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Vol. 3 Issue 55 www.gibraltarolivepress.com October 11th - October 24th 2017
COOLING: Catalunya
BACK FROM BRINK
Continues on Page 4
It’s all part of the job for Culture Minister Steven Linares, as he officially waves off Miss Gibraltar en route to the Miss World finals.
WIGS VS FIGS
www.hungrymonkey.gi
SPAIN and the EU breathed a sigh of relief as Catalunya’s leader failed to declare independence in a critical parliament speech last night. Instead, Carles Puigdemont reiterated the region’s right to break from Spain following this month’s referendum, when 90% of 2.4 million Catalans voted to leave. Switching between Catalan and Spanish, Puigdemont offered an olive branch, proposing dialogue with Madrid after ten days of mounting tension. “We propose to suspend the independence declaration in order to work towards putting into practice the result of the referendum. “We are making a gesture of responsibility in favour of dialogue.” He added: “The ballots say Yes to independence this is the will that I want to go forward with. “I want to follow people’s will for Catalunya to become an independent state.” He also called for international mediation to address the crisis, after an alarming 900-plus people were injured
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Lawyer Azopardi and accountant Clinton go head to head in GSD leadership race while Bossino butts out
Keith Azopardi
AGE 50 JOB QC Lawyer
PREVIOUS
Deputy Chief Minister
FOCUS
Re-build the opposition
PLEDGES
Lower public debt and modernise public services
AN accountant and a lawyer are locking horns over who should be the leader of the opposition. Barrister Keith Azopardi has thrown his hat in the ring in an attempt to nudge Roy Clinton out of his current post as interim leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats. The two men have between now and November 30 to convince GSD members who is the right person to take on Fabian Picardo at the next election. Azopardi, a former deputy Chief Minister under Sir Peter Caruana, cited the ‘perennial issue of Spain’, as well as Brexit and public debt as key issues he would tackle. He told the Olive Press this week: “I’ve returned to politics to play my part in rebuilding the GSD because it is important to have a strong alternative for Government. “There are big issues and challenges that need to be dealt with – Brexit, public debt, the modernization of public services, healthcare, environmental questions and major planning issues as
Opinion Page 6
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EXCLUSIVE By Joe Wallen
well as the perennial issue of Spain,” explained the lawyer, who was an MP between 1996 and 2003. “I believe I can re-energise and re-build the party in the run up to the next election.” His challenge to Clinton came as Damon Bossino surprisingly announced he would not be standing for the position. Roy Clinton meanwhile told the Olive Press: “Holding the
BOWING OUT: Bossino
Government to account is vital for me and why I got into politics. “I hope to reconnect with the members through party conferences. There may have been a bit of a disconnect in the past but the party belongs to the members. “There are obviously key issues in the party and also Gibraltar’s economy, levels of public debt and Brexit, employment, education and training. “Housing provision and health are also very important,” he said. “Social media is key for me, I want to increase engagement and lead alongside people rather than from the front.” Bossino, who had been tipped to stand and was popular, released a statement saying that he had turned down the chance due to ‘personal and political reasons’. He said: “It would not be appropriate for me to enter this race.” He is expected to continue in his role as Shadow Minister for Transport and Tourism.
Roy Clinton
AGE 50 JOB
GSD interim leader
PREVIOUS Director of accounting firm
FOCUS
Hold government to account
PLEDGES
Reconnect with party members and focus on housing and health
Meanwhile... A new political party Together Gibraltar is launched on the Rock by independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon, see page 7
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NEWS IN BRIEF
October 11th - October 24th 2017
WEED SEIZURES
Paedo jailed
Web safety
POLICE have seized over 600 marijuana plants in La Linea. Four people were arrested and two guns seized in the raids, after a tip off from the public. Police believe that the gangs responsible are linked to a much larger criminal organisation cultivating and selling marijuana around Andalucia. Three hauls were in properties in La Línea with a fourth in Los Barrios. The operation is believed to have been highly sophisticated with the gang using machinery and hydroponics to encourage rapid cultivation of the plant.
A PAEDOPHILE has been sentenced to three years in prison. Stephen Anthony Martinez was convicted at Gibraltar Supreme Court for possession of indecent images of young children. He is also alleged to have flashed at children and reportedly took photos outside a nursery school. However, of the 349 indecent images found on his computer, none were of local children.
A CYBER crime insurance seminar was set to be held on October 10 at the Finance Centre to help Gibraltarians increase the safety of their personal and financial data online.
Huge £200 million haul of cocaine seized by Spanish after UK tip off
Fake money THE Royal Gibraltar Police’s Economic Crime Unit have warned that counterfeit versions of the new polymer sterling five pound note have been seized on the Rock.
Balls up FORMER Chelsea and Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho has been sentenced to seven months in prison for crimes against the Spanish tax authority.
ONE of the world’s biggest hauls of cocaine has been intercepted and landed in Cadiz. The £200 million seizure was found on a tug-boat sailing between Madeira
OUT OF LINE and the Azores. The mammoth 3.7 tonne haul, intercepted by Spain’s coast guard, came about after a tip off from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
096
Stories and features in this edition of Gibraltar’s original community newspaper
BUSTED: Crime doesn’t pay in La Linea
WOWZA: Four tonnes of coke unearthed
The boat, which flew a Comoros islands flag, was believed to be on route to Europe, probably Spain, from Colombia. Its seven-strong crew – six men from Turkey and one from Azerbaijan - were arrested after an extensive search found 165 individual packages of cocaine, hidden beneath the galley floor. Each package contained around 23 kilos of powder. Mark Blackwell from the NCA, said: “Seizing this quantity of cocaine represents a major disruption to international crime groups, depriving them of
STOPPED: The boat was then towed to Cadiz
revenue running into the hundreds of millions of pounds.” “We’re working with colleagues in Europe and around the world to dis-
rupt organised criminals in any way we can, and to protect European borders from attempts to smuggle illegal commodities through them,” he added.
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LOCAL STORE: But it is claimed many others are not legal
Illegal tobacco sales from Gibraltar double in Spain in a year A LEADING tobacco company claims the number of illegal cigarettes being sold in Spain, via Gibraltar, has doubled in a year. Altadis insists 30.3% of the contraband tobacco sold in Spain is coming from the Rock, compared to just 16.5% a year ago. It comes after a study by consulting firm Ipsos estimated that 10.3% of the cigarettes bought in Spain were illegally imported, up 2% up on last year. In Andalucia, an alarming 34% of all tobacco bought is said to be illegal and not bringing tax revenue to the central government. While Altadis admitted Gibraltar has stepped up controls in 2017 in order to curb trafficking, they claim manufacturers are
over supplying Gibraltar with cigarettes. The surplus means many more unregulated shops have popped up on the Rock which are, in turn, selling larger quantities of cigarettes to smugglers. The government confirmed it was to conduct more repairs on gaps in the border fence which smugglers are known to exploit. Currently the allowance for visitors is either 200 cigarettes or 250gs of tobacco from Gibraltar into Spain per month. A total of 1,144 denuncias have been made to the Spanish Tax Agency this year so far, with the majority of them over food shops and kiosks selling illegal produce.
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October 11th - October 24th 2017
3
Ant is back - alongside Gib company
LADS TOUR: Clooney and Gerber take in Andalucia
Curious George
GEORGE Clooney has been screeching around bends in inland Andalucia. The Hollywood icon took his annual boys’ trip around inland Malaga, according to sources, with his tequila business partner Rande Gerber. The pair, who tour mountainous regions of Europe on their motorbikes every year, chose Andalucia for its scenic beauty. “We thought we would check out Andalucia because of the mountain roads and passes,” Gerber said ahead of their Malaga start. “The day usually ends in a bar, drinking with the locals,” he added. It’s rumoured that the pair, spouses of hotshot international lawyer Amal Clooney and Cindy Crawford, may be looking for holiday homes in the area. The Olive Press revealed that Clooney was house hunting in Marbella three years ago. A reader played tennis with him, while he rented a holiday villa in Marbella.
JACKPOT: Ant out of rehab to present new series of hit show
Madge moves in
NO SPLIT: Shakira and Pique
Just referendum rumours HE may have split the opinion of fans over the Catalunya referendum but he hasn’t split with long-time love Shakira. Barcelona star Gerard Pique has become the subject of vicious rumours over his relationship with the Colombian pop singer, with whom he has two children. Her publicist claims ‘trouble-makers’, who are angry at the Barcelona defender for supporting independence, are stirring up false rumours.
International icon has landed residency status to live in Portugal
MADONNA is making her move onto the Iberian Peninsula. The superstar has managed to secure permanent residency rights to live in Portugal. The 59-year-old American, who briefly lived in London, has got express residency after applying
Rock solid
NEW PAD: For Madge
to the Portuguese government just last week. Most normal applicants have to wait up to 10 months for such status. However, the government justified the fast track procedure by claiming that the media exposure was a huge benefit to the country and it was of ‘national interest’. Madonna moved to Lisbon last year after her adopted son David Banda was signed by the youth division of Benfica football club. Since then, the artist has not stopped promoting the benefits of Portuguese life on her various social media platforms. The singer’s Instagram account is full of Portugal posts, such as enjoying a fado concert, riding on
POWER COUPLE
SOULMATES: Raj and Shilpa
BOLLYWOOD icon Shilpa Shetty has compared her husband to the Rock of Gibraltar in a heart-warming birthday message. The 42-year-old actress thanked hubby Raj Kundra for being her ‘bestest’ friend, husband and father. She said in an Instagram post: “I am happy I found you in this lifetime, my soulmate Raj Kundra, I will track you down in 100 lifetimes, in 100 worlds and in 100 forms, I will hunt and find you and choose you again and again, stay happy and blessed my Rock of Gibraltar.”
