Gibraltar Olive Press - Issue 36 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

‘Gibraltar calling’ www.gibraltarolivepress.com

to film live at this year’s ‘bigger’ music festival January 18th - January 31st 2017 The Rock’s original community newspaper

‘Great leap forward’ THE new ‘pioneering’ dementia day-care centre has been hailed as a ‘great leap forward’ by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. Picardo and Health Minister Neil Costa officially opened the Bella Vista Day Centre for people with mild to moderate symptoms on Monday. The 90-capacity centre, in the old Royal Navy Hospital, will care for around a third of Gibraltar’s dementia sufferers. An additional residential centre is also set to open within the next three months. “This is not a step forward, this is a huge leap forward in being able to care for these people,” said Picardo. “The consequences will be felt throughout our society.” The four-floor day-centre offers therapeutic and medical services to help stimulate sufferers’ memories so they don’t lose medium to long-term memory. Around 28 carers and eight to nine psychologists, physios and speech therapists staff will care for the patients. “This project is extremely important in having a communityoriented approach to dementia,” said Costa. “It is unfortunately one of those issues that is on the increase across Europe and the world.” See Dementia fightback page 6 Opinion Page 6

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Vol. 3 Issue 36 www.gibraltarolivepress.com Jan 18th - Jan 31st 2017

Sunset for Donana? THE Spanish government has sparked outrage from environmentalists after granting permission to store gas under the already fragile Doñana National park. The move to allow Gas Natural Fenosa to pipe and store gas in one of Europe’s key protected wetlands has been labelled an ‘atrocity’. Greenpeace, Ecologistas en Accion and WWF have been joined by the IU, Podemos and PSOE parties to appeal the decision, which could

Picardo jets to London for Brexit talks following key May speech By Joe Duggan

THERESA May has vowed Britain won’t accept a ‘half in, half out’ Brexit in a landmark speech that could have longlasting effects on Gibraltar and all expats in Spain. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo will today jet to London with Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Joseph Garcia for ´detailed´talks with the UK government. The Prime Minister issued a 12-point plan to take Britain out of the EU, with Downing Street looking to scrap EU single market and current customs union access. In the biggest speech of her sixmonth tenure, she said: “To be clear, what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” She added Britain would no longer give ‘huge sums’ to the EU, however she conceded that Parliament will have the final vote on the deal. Picardo described the announcement as having ‘positive routes’ through the areas of concern and insisted Gibraltar ‘is likely to continue to do well’ thanks to Brexit planning. Maintaining the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is also a priority during the Brexit negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May said However, she did not specifi-

lead to a major pollution spill. “It is shocking that public money is being used to destroy Donana,” said Podemos environment boss Mercedes Barranco. The famous park - which is a paradise for birds and wildlife, including the main refuge of the Iberian lynx - is already in danger of losing its UNESCO World Heritage Status due to issues over water use from surrounding farms.

May’s move

cally mention Gibraltar and the border with Spain. “We want to control our immigration from the EU,” said May.

“We also recognise the importance of the brightest and the best coming here. We recognise the contribution they have

made.” She added: “We are looking at the exact structures for immigration.”

How we see it Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister “There are many positive routes through the areas of concern which can arise from Brexit and it is clear that Gibraltar is likely to continue to do well in the future because we have understood those potential pitfalls and prepared for them. The work we have done is standing us in good stead as we prepare for the triggering of Article 50.”

Daniel Feetham, GSD leader “It is clear the U.K. will not sacrifice free movement of people in return for access to the Single Market. That has important implications for the border with Spain. In a hard Brexit situation, it makes it much easier for Spain to use the border as a significant pressure point. It’s imperative the U.K. does everything to ensure any Brexit deal includes an acceptable agreement with the EU in respect of the border.”

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Marlene Hassan Nahon, independent MP “All the Prime Minister’s statement has done is narrow down the wide range of options that were already under consideration. This clarifies the situation and tells us exactly what we are working towards. What is important now is for government to investigate how May’s plan will affect Gibraltar.”

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May is believed to favour a work-permit system as she looks to trigger Article 50 by March this year. It comes as the House of Lords published data showing a border closure with Spain would put 40% of jobs at risk in Gibraltar. The 32 page report, based on government evidence submitted by Picardo estimates 10,473 of the Rock’s 26,144 workers crossed the border daily as of October 2015. “The prospect of a closed or hard border is the most serious single issue” the Gibraltar government said. “A frontier which lacked the necessary fluidity would therefore put directly at risk the jobs of 40% of the Gibraltar workforce.” May’s speech was cheered by Leave campaigners, who are pushing for a ‘hard’ Brexit. The 12 objectives include taking control of Britain’s borders, preserving the UK union and signing major trade deals. “We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries” said May. “The British people voted for change. And it is the government’s job to deliver it.” She added: “It means taking the opportunity of this great moment of national change to step back and ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be.” In a December interview with the BBC, Picardo said he wanted Gibraltar to keep single market access and freedom of movement, even if the UK scrapped them. Opinion Page 6

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Eastern promise A GOVERNMENT minister will this week travel to China to attract business to Gibraltar. Minister Albert Isola will meet with State Owned Enterprises, Government Agencies and large companies in Shanghai and Nanjing.

War on debt RENT arrears of £1 million are to be recovered by the end of this financial year. That is the claim of Gibraltar’s government, who said it is making ‘significant inroads’ into the £6,017,341 deficit caused by ‘having almost 20 years of unchecked rental arrears’.

Unite against UNITE the Union has demanded the Ministry of Defence changes its position on scrapping the paid nuclear monitor post. The union fears what will happen if no local person volunteers to take on the important role in the Local Emergency Monitoring Team from April.

January 18th - January 31st 2017

Isaac out

Strangler on the Rock

Ex-lawyer jailed in 2014 over multi-million fraud is finally out of prison ISAAC Marrache has been released from prison on parole. The disgraced former lawyer had served just under two and a half years of a seven-year sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud £27 million in July 2014. In a last minute drama, Supreme Court judge Adrian Jack ordered Marrache back to court, but changed his mind over the weekend. A legal source told the Olive Press that the judge's initial decision in-

dicated the judge hadn’t considered Marrache’s order for parole was effective. Marrache had hoped to move to New York to work in the financial sector, but cancelled his plans and decided to stay in Gibraltar, a decision that led to his release last Thursday. Judge Jack described Marrache’s hopes of moving to New York as ‘unrealistic’. Marrache and his brothers were jailed after their law firm collapsed, hitting hundreds of investors. The tenmonth Marrache court case was the longest in Gibraltar's legal history. Solomon Marrache, also sentenced to seven years, was released on parole in August 2016. B e n j a m i n Marrache is still serving an 11-year sentence.

Soaring high GIBRALTAR International Airport saw a record number of visitors in 2016. Some 548,230 passengers passed through in the calendar year, a 23.4% increase on 2015. Altogether, there were 4,968 commercial arrivals and departures, compared to 4,100 in 2015, a 21.2% increase. December saw the highest percentage of growth, with 28.0% more passengers than in the same month in 2015. Minister for Commercial Aviation and Tourism Gilbert Licudi said: “2016 has been a bumper year with record number of passengers travelling through the airport, and exceeding the half a million passenger mark for the first time.”

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A MAN who savagely beat and strangled his elderly girlfriend has been sentenced to a year in prison. Manuel De Sa Fernandez, 55, attacked his 63-year-old partner following a heated argument in their home last July. The Supreme Court heard how the Portuguese national had punched the victim repeatedly in the face and upper torso in a vicious attack that lasted a few minutes. He then strangled her unconscious. Fernandez was arrested on July 27 and has been in custody ever since.

A fine art IMPORTANT historical art works are to go on public display for the first time. A total of 100 paintings in the ‘The Gibraltar Art Collection’ have been unveiled at the John Mackintosh Hall. Among them are pictures by Jacobo Azagury, Gustavo Bacarisas and Leni Mifsud, much of whose work focused on the Rock. Artefacts, prints and documents also form part of the collection, which were purchased by Government from the collapsed law firm Marrache and Co last year. The exhibition can be visited between 9.30 am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

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January 18th - January 31st 2017

Crime pays for Pantoja

In the spotlight A PAIR of Spanish stars are in the running for illustrious BAFTA awards. Pedro Almodovar’s flick Julieta and Catalan actress Laia Costa have both been nominated for a gong at the glitzy British ceremony on February 12. Shortlisted for best foreign language film, Julieta tells the tale of a woman who has become

A STAR IS BORN: Millie

Millie’s made it MILLIE Bobby Brown looked positively chic on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards. The Marbella-born actress glowed in a silver Jenny Packham midi-dress as she posed for photos outside the prestigious Los Angeles bash. The 12-year-old British star was nominated for Best Drama Series for Stranger Things, the break-out Netflix show of the summer. “It’s incredible, I’m so grateful,” said Brown, who spent her early years growing up in Marbella. “Being here with everyone, I really couldn’t have done it without Netflix.” She went on to thank her family too, but when asked where her fellow co-stars were, she admitted that she was late to arrive. “I came late. I’ll probably meet up with them later,” she said, before admitting that she wanted to try and find her favourite actress Natalie Portman at the awards show. Stranger Things sees a group of boys in 1980s Indiana attempt to save their friend from a dark underworld with the help of a girl, ‘Eleven’- played by Brown who has special kinetic abilities. It lost the award to The Crown, a drama chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. She lived in Marbella, where her grandparents run a restaurant, until she was four, and is a regular visitor for holidays.

estranged from her daughter. It stars actresses Adriana Ugarte and Emma Suarez. Meanwhile, Costa, 31, will vie against four other actors to be named best rising star. She earned the nomination thanks to her stand out role in Victoria, a German crime thriller shot in one continuous take.

