, GAMPA Minister principal, said: “Our aim at added: “I am parthe Academy is to foster a ticularly keen on positive learning environ- exploring avenues where ment and be able to offer as Gibraltar and Moroccan many different educational financial services firms opportunities to our present and future students as possible. “We are two new institutions with a lot of energy and eagerness to grow together. This collaboration will enable us to enrich our students with all the knowledge and opportunities we can offer.”
KIND-HEARTED expats and locals are being encouraged to donate a gift for Malaga’s orphans this Christmas. Specsavers Opticas is collaborating with charities along the coast to ensure no child goes without a present this December 25.
Christmas
TRADE: Gibraltar seeking closer ties with neighbours
Moroccan mates
Delegation heads across the Strait of Gibraltar in search of new business ties
can work together in mutually beneficial areas of business.”
A result for Spain
Tech revolution SPAIN is driving the golden age of technology. A new generation of business founders has seen the country become one of the most important in the world for technopreneurs and startups. The number of technology companies in Spain is up 150% compared to five years ago. There is also an increased interest from international buyers in acquiring Spanish startups.. In August, eBay acquired Madrid-based Ticketbis, an online marketplace for tickets to events of all kinds, for a reported €150 million.
THE British referendum and US election results have turned up double trumps for Spain, says the country’s Economy Minister. Luis de Guindos claims that controversial votes for Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US President act as a ‘very big advantage’. He claims that for the first time since Franco, the political microscope has moved away from Spain. “Spain has a very big advantage now: we are off the radar screen in terms of political uncertainty,” said de Guindos. “This means we can continue to strengthen our economic recovery without the worry of political turmoil.” While unemployment is still at around 19%, the minister forecasted a 3.2% economic growth for this year - twice the pace at which the Eurozone is expanding. De Guindos also pointed to a growing property market and an ‘increasingly lively’ startup scene, especially in Madrid and Barcelona.
Liftoff! A SPANISH space startup is building Europe’s first ever reusable rockets. Based in Elche, PLD Space have sealed €1.2 million of investment to fund the space development. Backed by the Spanish government and the European Space Agency, the aim of the programme is to develop reusable rockets for satellite missions. The aim is to have a working prototype by 2018, with the rockets ready to launch for real in 2020.
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In aid of Malaga orphanage and the Amusuvig shelters, the campaign gives out new or nearly-new wrapped toys to brighten up Christmas for hundreds of less-fortunate children. Gifts can be dropped off at Specsavers Marbella or Fuengirola and must be wrapped and labelled with whether the item is suitable for a boy or girl, and of what age group. For more information visit the Costa Christmas Collection Facebook page.
Property AGONY ANT
YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
New ruling threatens hundreds of expats’ court cases
T
Brexit backlash
HE effects of Brexit appear to have Society, based in Ipswich, issued the following reached some Spanish government of- statement: fices, 1. A Notary is a qualified lawyer whose work including some courts of law. is recognized internationally, unlike the work The Directorate General of Registrars and No- of Solicitors. The primary function of a Notary taries (DGRN), a regulatory body equivalent to therefore, is the preparation of documents and the UK Notaries Society, has recently issued a the authentication of clients’ identities and sigstartling ruling rejecting the validity of all Powers natures principally for use abroad. of Attorney (PoA) granted by a qualified United 2. Some Notaries are also “Scriveners”, who Kingdom “Notary Public”, on grounds that the mostly operate in London. authority and competence of these British pro- 3. “Notaries-at-law” or “lawyer notaries” do not fessionals is not equivalent to exist as a separate profession. that of their Spanish peers. The ruling went as far as unHundreds of Spanish Notaries believably stating that only UK- The decision sent and Registrars, fully aware that qualified “notaries-at-law” or their regulator’s historical cock shock waves “lawyer notaries” could validly up would certain bring embarthroughout issue powers of attorney, negatrassment to their reputation but ing this prerogative to plain “nomore importantly, cause incalthousands of taries public”. culable financial damage, have As was expected and with immetaken an unusual step: comprofessionals diate effect, the erratic decision pletely ignore this binding ruling sent shock waves throughout and fully accept the Powers of the network of thousands of Attorney correctly granted by UK professionals, directly or indirectly, involved with Notaries Public. expat legal work. And for a reason: hundreds of And as if to soften the blow, the International court cases could be dismissed (one of Lawbird Law Registrars Council has issued a non-bindLegal Services’ cases among many), thousands ing report where it is confirmed that documents of property transactions could be voided (on the signed by UK Notaries Public, who are appointupside, along with their mortgage loans) when- ed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and are regever such PoAs were used and overall, legal ulated by laws as ancient as the Ecclesiastical chaos. Licences Act 1533, an Act of the Parliament of Alerted by this misguided ruling, the Notaries England.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es
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Happy workers SPAIN has ranked 18th in the world for the most happy and loyal workforce, despite working some of the longest hours in Europe.