A GIBRALTAR gaming giant is behind the new series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Tombola bingo is sponsoring the 17th series of the show, that is likely to see Ant McPartlin rejoining his TV partner Dec, after months in rehab. “The show is a perfect fit for Tombola given both brands are about having fun and community,” said boss Phil Cronin. “With 10m viewers the show is must see viewing including in my own home,” he added. Ant was rumoured to have been replaced by Caroline Flack after going to rehab for addiction to painkillers. But he will return with Dec when the show airs some time in November.
LOVERS: Real life couple star in new film
THE film tells the story of drug lord Pablo Escobar’s romantic relationship with journalist Virginia Vallejo. It’s stars - Penelope Cruz and husband Javier Bardem - certainly looked the part as they shimmied down the red carpet for the Loving Pablo showing at the 2017 San Sebastian Film Festival. The 43-year-old actress looked stunning in a gold gown with a thigh-high slit as the 48-year-old Oscar-winning actor looked handsome in a navy suit.
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Going Strong
BIG FAN: Madonna is buying a home in Lisbon
the beach in Comporta or playing with her adopted daughters in Sintra. She is reportedly looking to buy a €7.5 million palace in the Lapa neighbourhood that was once owned by a British ambassador.
She will join fellow stars Michael Fassbender, Phil Collins, Christian Louboutin and John Malkovich, who have all bought a home in the country. She is currently staying in a suite at the exclusive Pestana Palace Hotel.
“Shakira and Gerard’s relationship is still going strong. Everything is the same,” she said. Pique, 30, who has been with Shakira for six years, was happily pictured voting for Catalonia to become an independent state. Pique, who has a genius level IQ of above 140, has continued to be a vocal, articulate supporter of independence.
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October 11th - October 24th 2017
Coastal AIR QUALITY PROMISE shocker! THE government has insisted it is committed to improving air quality on the Rock. “Good air quality is essential for health and therefore for both quality of life and reducing the cost of healthcare,” said Minister for the Envinronment
CONTROVERSIAL: New development A MEGA Project scrapped near Tarifa could now be back on after a new court ruling took away protection status for Andalucia’s coastline. The controversial Valdevaqueros development, involving 350 houses, at least three hotels and a golf course, could now be resubmitted by developers. It comes after Andalucia’s TSJA Supreme Court overturned a ruling that it was illegal to build on any land within 500 metres of the sea. It also means that 1,200 homes that were left unfinished on the Costa del Sol can also now be restarted. More than half of these are in Torre del Mar, where six projects were halted, and where Velez-Malaga had unsuccessfully appealed the ban citing the importance of increasing tourism in the area. Green groups and various political parties, including the IU and Podemos, have slammed the decision and demanded an appeal. The Junta hopes to reinstate the ban by taking the judgement on the Plan de Proteccion de del Litoral to Madrid’s National Court.
John Cortes. “The closing down of two old diesel power stations, in a move to gas as a source of fuel, is a major development.” He was speaking as a stand was introduced in the Piazza to mark World Environmental Health Day.
STAND: In the Piazza
EU’re out! Rock MEP sacked for ‘blocking Brexit’ while Boris’s days are numbered GIBRALTAR’S MEP has been sacked by Theresa May for ‘blocking progress’ in the ongoing Brexit talks. Julie Girling, who represents the Rock and South West
England, was stripped of the party whip after she backed a resolution in the European Parliament that would stop Brexit talks moving on to trade discussions.
Although the vote was advisory, support for the resolution seeks to delay progress despite signs of renewed momentum in the wake of the Prime Minister’s Florence
Can’t be trusted A TRIO of Gibraltar leaders have blasted Spain at the United Nations. Following the recent Catalan disturbances, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, deputy Joseph Garcia and Richard Buttigieg, said Spain’s tactics were out of line for this ‘day and age’. “How can we trust a nation that, even in this day and age sends out anti-riot vehicles and paramilitary forces against its own people merely because they
have the temerity of wanting to exercise their right to choose?” asked Buttigieg at the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee hearing. The Chairman of the Gibraltar Self Determination Group, added: “We will never give up our undeniable right to self-determination. And we will pay whatever price is necessary to uphold our democratic freedoms.” The Chief Minister insisted that Gibraltar’s self rule referendums had been ‘held
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TRIO: At the UN
peacefully’ and were party to British principles of ‘respect of democracy and the rule of law’. “Gibraltarians respect each other and their neighbours and abide by international laws,” he said.
speech. Girling has been suspended from the Conservative party meaning she is now officially an Independent MEP. Her sacking, along with fellow MEP for the South East Richard Ashworth, is said to be part of an effort by May to retain control of the party. It comes amid rumours that May could remove Boris Johnson from his foreign secretary role later this month. Asked if Johnson could be moved from his role, she said she was prepared to shake up her cabinet, and added ‘I didn’t come into politics for an easy life’. According to the Sunday Times, three senior cabinet members are planning to ask May to step down by Christmas, with half the cabinet wanting her out in the next two years.
PRIOR Park School has announced the opening of its new Sixth Form. The Gibraltar-based independent school - which has grown from 55 to 95 pupils in just a year - will launch the A-level curriculum from September next year. “The time is right for us now to open a Sixth Form,” explained Headmaster Peter Watts. “This is a really crucial stage in the school’s development because you look to your senior students to lead younger students and act as positive role models. “We believe that a senior school isn’t just somewhere you come to get excellent academic results, although that it is important too.” The growth is all part of a plan to eventually host between 200 and 300 students at the school. The former Sacred Heart campus was renovated in 2016 and will include a common room built for the sixth formers, where they will be able to work and relax in between lessons. A special Sixth Form Open Day for interested students and parents is to be held on October 26. Prior Park is one of a group of three schools, the other two being based in Bath in the UK.
HARD WORK: Prior pupils
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October 11th - October 24th 2017
Our Sixth Form Opens September 2018 - Quality assured, UK-based A Level programme taught by committed, subject specialist teachers - Outstanding pastoral care, individual attention and personalised teaching - Extensive co-curricular and leadership opportunities to develop the whole child Join us at our Sixth Form Information Event on Thursday 26 October (3.30pm - 6.00pm) to find out more about this unique and exciting A Level experience for young people in Gibraltar and across Southern Spain. Tel: 00350 200 62006 Email: ppgadmissions@priorparkschools.com Applications for the Sixth Form must be completed by Thursday 21 December 2017.
Prior Park - An Education for Life
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OPINION All together now
Olive Press reporter Joe Wallen spent a night at a Barcelona school on the eve of the most controversial referendum in Spain’s history
It is fantastic to see Marlene Hassan Nahon standing up for Gibraltarians in an attempt to improve the lives of all of us on the Rock. While there are many things to be proud of about life here, there are certainly aspects of our healthcare, environment and education system that could be improved. There has been an undercurrent for some time that people’s views are not being listened to. She is plugging into that and while nothing concrete has been achieved at this early stage, Marlene’s new party Together Gibraltar appears to be making the right noises through encouraging increased dialogue with local people to identify the key issues. If nothing else, her approach to anonymous, transparent funding is extremely admirable.
Barcelona blues Seeing how Madrid reacted to the Catalunya referendum is probably just a taste of how they would behave if they ever got their hands on the Rock, at least under conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy’s leadership. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo was right to call out Spain at the United Nations last week. It was disappointing and yet, somewhat predictable, to see little repudiation from leading - or any - EU governments. The fact is that Spain is a leading and core member of the EU, and to criticise its violent crackdown was not in the political interest of the likes of Germany and indeed the UK, who is seeking allies in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Spain will forever be tainted by that day, which has only served to garner more support for the Catalan secessionists and their bid for independence. DESPOSITO LEGAL 834-2017 PUBLISHER/ EDITOR
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FEATURE
October 11th - October 24th 2017
A LESSON IN COURAGE
October
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5 SPECIAL REPORT FROM BARCELONA
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S the sun set on Escuela Joseph Maria Jujol on September 30, head teacher Isabel Safont was going nowhere. Neither were her pupils. The school was to be opened as a polling centre the next day and they were all hold- LOCK IN: Students and teachers camp overnight in Barcelona school ing the fort. It was a Saturday night but Safont had the “The teachers are standing up for every perinnovative idea of hosting an impromptu son in Spain and their right for democracy. ‘parents evening’ in order to keep the school “It is not even about independence anyopen into the early hours. more,” he said, alongside several Basque Brave volunteers would then accompany the activists. teachers in remaining in the school until the One of them, Aurkene, from San Sebastian polls opened at 9am on Sunday. continued: “We have our own struggles with October 1 2017 is a date now indelibly inthe Spanish Government.” scribed in Spanish history books. It was the “That said, we are here in peace. Cataluday of the Catalan independence referennya is standing up for us all tonight and the dum, a benchmark and bloody episode to teachers are at the very front of this moverank among Spain’s very darkest, with riot ment. police running amok, sending a claimed “This is a movement for normal people and 850 people to hospital. these teachers, they are normal people. Sitting with the headteacher and a small “But tonight they are lions,” she says. group of teachers just a few hours before In Catalunya, 2,315 schools were regisdawn, who could have guessed that the day tered as polling stations with around 200 of would turn out nearly ten times more violent them occupied by teachers from Friday until than London’s famous Poll Tax riot? Sunday morning. Safont believed that by keeping the school of election day. While much was publicised about the bravopen and full of parents and children, who Lluís Fernandez meanwhile, had set up ery shown by activists in the streets of the would also be using the building to vote the camp in the lobby of the school with two region – of the farmers driving their tractors next day, the police would be unable to shut friends, Manel and Ignasi. It was their secto block the streets and of the firemen formthe polling station down. Peace would reign. ond night there. ing human shields to halt the Guardia Civil Her colleague, Laid Fonts said they had had “Sleep? We didn’t,” he says. “The police kept – little was written about the courageous no problem with the Mossos, the Catalan us awake all night. Also it is hard to relax beteachers of Catalunya. police, who had effectively They deserve to have their story heard. cause we are worried what promised to avoid any vioWithout their incredible bravery, occupying will happen to us if we are lence. their respective schools, the National Police arrested. We are here However, she told me, she would have much more easily been able to “We could be fined; which could not be sure about the shut the polling stations down. could stop us getting jobs, to support our Spanish National Police nor There would have been no vote, no referenthey could make us out like Guardia Civil, both an unpre- teachers, they are common criminals.” dum. dictable force. And all this, despite the Spanish governDespite the unpredictso brave and we able morning It was the second night ment even threatening individuthese teachers were to cannot leave them ahead, he conals like Safont with fines of over sleep over in an attempt to €550,000 and prosecution. tinued with a protect their polling station. “It has been so difficult but smile: “There All three recalled how, on something positive is going on. is no doubt the previous night the National Police rang about seeing it through. We We’re moving forward,” Safont the bells outside every hour, on the hour, to are here to support our teachtells me. “We are just teachers stop anyone inside from getting any proper ers, they are so brave and we working here. sleep and, undoubtedly, to intimidate the cannot leave them to make “Public schools are open to evteachers inside. erybody and they belong to the this fight alone.” “Let’s not talk about them, they want to pro- This was the general consenpeople and not to the state. voke us,” Font muttered. “We are here for sus among the crowd gath“The schools are ours, the parpeace, to protect the democracy.” ents, the teachers and the chilered in the Escuela Joseph Given the subsequent action of the Spanish Maria Jujol. The courageous dren of course, our next generapolice, her concerns appear to have been teachers were making a stand tion,” she adds. justified. With that comment, the head for democracy and the least The members of staff told me how they had anyone could do was show teacher smiled and took her faced verbal threats from police in the lead their support. leave. up to the referendum. But they would not be Albert Vidal had come all the It was 3am and a basketball game intimidated. was set to start in the sports hall. way from Madrid for the soverThe teachers appeared more concerned eign sleepover. PROUD: Morning voter Isabel Safont wouldn’t miss it, or with the logistics of their 4am yoga session, “I am not even from Catalonia, this referendum, for anything... which they joked would ‘relax them’ ahead but it is important to be here.
