Gibraltar Olive Press - Issue 100

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Welcome to the Rock

Don’t miss our round-up of classic issues covering everything from Brexit to John Lennon See page 5

Fabian PicarFIRST Minister warm welcome do has given aPress’ launch in to the Olive Gibraltar. two saluted the The father-ofreporting paper’s original his government and insisted full support to would give its in the enclave. aid our growth to cooperate “I am delightedyou receive all ensure to and need to inform the help you the Olive those who choose news.

Press for theirthe media stable “Welcome to in Gibraltar.”

Blown away

was talking The Rock’s leader lawyer wife Jusalongside his his key speech tine ahead of one of the at National Day, t ever’. ‘most significan Press: “It is He told the Olive auspicious this particularly day commemoyear with the anniversary of rating the 75th n of the Rock,

By Tom great evacuatio in the week Navy for British in when he inas well as coming again the UK’s cheer, DEFIANT calls be stationed the biggest - once the Queen becomes Navy should battleships to been made during a got monarch.” ntsisted the Royal longest serving his week was Gibraltar have Day rally. battleships permane .

A highlight of of Leon at the s de- again - have raucous National British politicianfocus- ly stationed in Gibraltar are a part of watching Kings Festival.

A group of 11 of Gibraltar g speeches and I would Gibraltar Music as I would Spain “The people livered rip-roarin tensions withto self- the Great British family “Not at the front he joked. here to appresing on recent ’s right with like to see a battleship have got crushed,”away when ship to illegally and backing Gibraltar e National Day any Spanish “But I was blown rians celebrat in the determination.s crowd – a sea of red hend British waters,” he said. hands Gibralta ’s Ian Paisley I saw everyone Fire, the best PARTY MODE: The Casemate echoed the patriotic enter macaque tic Unionist MP ental nal air for Sex on last decade.” inflatable barbary and white – Chief Minister Fabian Democra are our internatio due to its environm added: “These our country, these are be cent years rock song of the place. sentiments as for his first rethe final address, this is will never ever up at the impact – took As for a date we must support Picardo delivered a salute to the waters, “National Day fact, it will only get Then, as the crowds gazed sky, Tina rumoured to our people and ed. In election contest,r 20, he said: white speckled centering around n’ of 75 years together, red rock!” diminish red and white them.” be on Novembe who knows the Best blasted ‘evacuation generatio surrender this bigger. We stand Turner’s Simply system, signalling he bellowed. cri- “We will never address.

“The only person ago. the sound current refugee to he roared in a rousingof ‘best wishes’ and free!” the speeches, the tradi– through of an almighty party. is my wife.” vowed Linking it to the letter Following balloons he a the start of waving Europe, releasing sy in re- the sis engulfing as possible under the After the Queen, the Chief Minister National tional has caused controver from help as much which is caring’. vowed to increaseto come.

MP for finally plea that ‘sharing ns in years Conservative Day celebratio But it was Rosindell, who Romford, Andrew

Navy gunships for British Royal Gibraltar during Politicians call stationed in to be permanently al Day speeches defiant Nation Powell

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RIP: Boss Peter Koekebakker

For the chop

AN animal shelter has appealed for help as hundreds of its dogs and cats face death due to a land dispute.

The Animal In Need Foundation faces eviction after its manager died, having only made ‘verbal agreements’ with the land owner.

In a shock move, a ‘for sale’ sign was stuck to the doors of the La Lineabased shelter just a day after 58-yearold general manager Peter Koekebakker’s funeral.

A number of developers are said to be interested in the site, which has sea views and is just a stone’s throw from Puerto Atunara.

The non-profit organisation said it now needs to raise €165,000 to buy the plot in Camino Torrenueva.

Pigs, birds, donkeys, horses and even Continues on page 4

Vol. 4 Issue 100 www.theolivepress.es July 3rd to July 16th 2019

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UROPE’S most southerly town looks out across the Strait of Gibraltar where two mighty continents collide. But the clash of cultures is entirely geographic.

Indeed, Tarifa radiates such a calming vibe it would threaten to relax the mighty shoulders of the titan self but there’s no danger Atlas himof the sky falling down...Hercules’ cal pillars (Gibraltar andtwo mythologiMusa in Morocco) have Mount Jebel long since relieved him of that burden.

Shaded by pine forest, cushioned by soft dunes, and 14 kilometres from Africa, this Costa de la rribean-copy beaches Luz gem’s Caand laid-back vibe set it apart from the tured resorts along the more strucMalaga coast to the east.

And that’s unlikely to change thanks to Tarifa’s protected location in El Estrecho Natural Park.

The coastal town in Cadiz an endearing mix of beach province is bum bohemianism and boutique added attraction of greatchic, with the restorative Atlantic winds.seafood and It makes it the perfect escape (along Continues overleaf

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‘Anxious wait’ for Picardo who vows to continue fight against Brexit to protect Rock whether Boris or Hunt takes over

GIBRALTAR will fight a no deal Brexit under Boris Johnson OR Jeremy Hunt.

That was the promise made by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo this week as the battle for leadership of the Conservative party heats up.

It comes as the Rock is facing the worst case scenario after former Foreign Secretary

EXCLUSIVE

By John Culatto

Johnson pledged to leave the EU ‘with or without a deal’ on October 31.

“We’re all waiting anxiously to see who becomes leader of the Conservative party and the direction the UK should pursue,” Picardo told the Olive Press.

“I know Boris well...I worked with him in the past when he was in the Home Office.

“I also worked with Jeremy Hunt in the Foreign Office.

“But either way, we will ensure that whoever becomes Prime Minister of the UK understands that Gibraltar is a priority.

“Gibraltar has a lot in play with Brexit and Gibraltar is going to ensure that we don’t lose out as a result of Brexit.”

The leader of the Rock has repeatedly called for the revoking of Article 50 over the past few months and wants to see Brexit shelved.

Picardo added: “I have never

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hidden my position and I will continue to make the position of the people of Gibraltar abundantly clear.

“I know they will all want to work with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to deliver for Gibraltar as much as for the United Kingdom.”

It comes as Boris Johnson’s team has been accused of breaching data protection laws amid calls by a minister and a former Conservative MP for the information watchdog to investigate the Number 10 candidate.

Harriet Baldwin, a Foreign Office minister, and former Bath MP Ben Howlett have also asked party chairman Brandon Lewis to launch a probe.

It is suspected that the Johnson camp used phone number and email lists from previous campaigns, which - if true - would breach the general data protection regulation (GDPR).

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NEWS IN BRIEF Private pensions THE Pensions Act got its second reading in parliament, to, as CM Fabian Picardo said, ‘ensure all workers in Gibraltar are protected in later years’.

Fair game THE Gibraltar Fair will take place at the former HMS Rooke site by Mid-Town with all rides set to cost £2 and charitable groups to have their own fundraising stalls.

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Taxi rapist’s costa plans ONE of the UK’s most dangerous men has been learning Spanish as part of his plan to relocate to Spain on his release.

Infamous 62-year-old taxi rapist John Warboys - who now goes by the name John Derek Radford - is hop-

Black cab sex offender Warboys plots new life in Spain from prison cell ing to start a new life here, when released.

But the sex offender, who was set to be released this

year, may spend a lot more time behind bars at Wakefield prison after a massive public uproar.

PICTURED - Expat chef who allegedly killed tourist

‘Killer’ chef

Wage due TEACHER’S union NASUWT are continuing negotiations with the Chief Minister on the pay claim made earlier this year.

Terrific news OVER 20 commanders from the Gibraltar emergency services and the military have qualified to to lead work on multi-agency incidents including counter-terrorism.

CRIME

SUSPECT: Cook Gardinar

A BRITISH chef has appeared in court over the killing of an Irish holiday maker in a Costa del Sol pub.

Mijas Costa cook Leigh Anthony Gardiner, 49, was arrested after he was suspected of stabbing John Pender, 53, to death with two broken bottles.

Pender, from Dublin, died after the vicious attack in the toilets of Pogs Old Irish Rock Pub, in Fuengirola.

The charity worker stumbled to the door of the pup, before collapsing in a pool of his own blood following wounds to his neck.

Leigh, who allegedly works at Club la Costa, ‘made advances’ on Pender’s wife, Caroline McGuigan, and founder of charity Suicide or Survive.

Pender, a charity worker, had been on holiday with his wife and their two children Conor, 21, and Amy, 18, who were not at the pub.

The attack came after Gardiner apparently ‘pestered’ several women in the pub.

Luckily Gardiner was restrained by security guards until police arrived to arrest him.

Dumb and dumber

MONSTER: John Warboys

“He had all the books and DVDs and was becoming pretty fluent,” a source at the prison a UK newspaper.

“He wanted to eventually live in Spain where, worryingly, he’d be totally anonymous and God only knows what he’d get up to out there mixing with tourists.

Attacks

“He had also changed his name so he could slip under the radar.”

Worboys was jailed in 2009 for a spate of sex assaults on 12 women in London.

He could have obtained permission to travel abroad from probation officers after a Parole Board deemed him to be no longer a danger.

But the decision is expected to be reversed when he goes in front of a judge to be sentenced in September after he admitted attacks on four more women.

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A MOTHER and daughter have been arrested after reporting their hitman to police.

The pair, from Madrid, claimed the contract killer - the daughter’s boyfriend - swindled them out of €60,000.

The 29-year-old convinced the pair he was a spy for the Spanish government and he would kill the partner of the mother.

The fake spy - who said he spoke 22 languages, including Bengali and Hawaiian - made the victims sign a contract and requested a deposit of €7,000, but the hit never took place.

The mother and daughter decided to report the scam to police seemingly unaware they were confessing to conspiracy to murder.

Drone moan GIBRALTAR has announced a new crackdown on drones after the disruption at Gatwick Airport, which affected 140,000 travellers.

A Command Paper issued by the Government sets out several new laws, including a restriction on ‘toy drones’ - those over 250 grams.

All drones flown in ‘Gibraltar airspace’ will now need permission from the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) to be able to fly.

A clearer definition of ‘drone operators’ and ‘remote pilots’ is also included in the new measures.

The Government said this re-wording will ‘futureproof’ the situation for companies that own multiple drones and have different pilots.

Drone operators have until January 1 2020 to pay and register with the DCA, as well as prove their piloting competency.

Crackdown

Toy drone-flyers will be exempt from this, but will have to obtain a registration code from the DCA. The crackdown comes after drones disrupted over 1,000 flights in December, costing Gatwick €1.6 million.

The UK’s second busiest airport was shut down for more than 36 hours, as drones were piloted near the transport hub in the run-up to Christmas.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia said: “I welcome these new procedures for controlling the use of these devices.

“The disruption suffered

by Gatwick Airport shortly before Christmas, brought into sharp focus the problems that unauthorised drones flying close to airfields can cause.”

www.theolivepress.es

PIMP MY RIDE: 50 cent

POWER DRIVE

AMERICAN rap legend 50 Cent has used a supercar rally to arrive in style at the premiere of his new TV series.

The musician-turned actor, 43, was one of several celebs to speed off from Marbella in the Yiannimize Grand Tour (see pg 43).

But during the A-list road trip, the Get Rich or Die Tryin star took time out to unveil Season 6 of drama series Power in Barcelona.

The Catalan city was one of as number of locations along the route, which also took in Valencia, Montpellier, Geneva and Paris before arriving in London.

Sucker punch A FORMER boxing champion has been rescued off Spain after a fire broke out on a luxury yacht he was renting.

Ex world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitshko, who retired from boxing in 2017, was on a boat trip off Mallorca with family and friends when a fire started onboard.

The yacht was reported to have been adrift 10 miles southwest of Port Adriano with nine people on board.

“No worries: we are all fine!,” he reported the next day.

BOXER: Klitshko

NEWS

SECOND ROUNDS

England ace Gazza tells Olive Press he has stayed off the booze despite breaking his thumb on a quad bike during Spanish hols EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Parfitt in Benidorm

BRINGING one of the UK’s most legendary boozers to Benidorm was always going to be risky.

But former England star Paul ‘Gazza’ Gasgoigne told the Olive Press he had ‘no intention’ of taking a drink while enjoying a two-week break in Spain.

“I haven’t come here to drink,” he revealed to the paper before a speaking event in the Costa Blanca resort.

“I can drink in my own house if I want to, I don’t have to come to Benidorm to do that.”

The ex-Tottenham legend who has notoriously been in and out of rehab for years revealed that he had instead been horse riding and jet skiing.

The 52-year-old, who also played for Lazio and Rangers, said he was ‘feeling great’ af-

ANTICS: Fishing in costa pool and (left) on jet ski ter his first proper holiday for years.

“I hadn’t been on holiday in a while and I came here to enjoy myself without booze.

“I’ve been working out every day for the past six weeks, keeping busy and enjoying life,” he added.

The former England ace who famously cried after England failed to reach the 1990 World Cup Final - has had trouble with drugs and alcohol since his retirement in 2005.

Despite being widely recognised as the most naturally talented player of his generation, he has been addicted to everything from cocaine to Calpol.

He admitted he was a ‘connoisseur of rehab’ and also

Read it, it’s the truth!

As accolades go they don’t get much better.

Expats along the costas have been given an order: Read the Olive Press, by Paul Gascoigne.

Holding up the paper, he insisted: “Read it, it’s the truth!”

suffers from being OCD and bipolar.

He revealed that his public speaking gigs, which saw him in Orihuela and Benidorm last month, have given him his ‘football buzz’ back.

This was despite being accused of singing a ‘foul mouthed’ anti-catholic chant in a Benidorm pub, the night before.

However, he laughed this off as a joke (“I wear a cross around my neck, I’m not anti the Pope”) and insisted the only scrape he had was when he crashed a quad bike in the nearby hills.

“I went a bit crazy going through some trees, hit a boulder and backflipped over the quad.

“I was cut to bits and broke my thumb - it’s well out.

He later told the audience at La Marina hotel, in Benidorm, that he was back to ‘feeling great’.

Gascoigne’s manager Shane Whitfield told the Olive Press that Gascoigne does ‘50 events’ a year now for his company Kong Events.

Whitfield explained three years ago when he relapsed in a hotel room before a gig in the UK. “Because of who he was, the people close to him have broken his trust,” Whitfield said.

“I’ve given him back the basic things in life he never had: just calling him up for a coffee, or taking him jet skiing.”

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Trans posed A MISS W o r l d trans-fer battle is set to begin as four sizzling Andalucian contestants compete to take over the Miss Spain title from current transgender holder Angela Ponce.

The beautiful bunch is made up of Noemi Delgado, Julianna Ro, Rosa Ortega and María del Mar Aguilera, representing Malaga, Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba respectively.

The hopefuls travel to Melilla on August 18, to see if one can win the right to attend the 69th Miss World contest in London on December 14.

The last winner Sevilla-born Ponce became fam o u s a f t e r becoming the first ever transgender winner of Miss Spain last year.

Perfect sands A SPANISH beach has made the world’s top 10.

La Concha Beach in San Sebastian was ranked as the fourth best globally, by Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2019.

The Basque beach was rated an average of 4.5/5 by 8,736 Tripadvisor users.

The number one spot went to Baia do Sancho, in Brazil’s archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

Cuba’s Varadero Beach was ranked second best in the world, while Eagle Beach in Aruba, came third.

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Time’s up From front

a pair of bulls are also among the 750-800 animals to face the chop if the cash is not found.

The public can help the Animal In Need Foundation by donating just €15 a time, which pays for 1m² of land.

In a statement, the centre called the situation a ‘worst-case scenario’ and said ‘time is of the essence’, but did not confirm how soon the site could be bought.

“With this burden on our shoulders and the fear of losing everything that Peter worked for his entire life, we nevertheless are trying to uphold the spirit and continue,” it added.

Feared

It comes as a volunteer at the centre told the Olive Press he feared the classification of the land could also be changed if it cannot be bought soon.

Gonzalo Martin, 47, who is a land administrator and real estate agent, said this would give the ‘green light’ for development and potentially raise the price per square metre tenfold.

“The land is currently classed as ‘rustic’ but could be built upon if it is changed to ‘urban’,” he told the Olive Press.

This newspaper contacted La Linea Ayuntamiento, but nobody was available to comment on the situation.

Donations can be made at this link: http://paypal.me/redhetasiel For more information visit animalinneed.com or call +661 71 50 60

AN artificial falcon nest has been built and placed on top of a tall building at King’s Wharf, in a joint move by the Gibraltar Government and environmentalists.

Peregrine falcons are not uncommon in the skies over the rock with seven pairs known to nest in Gibraltar regularly.

Environment minister John Cortes believes the falcons will like their new home.