THIS year’s Gibraltar music festival is going to be bigger, better - and broadcast internationally by MTV! For the first time, the twoday Victoria Stadium festival, set to be rechristened Gibraltar Calling, will be beamed to viewers by the famous music TV channel.

UP FOR GONGS: Costa (inset) and Ugarte and Suarez (above)

Rocks!

Revealed

No artist line-ups have been been revealed for the stadium festival which will take place from September 2-3. In addition to the stadium festival, a series of smaller gigs will take place around the Rock in venues like St. Michael’s Cave during the preceding week. “It’s going to be a much bigger festival,” a spokes-

SHE got a big slap on the wrist and spent a year in prison. But it has not apparently stemmed singer Isabel Pantoja’s popularity. Just months after being released from a sentence for corruption and money laundering ‘la Pantoja’ has got a gold disc for her new album. The Sevilla singer, who dated disgraced former Marbella mayor Julian Munoz for year, has already seen her new release Hasta que se Apague el Sol (Until the sun sets), reach 20,000-plus sales. However, sales are slower than her previous album Diez Boleros released in 2006 with critics claiming this shows her success is on the wane. The drop is more likely however, due to the amount of streaming and illegal downloading in Spain. Pantoja, 60, served just over half of a two-year sentence as an accomplice of convicted fraudster and money launderer Munoz, who remains in prison.

PAST STARS: Kings of Leon played in 2015

person said. “This will give Gibraltar some great media attention.” Past artists who have played

at the annual festival include Kings of Leon, Madness, Paloma Faith and Stereophonics.

Love is the drug

SPANISH superstars have flown to Colombia to resume filming of a Pablo Escobar biopic. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz have been cast as the infamous drug lord and his clandestine lover Virginia Vallejo. Simply entitled ‘Escobar’, the feature flick will be based on journalist Vallejo’s accounts from her smash hit memoir ‘Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar’. She and the drug lord were romantically attached until 1987, six years before he was shot by Colombian Police.

Theresa lands Vogue spread THERESA May has polished her kitten heels and brushed off her leather strides for a US Vogue photoshoot. The UK prime minister is set to grace the upcoming April issue following the shoot by respected fashion photographer Annie Leibowitz, who previously snapped Michelle Obama and Hillary Clin-

ton. May has been a long-time fan of the fashion mag, admitting in a BBC Radio 4 interview that she would take a lifetime’s subscription as her luxury item if she were stranded on a desert island. She is the only UK Prime Minister to have ever featured in the US edition.

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NEWS

Winter warning

The Olive Press Insider’s Guide

www.allaboutandalucia.com MODEL: Of the Rock

Mapping the past THE CHANGING landscape of Gibraltar is to be mapped out in an ambitious project. Gibraltar Museum and the Botanic Gardens want to document the natural and human events that have altered the look of the Rock since 1865, when the museum’s model of it was constructed.

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Changes

Key changes that will be analysed include the construction of the dockyard, the erection of the water catchments and their subsequent removal, along with the disappearance of natural habitats. Researchers aim to publish their findings within a new book and exhibition next year, which will tie in with the 150th anniversary of the model’s completion.

A GOVERNMENT health warning has advised flu sufferers to avoid going to the doctor. With over 90% of coughs, flu and other respiratory infections able to be managed at home, the condition usually resolves itself in a week. Sufferers were also told to avoid taking antibiotics as they do not cure most symptoms. A government spokesperson said: “If the condition does not respond or gets worse, visit the Emergency Clinic at the Primary Care Centre. “In the case of persons who are very ill, bed bound or frail because of old age, a House Call may be requested.” People were also advised to take the winter flu jab.

Census under spotlight A HUGE number of census archives have been made available online for the first time. People can now find information about past residents through the Gibraltar Census Original Registers 1777-1914, which have been uploaded to the National Archives website. The Gibraltar Census Abstracts 1776-2001, the full text of each census report for each year, have also been put up onto the site as part of the Inhabitants of Gibraltar project. It is hoped that the project will encourage Gibraltarians to find out more about their ancestors. To search through the records, go to www. nationalarchives.gi/gna/Inhabitants.aspx

‘We want answers’ Crunch talks set over ‘unprecedented’ housing estates deal Exclusive By Joe Duggan

GSD MP Roy Clinton is set to grill the government over its ‘unprecedented’ £300 million housing estates’ loan. Clinton and opposition leader Daniel Feetham are holding crunch showdown talks with No.6 on January 23 over the loan, secured against six publicly owned housing estates. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced the existence of the loan in July’s budget. Ex-banker Clinton, the GSD’s finance minister, told the Olive Press he wants to know what the money is needed for. “It’s a huge amount.They went out and borrowed £300 million

DEMANDING ANSEWERS: Roy Clinton without so much as a reference to parliament,” he claimed. “Something of this scale is unprecedented - the official public debt is in the region of £350 million quid, and this £300 million is on top of that.” He added: “I want to know what the money is for.” The deal was structured through a new governmentowned company, Gibraltar Capital Assets Limited, so does not appear on the government’s

Five key questions Clinton is set to ask: • • • • •

Will the £300 million be used to refinance public debt? What is the £300 million for? How much in fees did the law firm Hassans receive for work on the loan? Is the government now a rent collection agent for Gibraltar Capital Assets Limited? What capital projects does the government envisage using the £300 million for?

public debt. The six affected estates are Varyl Begg, Moorish Castle, Laguna, Alameda, Glacis and Mis Harbour. Clinton estimates the interest on the loan would be £11 million a year. “The best case scenario is they invest it in something like a reclamation project and double the money,” he said “Worst case scenario is there is a gap somewhere in the government’s own companies that need the money.” Clinton believed the deal was planned in summer 2015, prior to the Brexit referendum announcement. Gibraltar Capital Assets Limited was incorporated the day before the November 2015 general election. “They argue the flats themselves aren’t mortgaged, the buildings are,” he said “You try and figure that one out, I can’t get my head around it.”

Government set to recover £1 million in rent arrears THE Government will have reduced the sum of £6 million rental arrears owed in January 2016 by £1 million by the end of this financial year. By January 1 2017 the sum, accumulated over two decades, had been reduced to £5.18 million. This was achieved through both recovering existing debt and introducing mechanisms to prevent new arrears being incurred. The Housing Department has scheduled meetings with 120 more clients before the end of the month.

Photo Michel Gibert. Picture for illustration purposes only. Special thanks: TASCHEN.

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www.gibraltarolivepress.com The Rock’s only investigative

local newspaper

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Gibraltar Olive Press represents the local and expatriate communities working or living on the Rock with 10,000 copies distributed fortnightly.

OPINION What now? AFTER months of equivocation, Theresa May finally spelt out her Brexit plans. Her speech will cheer those in the Leave camp clamouring for a hard Brexit. Single market access will go - at least for most. May will not negotiate on that in return for freedom of movement. So we have the bones of the plan. Now we need the flesh. One of the key issues for Gibraltar now is how this will all translate for its 10,000 cross-border workers and trade the other way. May made no reference to Gibraltar in her speech. But encouragingly she said the ‘common travel area’ between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is a priority. The crucial border issue and freedom of movement are sure to feature in Fabian Picardo’s London talks this week. But another question remains. What is Spain going to do now that the genesis of a hard Brexit comes to pass? Not even Theresa May can answer that.

Helping the community FOR a close-knit, family-oriented place like as Gibraltar, serious illness is felt strongly in the community. So the new Bella Vista Dementia Day Centre, the most significant investment in elderly care services in Gibraltar for several decades, is a very welcome piece of news. With the GHA and private sector working in tandem, it will be the first facility of its kind on the Rock. Part of its focus will be on ensuring the most vulnerable members of our society can continue to enjoy a quality home life, while receiving top-level medical care. According to the government, the new facility ‘offers a secure pathway for dementia patients from early diagnosis to the final stages, and ensures that every patient receives the appropriate service at the right time’. As the Chief Minister says, ‘Gibraltar is a community that cares’. With dementia and alzheimer's rising with growing life expectancy, it’s an issue that affects more and more of us.