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Marlene Hassan Nahon tells the Olive Press’s Joe Wallen (left) about her new people-run social movement on the Rock.
T is certainly one of the most exciting political developments on the Rock for decades. Set up to fill a void created by a lack of dialogue between politicians and the electorate, ‘Together Gibraltar’ is a welcome third political force for Gibraltar. Based out of its humble new office on Main Street, this is the brainchild of independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon. Looking to enact some meaningful change on the Rock the former GSD politician is busily finalising her manifesto. It only launched at the end of last month, but Nahon is already gaining traction and positive public support, she tells me. It is perhaps not a surprise, Marlene being the presentable, erudite daughter of former leader Sir Joshua Hassan. Elected to Parliament with her father’s former party the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD), in 2015, she resigned last year after falling out with its then leader Daniel Feetham over the party’s authoritarian, divisive manner. However, she has no bad feelings towards the GSD – in fact quite the opposite. “The GSD honestly did very good things for Gibraltar. They put Gibraltar in a very good place and cleaned up Gibraltar when they took over power. “The reasons why I left were mainly because I had issues with the leadership within the party and my situation became untenable,” she comments. Gibraltarian politics has been largely dominated by the GSD and the current ruling party the GSLP/Liberal Alliance since the conception of the Gibraltarian Parliament. Marlene believes that this has resulted in local politics becoming stale and led to politicians in power becoming increasingly disconnected from their electorate. In an exclusive interview, she first told the
FAMILY: Marlene’s dad Sir Joshua Hassan
Gibraltar Olive Press how she was planning to launch a new party just days after resigning last year. By setting up Together Gibraltar, she believes she has founded an innovative, grassroots movement which allows Gibraltarians to openly discuss their life on the Rock. Marlene believes she can then relay issues raised to Parliament and ensure appropriate changes are brought about. “I think Gibraltarians are becoming really despondent and disillusioned with the two-party system which serves those within the party structure rather than those in the community. “There are many gaps in representation and this is what we are trying to do at the moment.” A former auctioneer in London, Marlene believes communication and dialogue are the two key principles for ensuring a better quality of life on the Rock. “Rather than declare myself as party leader of something new, what Gibraltar needs right now is unity and participation and a grassroots movement that is going to invigorate and spark dia-
logue,” says the former graduate of Manchester University, where she studied History of Art and Architecture. Her fledgling party is still very much taking its first steps and Marlene intends to take things slowly. Rather than appointing MPs to stand for her on a specific manifesto she intends to hold regular public discussions leading to increased understanding on matters ranging from health to housing. “I think many issues in the GHA can be resolved by increased communication and reform, while there is a huge lack of communication between the housing agency and its constituents,” she insists. Following these meetings, which are being set up for later this month, Marlene feels she will then be in a knowledgeable position to lobby for changes. In terms of becoming a political force to be reckoned with, she intends Together Gibral-
Marlene believes her party should be one run by the people and for the people tar to develop naturally. “If you run a truly democratic project you have to let democracy take its course and so I would put a lot of emphasis on the wishes of the membership and their views. “If the membership feels the moment has come and they want to build a movement to run for election I won’t discount that at all. “We want to lead by example and start from the bottom up.” It is vehemently clear that Marlene believes her party should be one run by the people and for the people. Perhaps the greatest indicator of this principle is the assurance that Together Gibraltar will not take donations from specific individuals or organisations. Instead her party will hold a crowdfunding initiative and furthermore an anonymous donation scheme to maintain impartial operations. “I think you have to practice what you are preaching otherwise there is no integrity,” she says with a wry smile.
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LE T T E R S
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Standard behaviour Just another one of the standard scammers in Spain - it is full of them to be honest (EXCLUSIVE: Rental ‘scammer’ flees to Gibraltar from Spain after leaving pregnant Irish expat ‘facing homelessness’, issue 54).
October 11th - October 24th 2017
SHOCKER
Identify your exposure to threats Mitigate
Our readers react to the violence that broke out in following confrontations between police yourCatalunya vulnerabilities and protesters.
Matheus Demetri
Big mistake
Educate your Farcical staff vote
State terrorism
This fecker has broken rule one; Don’t ever try and scam the Irish (EXCLUSIVE: Rental ‘scammer’ flees to Gibraltar from Spain after leaving pregnant Irish expat ‘facing homelessness’, issue 54)
What a farce. The referendum having been declared illegal beforehand meant only those in favour of independence are likely to have bothered to vote anyway.
Franco is laughing from hell. Now we see the true face of Rajoy and his followers. This is state terrorism: the unlawful use of violence and intimidation against civilians in the pursuit of political aims.
Anthony Gossage
Michele Morton, La Axarquía
Ketil Naess, Norway
Reaction pending
Two-fold
Can't quite see how a vote that only half the region took part in is caused this amount of disruption. The lack of an EU reaction to this is remarkable.
This is why they'll never get Gibraltar back. Who'd want to rejoin such an undemocratic country?
Angela Merkel and Jean-Claude Junker are the third reich. 20 years from now everyone will be working for a small wage, in small houses, eating little food and be curfewed from the moment they leave their homes. I won’t be around to be an EU prisoner!
lunyan independence is not the majority vote in Catalunya - BUT Rajoy's response to the situation has just made the case for independence! Silly sod. Trouble is Puigdemont is unlikely to create a more egalitarian state following the vote. I think it’s more like SNP in Britain with Sturgeon and Salmon - promising everything - delivering nothing.
Alan Crossley, Granada
Helen Doig, UK
At Hedgehog Security we work with businesses Jamie Tristram Luck Allan Bowley, Malaga No leg to stand on of all sizes that want to reduce their exposure to Police state The English should keep their mouths shut. Your armies have shot both external and internal Just been threats. watching scum police beat up old women and men. One and killed women and children in Northern Ireland. The British guy with his dog was doing nothing BUT still beaten up by so called killed them in cold blood. Sunday BLOODY Sunday. police. Bloody Nazis I have lost faith in police here if that's how they We provide a wide range of cyber security services, treat their fellow country men. Luigi Romersa, Marbella from penetration tests to vulnerability assessments and Tom Mander Jnr, Granada Own goal our new managed service - Continual Cyber History repeating itselfAssurance. OK - it was an illegal vote - and previous polls have suggested that Cata-
Get in touch today Has toanything find piqued outyour how to interest in this week’s Gibraltar Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GibraltarOlivePress or Twitter @olivepress FLASHBACK:avoid Conman flees to Gib story becoming the next headline: 540 65558 Join hello@hedgehogsecurity.gi the most secure
companies in Gibraltar Get in touch today to find out how Hedgehog Security can mitigate your business' exposure to vulnerabilities: Phishing Tests Penetration Testing Vulnerability Assessments Continual Cyber Assurance And much more!
