No sell out
THE FESTIVE COUNTDOWN BEGINS - FROM PAGE 11 the
olive press
EXCLUSIVE FOR decades it has been one of modern society’s biggest travesties. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of edible food is binned by supermarkets across Europe while the poor, homeless and vulnerable go hungry. But now, as part of a UK-wide Morrisons initiative, Gibraltar’s own branch will be donating all of its unsold produce to local charities. The aim is to end the waste of food that is past its sell-by date but still safe to eat. Andrew Clappen, Group Corporate Services Director, said: “We don’t like the idea of good food going to waste and this programme will ensure we find a home for the small amount of unsold or used food in our stores.”
Support
A spokesman for Morrisons confirmed to the Olive Press that the Gibraltar store will launch the scheme early in the new year. “The store manager will get the details in the new year and he can then start to look at organisations in the local area which we can support,” she said. Tinned food and packets as well as fresh fruit and vegetables will be donated, following successful trials in more than 100 stores in Yorkshire and the North East of England. Gibraltar is home to Morrisons’ only store outside Great Britain, and since it arrived 21 years ago it has been a great success, despite the logistical challenges involved.
Opinion Page 6
Celeb chef set to cook up a storm Page 27
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GIBRALTAR
Vol. 1 Issue 5
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November 11th - 25th 2015
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We will fight them on the beaches
Expat unites with green group to save emblematic Trafalgar Lighthouse from privatisation
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR: The lighthouse is being converted into private apartments while (right) Nelson and Stuart A DESPERATE battle is being waged to stop the iconic Trafalgar lighthouse being privatised and lost as a public monument. The historic landmark, close to where Admiral Nelson’s British navy defeated an allied French and Spanish fleet in 1805, is loved and cherished by many Gibraltarians. The emblematic lighthouse, built in 1860, is also in a spot of serene natural beauty, located near Caños de Meca, on the Costa de la Luz. But now, 200 years after Nelson died in a heroic victory and was taken to Gibraltar, a second battle of Trafalgar is being fought. For a German firm has been awarded a contract to con-
EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell vert the stunning landmark into three luxury holiday apartments, and in the process cut it off from the public. Under the controversial agreement, company Floatel is to take control of the 34-metre lighthouse for the next 30 years, with the option to renew for another 10. However, a group of Cadiz businessmen including long-established expat James Stuart, is taking up arms against the project. Joined by local environmentalists, Stu-
art, boss of the Califa Hotel group in Vejer, has now filed an official complaint with the Cadiz port authority over ‘irregularities’ in Floatel’s application. The businessman, who runs a string of hotels and restaurants on the Costa de la Luz, has united with a group of key Spanish businesses in a bid to keep it entirely open to the public. “We firmly believe the lighthouse and its environs should be in the public domain,” Stuart told the Olive Press. “It should have the same status as the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia where there is a museum and the site is free to the public.”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
‘Spear-fishing, bench-pressing 120kg and how I fought off a crazed attacker with a carving knife’
His group believes the Port Authority is simply looking for a way to ‘relieve itself of the financial burden of maintaining the site’. Insisting the last-ditch protest has nothing to do with his group’s own application being turned down, he added: “We would take over the running and costs of the lighthouse, but at the same time keep it open for everyone to enjoy.” The Califa group’s proposal, which came second, guaranteed to maintain the appearance of the lighthouse, as well as add a free interpretation centre, restaurant and picnic area employing 15 to 25 staff. By contrast, Floatel’s plan involves employing just two staff, closing the main entrance and cutting off more than 50% of the land and buildings to the public.
Honour
RUDELY INTERRUPTED: Chief reporter Tom Powell left twiddling his pen as Feetham meets a fan
Olive Press meets the James Bond of Gibraltar politics, Daniel Feetham, vying to become the next leader - Page 6/7
It also plans to charge for entry with limited opening times. Stuart was motivated to challenge the decision after being swayed by local opinion. In particular, green group Ecologistas en Accion has filed a complaint with the Cadiz Port Authority against Floatel’s plans. “We are against the privatisation of public facilities such as the Trafalgar Lighthouse,” explained a spokesman. The Cadiz Port Authority has until November 15 to respond to both appeals. Last month, Gibraltar held its annual ceremony at Trafalgar cemetery in honour of those who died in the battle.
Opinion Page 6
2 ‘Important achievement’ as Spanish construction firm loses battle against government By Rob Horgan A SPANISH firm’s multi-million airport tunnel battle with Gibraltar has finally hit a rock. Lauded as Chief Minister Fabian Picardo’s ‘most important achievement’, the Supreme Court in the UK has
November 12th 25th 2015
NEWS
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Tunneling our way out thrown out OHL’s appeal, ending a three-year legal tussle. Already dismissed by the UK
High Court in 2012 and the Court of Appeal this year, OHL is now forced to accept
the ruling. The legal battle was launched after the lucrative £34.1 mil-
CRIME NEWS tracking The Transporter THE hunt for a notorious Costa del Sol conman has been stepped up after he left three UK transport companies €28,000 out of pocket. Peter Ian Greenberg - who formerly lived in Nueva Andalucia and used the aliases Peter Green and Ian Berg - is wanted by the UK companies after using their service without paying up. The Olive Press first reported on Greenberg in 2013 after he lost five vehicles being transport-
ed on the same consignment, taking shipping payments totalling thousands from hapless expats. Dozens of other victims have since stepped forward, accusing Greenberg’s former company Eurocar Transporters of swindling them out of thousands. Darren Winn, managing director of Winn Transport, is now leading the search and is ‘desperate’ to track Greenberg down after Winn’s company moved four cars for Greenberg without receiving payment. A MOROCCAN man who roped £500,000 of drugs to a jet-ski “We transported four cars before riding to Gibraltar has been sent to prison. on the promise that payment Najib Ghezeil, 26, received three years and four months in priswould be made before we hit on after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including importthe UK,” Winn told the Olive ing 100kg of cannabis resin. Press. Police gave chase after he was spotted off the east side of the Rock. “It never materialised but we Ghezeil cut the ropes off two bales and sped off but crashed into felt so sorry for the customa police boat off Europa Point. He was arrested and taken to ers that we delivered them hospital for his injuries. anyway, paying for the serGhezeil’s lawyer said he acted ‘out of financial need’ as he was vice out of our own pockets.” from a poor family and had shown remorse for his actions.
Jet-set mule jailed
lion contract to build a tunnel under the airport runway was scrapped due to contractual differences. While the project had begun - and OHL had already received £14 million - it was decided best to part ways. However, the company disagreed and launched legal proceedings to the tune of £20 million.
Time-consuming
Mob hunt A GANGSTER believed to have ordered the murder of Salford ‘Mr Big’ Paul Massey is thought to have fled to the Costa del Sol. The man suspected of putting the contract on Massey is said to have teamed up with Spanish-based drugs gang to escape Salford’s drug wars.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said the result ranks as one of his ‘most important achievements’. “This is now the end of the road for OHL,” Picardo said. “This has been one of the most important and often time-consuming things I have done in the past four years.” He added: “There is no further legal step for them to take. Having lost all the way through the legal process, it is time for them to realise that they got it wrong.” He has also finally confirmed that the tunnel is set to be finished as soon as possible to cut back on congestion.
Opinion Page 6
Laser quest A MANHUNT has been launched for the individual pointing lasers at pilots landing in Gibraltar. There has been a worrying increase in the attacks, which can distract the pilot and endanger lives on-board. Over the last month, numerous pilots have reported a hand-held laser being pointed at their aircraft by an individual in the Northern Defences’ ‘jungle’ area The most recent attack, which occurred at night with the plane one mile from touchdown, made it difficult for the pilot to see his instruments in what is already a very tricky landing. The Director of Civil Aviation, Chris Purkiss, announced it is ‘extremely important’ that the laser attacks are stopped as soon as possible. This type of attack is punishable by a jail sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to £10,000.
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NEWS
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November 12th 25th 2015
A GIBRALTARIAN musician is hoping to conquer the indie-folk scene with his new EP. Guy Valarino, who played at this year’s Gibraltar Music Festival, will release fivetrack Oceans on November 20. Valarino released his first EP, Sleeping on a couch, in 2008, and last year undertook a global tour of ‘living room gigs’ organised via social media. These last minute crowd-sourced shows were peppered between official dates as he worked his way around the world, finding inspiration for the latest EP. The songs will be streamed exclusively by Gibraltar broadband provider umee at www.u-mestream.com.
Making waves
Lights are on but no-one’s at home
TV celeb causes confusion after premature announcement he was to turn on Gibraltar’s Christmas lights
STAYING PUT: Shepherd isn’t coming to Gib
That stinks!
ANTONIO Banderas has courted controversy by releasing a ridiculous-sounding perfume and supporting the Israel military, all in the space of a week. First, the 55-year-old actor released his own perfume with the cringeworthy name, King of Seduction Absolute, before attending a Friends of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) gala in Los Angeles, which helped to raise €35 million for the military.
EVERYONE from housewives to football fans will be crying into their stockings after TV heartthrob Ben Shepherd prematurely announced a Christmas visit to the Rock. The presenter caused havoc when he told viewers on ITV’s This Morning that he was set to turn on the Christmas lights in Gibraltar this year. In fact, the presenter, who also works for Sky Sports, jumped the gun, mistaking a caller’s invite as a genuine request. Having never turned on Christmas lights anywhere in the world, Shepherd excitedly revealed ‘I’m
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
going to Gibraltar’ after an alleged ‘official invite’ came in over the phones. However, the Gibraltar government has since confirmed to the Olive Press that no official invite had been made and Shepherd would not, in fact, be turning on the lights. Shepherd’s agent also confirmed to the Olive Press that the SoccerAid star would not be turning any lights on this year. The big switch-on takes place on November 20 at Casemates Square. It has not yet been revealed who is to turn on the lights, with the Olive Press chief QUEEN Letizia wowed Malreporter Tom Powell not aga during a royal visit. expected to be among the The monarch and King Fefrontrunners. lipe were in the capital for
ROYALS IN TOWN
the National Awards for Innovation and Design. Mother-of-two Letizia looked at her regal best in a cream bowed blouse and a black top with slashed sleeves. Wearing her hair in a braid, Letizia was the main attraction for crowds gathered outside the Teatro Cervantes. During his speech, King Felipe praised Malaga as a ‘city of science and innovation’.
Hot stuff
ELSA Pataky appears to have reclaimed her va-va-voom in a skimpy lingerie campaign after a string of interviews saying she ‘rarely feels sexy’. The stunning Spanish actress and model, who is married to Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, smouldered in barely-there black lace underwear and a mane of tousled blonde hair for her new Women’s Secret campaign. In the new TV advert, the 39-year-old mother-of-three showed off her trim figure.