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AWARDS

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

2012 - 2017

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

January 18th - January 31st 2017

New care centre opens as Gibraltar musicians launch first World Rock Against Dementia, writes Joe Duggan

Dementia fightback

EVERY morning, at 10.45, Henry Pinna closes his front door and goes to visit his wife of 43 years, Elizabeth. Five years ago, aged 71, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “I don’t know whether she recognises me or not,” says Henry, a prominent local campaigner. “She responds to love, but I’m not sure she knows I’m her husband.” At the start, Henry looked after his wife at home. Following Henry’s hernia operation, for the past three years Elizabeth has been cared for at the John Mackintosh General Medical Ward. “It’s very sad. You look at her and she hasn’t physically changed. She was a very intelligent person, the deputy head of the girls’ comprehensive. She taught French and Spanish,” he said. “Now you look at her and you think, how can this be?”

helping them along that inexorable path. Towards the end, they couldn’t recognise their own family, although there was the odd flash of recognition. Two weeks before he died, I remember smuggling a bottle of Guinness to my grandad in hospital so he could have one last Christmas drink. “I don’t drink that stuff,” he giggled, the old impish humour returning. Music, however, triggered an incredible response. Play them the old Irish songs of their youth and my grandparents eyes would light up. Those familiar, lilting melodies accessed memories resting deep in some precious pocket. Music will be the driving theme of Gibraltar’ first-ever World Rock Against Dementia event, which was also announced last week. The Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society’s Daphne Alcantara has teamed up with David Diaz from the Gibraltar Live Music Society’s to plan two concerts on March 18. First, an afternoon show for those living with dementia and their families, with an evening fundraiser will take place at Rock on the Rock. All proceeds will go to the Gibraltar Alzheimers & Dementia Society. “It’s a brilliant idea,” said Daphne. “We’ve asked families what types of songs they would like their loved ones to hear. “Songs like Delilah and Llevame Donde Naci are really popular.

Changed

For millions of families around the world, the pain of a loved one’s dementia or Alzheimer’s is a daily ordeal. And it’s a problem that is getting worse. As global life expectancies increase, so too do recorded dementia cases. According to the World Alzheimer Report 2016, 47 million people live with dementia worldwide, more than the entire population of Spain. Astonishingly, that figure is predicted to increase to more than 131 million by 2050. A 2015 Alzheimer’s Research UK report predicted one in three adults - 27% of men and 37% of women - born in the UK in 2015 will develop dementia. In Gibraltar, a 2015 government report found there were 370 people living with dementia on the Rock as of May 2015. Two new patients were identified each week. On Monday, the new Alzheimer’s and Dementia Day facility was opened by Minister Neil Costa and Chief Minister Picardo. It’s a state-of-the-art centre and in his New Year’s message, Picardo announced the residential facility is due within 90 days. The delay in opening the centres has attracted criticism from the GSD (No.6 had stated in its 2015 National Dementia Vision and Strategy For Gibraltar that the day centre would open in early 2016, with a 54-bed residential centre mooted for late 2015.) Leader Daniel Feetham accused No.6 of a ‘litany of broken promises’ on the issue. Nevertheless, there are now extra facilities to cope for Gibraltar’s most needy residents, with more on the way. So last week’s announcement was an important landmark in the local battle against a global epidemic. It’s an illness that has taken a savage

Demolished

ORGANISER: David Diaz

toll on my family. Three of my grandparents died from dementia. My mother, a nurse, spent the first few years of her retirement caring night and day for her mum and dad,

“We’re also hoping to get a choir in on the day.” It’s a subject that is very close to David’s heart. “My grandmother had dementia. It was like watching a beautiful building being slowly demolished,” he said. “Although she would forget things, to me she was still my grandmother.” He added “I remember at one Christmas concert she was ill but singing along to Jingle Bells and old flamenco - and she remembered the lyrics from A-Z. Music can transform a patient.” David also has first-hand experience caring for dementia patients. Prior to becoming a music journalist, he worked as a nursing assistant at St. Bernard’s. “Gibraltar is such a small place, I knew around 15 of the dementia patients there. They were my friends’ grandparents,” he said. “This is something we can’t avoid. It affects us all.” Meanwhile, the fight to find a cure continues. Info at: https://www.facebook.com/gibraltaralzheimersanddementiasociety/

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The town hall whistleblower who is finally getting the credit she deserves for enduring a ‘nightmare’

TOWN hall employee, Ana Garrido held one of the most secure jobs in Spain for two decades. But after she tried to expose corruption behind how her town awarded public contracts, her life descended into what she described as ‘a seven-year Calvary’. That path took her from being assailed by her office bosses and colleagues in Boadilla del Monte, on the outskirts of Madrid, to depression and sick leave, unemployment, and even death threats. She now sells handmade bracelets to make a living, and relies on crowdfunding to help cover her legal expenses, which have reached €20,000. She has sold most of her clothes and furniture and rents out her home to pay the mortgage. Instead, she lives as a squatter in an abandoned apartment with paint peeling from the walls. It is only now that Garrido is getting some belated recognition for undertaking one of Spain’s riskier endeavors: being a whistleblower. In April of last year, Garrido was invited to parliament by right-wing anti-corruption party Ciudadanos. Luis Garicano, the main economic advisor of Ciudadanos, told reporters on the day Garrido went to parliament that if Spain cannot protect whistleblowers like her ‘we don’t have a country that is worth it’. Garrido has bec o m e a symbol

for anti-corruption activists who are push- fraudulent contracts. She gave her finding for a new law in Spain that would for ings to an organisation called Manos Limthe first time defend the rights of those pias, or Clean Hands, which then presentwho try to expose corruption. ed them to the national court. Countries like the United States and Brit- The case turned into a major scandal for ain have long-standing laws to protect Rajoy’s Popular Party, involving several whistleblowers, and since 2010, Hungary, conservative mayors and officials who Slovenia, France, Luxembourg, Ireland were indicted on charges of taking bribes and Belgium have all enacted varying lev- from a network of businessmen led by els of protection. Francisco Correa (known as the Gurtel Spain, on the other hand, is among a ring). handful of European nations without leg- Garrido said Manos Limpias had disclosed islation for whistleblowers. her identity without her consent. Underlin“Spain has not followed up on recommen- ing endemic corruption in Spain, Manos dations from the Organization for Econom- Limpias was recently put under investigaic Cooperation and Development and the tion itself after being accused of blacknew rights it granted to public servants mailing potentially fraudulent officials in exclude protection from return for dropping charges retaliation when reporting against them. suspected crimes,” accordmid-2011, Garrido reIt’s a situation I In ing to NGO Transparency turned to work at the town International. could never have hall, but the job lasted only That lack of legislation, a few months. Boadilla’s endured if I also new mayor and administramany believe, has contributed to a culture of impution, she said, were ‘simply had children to nity, and made Spain’s sysdetermined to make me tem of government one of pay’. look after the most corrupt in Europe. She claimed the harassMore than 200 corruption ment went as far as ‘death cases, involving nearly all threats and trying to drive major political parties, have arisen since me off the road’. the financial collapse in 2008. She left and sued the town hall for harass“There are a lot of corruption cases that ment, winning her case before a court in don’t come to light because the whole sys- Madrid. tem is designed to hurt rather than protect Boadilla’s new administration has rejectthose who denounce corruption,” said Pe- ed Garrido’s claims and is appealing the dro Arancon, president of a Spanish as- harassment ruling before the Supreme sociation called Platform for Honesty. Court. In fact, anti-corruption activists Susana Guerrero, a town hall official, said suspect that few employees are Garrido should not be singled out as a willing to disclose fraud and special whistleblower — another 15 offirisk their jobs, like Garrido, cials ended up providing court evidence particularly with Spain’s un- over the fraudulent public contracts — but employment rate of 21%. instead as the only one who was involved Victor Lapuente, an as- in a labour dispute with Boadilla Town sociate professor at the Hall. Quality of Government “Ana Garrido said she became financially Institute of the University ruined because she denounced corrupof Gothenburg in Swe- tion, but the fact is that she herself asked den, said the response to end her contract,” Guerrero said. of the Spanish authori- Garrido sees the accusations against her ties to whistleblowers as further evidence of why whistleblowing was ‘the world upside is a lost cause in Spain. down’. “I once had a normal job and life, but once “The resources have gone you denounce, you should get ready for a to protect the ones who nightmare,” she said. “It’s a situation that want to hide information, I could never have endured if I also had not the ones filtering it,” children to look after.” Lapuente said. While on sick leave, Garrido Article courtesy of New York Times compiled a 300-page dossier on how Boadilla Town Hall awarded

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C A M P O D E G I BRALTAR

January 18th - January 31st 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

Chemical threat VERDEMAR-Ecologists in Action has warned that neither the Junta nor the municipal councils of Los Barrios or San Roque are equipped to protect the population in case of a major chemical accident. HONORED: Galvan

Not giving up

Truly honoured

A BOAT carrying a ton of hashish was thwarted by coastguard officials no fewer than five times in one day as it attempted to land at Linea de la Concepcion.