“However you feel about tall buildings, it is important that we use the opportunity they can provide to enhance ur-

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Keep religion out of it!

SOAR SPOT ban wildlife.

“To a bird of prey, or a swift, what they see is a new cliff springing up, and for them they provide nesting opportunities, as long as we ensure that we cater for them in the new space created,” said Cortes.

The idea for an artificial nest came after a regular survey of urban wildlife a peregrine falcon was spotted frequently using cranes on King’s Wharf as a hunting perch.

PERCHED: Skyscraper nest The nest has been constructed and is ready for new occupants said Cortes, “Let’s see when and whether they move in.”

Smokescreen Green group hits back after Junta and Gibraltar government insist chemical blaze was non-toxic ECOLOGISTS claim authorities were ‘lying’ when they claimed that smoke from a

‘NON-TOXIC’: Smoke

huge chemical plant fire was harmless.

Both the Junta and Gibraltar government insisted that the serious blaze at the Indorama plant in Palmones, in San Roque, last week, was ‘not toxic’.

“The scale of the plume, thick with particulates, was vast and instructions were given not to inhale and remain inside,” said a spokesman for Gibraltar’s Environmental Safety Group (ESG).

“This is the definition of toxic and we believe it is clear this pollution was toxic to people and to the natural environment.”

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Forced

SHOCKER: San Roque plant erupt into flames Spanish green group Verde- apart from one person who mar backed up the claim re- suffered from smoke inhalaporting that the warehouse tion. was storing PTA (Purified The ESG alleged this was the terephthalic acid). second fire at this plant in as This would explain the thick many months indicating that black smoke which devel- health and safety standards oped ‘after fierce combus- are not up to scratch. tion’, on June 25.

“Given the old environment In total, 1,000 tonnes of department has been dispetroleum derivative, PTA, banded in Andalucia, one were burned, leading to San has to wonder where acRoque residents being told to countability for such serious wear face masks. accidents will fall,” added the No injuries were reported spokesman for ESG.

Playing fair on the earth THE Gibraltar Island Games could be the greenest ever in an effort to fight climate change.

Single use plastics will be targeted and sustainable materials used by the organisers.

“We’re trying to make a step in the right direction to set a benchmark for the next Island Games,” event director Kim Chang told the Olive Press.

“All the athletes and officials will be getting an aluminium bottle,” he revealed. “We are moving from nylon to cotton goodie bags while water will be supplied in tetra-brik bottles with 95% sugar-cane lids.”

Kim Chang has been working on the event for a year and a half after working on the Olympics in 2000 and 2012 and two rugby world cups.

A total of 1,700 athletes, 300 team officials and coaches, 500 volunteers and 500 VIPs, dignitaries and media will attend the event.

One of the hardest challenges for Chang has been working in venues which are still being built.

“We’re working off plans but that is not as good as being at the location itself,” he said. “Another six months would’ve been perfect because the venues would’ve been ready.

“But considering Gibraltar only got the event after the former host nation pulled out, I think it is a fantastic achievement that so much will be ready.”

The £1.5m government budget for the event means that entry to all events will be free to the general public apart from the opening ceremony.

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A LEADING pro-choice campaigner in Gibraltar has blasted religious leaders for ‘trying to control women.’

Rachael Jackson of No More Shame, which held a demonstration on the Rock last week, told the Olive Press holy people should not be telling people what to do with their bodies.

“We are governed by religion even though we live in a secular society,” Jackson said. “If someone gets pregnant and their religion says that they can’t have an abortion then that is up to them to make that call.

VISION: Picardo unveils ‘green’ games

“But what they can’t do is tell me or everyone else what we can or can’t do.”

No More Shame saw 130 demonstrators march on No.6 Convent Place with suitcases to symbolise the dozens of women who are forced to travel abroad for an abortion each year.

“I was really happy with the turnout,” Jackson said.

“Originally I wanted 30 to 50 women to represent those who travel to Algeciras every year for an abortion.

“Instead we had about 130 people which was really overwhelming especially at such short notice.”

The protest was a response to a recent Pro-life demonstration which was mainly made up of religious groups.

The Catholic and the Orthodox Jewish communities put out a joint statement calling for abortion to be banned, which would keep Gibraltar as the most regressive place in Europe on the issue.

“No one here is pro-death,” added Jackson. “We are here to support the life of women who are forced to carry children throughout their lives they don’t have the means to raise. It’s almost a form of torture.”

Outdated

Jackson called Gibraltar laws ‘outdated’ for still carrying a life sentence for abortion.

Even the draft legislation suggests women need to have the risk of mental health if they proceed with a pregnancy.

“The proposed law shouldn’t be trivialised,” she said. “Women who are making the choice for abortion are of a sound mind so it shouldn’t be a requirement that they have mental illness to be applicable.”

In terms of the 12 week limit she said it was ‘fine’ for a typically healthy pregnancy.

“But I don’t think if there are abnormalities women should be sent abroad after that time,” she added.

“Up to 24 weeks healthcare should be provided to serve the patient here in Gibraltar.”

100 NOT OUT

100 not out www.theolivepress.es

The Gibraltar Olive Press celebrates its centenary edition, and what a journey it’s been...

WELL we made it.

To our 100th issue, at least.

When we first launched the Olive Press in Gibraltar in September 2015 it was very much an adventure. A punt, if you like.

While we had been distributing our Andalucia edition on the Rock for years, we knew that the local Llanitos would prefer their own edition.

What we didn’t know was if the locals would take to our independent, often forthright and critical content.

A paper that has always spoken its mind in Andalucia and frequently taken on the authorities over the last 13 years, we knew it would be different in Gibraltar.

We weren’t sure it would be possible to survive the tightrope of treading a fine line between supporting the Rock and its unique culture, while also being free enough to criticise the powers that be and their mistakes.

It has certainly been an exciting four years, and we have never been short of things to write about as our handful of front pages demonstrates here.

Important

Now, as Brexit looms and the enclave is in a year of turbulence and anxiety, as Chief Minister Fabian Picardo told us this week, our role is perhaps more important than ever before.

We are today the only free fortnightly newspaper on the Rock and we hope to grow and strengthen over the following years.

We hope you the readers in Gibraltar continue to enjoy our mix of local Gibraltar news, alongside regional and national Spanish news.

We hope you appreciate our travel, culture and food articles about your near neighbour Spain and we hope you enjoy our regular investigations into criminals and fraudsters.

We remain at your service but remember YOU are our eyes and ears. So please get in touch with anything that needs investigating or publicising.

Here is a selection of some of our best front pages over the last two years. If you missed any, they are all online.

All that remains is for me to thank our hard-working local staff, journalist John Culatto, and sales rep Tina, who regularly visits the Rock.

And of course our loyal and faithful advertisers, such as Charles Gomez, Maurice Stagnetto and the Hunter brothers, who have trusted us with their hard-earned money right from the beginning.

WELCOME TO THE FIRST

Yours Jon Clarke, Publisher

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PicarFIRST Minister Fabian do has given a warm welcome in to the Olive Press’ launch Gibraltar. the The father-of-two saluted paper’s original reporting and insisted his government to would give its full support enclave. the in growth our aid “I am delighted to cooperate all and to ensure you receive inform to the help you need Olive those who choose the Press for their news. stable “Welcome to the media in Gibraltar.”

Blown away

Royal Navy gunships Politicians call for British in Gibraltar during to be permanently stationed defiant National Day speeches British Navy DEFIANT calls for again in battleships to be stationed during a Gibraltar have been made rally. raucous National Day politicians deA group of 11 British focuslivered rip-roaring speeches with Spain sing on recent tensionsright to selfand backing Gibraltar’s determination. sea of red a – crowd The Casemates the patriotic and white – echoed Fabian sentiments as Chief Minister final address, Picardo delivered the salute to the centering around a of 75 years ‘evacuation generation’ ago. refugee criLinking it to the currenthe vowed to sis engulfing Europe, under the help as much as possible plea that ‘sharing is caring’. MP for But it was Conservative who Romford, Andrew Rosindell,

By Tom Powell

when he ingot the biggest cheer, should - once sisted the Royal Navy permanentagain - have battleships ly stationed in Gibraltar.are a part of “The people of Gibraltar and I would the Great British family here to apprelike to see a battleship to illegally hend any Spanish ship he said. enter British waters,” Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist MP international added: “These are our these are waters, this is our country, must support our people and we them.” this rock!”

“We will never surrender address. he roared in a rousing ‘best wishes’ of After waving a letter Minister from the Queen, the Chief National finally vowed to increaseto come.

Day celebrations in years

National Day with

s celebrate PARTY MODE: Gibraltarian macaque inflatable barbary due to its environmental ever be cent years – took place.

“National Day will never will only get impactas the crowds gazed up at the diminished. In fact, it red white Then, sky, Tina bigger. We stand together, red and white speckled Simply the Best blasted and free!” he bellowed. the tradi- Turner’s signalling Following the speeches, balloons – through the sound system, almighty party. tional releasing of the in re- the start of an which has caused controversy

talking The Rock’s leader was Jusalongside his lawyer wife speech tine ahead of his key of the at National Day, one ‘most significant ever’. “It is He told the Olive Press: this particularly auspicious year with the day commemoof rating the 75th anniversary Rock, great evacuation of the week as well as coming in the UK’s the becomes Queen the longest serving monarch.”was A highlight of his weekat the watching Kings of Leon Gibraltar Music Festival. would “Not at the front as I joked. have got crushed,” he when “But I was blown away in the I saw everyone’s hands best air for Sex on Fire, the rock song of the last decade.” first reAs for a date for his to election contest, rumoured said: be on November 20, heknows “The only person who is my wife.”

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Our front page of Issue 1 carried the important news of politicians calling for British Royal Navy gunships to be permanently stationed at the Rock.

Tom Powell covered the story, reporting on defiant National Day speeches, including one from Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who summed up the need for an extra line of defence against Spanish vessels.

Back n August 2016 the G bra tar O ve Press sp ashed on the Government s dec s on to a ow gay marr age on the Rock and the anger t caused among re g ous eaders Ch e Rabb at the t me Ron Hass d descr bed the move as an aberrat on wh e the Church o Engand Dean John Paddock c ted the Ho y

Day of DeStIny W

A G bra tar based company he p ng to buy the UK s way out of the EU was our ead ng story exact y 12 months ago nfamous Brex t v a n Aaron Banks who met w th US Pres dent Dona d Trump had a com pany reg stered on the Rock and was ca ed upon to revea how he funded the Leave cam pa gn

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3rd .com June 20th - July

2018

A RED LETTER DAY

for POLICE are appealing acwitnesses to a fatal traffic female cident between two cyclists at the weekend. to In particular they wanthave talk to a driver who may been overtaken just seconds killed before the accident that SeFatima Venegas, 50, from villa. when The crash happenedcontrol one of the riders lost other of her vehicle and the attempted to avoid her.rushed Both women were to Saint Bernard’s Hospital, with the other also suffering serious injuries.

Accident

to anyPolice wish to speak in one who may have beenwitthe vicinity and may have stating: nessed the accident, "We are particularly interestdriver ed in speaking with thevehicle, of a locally-registered in possibly red or burgundy been colour that may have moovertaken by one of the torcycles either immediately of the before or at the time

ROCKED! TUNNEL VISION: A trio of

Gibraltarbased company linked to alleged Russian interference probe that could have ‘bought Brexit’

fabulous murals are set

to adorn the Rock

costly legal proceedings. slap “We decided to take the the on the wrists to avoid said at court action,” Banks the time. is But now the pressure Labuilding on Banks, after

By Laurence Dollimore bour MP Stephen Doughty, afa member of the home said in LonCOMPANIES House Trump, Nigel Farage fairs select committee, links ‘man Aaron Banks, US President (left) don has insisted the reveal it should investigate the PROBE: Brexit made to BREXIT CASH who bought Brexit’ between Banks and Russia. last week that of donations his campaigners. for police and vid confirmed are incredibly serihow he was able to fund allegedly also been “These Banks’ Russian connections UK out MPs are calling has the allegations invespull Banks to segrowing continue to campaign parliament being examined ‘very in told by Companies House to ous and between alleged connec- are of Europe. of his about the connections Banks’ tigating the the millionaire riously’ by two ministers and publish the accounts The finances of Aaron tion between company Banks and the Russians, departments who want and Russia, after two was an offshore holding which he their ability to potentially comGibraltar-based companies ANTI-tourism protesters are set for heavy scrutiny, Brexit donorhe met the Krem- to establish if there the refICS Risk Solutions, promise the integrity of democto undermine par- uses to finance his activities. have chained themselves over concerns about his al- it emerged to the UK on attempt during erendum and British in lin’s ambassador liamentary democracy to Gaudi’s iconic dragon The Isle of Man-registered MP said. calling leged links with Russia to be the racy,” the Labour various occasions. campaign. in Barcelona while of committees in to connection to the referendum Home secretary Sajid Ja- the Brexit donor company is reported Banks, a former Ukipex-Ukip ‘heart of Banks’s finances’. It “A number including my own, for a ban on new hotels s. result. company for parliament, and an associate of deter holidaymaker gave is the holding to [take a] closer look leader Nigel Farage, and Eldon Insurance, the insurer will want £8m to the Leave.EU Go Skippy, and has at this.”whether there should behind Asked campaigns.

2015 since Grassroots Out investigation, he off- paid over £77m The money came from of to prop up Banks’ South- be a police of the allegations arm, said: “Some shore firms, a number ern Rock underwriting regu- are particularly serious and after which are based in Gibraltar, ironi- based in Gibraltar, doubt need to be inveswhere 96% of voters in the lators on the Rock found the will no by other authorities as without tigated cally wanted to remain business was trading well”.

EU. adequate provisions. comply Labour’s front bench also he would Leave.EU focused relentlessly Tom Watson run up Banks said from Com- weighed in with he might, Mr on immigration in the and with any direction to saying: “Try as to the EU referendum his panies House, according Banks can’t just bluster allemuch of its populist strategy of these serious presi- the Guardian. out US the way direcfrom his taken was Democratic integrity Donald Banks had resigned dential campaign of whom torship with Southern Rock gations.

Trump, a man with affinity in 2014 over regulation is- is too important.”

During a UK select commitBanks feels a close fake news sues. an in- tee investigating having met him immediately The move came after Banks defended his York. by the Financial last week, of funds to Southafter his victory in New vestigation inunder (FSC), movement Banks is also still Services Commissionto have ern Rock insisting he was vestigation by the Electoral shuffling money betrying found the directors Commission, which is ‘true made ‘inadequate’ provisions simply two companies that he tween to establish if he was the for future claims. accusing MPs of the decision to ac- owns, before source of loans’ to Leave.EU, some ‘shadifor the Banks said adepttransport 1 outcome trying to create and whether Better Adept Transport Ltd he cept the regulatory need for ness around my business’. the Country Ltd, a company source was to avoid controlled, was the

accident."

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FURY: Rabbi Hassid

Anger as government finally agrees to allow gay marriage on the Rock

How’s that?

Historic cricket match Pages 6

v Spain

Campo to Rio La Linea man at Olympics Page 8

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August 17th - August

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By Joe Duggan CONTROVERSY surrounds a decision to bring gay riage one step closer marto the Rock.

Religious leaders are expected to widely slam the that will finally permit plan sex marriages to take same place.

Last night, Chief Rabbi Ron Hassid described the decision to move forwards as an ‘aberration’.

“This makes a statement CONFLICT: Decision to go ahead this is normal behaviour,”that Zammit the was awarded a ‘crozier’ with gay wedding bill came on day holy man told the Olive Bishop staff by Fabian Picardo “By doing this they are Press. However, the decision an- equality,” ing thousands of years undo- nounced this week, insisted one gay of civibeen remarkable’. was lization. received by the LGBT well government employee, who However, com- asked to remain anonymous. he added: “I “I think we are walking munity. make it clear that this wish to Felix Alvarez dangerous ground when on “It’s a great step forward for Rights Group of the Equality to civil marriage and relates a government has the added: not to ment will now finally “Parlia- the sacrament of Holy Matrito do this. Who gives power them the notion that theaddress mony or the rites of marriage the right? This is to do with application of the law equal in any religion.” morality. They have gone too citizens is an inviolableto all It is expected the bill will be far.” and debated in necessary principle of parliament after Church of England our so- the six-week ciety,” he said. publication peJohn Paddock insisted Dean there riod has passed. It is likely The government’s was ‘nothing to add’ to to the launched on Monday bill - become law later this year. church’s official position.