Un-Belieber-able
MOODY: Bieber departs
JUSTIN Bieber marched out of an awkward Madrid interview after arriving 40 minutes late. The Canadian wild child seemed irritated as interviewers addressed him in Spanish. And the controversial star got up and left after the excruciating eight-minute exchange and did not return. A video of the interview shows Bieber getting increasingly restless at the broken translation of the questions. The Los 40 Principales hosts called for Bieber to come back, but he left without performing new single Purpose.
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NEWS
November 12th 25th 2015
NEWS IN BRIEF
Beauties against cancer
Tax return
NOT only is Hannah Bado the most beautiful resident on the Rock, she is also one of the most generous. Teaming up with GYPT Youth Group, current Miss Gibraltar Hannah raised a whopping £1,940 for Cancer
WASHINGTON DC has removed Gibraltar from its list of so-called tax havens after the District Of Columbia repealed its tax haven blacklist.
On your bike A NEW bike hire scheme, Redibike, will bring 105 bikes and 120 docking points to 11 locations across the Rock and the project’s second phase will see more bikes and points added.
Poetry power JACKIE Anderson has won the annual Poetry Competition with Fish Salters. Elena Scialtiel was runnerup with In The Mirror. Best poem in Spanish was won by Levi Josef Attias’s Rezo.
Speed checks NEW speed cameras are now in place in Devil’s Tower, Rosia Road and Europa Advanced Road, ready to begin operation early next year.
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Relief charity. Posing for photographs with over 50 families, it was a particularly moving event for former primary school teacher Hannah who had recently lost a family member of her own to cancer.
A knead to know Pricey pound
GOLDEN GIRL: Queen
By Tom Powell
FABIAN Picardo has defended his government’s £400,000 loan to the Risso Bakery site developers following harsh criticism from the GSD. With the general election just two weeks away, the two political parties have been at
Political parties at war over ‘secret’ loan to Risso bakery developers in run-up to the election loggerheads over the development of what some see as a valuable part of Gibraltar’s heritage. GSD leader Daniel Feetham claimed a ‘secret’ loan was provided by government company Credit Finance us-
What a Fab poll THE GSLP is leading the way with 39% of the vote, according to the latest GBC opinion poll. Fabian Picardo’s party is 23 points ahead of its rivals in a pre-election survey, with the GSD recording a meagre 16% share of the vote. However, both Picardo and his counterpart Daniel Feetham dismissed the poll as unimportant, stating the only poll that matters is on November 26. Furthermore, more than a third of respondents claimed they were still undecided.
ing the Gibraltar Savings Bank. “There is a huge issue with transparency,” Feetham told the Olive Press, adding: “And we shouldn’t be rewarding developers who destroy our heritage with loans. “If Picardo believes this is right he should, at least, be open and transparent about it.” However, Picardo has now publicly admitted and defended the loan to private developer Threepwood, which went on to demolish the building, despite opposition from the Heritage Trust. And he added that the loan had already been paid back ‘with interest’. “Under this Government, the Savings Bank takes deposits
from the public for the purpose of reinvestment, including through fully-secured loans,” he said. “This is what leads to the high interest rates that the Savings Bank is able to offer to depositors at the same time as making a profit for the reserve. “It is the GSD who are responsible for the destruction of the old Risso Bakery through their lack of investment in Gibraltar’s heritage.” He added that this had forced the planning department to determine, at an open public meeting, that the site had to be demolished ‘out of necessity’.
Olive Press meets Daniel Feetham. Pages 6-7
THE Queen must be getting sick of seeing her face on the side of coins. So it’s probably a good thing there will only be 63 of the latest coin commemorating her becoming the longest-serving monarch, one for each year of her reign. Gibraltar will release the limited edition 22-carat gold coin on December 1, making them available to collectors and investors worldwide for the price of £1,895. Queen Elizabeth II became Gibraltar’s longest serving monarch on September 9, which was the day production began on the coins. They can now be pre-ordered from the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau.
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OPINION IT is enough to make Admiral Nelson turn in his grave. Trafalgar lighthouse is a beautiful monument in a historically important site, not a private money-making scheme. Denying the public free access to the lighthouse is nothing short of a travesty, and those fighting for it to remain open to all deserve all the support they can get. This especially goes for Gibraltar, with both close historical ties and proximity to the site. Clearly Cadiz port authority has grown weary of the lighthouse’s costs, but as is all too often the case, ‘irregularities’ in the application process have thrown up serious questions. It is time to take a stand and fight for this significant historical monument.
Back on track? AND so Gibraltar’s airport tunnel saga has finally been buried. Seven years after OHL was handed a lucrative £34 million deal by the previous administration, it may at last be set for take off. As the project crashed and burned, a £20 million legal wrangling replaced the promised construction. But now with legal matters firmly put to bed, and Picardo celebrating his ‘greatest achievement’ as Chief Minister, attentions can be re focussed on completing the scheme. The tunnel would instantly make Gibraltar a less congested and more accessible place to visit. It would also show the government’s commitment to progress.
High hopes WITH Christmas around the corner, it’s great to see some real festive spirit. Morrisons’ move to donate all of its unsold food to charities caring for the vulnerable is encouraging and exciting, both for the hungry and for the reduction of needless waste. The shocking element is that Morrisons is the first supermarket to make this brave step, which means that millions of tonnes of edible food continue to be binned while poverty rages both on our doorsteps and further afield. Hopefully the scheme will be a roaring success and the positive results will shine so brightly from Gibraltar that other chains, both in Spain and the UK, will follow suit.
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or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es 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 on a Wednesday. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 (+34) 951 273 575 Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5 Calle Espinosa 1 Edificio centro comercial El Duque, planta primera, 29692 San Luis de Sabinillas, Manilva Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618 Tom Powell tom@theolivepress.es Rob Horgan
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Olive Press meets the leader of the opposition
Second Battle of Trafalgar
E RE
FEATURE
November 12th - 25th 2015
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W
E’VE only just sat down with croissants and coffee on Main Street, when a middle-aged Gibraltarian woman jumps in and literally grabs Danny Feetham. All smiles and gushing, she insists her entire family is going to vote for the GSD leader in the forthcoming elections, and she is sure he is ‘going to win’. It is a glowing accolade, particularly after he entirely failed to persuade a dog to come over for a pat just two minutes earlier, the cur literally sprinting away, his tail between his legs. “And no I didn’t pay her,” he says beaming, after I finally drag him back to the job at hand: Running a rule over the leader of the opposition in advance of Gibraltar’s general election on November 26. Either way, it has gone some way to answering my first question... Does the GSD have any chance of winning? Despite his current opponent, caretaker Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, seemingly soaring to an easy victory, Feetham firmly believes the election will be ‘incredibly close’. No matter that he is languishing on a paltry 16% in the opinion poll and the GSLP foe seems to be hardly putting a foot wrong. In particular, after Picardo steered in an impressive list of projects, such as Gibraltar’s first university, the World Trade Center and a new national football stadium over his first term. “There is a shop window here versus the reality of what happens behind it,” explains gym fanatic Feetham. “This government projects itself in a positive way, but all of these schemes are actually funded by very, very large debt.” Perhaps he has a point. At the last election, the overall net debt was £240 million, which Feetham claims has now grown to £418 million, with alleged departmental spending being about £40-50 million over budget across the board. And don’t forget there is the small matter of the new power station and a sewage treatment plant to fund on top of that.
STAB WOUND: Feetham points to where he was stabbed, losing 75% of his blood
Pumping iron saved my life Now let me save Gibraltar from national debt, pleads the GSD’s determined leader Danny Feetham over coffee with Tom Powell, two weeks before election
“I have been attacked for not being patriotic and doing Gibraltar down” This is ‘gambling’ with the future of the next generation, ‘pure and simple’, Feetham insists. “If I gave my daughter my credit card, I’m sure she would buy nice things, but she’d also ruin my finances and jeopardise our future,” he says. The family man has two sons as well as a daughter, all with his English wife, Julia, whom he met while at university in Manchester and managed to persuade to move to Gibraltar in 2000. He dearly loves his kids, but they won’t be getting his credit card any time soon. Gibraltarian born and raised, Feetham’s primary objective is to prevent austerity. “I want the good times to last forever,” he says. “And that takes proper planning.” One of his main gripes with the current government, led by fellow lawyer Picardo, is the ‘huge issue’ of transparency. Many questions have been asked of the government company Credit Finance, which has been used to fund various projects.
CONFIDENT: Feetham strolls down Main Street Says Feetham: “We were photo opportunity has become tipped off that Credit Finance paramount, and value for moneven funded the Sunborn Yacht ey for the taxpayer has become hotel by around £30 million, irrelevant.” but it’s not just about the boat. Feetham may be making valid “It’s about oppoints, but he is erating in an already beginopen way.” ning to sound “If I did not have Meanwhile, like a perennial my strength from the travel moaner. Does lifting weights, and enterhe realise how tainment many people then he would have expenses see him as negkilled me” of the chief ativity personiminister’s fied? office have The answer is risen from £400,000 to £1.3 yes. million, he claims. “Nobody wants to ask the diffi“I think there are too many cult questions, and I have been people going on trips, such as vilified for doing it at times; I have last month’s Gibraltar Day in been attacked for not being paLondon,” he says bluntly. “The triotic and doing Gibraltar down.
GRILLED: Feetham with Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke and chief reporter Tom Powell “But in any democracy everyone should be keeping the government accountable, and at times I have felt like we are carrying that responsibility alone.” It is a fair point, so tell us something positive... what are your three positive plans the GSD will introduce on the Rock? A tunnel under the airport runway, a diesel power station at Lathbury barracks with backup connections to Morocco’s main grid and a sewage plant (which would cost £30 million). These are the three ‘vital’ things he wants to achieve. And fast. There is also the necessary independent verification of economic growth and debt is also high on his agenda, as are tightening of departmental budgets and planning for a financially secure future, of course. But there is more to Feetham than the pedantic politician. This is a man who grew up in first-hand evidence of Gibraltar’s housing crisis and who later came within centimetres of death. This is a man who will support Manchester United through any crisis, right up until his death. “I was born and raised here in Varyl Begg estate. My father was a taxi driver and my mother was a cleaner,” he reminisces. “We lived five of us in two bedrooms, which means I can immediately empathise with anyone who has a housing problem. “To be honest, I have always been left-leaning due to my upbringing.” But that’s not to suggest he didn’t love his time on the Rock
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FEATURE
November 12th - 25th 2015
7
GOING GREEN: The GSD’s environmental policies 1.