New law will make disabled access obligatory in new buildings
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APPLE pay which allows iPhone users to pay for goods with their phones - has launched in Spain for Santander customers.
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New friends AMBASSADOR of Spain Carlos Morales has said his country is hoping to expand business ties with a ‘fast-developing’ Pakistan.
Opening doors NEW buildings which don’t have disabled access will be deemed illegal under new government legislation. No.6 is introducing the Disability Act, which is modelled on the UN Convention on the Rights of
People. A series of lectures, seminars and workshops called Equality Means Business have been organised to inform the private sector about the new requirements. Minister for Equality Samantha Sacramento said: “Costs are minimised by having an understanding of the requirements for people with disabilities at the outset. “We also encourage businesses to look at how they meet the needs of individuals with disabilities overall and how inclusive environments break down barriers.” A training seminar by Ian Streets of About Access, a UKbased company that specialises in accessibility audit, took place at O’Callaghan’s Elliot’s hotel last week. Sacramento added: “This training session will particularly SHEIK ON IT: King Felipe in Saudi Arabia demonstrate to those in the private sector how having business premises that are inclusive and accessible can actually improve their business.” Streets has advised on the UK Disability Discrimination Act and the Equality Act.
Royal go-between
A €40 MILLION arms deal between Spain and Saudi Arabia has finally been pushed through. The sale was delayed for around six months amid fears that the weapons would be used in Yemen. However, the deal has now been brokered on the eve of King Felipe’s royal visit to the Middle East. The state visit was originally scheduled for January but was cancelled after the Saudi kingdom executed 47 people. Anti-corruption party Podemos and Catalan party ERC are openly opposed to the arms deal and the royal visit, while Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera has asked the king to ‘demand respect for human rights’. A letter from Amnesty International sent to the King also urges him to use his influence to end the ongoing attacks on Yemen’s civilian population, which have killed at least 7,000 people so far. Saudi Arabia is one of the Spanish military industry’s top clients, purchasing €546 million-worth of equipment in 2015 alone.
Farewell SPAIN’S Prado art museum will be saying goodbye to its director Miguel Zugaza after a highly successful 15-year run. After overseeing the biggest ever expansion of the Madrid museum, Zugaza, 52, will return to his previous role as director of Bilbao’s Fine Arts Museum. The Prado, home to masterpieces by Francisco Goya and Diego Velazquez, said Zugaza told the culture ministry that he is ‘grateful for all the support he received’.
Full steam ahead TRAIN manufacturer Talgo has been awarded a multi-million euro contract to supply and maintain 15 new high-speed trains. In a deal worth €786 million, the Spanish train maker beat off rival bids from German company Siemens and France’s Alstom. The initial contract is to build 15 new high-speed trains and maintain them for 30 years. In total 1,000 jobs will be created for Talgo, with the estimated construction time taking five years.
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Sharks, wild cats and jabali give me the heebie-jeebies but a much smaller creature keeps me up at night
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FEW months ago I wrote about my distinct feeling that the animal population was out to get me. This followed the sightings of an alleged big cat near Estepona, shark off the beaches of Fuengirola and the usual scurrying of boar close to the Casita. Last week, however, it was the turn of the insect population to have a pop at me. Luckily, as the Casita sits on a reservoir where the water level rises and falls – and trust me, it has risen rapidly after the recent rains – I don’t have that much of a problem with mosquitoes as there’s no stagnant water for the little buggers to breed in.