- will A public amend the Civil Marriage consultation on the However, he added: “There Act subject attracted is to include a view of marriage, which marriage between more than 3,400 people. two people of the same only have to read the you sex.

Holy The decision came on While it has yet to be debated book to see”. that the First Minister the day and voted on in Parliament, Earlier this year, awardit ed the Bishop all the is expected to receive Rock’s religious leaders cross- mitt a crozier, Carmelo Zamparty support. a staff of honsued a joint letter refusing isour for high ranking Catholic to Chief Minister Fabian support the move. do said the ‘responsePicar- holy men.

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And on the subject of weddings...

Page 11

Marathon man

The man who photographed John Lennon’s Gibraltar wedding pleas for help to find the ‘missing’ originals. See Page 3

Soldier who won Gibraltar half marathon sets his on reaching London sights

Brexit battle Page 31

Don’t miss our eight-page marriage special!

Pages 13-20

Major blow for Rock as political allies announce support for Brexit, which Europe Minister says would spell disaster

EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Powell

A GROUP of Gibraltar’s staunchest political have backed the Brexit allies campaign, despite the Rock’s overriding fears.

It comes despite the Europe minister David UK’s Lidington warning that rights to live in Spain British be up in the air’ if the ‘would UK voted to leave the EU on June 23.

He added that it could ‘a decade of economic lead to an argument backed chaos’ leaders at the G20 up by summit this weekend in Shanghai. support for the Rock, remain But British MPs Andrew unmoved. indell and Ian Paisley, Ros- Rosindell, who Conservative both delivered passionate for Romford, told the MP Olive speeches last National Day Press: “The problem is that affirming the UK’s continued just as Gibraltar has the right

AT WAR: Picardo and

Rosindell (on National

of self-determination, should the United Kingdom.so “I ask the good people braltar to think about of GiBritain will be in 20 where years’ time if we stay or 30 on the train towards a European

Day)

Super State, which is surely braltar, as coming. well as the group’s president, “If there is no longer a sov- say Hoyle. Labour MP Lindereign United Kingdom, Their views are in complete there will not be UK “Even with all its faults, seas Territories and I Over- contrast to those of First Minthe EU has been an important the EU will eventuallybelieve ister Fabian Picardo and the insist GSLP government, driver that places like Gibraltar who are enjoy inof the prosperity we Gibraltar today. fully integrated into this are supporting David Cameron’s new ‘stay’ campaign.

“We cannot give up the state.” access and benefits we “There is no Rosindell is backed by Con- native for reasonable alter- out any certainty have withservative MP Jack Lopresti, Gibraltar to the ceras to what the status of those rights the chair of the All-Party tainty of membership of the of freedom of movement EU via Parliamentary Group and for Gi- the UK,”our relationship with market access might be if the said Picardo.

UK were not a member of the EU.” Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office has published a on the ‘major impact’ report IN 2015 the UK government a Brexit would have on Gibraltar. paid £13 billion to the get, while EU spending EU bud“If the UK were to leave This means that the totalon the UK was £4.5 billion.

EU, there would be no the around 8.5 billion, out cost of being a member of the EU is guarof an annual British expenditure antee that the border around 700 billion. of an remain open,” the reportwould The question of economic benefits of EU membership Likewise, a spokesman said. jobs, investment etc - trade, is far trickier to determine.

British Embassy in for the What is clear is that David Madrid told the Olive Press: “Leaving Cameron has been attempting renegotiate Britain’s relationship would likely have many with the EU on issues to as migrants and welfare, serisuch ous implications and tators claim he has made but many politicians and commenlittle progress. yet knows the extent ofno one An analysis of the six them. most recent polls suggests “As the Prime Minister ers want to leave the EU, while 55% will vote to 45% of votsaid, it would mean yearshas remain. of uncertainty.”

On the out or in?

BREXIT BOARD

A POST-BREXIT committee is to be formed on the Rock to help negotiate Britain’s tricky exit from the EU. The cross-party committee will be made up of four bers nominated by Chiefmemister Fabian Picardo andMintwo members selected by opposition leader Daniel Feetham and Independent Member of Parliament Marlene Hassan Nahon.

The Select Committee on the EU is being set up to determine the ‘impact of a potential withdrawal from the European and Gibraltar’s futureUnion, tionship with the EU’. relaThe Committee will also direct contact with the be in government and will beBritish ‘fully involved in the formulation of the United Kingdom’s policy on Brexit’.

It comes as UK ministers warned that Britain remain in the EU untilcould 2019, almost a year later late than originally predicted.

Rucking outrage!

RUGBY officials are fuming after Spanish lobbying wrecked Gibraltar’s dream of joining Europe’s top table, the Olive Press can reveal.

Long-term Rugby Europe treasurer, Jose Maria Epalza, is believed to have turned countries against Gibraltar’s bid for membership at body’s General Assemblythe in June.

Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will now demand a fresh vote, vowing ‘we will get there’.

See full story on Page 23

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Services at competitive prices

A G bra tar based Bonn e and C yde coup e accused of a renta scam was the sub ect of our exc us ve front page story n the Spr ng of 2017 We revea ed that Marco Mo nar and conv cted fraudster Natasha Mar e Lambert faced a str ng of a egat ons after they fled to ta y wh e the r fr ends to d the O ve Press that they were fur ous at the pa r hav ng sto en thousands GIBRALTAR CULTUREPAGE 9

om R GIBRALTA to rolivepress.c www.gibralta Brexit NEWS sexit

PAGE 3

claimed A FORMER MP has going UK politicians discussing only to war over Gibraltar are too old doing it because ‘they’re to have sex’. was Labour’s Denis MacShane speaking after Lord Howard’s be willclaim that the UK would amid ing to go to war with Spain rising Brexit tensions.

Former Royal Navy commandBriter Chris Parry also warnedin any Spain ‘cripple’ ain could military action. noise “The men making so much are in England about Gibraltar too old to have sex,” MacShane told a Spanish newspaper.

“This was their last opportunity that's to have an erection and why they've started shouting against Spain."

Spain’s McShane also used of Melnorth African enclaves of illa and Ceuta as an example Spanish doubled standards. same "Gibraltar is British in the enway as the North African are claves of Ceuta and Melilla same.” the exactly Spanish. It’s he said.

BritMcShane also attacked Theresa ish Prime Minister sayMay’s handling of Brexit, a better ing Spain was now ‘in effective position’ following the Euroveto over Gibraltar in the pean Council’s draft negotiating guidelines.

Gib to get UEFA Cat

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Apr 26th - May 9th 2017

Presspage seen by the Olive outclaimed ‘there is no credit Perejil standing’ at the former Grill, now named Dannys. for any Denying responsibility labelled unpaid bills, Molinari and Ward ‘a dxxxxxxd’, a ‘txxt’comwhen he anonymous. do that. a ‘stupid child’ “I can’t believe he would up plained.

They lied and were coveringThe The Olive Press also underallegedly between them all the time. next stands Molinari electricity was cut off the their planned to buy a fake Italian differday as they hadn’t paid driver’s licence with awhile in bills for months.” to ent name and address She reported the matter Spain.

Press tracked Spanish Police. of the When the Olive Another former friendwife lost down Molinari to Italy he said: couple said he and his a Santa “I have already spoken to these mistake. a all their £1,400 deposit on is people. It a long time ago.

Margarita property. him “That was from He claims Lambert told and I do not want to know anything the property was rented after about that. I do not know what was no longer available you are talking about.” being involved he had already paid. they He denied still “We tried to help her then were with Lambert before hanging did this,” he said.“Wewage. up.

Press call, only earning minimum It is Following the Olive “It is not just disgusting. was Molinari contacted one person the disappointment. Tashuntil and promised to return her Natasha a good friend of my wife Marco Molinari and money the next day.

ROME RUNNER: Couple was conshe left us homeless.” of stealing rent deposits Ne- In 2015, Lambert Marie Lambert accused from Sophie Dufraisse, a Sales of fraud by false reprent and victed deposit Soin KS without £1,500 at Bournemouth their gotiator at Gibraltar’s subletted her a property her before scarpering with and theby’s International Realty resentation Court after conAirport the owner’s consent. to hear Magistrates’ over pet dogs to Malaga said she was ‘shocked’ a £150 ning renters in the UK out of She claims the couple took accepted had Molinari client’s £5,300. a propdeposit from one of her She had falsely claimed the victo rent to in the street. £150,” erty was hers “They ended up losingfew ten- tims. she said. “I know of a Marco Lambert was given a 12-month ants in Gibraltar who always community order, ordered to did not show up for. He participate in a rehabilitation compensation had an excuse.”

Daniel activity and pay La Linea restaurateur with to her three victims, plus court Ward claims he was left £2,000 charges. for her unpaid bills of around A warrant was issued after buying a restaurant arrest in March 2016 after with the through Tu Casa Click. on she failed to comply An advert for the property order. the Tu Casa Click Facebook catching a flight to Rome.

“Most of the time I communidisapcated with the girl. I was as pointed more than anything alleged he was a friend,” said the remain victim, who asked to

‘Bonnie and Clyde’ couple accused of rent deposit scam acGIBRALTAR workers have a ‘Boncused a couple of doing with nie and Clyde’ style runnerrental thousands of pounds in deposits.

Marco Molinari and convicted Lamfraudster Natasha Marie the bert, 24, fled to Italy from‘illeLa Linea home they had leaving gally’ sublet this month, in their a string of accusations wake. claim Cross-border workers Linea Molinari who ran La Tu based real estate company conned Casa Click, and Lambert them out of several thousand pounds.

One former friend of Molinari’s, gamwho works in Gibraltar’s to ing industry, was furious illegally discover the Italian had

LEAKED GHA EMAIL Poor morale, unsafe staffing arrangements and discrimination alleged in shocking email from concerned Gibraltar medical staff SEE PAGE 4 EXCLUSIVE

Page 9

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Repo e Joe Duggan nves ga ed he G b a a Hea h Au ho y GHA a e eme ged ha he body had sen cance check up e e s o dead G b a a ans The GHA was o ced o ssue an apo ogy o be eaved am es and oved ones who had acc den a y been sen he med ca e es Ou exc us ve evea ed ha n some cas es e e s had been add essed o peop e ha had been dead o ove wo yea s

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book n h s condemnat on Whatever your op non the h stor c dec s on was de n te y made n sty e w th a huge pr de ag proected onto the s de o the Moor sh Cast e

issuE 13... unlucky

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

Rocked! - Issue 73

Est. 1946

Issue 13 was very much a ucky one or he G bra ar O ve Press ead ng on a shock ng ron page s ory abou a Rock Brex shock as we as runn ng a spec a repor on page hree on he m ss ng nega ves rom John Lennon s G bra ar wedd ng MP Andrew Ro nde was among G bra ar s po ca a es o suppor s depar ure rom he EU promp ng ear or oca s and headaches or Ch e M n s er Fab an P cardo Meanwh e we covered Br sh phoographer Dav d Nu er s p ea or h s con c snaps o Bea es s ar Lennon y ng he kno w h Yoko Ono on he Rock wor h over £100 000 o be re urned

A red letter day - Issue 38

Brex t s st rumb ng on n case you hadn t not ced But desp te a the tw sts and turns the G bra tar O ve Press has been there rom day one w th our ront page o Issue 21 cover ng the 2016 re erendum As our ourna sts on the streets qu ck y rea sed the Rock overwhe m ng y supports Rema n and n the end t was revea ed that 96% o G bra tar ans voted to stay n the EU

www.gibra LT D ltarolivepr

Brexit battle - Issue 13

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Day of destiny Issue 21

20072500.

We wish you all a happy and healthy 2019!

ISSUE OF GIBRALTAR’S

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Smokescreen Issue 76 Dozens o G b a a ans we e evacua ed o ow ng a huge e on he Cos a de So wh ch ac ed as a d s ac on o a d ug gang Ou on page epo ed on he po ce nves ga on wh ch ound ha he b aze du ng he Ma n va Fe a may have been a ac c o d aw o ce s a en on away om a huge ma uana smugg ng ope a on nea by

‘Killer drug for sale’ - Issue 77 One o he mos amous O ve Press nves ga ons - n o e ha pa nk er No o - revea ed ha he k er drug was a so ava ab e or sa e on he Rock desp e be ng banned n par s o he UK and Europe Th s shock ng exc us ve s ory comb ned he effor s o our repor ers E sa Menendez Luke Made ra and Laurence Do more who d scovered ha No o - nked o over 10 Br sh and nor hern European dea hs - cou d be ound n a eas hree G bra ar pharmac es

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Vol. 3 Issue 77 www.gibraltaro livepress.com August 15th - August

Pension shocker

August 15th - August

1

28th 2018

28th 2018

THE EGG TEST

Everyone has heard the claims that Andalucia is hot enough cook an egg on the pavementto in the summer... we visited the of Spain’ to test out the ‘Frying pan theory,

EXCLUSIVE

By Luke Madeira

BRITISH pensioners in claim to have lost more Spain fifth of their spending than a over the last two years power rect result of Brexit. as a diRichard Hill, vice president of Brexpats in Spain, plummeting exchange claims taxes and a rise in the rates, cost of living have caused significant income losses.

It comes as the pound a new low of just 1.10sunk to to the euro last week, as worries of a hard Brexit magnified.

The pensioner, who claims he’s around 22% ‘worse since the referendum, off’ believes expats will struggle regardless of whatever deal is reached ahead of Britain’s EXCLUSIVE exit from the EU.

By Elisa Menendez, The pensioner added: Luke Madeira & “The significant problem Laurence Dollimore stage with Brexit is theat this ating exchange rate. fluctu- LETHAL painkiller Nolotil is “Obviously fluctuations being sold in Gibraltar are despite normal, however the steady being banned in the UK and downward trend is seriously other parts of Europe. affecting people.”

It comes after a two-year Press investigation in Olive linked the drug to at Spain Plummet least 10 deaths of British and northern It comes after the Rabobank European patients. in London warned that deal Brexit could end a no- The drug - also known as Metin eu- amizole - is believed ro-sterling parity, while to attack last the immune system by week saw the pound plummet ing the patient’s whitedepletto an eight-month low. blood cells.

British expat Karen Watling, While Kill ThE not yet banned in Spain NoloTil from Sheffield, claims drug lost as much as a thirdshe has it is currently under investigaVicTory of her tion, following our monthly budget. probe, is unlicenced in the UK, and loomS “Over two years this US, has France, Australia and caused us problems financialelsewhere. ly,” she told the Olive Press. Incredibly though, SALE “Prices and commodities the ANTHONY’S 59 Press this week found Olive have also risen so it has a numbeen ber of pharmacies like a double hit.” still ently handing out the appar- READ IT HERE FIRST: (Inset left) The exchange rate was drug on Our campaign last an av- the Rock. year and (right) recent was available or ‘sometimes story in macy told a journalist An undercover Olive stock’ in at least three pharmahe Turn to page 4 journalist was told the Press cies. be given the painkiller could said with the amount of pain drug in Spain last summer, with a I was in it would prescription. health be stronger,” An employee at Wesley campaigner Cristina Garcia she told the Olive Press Phar- A parallel investigation del this Campo took up the cause and found six pharmacies by GBC week. the drug, and was able selling “I was also taking 600mg has managed to take our case to buy a ibuprofen studies and around 100 packet for £2.50. more and 500mg to the country’s paracetamol but he suggested top health The Gibraltar government I chiefs. is should take the now looking into several phar- of paracetamol.”Nolotil instead A decision on whether to macies for illegally selling in new regulations is bring the Another Gibraltar painkiller. immiresident also It came after one Gibraltarian, confirmed she took the drug on nent.

It came after we reported the Rock. who asked to remain how the anony- “I go to the mous, said she was sold chemist and just patsdrug left several British exthe buy them, never drug at a pharmacy in heard of need- lives.dead or fighting for their without a prescription. March ing a prescription,” she said.

After we launched a campaign Benalmadena-based “The man just sold it to Hugh Wilcock, 80, had to plan me and to have the drug regulated own his funeral after being scribed the drug for pain prefollowing several back relief tions. But six weeks into operataking A SERIES of new beach the pills, he developed sores webcams are being bizarrely on night. turned off at his forehead and felt weaker The government claims and weaker until he had to be ‘data protection’ issues, the switch off from 10pm to 7am is due to rushed to Malaga’s not to protect late night University It was forced to give the illegality. hospital, where he remained reason, after being accused in smugglers who were allegedly Adept Transport Ltd filmed Eastern Beach on of protecting intensive care for weeks until adepttransport 1 they were operational. According the first night his immune system recovered. to GBC, one of recorded a group of men the tobacco smuggling at the six new cameras He is just one of dozens who ernment insists this is entirely beach. untrue and uses other ‘more The gov- have been brought close to cated, intelligence-led’ measures death. to stop smuggling. The livesophisti- The feeds, similar to the ones Gibraltar government camera did for up-to-date conditions at the border, allow beach-goers to check not get back to us and access updates on weather as we went to conditions. press last night.