Flood repair THE ministry of housing and development has begun the first emergency works on motorways across the Campo de Gibraltar which were damaged in early December.

Nuclear fleet AS many as 40 nuclear submarines have crossed the bay of Algeciras on their way to Gibraltar in the last ten years, the Spanish government has claimed.

Brexit alarm bell Town hall study shows impact of EU exit on La Linea workers

A BREXIT border closure could cost La Linea and the Campo up to £587 million, a new Spanish study has shown. The Town Hall’s 46-page Socio-Economic Study Of The Impact of Brexit In La Linea estimated that that was the financial impact from Gibraltar on the area each year. The drop in the pound of 16% since the referendum has also hit Gibraltar workers who live in Spain, the study showed. The La Linea Association of Small Businesses estimates the fall in sterling would cost the local economy around £13.52 million over a year, according to the study. Around 5,000 Spaniards and 5,000 other nationalities cross the border to work each day, accordPOLITICIANS have finally aping to the report. proved Algeciras’ budget for The report also 2017. stated there had been an increase And €110 million will be availin contraband able to help run the town over smuggling in rethe year, up from €105m the cent years, with 30 year before. gangs operating In the budget approval meeting, in La Linea comwhich came one month and a mitting fraud of half later than last year, parties over £325 million agreed to maintain the freeze on a year. taxes and rates. It estimates the More tax breaks will be given to unemployment lower income families, while 9.4 rate in La Linea is million of capital investments around 35%. have been planned. In total, GibraltarThe ruling Partido Popular also ians are estimated committed to improving educato spend some £135 tion in the town. million annually in It will do this by joining the AsoSpain, with second homes accountciación Internacional de Ciudades ing for around £62 Educadoras, which encourages million of the figparticipating towns to share and ure. promote educational initiatives.

Stamp of approval

INSPIRATIONAL people have been named in a Dia de Andalucia honours list. Twelve heroes will be awarded for their work in Los Barrios during the town’s public holiday celebrations on February 28. And the town’s oldest female resident, María Rodríguez Sánchez, is among those in line for recognition by the town’s council, due to the ‘hard work’ she has done through her life. She will be joined by local sports stars Alfonso Oliva Herrera, who later directed the Club Atletico Los Barrios and Frank Diaz, an international taekwondo judge and director of a martial arts academy.

COUNCIL: Announce list

Others include flamenco musician Rafael Castro Canales, matador David Galván, doctor José María Beltrán, teacher Esteban Prieto Blanco and businessman Francisco Bermúdez Gallego. Big-hearted Francisco Rivera has been chosen as neighbour of the year for his acts of kindness, while politician José Arana Ortega has received a posthumous honour. Ángeles Ariza Núñez has been thanked for his work in helping improve the lives of Saharawi people (Western Sahara). The Semana Santa organising group, Hermandades de Penitencia de Semana Santa, will also be thanked for putting on parades and festivities each year.

River clean up plans EMERGENCY river repairs are to be carried out in flood-wrecked areas of the Campo. The area will benefit from a share of €6.6 million from the Junta, which will be used to fix damaged waterways and try to stop future floods. Many riverbanks were destroyed in December’s deadly downpours, which also dislodged large objects that are now blocking water flows.

Some access roads also need to be ‘re-conditioned’, while the bottom drain of the Guadarranque reservoir needs to be cleaned. Rivers to be cleaned include those in La Línea, Los Barrios, San Roque, Barbate, Conil de la Frontera, Medina-Sidonia and Vejer de la Frontera. The Junta has budgeted a further €5 million for river cleaning during 2017 to keep waterways clear.

 Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi

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January 18th - January 31st 2017

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ffordable Art Christmas Art Exhibition, until January 23

Catch the end of this festive exhibition at the Fine Arts Gallery in Casemates from Monday to Friday between 10am-2pm and 3pm-6pm. Free entry.

radewise Chess Festival, January 23 - February 2

THE annual GibTalks will take place at John Mackintosh Hall on February 11. A cross-section of locals will The Olive Pressspeak on a range of subjects for 15 minutes each. The speeches will cover everyTOP for news in Spain! thing from personal anecdotes to history and academia. Gibraltar Cultural Services will work alongside playwright and director Julian Felice to deliver the event. Speakers include: Sir Peter Caruana, Georgina Cassar, Danny Freyone, Paul Lyon Jonathan Teuma, Henry & Priscilla Sacramento, Samantha Barass, Paulette Finlayson, Dan Teuma, Kaoula A LOCAL performer is El Andaloussi, Karl Ullger, gearing up for a UK tour Stefano Blanco Sciacaluga, with the musical the Wed- Krishaan Khubchand and Tito Vallejo. ding Singer. Simon Anthony, a dancer, In addition, three guest speakactor and singer, is hitting ers - Sean Vincent Acris, Rob the road for a nine-month Chandler and Manar Ben Tahayekt - have been allocattour starting in February.

Wedding party

Anthony, whose non-stage name is Simon Bolland, has performed in musicals in the West End since completing his degree in Musical Theatre two years ago. “Since I left college it has been a rollercoaster ride. I just have not stopped working in a variety of musicals productions,” he said. The tour kicks off in Leicester next month.

January 18th - January 31st 2017

Art attack BE ‘APPY!

PAINTINGS, letters and books feature in a new pop-up exhibition of the Gibraltar Collection at the John Mackintosh Hall gallery. our app now and Art byDownload Jacobo Azagury, Gustavo beginBacarisas enjoying the bestand Spanish Leni Mifsud news on thewill go. be on display, as well as photographs and prints. The exhibition is free and open from 9.30am to 6pm. It will end on January 20.

Fifteen to one

Range of local speakers eye up GibTalks slots ed ten-minute slots. Contact: 00350 20067236 or info@culture.gi or check the GibTalks Facebook page and Twitter account @gib_talks.

Underwater museum GRAB your scuba gear and prepare to take the plunge at Europe’s first undersea museum, splashing down off The Canaries this month. The Museo Atlantico complex - just off the coast of Lanzarote - is the brainchild of British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who has installed more than 300 works across a dozen large-scale installations. At a depth of 14 metres, the sprawling museum was created to promote conservation and education. The sculptures are made from environmentally friendly and pHneutral inert materials.

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Now in its 15th year, this festival at the Caleta Hotel offers tournaments for all levels of ability. Contact cathy@caletahotel.gi to enter. Entry fees apply.

raft and Collectors’ Fair, Saturday January 28

From 10am-2pm St. Andrew’s Church will fill with stalls selling everything from jewellery to books to handcrafted gifts. Entrance is £1, and homemade refreshments available.

obin Hood Pantomime, January 19 - 28

The Trafalgar Theatre Group presents this classic pantomime at Ince’s Hall, daily at 7.30pm, with weekend showings at 2.30pm. Tickets £6 and £7 at the box office.

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January 18th - January 31st 201

Spain Property Guides

January 18th - January 31st 2017

Don’t get caught out when buying in Spain

Issue 12

Removing the floor

A VICTORY for mortgage owners has been awarded by the European Court of Justice. The court has ruled that two million mortgage holders in Spain are entitled to additional refunds from the banks because they paid too much interest. It came due to the so-called ‘floor clauses’ that saw most Spanish banks fail to lower their interest rates to borrowers to match the base rate set by the European Central Bank. The court ruled that it was unfair and that repayments should cover the entire life of the mortgage during the time that interest rates were low and continue to be. When the central bank base rate was lowered to stimulate the eurozone economy some years ago, mortgage repayments should have tracked it to 1.5% to 2%, however many borrowers continued to pay 3.5% and more. The surprise ruling is final and cannot be appealed. Around two million borrowers should now be set to receive repayments, estimated to be worth billions of euros.

G Little slice of home BRITISH expats are on a buy-to-let spree in London and the south east of England. According to mortgage lender Skipton International there has been a significant rise in expat investment over recent years. New figures reveal 40% of expats’ buyto-lets are in the UK capital, while 25% are in the pricey south east. “Prices in London have increased significantly in the past few years, meaning that capital gains have been very attractive for investors,” said Skipton mortgage director Nigel Pascoe. “Expats have many reasons for investing and long term investment is usually the most important.” The trend has occurred as it has become easier to secure lending for expats, who previously struggled with credit checks and recent credit history. Some 35% of expats cited long term investment as their main reason for buying, while another 19% said it was part of their pension plan.