A Bug’s Life
Pity
I often pity those who buy frontline golf villas, imagining themselves enjoying tranquil summer evenings on the terrace overlooking the fairways, only to be driven inside after incessant mozzie attacks. The owners are forced to either beat a retreat or fight back with enough insect repellent to breach the Geneva Convention on Chemical Weapons, never mind putting a large hole in the ozone layer. I also had a run-in with a rather large bee a few summers ago that decided, despite my ‘Save the Bee’ posts on social media, to commit apis harakiri and sting me on the soft flesh on the inside of my Big Toe. The pain, dear reader,
LEATHERED: Wasp nest
was something to experience. Worse than that was the advice of my French friend and adventure expert Sebastian, who was having a coffee with me at the time. ‘You need to find a blue Biro, not black, and draw all over the toe. The ink will bring the sting out.’ I duly obeyed orders and retired to bed. The next morning I woke up with a swollen, incredibly painful bright blue toe. I called my friend to complain that his method wasn’t working. ‘Oh my God!!! You actually did zis???’ he laughed... Rather than bees, however, wasps have been my biggest problem. One famously flew into my hoodie on a morning run, causing me to rapidly and painfully slap myself in the face. With the onset of the cold weather, I put on my favourite leather jacket and grabbed a coffee on the coast. What I couldn’t work out was where all the mud was coming from around me and why I was getting strange looks from other people in the café. It was only later in the day that I discovered a swarm of potter wasps had been building their nest on the right sleeve of my jacket. I’ve always wanted animal attraction, but it seems that I’ll have to settle for insect attraction instead!
Why-fi? With the eco-political world in turmoil, OP blogger Malcolm Dick wonders why we’re trying to reinvent the classic British cuppa?
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‘DESPERATELY seeking software data specialist, spends 11 hours making cup of tea’ … It’s a line from an extraordinary article in the British press about ‘tech whizz’ Mark Rittman ‘suffering’ untold hardship whilst attempting to raise a small quantity of water to boiling point using his WiFi-enabled kettle! What with the base station undergoing mandatory resetting, difficulties with integration and multiple port scanning… well, beam me up Scotty, I’m surprised you haven’t frazzled your USB mate! Probably forgot to set the clock… WHAT is going ON! Are we just bored or something? Haven’t we got enough to do? I mean let’s face it, the eco-political world is close to going down the khazi
and we’re busy trying to make it as hard as possible to rustle up a brew. What would the Tetley Tea Men say? Why do we have this unquenchable thirst for RAM-based ridiculousness? From techy kettles to cars awash with WAP and web connectivity, along with with factory-standard faults, which are no longer ‘faults’ of course, just glitches that need an update or a software ‘fix’. Back in the day, if something needed fixing, it was broken! They’re selling us broken goods! And of course you’ve never got enough memory or speed. We’re losing the plot! The planet’s going off its axis… can you hear that rumbling?. That’s the Earth’s axle bearings overheating and the one at the north end is melting the bloody ice cap… Aaaaagh!
In contrast, I’m here in the silent centre of Celtic Spain, a home in a hamlet. If that dog over there could be bothered to get up, it might bark. Were it not for modern communications, the world, from here, really would seem at perfect peace. In fact ‘the quiet’ here is truly silent, it almost demands your attention. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve found myself wandering along a country lane and felt compelled to stop, thinking ‘What is that I hear?’ And of course it is actually, nothing. Sitting here at the end of the marble topped island unit with aga built in, just about the only sound I can detect, is the mild commotion of liquid in a large pot… boiling water. Think I’ll have a cup of tea.
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Guts of steel THE British Science Museum has been conducting a series of food experiments and shows at Ince’s Hall. Called It Takes Guts, the performance-led seminar focused on food and digestion and were not for the fainthearted. Featuring real video footage of people’s insides, the 45-minute spectacle took the Rock’s kids on a journey, following the food from the mouth to the ‘acid bath’ in the stomach and along the intestines before coming out the other end. The show ends with a squirminducing demonstration of why your faeces is brown. The sessions, including pupils from various schools on the Rock, have been designed as a fun way to learn about science.