Olive Press probe discovers lethal painkiller Nolotil for sale in Gibraltar

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EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality.

Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked in a battle with their town hall, which claims their house in Almayate is illegal.

Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given

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THE Olive Press is giving away three pairs of tickets for two of the best concerts on the Costa del Sol this summer...

And all you have to do is answer two simple questions!

Michael Bolton takes to the stage for an emotive end of season night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on August 10, while Estepona is set for its biggest rock concert in years with mammoth

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EXCLUSIVE: Poems from Gibraltar soldier locked up in Andalucia prison for murder

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tribute bands Think Floyd, Deeper Purple and Whole Lotta Led rocking out the greatest hits of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin at the Plaza del Toros on August 26.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Bolton, just answer the question; what year was Michael Bolton born in?

For the Pink Purple Zep Fest in Estepona, just tell us; Where was Jimmy Page born? Email answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

WIN WIN WIN: Bolton and Pink Purple Zep Fest tickets

Mijas Costa See page xx 4

Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil

FREE

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(Free or paid for) April 11th - April 24th 2018

SEE INSIDE

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EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

one month to knock down their only property (pictured above).

In a court order seen by the Olive Press, the Wards are warned they will be held criminally responsible if they refuse.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, I’m at the end of my tether” Gill told the Olive Press, “I’m totally exhausted from the whole ordeal.”

The retired pair, who have now spent thousands of euros on legal costs, bought the old farmhouse ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and were given permission from Velez-Malaga town hall to rebuild it.

But when the original wall collapsed of its own accord during construction, the Wards’ architect told them it would be fine and that he would let the town hall know. Unfortunately for Continues on Page 8

THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats.

British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very same drug that was blamed for killing his wife in 2006.

The Marbella-based expat was furious when he was told to take the painkiller by his Spanish dentist, after suffering from a difficult abscess.

His wife Mary, 59, had died after being prescribed the same drug following a double vasectomy at Costa del Sol Hospital.

“Within 24 hours she was in intensive care, her white blood cell count plummeted to zero within days,” explains Graham, a former computer technician, from London.

She never regained consciousness and was on a life support machine for FOUR months, before spending three years fighting the impact of the drug, which led to organ failure.

“The chief surgeon at the hospital promised me he would never prescribe that drug

CAMPAIGNER:

Metamizole, Nolotil is banned in the US, the UK, Ireland and most of Europe, but it is prescribed widely in Spain.

Irishman William ‘Billy’ Smyth was given a five-day course of the drug in February.

But when the 66-year-old returned to a different Spanish

doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low.

Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and required ‘radical surgery’ to remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life.

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EXcluSiVE

By Elisa menendez

AN Olive Press health campaign has led drug probes in to ‘the biggest’ Spanish history.

Our investigation terious deaths into the mysthe painkiller of expats from is finally being Nolotil last year, In a landmarkacted on. a national probe breakthrough, is expected to lead to new regulation of the drug, which is UK and most of banned in the “It has been a Europe. long time in coming and by raising so much awareness, I am already been sure lives have saved,” medical and legal translator Cristina Garcia del Campo Press. The medicaltold the Olive professional found our 1000-strong petition online and took it forward after one of her patients died from TRAGIC: Graeme the drug. “Spain Ward with wants to help, Billy Smyth, who both died wife Mary (left) and from Nolotil

The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil.

Another British expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same medication for mild shoulder pain on the Costa del Sol. He developed severe head Continues on Page 2

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KILL THE DRUG

that’s for sure. port from everyI have had supcante-based Garcia and Irish patients del Campo fessional I have healthcare prospotted our spoken to. fering with sepsishad been suf“If I hadn’t come working withcampaign, while at hospitals along the Costa article I wouldn’tacross your who suddenly an Irish expat have re“I thought, thisBlanca. alised what was ill with sepsis became critically happening to mal,” explained can’t be northe English community,” fasciitis after and necrotizing from Madrid. the translator, added. We launched she He died later intaking the drug.

November.

And after looking the Drug’ campaign our ‘Kill against notes, she found at patients’ the painkiller that each had one thing in learning that last August, after dozens of British were all taking common - they and Irish expats Nolotil.

Although manufacturers their immune had died after systems were side effects such legedly destroyed list alas agranulocytosis, necrotizing monly prescribed by the comKill ThE fasciitis and sepsis, they of families told drug. A trio are considered us how their drug ‘very rare’ affecting relatives had died unnecessarone in every 10,000. ily in excruciating The figures did authorities refused pain. Yet, up to Garcia delnot seem to add claims seriously, to take our despite the set about doing Campo so she evidence being search. However, her own relocal doctors. backed up by SALE APPEAL: Our Fortunately, Ali59 no information existed in campaign last Spanish media.

Mosquito Screens The only articles year on the drug and she could find Nolotil, or Metamizol, effects was in the its lethal side is still one of the most Olive Press.

“I was in disbelief,” killers in Spain, popular paincontinued the Javea-based feared side effect yet the most is agranulocylived in the UK translator, who tosis, a severe and rapid drop “I thought this for 18 years. white blood cells, in was surely wellknown and someone patients unable which leaves was doing to fight infecsomething about tions. it. Except it wasn’t.

Garcia del Campo noticed that “I felt I had a large number to inform Spain of other English

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679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_MIJAS_COSTA.indd 23/02/2017 11:31

EXcluSiVE By laurence dollimore

A BRITISH expat couple fighting to save are their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality.

Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked with their town in a battle claims their house hall, which in Almayate is illegal.

Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given

Vol. 11 Issue 271

1

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THE Olive Press is giving away pairs of tickets three for two of the tribute certs on the Costa best con- Whole bands Think Floyd, Deeper Purple Lotta Led And all you have del Sol this summer... of Pink Floyd, rocking out the greatest and ple questions! to do is answer two simhits at the Plaza delDeep Purple and Led Zeppelin Michael Bolton For a chance Toros on August 26. emotive end of takes to the stage for an to win a pair Bolton, just answer of tickets to see Puente Romanoseason night at Marbella’s on August 10, was Michael Bolton the question; what year pona is set for while EsteFor the Pink Purple born in? with mammothits biggest rock concert in years Zep Fest in Estepona, tell us; Where just answers to the was Jimmy Page born? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

WIN WIN WIN: Bolton

Doctors and dentists join olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil

and Pink Purple

Zep Fest tickets

EXcluSiVE By laurence dollimore

THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a that is killing lethal painkiller countless of unsuspecting expats.

British dentists are supporting and doctors the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to of how he was the Olive Press deadly Nolotil prescribed the one month to tist last week.drug by a denonly property knock down their same drug that It’s the very (pictured above). was blamed In a court order for killing his Dr Nina King, wife in 2006. seen by the Olive Press, The Marbella-based the campaign, of Oasis Dental Care in Marbella, the Wards are warned they will expat was furious when fully supports she prescribes.telling the Olive Press the he was told drug is not something nally responsible be held crimito take the painkiller “It’s not a drug “I don’t know if they refuse. by his Spanish dentist, she said, “And I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” more, I’m at what to do anying from a difficultafter sufferI won’t be usingafter seeing what damage abscess. tether” Gill toldthe end of my it can do, it’s His wife Mary, Marbella-based in the future.” a drug the Olive Press, 59, had died af“I’m totally exhausted private doctor ter being prescribed Almeda also Dra. Victoria from the the same whole ordeal.” drug following María Chacón the drug,” sheagrees the drug is dangerous.

The retired pair, tomy at Costa a double vasectients and I am told the Olive Press, “I have “I don’t prescribe spent thousands who have now “Within 24 del Sol Hospital. aware of what lots of British “There needs pagal costs, bought of euros on leto be a lot more it is capable of doing. in intensive hours she was care, her white research on its house ‘in ruins’ the old farmblood cell count impact.” in 2004, and plummeted doctor to get were given to zero within days,” explains renewal in April,a Velez-Malaga permission from Graham, a former The dad-of-two town hall to computer tests showed build it. retechnician, from the HAPPIER TIMES: later died from London. drug had caused But when the She never regained Graham with septic shock original wall colconscious- again. wife, and Billy a toxic poisoning lapsed of its own ness and was – believed to Smyth accord during in his bone marconstruction, be machine for on a life support “He said she Metamizole, Nolotil linked to taking would be alive FOUR months, she tect told themthe Wards’ archibefore spending is banned row and his white if hadn’t taken the Nolotil. it would be fine it, but I have in the US, the UK, Ireland three years heard and that he would fighting the from dozens most of Europe, and blood cell was Another impact of the and let the town hall know. Unfortunately Britdrug, which led Irish who have of Brits scribed widely but it is pre- dangerously low. ish expat Hugh to organ fail- it,” added been given Billy, a in Spain. for ure.

Irishman keen Graeme.

Wilcox was Continues on William preIt is the “The chief surgeon Page 8 ‘Billy’ sportsman, scribed the same at the hos- drug the third victim of the Smyth was given a five-day oped sepsisdevelpital promised course of the and Olive Press has medication drug in Febru- necrotising fascifor never prescribeme he would ported on in under re- ary. mild a year. shoulder that drug Sometimes itis as a result But when the and pain on the Costa known also 66-year-old re- required ‘radical as turned del surgery’ to a different He developed Sol. Spanish remove the affected tissue to severe head an attempt to save his life. in

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olive Press medical campaign finally draws blood with Nolotil regulation close

need for more research

Dr Nina King, of Oasis Dental Care in Marbella, fully supports the campaign, telling the Olive Press the drug is not something she prescribes.

“It’s not a drug I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” she said, “And after seeing what damage it can do, it’s a drug I won’t be using in the future.”

Marbella-based private doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Almeda also agrees the drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe the drug,” she told the Olive Press, “I have lots of British patients and I am aware of what it is capable of doing.

“There needs to be a lot more research on its impact.”

HAPPIER TIMES: Graham with wife, and Billy Smyth

again.

“He said she would be alive if she hadn’t taken it, but I have heard from dozens of Brits and Irish who have been given it,” added Graeme.

It is the third victim of the drug the Olive Press has reported on in under a year.

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12th 2019

Best to remain THE Gibraltar government waded into a dramatic in Parliament yesterday, day insisting the cancelling ticle 50 and staying in of Arthe EU would be ‘the best possible outcome’.

A spokesman made comments, just hours the the UK’s Labour Party after nounced it would supportana second referendum, Theresa May confirmedwhile MPs would get a vote on whether to delay Article 50 on March 13.

Gibraltar said it would back a ‘remain’ outcome in any new referendum, despite many concerns it had over the institutions and countries. EU However, the Rock remains concerned over the delay the so-called meaningful of vote for MPs until March two weeks before the 12, just UK departure date.

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

EXCLUSIVE

By John Culatto

Consequences

If May’s deal is

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rejected, bruises.” Despite his will then vote on whether MPs they ries, he added that heinju- Service treated the ‘shaken’ want to leave the EU with or ‘very calm’ throughout was Gibraltarian, before he was without a deal on March ordeal thanks to his the transferred to St Bernard’s before a vote is held on 13, exde- Hospital for medical cades of experience. atten- tending Article 50. tion.

“The Government is The grandfather, who conis Hector explained one of 11 children, is known how he cerned about the consequencto his friends as the ‘rubber had been brought up in a es of an extension for obvious man’ as he always manages family of fishermen in Cata- reasons,” the No6 statement added. lan Bay. to get back up without seri- The brave local, Gibraltar ous injury. who re- brace itself will continue to tired from the Admiralty for a no deal Brex“It is a nickname that it.

I have Fire Service at 50, admitted had for years, and it “The of the Governappropriate this time,seems it would be the last time he ment position is Gibraltar must is for sure,” he joked. that went out sailing on his own. continue that to prepare He said: “I was planning for all The Royal Gibraltar to eventualities as we leave the (RGP) responded toPolice stop in summer anyway so I EU. The detailed the think that is it for planning distressed vessel off Europa for a no deal Brexit will me. conPoint at 9:00am on Thurs- “I was sad to lose my boat I tinue.” had named after day after Baglietto had Chief Minister Fabian Picarset ters Tyrene and my daugh- do said: sail at 6:30am.

Jaqueline, “The final potential Gibraltar Fire and Rescue but as my nephew said, bet- outcomes of this process reter my boat than me.” main unclear.

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“We have therefore been working hard on all reasonably predictable outcomes to deliver the results we need certainty for all citizens and businesses alike.

“We will continue to and to engage with thedo so the EU institutions and UK, ber States, including MemSpain, to ensure all our citizens equally and reciprocally are tected in all eventualities.”pro-

902 123 282 ‘Rubber man’ bounces back again - Issue 91 TheOlivePress-256x170-B

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Est. 1946

www.gibraltarolivepress

THIS is the dramatic moment a British Airways plane hit heavy turbulence while trying to land in Gibraltar.

The clip, which went viral on social media, shows the tilting violently from plane side while attempting side to to land.

One Gibraltar resident, “I was in that plane, said: it was very scary indeed.”

Another witness of the plane, that was eventually forced to divert to Malaga, wrot

TheOlivePress-256x170-BIKE-4.indd 1

conditions.

2/8/18 17:01

n th s ed t on we sp ashed on an nterv ew w th an octo genar an who saved h mse f from death at Europa Po nt af ter h s boat smashed aga nst rocks and he fe overboard nto the sea Seasoned G bra tar O ve Press ourna st John Cu atto spoke to Hector Bag etto 80 who revea ed to th s newspa per exc us ve y that he was ucky to be a ve

6

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Rock steady THE news that Fabian Picardo has vowed to fight a nodeal Brexit under a new Tory leader shows what the Rock is really made of.

Gibraltar’s Chief Minister took a stand against Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, one of whom will enter Downing Street this month.

Picardo revealed that he worked with both Conservative politicians, who are currently vying for the leadership of the UK and their party.

But he also pledged to ensure that Gibraltar remains his priority, as it has at all stages of the negotiations over how Britain and the Rock depart from the EU. This is the kind of strong stance from Picardo that Gibraltarians have grown used to, especially during the Brexit era.

It reflects the overwhelming vote by 96% of the Rock to stay in the EU, while Picardo himself has repeatedly called for Article 50 to be revoked.

While Brexit may still end up being a bad deal for all, at least Gibraltar - unlike Britain - seems to have a sense of purpose.

Future expat danger A CRIMINAL starting a new life in Spain.

It all sounds very familiar (The Dirty Dozen, Issue 220, pg 6-7).

That is until you realise that said crook is serialis rapist John Worboys, who - it has emerged - is learning Spanish from behind bars.

In a bid to follow numerous British convicts to Spain, the black cab sex offender has apparently been practicing the language with ‘books and DVDs’ in prison.

The monster, from London, was jailed for the sexual assaults of 12 women, and has even now changed his name to John Derek Radford.

The British and Spanish authorities cannot allow his move to Spain.

Worboys would be among the sickest and most dangerous expat criminals to have ever inhabited this country.

We are used to conmen, drug dealers and even killers in these parts.

However, if Worboys does settle here upon his release, it would mark a whole new league of depravity.

John Worboys must be blocked from entering Spain.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es

Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es

Timothy McNulty tim@theolivepress.es

Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es OFFICE MANAGER Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

ADMIN Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

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AWARDS

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

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

FEATURE

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Remembering the Roses As it emerges Spain is second only to Cambodia for missing persons, a mass women’s grave is set to be opened in Andalucia, despite Franco still staying put in his Madrid burial place, writes Heather Galloway

A

HUSH descended on the tiny village of Zufre as the names were slowly read out.

It was November 4, 1937 and approaching dusk in the mountain settlement that sits inside the stunning Aracena Natural Park, in Huelva.

Most of the local villagers had just made their

The 16 Roses of Zufre RESTING PLACE: Higuera de la Sierra

way back into the village from the nearby fields.

A total of 16 women were called out and each was asked to jump aboard a truck that was supposed to be en route to the nearby market town of Aracena.

Ostensibly they were to make statements about the Civil War before the Nationalist authorities, who had secured the region for dictator Franco some months earlier.

However, nobody locally believed it and, according to witnesses, there was an eerie understanding that the fascist soldiers on the truck had other plans for their captives.

Zufre, after all, had been a staunchly left-leaning Republican town on the outbreak of the war in 1936 and the local militiamen quickly captured 60 Nationalists soldiers as prisoners.