Build the power station at Lathbury Barracks to keep it away from densely populated areas
2. Investigate backing up electricity with a cable connected to the Moroccan grid 3.
20% of energy will be from renewable sources by the end of their term in office
BIG FAN: Feetham meets a newly converted supporter as a kid. In fact, Feetham admits he had an ‘incredibly happy childhood’. He would wake up at five every morning, in the days when Varyl Begg was still surrounded by water, and go spear fishing for sea bass, octopus and anything else he could find. A natural swimmer, his first job as a 17-year-old was inevitably as a lifeguard. His first prolonged period of time away from Gibraltar was at the University of Reading, where he studied history and enjoyed some of the best years of his life in the late 1980s. Then came a masters degree in law at Manchester, squeezed into the spare time between Manchester United home games. And, not missing a chance to have a dig at his rival - a supposed Liverpool fan - he insists Picardo once described them
as ‘Liverpool United’. as he did. But Manchester also brought They have a house in Sotohim one of the scariest mo- grande too, although he has ments of his life. stopped going there since the “I was asked to fill in for my pro- border problems became bad, fessor at Manchester mercan- even though his parents still tile court for a small case which make use of it. I was told was just a formality. The big turning point in his life “But when however, came, I got there, without a doubt, who do I see in the run up to He currently bench standing on the last general presses 120kg, and the other election four 400kg with his legs, years ago. side but the legendary Walking through all to the sound of barrister town with two of The Script George Carhis children as men. I was well as his best petrified, but friend’s fourI think I managed to avoid mak- year-old, he was set upon by ing a complete fool of myself in a madman and stabbed in the front of him.” back and chest, coming within Over the next few years, an inch of his life. Feetham married his Notting- He recalls: “I fell down and saw ham fiancée and returned to a man jump on top of me, aimthe Rock so his children could ing a knife at my chest. enjoy their childhood as much “I grabbed the blade with
my hands and just had the strength to push it away as he slashed across my chest.” The knife went 3cm away from his aorta and certain death. He still lost 75% of his blood but he survived and was back at work some four weeks later. The attacker, it transpired, was a mentally ill man who has aggrieved at the justice system and out to attack a judge. When he saw the minister for justice – Feetham’s role at the time – he went for him instead. “If I did not have my strength from lifting weights, he would have killed me,” says Feetham. And he is now pumping more iron than ever, sweating out the day’s political headaches with 45-minute gym sessions. He currently bench presses 120kg, and 400kg with his legs. Most of the time this is done to the sound of the Script, the Irish band who headlined 2014’s Gi-
4. Make disposal of home oil easier 5. Enhance air quality monitoring 6. Introduce ‘electric car only’ parking spaces 7. Complete the sewage treatment works 8. Produce their own bio-diesel in order to run pubic transport 9. Introduce an in-town bicycle rental scheme 10. Investigate the introduction of cycle lanes to encourage cycling
braltar Music Festival. “I love the Script, but my problem is that I listen to songs I like so relentlessly until I get sick to death of them. “And while I enjoyed the festival, I do wonder if it breaks even. And if it doesn’t, that is something we would have to change.” He then adds that he also loves reggae, especially Bob Marley, meaning I now have to ask the classic ‘have you smoked a bit of sweet Mary Jane in your time’ question? “I haven’t actually, and I’m not joking,” he retorts. “I was put
off smoking for life after I tried a normal cigarette at a party as a kid right after eating a huge burger. Needless to say I threw up everywhere!” Finally, back to the real issue here - and no that isn’t ‘getting his satellite working’ before the next Man U game – it’s the election. “We have a very clear, responsible plan for safeguarding Gibraltar’s future and we want people to understand we should not be taking a gamble,” he says with a smile before standing up and shaking hands with half the cafe.
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CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR NEWS
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Road accident A 22-YEAR-OLD woman from Marbella died in a San Roque road accident. She was driving alone on the A7 and died before the paramedics arrived.
In line THE mayors of Algeciras and Antequera have both come out in support of the Algeciras-Bobadilla railway line, arguing that the infrastructure is a ‘priority’ and work must not be stopped.
Fisticuffs A SUPPOSEDLY ‘peaceful’ anti-bullfighting protest in Algeciras ended in a brawl with one man arrested after clobbering another with an umbrella.
All together LA Linea will join in the international day against gender violence on November 25 with a march and balloon release.
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Caught red-handed Policeman fined after reeling in rare bluefin tuna without a licence
A TUNA-CHOMPING policeman’s fishing catch has come back to bite him. Los Barrios bobby Manuel Gil Marquez was caught with a bluefin tuna while fishing without a licence at Europa Point. Marquez initially threw his precious catch overboard
ILLEGAL: Unlicensed tuna fishing, policeman or not
when he was approached by Royal Gibraltar Police. When a police officer came
Container castaways AN Algeciras-bound containe ship made a heroic rescue when a yacht found itself in dire straits nearby. The massive cargo ship diverted its route to approach the castaways after hearing distress signals on October 29. The crew rescued the two sailors on board and hauled them to safety. The Japanese vessel had been sailing from Cape Town to Algeciras and conducted the rescue 400km off the Canary Islands.
on board, he claimed he was fishing in Spanish waters and didn’t recognise British jurisdiction, begging not to be arrested. He was later fined €1,123 for fishing without a licence and two counts of obstructing authority. “The law must be enforced, whether you’re native to Gibraltar or not,” said regional government delegate Antonio Sanz.
Football crazy A FOOTBALL fan has been banned from watching the game after attacking an Algeciras footballer. The Murcia fan was slapped with a €20,000 fine and a two-year nation-wide stadium ban after he assaulted Algeciras midfielder Alejandro Melchor outside the Estadio Nuevo Mirador. Melchor needed three stitches and was left with a black eye after the fan punched him as he boarded the team coach. The fan also clashed with Algeciras members of staff during the game, hurling sexist abuse at the female physiotherapist.
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SHINER: For Melchor
MORE than 3,600kg of hash has been found by police in a warehouse in La Linea. The stash was found inside four stolen cars and had been brought over from Morocco in a boat. Investigators had been tipped off about an operation transporting hash from Morocco to La Linea, and this led them to the warehouse.
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A 59-YEAR-OLD man must be deflated after being arrested for puncturing tyres on more than 30 cars. Cadiz cops spied the man puncturing a car’s tyre at around 11:30 at night, before a check of the street revealed 16 other cars had also been hit in his spree. A further search of the surrounding area uncovered 18 more cars with flat tyres between Zona Franca and Alcalde Juan de Dios de Molina Street. The man has now been charged with criminal damage.
A MAJOR drug smuggling ring has been rumbled in a Guardia Civil bust codenamed ‘Whiteshark’. The leader of the group, an Algeciras resident, and 14 others were arrested on suspicion of smuggling hash from Morocco to the Campo de Gibraltar. Police have recovered 2,400kg of hash, 23 highspeed boats, four motor boats and two yachts worth more than €1.8 million. The gang are believed to have stashed the drugs at landing points along the Cadiz coast. LOOT: High-powered speedboats used for transporting hash to landing points
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November 12th - 25th 2015
POTTED POINTERS EMERGENCIES Police 199 Medical service 190 Fire 190 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.11American dollars 0.72 British pounds 1.46 Canadian dollars 7.46 Danish kroner 8.57 H Kong dollars 9.22 Norwegian kroner 1.59 Singapore dollars ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 55.01% Same week last year: 63.95% Same week in 2005: 49.97% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000
You can’t trust anyone DEAR OP, This internet crime in Gibraltar can be mitigated and actually stopped very easily, but it requires very strict working practices that must be drummed into people so they act correctly (Cyber Siege, issue 4). Firewalls don’t actually protect against phishing so it is a lot harder to prevent cyber criminals. As phishing does not require penetration (hacking) of systems, and can be done over the telephone and via the conventional mail, it really is more about awareness. Using information gleaned and aggregated from existing sources, the attacker (fraudster) is really just acquiring trust falsely. The act is not really even ‘stealing’, as the fraudster is not taking anything – trust no one is a good place to start, I find. Fred Smith, Marbella
Big notes IT never fails to amaze me how many€500 notes are in circulation in Spain. It is definitely the top European country for the pink note. In fact, I nearly ended up in a tricky situation when visiting France in 2007 as I decided I didn’t want to incur charges
LETTERS on my Sterling cr/card so took cash. It was late in the day and I had to visit three different French banks before I found one that would accept a €500 note to break down into reasonable denominations. I had to show my passport and supply documentation of where I lived in Spain before they would.
Rainy day reading WHATEVER the weather, there’s always time to catch up with the Olive Press. No one knows this better than Johanna Van Doorn, 52, who lives with her husband in La Paloma.
Stuart Crawford, Coin
Behind bars JUST one year behind bars for the man who starved his dog is not really enough (Man imprisoned for a year for letting dog die, OP online). But, at the very least, it is a small step in the right direction to illustrate to others that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Spain. Friends of mine wanted the man to go to prison for five years and others even suggested his food should be deprived to have a taste of his own medicine. Let’s hope he learns the error of his ways.
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ED: Thanks for sending us your photo, Johanna! many were. As most Brits and Americans were dressed up as witches and ghouls, Spaniards could be found tending to the graves of their ancestors. Fresh flowers, candles and the payment of respects made
an incredible atmosphere. Long may this respectful, touching ritual of remembering those who have come before us continue. Will Cooke, Ronda
Winnie Tobago, Ronda
Grave discovery SETTING foot in Estepona cemetery on the day after Halloween felt like wandering into the opening scene of Almodovar’s film Volver. Penelope Cruz, unfortunately, wasn’t grave cleaning but
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Festive countdown Vol. 1 Issue 5 www.gibraltarolivepress.com
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November 12th - 25th 2015
THE GREAT ESCAPES The twinkle of Christmas lights is transforming Gibraltar’s streets into a winter wonderland. The Olive Press takes a trip around the rock and the region on a mission to discover the top Christmas getaways
C
IN THE VILLAGE
HRISTMAS is a magical time of year and what better place to spend the holidays than Ocean Village, Gibraltar? Santa will be bringing Christmas cheer when he appears at Ocean Village on November 30 for the Switching On Lights ceremony and children can see him in his grotto until December 2. The Grotto will be in aid of Kids Come First, a local charity established to raise funds for children in need. It works closely with the Care Agency and takes referrals of children who need support - over the past years they have provided presents and hosted a Children’s Christmas Party to help make Christmas a special time for every child. There will also be an artisan market selling all sorts of festive goodies, a performance by Stylos Dance Academy, and the beautiful harmony of Christmas carols. The resort also offers a wide variety of delicious family dining experiences from around the world as well as the Sunborn hotel with two casinos and the recently opened La Sala bar and restaurant. In addition to the great choice of cosy cafes and bars, Gibraltar’s top nightclub, Dusk, will be topping off the festive party atmosphere with some unforgettable Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Charity at Los Barrios
ALWAYS GREAT FUN: Los Barrios christmas fair
NEVER FAIL TO DELIGHT: Malaga’s Christmas lights are among Europe’s finest
W
ITH the jingle of Santa’s sleigh just a few weeks away, now is the time to pull up your stockings and get ready for Christ-
mas. Rudolph and Dasher are getting ready for their yearly commute but old Saint Nick doesn’t have to be the only one getting away over the festive season. With many magical spots along the coast, inland and over in Gibraltar waiting to be ex-
plored, a much deserved winter break can be enjoyed by everyone… and Prancer and Dancer won’t be needed to get you there. Be it a day trip to Malaga to view some of Europe’s top Christmas lights or a weekend break in Jerez where gypsy carols are belted out at the town’s many zambombas, there is plenty to do and see this winter. And while Lapland may be the spiritual home of Christmas there is another white wonderland much closer to home.