BITE SIZE: Show
PLATING UP: Birtwistle at Eliott’s
Top quality
AN award-winning chef has joined The Eliott Hotel. Rock Chef Gibraltar judge Matt Birtwistle is the new head of the kitchen’s team. It is the third head chef role for the talented young chef, who became the second ever youngest chef to be awarded two AA culinary rosettes when he was working in England.
Award-winning chef joins top hotel Birtwistle has moved from the Rock’s The Lounge restaurant, where he had been creating creative haute cuisine since its opening in 2013. Before that, he worked at a pub called The Plough Inn in Lancashire, Eng-
land, where he is from. Since coming to Gibraltar, he has also hosted his own cookery programme and cooked for Gibraltar’s chief minister. Ben McCarthy, operations manager at the Elliot Hotel, said: “We’re very chuffed that he’s come on board. “We’re looking forward to him driving the hotel forward in 2017.”
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+TheolivepressEs player problems Point’s
EUROPA POINT FC face being docked points because they were BE to ‘APPY! unable field a team for their latest fixture. The first division side face dis-
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World Cup winners back Gibraltar’s bid for European qualification
The Olive Press
EXCLUSIVE RUGBY legends David TOPand for Jason newsLeonard in Spain! By Jon Clarke Campese have backed Gibraltar’s bid for Rugby Europe membership. Attending a special dinner at Grand Battery House, the World Cup winners told the Olive Press that Gibraltar ‘deserved’ a place among Europe’s top sides. Australian winger Campese was particularly buoyant about Gibraltar’s Rugby future. “I am backing Gibraltar’s move to be included in Rugby Europe,” he told the Olive Press at the black tie event. “They have STARS: Campese and Leonard every right to be competing. “It is a shame that politics, and entertaining perforobviously politics in Spain, gets mance at Gibraltar’s in the way. annual rugby dinner. “The next step is to get into Leonard recalled how he was Rugby Europe and to test them- the first international to be citselves against the big boys.” ed for foul play and predicted, He and Leonard, England’s rightly, that England would most capped prop, gave an beat Australia at the weekend.
While in Gibraltar, the players held a training session with the Rock’s junior side and Gibraltar’s Super IV’s side. Gibraltar Rugby Manager Kim Chang said: “We are delighted to have David Campese and Leonard on the Rock for Wednesday’s black-tie dinner.” GRFU Spokesperson Jack Milner added: “Jason Leonard and David Campese boast a collective 215 games for their respective countries and boast a wealth of experience to pass onto Gibraltar’s Super IV players during their stint on the Rock. “It proved a wonderful occasion for all involved with Gibraltar Rugby.” Prop forward Leonard won the World Cup with England in 2003, with Campese inspiring Australia to the trophy in 1991, scoring six tries.
Eva speaks out
FORMER Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro will give a talk at the University of Gibraltar on March 30. The Gibraltarian sports physician, who reached a settlement with the Stamford Bridge Club after an employment tribunal, will speak at the university’s Beacon Lectures. She left Chelsea following a high-profile pitchside argument with manager Jose Mourinho after Carneiro went on to the pitch to treat forward Eden Hazard. Meanwhile, Carneiro, who has just started working at London’s Harley Street, has been the recipient of vile abuse, despite Chelsea apologising to her. “Even though I don’t have a presence on social media – I think I have made one post ever in my life – some of the threats of sexual violence and death threats make it through,” she said. “They [the abusers] just seem to be faceless cowards and they should be answerable to legislation.” She added: “I had incredible support from
Comedian Josh Daniel also performed at the dinner, attended by the entire Gibraltar rugby squad as well as a number of distinguished guests.
Get your kit off! FORMER interim manager of Gibraltar’s international team Davie Wilson has been ‘left in shock’ after the Rock’s footballing body demanded he returned his kit. In the hotseat for four internationals, Scotsman Wilson was at the helm when Gibraltar scored their first competitive goal during a 6-1 European qualifying defeat against Scotland. However, the ex-Royal Navy man was sacked during the summer and sources close to Wilson now claim that the Gibraltar FA is hounding him for his training kit. Indeed the 42-year-old current manager of second division side Bruno’s recently donated some of his kit to raise money for a Scottish children’s charity. A source close to WIlson, said he feels the GFA have a ‘vendetta’ against him.