Franco had been furious and ordered an aerial bombing of the town, which quickly liberated his soldiers, with most of the locals fleeing into the nearby hills or ‘relocated’ to Badajoz.

The 16 mothers, daughters and grandmothers rounded up that day were never seen again.

That is until this month, when a mass grave is expected to be opened in the nearby village of Higuera de la Sierra.

It is the fifth unmarked mass burial site to be opened in Andalucia over the last few years and archaeologists are expecting to find the bodies of women, who were most likely tortured and raped before being killed.

“They were rounded up in 1937, when Franco’s forces made a concertARE YOU OWED THOUSANDS FROM ed effort to find the locals who had deserted YOUR BANK? villages across Andalucia,” explains Cecilio Did you have an illegal floor clause Gordillo, the driving inserted in your Spanish mortgage? force behind the organMillions of homeowners were wrongly charged thousands of euros due to underhand tactics, now outlawed after being exposed by the courts.

Fairway L AW Y E R S

1. Teodora Garzón Núñez, 46, married.

2. Remedios Gil Cortés, 58.

3. Modesta Huerta Santos, 30, widow and UGT socialist labour union activist.

4. Josefa Labrador Arroyo, 40, married.

5. Elena Ramos Navarro, 55, UGT socialist labour union activist.

6. Bernabela Rodríguez Ruiz, 39, married.

7. Dominica Rodríguez Ruiz, 39, widow.

8. Felipa Rufo Alcaide, 40, married.

9. Amadora Sánchez González, 53, married.

10. Mariana Sánchez Vázquez, 51, UGT socialist labour union activist and avid reader, married.

11. Antonia Padilla Blanco, 51.

12. Encarnación Méndez Díaz, 56, member of the UGT socialist labour union.

13. Faustina Ventura Sánchez, 62.

14. Amadora Domínguez Labrador, UGT socialist labour union activist.

15. Carlota Garzón Núñez, 47.

16. Alejandra Garzón Acemel, 62, aka la Pistola.

isation Todos los Nombres.

For the last 13 years he has been investigating the fate of the ‘disappeared’ victims of the Civil War, a third of whom were buried in Andalucia.

“There was a wave of repression against the women who lived in Andalucia,” the former bus driver told the Olive Press.

“Western Andalucia is the only place in Spain where they have found graves filled exclusively with women and Zufre will be the fifth such grave, though it is suspected there may be a few men in there too.”

However, he warned: “At least two graves believed to have contained the remains of executed women were empty so you never know what you will find until they are opened.”

He, along with the CGT-A Andalucia Working Group for the Recovery of Social Historical Memory were given the go-ahead last year and it is still expected to go ahead from July 15, despite the new right-wing PP-Ciudadanos-Vox coalition

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July 3rd to July 16th 2019

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proposing to cut the historical memory bud- “Or they believed that by torturing and executget. ing the women, the men would emerge from However the dig will be highly controversial their hiding places in the sierra.” and emotive, as they usually are.

As they trudged up the hill to Don Angel’s “We are having a meeting this Thursday to medical clinic, where the truck waited, some discuss the exact timescale,” confirmed local passed their husbands, while others gazed Higuera archaeologist Jesus Roman, who is longingly at their children who had gathered involved in the dig. as usual around the local fountain to play.

The move comes just weeks after the five Apparently, on seeing their mothjudges in Madrid postponed moving the body ers’ hands tied and their faces of General Franco from Spain’s huge Valle de streaked with tears, the chillos Caidos memorial, which is meant to be for dren turned their heads victims of both sides of the war. away.

It would be something of a disaster to not Though the truck set off afford these women a decent proper burial, in the direction of Aracebelieves Gordillo. na, it apparently drove He explained that most of the 16 women only as far as Higuera knew this was to be a one-way ticket, despite de la Sierra, just 12 km their innocence. down the road.

One of them, 62-year-old Alejandra Garzón The centre of the town, Acemel, aka La Pistola, turned to embrace which like Zufre had a friend, whose name was omitted, crying: around 1,000 inhabit“Carmen, my dear, we are a n t s , not going to see each other was genagain.”

The cries of those erally lively Few of them were guilty of anyin the evenings wretched souls with children playing in thing more than being members of the UGT socialist trade square and elderly men could be heard the union with some of them havslamming down dominoes ing family members already across the whole and cards. jailed for being linked to it.

But by 7pm when the truck town The wave of terror launched drove in, the light was fading on the women of Andalucia fast and many had already however, was a strategy for gone indoors, leaving few hunting down their menfolk. witnesses to the atrocity that ensued more “They were trying to make them reveal the than 80 years ago. whereabouts of a brother or a husband,” However, Rosario, one living witness, did readds Gordillo. call the macabre scene.

“A truck stopped loaded with women in front of the bar at 7pm,” she explained in her testimony to the association. “Their cries were chilling. They were told to get down and they filed along the street that leads to the graveyard.

“It’s a short stretch; maybe some of them didn’t know where the street would take them, but others would have known. ‘In line, that way!’ their executioners shouted.

“The cries of those wretched souls could be heard across the whole town. It gave you goosebumps. The people of Higuera were terrified.

“The women who refused to climb down from the truck where dragged off it, with kicks and a bayonet. Some may have arrived almost dead.

“The offloading took place quickly and they shot them at the gate to the cemetery.

“The old iron gate, which has been painted hundreds of times since, is still marked by ‘KILLERS’: Franco’s suspected firing squad the impact of the bullets.

“They buried them in a very deep grave that was already open, where they had already thrown bodies of others they had executed.

They buried them in layers.

“They scattered soil on the last bodies in, then added more bodies.”

Ironically today at the entrance to the cemetery there is a headstone in memory of Franco’s Civil Guards who lost their lives in the attack on their barracks by the militias in 1936.

Of the poor women who died, there is precisely nothing to remember them by.

The youngest of the women was 30, the oldest 62.

Only seven of the 16 gunned down by the firing squad were officially recorded as dead.

It would be another 42 years before the fate of the others was even registered.

“My father was just seven when they took his mother,” explains Josefa Salguero, the granddaughter of Carlota Garzón Núñez, who was just 47 at the time of her death.

“I live in America and hope I will soon be able to visit the grave where my grandmother is.”

Higuera de la Sierra’s Culture Councillor, Maria del Prado confirmed the town hall had conceded permission to look for the grave.

“We are not otherwise involved. But it is hoped that if the grave is found it will bring peace to the families,” she said.

Certainly, it will address a painful chapter in the history of both Higuera and Zufre, closing this historic chapter in the history of the area.

“People have been saying when we open the first mass grave, you’re going to start another Civil War,” says Gordillo.

“Well, a lot of these graves have already been opened and absolutely nothing has happened.”

He continues: “We have a Christian culture and burying bodies is a Christian ceremony is the right thing to do.”

Spain is said to be second only to Cambodia when it comes to ‘missing’ persons.

By July, Todos los Nombres will have 100,000 names of the estimated 114,000 on its website.

As Gordilla points out: “We send a special division of the Guardia Civil to search for bodies in Yugoslavia and Guatemala.

“We have budgets for archaeologists seeking Pharaohs in Egypt, but what about our own grandfathers? It is time to deal with this once and for all.”

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UNCOVERED: Victims of firing squad exhumed from mass grave, while (below) memorial to women killed under Franco regime

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what’s on

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LA CULTURA

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July 3rd to July 16th 2019

ill yer gob

ON July 5 you can eat to your heart’s content at the Calentita food festival in Casemates, learn how to cook and listen to talks by international chefs.

D

oggie needs

THE Animal Collective will be collecting basic items such as bleach, bin bags, dog food and cat litter outside the Aldi supermarket in La Linea.

G

et sporty

ENJOY the excitement of the Gibraltar Island Games around the Rock on July 6-12, with nearly 2,000 athletes from small nations from all over the world

S

ummer fun

KIDS will love the Summer Nights performances that will run everyday at Casemates square during the Island Games with concerts, face-painting and bouncy castles.

FEATURE

Do you have a what’s on?

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

Volor am et fugia cus pro dem que et accupta namet audis ex ea dis

EATING green is top of the menu at this year’s Calentita food festival in Casemates Square.

Organisers said 15% of the stalls will be vegan, while a range of talks will give attendees an environmental perspective on the food they’re eating.

Speakers from Compassion in World Farming and permaculture farmers will help the public be more sustainable in their ingredient choices.

The annual festival will also see over 20 different nationalities represented, with free entertainment running into the night.

“Every year we put together a variety of foods that represent the Gibraltarian community,” said organiser Owen Smith. “It started with English, Spanish, ‘Yanito’, Indian and Moroccan cuisine but every year we add something new.

“This year we are excited about having a Brazilian and a Portuguese stall for the first time.”

As in other years, there will be a kitchen stage for local chefs to give cookery demonstrations, as well as a cocktail bar to keep guests

It’s oil in the past

FOODIE HEAVEN

refreshed.

The festival was moved back to July 5 so it could kick off the Island Games week.

“It will be an open-armed foodie welcome to all athletes,” said Smith. “But I think they will be more interested in the atmosphere rather than street food before an event they trained all year for!”

Over 6,000 people are expected for the free event that runs from 7pm until 1am.

Important

This latest find adds to the two ovens and extremely well-preserved Roman baths that were discovered in the same area a few months ago.

The site will become the largest archaeology park on the Costa del Sol with plans to turn it into a major tourism and cultural attraction.

The head of Mijas’s Historic Heritage department, Juan Jose de la Rubia, has described it as ‘one of the few existing sites from the early days of the Roman presence in the province’.

It is also said to be hugely important for studying the transitional period between the Carthaginians and Romans.

The Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 206BC. Scipio Africanus was victorious at Alcalá del Rio near present day Sevilla and founded the city Italica.

His army soon crushed the resistance of the native Iberians and turned Andalucia into one of Rome’s richest and best organised colonies.

This included Mijias, then called Tamisa, which became an affluent city close to the road connecting Malaga and Cadiz.

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THE Costa del Sol’s first ever Roman olive oil press has been unearthed in Mijas.

The ancient find is one of many at the site of Finca de Acebedo, a Roman villa which continues to be excavated by archaeologists.

Experts came across the counterweight for the fourtonne device, which they believe was used between the third and fourth centuries, late last week.

The press consisted of a large stone bowl (mortarium) into which the olives were poured and then crushed under two concave stones (orbes) attached to a central beam (cupa) fixed to an iron pivot (columella).

Monkeying around IT’S often the scene of wild dance moves and exotic music, but Dusk nightclub was completely transformed into a tropical rainforest for a charity fashion show last week.

More than £1,600 was raised for Alameda Wildlife Park at the ‘Wild For Fashion’ night.

“We were beyond excited to hold this fashion show to raise funds and awareness for the Alameda Wildlife Park,” said Emilia Hazell-Smith, Ocean Village Marketing and Events Executive.

The wildlife park, which is part of the Alameda Gardens, gives a home to exotic animals freed by customs officers.

“This event was something completely different for us to be involved in, but it was a great success!” exclaimed Jessica Leaper from the Alameda Wildlife Park. “It was also an amazing opportunity for us to introduce the sustainable fashion concept in Gibraltar.

“The Youth Group did a fantastic job upcycling clothes from the Clubhouse charity shop. The money raised from this event will make an important contribution to our Overground Project at the park.”

The Alameda Overground Project aims to build tunnels and walk-ways along the trees for the park’s monkey population.

C

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July 3rd to July 16th 2019

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9

Tarifa

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July 2019

It’s not just the infamous Atlantic wind that keeps the Costa de la Luz so spiritually chilled, discovers Tim McNulty

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E

UROPE’S most southerly town looks out across the Strait of Gibraltar where two mighty continents collide. But the clash of cultures is entirely geographic.

Indeed, Tarifa radiates such a calming vibe it would threaten to relax the mighty shoulders of the titan Atlas himself but there’s no danger of the sky falling down...Hercules’ two mythological pillars (Gibraltar and Mount Jebel Musa in Morocco) have long since relieved him of that burden.

Shaded by pine forest, cushioned by soft dunes, and 14 kilometres from Africa, this Costa de la Luz gem’s Carribean-copy beaches and laid-back vibe set it apart from the more structured resorts along the Malaga coast to the east.

And that’s unlikely to change thanks to Tarifa’s protected location in El Estrecho Natural Park.

The coastal town in Cadiz province is an endearing mix of beach bum bohemianism and boutique chic, with the added attraction of great seafood and restorative Atlantic winds.

It makes it the perfect escape (along Continues overleaf

SERENE: An inlet near Barbate, horse riding in El Palmar and arch in Tarifa PERFECT PLAZA: In Vejer

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Let in the light From Page 9

with its near neighbours, including Vejer, Zahara and Canos de Meca) from the high season heat and bustle of the nearby Costa del Sol. The brisk breezes, in particular, make this remote corner of Andalucia a Mecca for wind and kite surfers, a community of barefoot adventurers who came and never left.

But it is not just the wind that drives tourists to Tarifa, which harbours more than a thousand years of history within its atmospheric old medina.

Pass through the famous Puerta de Jerez archway and drift effortlessly into a maze of whitewashed streets, past a mosaic of hip boutiques, tasty

STREET SCENE: Tarifa architecture and partying (right)

tapas bars and evocative secret plazas.

“I only came out here as a favour for a friend, with no real plans to stay yet here I am 15 years on. But that’s Tarifa,” cafe owner Adele told me with more than a little pride.

Adele’s cosy ‘cafe in the arch,’ as it is known about town, is a popular pit-stop for newcomers, who mingle effortlessly with the affable Tarifidians and digital nomads who seem to have taken up semi-permanent residence inside.

From here your feet naturally gravitate downhill to the ocean, along meandering cobbles and through arabesque squares perfumed by orange trees and shaded by palms.

The journey ends at Tarifa' s bustling port where old salts still embark to fish the tuna-rich waters with almadraba trap nets, the ancient Phoenecian way.

Various local companies navigate the waters of the Strait, offering close encounters with the dolphins and whales that swim this salty corridor running between Spain and north Africa.

Cross it you probably will if you’re

staying here for any length of time... dating from 996, but the citadel walls You can resist the beguiling views of protectively encircling the old town the hazy purple Riff mountains for have been scrubbed clean and reonly so long before curiosity wins out pointed and look like they were built and you find yourself yesterday.

Tangier-bound on one In fact Tarifa was key of the frequent daily to the entire Moorish Tarifa was key ferries. invasion, captured to the Moorish and given its name in But you can get some of that exotic north Af711 by Berber military invasion and rican vibe in Tarifa. commander Tarif ibn Former leader Guzman given its name in Malik. el Bueno, the chap enIt became the base 711 by Berber joying the best views from which Arab atop a pillar outside armies from the the port, was MorocMaghreb set out to can himself although he later worked conquer Cordoba, Granada and Sevilfor the other side, defending Tarifa la, beginning the centuries of Muslim from attack by his countrymen for the rule that shaped this funky seaside king of Spain. town.

The castle he defended is Moorish, But the area goes back before that,

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July 2019

SNAPSHOTS: Of Tarifa streets, patios and ‘Los Lances’ beach (left) dating from 1A.D when the Romans were coining it in with their fishsalting business and built a sizeable town right on the coast at nearby Bolonia.

The visitors centre of Baolo Claudia, where you can walk along ancient Roman roads and take a seat in the amphitheatre is an extra reason to take a side trip to this glorious beach with its 30-metre tall UNESCO-listed dune (the biggest in Europe).

Flop down at one of the wooden chiringuitos scattered along the sands and order up a feast of fresh fish, crisp calamares, pimientos de padron and an ice bucket of wine.

Moors, Cathaginians, Romans, they all recognised the Costa de la Luz as an exceptional place to live, and it’s this patchwork of cultural influences that makes Tarifa so wonderfully atmospheric and open minded.

These days it’s more famously Europe’s kitesurf capital and the only conquerors storming the city are those looking to stake a claim on the white sands of Playa Chica or Los Lances.

Day after day, depending on which way the fickle Atlantic wind blows, kites in luminous colours and patterns are hoist from the sand where they bob above the waves like little half moons (or ‘painted toenail clippings’, as someone said) against a blue screen sky.

No matter how you spend the day in Tarifa, you should stick around for its legendary nocturnal life. The surf set has attracted some of the coolest night spots on Spain’s southern coast or even, dare we say it, on the party island of Ibiza.

Come sundown, the narrow alleyways around Calle Cervantes are crowded with drinkers easing their way in and out of the numerous cocktail bars and surfer haunts.