ET your hands one of the first new properties of the year right on the beach! This stunning contemporary with wonderful sea views and heated infinity pool has gone on the market this week. Just a few steps from one of Marbella’s loveliest stretches of sand, the four bedroom home with a gym and cinema could be yours for a cool €7.9m. The chic new addition to Bahia Marbella, just east of the town, includes the latest technology, with a preinstalled sound system, solar panels and underfloor heating. The property, marketed by Panorama Properties, sits in a gated community with 24-hour security.

New Year, new house? NEW PROPERTY: Stunning Bahia villa on the shores of Marbella

And the King of all renovation jobs

MALAGA province’s second biggest castle will finally be renovated after a €2 million project failed to take off almost a decade ago. La Estrella castle is spread over 25,000 square metres and is currently being used during the filming of ‘Douglas, el Guardian de Historia’ – a Spanish TV series which features the battle of Teba, where the castle lies. A project to give the structure a face lift was abandoned in 2008 at the onset of the global financial crisis. It now back on, and will improve accessibility, undertake archeological investigation, consolidate the walls and generally improve the existing structure.

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Property

January 18th - January 201731st 2017 January 18th - 31st January

Tower power The capital’s business district to receive new addition

ADRID’S Paseo de la Castellana is set to receive a fifth tower. Dubbed Caleido, the 36-storey building will cost €84 million to complete, and will house a university campus for the Instituto de Empresa, a Quiron medical clinic and a shopping mall. It is expected to create 1,559 jobs during its con-

Tel: +34 951 127 116 email: ventas@kingofcotton.com www.kingofcotton.com Centro Comercial la Colonia, Avenida Virgen del Rocio s/n San Pedro de Alcantara, 29670 Marbella, Malaga

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struction and another 3,992 once it opens. The Paseo de la Castellana is one of the longest and widest avenues in Madrid and is home to many business, banking and financial buildings. It is one of the longest and widest avenues in the capital and features many of the most important embassies.

How does ‘used’ compete with ‘new’?

The importance of the home report pack

May you live in interesting times” Reputedly an ironic ancient Chinese curse, and certainly 2017 is likely to have many opportunities to be ‘interesting’. Locally, we see many new properties under construction, both individual villas and urbanisations. The vast majority of these are aimed at the upper price level and we hope that all have done their marketing analysis correctly. Certainly, many appear to be pre-sold or for individual owners, all of which is good news. Long may it continue, though for every new property built there are still a number of older properties available. Investigation of the market shows a definite double level, with older properties being available at often half or less per square metre compared to the new ones. That’s the effect of everything being offered as one package to a buyer, with guarantees, though sometimes the small print of the latter needs to be read very carefully. The sensible used property seller can compete with that by having a Home Report prepared that gathers all the information on their property together and offers it as one pack to buyers. It’s what the

increasing numbers of Northern European buyers are used to in their home countries, so reassure them by giving them a comprehensive pack with copies of floor plans, Nota Simple, Catastral, Energy Certificate, Electricity and Water invoices. Copies of First Occupation Licences, Decennial Insurance Certificate, proof of Community and IBI payments, and any other licences or permissions that you have for extensions, should all be included.

Connections

As internet connections are becoming more important, so a copy of an Ookla internet speed test would also be good. Photos of inside, outside and views, plus location maps and aerial photos will be really helpful too and it doesn’t have to be a fancy brochure. It can all be on a memory stick that’s given to viewers or even create an individual website. Too much bother? Well, realise that the majority of that information is required by law to be given by sellers and their agents to every enquirer. If it’s not available, both will be heavily fined, and we are talking thousands of euros potentially. Also, it’s all going to have to be available for the eventual purchaser’s law-

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ALL PROPERTY MATTERS BY CAMPBELL FERGUSON

RICS BUILDING SURVEYORS & VALUERS

For peace of mind follow

these property buying rules yer doing their ‘due diligence’, so why not have it all available anyway. You even could negotiFind Your Property ate a reduction in the lawyer’s fee by handing them everything ‘on a plate’. A responsible agent will help you gather it asInstruct reasInstruct Building surance for Surveyor themselvesLawyer that they are not going to do all the marketing, but then find that it can’t be sold or the buyer is with Knowledge ‘lost’ due toBuyextensive delays & Confidence while the paperwork is sorted out. Yes, the agent may want an exclusive deal for a period +34 952 923 520 Connect with us! in return for all the work, but by admin@surveyspain.com doing itsurveyspain.com they show themselves to be true business people who are likely to be successful in their marketing too. A prudent buyer is going to be delighted and reassured with all the information. It may also mean that a higher price can be achieved as the buyer knows what they are acquiring. Also, for us as surveyors carrying out pre-acquisition surveys and/or valuations, we are undoubtedly going to look more favourably on a property for which we can get all the information we need and thus avoid the ‘no information supplied’ comments that can reduce the value. The days of selling a ‘pig in a poke’ and keeping fingers crossed are fleeting, as most buyers are much more informed, prudent and ‘canny’ than they were a decade ago.

Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com

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January18th 18th- -January January31st 31st 2017 2017 January

III 13

Feeling the force STAR Wars producers have pinpointed one of Spain’s property hotspots to begin filming the next in the blockbuster series. The sci-fi franchise is set to use Fuerteventura as the backdrop of its highly anticipated Han Solo spin-off. The yet-to-be named movie will be set on the Canary island, thanks to its wild sandy beaches and large mountainous areas. The scenic island was the fifth most sought after location for properties last year with an average asking price of €150,000. The upcoming film will star Alden Ehrenreich as the young Han Solo, a role Harrison Ford originated, while Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke - who is has filmed across Spain for the hit TV show - has also been cast in an, as yet, unspecified role. The film is expected to premiere in May 2018.

MOVIE SET: Star Wars said to begin filming in Fuerteventura

Arch enemy

Home Swede home THE Swedes could soon overtake the Brits as the biggest foreign buyer group in Spain. Last year saw demand from the Nordics steadily increase, with sales in the third quarter rising 22.7% as UK sales fell by 16.3%. “Swedish demand is important in Alicante and the Costa del Sol, where they are the second biggest group of foreign buyers behind the British,” insisted property specialist Mark Stucklin. “And I expect they will become even more important after Brexit.” Daniel Nilsson, CEO of Swedish agent Fastighetsbyran said: “Ninety per cent our buyers are Swedish and we had more than 700 sales last year. “The main bulk is concentrated on the peninsula, 54% on Costa Blanca and 29% on Costa del Sol this year. We also see increasing demand for big cities like Barcelona, Alicante and Málaga, not only the traditional destinations.”

A POLITICAL party is calling for Franco’s victory arch in Madrid to be torn down. Left-leaning political party Compromis, allied to Podemos, has asked Mariano Rajoy’s government to tear down the monument. The Valencia-based party argues it is an ‘insult to the memory of

Purple pain STILL FOR SALE: Mansion was a wedding gift from Prince

the victims of the military coup’ that eventually brought Franco to power. The 43-meter high monument - which was completed in 1956 was built to mark the ‘triumphant’ entry of Franco’s troops into the capital after a bloody end to the civil war. However it was never officially inaugurated or used as a viewing point or exhibition, as originally planned. Rajoy’s government has yet to respond to the request but sources at Madrid City Hall have said local authorities hope to rebrand the monument – giving it a new significance – although the details are yet to be decided upon.

House of the late Prince struggling to sell nine months on

Dead good news

THE burial ground of celebrated British writers Gerald Brenan and Marjorie Grice-Hutchinson is receiving a €96,000 makeover. Malaga City Hall has announced that stabilisation work will be carried out on the charming English Cemetery in areas where the clay soil and the action of water run-off has taken its toll, endangering some of the graves. Walls and cracks will also be repaired during the three-month project. Established in 1830 by the then British consul William Mark, the cemetery - spread over 8,000 square meters - is the oldest non-Roman Catholic Christian cemetery in mainland Spain. It has a functioning chapel and graves of all denominations - and a number of former German sailors - making it the veritable Highgate Cemetery of the Costa del Sol. CONTROVERSIAL: Franco arch

Cave craze

HE sprawling Marbella mansion once owned by the late music legend Prince is seemingly impos-

sible to sell. The enormous 13-bedroom palace in Paraiso Alto - which appropriately comes with a recording studio and impeccable manicured gardens was put on the market in April last year for €5.25 million, but it has failed to drum up enough interest.

Failed

RENOVATION: Where Grice-Hitchinson and Brennan are buried

Prince, who died of an overdose last year, fell in love with the Costa del Sol after performing in Marbella in 1990. He is thought to have written many of his inspirational songs at the stunning estate. The wedding gift from the famous singer to his former Puerto Rican wife Mayte Garcia in 1998 also counts a gym, pool and tennis court. The property is listed with agent Engel and Volkers.