With the mountains expected to be awash with snow and the slopes open for the season, the Sierra Nevada truly is magical at this time of year. But if heading downhill at break-neck speeds isn’t on your Christmas list then fear not as there are plenty of fairs and festivities to do while stood upright. From Ronda to Calahonda and Casares to Cancelada it is fair to say Christmas is all around us!
THE Los Barrios Christmas Fair at Hacienda Almoguera is always a festive hit, but organisers want this year’s event to be a charitable occasion. With 45 stands, a flamenco Christmas choir, ceramic painting and pony rides for children among many other attractions, there is lots to entertain visitors on November 28 and 29. But as Christmas is a time to remember the less fortunate, Catherine and her family hope guests make a small donation to local charities. “We would like to ask our guests to donate non perishable food items - rice, pasta or
canned foods for the local Food Bank, Banco de Alimentos de Campo de Gibraltar,” “Any profit made from the €3 car parking fee goes to Cruz Blanca to help refugees and local families in need,” says Catherine. Stalls selling pottery, jewellery, children’s clothes and festive favourites such as legs of jamon, minced pies, mulled wine and Christmas trees are sure to get your yuletide off to the perfect start. The ninth annual fair starts at 11am, with live music in the evening. For info call 0034 660 863 437
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November 12th - 25th 2015
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Festive countdown
www.gibraltarolivepress.com
PHOTOS: DAVID P ROJAS
IN SNOW: Ronda clings to a craggy outcrop in the high Serrania mountains
L
IKE a three-bird roast, Ronda has many layers to explore and goes down a treat come Christmas. Ideal for couples looking for a magical getaway or for families to explore the breathtaking scenery, a trip up into the mountains is an absolute cracker. From country walks in the Serrania to a gentle stroll around the romantic old town, there is plenty to be explored. And with a chill in the air and the possibility of snow - the town’s landmark 400 foot gorge is somehow more emphatic at this time of year. Just as impressive are the surrounding villages and excellent local walks. For somewhere good to stay, there is no beating the comfy warmth of a Molino del Puente room gazing out at the magical Ronda countryside.
Into the hills
Tucked up by the fire or bearing the elements in the wilderness, Ronda’s many layers offer up scenes worthy of a Christmas card
With a wood-burning stove in the top-notch restaurant, La Cascada, it is the perfect place to beat the winter chill. Just ten minutes from Ronda,
it is run by seasoned hoteliers and restaurateurs Ian and Elaine Love and is the perfect base for walking, bird-watching and horse riding.
13 November 12th 25th 2015
Jingle bell rock Nowhere does Christmas like Gibraltar, writes Tom Powell
I
F, like George Michael, the heart you gave someone last year was binned on Boxing Day, it might be a good idea to head to Gibraltar and buy some proper presents this time around. With classic shops such as Marks and Spencer’s, BHS and Toys R Us combined with quirky independent stores, Gibraltar is the perfect place to find presents for all the family. Plus, there’s enough festive spirit going round the Rock to make visitors want to stay more than just another day. Festive shows, Santa’s grotto and Christmas fairs are just a few of
Gibraltar Christmas guide The Christmas Handcrafts Fair 2015, November 22 Boyd’s & Youth Lounge, King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, 11.00am to 6.00pm The perfect place to pick up some unique, handmade presents while supporting Diabetes Gibraltar. Christmas Fair Attractions, November 28 onwards John Mackintosh Square Fun for all the family as the annual Christmas fairground descends on the Rock. The Convent Christmas Fair, November 26 The Convent, Main Street, 12:00 onwards
the treats on offer. And for some of the best food and wine (mistletoe optional)
Santa’s coming! WHISPER it quietly, but Father Christmas is coming to Gibraltar a few days early this year. Kings Bastion Leisure Centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland as the elves take over from December 7- 23. Plus, Santa will be inviting lucky kids to meet him in his grotto before heading back to his North Pole workshop for final preparations. Entrance is £5 and includes a gift. Santa’s Grotto is open every weekday from 4:30pm -6:30pm.
this side of Lapland, Gibraltar’s the one thanks to its huge range of bars and restaurants. There won’t be snow falling all around us, but the whole place will be having fun when the Christmas lights are switched on during a party in John Mackintosh square. Featuring songs and dance, the show will last from 5:30-8pm on November 20, so make sure you drive/cycle/ walk home in time for it.
This beloved fair returns with over 40 seasonal stalls in order to raise money for four excellent charities. Entrance is £2 and free for under-12s. Christmas Variety Show, December 5 Ince’s Hall Theatre, 310 Main Street Organised by Ideal Productions, this is set to be a wonderful performance for the whole family.
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Sherry good Jerez de la Frontera is perfect for a winter foodie break, writes Jon Clarke
Match made in heaven
F
OR the perfect introduction to Jerez and its sherries, the best way is via a maridaje or ‘marriage’ with food. At Jerez’s fantastic La Carbona - an atmospheric former bodega - this union has been taken to a new level, and the food is easily matched by service and atmosphere. Two starters – one hot, one cold – followed by catch of the day (currently sea bass), then a Cantabrian steak are finished off with a cheesecake with raspberry coulis. The wines graduate from pale yellow to deep cherry in colour and are selected especially to bring out the flavour of the dishes, or to ‘potenciar’ (strengthen) them. The definite picks were the Palo Cortado with a sweet mackerel terrine, while the Oloroso went perfectly with a T-bone steak and a bone dry Fino was splendid with sea bass… and all for under €40 per person. www.lacarbona.com
November 12th-25th 2015
Where to eat
L
IKE a sleeping giant Jerez has finally developed a food culture that incorporates the best of Cadiz’s celebrated ingredients. Think local bluefin tuna, retinto beef and seasonal vegetables and mushrooms, all washed down with dozens of the city’s top sherries by the glass. Yes, in Jerez you have it all. The epicentre is the so-called ‘golden mile’, centering on the Calle Consitorio/Plaza Plateros axis, where you find a great mix of tapas bars. Starting with Cruz Blanca, the menu changes daily, particularly now that a father and son culinary team are both jostling in the kitchen. There is a large range of tapas, with plenty of sherries by the glass. Top tip: try the beef tar-
SLEEK: Reino de Leon
TASTEFUL: Albores and Cruz Blanca’s father-son team tare washed down with trendy La Panesa fino. Next up is Albores, run by talented Madrileno Julian Olivares de las Heras, which has just doubled in size and is overflowing with punters at the main times of the day. Albores means ‘new beginnings’ and it is founded on the seven principles of food… salt, potato, tomato, olives, grapes, cereals and coffee. The beginning and end for me is the tuna tartare with caviar and wasabi sauce, not to mention chanterelle mushrooms with free range eggs, ham and mustard. Even more stylish perhaps is Reino de Leon, an inspirational gastrobar run by two brothers in Calle Latorre. This wonderfully-designed spot has a regularly-changing menu, where you’d struggle to find a better dish than the seasonal Boletus mushrooms in garlic and olive oil. Another fantastic spot, Las Cuadras, meaning ‘stables’, sits in an evocative building on Plaza de la Asuncion and has a regularly changing and tasty menu. Run by friendly Englishman David Fraser Lucky, it counts on many original features, such
as bullfighting posters from the 1800s and iron bars that were installed when it was used as a prison in the 17th century. Food is great and the menu changes regularly. Finally if you are looking for the best Italian food, then Da Enrico is a must. Charming in the extreme, Enrico and his wife Katerina, from Turin and Venice, are busy most nights of the week. Their pizzas are fantastic, but equally their fresh pastas, including the original Pasta Martini, invented by Enrico, with speck ham, lemon, parsley, cream and Martini, is excellent.
Where to stay
ELEGANT: Da Enrico
Fabulous Fonda A FABULOUS place to stay is Fonda Barranco in the heart of the old town. While peace personified you are just 400 paces from the Golden Mile of restaurants, not to mention the cathedral, alcazar and just about everything else. Run by friendly local Alejandro, the 19th century, former merchant’s home, is becoming one of Andalucia’s most stylish boutique hotels. Colours are easy on the eye, furniture is mostly antique, while the beds are the very best in the business. Meanwhile customer care, not to mention breakfast, is very difficult to beat.
la cultura
15 November 12th 25th 2015
what’s on
So Tallinn-ted
ovember 12-15,
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ovember 16-21
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ovember 18,
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ovember 19,
Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival The third festival’s outstanding line-up features Guillem Balague, Antony Worrall Thompson and Esther Rantzen in four days of public events. Info: www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
A VISION of Estonia has descended on Irish Town for November. Sacarellos is hosting an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Estonian artist Mart Rannast. Trained during the 1970s and 80s in Tallinn, the 60-year-old Rannast channels traditional Estonian uses of light and colour into his work. The father-of-three works as a headmaster of a school in Estonia but has still found time to put on 20 individual and 50 collective exhibitions around Europe over his career.
Buried in haste
Llevame a Donde Naci Rebecca Faller’s play is directed by Jackie Villa and takes place at Inces Hall Theatre. Info at The White Light Company Facebook page. Wonderful Things - Tutankhamen’s Tomb & Treasurers Art Lecture by Lucia Gahlin is organised by the Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society and takes place at O’Callaghan Elliot’s Hotel, Governor’s Parade. Info: www.nadfas.org/gibraltar
Mass grave found under old hospital linked to great sieges MORE than 200 skeletons found buried under Gibraltar’s old St Bernard’s Hospital could have been victims of an 18th century siege. A scientific team has discovered that the mass grave – unearthed in 2014 – is home to mostly young men who were buried in haste. The collaboration between the Ministry for Heritage, Gibraltar Museum and the University of Cambridge is continuing to analyse the remains in order to reveal more about the lives of those buried. It is also possible they died from one of the disease epidemics which followed the sieges, while some of the remains date back as far as the 16th century. In the 18th century the hospital site was used by the British military, which fits in with the theory it was a military burial ground.
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Gibraltar Philharmonic Society The talents of baritone Paul Armin Edelmann and pianist Charles Spencer unite at this song recital. Info: 350 200 72134 or www. philharmonic.gi
SIEGE SUFFERING: Remains discovered under hospital ANALYSING: Pomeroy Today the old Colonial hospital site is home to St Bernard’s first and middle schools. The human remains analysis team is led by Dr Emma Pomeroy and aided by a group of local volunteers.