Perched in one such surfer bar I was immediately immersed in conversations that confirmed the cosmopoli-

FUN FACT

Tarifa is sometimes credited with being the origin of the word ‘tariff’, since it was the first port in history to charge merchants for the use of its docks.

tan nature of this unique community.

Jovial chatter filled the room in accents that ranged well beyond the extent of Spain’s borders … Dutch and English, French and Portuguese, Argentinian Spanish as well as Andaluz.

“Tarifa is melting pot, always has been, that is the source of its appeal,” kitesurfing instructor turned Tomatito bar owner Dom tells me, in between calling out ‘holas’ and ‘qué pasa hombres’ to arriving customers.

Eager to extol the virtues of Tarifa and share the treasures of the place he traded for Norwich many summer moons ago, he continues: “Everyone

is friendly here and will look out for you.

“If someone comes in on their own they won't be wanting for company for long if they want it. It’s that kind of openness that I value about this place.”

Indeed it is not hard to see why so many people intending to pass through on their way to somewhere else tend to stop here and settle.

It is much more than a simple case of travellers reaching the edge of Spain, stopping and saying this ‘will do.’

There is a magnetic charm to Tarifa that is reflected in the warmth of the people you meet, unrattled by even the most stubborn Atlantic wind.

Perhaps it’s those same welcome summer breezes that also keep the folk in Tarifa so spiritually cool in this fascinating melting pot that simmers all summer with good vibrations but never boils over.

WHITEWASHED: Typical Tarifa corner

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FRONTIER OF FOOD

Combining sea and sierra, Vejer de la Frontera counts on wonderful scenery, history and restaurants in equal measures, writes Jon Clarke “IT’S classic Mediterranean fare mixed with the Atlantic, with a pinch of Korean and a dash of Japanese.”

This was how a waiter explained the enticing menu of a new restaurant 4 Estaciones in the heart of Vejer de la Frontera. In Spanish, of course.

A true frontier of food, what makes this charming white-walled town so special is it’s sheer variety of quality ingredients, mixed together with a high level of expertise.

Indeed, to open a restaurant here you will not only need a great chef, deep pockets and a sharp business acumen, but you will also need a keen eye for style… and also some luck.

For Vejer is the definitive food capital of Cadiz province, a place literally creaking with excellent places to eat. All competi-

MELTINGPOT: Boss Nono at Venta el Toro, fishes drying and (right) a table at 4 Estaciones tive in the extreme.

Foodies, like me, travel from miles around (and from abroad) to spend a few days sampling its heady mix of eateries, that spread around the heart of town and into a series of small hamlets nearby.

I first found my culinary Nirvana (well, my second after San Sebastian) in a sleepy hamlet called Santa Maria, up a dead end road near the town.

Tricky to find and easy to miss even when right outside, there are few places left in the region that are quite so unpretentious.

Authentic in the extreme and little changed for decades, Venta el Toro is

where those locals in the know go for a sniff out the joys of Patria, where Dandose of nostalgia and a darn good tapas ish expats Ase and Thomas Donso have lunch. been ploughing their cuIt is here that you will find linary furrow for over a local hoteliers escaping decade.

Like heading their clients and lovers Like heading back in back in time, heading for a secret rentime, their eatery in La dezvous.

Muela, is romantic and La Muela, is One of the last redoubts groundbreaking in equal of quintessential Andameasures. romantic and lucia, the hamlet counts You sit on an ancient cobauthentic on another amazing resbled terrace with views taurant, Castilleria, which as far as Cadiz, watching has been constantly the sun-set with dishes as evolving for 25 years. good as you might find in Copenhagen’s Up a parallel hill, serious foodies will also Noma. Life gets no better.

In the heart of historic Vejer

All part of the food capital of greater Vejer, within 15 minutes of here you can easily find a dozen good places to eat.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a place that two decades ago you would probably only stop for a coffee or maybe a venta lunch if you couldn’t make it to Tarifa or nearby Conil in time.

Like a slow-cooked pork belly, the town has gently fused its ingredients to become a culinary hive only rivalled by Marbella, Sevilla and Malaga in Andalucia.

“We set the bar high,” explains local restaurateur James Stuart, who owns a string of restaurants in the town, including award-winning El Jardín del Califa,

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July 2019

Open every day from 11 to 11 Corredera 33, Vejer de la Frontera tel: 637 423 506 www.CalifaVejer.com CHANGING LIGHT: Sunset approaches in centre of the town

DINING CENTRAL: Garimba, Trafalgar and Califa all sit around Plaza de los Pescaitos as well as Califa Tapas and stunning Corredera 55, with his new wife Ellie Cormié, who previously ran a Michelin-starred restaurant in Scotland. “There is plenty of competition between restaurants and all of us keep taking the level higher in order to get ahead,” he adds. “If you’re new on the block and not good enough your restaurant won’t last long. The Vejeriegos themselves have become foodies, a whole new generation is learning that quality and imagination are a winning formula”.

The Scotsman was one of the first expat businessmen to open a hotel in the area, La Casa del Califa, and at the time there was almost nowhere good to eat. That was until a new restaurant the

DETAIL: At Califa Hotel

Trafalgar opened on the square together that’s different”. opposite his hotel and he had Much of Vejer’s success is down somewhere to send his guests. “It to the local surroundings, which was definitely the produce some of start of the culithe best quality nary revolution,” Vejer’s success ingredients in the he explains. “The world. is down to the food was so fresh The obvious and so creative, examples are surroundings and it caused a real sherry, fish and buzz. And things the quality of its the wonderful sort of went from pork and beef produce there.

When from the classic we opened the brown ‘retinto’ Jardín in 2002 cows, which you the whole idea of a Moroccan often see wandering around the restaurant seemed madness nearby hills. to most people but as I pointed Of course the amazing ‘almadraout the ingredients are the same ba’ bluefin tuna, caught nearby, both sides of the Strait of Gibral- is spectacularly good and the tar, it’s just the way they’re put vegetables available are also of a high quality, particularly from Conil, just down the road.

Another reason is the type of tourists who visit the town, which has seen a distinctly better heeled crowd than its nearby rivals on the Costa del Sol. “We don’t just rely on beaches,” explains restaurateur Ramon at Vina y Mar, which has its own wine shop with over 200 references. “And many of the people who visit are keen food lovers, who come here specifically to eat.”

This is certainly the case and the huge mix of restaurateurs, who herald from France, Denmark, Britain and the north of Spain have helped to put together a rich and varied offering for them.

Madrileno Javier Duenas at Garimba in the main square has done extremely well constantly expanding and improving his restaurant.

“We pride ourselves on working incredibly hard, never standing still and keeping the prices down,” he says.

Taperia Sumia

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Calle de la Corredera, 49A, 11150 Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz

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Picture credit: David Cussen

DANCE TO A DIFFERENT TUNA Gin Tunics, tuna lollipops and tuna yachts... despite Belinda Beckett not eating fish, Zahara’s legendary Ruta de Atún festival had her hooked!

“

JUST try it,” said Dave. “It doesn’t taste that fishy.”

The last person to try that was my mother, when as a babe in a high chair I refused to eat my fish fingers, dashing each spoonful to the floor.

To my dysfunctional palate, all fish smells of ammonia and tastes worse. But, despite being a pescaphobe I found myself at the annual Tuna Festival in Zahara de los Atunes and agreed to try some, all in the line of duty, of course.

The dish set before me didn’t look like fish: orange and round with a tiny leaf, it could have fallen from a neighbouring tree.

That was the whole idea! Paripé de Mandarina (Mandarin De-

ception), was created for this ioned into miniature pizzas year’s tapas competition – one with their own printed boxes. of 36 imaginatively-prepared There was even liquid tuna, witdishes, each representing the tily named ‘Gin Tunic’. chef of a differEvery tapa ent restaurant. came with a Huge thought During festival glass of chilled goes into the manzanilla week there are and, at €3.50 presentation to give a humorous a throw, it was as many fish twist, or to pera no-brainer for haps outwit my fanciers on land fish aficionados. own picky taste “All the same buds. I was de- as there are tuna Dave, I think I’ll termined to find wait to try the out… tuna toffees,” I There was so much choice! reasoned, discovering that the Tuna burgers, tuna lollipops, Mandarin Deception contained bars of tuna wrapped in gold raw tuna tartare! Which was a leaf, tuna with ice cream, tuna bit of a nuisance for Dave as shaped like yachts... even fash- the tuna toffees were being

served down the road in Atlanterra (Zahara’s posh sister resort) and we’d been lucky to find a parking spot in town.

Fish lovers travel from far and wide to the Costa de la Luz in Springtime to taste the first succulent almadraba tuna caught by an ancient method dating back to Phoenecian times, just as these Leviathans leave the cold Atlantic for their warmer Mediterranean spawning grounds.

During festival week there are as many fish fanciers on land as there are tuna in the sea, when the population of this pretty maritime pueblo of 1,300 residents fills up with another 15,000 hungry souls.

In total, they munched their way through 65,000 tapas made from 200 tuna weighing some 200 kilos apiece, netting

restaurateurs an impressive €400,000 over one weekend– not bad in an economic crisis!

And tuna isn’t the only temptation. There are some enticing prizes for eating it too, which only steeled my resolve. Eat 12 tapas for the chance to win a smart LGD TV, a Samsung tablet or a Nintendo Wii. Eat all 36 and a weekend for two at the posh Hotel Atlanterra could be yours.

It was all so well organised (something of a surprise, in Spain). Everyone gets a menu map detailing the location of each restaurant and its speciality tapa, divided into six colourcoded zones, plus a sheet of paper drawn up with boxes that you have to get stamped as you eat.

The man responsible for this shining example of entrepre-

HOOKED: Locals enjoy the parade

PESCAPHOBE: Belinda gets a stamp neurialism is local restaurateur Gaspar Castro, President of local traders association ACOZA. “For most towns May is the month for communions and weddings but we don’t cater for those events in a big way as we’re only a small fishing village,” he says. “At the same time, it’s one of the best months to eat fresh red tuna, caught in our unique way.

We’ve been making a party of it since 2009 and it’s really paying off.”

If high drama is you’re bag, there’s plenty of it with music, dancing, street parades and a demonstration of tuna filleting that’s pure theatre, complete with buckets of blood!

It’s called a ‘ronqueo’ after the ‘grunting’ noise the knife makes when separating flesh from bone.

It takes experts with cleavers and sharp knives under tenminutes to reduce one silvery

ANCIENT METHOD: But the Almadraba system of nets has been effective since Phoenician times

15

July 2019

ANCIENT: Technique from the Phoenicians traps tuna in the Almadrabas 200-kilo tuna to 17 choice cuts ifa, Conil and Barthe colour and texture of prime bate which also beef (which is why bluefin tuna hold their own is confusingly called atún rojo rutas de atún durin Spain) “Hardly any goes to ing May and June. waste which is why we call the In 2010, Barbate tuna ‘el cerdo del mar’,” Gas- welcomed 50 cepar told me. lebrity chefs to its book a boat trip to see (That explains the float I saw go festival including Ferrán Adriá, the levantá from a distance by, bearing a bunch of cheer- Juan María Arzak and Dani but there’s little chance of ing children dressed as Peppa García. taking part, unless you’re wellPigs.)

Quotas are strictly controlled connected or prepared to bribe A 200-kilo almadraba tuna will to preserve declining stocks of your way onto a boat (a figure fetch €3,800 on the open mar- this endangered fish and today, of €200 a head has been menket in Spain and Japanese ships tioned). Gaspar is disapproving the ventresca queue up in the “It’s illegal and dangerous – (stomach, best The record for a bay to buy tuna .one tourist lost three fingers.” for tuna steaks) directly from the bluefin sold at I was content to enjoy the fessells for €40 per almadrabas. tival atmosphere and coo over kilo but some rojo is a auction in Tokyo Atún the cutest foals on the short cuts are particuhighly prized coastal drive to Atlanterra lar delicacies: ingredient of suis 2.7 million where I finally got to try the the morillo (a shi and sashimi euros tuna toffees! kind of muscle and sells in JaThey looked the part and Dave in the head) pan for four or enjoyed them - two little sweetcosts circa €55 five times its shaped cubes wrapped in shiny per kilo and the female eggs, price in Spain. The current repaper, presented in a pretty tin. €80 per kilo. cord for a 278 kilo bluefin sold But I was caught out by yet anHuevos de leche are also rel- at auction in Tokyo is a cool other deception. It was all just ished, though aren’t for the €2.7 million! window dressing containing no faint-hearted (being tuna If you can time it right, you can toffee at all – only fish! sperm) but Gaspar swears they’re ‘very tasty’. Although, as his restaurant was responsible for the Mandarin Deception, I’m not so sure I believe him!

The most fascinating aspect of the local tuna industry is the al1. The Almadraba method is one madraba – the large structure of the oldest ever recorded and takes advantage of you can glimpse one kilometre the migration of Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna between the Med out to sea. It’s a complex labyiterranean and the Atlantic. rinth of nets several kilometres 2.Th e size and flexibility of the nets, or long and more than 30 mealmadrabas, means there is no damage to ters deep, designed to guide ceta dolphins that populate the straits. ceans or the many the tuna into a central trap (el 3.A high percentage of the caug copo) from which there’s no ht mens that have already spawned tuna are adult speciescape. on several occasions.

Ecologically sound, immature 4. The almadrabas are only insta lled seasonally, meantuna can wriggle out through ing the system does not alter the tunas’ natural routes the mesh and live to spawn or their life cycle. another day. The thrilling part 5. With the almadrabas installed clos is the Levantá. Several will be always in the same place, it is easy e to the shore and held between April and June, sure compliance with environmentafor authorities to enl protections. dependent on wind, tides and 6. The fish are loaded onto boats usin sea conditions and decided instead of hooks, avoiding unneces g ropes and cranes, by the almadraba’s ‘captain’. sary suffering.

7. Almadraba is not a ‘mass prod Then, the fishermen encircle uction’ system, being less than 2% of world productio this seething cauldron of capn 8. The system consumes little ene tive tuna in their boats and rgy as the fisherman rely on the weather, skilled hands and good hoist the nets out of the water. luck 9.

The tuna remain in the structure They will have no more than six of the almadraba for a limited time to protect against hours to raise thousands of kiover exploitation which has endangered the survival of los of frenzied fish. ‘Almadraba’ tuna 10. Only the best specimens are stocks. is Arabic for ‘place of fighting’ caught while the rest are releasedhand selected to be and the name’s well-justified.

Zahara boasts one of the ‘big that the tuna shoals can regenera back to the sea so te. four’ Atlantic almadrabas in Spain, along with those of Tar-

10 facts that make ‘almadraba’ the most sustainable fishing method in the world

DID YOU KNOW?

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ll about

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osta de la Luz

Whale of a time

Flying fish, dolphins and giant turtles pay a visit on a trip into the Straits, writes Jon Clarke

W

E are about equi-

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Soon we have found a school of dolphins swimming around the boat and, being so calm, we can see them clearly under the water.

CENTER CENTER

MATERNAL: Dolphin with mother

It’s an almost religious experience for the boat-load of tourists, as the stunning mammals clearly swim over to take a closer look at us.

“These two are particularly inquisitive,” pipes up a voice from the cockpit above, as one particular pair come sniffing up to the boat, then swim underneath at an amazing speed.

The words come from Dr Katharina Heyer, a remarkable woman of 75 years of age, who has become, without a doubt, one of the world’s authorities on sea life off the tip of southern Spain.

It’s her 20th year working with her foundation Firmm, which was set up after she was guided to Tarifa to see whales and dolphins by a ‘spiritual man’ in 1998.

Then running her own fashion company in Switzerland, she visited the area to find nobody organising trips to see the mammals and almost no research on them.

“I arrived on a really rainy,

awful day to find no whale boats, just fishermen, and had to rent a diving boat to take me out,” she explains.

It may not have been perfect weather conditions, but what she saw completely changed her for good.

While she had long enjoyed diving holidays with her teenage sons in the Caribbean and the Maldives, seeing a group of Pilot whales and Bottlenose dolphins had a strong and immediate impact on her.

So moved was she by these large and graceful mammals that she quickly moved out to set up her ‘respectful whale watching’ foundation in Tarifa and has never looked back.

Indeed, so respected has been her research into the mammals over the last two decades - in particular her sensitization work for them - that last year she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel.

GIANTS: Ships share the straits with whales

There are now a handful of companies taking visitors out to see the mammals from Tarifa, and on most days they can expect to see Sperm whales, Pilot whales and even Orcas, not to mention various types of dolphins and many other fish.

It is one of the best places in the world to see them, with the currents bringing a lot of food from both directions, explains Katharina.