A GROWING trend for troglodyte living is turning Andalucia’s traditional cave dwellings into cosy homes. The unusual inhabitations in the Sierra Morena foothills, north of Cordoba, are being converted into rural housing at a rapid rate. Emblematic of the new cave craze is the Cuevas del Pino development, which sees ‘warm and fluid’ living spaces carved into the rock. The converted rock residences, which were traditionally used as makeshift shelters by wandering shepherds and poorer households, start from just €93,000. .

Renovation revival

DEMAND for budget properties in Spain is four times higher than supply, according to property website Kyero.com. Renovation properties below €60,000 are booming, according to the website, which features 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents. Politics and pressures of modern life are said to be pushing many to pursue the rural renovation dream. Richard Speigal, Head of Research said: “We’ve seen from the huge boom in searches for Spanish property that the Brexit vote seems to have, if anything, whetted Brits’ appetite for Spanish homes rather than driving down interest. “At the same time, buyers from the UK are looking for cheaper solutions as a result of the pound’s decline, so buying a dilapidated farmhouse and doing it up is an attractive option.”

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January 18th - January 31st 2017

a very special counTry properTy! From the Owner

Three separate buildings, chic Country Style, natural materials, stone, wood, etc. Modern kitchen and bathrooms. Big well build pool 4 hct. land, perfect entrance from main road. Orange and fruit groves Great views -Gibraltar, Africa, Sea and Riverland10 min. Gaucin, 25 min. Sotogrande and Coast Near offer Suitable Boutique Hotel or three Family-homes!

1.250.000 €

Two fanTasTic land holdings!! 40 hct. and 38 hct. both bordering Rio Genal, Ronda Valley The 40 hct. is perfect for any touristic use. 800 m River frontage, very old mill, flat lands! Olives + Cork wood’s, old buildings to renovate. For training centers, Eco farming, horses, animals sheep, etc.. Summer schools for children, Yoga, executive training, Art Hotel/ Restaurant. Idea plan’s available, Townhall approval. Work team, best price’s and experience. 15 min. two Villages, 45 min. to Estepona.

700.000 € The 38 hct. much closer to Coast, Sotogrande! Great views River, buildings to renovate. Idea perhaps parking short -and long- term for Caravans. Hotel/ Restaurant/ Apartaments. idea plan’s available,Townhall approval. 4 min. main road, 15 min. Coast, 25 min. Sotogrande!

Near offer

1.000.000 €

More information call or email: Margarita, tel. 952 11 74 51 / Mob. 616 736 600 margaritaftaylor@hotmail.com

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Ship Ahoy!

Business

January 18th - January 31st 2017

private foundations plan A NEW government bill to establish private foundations in Gibraltar for the first time has been published. Private foundations are independent legal entities set up for solely charitable purposes.

The ‘STEP legislation’ will ‘add significantly to the legislative armour’ in the private sector, said minister for commerce Albert Isola. He said: “There is international demand for this product and our

ability to serve clients with new legislation that is additionally compliant to the highest of international standards will ensure that we continue to promote our financial services industry very positively.”

Picardo’s pledge

Download our app now and BUMPER shipping figures have begin enjoying the Gibraltar best Spanish been reported by the Port Authority (GPA) news on the go. for 2016. The port recorded a second consecutive year of growth, despite a global economic slowdown. Visits by cruise ships, superyachts and vessels calling in for bunkering and fuel delivery were both up. There was also a rise in shipOlive to-ship The transfers, off portPress limit transfers, and occupancy rates CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo at the TOP Eastern Anchorage. for news in Spain! CEO and Captain of the Port, has promised to deliver five new Bob Sanguinetti, said: “After schools and a raft of apprenticehosting a hugely successful, ships. high profile international bun- Speaking in his New Year’s mesker convention in Gibraltar last sage, Picardo said the government November, it is very pleasing will launch apprenticeships in electo reinforce our status as a pre- trical, engineering and mechanical mier maritime hub in the Medi- trades this month. terranean.” He also announced that free school Gilbert Licudi, maritime affairs meals for children from less wellminister, hailed the ‘solid part- off families are also being intronership’ behind the results. duced. Licudi said: “This is great Picardo said: “2017 is a year that news for Gibraltar, particularly will likely define our future for genagainst the backdrop of a chal- erations to come. lenging year for global ship- “So a tough and challenging year ping.

Chief Minister promises five new schools in New Year’s message

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Who pays the mortgage?

The continuing legal campaign for justice for house

he recent court ruling by the EU Court of Justice, allowing customers of banks in Spain to reclaim billions of euros because lenders did not pass on savings from interest rate cuts on variable-rate mortgages, seems only the penultimate headache for Spanish financial entities. The abusive nature of these contractual clauses, which makes them void, stems from the description made by the Supreme Court: “An abusive clause is such when the consumer is unable to have influence over its suppression or content, being left with the choice of accepting the clause and adhering to the contract or pulling out of the contract.” Now, a less recent judicial ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court (Dec. 2015), which has only transpired now, appears to give consumers free rein to claim from banks ‘unilaterally imposed’ mortgage set up costs, i.e. notary and land registry fees, bank’s legal fees (gestoria) and even the tax (Stamp Duty). The 2015 Supreme Court ruling contradicts tax laws in force –which stipulates without doubt that borrow-

ers are to pay the tax- by resorting to consumer legislation, which prohibits businesses transferring to consumers taxes of products and/or services they benefit from. Lower Courts in Barcelona and Zaragoza have relied on this ruling to order banks to return all mortgage costs to two borrowers. But not all judges are of the same thinking. Less than a month ago (Dec. 2016), a court in Oviedo (Asturias) ruled that the Administrative Division of the Supreme Court had passed judgement previously and had specifically exonerated banks from paying stamp duty even though it was clearer that all other mortgage-related costs could not be –unilaterally- imposed on the borrowers. With these arguments, the court sentenced the Liberbank to reimburse the claimant notary and land registry fees, as well as gestoria costs but not stamp duty. So who pays mortgage costs is still a matter under discussion; as there have been rulings for and against individual claimants, it is still too early to know whether borrowers are going to be winning any major victories in court.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bidding war SPANISH pharmaceutical firms saw stock prices drop by up to 2.9% the morning after Donald Trump said in a press release that the industry should bid more for government contracts.

Berry nice SPAIN has overtaken Poland as the top European producer of Blueberries, with production in 2016 rising to an estimated 28350 tonnes.

More choice AIRLINE Cathay Pacific is to introduce a new fourtimes-weekly seasonal service from Hong Kong to Barcelona, in order to offer its customers “more choice” in destination.

lies ahead. “But as Gibraltarians, we know that so long as we knuckle down to work together, we have every reason to be optimistic about the future of our beloved British home.” Gibraltar saw record low unemployment in 2016, with just 146 registered unemployed in December. Work on the new runway tunnel has also begun, Picardo said, with the LNG fuelled Power Station at North Mole due for completion this year. Picardo announced that the GHA is re-introducing the rank of matron to its nursing staff.

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Growers’ grief THE growers’ union has denounced the appearance of South African oranges on supermarket shelves in Valencia, as the imports drive down the price of local crops.

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All’s fare... THE parent company of British Airways is to launch a transatlantic cheap fares war from Barcelona in a bid to compete with Norwegian Air. International Airlines Group (IAG) will launch a fifth carrier to counter the threat of Norwegian, which has been carving up a market in cheap flights across the Atlantic. It comes after the red, white and blue company announced it will launch lowcost, long-haul services from Spain to the United States and Latin America in 2017. IAG will use Vueling, its budget Spanish short-haul airline, as a feeder to the transatlantic services from its home airport of Barcelona El Prat. IAG’s move will see Vueling fly the same routes as Norwegian’s new additions.

Go east!

A GROUP of Gibraltar businessman have participated in a major new Chinese insurance seminar. Gibraltar Finance, including minister Albert Isola, headed to Beijing for the first Meeting of the Captive Specialised Committee of the Insurance Society of China on January 7. A captive insurer is whol-

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BRITS’ mobile phone charges may be set to soar when they visit the continent post-Brexit. Mobile phone operators are planning for a worst case scenario of higher call and data charges once the UK finalises its exit from the European Union. The networks fear that European companies could seize the opportunity to raise the wholesale cost of calls and data for Britons travelling around Eu-

rope because the EU-wide caps implemented by Brussels will no longer apply. The feared hikes could see Brits pay up to €50 to stream a single song on their phone. It comes after the European Commission has already indicated that a quick bilateral deal between the UK and the EU on roaming charges will not be possible.

grow the industry in China. Isola said: “As Chinese businesses continue to expand overseas and make acquisitions in Europe and across the world we believe there are opportunities for these businesses to establish captive insurance companies close to their acquired assets and we hope that Gibraltar will become the home for a number of these new captives.” Michael Ashton, a senior executive at Gibraltar Finance, was one of the speakers at the seminar, which drew an audience of 250 people. Isola travelled to Nanjing and Shanghai on Monday for more meetings.