Creme de la creme NEARLY 200 works of art are on show at the 42nd Gibraltar International Art Exhibition. Held at Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery, the free exhibition will run until Saturday November 14. A total of 110 artists from Gibraltar, England, Russia and Spain submitted 186 works. The first prize award went to Karl Ullger for ‘Ezrat Nashim Gibraltar Synagogue’, with Rachel Webb second and Sam Lucas third. Alan Perez won the best Gibraltar theme award and Ethan Durante took home the Young Artist Prize. The exhibition is open from 10:30am to 6:30pm on weekdays and 10:30am to 1:30pm on Saturdays.
My first kill SHOCKING footage of baby-faced matadors slaying bulls has emerged. A video showing children as young as 14 killing bulls in Madrid has gone viral. The graphic footage shows schoolboys covered with blood thrusting swords into bulls in front of cheering classmates. Taking on calves aged under two, the youngsters thrust swords into the bull’s body between shoulder blade and heart. An older matador is forced to kill a number of bulls that are left paralysed but still alive. Animal rights party PACMA released the video taken at Pedrezuela Bull Ring. PACMA President Silvia Barquero admitted she had been moved to tears by the footage. “Seeing these children preening and making gestures of pride towards the crowd as these young animals lie dying in the background, turned my stomach,” Barquero said. “It demonstrates the dark side of something its supporters try to glamourise.”
Curtain rising THE Big Screen is being brought to a special new audience. In a bid to increase equality on the Rock, Leisure Cinemas will be making films available to the hearing and visually impaired. Through Entertainment Captioning glasses and headphones, the cinematic experience can now be enjoyed by the hard of hearing and those short of sight. There will also be will be sensory-friendly screenings for individuals with autism.
Death blow for bullfighting EUROPE has dealt a serious coup de grace to bullfighting in Spain. The European parliament yesterday voted to put an end to funding the sector through public subsidies. The industry had been benefiting from the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) which funds fighting bull breeders indirectly. “This is a great victory, European citizens no longer want to subsidise anything involving killing animals,” said European Green Party’s Florent Marcellesi.
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la cultura 16
www.gibraltarolivepress.com
November 12th - 25th 2015
In the run-up to her debut evacuation play, Tom Powell meets the remarkable Rebecca Faller, Gibraltar’s most recognisable guiri and footballfanatic mum
How a ra trip ended southern
TOP POET: Faller has been shortlisted for an international prize
A
LL the best journeys begin without a destination. But destiny must have been Rebecca Faller’s guiding star when she set off on a spontaneous road trip from Britain just before Christmas 1990, with no idea where it would take her. That journey led to an amazing new life at Europe’s southern tip. And with a debut novel in the offing and the curtain about to rise on her first play, she can be said to have truly arrived. Along the way, she’s saved the Rock’s best beauty spot from a UEFA football stadium takeover, sorted out the women’s association and was recently shortlisted for a prestigious poetry prize. None of which the 46-year-old mum of four could ever have imagined, 25 years ago, when she drove away from Portsmouth in an old Renault 5 with two friends and no plans. But when you’re 21, fed up with education and desperate for an adventure, who needs a map! The three girls smoked like chimneys,
Curtain raiser Llevame donde naci, a play by Rebecca Faller, adapted for stage and directed by Jackie Villa and produced by The White Light Company, will be performed at Inces Hall Theatre. Running from November 16-21, tickets cost £10 and £15 and are now on sale. The show starts at 7:30pm. All proceeds go to charity. Contact the White Light Company Facebook page for more information. survived on bread rolls and black coffee (why waste money on milk?) and saved money by kipping in the car. At first they headed into France, but the winter chill in Paris and Lyon drove them
on. Next stop: where else but Spain’s sunny Costa del Sol? “We lived in Ronda first, which was beautiful but still very cold,” remembers Rebecca over coffee (with milk) at Sacarellos in Irish Town. “And when we arrived in Gibraltar our money was rapidly running out so we had to get jobs in bars and restaurants.” What happened next is like something out of a Shakespearian romance. Rebecca met Claus from Germany on her second day in Gibraltar, fell in love and married him four weeks later at the Rock’s famous registry office, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono tied the knot.
Intrepid
“None of my family came to the wedding but they did know about it,” she says of the whirlwind romance. “Needless to say they thought I rushed into it… and I did!” The newlyweds lived on a boat at first and had three children together before parting ways eight years later. As of her two friends… well both initially headed back to England although one returned shortly afterwards and remains in Gibraltar today with her husband and children. The intrepid trio still
WORLD’S END: Faller lives by Europa Point lighthouse
meet up every two years for a reunion. It would make a great book - and it’s going to. Last year Rebecca finished writing her debut novel, Renault 5, and is now weighing up her publishing options (watch this space). So that’s how an English girl wound up on the Rock at the southernmost tip of Europe, living in a Trinity lighthouse cottage a t
Girl power THE Gibraltar Women’s Association was in a bad way when Rebecca Faller was asked to come in and work her magic. Membership was flagging and its importance appeared to be ebbing away. But now, on the eve of its 50th anniversary next year, the association is stronger than ever. “All they needed was some social media-savvy people to come in and help boost awareness,” explains Rebecca. “I did a bit of a recruitment drive and we now have more than 300 members, including the original founder, and 10 on the committee.” The Facebook group also has over 1,000 members. As well as a forum for members to air issues and receive help and advice, it acts as a platform for campaigning for zebra crossings in necessary areas and similar projects.
Europa Point. But the story doesn’t end there. Recently shortlisted for a Bridport poetry prize, she is to have her first play performed as part of the 50th anniversary of Gibraltar’s WWII evacuations this month. Originally titled The Civil Garrison, it has been adapted, translated into llanito and renamed Llevame donde naci, after a song written by a Gibraltarian in the 1930s which became an anthem for the evacuees. “The evacuation is a fascinating subject with so many different human stories and it really made the Gibraltarians who they are today,” says Rebecca. “There were all these children who had never left the comforts of Gibraltar and were suddenly taken to London in ships through submarine-infested waters. “A lot of them had the time of their lives because they had so much freedom.” The play is a perfect example of how Gibraltar has become a part of Rebecca, and vice versa. She freely admits to
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November 12th - 25th 2015
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November 12th 25th 2015
aucous road d in Europe’s nmost home ...and saved it from development
Unit 3A Cornwall’s Centre Come and join us Call to make an appointment Tel: 200 52000 www.naturhouse.com
Protecting our back yard IT has been one of the biggest talking points kicked around on the Rock for the last two years. After plans for an 8,000 seater national soccer stadium at Europa Point were released, Rebecca Faller set about organising a protest group.
Ridiculous
PLER TIMES: The girls and their Renault 5
in love’ with the place wonderful history. uch a sociable place, nstantly meeting peod visiting friends,” she And I love how you can verywhere.” ca is also in a book oves watching shows he Royal Opera House eamed at the leisure a, and is also a football . ort a new team called s Magpies, who are in
Diet & Nutrition
the second division and doing really well! “But in terms of English football, Portsmouth are my home team and Arsenal are my premiership team.” Her kids might not agree but to an outsider she’d definitely win the ‘cool mum’ award. Gibraltar is without doubt lucky that Rebecca rocked up in a worn-out Renault 5 with empty pockets all those years ago. Perhaps it was destiny all round.
“It was a ridiculous location for so many reasons; traffic being one and primarily the fact it is the last open space in Gibraltar,” says Rebecca. “It is essentially Gibraltar’s back yard.” “We told the DPC they would never get our blessing and that there were many alternatives.” The determined group were willing to tie themselves to railings if they had to; but it turned out there was no need. After hitting the streets and raising awareness, they scored a goal with 8,000 signatures and, eventually, won the match .
Property
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November 12th - 25th 2015 the Olive Press June 25th - July 9th 2015
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Close to our hearts
INNOVATIVE: Green construction
On a high
THE high-rise of tomorrow has been unveiled. In an attempt to rejuvenate the reputation of highrise tower blocks, an Italian architect has created a greener ‘forested’ version of the concrete jungles that shot up across Europe in the 1960s. The first one will be erected in Switzerland in 2016, with building firms in Spain and the UK said to be in negotiations with architect Stefano Boeri. With 195 residential units over 29 floors, the tower block also contains oak, maple and cedar trees integrated into the building. Described by Boeri as a ‘vertical forest’, the architect claims the building will ‘revolutionise’ the property industry. “The building is a living symbol of a new relationship between the urban sphere and the natural sphere,” Boeri said. Gibraltar, too, is contributing to the greener architectural landscape with Ocean Spa Plaza. Inspired by Singapore’s Tree House, the world’s largest vertical garden, it will support a living wall of oxygenemitting, carbon dioxide-absorbing foliage to provide a natural habitat.
Structure finished on housing block in honour of deceased minister
A NEW apartment block named after the late minister Charles Bruzon is now structurally complete. The ‘topping out’ ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo as the construction progressed to the next stage. Charles Bruzon House, located on Europort Avenue, will provide rental flats for the elderly in honour of Bruzon’s role as minister for housing and the elderly. CHARLES Bruzon returned to Gibraltar with his wife and two “It is an absolute pleachildren in 1987, having previously worked in London. sure to see Charles While working in a furniture shop, he discovered firstBruzon House with hand the problems life on the Rock posed. its envelope sealed His political activism began in 1996 when he joined and topped out,” said the Voice of Gibraltar Group and went to the European Picardo, who is gearParliament in Strasbourg to demand a resolution over ing up for this month’s increasing problems from Spain. general election. He joined the GSLP in 2001 and was elected two years “This is a project that later as shadow minister for housing. He was re-elected has been very close to in 2007 as minister for housing and again in 2011. our hearts.” Bruzon died aged 74 in April 2013. “The fact it is called Charles Bruzon House ber warn them to fix dilapidated tells you how imporbuildings in the old town or sell tant it is to us and them. what it represents for Abandoned houses could be forcHOMEOWNERS in a Costa del us as a party.” Sol town centre are being ordered ibly sold if they breach health and Bruzon died two years safety requirements, with the to clean up or clear out. ago while serving in Council letters sent to Casares council planning to meet some the GSLP governtown centre residents in Novem- homeowners. ment.
Honouring a great
Clean up
All you need is
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Only the best SCRIMPING and saving on accommodation is not the Spanish way. When it comes to holidays, almost half of Spaniards opt to stay in a hotel of four or more stars and spend €100 per night on average. A survey of 6,000 Europeans revealed that 43% of Spaniards prefer lavish hotels. They are almost twice as likely to choose exclusivity as the French, just 22% of whom prioritise fourand five-star establishments. After discerning Germans, 48% of whom also opt for top quality accommodation, Spaniards are in the lead, followed by 41% of Brits and 31% of Italians. Europeans spend on average 9.6 nights in a hotel per year and spend €101 per one-night stay.