However, this brings in itself severe risks, as they are entering one of the busiest waterways in the world with more than 300 freighters and other sea traffic passing every day.

Indeed, as you look out into the Straits you are witnessing a battle for survival.

“The lives of dolphins and whales are at risk from ferries getting faster and faster, the noise from shipping traffic and more,” she explains.

“We are trying our best to monitor their numbers and do our best to minimise the issues they face.”

BUSINESS

17

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

‘Roll out the 5G!’ Chief Minister welcomes technology despite health concerns

TAX DODGERS: (Left to right) actor Conde, exIMF chief Rota and moto-cyclist Pons

IOU big time SPAIN has published a list of tax dodgers who each still owe over €1 million, despite being warned.

A total of 4,028 individuals and companies collectively owe the Tax Agency an eye-watering €14.1 billion - although it’s 7.8% less than in 2018.

Rodrigo Rato, the imprisoned former International Monetary Fund boss, is the most infamous of these slippery characters.

The former Bankia president and Spanish Economy Minister from Madrid owes the public coffers €1,019,740.

Joining him is Despicable Me 2 star and TV presenter Patricia Conde from Valladolid, who owes €1.82 million and is clearly living up to the movie’s name.

Champion

Two-times 250cc motorcycling world champion Alfonso ‘Sito’ Pons still owes €1.95 million after a fraud probe alleged he falsely claimed to be living in Monaco.

Meanwhile the top offender is Isolux Corsan, an international construction firm, which owes Spain €315.9 million in unpaid taxes.

Andalucian multinational energy firm, Abengoa, owes a total of €3.14 million through its subsidiaries, following financial difficulties.

But despite the huge debts still owed to the Government, some 2,000 taxpayers highlighted in the list’s inception in 2015, are not included in this edition.

However, the list could be expanded in the future, as acting Finance Minister, Maria Jesus Montero, hinted that she wished to lower the threshold to name and shame those owing the Treasury €600,000 or more.

CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has supported the rollout of 5G mobile data technology despite alleged radiation risks.

The ESG (Environmental Safety Group) called on the government to ‘halt the 5G rollout until further proof of its safety is attained’.

It came after Gibtelecom announced that the fastest mobile data speeds on the planet could soon be available on the Rock.

“I believe making 5G services available would be very important not only for Gibtelecom, but also for Gibraltar as a whole,” said Picardo. “Having top-end communication serTHE BBC and Siemens were targeted by the Gibraltar tourist board at the Meetings Show in London.

Over 20 meetings were arranged with corporations and agencies to try to bring them to Gibraltar to host their conferences and events.

The GTB was accompanied by five-star hotel Sunborn Gibraltar in their stand.

“This is a sector of growing importance for the Tourist Board,” Minister for Tourism Gilbert Licudi revealed. “We are constantly adapting and

vices is one of the fundamental pillars of our economy and is key to retaining and attracting investment locally.”

However Brussels has banned the technology alongside other cities in Europe and the US. “I cannot welcome such technology, if the radiation standards, which must protect the citizen, are not respected,” said Belgian minister Celine Fremault.

“The people of Brussels are not guinea pigs whose health I can sell at a profit. We cannot leave anything to doubt.”

Gibtelecom are aiming to launch 5G, which is up to 20

AIMING HIGH

improving the Gibraltar product to meet the demands of a sophisticated clientele.

“The meetings industry is a lucrative sector of travel with a higher spend per head than traditional tourist visitors.”

The Meetings Show exhibition at Olympia in the UK capital ran from June 2627, bringing together nearly 5,000 event professionals.

times faster than 4G, by the end of 2020.

The upgrade is being done in conjunction with Spanish company Ericsson Iberia.

Ericsson Iberia CEO Jose Antonio Lopez said: “Ericsson is proud to be associated with Gibraltar’s premier communications services provider and we look forward to our next steps in our long standing partnership.”

University studies suggest 5G radiation could lead to more cancer, memory loss, headaches, sleep disorders and leukemia.

Berkley university professor Dr Joel Moskowitz said that the amount of extra towers that need to be put up could cause major skin, eye and nervous system problems.

“The deployment of 5G, or fifth generation cellular technology, constitutes a massive experiment on the health of all species,” said Moskowitz.

Despite the concerns, Gibtelecom said trials would be carried out as early as this year turning a blind eye to real health concerns of the public.

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18

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Many more onebeds are needed for young people on the Rock, says campaign group THE Gibraltar government has denied there is a need for more one-bedroom rental homes.

This is despite the pressure group Action for Housing telling the Olive Press the contrary.

“There is a need to provide housing for rental including one bedroom flats,” said former ombudsman Henry Pinna of Action for Housing.

PROPERTY

SINGLES SHAFTED

“The only rental housing will be provided for pensioners but we need much more than that.”

It came as the government announced 228 more affordable homes at Chatham Views on Queensway.

They will be built at the old Westside school site which will be demolished in the summer.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said the reason for choosing to

Property freeze INVESTORS are still lining up to invest in Gibraltar despite the possibility of Brexit.

This is the clear message from Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia as he put on hold a few projects for the time being.

“There’s a huge amount of interest to develop and invest in Gibraltar,” said Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia. “This is a sign of confidence in the economy regardless of Brexit.”

Six plots of lands which had expressions of interest for them have been frozen to control private sector development on government land.

One of the biggest areas to be spared development is the former HMS Rooke site which saw an online petition ask for it to be turned into a green area.

“We felt there was a need to provide a phasing of development so we do not have so much happening at the same time,” said Garcia.

“There is a clear public interest in development but also in building schools, community centres, sports facilities and houses for our people.

“Construction generates economic wealth but we need to control it too.”

build homes to sell rather than to rent was to protect ’government resources’.

This is despite the fact that Gibraltar is in the middle of a Brexit crisis where the job market is fragile at best.

Only four of the new homes will be one-bedroom flats, with 34 being two-bedroom, 106 having three bedrooms and 40 being four-bedroom housing.

“I think the net positive for young people in our community is absolutely huge,” said Picardo.

As in previous developments, the 50/50 scheme applies where the government pays for half of the homes to make it easier to buy outright.

This brings the amount of homes to be built for Gibraltarians since the GSLP/Liberals came to office in 2011 to more than 2,300 homes.

“That is an incredible number in a relatively short period of time,” said Samantha Sacramento, Minister for Housing.

“The provision of housing for our community is absolutely paramount.

“We believe that will have knock-on effects on rented housing.”

Applications for Chatham Views will start in mid-August when prices are announced.

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NETWORKING IS WORKING! A lifetime of networking has helped get Jonathan Holdaway where he wants to be

S

O now I’ve outlined the benefits of working with a chartered financial planner, how do I get the message out there (apart from in this column)?

When I was building my business in the UK, I had always sought referrals from like-minded professionals, who also had the sort of clients I would be able to help with their financial planning needs.

A great fit for me were accountants and solicitors, as they not only had the right clients, but they also recognised the quality of the advice I was able to provide – given my qualifications and extensive experience.

But how would I meet these different types of professionals?

For me, networking was the answer.

From the very start of my financial services career I had always regularly attended meetings of the professional bodies I belonged to – starting in 1988 with the Life Insurance Association (LIA), the Society of Financial Advisers (cutely shortened to SOFA), or the body that was created when these two merged in 2005 to form the Personal

Finance Society (financial All this naturally increased planning arm of the Char- the number of advocates tered Insurance Institute). for my services, as it’s not I also volunteered to be on just ‘who’s in the room’ but the committee of the Hamp- who do they know that you shire and Dorset region, don’t? where I lived and worked, As a result, I can attribute which culminated in me acquiring a large number of having a two year tenure, good quality clients directly where I was outgoing Chair- to my networking activities. man of both the LIA and Because of my success in incoming chairman of the the UK, when I arrived in newly formed PFS. Spain four months ago, I I remember chuckling to actively sought out Engmyself when during an lish-speaking networking oversight I was incorrectly groups in the area. announced The two at the CII groups I annual dinfound were I sought out ner in BourBTB Club nemouth as English-speaking ( w w w. m e e t the president up.com/ networking of the PFS Malaga-Net- a position working-Enggroups in the much higher lish), who ofthan the one fer a weekly area I actually networking held! breakfast All this would and GBO not have helped me achieve (www.globalbusinessownmy aim, which was to meet ers.com) who have a fortother people involved in my nightly lunch or dinner. target professions of ac- One of my colleagues once countants and solicitors. quipped to me, as I was I therefore started going to heading out of the office regular meetings of the lo- one day to a networking cal Institute of Chartered lunch, ‘off NOT working Accountants England and again then Jonathan?’

Wales, and the Society of He obviously didn’t get the Trust and Estate Practitio- power of networking as I ners (STEP). did!

What’s a Chartered Financial Planner?

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Most people will be aware of the Chartered moniker - probably heard of a Chartered Accountant or Chartered Surveyor, but what exactly is a Chartered Financial Planner – and what does it mean?

A Chartered professional is a person who has gained a specific level of skill or competence in a particular field of work, which has been recognised by the award of a formal credential by a relevant professional organisation.

In my own case this would be the CII, which was established in 1912, and is the main professional body for financial professionals throughout the world, with currently over 120,000 members in 150 countries – but interestingly only 10% outside the UK. They already offered a few Chartered titles - Insurer, Insurance Practitioner and Insurance Broker, but these were ‘General’ Insurance related and nothing to do with financial planning.

Then in 2005 the CII obtained permission,

by Royal Charter, to introduce the Chartered Financial Planner, and anyone with sufficient examination credits would immediately be allowed to apply for the title

(incidentally you also needed five year’s work experience, adhere to the Institute’s code of ethics’ and be subject to their disciplinary procedures).

To quote Wikipedia ‘Chartered status is considered a mark of professional competency, and is awarded mainly by chartered professional bodies and learned societies. Common in Britain, it is also used in Ireland, the United States and the Commonwealth, and has been adopted by organizations around the world.’

Chartered status originates from Royal Charters issued to professional bodies in the UK by the British Monarch, although such is the prestige and credibility of a chartered designation that some non-UK organisations have taken to issuing chartered designations without Royal or Parliamentary approval.

In the UK, chartered titles may still only be awarded by institutions that have been incorporated under Royal Charter, with the permission of the Privy Council.

Many chartered statuses in the UK and Ireland are also regulated professional titles under European professional qualification directives’.

Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

19

BASQUE-ING IN GLORY

Basque Country shines with five of Spain’s seven top 50 restaurants

SPAIN has again dominated the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List with three establishments in the top 10.

The country equalled its record haul of 2018, with seven Spanish restaurants handed gongs at the event, dubbed the ‘Oscars of fine dining’.

Pipping the Spanish to the OLIVES from Spain have crossed the Atlantic and proved a hit at New York’s prestigious gastronomic fair, the Summer Fancy Food Show.

Led by Spain’s pioneering chef Jose Andres, the ‘Have an Olive Day’ campaign showcased the humble table olive to more than 17,000 culinary professionals.

TOP CHEF: Colagreco of Mirazur post this year though was Argentinian-Italian chef Mauro Colagreco’s Mirazur in Men-

The Big Olive Spain has targeted the American market with an investment of €7.5 million following the yearly growth in US imports of European olives to more than 155 million pounds in weight. In fact, 95% of the pepper-filled olives loved by Americans come from Spain.

ton, France.

Spain’s Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, in the Basque Country, rose to third best in the world after coming 10th last year.

Another Basque star, Andoni Luis Aduriz’s rural restaurant Mugaritz in San Sebastian, climbed to seventh.

Meanwhile ninth place went to last year’s highest new entry, the avant-garde Disfrutar in Barcelona, which shot up from 18th.

The Basque Countryfaired well at the glitzy ceremony,

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held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands hotel, with five restaurants in the top 50 compared to Barcelona’s two.

Azurmendi in Larrabetzu came in at 14, followed by Elkano in Getaria (30) and Bilbao’s Nerua (32).

Conspicuous by their absence from the list were the famous Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca, whose Catalan kitchen had previously been the best on the top 50 list.

But don’t worry - in this year’s awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, previously crowned ‘best in the world’ restaurants have been elevated to a new ‘Best of the Best’ list.

Since its inception in 2002 the illustrious parade of global gastronomy has put a Spanish restaurant top seven times: El Bulli on five occasions and El Cellar de Can Roca twice.

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Ginspirational!

A FAMOUS old Cadiz gin favoured by royalty two centuries ago is making a comeback with a new look and taste.

Spanish-British Burdon gin disappeared in the 1970s but will now be gracing shelves once more in three distinct flavours.

Distilled in El Puerto de Santa Maria, the trio of ‘high quality’ tipples feature the Original Dry Gin Burdon (dry and citrus) and two newcomers - Cerezas (cherry sweet and f r u i t y , €12.75) and Hierb-

abuena (a refreshing hint of mint, €13.99).

Burdon was founded in 1821 by British expat John WIlliam Burdon, who had settled in Cadiz.

By 1854 it was famous around the world and King Alfonso XIII himself granted Burdon the rank of Supplier of the Royal Household.

It continued to enjoy success up until the 1970s when demand trickled, but it is now back once again, almost 200 years after it was founded.

RIP to a maestro

TRAILBLAZING Cadiz chef Alejandro Fernandez Gavilan has died.

Gavilan, whose legendary Los Remos de San Roque earned the province’ its first Michelin star in 1993, passed away at the age of 79 last week.

He and his wife Nati, who helped run the restaurant,

STAR CHEF: Los Remos retired in 2002, bequeathing the nation some of his iconic recipes incluyding his shrimp and seaweed tortillitas.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

20

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

HIGH SEAS CUISINE

Spanish cuisine is taking to the high seas with a new Sasso menu

A LUXURY cruise line has rolled out Spain’s Michelin-starred Anthony Sasso as head chef at a new specialty restaurant.

Windstar’s new Cuadro 44 restaurant will feature ‘modern and inventive’ Spanish cuisine inspired by Sasso’s own travels across the Iberian Peninsula.

Sasso is known for his work at New York restaurant Casa Mono, earning the restaurant a Michelin star on ten separate occasions during his 13-year tenure.

“I’ve spent a lifetime studying Spanish food and culture, working in several Catalan kitchens, traveling the Iberian landscape and learning from and getting inspired by the masters: everyone from the Roca Brothers of El Celler de Can Roca to the unmatchable Pablo Picasso,” said Sasso.

Hamming it up

CHEF: Anthony Sasso “This new venture with Windstar will be the perfect vehicle to showcase the universally enticing flavors of Spain and its coastal seas.

“I’m extremely excited and honored to be involved with this innovative company.”

Sasso has planned for the Cuadro 44 menu to showcase all of the coastal areas of Spain, especially southern Andalucia and Jerez.

“Dining at Cuadro 44 will give guests the opportunity to try legendary jamon iberico, a 24-month aged pork made from black pigs raised solely on acorns in Southern Spain, almost exclusively served in Spain,” said Windstar Director of Hotel Operations Peter Tobler.

Jamón Ibérico is an intrinsic part of Spanish culture.. But is it good for us?

S

PAIN has been named healthiest country in the world in 2019 by the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index. A 2018 study also revealed that Spaniards are predicted to have the world's longest life expectancy by 2040, scoring an average of 85,8 years.

The country's famous mediterranean diet is cited amongst other factors contributing to this outstanding performance.

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Mediterranean diet is based on plant-based foods, fish, olive oil and a limited amount of meat.

Yet Spaniards are known to love meat, and especially pork: they gobble an average of 21 kg of pork each year. Although meat is a valuable source of nutrients such as protein and iron, research has found that an excessive consumption of red and processed meat increases the risk of getting heart disease, strokes and certain types of cancer such as bowel, stomach and colorectal cancer. Processed meat is notably unhealthy, and it is recommended to eat as little as possible or cut it out completely. ¨Jamón ibérico¨ is one of the best options out there if you are looking to reduce your processed meat intake. Not only is it tasty as hell and will satisfy your meat cravings, it is also one of the healthiest types of ham.

Jamón ibérico comes from the black Iberian pig, a domestic breed present in central and southern parts of Spain and Portugal. Bigger and fatter than the white pig, it has little hair and distinctive black hoofs (which is why its highest quality products are known as ¨pata negra¨).

In Spain, the Iberian pig is typically found in the regions of Salamanca, Ciudad Real, Cáceres, Badajoz, Huelva, Córdoba and Seville. To earn the Spanish denominación de origen, the jamón ibérico must come from a pig who is at least 50% ibérico.

The cerdo ibérico can eat a lot, sometimes gaining as much as two pounds per day. Its capacity to accumulate fat produces the ham´s recognisable marbling.