CYBER ROUNDUP
Hedgehog Security CEO Peter Bassill takes a look at the latest in cyber security news The end of Adobe Flash Adobe has officially set a kill date for its love/hate Flash. The Photoshop giant said it plans to end support for the hacker-prone multimedia browser plugin by the end of 2020. There will be no further updates for Flash Player after that date and the end of support on many browsers including Chrome, Internet Explorer and Edge, and Firefox. Facebook also says it will shut off Flash games by the end of 2020, and is advising developers to change their FB games over to a different format. Programmers, designers and companies whose websites still rely on Flash (Google estimates that is about 17 per cent of all sites) are being encouraged to start planning now to transition to a more modern format, such as HTML5 and WebGL. This is welcome news for security professionals, as it is one less attack vector to worry about. In recent years, the notoriously insecure Flash Player plugin has been a favourite target for automated exploit kits due to both its dominance and the large number of serious flaws lingering in the code. 2020 may be the end of an era but it is a welcomed one. Sensitive Data Exposed on Google Groups
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Hundreds of organisations have been discovered by researchers at RedLock for exposing sensitive data via Google Groups and have pinned the cause on basic configuration issues. The exposure of sensitive data such as
personally identifiable information, including employee salary, compensation details, customer’s passwords, names and email addresses and home addresses at hundreds of companies has all be down to ‘A customercontrolled configuration error in the Google Group sharing setting”. The exposure was found when RedLock searched for publicly exposed groups with the top 1,000 most visited sites on Alexa. Although some would like to blame Google, this is a case of companies themselves underestimating the power of making things public on the internet and not setting their sharing groups to private. Is there really any need to make these types of groups public when companies know how sensitive the information is? Chrome Extension Hijack A rather popular Chrome extension was hijacked recently to inject unwanted ads and code into browsers. The hijack was carried out by simply hacking the creator’s Google account through a phish. Anyone using the Web Developer for Chrome extension should update to version 0.5 immediately. This is further proof that even sensible people can fall for a good phishing attack. Treating all email as suspicious until proven otherwise is a good starting point for defending against phishing attacks. If you would like to find out more about cyber threats that could target your business and what you can do to mitigate your vulnerabilities, visit www.hedgehogsecurity.gi or call us on 540 65558.
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A HUGE art exhibition has Gibraltar-Berlin artist exchange gone on show on the Rock app now and work goes on display as partDownload of theourGibraltarBerlin begin Artist enjoyingExchange the best Spanish work while spending time “It has been an interesting programme. news on the go. experience learning from Organised by Gibraltar in each other’s cities. Cultural Services, the art- “I felt at home the whole different artists and being in a different culture.” work will be displayed at time,” said Birgit. the John Mackintosh Hall. “The Gibraltarian Cultural The sentiment was echoed It features original, new- Services took great care of by Shane and her time ly published work from me and Shane Dalmedo spent in Berlin. Berlin-based artist Birgit connected me with local “I wouldn’t call it inspiHölmer and Gibraltar- artists, TV and newspa- ration but my visit to the ian artist Shane Dalmedo, pers in Gibraltar so I felt Stasi prison left quite an Theproduced Olive Press impression on me, espewho both the part of the community. cially when I found the TOP for news in Spain! interrogation rooms were decorated with wallpaper. “Quite a contrast to the horrendous conditions that the prisoners endured in the cells,” she said.
Beautiful
INSPIRED: Birgit found the Rock itself influenced her art
Birgit felt the beautiful scenery offered by the Rock provided great inspiration for her artwork for the exhibition. “I loved how special Gibraltar is with the rock and
Europe’s leading clarinetists will descend onto St Michael's cave with conductor Howard Shelley to open the 2017/18 Philharmonic Society’s season. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are available from Sacarello’s coffee shop for £20.
E
urafrica Trail, October 11
IT’S ART: One of the pieces from Shane’s collection
caves and with the sea with the bay and the beaches. “I like Gibraltar very much, I hope the friendship goes further and we hold the contact for the next project.” Shane felt it was the urban space that she experienced in Berlin for the first time which influenced her work for the exhibition.
“It is always positive to try something new and working in public spaces is relatively new to me so I was really keen to see how this would influence me. “In all an extremely enriching experience - Of course, I would definitely visit Berlin again.” The exhibition will run until October 20.
Gibraltar will be the starting point for the third installment of the Eurafrica race spanning two continents and three countries. Participants will have to climb the Mediterranean Steps before finishing in Chefchaoeun on October 15.
T
he Heroes Band, October 20-22
A talented band set up to help raise money for the Help for Heroes charity will be playing in three different venues across Gibraltar. The first is at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at 7.30pm, admission is free.
HOMETOWN GLORY ANTONIO Banderas has been given the green light for his long-sought after theatre project in Malaga. The Alameda Theatre is set to be the venue after Banderas reached an agreement
with owners Jesus and Carlos Sánchez Ramade. Banderas will reveal exact details about the exciting project over the next couple of months as he looks to attract private funding.
Calling all artists! TOP artists have been invited to enter paintings and sculptures into competitions to celebrate the 44th Gibraltar International Art Exhibition. Entries will be exhibited at the Gustavo Bacarisas Galleries from November 8. The best piece of art will receive The Gustavo Bacarisa Prize and £4,000, with further cash prizes for those in second and third. Artists can submit a maximum of two paintings and two sculptures for entry. There is also The Rudesindo Mannia Prize for the best Gibraltar theme and The Ministry of Culture Prize for the best piece of work by an artist aged between 16-24 years old.
The redevelopment is believed to include a new amphitheatre with two rooms, classrooms for aspiring actors and actresses and a space for social functions. The aim is to boost the reputation of Malaga as a hub for arts and culture. Born in 1960, Banderas was part of the ARA Theatre School and the College of Dramatic Art in Malaga during his youth. The actor was delighted to announce the news after receiving opposition earlier this year to his original plans to redevelop the Astoria and Victoria cinemas in Malaga for the project. “It will allow us to consolidate a solid and attractive theatre project that takes root in the city and is firmly incorporated into the cultural movement that has been underway for several years,” he said.
CULTURED: Banderas
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AN Pedro de Alcantara is dressed As San Pedro gears up for all kinds of success, and I don’t mean flamenco costumes for its feria - the last of (although look out for them if the season - Laurence you’re down that way in mid-October. The San Pedro fair famously closes the feria Dollimore discovers a town season here). that can throw a party to Like this season’s debutantes, Marbella’s ‘kid sister’ has come out in style, stepping match anything big sister from behind her sibling’s shadow into the limelight with glitzy attractions, gourmet Marbella can muster eateries and resident celebs all of her mier Jose Maria Aznar among them. Pantone 118c own. Meanwhile, the head-turning footbridge In my 15 years of having a home here, I with its serpentine coils, is doing for San have never seen the place go through so Pedro what the Golden Gate did for San many transformations. Francisco and the Guggenheim for BilFor a couple of years now, where snarled bao. lines of traffic once backed up along the And although very much part of the mucoast road, a striking urban boulevard nicipality of Marbella, San Pedro has sprouting trendy pavement cafes has re- forged its own shiny new identity that’s claimed the once maligned area. quite separate, yet complementary to, its With a new skating rink, a skate park jet-setting neighbour. and a hat trick of new Just 10km west of children’s play parks, the Marbs, it has been reseaside town is unrecogborn over the last deSan Pedro has nisable from a few years cade as a modernised ago. microcosm of Spain. forged its own And it is still in transforBut some things have mation, investing more shiny new identity never changed in all than €2 million in reinthe years I have been that’s quite venting its town centre, visiting the town, with semi-pedestrianised named after 16th cen-Pantone 118c separate zones between the boutury Franciscan friar, St levard and its commerPeter of Alcantara. cial heart. The evenings still see This expat favourite, which continues to veteran San Pedranos gather on shaded offer one of the most authentic Spanish- benches around St Peter’s statue, outpueblo vibes on the Costa del Sol, is also side the parish church; the traditional getting a new museum dedicated to the Saturday market remains a weekly highartist Vicente de Espona. light; and the pavement cafes and ice And perhaps more fortune will come its cream parlours are heaving on Sunday way after its main political party, Opción nights in summer, when Spanish families Sampedreña (OSP) helped bring back enjoy their ritual paseo along the prom. former Marbella Mayor Angeles Munoz in What has kept San Pedro special has a dramatic vote of confidence at the town been its ability to hang on to its Spanish hall this summer. persona in the face of massive investThere are also rumours that former UK ment from Marbella Town Hall - nearly premier Tony Blair has bought a holiday €100 million. home in the town’s exclusive Guadalmina It must have felt like winning the lottery urbanisation. jackpot but San Pedro has spent the And he wouldn’t be the first world leader to set up shop here, with ex-Spanish preContinues on next page
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money wisely. The central boulevard, crowned by its snaking pedestrian bridge, has turned the town from an also-ran suburb into a spanking new social hub where whole families come to skate, hang out and enjoy the regular food truck festivals. Office workers make a beeline for its congenial cocktail bars on Friday nights. The bridge may be more Gehry’s Guggenheim than typical Andalus but it has forged strong new connections with visitors who used to think Marbs ended at Puerto Banus. The €6 million boulevard it meanders over boasts an amphitheatre and is now the official site of the town’s four-day feria, the last of the year in Andalucia, timed to celebrate St Peter’s feast day on October 18. Other welcome upgrades have included the €85 million tunnel diverting dangerous high-speed traffic below the town centre, and a much-needed underground car park. “San Pedro really does have it all,” says local Sean Woolley, 47, who has run an estate agent from the town for 15 years. “The new boulevard and urban park have become a magnet for new restaurants and bars and it has created a place that now offers something for everyone,” he says proudly. “There is this charm and tradition of a typical Spanish town fused with trendy and cosmopolitan additions, from organic cafes to lively wine bars. When you couple this with its sandy beaches and fabulous promenade, San Pedro is pretty much perfect.” Beneath the glitzy exterior, San Pedranos are as friendly and unassuming as they were in their 19th century farming days. And if anything is a reminder of those rustic origins, it’s San Pedro’s resident pig! On any given Sunday this sociable
ANCIENT AND MODERN: New bridge and (right) coastal watchtower
SAN PEDRO, ACTUALLY creature and town mascot can be seen Murcia, Granada and Almeria, and San strolling around its new neighbourhood, Pedro grew into a sizeable municipality. uttering contented grunts of approval A statue of Gutierrez now stands next to (see next page). the old town, keeping Army General Don Marpaternalistic vigil over quez Manuel Gutierrez his creation. But San Pedro de la Concha founded Although development the farming colony in slowed during the early has never seen the 1860’s when he 20th century when acquired nearly 5,000 the rampant over- Spain was ravaged acres of agricultural by civil war, the town development of bounced back during land across Marbella, Benahavis and Estethe late 1940s and 50s, other resorts pona. with street lighting and But with malaria scytha main road. But San ing through the loPedro has never seen cal populace and poor irrigation, the the rampant over-development of other Marques introduced a series of innova- costa resorts. tive reforms, including an agricultural Central to its evolution has been its busschool for local farm workers, river bridg- tling beach promenade that links seames, dams and state-of-the-art machinery. lessly to Banus and Marbella, putting the Workers soon flocked from Valencia, town on the map for cyclists, joggers and
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walkers. Its beaches fly the prestigious blue flag, the worldwide standard of excellence, while chic chiringuitos like Macaao and Guayaba are hotspots for the cool and hip. The once-barren wasteland between the boulevard and the ocean now sports shops, restaurants, residential communities and world class amenities like Nueva Alcantara paddle and tennis club, which hosts regular international tournaments. The beachfront also reveals clues to the presence of less-recent visitors – a 3rd century Roman baths and a 16th century watchtower looking out over the panorama of sun worshippers and jet skiers. While, set back from the waterfront action, you’ll also find relics of the 6th century Paleo-Christian burial site, Vega de Mar, excavated in the 1930s.