Sheik up MALAGA port could be set for a €100 million injection of Qatari money, the largest property investment in its history. Qatar Investment Authority’s plans for a luxury 135-metre high five-star hotel in Levante dock moved a step closer with the payment of a €2 million guarantee. Proposals for the 35-storey building were put forward in May, but the tender process allowing other parties to bid would begin once the Official State Bulletin publishes the Qataris’ interest.
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Top Dollar
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The most extreme
NEWS IN BRIEF
Royal affair GIBRALTARIAN businessman John Bassadone has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in a royal ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Parking boost ANOTHER 300 parking spaces are now available at Midtown car park, bringing the total to 700.
November 12th 25th 2015
PILOTS have to be extra-experienced to negotiate Gibraltar’s breathtaking runway. And now the US’ History Channel has announced that the Rock has the world’s fifth ‘most extreme’ airport, in with other hot spots Madeira, Honduras and Nepal. This is due to Gibraltar Airport’s short length of only 1680m, unpredictable and fast-changing weather patterns and the obvious hazards of the Rock and the ocean.
Share and share alike
It’s agreed GIBRALTAR is to take its place in the international Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS).
Holiday help THE Gibraltar Tourist Board attended the 36th annual World Travel Market in London to promote the Rock as a tourist destination.
ONE of the world’s leading financial advisers is offering Gibraltar’s entrepreneurs an insight into buying and selling private businesses. BCMS Corporate will become the Rock’s first company that is solely focussed SIX new buses are set to on selling shareholdings in make travelling to and training companies. from Upper Town a whole And as part of its launch, the lot easier. company is putting on a semCurrent services to the Upinar for professional advisers per Town and Mount Alas well as holding one-to-one vernia are quickly becommeetings with business owning unreliable and expeners aboard the Sunborn from sive to run. December 15-17. The new Ford Transit buses The service is for shareconform to the latest Euro 6 holders of businesses with emission guidelines. turnover between £1m and Public Transport Minister £100m who want to sell to Paul Balban said: “It was retire. important to ensure that
Like a BUS
these buses provide the best possible solution for our unique environment.”
For more information visit www.bcms.gi
Sweetheart deal Gib developer denies ‘cosy’ link to Northern Irish First Minister in huge property scandal A GIBRALTAR-BASED tycoon is under suspicion in a £1.2 billion property sell-off scandal in Northern Ireland. Irishman Paddy Kearney has been forced to deny he benefitted financially from a ‘cosy’ relationship with First Minister Peter Robinson (pictured above).
This week he appeared before Stormont’s finance committee to answer questions over the sale of Nama’s Northern Ireland loans to US investment firm Cerberus. Nama is the Irish state-owned ‘bad bank’ set up in 2009 to handle bad property loans. Kearney, whose PBN Holdings company was owned by Nama, is suspected of receiving a ‘sweetheart deal’ from Cerberus thanks to the influence of his ‘friend’ Robinson. WHETHER it’s manicuring lawns, tending to blosIt is further alleged that a soming gardens or clearing trees, Eden Botanics £7 million kickback further can take care of all of your green-fingered needs. down the line was intended The Gibraltar company set up by Christian Buttigieg for Robinson via an Isle of seven years ago has grown from one man and a Man bank account. lorry to a team of eight and a fleet of 10 vehicles. However, Kearney told the As well as working with the Rock’s biggest concommittee: “To describe the struction companies, Christian’s crack squad look relationship (with Robinafter people’s private gardens, offering both hard son) as friendship is at best and soft landscaping. a gross exaggeration of the And sempergreen, a new seed for carpeting roofs truth.” and walls in green, is proving popular with Eden BoKearney also said allegatanics’ customers. tions he was ‘manipulating And as the company’s popularity continues to grow, in a criminal, corrupt manChristian’s team are on hand to make Gibraltar a ner the sale and purchase of more beautiful place. the Northern Ireland Nama loan book’ were ‘totally unFor more information contact 00350 5842 6000 or founded and unsubstantiprojects@edenbotanics.com ated’.
Garden of Eden
Le Breton’s Briefing
The Commonwealth is hugely important to Gibraltar, especially ahead of the busy period to come, writes Ian Le Breton of Sovereign Trust
All eyes on Malta
M
ALTA is to host the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the end of the month. This two-day biennial meeting involves government leaders from the 53 Commonwealth countries, which together boast a combined population of some 2.1 billion people, almost a third of the world population. That’s also about 31,500,000km-squared, or 21% of the total world land area. Founded in 1949, most, but not all, member states were at one time British colonies or territories. Two recent members – Mozambique and Rwanda – were not and their decision to join in 1995 and 2009 respectively confirms the Commonwealth’s reputation and standing as a non-aligned collection of like-minded countries, working within a framework of shared values and goals. An important guiding principle of the Commonwealth of Nations, as it is now known, is that all members have an equal say regardless of their size or economic stature. This, it says, ‘ensures that even the smallest countries have a voice in shaping the Commonwealth’. Compare that maxim with some of the unseemly clashes seen in the EU or other supranational bodies and one begins to understand why heads of government are keen to embrace the Commonwealth – and why new countries are even today trying to sign up for membership. All very interesting perhaps but readers may wonder whether this has any relevance to us locally. In my opinion the Commonwealth matters greatly to Gibraltar. We are very much part of the organisation even though we are not an independent member state. In our case, as with other matters affecting foreign affairs –
Email: gib@SovereignGroup.com Tel: +350 200 76173 www.SovereignGroup.com
and in common with the Channel Islands and Isle of Man – Gibraltar’s interests within the Commonwealth are represented by the UK. The most populous Commonwealth country is India – indeed with almost 1.3 billion people, her population represents more than half that of the entire organisation. Add to the mix the other former imperial ‘dominions’ – Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa – and one can readily see the business potential offered by the organisation. This is despite – or maybe because of – competition from the rash of regional blocs that have sprung up around the world and which seem to dominate the headlines on an ever-increasing basis. I wonder, and be honest now, how many of these acronyms can you put names to? EU, BRICS, APEC, OPEC, NATO, OAS, NAFTA, AU, SCO, CIS, SAARC, ASEAN and USAN. While not a member of the Commonwealth, China’s influence will doubtless loom large at the meeting. At CHOGM 2013, held in Sri Lanka, some of the summit venues were funded by Chinese aid – and commercial deals valued at US$1.5bn were announced. This is important. While democracy, governance, human rights, gender equality and globalisation may top the agenda, trade and investment are also crucial ingredients. CHOGM has, since 1997, always been preceded by the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) and I’ll be attending CBF 2015 along with senior colleagues from Sovereign. It promises to be an unparalleled opportunity to network with up to 1,000 delegates from all over the Commonwealth and beyond. It will also provide a chance to meet government representatives from several countries prior to CHOGM itself. This can only be positive for firms, such as mine, whose clients seek advice and assistance with their market entry requirements on a global basis. CBF 2015 will also, without doubt, give me a further opportunity to promote Gibraltar to a global audience.
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Top Dollar 21
November 12th 25th 2015 ADVERTORIAL
Top Dollar 22
22 November 12th 25th 2015
AGONY ANT
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YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
T is a little known fact among most property owners,but management of ‘communities of owners’ in Spain has become a source of real corruption. According to consumer organisations, 30% of community’ managers – whether professional administrators or ‘presidents’ - are demanding commissions of between 5%-10% from contractors and supplier companies serving these communities. Where the communities have expensive-to-run or higher maintenance facilities such as gardens, pools or security
Foul play Bribery in communities of owners
requirements, providers have larger margins to play with. Corrupt professional administrators that engage in these practices will demand - or expect - a kickback for awarding contracts, but in a rather discreet elegant manner. After all, they are professionals that get paid for their services and need to hide any
Artful dodgers SPAIN is among Europe’s worst offenders for helping firms launder money and avoid paying tax. According to European Network report, 50 Shades of Tax Dodging, Spain is the fourth worst offender behind Luxembourg, Germany and Italy. The report accuses Spain of conducting the most aggressive tax treaty negotiations with developing countries outside the EU. It claims Spanish firms avoid paying tax due to state collusion with multi-nationals outside the European trade agreement. Meanwhile Luxembourg and Germany are accused of knowingly introducing new policies which allow companies to hide the real owners - therefore helping them avoid tax. At the other end of the scale, Denmark and Slovenia are leading the way for financial transparency by launching fully public registers with information on owners.
Columnists
illegal activities unexpected of them. Corrupt presidents on the contrary don’t get paid to do their jobs. They become unusually keen on governing the community, will typically behave with crass insensitivity towards ‘dissident’ owners and show despotic manners at AGMs. Often, they will cultivate a web of friends that are nothing but naïve neighbours who, through ignorance, will lend them support by giving out proxies for up and coming community meetings, thus perpetuating the fraud. These communities are often teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The Spanish Criminal Code can deal with these individuals, if they are uncovered. This is what article 286 states under ‘Corruption between private individuals’: Whoever, personally or through an intermediary, promises, offers or grants executives, directors, employees or collaborators of a
trading company or any other firm, partnership, foundation or organisation, an unfair benefit or advantage of any nature, in order for them to favour him or a third party against others, breaching their obligations in acquisition or sale of goods or in hiring of professional services, shall be punished with a sentence of imprisonment of six months to four years. There would also be a barring from practice of industry or commerce for a term from one to six years and a fine of up to three times the value of the profit or advantage obtained. But where they are not uncovered, there is only one solution: naive neighbours have to wise up and get involved, whether they live in these complexes permanently or occasionally. They must replace these corrupt presidents or administrators and establish transparent practices for every provider bidding process sealed bidding being the fairest and most secure.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es
22 November 12th 25th 2015
Never mind molluscs
I
T’S been an eventful summer up at the Casita. We’ve had everything from long summer picnics to corporate team building events full of hungover Irish executives - who were more interested in the hog roast and the possibility of a cold beer than the activities, if truth be told - to Saudi royal family picnics (no small affair) and a brilliant stag weekend for my friend Tom Schneider. (The wedding was even better, but I wrote about that before). But as well as all the great stuff that goes on at the lake, including being able to swim in the water in October, flinging myself off the diving rocks (when, at my age, I should know better) and expeditions on the boat packed with grinning adults and kids, there have also been some problems. There was a big fire 500 metres to the north of the Casita in May that had to be dealt with by helicopter. I was lucky that the wind was blowing away from the house or it might have burnt down - it was pretty damn close. I still caught idiots trying to light BBQs at the lake in August, but a few choice Anglo Saxon phrases convinced them of
The Zebra Mussel is the least of your worries this autumn, reveals Giles Brown
SIGN RULES: But not a thing about litter or respect
the error of their ways. People still leave litter around this outstanding natural area of beauty, also a huge fire risk not to mention the harm it does to the local wildlife. This has resulted in me stomping around the lake collecting rubbish like a particularly bad-tempered
Womble on more than one occasion. Worse still, there have been random acts of theft and vandalism. My hand-painted Casita del Lago sign was stolen over the summer, kayaks have vanished from secure moorings and, at the end of one busy Sunday, I even
found that someone had urinated in one of my boats! So when I spotted three Junta de Andalucia 4x4s heading down the track and erecting a sign last week, I expected it to read something along the lines of ‘Please look after this unique place, take your rubbish with you, don’t nick anything and for Christ’s sake have a pee before you drive over’. This being southern Spain, of course, it was none of the above. The sign, which must have cost a few euros to produce, warned us all of the danger of the Mejillon Cebra, or Zebra Mussel. Apparently the little blighters, which hail from the Far East, have been laying waste to the local species all over Andalucia, and anyone using the water has to make sure that their boat, rods or boogie board has been properly cleaned before taking them to the lake. What’s worse they aren’t even edible, which scuppered my bright idea of opening up the Casita as a Champagne and Oyster bar. But with all of the other goings on at the lake this summer, I did let out an exasperated cry of ‘Never mind the Molluscs!’