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January 18th - January 31st 2017

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Price is right Put simply, people continue to want to purchase property in Gibraltar and actually are as there are many benefits to doing so. Regrettably, the property market in the surrounding part of Spain is still weak and prices still below their peak pre-2008 last time I looked.

Lee Riccio, UK

Rest in peace

We will all miss Solomon so very deeply (RIP, Momy, issue 35). He was a true ambassador for the Rock and was an exemplary citizen, serving 18 years in the armed forces, defending our freedoms and rights, before going on to serve in public office as our first civic mayor.

What an inspirational character and a shining example to all of us. May he rest in peace. Georgina H., Marbella

Come on, Marlene! Marlene Nahon is spot on here (We Want Answers, issue 35). If we have spent almost ten million pounds on a building without carrying out the necessary inspections then I know a lot of Gibraltarians who will be furious! Especially considering we helped raise one million for the project. Let’s hope we get to the bottom of this, and good on Marlene for demanding answers. John Shirop, Estepona

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‘SEMI-SLAVERY’ Bloc-head!

No deal!

Comparing India’s and China’s thrusting’ economy to that of the EU’s economic performance as a way of ‘proving’ that the EU is holding back the ‘potential’ of countries in the bloc is absurd (Do EU Really Need it?) when you consider the rights accrued by EU workers to those of India and China. If that is the only incentive the author of the article can come up with to sweeten the pill of Brexit, I am afraid it will fall on sterile ground unless,of course, you are the employer. The 19th century semi-slavery has long gone.

There is nothing to negotiate with Gibraltar. Negotiations will be between the Foreign Offices of Spain and the UK. But taking in account that the UK will be out of the EU and the WTO in march, and that they are already out of the Schengen Area, there is not too much to negotiate.

Joe Marie Sanders, Gibraltar

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tar (Governor’s New Year cheer, issue 35). I have watched him at a few events and he is without doubt a kind and humble man.

He will win many hearts in Gibraltar and I look forward to see what he will do for the Rock in 2017. Deborah Huxley

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

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BREXIT Bulletin

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May’s in bits THERESA May has claimed Britain can’t ‘keep bits’ of its EU membership. May has pledged to trigger Article 50, the process of Britain leaving the EU, by the end of March. May said: “Often people talk in terms as if somehow we are leaving the EU, but we still want to kind of keep bits of membership of the EU. “We are leaving. We are coming out. We are not going to be a member of the EU any longer. “So the question is what is the right relationship for the UK to have with the European Union when we are outside.”

Brexit showdown Expats head to Westminster to give evidence at EU committee A TEAM of British expats is taking its Brexit battle to the heart of Westminster. The five-strong group will give evidence before the Exiting EU Committee, chaired by Labour MP Hilary Benn, on January 18. Sue Wilson from campaign group Bremain in Spain will give evidence for the group, which counts Madridbased Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett as one of its backers. Tremlett, author of the book Ghosts Of Spain, told the Olive Press he believes current EU and British expats should retain their existing rights.

Brief By

“We need the people who are discussing this in Westminster to start thinking about the one million Brits who are most affected by Brexit,” said Tremlett. “The main fear is that the whole process will take so long that we will all live in a state of limbo for two to five years. “We would be unable to make decisions about such basic things as where to live, how to organise one’s life etc when you don’t know what your rights are going to be.” He added: “I don’t think the people who are in place – the three million Europeans in Britain and the million Brits in the EU – should be treated as if they are ‘new’

Charles Gomez

Drawing the Line

HE UK's only continental border is with the Southern Andalucian town of La Linea de la Concepcion, which developed as a dormitory town for Gibraltar and gained the Charter of a city in 1870. La Linea is one of the places, like Gibraltar, where the theories and windy notions of Brexit become hard reality. Centuries before the founding fathers of the "European idea", Adenauer, Monnet, Schuman et al were born, a relationship of good, if sometimes uneasy, neighbourliness grew on either side of the old battle line separating British from Spanish territory. The Municipal Government of La Linea has just published a study on the impact for the City of Brexit (see page 8), With a population of 63,352 (more than double that of Gibraltar) it has the highest unemployment rate in Spain (35.33%); 10,000 of its citizens including non-Spaniards who live there, work in Gibraltar and bring home €97.5m a year. In other words it exists largely because of the economic engine of Gibraltar and, in turn Gibraltar's economy depends on the free flow of people and goods via the border and to a great extent, the services provided by Linenses and other inhabitants of the Campo de Gibraltar. According to the latest Fletcher Report commissioned in 2015 by the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce Gibraltar imports goods and services from Spain to an annual value of £380,890,000. Would anyone in their right mind want to prejudice this? Surely well-meaning politicians on all sides are working to improve relations...... The last time that Madrid played hardball with Gibraltar and closed the frontier in 1969, the Report says that 30,000 Linenses had to emigrate (many Gibraltarians also did). Even the then Francoist mayor openly called the closure una barbaridad (an act of barbarism). Interestingly when he was military Governor of the Campo de Gibraltar in the 1950s, General Muñoz Grandes had been careful to ensure that national Spanish

The need for a brave new regional politics

policies did not damage the interests of working Spaniards and businesses. No one ever accused Muñoz Grandes of being unpatriotic - he was after all a veteran of the African wars and the commander in chief of the 20,000 Spanish volunteers who formed part of the German invading force of Russia as pay back for Russian support of the defeated Spanish Republic; he was one time vice-president to Franco. Still, in 1969 other less thoughtful people thought that it was acceptable to sacrifice the Campo de Gibraltar;

It is in everyone’s interest that police on all sides create a safety zone and the rest, as they say, is history. Post the Brexit referendum, Gibraltarians who voted massively to remain but are now realising that ‘Brexit means Brexit’ (no hate mail please) and our neighbours in the La Linea are getting nervous. Until he was replaced as foreign minister last November Jose Garcia Margallo seemed to suggest that he would use Brexit to put pressure at what Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson calls Gibraltar's "choke point," the frontier. It is unclear whether there is still a Margallista strain in the Palacio de Santa Cruz or whether the new incumbent Don Alfonso María Dastis Quecedo, a career diplomat and lawyer (the latter always a good sign) from Jerez de la Frontera, will help revive the spirit of co-operation of the

kind that former Gibraltar Chief Minister Sir Peter Caruana created together with then Foreign Ministers Miguel Angel Moratinos and David Milliband in the so-called Cordoba tri-lateral process. To be able to weather Brexit seas all parties must resist nationalist clarion calls. Gibraltar too needs to take initiatives whether directly or via London. Two ideas immediately come to mind the first is to agree freedom of movement of all Spaniards (and of course British residents in Spain) in Gibraltar and vice versa. Nothing new; in fact the status quo ante Brexit. In fact Fabian Picardo could lead the way and do this unilaterally by amendment to Gibraltarian legislation. Surely the UK would not object. The second, given the security implications quite rightly addressed by the Schengen arrangements, is to facilitate co-operation between law enforcement agencies and the military on both sides of the frontier. The 92,000 strong Spanish Guardia Civil has thrown off historical baggage and is now very popular among Spaniards. On the whole, it is a thoroughly professional hugely motivated body - according to the Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police Eddie Yome, security in the Bay of Gibraltar / Algeciras is maintained as a result of co-operation (not just with Spanish but also Moroccan law enforcement). It is in everyone's interests that the police and military on all sides be allowed to create a safety zone where no vessel can go undetected and if necessary challenged in the Straits region. This can only be achieved without political interference and the implementation of a rational and respectful system of hot pursuit. There will be many other areas including education and health as well, of course as trade. Whether we like it or not Brexit invites us to be brave and initiative to ensure that the daily lives of people are not negatively affected but are in fact improved. We need to draw the line under the old and tired style of politics in our region.

Readers of the Olive Press are invited to discuss this or any other legal matter with Charles Gomez by emailing charles@gomezco.gi

CHARLES GOMEZ & COMPANY BARRISTERS AT LAW

under the Brexit proposals. “The three million should hold onto their rights in the UK and the one million should hold on to our rights in Europe. “We are just being used as a bargaining tool. If that is going to be the approach the three million and the million must stand together.” Tremett said the group hopes to form a European umbrella coalition to fight for British expats’ rights in the coming months and years. Last year Tremlett and fellow British expat journalist William Chislett started a petition calling for joint citizenship for Brits who had lived in Spain for over 15 years. “The idea is to take it to the 17 regional parliaments this year,” he said. “We’ve had reasonably good feedback from Spanish politicians. We know there are a lot of people who want it.”