A new road network has also made San Pedro more accessible to visitors and local chefs have cooked up an exciting dining scene in response. Just behind the boulevard, Alfredo’s traditional Spanish fare is always in big demand while next door La Bodega del Cantinero offers an exciting foodie fusion featuring foie gras with apple and honey, tuna tataki with wasabi mayonnaise and shelves of vintage sherries. Further additions like L’impronta, Tutemaki and Restaurant 1870, where you can enjoy spider crab gazpacho in a scenic garden setting, have made San Pedro a key dining reference. And there’s more. San Pedro has its own leafy satellite suburb in the shape of Guadalmina (Baja and Alta), just west of the town centre. This exclusive neighbourhood – a kind of western golden mile boasts multi-million euro mansions galore. Guadalmina Baja is home to ex-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who is often seen jogging along the tree-lined avenues, flanked by four burly bodyguards. Guadalmina Alta, on the opposite side of the A7, has an 18-hole course and the coast’s only cable ski lake which thrillseekers can circuit on water skis or a wakeboard. “I adore it here, you feel like you are in the real Spain,” raves 39-year-old Guadalmina newcomer and artist Debbie Lush. “You are so close to Marbella and Estepona but without the madness and business of Puerto Banus, it’s perfect. “You can walk to the beach, cycle to Marbella and there are so many good places to eat, you have everything on your doorstep,” she adds. Like most locals, these days, she’s proud to tell anyone who asks that, no, she’s not Marbelli - she’s ‘Sanpedrano, actually’.
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‘San Pedro is a key boom area’
Casa Marbella boss Wolfgang Schlesier has known San Pedro well since launching an agency there 35 years ago San Pedro is better than ever, on fire… just look at the boulevard, it’s so busy these days,” explains Wolfgang Schlesier. “It is one of the main boom areas on the coast.” And he should know, having worked in real estate in the area for 35 years. His company Casa Marbella, which has an office just off the brand new Boulevard, has seen some enormous changes over that time. “The main one of course was the tunnel,” he explains. “It might have taken 12 years to finish, but it is really paying off now.” In the heart of the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ of Estepona, Benahavis and Marbella, San Pedro is an enviable place to buy a home or start a business. It is well connected and has good infrastructure, now that the decade-long urban rejuvenation project has been finished. “I live next door in Guadalmina, which is a real paradise, so I have the best of both worlds,” says Wolfgang, who first visited Andalucia on holiday in 1973, while dictator Franco was still alive. Then just 23, he quickly fell in love with the vibe of the coast, that was then one of the hippest places to live in Europe. “I got Marbellitis,” he explains. “Just fell in love with the place and after a three year trip to Caracas, where I learnt Spanish, I happily moved here.” Over the next few decades he mixed with the movers and shakers on the coast, first starting to work in real estate in 1981 in a company called Investasol (empowering individuals towards global change), alongside an EngA LARGE boar-like pig heads San Pedro’s list of famous resilish partner Graham Tullah. dents and is rapidly becoming the town’s mascot. He later launched his current Mythical creature or not, locals report regularly spotting the agency Casa Marbella in 1992, porker roaming the streets. which at its peak had four offices Rumour has it the animal has lived in the town since he was a spread between San Pedro and piglet, and often enjoys a stroll around the old quarter at the Elviria. The staunch Buddhist weekends. a regional organizer for SGI - is Friendly to all-comers, the sociable cerdo is especially fond of a spiritual man, who exudes a warm persona. “It has changed greeting the dogs that share his ‘patch’ and reportedly has a my life and helped me find my special affinity for his canine friends. sense of spirit and place,” exTry not to squeal if you cross his path- He’s a VIP pig and deplains the father-of-four. serves your respect. www.casemarbella.es
Preloved
October 11th - October 24th 2017
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Boutique
DESIGNER: Top gear
Loving it
PRE-LOVED boutique is celebrating a year in business in San Pedro. Since arriving from Puerto Banus, the second-hand designer store has made a name for itself as one of the best of its kind on the coast. And Lana, who began the business almost two years ago, has just launched its brand new website. “It’s been a great year here and we love the location,” she told the Olive Press, “There’s something here for everyone and it’s a really unique shop with competitive prices.” Visit www.prelovedboutiquemarbella.com for more info.
Monday-Friday – 10am-2pm & 5pm-8pm Saturday –10am-2pm Calle Cordoba 29670 San Pedro de Alcántara
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Apartment with sea view in front line beach complex in San Pedro
This very well presented corner apartment, in excellent condition, enjoys beautiful views over the community gardens and towards La Concha mountain and the Mediterranean sea.
October 11th - October 24th 2016
REF: CM9204
EXCLUSIVE
Beautiful Contemporary Villa in Estepona 6 Beds 4 Baths 440m2 Build 1756 m2 Plot 100m2 Terrace Price € 790.000
REF: CM9447
Situated in the Golden Bay, 5 minutes drive from the port of Estepona. Built on three floors, with sea views overlooking the African coast line, Sierra Bermeja and Estepona town. Enjoy the gated garden and swimming pool or take advantage of the impressive upper summer conservatory room to admire the spectacular views.
EXCLUSIVE
Beachside ground florr apartment in San Pedro 2 Beds 2 Baths 105m2 Built 32m2
South West facing ground floor property, has been modified for reduced mobility and has a spacious lounge leading to a large terrace with easy access to the communal pool. Five minutes from the beach and San Pedro Boulevard.
Terrace Price € 275.000
2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 140m2 Built 30m2 Terrace € 599.000
REF: CM9070
EXCLUSIVE
Stunning Townhouse in El Paraiso, Benahavis 3 Beds 2 Baths 220m2 Built
Situated within an exclusive gated community, this well kept home is a true gem! Relax on its fantastic upper solarium with panoramic views and admire its beautiful landscaped sub tropical gardens.
34 m2 Terrace Price € 299.000
REF: CM9327
EXCLUSIVE
Breathtaking views in Mijas Valtocado 3 Beds 3 Baths 1 Toilet 584m2 Built 2.328 m2 Plot 284m2 Terrace
This beautiful villa was designed by a Spanish architect to reflect traditional Andalusian style. Only 30 km away from Málaga and close to Marbella. All terraces and rooms offer a spectacular panoramic view of the landscape and Mediterranean Sea.
Price € 695.000
Avenida de Salamanca, 1 29670 Nueva Alcántara, Marbella
www.casamarbella.es info@casamarbella.es T: +34 952 799 643
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Solar spin
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our bi-monthly Property magazine out next month
March 29th - April 11th 2017
SPENDING SOARS THE Spanish property sector is on target to smash last year’s overall sales of €9.5 billion. In the first three quarters of 2016 almost €8.7 billion of investments were made, according to consultancy firm JLL. Residential investment stood at €1.18 billion at the end of the third quarter, way above the overall figure for 2016, which was €802 million. Investment in retail property has seen the biggest spend, with €3.26 billion ploughed into the
sector. Large sales in the retail market include Madrid’s San Miguel Market (€70 million) and Gran Via 18 (€44 million). There were €1.7 billion worth of office sales completed in the first three quarters across the country with hotel investment accounting for a further €1.9 billion of sales.
To find out more, go to www.sellmypropertyinspain.com or call 673
669 105 today
Mogul’s Marbella TV debut
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Tivoli world makeover
PAGE V
A dedicated Spanish architect has spent more than 30 years turning a rundown cement factory into his perfect home and office space
Page XI
BAD PRACTICE I T is a practice that most property professionals had hoped was a thing of the past. But Olive Press Property can reveal that the ethically questionable practice of charging buyers as well as sellers is rearing its head again on the Costa del Sol. According to sources, at least two agents in the Marbella area have recently stung their buyers with bills of up to 5%. The so called ‘finder’s fees’ are in addition from taking commission from the seller. “It’s disgusting,” said Terra Meridiana’s Adam Neale, “I have nothing wrong with finder’s fees if you agree it with the client beforehand, but I have heard from several buyers that certain agents are adding a 5% fee with no prior warning. “It’s bad ethics and gives agents on the Costa del Sol a bad name.” Mike Smith, Chairman of Marbella-based First Choice Spain, agreed that charging potential buyers such fees was ‘ob-
EXCLUSIVE: Agents unite as some ‘bad apples’ are slapping finders fees on buyers without warning
scene’, especially when you consider they already have very high purchase taxes which are often in excess of 10%. “We as agents are paid by the sellers and we never charge a fee to a buyer,” he said, “On the whole our industry works very well as it is, without the need to start charging such high additional fees to buyers. We should be encouraging them to invest here!” Ben Bateman of Holmes in Sotogrande added he was aware of the practice happening ‘in a few cases’. “It is totally unethical and gives our business a bad reputation for sharp practices,” he said.