Top Salud
www.gibraltarolivepress.com 24 24October 28th - November 11th 2015 35
New vaccine boost in Gib
A NEW vaccine against Meningitis B is being introduced in Gibraltar. The ‘Men B vaccine’ is now part of the routine childhood vaccination programme. Babies will be offered the vaccine first at the age of two months, followed by a second dose at four months and a booster at 12 months. The Gibraltar Health Authority has successfully introduced several vaccines in the last
Eating alone could damage kids’ health
two decades which have reduced the occurrence of serious diseases including Meningitis. Meningococcus B – the bacteria which leads to meningitis and septicaemia – is the leading infectious killer of babies and young children. Contact the Child Welfare and Immunisation clinic in the Primary Care Centre for more information.
Food for thought
CHILDREN sitting down alone to their toast and orange juice aren’t just being deprived of mum and dad’s company. A new study reveals 40% of youngsters eat breakfast alone X which can damage kids’ health and cause hypoglycaemia. The Fundación Española de Dietistas-Nutricionistas (FEDN) study says children are less likely to adopt healthy eating habits if they eat breakfast alone. “From the evidence available, breakfast could be the key for children’s nutritional growth and educations, so parents should pay attention to this,” said Giuseppe Russolillo from FEDN. The report also reveals that 8% of children over the age of six don’t eat breakfast every day, and that 13% of parents admit their child is overweight.
October 28th - November 11th www.gibraltarolivepress.com 2015 24 24
www.theolivepress.es
HEALTHY COMPANY: Eating alone damages health
Healthy childs play A NEW Spanish website is teaching children how to improve their health. City Salud aims to educate youngsters about balanced nutrition, personal hygiene and exercise. The Pfizer Foundation website is designed so teachers can use the pages to teach in classrooms.
November 12th -25th 2015
Sexual healing Empowerment therapist Louise Van der Velde helps people overcome their personal challenges and spice up their love lives
Dear oc Love D
Tantric trouble
Another lonely day
Dear Louise,
Dear Louise...
MY girlfriend wants us to do tantra, she has read a book and keeps saying it will help our relationship, I’m unsure about what to expect. Our sex life is already really good, so I don’t see why she wants to change things.
I’ve just gone through a breakup and I’m finding it really hard to readjust to being on my own. I feel sad and lonely and even though I know my ex-boyfriend is not for me, I had no choice but to leave as I was unhappy..
Louise says:
Louise says:
Tantra is an ancient practice that, if embraced for even just an hour a week, will take your love life to a whole new level. I’d suggest you be open-minded and give it ago. There are hundreds of exercises, some involving blind-folding and feeding the senses, which builds trust. You leave any problems you have outside this ‘sacred space’ and get back to soul connection away from the stresses of life and relationship issues. I suggest my clients take about an hour a week in the daytime to try it. You don’t have to have sex at the end of it - that’s not the point - but often this happens and you’ll find it is a deeper, more intense sensation that you can enjoy together. I run classes in this, so feel free to come along.
It’s really important that we can feel happy on our own before we enter a relationship. I’m guessing this isn’t something you’ve been used to. Be gentle with yourself, be sure you take time on your own for a while and don’t rush into anything else. Find new interests, join a club and be around friends. You will look back on this time as an empowering period in your life, as what hurts most we grow from. You must now put all the energy you were investing in the relationship into making yourself feel good. Join a gym or start yoga, treat yourself to a massage. Keep busy and block your ex totally for a while.
Email Louise at louisenlp@gmail.com or visit www.loveliferetreat.com
Screen war lesson DITCH the chalk and take down the whiteboards – even the interactive ones are outdated - because iPads are taking over as a learning facility in schools. With children as young as two completely screen-literate, health professionals are con-
cerned. Leading psychologist Carla Domecq has stated that kids under seven years old should not watch television or look at screens, as the nervous system is not yet developed and it could affect a child’s visual and auditive ability.
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November 12th - 25th 2015
www.gibraltarolivepress.com
FOOD & DRINK
ED G IT IB IO N
the Gibraltar - June www.gibraltarolivepress.com the OliveOlive PressPress JuneJune 11th -11th June 24th 24th 20152015 27 27 www.theolivepress.es www.gibraltarolivepress.com 27 www.gibraltarolivepress.com
November 12th-25th 2015
November 12th - 25th 201511th 2015 October 28th - November
The only newspaper in Gibraltar with a dedicated food and drink section in every issue
Special ingredients KEEP an eye on your cheese and wine this weekend, celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson is coming to Gibraltar. The Rock’s foodies are getting ready, steady for the arrival of the TV chef, who was famously caught pilfering from
peared in ‘I’m a celebrity… get me out of here!’ in 2003, is set to prepare a festival
Fruity affair EVERYTHING from apples and pears to rhubarb and radishes was on display at the seventh edition of the Fruit and Vegetable trade show this year. Taking place in Madrid, producers and exporters - largely from Huelva - met up with customers from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The event has become the largest fruit and veg fair on the Spanish calendar and this year’s event specifically promoted the Huelva berry industry.
FAMOUS EXPAT: Worrall Thompson
Sun chefs THE seemingly endless Spanish sun has many benefits, and now budding chefs are learning to cook with it. Sun cookers are used in Murcia and Almeria, two of Spain’s hottest regions. Exhibitions in October showcased the outdoor ovens in Seville, Cordoba and Granada, with Andalucians learning how the giant bowl concentrates the sun’s ray on a saucepan. Spanish environmental expert Manolo Vilchez has already introduced the cookers in Haiti.
Celeb chef set to spice up the Gibraltar literary festival a Tesco store in Henley three years ago. Worrall Thompson, who ap-
SNAP, CRACKLE, POP: Bug dishes are on the up
Bug banquet
FLIES, crickets and beetles could soon be crawling their way onto Spanish dishes. Gibraltar’s neighbours will adopt the European Parliament’s new regulation and legalise the cultivation of insects for human consumption, ministry of health sources suggest. Chowing down on crunchy critters is nutritious, healthy and good for the environment, the UN has reported. The law is set to come into effect next year, but tapas bars may wait a while before putting Beetles Bravas on the menu.
Sherry world record bid A JEREZ bar owner is determined to smash a world sherry-drinking record. David Fraser-Luckie hit upon the idea when around 700,000 drinkers tweeted the hashtag #sherryTT while raising a glass of Andalucia’s finest during November’s Sherry Week. But David, who owns Las Cuadras bar, wants a worldwide tasting event sponsored by a lo-
cal producer -- and using only Spanish-made sherry. “I think we can do it better,” said David. “In the last one they chose wine that is not sold in Spain! “Why not beat the world record for people tasting sherry worldwide at the same time? Think big!”
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27 27
lunch on November 14 at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. Later that day, at 5pm, he will be interviewed at the hotel by food writer Donald Sloan. Having found fame on shows such as ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ and ‘Saturday Kitchen’, Worrall Thompson now spends much of his time at his villa down the coast in Mijas. Meanwhile, the ‘Medicinal Chef’, a.k.a. Dale Pinnock, was also due to be appearing at the festival in an interview with Sloan, as well as preparing the menu for the closing dinner on Sunday November 15. However, the expert nutritionist cancelled his appearance as the Olive Press went to print, citing an ‘inability to travel to Gibraltar due to unforeseen circumstances’. For more information on the festival, visit www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
Ripe times
CANCELLED: Pinnock
TOMATINA goers will be jumping for joy with the news that tomato prices are set to dramatically drop. The fruit iconic with one of Spain’s most bizarre festivals is enjoying a harvest to remember with record figures expected to be released in Almeria. And the increase of produce is good for tomato eaters and throwers with a kilo of the red fruit set to drop to as low as 40 cents.
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FOOD & DRINK
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We are the champiñones
Tempting tapas FUENGIROLA’S erotic tapas festival is leaving lunchers licking their lips. One hundred bars are participating in the 7th edition of the Ruta de la Tapa Erótica until November 15. A saucy tapa and a cana are available for €2. Last year’s festival served up more than 300,000 tempting tapas.
Fast food THE largest goods train in the world will soon be transporting Spanish foods to China. The ‘silk train’ currently transports electronic and retail goods between the two countries, largely benefitting the Chinese market since it launched a year ago. But the Spanish food sector is now set to get a piece of the action by exporting everything from olives to chorizo along the 13,000km track from the New Year.
Mushrooms are in season, in vogue and a third of the UK price, writes Iona Napier CURSE not the autumn rains! Although we wave goodbye to unbroken sunshine and welcome the wellies, we can also celebrate the arrival of the mushroom season. And Spain is a huge producer taking an impassioned interest in the cultivation of this little fungi, of which there are over 50 varieties in Andalucia alone. While mushroom-tasting menus sweep the country during te autumn, fungi in all its forms - from oyster to button to chantarelle – are a common
Queen of the woods A domestic delicacy, the exquisite mushrooms ‘amanita caesarea’ variety were named as such because the Roman emperors favoured them. Also known as ‘the king’s egg’ or ‘the death cap’, it is one of gastronomy’s favouites. In search of a prime mushroom concoction? Try ‘revueltos’, an easy, quick fix combining free range eggs, mushrooms and ham.
dinnertime staple. Peasants and pageantry alike can enjoy the delicacy, selling for around €2.30 per kilo in Spain compared to the British supermarket (Tesco) equivalent of €6.80. Vegans and veggies love the protein-rich food as they can be used as a meat or bean alternative and at 30 calories per 100g, it is also popular with weight-conscious slimmers. One thing is for sure, chefs here know their mushrooms and are imaginative with their recipes… from mushroom and manchego croquettes to truffle-stuffed turkey on Christmas Day. Almost all (95%) of Spain’s mushrooms are produced in La Rioja and Castilla La Mancha while the country is the world’s leading producer of the Pleurotus mushroom. Whether you’re scouring the Pyrenees for mushrooms or stuffing a canvas bag full of them at the grocer’s, one’s
Right here, righ
t now
Mushrooms aren’t the only delicious thing in season in neighb ouring Spain
SHROOMS: Boletus and (inset) a revuelto thing for sure – mushrooms are at their tastiest now. High in iron, low in calories and a rich source of vitamin B12, C and D, they are so original that they have their own kingdom. Not quite a vegetable and definitely not an animal, the mighty mushroom is truly unique!