The ham is also cured for over 20 months, as compared to 7 to 14 months for the jamón serrano. Both the marbling and

ripening period contribute to the which makes for an even better ham´s celebrated taste. taste. If taken in moderation it The color-based labeling system also has numerous health benintroduced in 2014 distinguish- efits. It contains fewer calories es the swine´s diet and its per- and less sodium than other centage of Iberian ancestry. In- types of ham and processed deed, while ham from pure-bred meat (about 150 calories for 50 Iberian pig is considered better grams), and is rich in vitamin E, than ham from white pig (jamón B1, B2. It is also high in calcium, serrano) or cross-bred pig, diet iron, zinc, magnesium and espeis another primordial quality fac- cially phosphorus - 30 percent of tor. There are different types of the recommended daily intake. jamón ibérico based on the pig's Additionally, the fat of acorndiet, the best befed ibérico pigs ing the jamón contains over ibérico de Bel55% oleic acid Jamon is a lota. (an unsaturated luxury: its price fat), making it The notorious Bellota ham is the healthiest of can go up to made of pigs all animal fats. fattened on Only olive oil has hundreds of acorns (¨belmore oleic acid. euros a kilo lota¨ is Spanish Research has for acorn) from shown that these the holm oaks fats increase the and cork trees of the ¨dehesa¨. amount of ¨good¨ (HDL) cholesThe ¨dehesa¨ (¨montado¨ in terol and reducing ¨bad¨ (LDL) Portugal) is a unique ecosystem cholesterol. of almost 20, 000 kilometres This jamón ibérico de Bellota is square that lies across central a luxury: its price can go up to and southern Spain and Portu- hundreds of euros a kilo. But be gal. It consists principally of dif- on the lookout for fraudulent deferent types of oak trees and is nominations, as these are prevaused mainly to raise cattle such lent in the industry. as sheep, goat… and the Iberian Cost and health are not the only pig. reasons you should moderate The Ibérico Bellota ham is typi- your consumption of this golden cally cured for about four years, ham. Environmentalists have voiced their concerns over the negative impact of pig livestock in Spain. Pigs outnumbered humans for the first time in Spain in 2018, according to figures from the Spanish environment ministry (50 million pigs for 46,5 million humans). Livestock is the fourth biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, behind transport, electricity generation and industry. The pork industry also consumes enormous amounts of water (15 litres a day per pig) and rejects nitrites into the ground with the pigs´waste.

Jamón ibérico tastes heavenly, sure, and you don't have to give it up. But less is best.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

21

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

SPORT AND FOOD THE Island Games to be held in Gibraltar between July 6-12 could be the biggest edition of the event ever.

Just before the first day athletes will get the chance to stock up on energy reserves at the Calentita food festival the day before at Casemates Square.

Over 3,000 athletes, coaches and fans will descend on the

Rock to participate in track and field events, shooting, basketball and other sports.

The two new grounds at Europa Point and Lathbury were made ready for the games in record time considering the short window organisers faced.

Two new beach volleyball grounds and a formerly derelict Nuffield pool renovated for the week of sport.

“I am very proud indeed,” said Chief Minister Fabian Picardo of the work that had been done. “I know Gibraltar will open their arms to welcome visiting athletes and they will want to return with their families.”

The Rock’s leading statesman was adamant that the show would be surpass any other sporting event held locally.

“I think people want to come to Gibraltar because it is an exciting place,” he added.

“We have a lot of events like the Summer Nights evening entertainment and Calentita food festival around the Island Games.”

If you are wondering what a Calentita is, you might be surprised to know it is Gibraltar’s traditional food.

It is also a Spanish name for something hot and there will be a lot of hot food on offer during the Calentita food festival being held on the evening of July 5.

Gibraltar

A lineup as bedazzling as the backdrop.

Excited “Every year we put together a variety of foods that represent the Gibraltarian community,” said Calentita organiser Owen Smith. “It started with English, Spanish, ‘Yanito’, Indian and Moroccan food but every year we add something new.

“This year we are excited about having a Brazilian and a Portuguese stall for the first time.”

The other novelty is that there will be five vegan food stalls as well as cocktails, live entertainment and cookery demonstrations.

It comes as Picardo personally reached out to the Costa community via the Olive Press.

“My message to those who may be reading my messages further up the coast is to come to Gibraltar during the Island Games,” he told readers.

“Watch the sport, eat the food and enjoy the facilities because this is going to be a magnificent place to be.”

Make this your year to celebrate the rich, diverse and fascinating world of Gibraltar

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22

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

COLUMNISTS

Lionising Hercules

O

UR pueblo is all of a-flutter this month over the arrival of a new centrepiece for the town roundabout.

For years it was crowned by a giant pink birthday cake that lit up with candles at night.

A bit of a tacky monstrosity, we thought at the time, but when it was replaced by a concrete hexagonal fountain flashing disco lights we kind of missed it.

Now we have our very own statue of Hercules, worked in bronze, with a ripped torso and a very neat butt (if you’re wondering, he’s wearing a loincloth).

But what really made me look twice,

A ripped Roman hero and his ‘pets’ get Belinda Beckett’s roar of approval being a cat lover, are the two enormous wild pussy cats he’s stroking: a pair of magnificent male lions, as splendid as the ones in Trafalgar Square and quite something for Los Barrios, an address that generally provokes the puzzled response, ‘Que barrio?’

It didn’t instantly register why we’ve got big cats on the roundabout.

A new use for the bullring? Circus coming to town? Or David Attenborough?

Unlikely, unless he’s interested in the

STRIKING: New big cats on Los Barrios road

small feral variety…I even vaguely wondered whether the lions might be symbolic of the pueblo’s pioneering Trap Neuter Release alley cat scheme I wrote about last month.

In the days when Spain and Africa were one continent – before Hercules split them to create his mythological Pillars, Gibraltar and Mount Jebel Musa across the Strait in Morocco – lions did leg it up from the Serengetti to roam these parts.

But finally the penny dropped. They reference the lions on the Andalucian Flag, doh!

(Historical note: the emblem of Hercules subduing the lions was chosen by Blas Infante, the ‘father of Andalucian nationalism’, born just up the road in Casares, to symbolise man’s power over animal instinct).

Hercules is a big dude all over the world, having got about a bit while fulfilling his 12 Labours…such as slaying the nine-headed Hydra and the maneating Stymphalian Birds and capturing Cerberus, the Underworld’s very unpleasant dog.

I’m not sure what the Me Too movement would have to say about him stealing the girdle of Hippolyta; and he did kill the Nemean Lion, which would now be a protected species, and turn it into a trophy loincloth.

But he wins double brownie points for cleaning up the Augean stables in a day.

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our garage for nearly a decade.

In Andalucia, geographically attached to one of his Pillars (Gibraltar actually gets a mention around the base of our sculpture) all seven provinces pay their respects to Hercules in some shape or form: a wall frieze at the Alhambra Palace in Granada; a lofty column in Sevilla’s Alameda Gardens; and there’s a particularly stirring statue (sans loincloth) in Sancti Petri

Poblada, over Cadiz way.

But in my humble opinion, none are finer than our own.

Los Barrios sculptor Bernardo Martinez Torres: Respect.

Yeah, I know there’s a cool Hercules in Ronda with lions. But check out their curly mains.

As our Roman hero would scoff, they’re nothing but overgrown poodles!

Up, up and away!

Giles Brown is more Christopher Biggins than Christopher Reeve as he learns to fly

I

Now three years old and with all the top property players, including Panorama, Holmes, Taylor Wimpey, Winkworth and Engels & Volkers

RIPPED: Hercules statue in Sancti Pectri Poblada

F you were a child in the ing, bungee jumping, hang include former 70s, there were three films gliding and the like leave me Red Devils – the British Arthat you would have seen. cold – or sweaty palmed to my’s crack parachute display This was in the age before be precise. team – who purchased the Internet, DVDs, Netflix or Even rock climbing scenes in equipment after using it to films on demand, so in order films make me turn pale. train Tom Cruise for the film to see a film you actually had Little wonder, then, that I have Mission Impossible: Fallout. to get off the sofa and traipse absolutely no desire to skydive. Tom, by the way, is apparentoff to the local cinema.

Let’s be honest, with my ly totally professional, very So going to the pictures was track record with all things friendly and has a penchant a proper occasion. mechanical, especially trans- for practical jokes.

Seventies kids therefore saw port, going up in a light air- And the ex-paras I spoke to Star Wars – and lights sa- craft is never going to be a gave pop pipsqueak Justin bered each other in the foyer good idea.

Beiber no chance if he does afterwards, Grease, singing When I got the invitation to step into an MMA ring with loudly along with John Travol- go and check out Fly 4 Real, him… ta and Olivia Neutron Bomb, southern Spain’s first out- After a safety briefing and and Superman. door skydiving simulator, I the donning of a rather natty One of the things that I dis- was intrigued. flying suit, although I had tinctly remember about go- Rather than leaping out of a brought the wrong shoes ing to see the latter was the plane, you are kept aloft in a and had to have my Morocfact that not only my mum, wind tunnel. can sandals duct taped but also all the other mums It’s somewhat like being in a to my ankles – a look that came to the cinema with us. huge hairdryer, although ob- won’t catch on – it was time Normally one longsuffering viously it’s been years since I to climb into the wind tunnel adult would have to be in was near one of those. with my instructor and fly. charge of half a dozen nine- The founders at Fly 4 Real While I didn’t soar like Superyear-olds. man, I didn’t bounce With Superman, off the bottom of however, is while the the wind tunnel in a nine-year-olds becrumpled heap and if lieved a man could nothing else, the upfly, the mums all beward blast gave me lieved that Christothe most thorough pher Reeve looked facial treatment in pretty damn good in years. a cape.

Although I was more Since then, however, Christopher Biggins I haven’t had any than Christopher great yearning to Reeve, you could betake to the sky. lieve a (small, bald, I’m not good with 50-something) man heights, so abseil- IS IT A BIRD: Giles (far left) goes skydiving could fly!

SPORT

23

July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Stars and gripes

RAFAEL Nadal has complained about being seeded below rival Roger Federer at this year’s Wimbledon.

The Spaniard argued that the seeding system based on official world rankings meant ‘more complicated draws’ for players than they deserve. Being seeded third rather than second means he could now face Wimbledon

SPAIN and England’s Women's World Cup dreams have ended as the USA knocked them both out 2-1.

Steph Houghton had the chance to equalise for the Lionesses, but her weak 84th-minute penalty was stopped by USA keeper Alyssa Naeher.

Minutes later Phil Neville’s side’s hopes were fully smashed when captain Houghton’s defensive partner Millie Bright was given her marching orders after a second yellow card.

A Christen Press header gave tournament favourites USA the lead inside 10 minutes, before England hit back through a reflex Ellen White strike.

RAF JUSTICE defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semi finals.

Wimbledon 2019 kicks off on July 1, with Nadal seeded third, Federer second and Novak Djokovic first, the players holding 18, 20 and 15 Grand Slam titles respectively.

Ta ra Torres

FORMER Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has called time on a glittering career of competitive football.

The 35-year-old Premier League golden boy from Madrid said the ‘time has come’ for him to hang up his boots.

Spain’s third-highest goalscorer of all time has for the last year been at Japanese J1-League club Sagan Tosu.

At a press conference in Tokyo, he said: “I have something very important to announce.

“After 18 exciting years, the time h a s come to put an end t o my football career.”

He will now see out his career in a Sagan Tosu home fixture against the team of his countrymen David Villa and Andres Iniesta.

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Superb

But a pacey first half saw England go behind again after striker Alex Morgan’s headed effort beat reserve goalie Carly Telford before halftime.

VAR played a huge part in the clash, as England midfielder Jill Scott’s superb goal was disallowed, before the technology later resulted in Bright’s dismissal for her second bookable offence.

The semi final tie at Stade de Lyon, France - watched by an impressive crowd of 53,512 came after Spain were knocked out at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims.

Two spot kicks in that game to help the USA set up a dream tie against hosts France in the quarterfinals, before the England match. The Americans will face either the Netherlands or Sweden in the final on Sunday July 7.

GREEN FOR GO

Historic weekend of Island Games set to take place in Gibraltar this week THIS year’s Island Games could be the biggest yet with more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and fans set to descend on the Rock.

Two new sports grounds at Europa Point and Lathbury are due to be finished in record time for the start of the games on July 6.

It comes despite the original difficulties experienced at both sites when trying to drill through solid limestone rock.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said he had ‘full confidence’ that the new stadia in the south district would be ready for the tournament.

“Top professionals in the building, environmental and sporting sectors have been involved in getting these facilities completed on time,” he told the Olive Press.

A new Olympic size swimming pool has been built for the games at the new facilities in Lathbury, as well as two new beach volleyball grounds at the Nuffield Pool site.

However, changing rooms at Lathbury have not been completed and portacabins will be used during the games

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

instead.

“I am very proud indeed,” said Picardo of the work that had been done. “I know Gibraltar will open their arms to welcome visiting athletes and they will want to return with their families.”

The Chief Minister was adamant that the show would surpass any other sporting event held locally.

“I think people want to come to Gibraltar because it is an exciting place,” he said.

“We have a lot of events like the Summer Nights evening entertainment and Calentita food festival around the Island Games.”

He also had a special message for Olive Press readers: “My message to those who may be reading my messages further up the coast is to come to Gibraltar during the Island Games.”

“Watch the sport and enjoy the facilities because this is going to be a magnificent place to be.”

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Wardrobe Malfunction

FINAL WORDS

A BRITISH make-up artist, 31, has been forced to leave an EasyJet flight from Malaga to Stansted for wearing a revealing shirt, citing her ‘disruptive behaviour’.

Brit first SCOTTISH striker Jack Harper has become the first Briton to play in La Liga since Mallorca loanee Alan Hutton in 2013, after signing for Getafe from Malaga FC in a five-year contract.

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Vol. 4 Issue 100 www.theolivepress.es July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Russia with love A BRITISH schoolgirl’s message in a bottle has travelled more than 2,000 miles from the coast of Spain to a river in Russia.

Four-year-old Taylor Powell had thrown the bottle into the sea off Barcelona while on a family holiday.

The note, which contained a picture of her, ,invited whoever found the bottle to respond

Bad timing?

SEVILLA FC have sacked Argentine coach, Eduardo Berizzi, just a week after he returned from a prostate cancer operation.

A British schoolgirl’s handwritten greeting has made it all the way from the coast of Spain to Moscow with the name of their country and a picture.

Incredibly, a Moscovite couple, named Sasha and Alex, found the message and replied to Taylor’s father Richie, 31.

BARCE-CLONA

A LIONEL Messi lookalike has denied using the Barcelona megastar’s identity to trick women into sleeping with him.

Iranian ‘Messi’ Reza Parastesh has hit back after claims he used his resemblance to bed 23 women went viral on social media.

Paratesh has amassed 700,000 followers on Instagram where he displays pictures of himself posing

as the Argentine forward, complete with beard and full Barcelona kit.

In a video he said: “Hi friends: “A piece of false news about me is trending on social media with regards to me sleeping with 23 women because they thought I was Lionel Messi.

“Please do not play with people’s reputation and credibility.

Powell, from Somerset, told SWNS news agency: “When I told Taylor someone had replied to the message, her face lit up. She was so happy.

“I asked them to send proof and received a pin of their location to my phone. We were absolutely ecstatic.

“We told Taylor her the bottle will pass by mermaids and sharks - for it to turn up in Moscow is magical for her. She’s so excited.”

The bottle may have travelled around the Bay of Biscay and west of Ireland, before going across the

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A GROUP of elderly Spanish women have smashed gender roles by recreating historical images featuring men.

Ana Amado’s playful exhibition sees the ladies of Lideresas of Villaverde, who are all over 65, pose in several shots.

Images included are Hugh Hefner posing with his Playboy playmates, Steve Jobs unveiling the first Iphone, and the Beatles’ Abbey Road cover.

Sexier than you JOY: Taylor got a reply North Sea, according to an expert at the National Oceanography Centre.

“From Spain there is a generally northwards current which could take the bottle northwards along Portugal, around the shelf break in the Bay of Biscay, then up through the Rockall Trough west of Ireland, then up to the north of Scotland and Shetland,” said Dr Adrian New.

BRITS are better looking than the Spanish, according to a new poll.

The survey of the top 50 bestlooking nationalities ruled that Ukranians are the world’s most beautiful people.

Brazilians, Australians and the English all made it into the top 10.

The Spanish came in 16th.

At the other end of the table came the Irish, who came in last place, while Americans ranked at a paltry 45th.

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