“I have no objection to agents operating with a finder’s fee, but I do object when these so called buyers bill both sides without declaring from the outset that they will be doing so.” He added: “When unscrupulous agents abuse the system by adding extra amounts, the whole industry suffers. “Beware of this sharp practise.” Legal expert Antonio Flores added that such practises can be deemed illegal. “It is not illegal to have your commission built into the price, with the agreement of the vendor,” he told the Olive Press. The problem is when an agent adds a commission on top but does not tell the buyer or seller. “This happens when the agent is the middle man and the parties are not in touch via their lawyers. This is actually a criminal offence.”
Have you been a victim? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es
Granada’s new eco-village
PAGE XIV
Andalucia’s highest towns
PAGE XVII
STRUGGLING TO SELL YOUR SPANISH PROPERTY? Behind on your mortgage payments and need assistance? We know how to make your property stand out in the market and can advance funds to cover your mortgage until your property is sold. See page 16 for more details.
OUR HOUSE: New developments for Gibraltar
munity and will continue to do so with homes that are affordable and I am delighted to announce the next phase
Issue 13
Anything but a dump
Massive affordable housing project announced by government
1,600 new properties set for construction. A SET of ultra-modern The homes will be built on homes which run entirely the Eastside, Waterport Road on solar power are cur- and Europort Avenue. rently under construction The properties will be made in Estepona. available to eligible residents Sunhouse 360 has designed four different houses which of the Rock – dependent The counterclockOlive Presson position on the Housing rotate, either wise or clockwise, every 15 Waiting List – and will be completed between the Summinutes maximise TOPtofor news inthe Spain! amount of solar energy mer of 2019 and the end of 2021. generated.
15
Behind on your mortgage payments and need assistance?
See page 16 for details
It’s on the house Chief Minister Fabian Picardo believes the new housing scheme supports promises made in his election manifesto and will directly improve the lives of the Rock’s residents. “The provision of housing that is affordable is of course an essential part of the strengthening and growth of our nation and has therefore always been a priority for our GSLP/Liberal administration. “We are committed to continue to provide for our com-
STRUGGLING March - April 11th 2017 TO29th SELL YOUR SPANISH PROPERTY?
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THE Government has anDownload our app now and nounced a further probegin enjoying the best Spanishgramme of affordable home news on the go. buildings with more than
Property developer SH Revolving House commissioned the innovative living spaces to be constructed on the Bel Air urbanizacion. The designers claim homeowners could save 70% in energy costs and reduce their overall carbon footprint by 68%. Co-founder Bertrand Coue, 48, said: “There are lots of beautiful houses in Spain but very few actually cater for sustainability in the long term.”
PROPERTY
Property October 11th - October 24th 2017 Don’t miss
of our forthcoming projects,” he said. Minister for Housing and Equality, Samantha Sacramento, was equally as enthused as she spoke to the media about the new housing scheme. “I have seen the damage that historic lack of housing causes in our community as well as the joy of seeing families move into new and high quality homes in the last couple of years. “I am glad to be part of a Government that has addressed this issue in a way that is unprecedented,” she said.
To find out more, go to www.sellmypropertyinspain.com or call 673
669 105 today
Local bargains TWO southern Spanish towns have become among the cheapest areas to rent in Spain. The average rent per square metre in Andalucia’s Jaen and Extremadura’s Badajoz will only set you back €4.27 and €4.47 respectively. Elsewhere, new data shows rental prices have reached dizzying heights. According to property experts Gesvalt, Barcelona is now at €21.48 per square metre, the highest in the country, followed by the Balearics at €14.51. Madrid is the third most expensive area, costing an average of €14.47 per square metre, with the nationwide average cost leaping 15% from the third quarter of 2016. “The increase in prices is due to the optimism of investors,” said Gesvalt’s spokesman. “This is symptomatic of the increased health in the sector and the recovery of trust in it.” The cheapest areas in Spain to rent are Avila (€4.19), Caceres (€4.23).
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BUSINESS Bring on the Bitcoin There goes the bride www.gibraltarolivepress.com
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Impartial judge
BE ‘APPY!
GIBRALTAR is hoping to become a world leader in the cryptocurrencies market. It comes after the Financial Services Commission issued new guidelines and regulaour app now and tions Download for ICOs, which will Spanish comebegin intoenjoying force the in best January Number of Brit 2018.news on the go. ICOs help companies raise weddings on the money by investing in or ‘mining’ cryptocurrencies Rock in freefall like Bitcoin. A company will be able to following create a new digital curren- Brexit and rise cy, called a cryptocoin, and in ‘amateur’ invite individuals to invest. If that cryptocurrency suc- organisers Olive Press ceeds The and gains value, the investor makes a profit. By introducing regulation TOP for news in Spain! for ICOs in Gibraltar, it is hoped companies looking to list their new cryptocurrencies somewhere in Europe will be attracted to the Rock as the new guidelines will offer more protection and guidance. Senior Executive of Gibraltar Finance Paul Astengo believes the move will continue to attract world-leading businesses. “We are open for business but as always we are looking for quality operators, not opening to a free for all,” he NIGHTMARE: For Zoe said. and Jaydon
BRIEF BY
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EXCLUSIVE By Joe Wallen
THE number of Brits getting married in Gibraltar has fallen dramatically. A leading wedding organiser on the Rock says she has seen her numbers drop by around 50% since 2011. Kay Sharma, from Bridge
Gibraltar, told the Gibraltar Olive Press: “When I first started out in 2005, I was arranging between 120-140 weddings a year in Gibraltar. This was the trend up to 2011. “Now it’s around half of that, which also includes blessings (symbolic weddings).” According to Sharma, the
Wedding crashers A PLYMOUTH couple who planned to wed in Gibraltar lost hundreds of pounds on cancelled flights for family members following Monarch’s collapse. Parents Zoe Dixon and Jaydon Smith, both aged 22, face the possibility of marrying alone after losing £500 after the airline went into administration. The money was supposed to fly Zoe’s mum, dad, sister, niece, and step mum out to join the nearly newlyweds after saving for the last year.Zoe said: "It's been a nightmare and now we're just trying to get our money back but it's looking unlikely as we paid via debit card."We don't know if we can afford to buy more flights either as we also spent £740 on their accommodation - basically half of our budget.” Zoe added: "Jaydon's been amazing, even though we couldn't really afford it in the first place he reassured me he'll make it work and that both our families will be there on the big day.”
by Charles Gomez
History repeats?
IEWING the spectacle of political debate in the UK since the Brexit referendum result, I am reminded of the last days of the Spanish American war in 1898. The Spanish colonial army in Cuba had been battling Teddy Roosevelt’s ‘Rough Riders’ and the US army since the beginning of the year. At one point the American supply lines appear to have failed and the Yankee brass met solemnly in their headquarters tent outside La Habana. They started preparing a letter of truce to send to the Span- How the Brexit debacle reminds Charles Gomez of the iards. The Americans applied themselves diligently to pre- Spanish American war more than 100 years ago paring a list of terms which would have allowed them to the Spaniard walked in with a return to Florida with their message from his Commanding horses and weapons. As with Officer, surrendering Cuba to the all declarations of military de- US. feat the letter took a long time Soon after Puerto Rico and the to be drafted as the officers Philippines also fell to the US. Spain fell into a tried to mitigate black hole of natheir country’s humiliation. I wonder whether tional despair and decline which lastEven as the i’s it is the German ed for almost a cenwere been dottury. ted and the t’s dominated EU Some of this story crossed a lieuwhich is on the may be apocryphal tenant rushed – I leave it to the into the tent to brink of collapse many historians announce that who read the Olive a Spanish mesPress to fill in desenger had just arrived. To the joyful disbelief tails and corrections. My point is of the Americans who were re- that even as the political elite in signed to throw in the towel, London agonises about Brexit ne-
advent of new, unscrupulous start-ups moving in on the market has resulted in inexperienced and error strewn wedding services for disappointed Brits. Brits and their wedding guests have reported back to friends and family in Blighty about the sub-standard marital experience on the Rock, putting off others from making bookings. Kay says these ‘cowboy’ wedding providers have ‘ruined the wedding market and our reputation as wedding planners in Gibraltar.’ Meanwhile heightened tensions between Spain and Gibraltar over Brexit are believed to have put off Brits from crossing over the border as they feel there is a risk of border problems disrupting their big day. Kay hopes that once these uncertain political times pass and there is increased regulation for wedding providers on the Rock, business will pick up again.
CHARLES GOMEZ & COMPANY BARRISTERS AT LAW
THE Institute for Government has warned that European judges would struggle to be neutral in disputes after Brexit and should not be given the final say over the withdrawal agreement.
Girl power GIRLS in Tech Gibraltar are celebrating this week after receiving new sponsorship from the Gaming Innovation Group to develop new initiatives.
Job losses FIGURES released by Spain’s Ministry of Employment and Social Security show the largest increase in August unemployment figures for the country since 2011, despite a record number of visitors in the tourism industry.