Gordon couldn’t save it
Gaucin restaurant graced by Ramsay closes after two years of business
EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier
A PICTURESQUE Gaucin eatery that appeared in Gordon Ramsay’s Costa del Sol Kitchen Nightmares has closed its doors for the last time. Already failing after only eight weeks in business, La Granada Divino was massively overhauled when the kitchen giant descended for a gruelling week in October 2014 to transform the restaurant into a potential winner. Following his visit, owners Milan and Gina Varmuza were taking €7,090 a week, and the restaurant built up a reputation as one of Gaucin’s top food spots. Olive Press publisher and food critic Jon Clarke was even drafted into sample the culinary delights and give them his stamp of approval. But the effects of astronomical summer rents ‘and lots of other reasons’ forced Mi-
DIDN’T PAN OUT WELL: Gaucin restaurant and (inset) boss Gina talks to Ramsay
lan and Gina to throw in the towel last month and retire. “It’s got nothing to do with Gordon and the show,” Milan told the Olive Press. “We got a huge amount of publicity due to the show – and our Facebook page continues to do so – but we were too busy to continue this.” He continued: “We are selling absolutely everything from the complete profes-
sional kitchen to light fittings.” It is hoped that the restaurant, tucked away in the town’s backstreets, will reopen under different ownership in the future.
Pomegranates – Granada, it is be Sharing their name with popu lieved Spain introd lar fruit to the America uced this round, city, s. seedy Oranges – An iconic year!), the mighty ora Spanish fruit (they grow over three tons per Chirimoyas – Sp nge can fight even the harshest autum weird and wonder ain is the world’s leading produc n cold. apple, mango, an ful custard apple – think a marriag er of the e of pineKiwis – Rich in vitd strawberry milkshake. from Galicia to th amin-C, this fruit is grown in north ern Spain Chestnuts – Opene Basque country. in paper cones are fires in the street serving up smoky chestnuts Artichokes – Spainthe ultimate softener to winter in Sp ter Italy – whether produces the world’s most ar tic ain. they are irresistibl grilled with garlic or stuffed withhokes afe. cheese,
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JOSE Mourinho is facing legal action from Chelsea’s former Gibraltarian doctor Eva Carneiro. She is taking the Blues boss to an employment tribunal on the basis his victimisation and discrimination led to her job loss. As well as the personal claim, Carneiro’s lawyers are also suing the club for constructive dismissal. Carneiro left Stamford Bridge after Mourinho publicly criticised her as ‘naive’. She was called onto the pitch during the season’s opening game after Eden Hazard went down injured, but he wanted the team to carry on playing.
Reece lightning A GIBRALTAR international has made the great step to the third tier of English football. Reece Styche has signed for League One side Macclesfield Town from Kidderminster Harriers after scoring four times in 17 matches this season. The 26-year-old’s career has taken him to Chasetown, Forest Green Rovers and Tamworth, as well as a spell at Wycombe.
Imps impress once again ROY Chipolina and Kyle Casciaro bagged the goals in league leaders’ Lincoln Red Imps 2-0 win over St Joseph’s. Skipper Chipolina led the way with a 15th minute strike from a corner before Casciaro converted Daniel Cifuentes’s cross. St Joseph’s went down to ten men when Ivan Lobato received a second yellow card five minutes before the end. Risto Kago’s superb free-kick helped FC Britannia to a 2-0 win over Manchester 62 and took them into third place. Renan Bernardes secured the three points after a jinking run took him past two defenders and he fired home. Lynx climbed into fifth place after a 3-0 win over Gibraltar United. Unai Gutierez opened the scoring and Alberto Gonzalez’s second-half free-kick and Agustin Doxagarat’s late strike sealed the win. Sergio Gines’s hat-trick powered Lions Gibraltar to a 5-0 win over bottom-club Glacis. Goals from skipper Ismael Fernandez Cuesta and Sykes Garro piled on the misery for Glacis.
Photo: Neil Egerton
Eva hits back
Gael force
On cue...
Snooker stars heading to Gibraltar for Rock’s first world tournament
GIBRALTAR is looking ahead to a big break when a World Snooker tournament comes to the Rock for the first time. The Gibraltar Open, organised by legendary sports impresario Barry Hearn, will feature a host of top snooker talent from December 11-13. And with Eurosport covering the tournament, world attention will be focused on the Tercentenary Sports Hall for what is the fifth tournament in the 2015/16 Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour Hearn, who is also World
GIBRALTAR Gaels have gone top of the Andalucian Gaelic football league with back-to-back victories against Costa Gaels and Eire Og Seville. Earlier in the day, hosts Costa Gaels got their first victory of the season with a comprehensive seven point win against the Sevillian outfit at Marbella Rugby Club. It was Eire Og Seville’s first defeat of the season, which was quickly followed by their second after a dominant showing from the Gibraltar side. The Gibraltar Gaels were also too strong for the men from the Costa del Sol. Despite a late debut goal from Olive Press reporter Rob Horgan, the red and whites ran out comfortable victors. The day also featured Andalucia’s first ever women’s game, with Sevilla claiming victory over the Costa Gaels by a single goal. To get involved email info@costagaels.com
Scores: Costa Gaels 5-2 (17) vs Eire Og Seville 2-4 (10) Gibraltar Gaels 3-7 (16) vs Costa Gaels 2-0 (6) Gibraltar Gaels 3-6 (15) vs Eire Og Seville 1-3 (6) Women: Eire Og Seville 3-3 (12) vs Costa Gaels 2-3 (9) TAKING AIM: Stephen Murphy will play in Gib Snooker chairman, said: “We stars.” are delighted to stage a pro- A qualifying round for amafessional tournament in Gi- teurs will take place from Debraltar for the first time. cember 9-10. “We’re excited about the new The event is one of six qualiGibraltar Open and it’s the fiers with the top 24 players perfect chance for fans in the qualifying for the Players area to see the world’s leading Championship in March.
Fallen star MOTOGP legend Valentino Rossi’s bad week could get even worse. After narrowly missing out on the MotoGP title to Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, the Italian motorbike rider could now be stripped of his star at Jerez’s Walk of Fame. Over 3,000 people have signed a petition to remove the star after Rossi intentionally kicked Spain’s Marc Marquez from his bike in the Malaysian Grand Prix. As punishment Rossi was made to start at the back of the grid in the final race of the season in Valencia. Needing just a second place finish to claim his seventh MotoGP title, Rossi overtook 11 riders on the first lap. It was however too much of an ask, with Lorenzo claiming victory and Rossi finishing fourth, giving the Spaniard his third title. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was involved in a scrap with an Italian film crew at his Catlunya home, allegedly smashing TV equipment and injuring three crew members.
Football’s coming home? THE GSD has revealed ambitious new plans for the expansion of Victoria Stadium. If UEFA approve the proposals - and the GSD win the election Gibraltar would play internationals at the renovated Rock site. However, the current GSLP plans to build a national stadium at Lathbury Barracks will go ahead if they win another term in government. Under the GSD’s Sports and Leisure Plans, Victoria Stadium and the adjacent Bayside Sports Centre would be ‘expanded and enhanced’. Four new UEFA/FIFA approved training pitches would be installed to help grassroots football. The plans would also see Europa Sports Fields fully incorporated into a sport and leisure facility with a cricket and rugby pavilion. The Bayside Sports Village would gain cycle paths and treelined walkways.
If you have a sports story, team or event, don’t hesitate to contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575
FINAL WORDS
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MISS Gibraltar’s first princess, Bianca Pisharello, is back home after taking part in the Miss International beauty contest in Tokyo, which was won by Miss Venezuela.
Art attack A NEW art gallery the Gibraltar Exhibitions of Modern Art (GEMA) - was opened on Line Wall Road by Culture Minister, the Hon Steven Linares, on November 10.
Santa stamps IT wouldn’t be Christmas without the release of special festive stamps. And Gibraltar is already off the mark with the issuing of a set of five stamps featuring traditional icons. The stamps are now on sale for local and international mail from the Post Office on Main Street. The Post & Go Kiosks Christmas stamps will be available on Monday 16 November.
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Vol. 1 Issue 5
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PREHISTORIC PRANKS CLAY necklaces? Check. Animal bones? Check. The kids in Year 3 at St Mary’s First School looked like they had come straight from Gorham’s cave when they dressed up as cavemen and women for Neanderthal Day. Gibraltar’s very own Flinstones crew made their own clay jewellery and feasted on stewed fruit with honey. Luckily, thanks to some responsible teachers, they refrained from hunting down the Rock’s Barbary Macaques and stuck to the veggie option!
De Roeck solid Gibraltar’s teenage muscleman smashes world records
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
MOST 15-year-olds are accustomed to lifting up PlayStation controllers or smart phones… but not Leon de Roeck. The teenage muscleman has been smashing records at the WPC Weightlifting World Championships in Portugal. Breaking the bench press world record for his age by 15kg, Gibraltarian de Roeck benched an incredible 155kg at the event in Maia. Later on, de Roeck lifted 235kg ni the deadlift event, again setting a new world reord. Weighing in at 103.6kg, de Roeck told the Olive Press that ‘failure was never an option’. “I am over the moon that I am not just breaking records but smashing them,” he added. Meanwhile mentor Cyrus Licudi told the Olive Press that he expects de Roeck to set more world records in the coming days as he competes in more events. “No one can believe the strength and ability for a boy of only 15,” he told the Olive Press. “Leon continues to break new records. He sure is making Gibraltar proud.” Brought up in good company, de Roeck trains in Palmones alongside Spain’s strongest man, Juan Carlos Heredia. In addition he also regularly trains with six-time Mr Olympia Dorian Yates at his Marbella gym.
Great ball of fear MYSTERY surrounds a strange black ball that hurtled from space into a Spanish field. The orb was discovered by goat farmers in Murcia with the Guardia Civil believing it fell from a space station or satellite. Investigators have said it is not radioactive.
Twinkle toes A TALENTED Gibraltarian ballet dancer has pirouetted his way to Poland. Jordan Bautista, 20, was welcomed into the British Embassy as a special guest by British Ambassador to Poland, Robin Barnett. The dancer is a graduate of the English National Ballet School and member of the highly-revered Polish National Ballet in Warsaw. “What Jordan has achieved for himself and Gibraltar is remarkable,” said Barnett. The dancer is not related to Gibraltarian chef Justin Bautista.