OUR CALL: Dastis’ Brexit vow

Changing their tune? SPAIN must be ‘realistic’ about its joint sovereignty bid for Gibraltar, says foreign minister Alfonso Dastis. Dastis, 61, said Madrid’s ‘offer’ of joint sovereignty was still on the table. But he was adamant if Gibraltarians didn’t want to accept Spain’s terms, the Rock would have to ‘go through us’ to retain EU access. Dastis said: “If the UK does not want to negotiate, it will be hard to move forward with this, and one of the elements that London is considering, before deciding whether to negotiate, is the opinion of Gibraltarians. “We deeply believe that

this would be a beneficial choice for them.” He added: “If Gibraltarians remain sceptical and do not wish to explore that avenue, I would say, well that’s their business. “They have a right to get left out of the EU, if that’s what they want. But if Gibraltar wants a relationship with the EU, it will have to go through us. “And that will require a bilateral agreement between Spain and the UK.” Dastis, a former diplomat, replaced controversial Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo’s when Mariano Rajoy formed a new government in November.

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Gib and juice A NEW juice bar for ‘healthconscious hedonists’ is set to launch on the Rock. London-based Supernatural will be opening its doors for the first time in Gibraltar this month, with a 48-seater bar at the World Trade Center. The healthy food and expertly-crafted delicious juices and smoothies are inspired by the art of mixology.

Hedonists

Its team of former mixologists will use their cocktail-making skills to serve up mouthwatering, healthy drinks. The bar will serve single and combination fresh juices and delicious smoothies with drinks including Mango Passion Colada (Mango, Pineapple, Passion Fruit and Coconut Milk) and Love Potion (Watermelon, Pineapple, Orange, Strawberry, Beetroot and Lime). A food menu includes health treats like Greek Yoghurt with Granola, Date Nectar & Berries, and Cacao & Coconut Pudding with Chia Seeds. A brunch from 11am to 3pm includes unlimited food, sparkling wine, mimosas, bloody mary’s, beer, or teas and coffees.

January 18th - January 31st 2017

Cooking for the future A WORLD-CLASS chef has challenged foreign countries to improve Spanish cuisine for the ‘next generation.’ Three Michelin Star-ranked Francis Paniego of Echaurren in Ezcaray (La Rioja) wants cooks abroad to put their own twist on traditional recipes to invent new fusion cuisines. He also said more Spanish restaurants should open abroad to showcase a wider variety of the

country’s dishes. “Cooks have a mission to pick up and improve the recipes of our mothers and grandmothers and pass them on to the next generation”, he said. “This is because fusion cuisine is very good. “But we must also protect the heritage we have inherited. “We have to proliferate Spanish restaurants because they are an entry flag to our country.”

Passengers on British airways must now pay for their food BRITISH Airways has begun charging passengers for their food and drink. Customers flying to and from the UK - Gibraltar’s most popular route - will have their food provided by Marks and Spencer, in what BA describes as setting a ‘new standard’. Food prices will range from £1 for a packet of crisps, a ploughman cheese sandwich for £3 and a bacon roll for £4.75. It has pledged that no food will cost more than £5. For those who enjoy a milehigh tipple, a glass of wine will cost £4.50, a Gin and Tonic £6 and a can of Heineken £4. CEO Alex Cruz said: “I firmly

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Brain food A MEDITERRANEAN diet could prevent brain shrinkage in old age and stave off cognitive decline, a new study has suggested. Scientists have long known that the typical Spanish diet can help prevent dementia but they did not understand how it protected the brain. But a new study has shown how it keeps brain cells active for longer, helping to slow down inevitable shrinkage. “As we age, the brain shrinks and we lose brain cells which can affect learning and memory,” said the study’s author, Dr Michelle Luciano of Edinburgh University. “This study adds to the body of evidence that suggests the Mediterranean diet has a positive impact on brain health… and may be able to provide long-term protection to the brain.” Scientists gathered dietary information for 401 70-year-olds and then scanned their brains at the age of 73 and 76, measuring the volume and the thickness of the cerebral cortex. They found that those who closely followed a Mediterranean diet – oily fish, vegetables, nuts and fruit – retained more volume over the period.

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Columnists

What a difference a day makes

January 18th - January 31st 2017 Jan 18th - Jan 31st 2017

Forget resolutions, there’s a reason to quit quitting every day of the year

O how’s your Dry January going? Did it all fall apart on January 17, aka National Ditch Your New Year Resolutions Day? Or are you staving off a binge until Beer Can Appreciation Day (Jan 24) and National Irish Coffee Day (Jan 25)? Are you aware how many awareness days, weeks and months of the year there are? If you thought Spain held the monopoly on high days and holidays you’d be wrong. In 2017, UN International Year for Sustainable Tourism Development, January is National Bath Safety Month, Blood Donor Month, Braille Literacy Month and Hot Tea Month while Na-

tional Hugging Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day and Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day are all coming up this weekend. There are so many theme days, Stateside, they created National Nothing Day on January 16, just to give Americans a break. Of course, only Nanny State Britain could invent a whole month without alcohol, an act of postChristmas cold turkey madness IMHO, especially as January is the most popular month to file for divorce, good reason for anyone to hit the bottle. And do they seriously think the Scots will be observing Dry January on Burns Night, coming up next week? But if you’re having trouble keeping your resolutions

GOING NUTS The greetings card industry is squirreling it away thanks to national day never fear, there’s a theme day to make it a lot easier. Those struggling with their New Year New You diet may be heartened to hear that coming up

The Return of The Godfather

My take on responsible parenting, Costa del Sol style

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y Goddaughter flew over from the UK to visit this Christmas. I suspect that several jaws have already dropped open at the thought of yours truly being a Godfather – the respected adult figure whose role is to guide the aforementioned impressionable child in the ways of spiritual matters and righteousness. I will have to admit that with a CV like mine, Godfather does seem an unlikely role for me but I can only assume that Ozzy Osbourne was busy biting the heads of bats that day, and so at some point in the early 90s the parents chose me. Said Goddaughter is the brilliant, brainy and beautiful Ziggy, who is now ridiculously grown up and works a a freelance alternative circus performer. This doesn't mean that she cracks a whip a lions (and absolute nono) or gets shot out of a cannon (though several publishers have wished the same on me). Ziggy performs with, among other things, hoops and fire at most of the major festivals in the UK – including on stage a Glastonbury, Bestival and Boomtown, as well as around Europe. With bright pink hair, piercings and far too many tattoos to count, she is the perfect Goddaughter to my unorthodox style of God parenting. Think Marlo Brando in 'Bringing up Baby' and you have the general idea.

The trip was wonderful and so much fun that she decided to extend her trip by an extra two weeks. We did the Andalucian culture tour with trips to Ronda and Cordoba, caught a couple of movies, ate far too many pizzas and went to some great live music nights. Ziggy got on with my friends immediately, and went clubbing with them on New Year's Eve. (I don't do NYE. It's the night for amateurs and I used to be a professional party animal, trust me) Like the dutiful Godfather that I am, I told Ziggy that she could call me at any time in the evening to come and collect her (taxis are like trying to get the last chopper out of Saigon in New Year's Eve). I kept my phone on, snuggled down on the sofa and waited. At 11am on New Year's Day my mobile rang. The little party animal was ready to come home please, and like the waifs and strays rescue service that I am, I sprang into action with a litre bottle of water and a warm jacket. Needless to say I spent the next two days bringing her reviving cups of tea and flipping on the next Harry Potter DVD as she recovered. She watched the whole series. In reverse. I have never been a prouder padrino!

over the last fortnight in January, in chronological order, there are ‘national days’ dedicated to popcorn, butter crunch, the granola bar, the blonde brownie (made with white chocolate) peanut brittle, chocolate cake, blueberry pancakes, corn chips and croissants. Only in America, land of the free, the brave and the clinically obese … The US calendar champions multiple causes on a daily basis and although none are official holidays, some have gone viral with many workers forfeiting a day of their annual leave to join in the fun. Groundhog Day, celebrated every February 2 in Pennsylvania since 1841, went viral after the movie and the ‘Pennys’ are still making tourist megabucks out of the buck-tooth, weather-forecasting critters.

Groundhog

The trend has gone global. Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day (July 27), is BBC-coverage big. And, ahoy all you scurvy bilge rats out there, don’t miss Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 19 when normally sane folk don eye patches and bandanas and go around with toy parrots on their shoulders squawking ‘Pieces of Eight’. One man alone appears to be responsible for the crazier ‘national days’. Pennsylvania DJ Thomas Roy invented and copyrighted over 90 in the last 26 years to liven up his radio show, including Married to a Scorpio Support Day (November 18) and Hoodie-Hoo Day (Feb 20), when everyone is supposed to hit the streets at the stroke of noon to shout ‘hoodie hoo’. A surprising number of people do. "I just started doing it as a lark but it’s kind of scary," says Roy. "This is how politicians get into office with these nonsensical ideas, and people buy into it." It seems anyone can create a theme day and March 23 is Create Your Own Holiday Day, the perfect excuse. I’m thinking of Pay Newspaper Columnists Double Day. How about it, Ed?

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