Your Gibraltar Lawyers
Better on Your Side 5 Secretary’s Lane, T: 200 74998 E: info@gomezco.gi Gibraltar
gotiations I wonder whether it is I heard someone on Spanish the German dominated EU which radio make a comparison with is on the brink of collapse. Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s. Consider this: Theresa May is It is almost unbelievable that generally derided as having done anyone should be alluding to very badly in the June General Balkan disintegration when Election. Yet, the mother of the discussing Spain, one of the EU, Frau Merkel did even worse top European and world econin the German plebiscite last omies; but there you have it. month. Indeed Merkel fared less Wherever you look in the EU well than Jeremy Corbyn. there appear to be problems. Not just that but her knuckle- Greece, Poland, Hungary and headed policy on immigration has so on. made the unthinkable a reality. In We are told that Emmanuel a country where the far right has Macron will be the saviour of been out of mainstream politics the EU; but who is Mr Macron? since the 1950’s What are his the new Bundestag policies? What boasts no less than is his prescrip94 far right MPs. I have a relatively tion to cure the Immigration aside, good idea of what ailing European the hard pressed Union? The fact happens when German taxpayer that millions is also deeply unof people are the Castilians are happy at the proslooking to him pect of having to roused to anger even though he continually bail out has not come southern European up with a single countries. coherent policy Down south Prime Minister Rajoy statement should cause panic proudly admits that he is Merkel’s among all right thinking Eurobest pupil who has always hand- peans. ed up his homework on time. One I wonder whether before the wonders what the German elec- Conservative government in torate makes of Spain. As I write London finally gets its act tothese lines I am troubled by the gether the EU as we know it red mist that appears to have will have ceased to exist and risen over Spain on account of it will be the bureaucrats in the campaign for Catalan inde- Brussels who turn up unanpendence. As a student of history nounced at the Foreign and I have a relatively good idea of Commonwealth office in King what happens when the Castil- Charles’ street with their own ians are roused to anger. Today terms of capitulation.
Readers of the Olive Press are invited to discuss this or any other legal matter with Charles Gomez by email charles@gomezco.gi
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October 11th - October 24th 2017
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Sickening footage of rats in La Linea hospital goes viral
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PATIENTS at La Línea’s hospital were gobsmacked to see rats running freely in the building. While many patients have previously claimed to have seen the vermin while staying in the hospital, this is the first time they have been caught on camera. The rats were filmed trying to climb onto a chair in the waiting room of a triage area which is the busiest in the entire hospital. The room is next to an emergency room and a specialist facility for children suffering from serious medical problems. Rats can transmit a number of serious diseases including the deadly Hantavirus, Salmonellosis and Leptospirosis. Those in hospitals with weakened immune systems would be particularly vulnerable to these conditions. There have also been claims
The Olive Press TOP for news in Spain!
of infestations of cockroaches and mosquitoes at the hospital.. Local pressure groups described it as a ‘tremendous embarrassment’ for the local health services and describing it as a ‘third world hospital’. They have been campaigning for years for a promised new YIKES: hospital. Rat caught on video
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FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL
October 11th - October 24th 2017
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Open for business
WHAT A VIEW: From university restaurant
CATALAN chef Ferran Adria could not avoid discussing the independence vote during a food talk in Valencia. The maestro said he feels ‘very sad’ and demanded that the EU get involved and act as a mediator. He made the comments at the Central Marking of Valencia, where he participated in a cooking event with Mayor Joan Ribo at the city’s Food and Health Week. "I am Europe, I struggled to be Europe and Europe has to be a mediator,” he said, “If not, why are we even in Europe? “I feel European, I bet on Europe and I see that it is failing me,” he added.
cussed his excitement at being involved in the new project. “We are delighted to be working with the University of Gibraltar. We are passionate about providing fresh, tasty and nutritious food conducive to productivity. We will be working with the University to create a centre of excellence for
PASSIONATE: Ferran
Food enthusiasts rejoice as Bistro Point is now open! PIG’S EAR: By Gove Download our app now and BY far the most exciting begin enjoying the best Spanishaddition to Gibraltar’s dining scene for years, news on the go. Bistro Point will add much THERE are few countries needed flavour to a dining that enjoy pork more than scene on the Rock which Spain, but Michael Gove has some say has become stale. made a right pig’s ear over Offering sumptuous food Iberia’s favourite meat. and breath-taking The Environment Secretary views the restauclaimed the UK has been rant is sure to hamstrung by EU diktats on exporting pigs ears to take Gibraltar China. The Olive Press by storm. Gove told the ConservaThe Univertive Party conference Brexit sity of GibralTOP for news in Spain! would tar and the “Most people will be aware Hunter Group that there are some cuts of have combined the animal that are hugely forces to open popular with the British up the fantastic consumer, others a little culinary experience. less,” he said. The Hunter Group will "But some of those cuts are operate and develop the hugely popular elsewhere: restaurant which will be for example pigs' ears are a open from Monday to Fridelicacy in China." day between 9am to 6pm "One of the reasons we've with weekend hours innot been as successful as we troduced in the run up to might have been in selling pigs ears into China is that Christmas. EU rules dictate pigs like all Professor Daniella Tillivestock have ear tags.” bury, Vice-Chancellor of
OINK
the University of Gibraltar is delighted with the new restaurant. “We are delighted to have entered into partnership with a group that understands, and is able to support, our ambitions in hospitality training and education. “Our restaurant offers the best views in Gibraltar. It will undoubtedly prove popular with the locals and become a destination restaurant for visitors to the Rock,” she said. The Hunter Group have years of experience in managing deluxe, highend restaurants across Europe, including those with the much coveted Michelin star. Andy Hunter, spokesperson for the group dis-
Bubbling over
both on-site and off-site catering,” he said. The Hunter Group will also work with the university to offer innovative training programmes to support the local food and drink industry. By training chefs and restaurant managers the university hopes to position Gibraltar as a world leader in hospitality.
FLOWER POWER by Steven Saunders of the Little Geranium
The Addams family As Halloween approaches, a particular family comes to Steven Saunders’ mind
Premium Christmas Menu Signature Christmas cocktail
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E have some regular clients that are the spitting image of the Addams family! The man is large and bald, much like Fester, while the lady is very glamourous with her long dark straight hair just like Morticia. And then there is a little girl who wears pony tails and eye makeup in the spitting image of Wednesday. They sometimes bring a friend who is very dapper and wears a bow tie, much like Gomez, and we call them the Addams family. So imagine our surprise when they booked a table for Halloween a couple of years ago! I nearly said ‘well at least you won’t need to hire costumes!’ They arrived looking pretty much the same as usual but with heavier black make up. On the menu I had a baby leg of milk fed lamb, carved at the table off the bone. Fester took one glance and said: “I’ll have the lamb.” The waitress said the lamb is cooked pink and is milk fed, he replied: “I could eat the whole beast!” The staff were in giggles. The head waiter displayed the cooked lamb leg on the carving board and went to get his knife to carve it. When he returned the lamb was gone and Fester had it in his mouth bone and all! “Bring me another!” he demanded.
Seafood Bisque
Lobster Tortellini
homemade black pepper crackers & rouille
fennel & roasted garlic purée
Cheese Soufflés
Duck Bonbons
apple walnut & pomegranate salad (v)
orange chilli jelly
Pomegranate & Cava sorbet
Every year we celebrate Halloween with a special menu and this year we have two menus one for each restaurant; The Little Geranium in La Cala & Marbella. Dishes like Eat your heart out (heart shaped beef fillet) crispy bats (goats cheese in pastry) and Rice baked in witches’ blood (sea bass with negro risotto). It’s a great fun night with some fantastic creative food and yes, I’m doing the milk fed Lamb again for Fester! Our Halloween Night will take place on Saturday 26th October at both our restaurants. To see our dedicated menu, visit www.thelittlegeranium.com or www.thelittlegeraniummarbella.com for our Marbella details.
Steven Saunders FMCGB - www.thelittlegeranium.com steven@ittlegeranium.com +34 952 49 36 02
Advertise with The Olive Press TEL: (+350) 54031003 EMAIL: sales@theolivepress.es
Now in Marbell a too!
Roast Turkey
Panko Dover Sole
pecan nut & date stuffing, crispy pancetta, chipolatas, served with a selection of seasonal vegetables & roasted potatoes
shellfish sauce, lemon potatoes & chargrilled minute leeks
Puff Pastry Mille-feuille
Grilled Fillet Steak seared foie gras, black truffles, wild mushroom & potato puree, asparagus & red wine jus
Chocolate Fudge Fondant honeycomb ice cream
layered mushroom duxelle, sundried tomato pesto, Swiss chard & whole grain mustard hollandaise (v)
Salted Caramel Popcorn
Apples Three Ways crème brulee, apple crumble tart & apple soup
Coffee & petite four
£45.00
For groups of more than 10, after your party, coach transfer back to town, Ocean Village & the frontier is included. Manager: Geri Cummings | Executive Chef: Ben Hayes University of Gibraltar - Europa Point Campus - Gibraltar GX11 1AA Tel: +350 200 76588 or geri@huntergroup.gi
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FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL
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UP TO DATE
October 11th - October 24th 2017
THE BEST MODERN TWISTS TO ANDALUCIA’S MOST FAMOUS TIPPLE
1 1/4 oz of rye whiskey 1 oz of amontillado sherry (or dark sherry) 1/4 oz of Grand Marnier (or orange liqueur) 2 dash of Angostura bitters
QUIET REVOLUTION: Punters enjoy one of the new London sherry bars
In a cocktail shaker with ice, stir the ingredients until chilled. Strain into a martini glass
Merry sherry
L
AST issue we reported how a Sherry revival among the hipsters of London has led sales to almost double in just one year in the UK.
The tipple, picked and harvested in Jerez, now has bars dedicated to it across the capital. And millennials are finding new ways to reinvent the classic, which many
thought was on its way out. Here we have rounded up seven deadly concoctions, some more complex than others, for you to try out.
Lankershim Fizz Smooth 1 1/2 oz of Gin 1/2 oz of Pedro Ximenez sherry (or dark sherry) 1/2 oz of simple syrup 3/4 oz of Lemon Juice 2 oz of club soda (or clear soda) Egg white Lemon twist
Let your company
In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, sherry, simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. Shake without ice for about 10 seconds.
La Perla and really be seen This space from as little as ÂŁ100 per issue
1 1/2 oz of Reposado Tequila 1 1/2 oz of manzanilla sherry (or fino sherry) 3/4 oz of Pear Liqueur lemon twist In a mixing glass with ice, stir together the tequila, sherry, and pear liqueur. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist
operator 1 1/2 oz of Dark rum 1 1/2 oz of Oloroso Sherry (or dark sherry) 1/2 oz of simple syrup 1/4 oz of Lemon Juice lemon peel In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the rum, Sherry, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon peel
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The Tuxedo
2 oz of Dry gin 1 oz of fino sherry 1 dash of orange bitters In a cocktail shaker with ice, stir the ingredients until chilled. Strain into a martini glass.