STUNNED: Wilson “Davie cannot believe that the Gibraltar FA are genuinely chasing him for the training kit that was issued three years ago,” the source said. “He did not even get an explanation when he lost his job and feels there is now a personal vendetta against him.” The former Kilmarnock trainee - who learned he was being axed via a text from the kitman - is being asked to return two pairs of shorts, a training top, a rucksack and a black coat. When contacted by the Olive Press the GFA failed to respond.
Put your hands together... day one and I want to thank all the people who approached me and expressed support. “When you are going through an incredibly difficult time that support means a lot. “I have to mention the people of Gibraltar because they made me feel a sense of Gibraltar from afar. I have been away for a long time.” Some of the death threats were sent while Carneiro was on honeymoon with her new husband Carneiro had worked at Gibraltar’s Specialist Medical Clinic when the media attention in London had become too fierce.
If you have a sports story, contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575
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FINAL WORDS
Helping hand BANKING and auditing staff gave back to the community by volunteering at Clubhouse Gibraltar Charity Shop. Price Waterhouse Coopers and Lloyds Banking Group ran the shop on different days and manned its social media feeds.
Sounding off A VETERAN broadcaster has retired after almost 40 years. Morning presenter Christine Clifton-Psaila has been a well-known voice on Radio Gibraltar.
Fancy A RECORD of 19 superyachts docked at Gibraltar in the first weekend of December as the Rock continues to attract the luxury market.
POO-DUNNIT?!
Vol. 2 Issue 33 www.gibraltarolivepress.com Dec 7th - Dec 20th 2016
Gib firefighters storm to silver in ‘Toughest two minutes in Sport’ FOUR Gibraltar firefighters have won silver medals at the gruelling World Firefighter Combat Challenge in the USA. Local heroes Matt Coulthard, Julian McGrail, Dylan Pratts and Dyron Ford scooped second spot in the endurance event dubbed the ‘Toughest two minutes in Sport’ by ESPN. The team had to ascend a fivestorey tower with a 20kg hose pack, then hoist another pack with a rescue line at the event in Montgomery, Alabama. A forcible entry, slalom run, hose drag and rescue of an 80kg casualty while in full kit were all completed against the clock. “To finish second in the world, coming from such a small nation with a limited
Fab four TRIUMPH: Firefighters
DOG owners who let their pets poop on the street are facing a government backlash. Registered dogs will now have their DNA profile logged as No.6 goes to war on pavement poo. The implementation of the Animal VILLAGERS in Spain have blasted and Birds Act this the media for letting a fake story week allows ofabout their town get ‘completely out ficials to tell if a of hand.’ certain dog has The BBC and Independent, among fouled the road. others, reported that Antonio FerDogs registered nandez, the billionaire founder of for the first time Mexico’s Corona beer, had left €2 will need a blood million to everyone in his homesample collected town of Guadalajara, in Castilla y Leon, where the popular beer is still and stored by librewed. cencing officers. “It’s simply not true, unfortunately,” The registration said Lucia Alaejos from the Funfee is £30 with the dación Cerezales Antonino y Cinia. licence fee costing “It seems someone got the wrong £25. end of the stick and the story has just Dog owners will grown and grown, it’s got completely be hit with a out of hand.” £1,000 fine for While he may not have directly paid failing to register residents his generosity will have a their pets. lasting impact on the town. There will a three“Every summer he would visit, and month period to he paid for the restoration of the assist dog owners church and square, brought running in arranging for water to every home in the town, DNA samples to funded the resurfacing of roads and be taken. founded a cultural centre for the vil-
Faking it
number of firefighters and only having competed in this sport for a couple of years is such an amazing feeling,” said a spokesman. Three of the Gibraltar team were also inducted into the ‘Lion’s Den’, an elite club of the world’s fastest finishers. The Gibraltarian trio are the first British firefighters to receive this honour in the competition’s 25- year history.
lage,” Alaejos added.
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