The Adonis
LUST FOR LIFE
1 1/2 oz of dry sherry wine 3/4 oz of sweet vermouth Orange bitters
1 1/2 oz of Mezcal 3/4 oz of Palo Cortado sherry (or dark sherry) 3/4 oz of orgeat syrup (or almond syrup) 1/2 oz of Pineapple Juice 1/2 oz of Lemon Juice
Stir ingredients with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
In a cocktail shaker with ice, shake together all ingredients. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
October 11th - October 24th 2017
October 11th - October 24th 2017
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No place like home Spain is definitely where the heart is, writes new OP online columnist and expat Trudy Stewart (below)
I
FIRST fell in love when I was around 12. It wasn’t youthful infatuation but something far deeper which has lasted for 30 years. Over those years, we’ve grown older and our appearances have changed somewhat but my love has never wavered. And that’s because I fell in love with not a mere individual, but an entire country – Spain. I spent my birthday that year in Barcelona where I felt like Dorothy when she first sees Oz in all its glorious Technicolor! Later that year, my mum decided to forego spending Christmas Day in the traditional manner – enforced family reunions over dry turkey and sprouts washed down with booze and an argument about the telly – and we headed to southern Spain instead. Fuengirola looked magical at that time of year. The decorations and twinkling lights in the trees provided a shimmering sparkle to the church square as we gathered to receive our cava and 12 grapes. Even after all this time, I remember how excited I felt bringing in that new year as I enthusiastically popped a grape in my mouth at each toll of the church bell. After that first Christmas and New Year, we returned twice a year; each time leaving behind a tiny piece more of our hearts. The plan was to move to Spain one day but you know how it goes; life got in the way and it became more of a pipe dream. Last year, as it looked increasingly likely that the UK would vote to leave the EU, we decided to bite the bullet and make that pipe dream a reality. Before making the move to Spain, I worried that my appearance (bright red hair and assorted tattoos) would put off some of the older residents in the peaceful, mountain pueblo we'd chosen for our new home. As it turned out, those were the things that sparked most of my initial conversations with the locals as they tried to translate my Wonder Woman tattoo's inscription or commented on my ‘rojo’ locks. I also worried that I’d struggle with the fact I couldn't speak much Spanish (and routinely forgot to take my Spanish dictionary with me) but again that proved unfounded when I discovered the universal language of miming and pointing. My little family (which includes a cat, who thinks she's a lion and a dog who's scared of everything) have been warmly welcomed and there’s a sense of community here I’ve not felt since I was a child. While the cat has adapted to our new life with ease, scaling new heights from our roof terrace and beyond, our German Shepherd is taking a little longer. This year, we had her thick coat clipped to help her cope with the fearsome, summer sun. This led to being stopped on every walk for a game we’ve unofficially dubbed ‘Dog, wolf or whatsit?’ and she’s been photographed more by tourists than any of the beautiful views or even the burro taxis! Our summer has been filled with colour and music from the Ruta de tapas to the recent feria. We've experienced it all as the plaza, which has been the hub of all activity, is just beneath our windows. We've had front-row seats for it all, from the comfort of our balcony. I’ve rediscovered joy from simple things like hearing children's laughter as they play in the plaza or catching the cheeky twinkle in the eyes of the elderly señores as they share a private joke on their bench, in the shade. It sounds corny but in moving to Spain I’ve gone from merely existing on this planet to really living and I’m finally home (this is definitely where my heart is). It's easy to lose sight of the important things in life and begin to believe there are no choices along the way in the inevitable slide from cradle to grave. However, I’m a great believer that if you’re unhappy with your life, you have the power to change it. I don’t necessarily mean that everyone should move abroad to change their lives – obviously small changes can also make a difference. It’s all about finding your joy during your brief stint on this planet whether that's working your way through a bucket list, or as in my case, reuniting with your first love – y viva España!
COLUMNISTS
October 11th - October 24th 2017
October 11th - October 24th 2017
No more bad news
Marbella DIARIES By
Natalie Rose Kern
Why it’s sometimes better to just log off, writes Natalie Rose Kern
I only write this column once a month... But a lot can happen in a month. As I pen this, civil unrest is growing in Catalunya, and the scenes of police brutality emerging from Barcelona have shocked the world. The voting results were a landslide, the election is a sham, the King is in denial and the Spanish people are both angry and scared. Thousands have taken to the streets to protest the excessive use of violence and reports suggesting that Spain is on the verge of a financial crisis have compounded the panic. As I wake up to harrowing footage of peaceful protestors being struck with batons, I am reminded of Orwell's haunting prediction: “If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – forever." I sip my coffee and for a moment the dread overwhelms me... Has Orwell's
totalitarian, police state finally arrived? I scroll on, click away, scroll on... elsewhere ‘a madman’ has opened fire (or so we are led to believe) on a crowd of festivalgoers, killing 58 in the deadliest shooting in US history, whilst Trump and Kim Jong-un are calling each other names and threat of impending nuclear war hovers nearer. I finish my coffee and so begins another day on Planet Earth. Mark Twain said that ‘If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.’ And as mainstream media and ‘fake news’ become one and the same, it has become increasingly hard to be informed and remain sane. I stopped watching the news last year, but without deactivating from social media it's hard to disconnect completely, and despite my very best intentions, I find myself getting pulled back
NEW WRITER’S LAIR: Natalie’s beach shack into the hype, headlines and hysteria and getting sucked right into the vortex of sensationalism and spin of news articles online. The Olive Press is,
Barcelona Blues Thoughts on the Catalunya referendum and where else in Spain could claim independence? IT’S a common complaint. British expats in Spain, especially on the Costa del Sol, live in their own little bubble, cut off from what is really happening in Spain and more concerned with who got voted off Strictly Come Dancing than what is happening in their adopted country. You really would have had to have been living under the proverbial stone for the past month, however, for the recent goings on in Catalonia to have escaped your notice. The violent scenes were broadcast worldwide and social media was ablaze with images of the Guardia Civil wading into protesters with their batons drawn. I did wince when I saw the scenes in Barcelona. I was a teenager in the 80s over here, when the Guardia Civil were ‘old school’ mainly due to the fact that many of them seemed to have been hired personally by Franco. The motto that I learnt then, and that serves me well today, was ‘Don’t muck with the Guardia Civil’. As a cheeky 17-year-old on a motorbike I soon learnt that these guys were not averse to the occasional slap if I answered back, and I once received a couple of cracks across the legs and full on interrogation when I was caught out, ahem, ‘courting’ in the back of my battered 2CV. As a journalist who has worked in the newsrooms of one of the UK’s biggest national newspapers, as well as done a bit of television reporting though, I am guessing that a shout from the news editor’s office of ‘It’s all kicking off in Barcelona! Who fancies going out to cover it?’ must have been met with a kindergarten style chorus of ‘Me sir! Ask me sir. Pleaaaaseeee!’ I was actually shocked that Sky News didn’t deploy the Weapon of Mass Disruption that is Kay Burley. But perhaps they thought that the Guardia Civil might have just batoned her anyway, trouble brewing or not. I can imagine she can provoke that kind of reaction wherever she goes. In my own glittering journalistic career I have been sent to the Catalan capital on two occasions. Once was to cover the launch of the Bentley GTC – where they let me loose on the streets of Barcelona with a 700 bhp Bentley convertible and with strict instructions ‘not to bend it’ (I succeeded. Just) And the second
was to report on a VIP Experience Company that flew me and a bunch of City executives over on a 24-hour prawn sandwich and champagne fuelled smash and grab raid, which included a corporate box watching El Classico at the Nou Camp. Barcelona won 3-0, we went clubbing afterwards, and things got a little hazy… I’m not going to wade into the should Catalonia be an independent state argument here – my only interest being that if they did, then perhaps Scotland could declare independence and I could avoid the Brexit fallout by gaining a Scottish passport. But it did start me wondering what other areas might clamour for self-determination. The Basques would be in for a fair shout, having a strong cultural identity and language that appears to be made up almost entirely of the letters U, K and Z. This is as a result of being the only Pictish language still in existence in Europe. The Basques were never conquered by the Romans, a historical Asterix if you like, and I’ve met a few rugby players from there who bear more than a passing resemblance to Obelix. The mystical Celts of Galicia might also want to be their own nation, though you could argue that it is so wet and misty up there for most of the year that they are left alone by the rest of Spain. Plus they are rumoured to be pretty handy with a spell book and they play the bagpipes. If that doesn’t warn you to leave Galicia well alone then nothing will. Or perhaps our own Andalucia might decide to go it alone. After all, it already has great links with the rest of Europe and North Africa due to the high numbers of foreign residents here, as well as being independently wealthy due to the huge amount of money that went missing as a result of the ERE scandal, as must be hidden under a king size mattress somewhere. In Sevilla’s own son Felipe Gonzalez we have a president who already has international experience, and we can make Antonio Banderas both Foreign and Culture Ministers. And the Junta de Andalucia has been operating like a banana republic for years now, so the transition will be seamless. I’ll be happy with a small position in the Andalus Office of Expat Affairs, by the way. And perhaps the title of Marquis de Istan…
of course, different. Once I'm in, I'm a goner, because morbid curiosity then prevails, as I break the unspoken rule, ‘NEVER read the comments’ and scroll down. The comments section is where the disgruntled, downtrodden, bored, angry, frustrated and opinionated meet to air their grievances, woes and ‘insights’, as well as to correct each other's grammar "´*YOU´RE!!", to hurl scathing insults at strangers "You're obviously a f**king moron..." and to spew hatred, racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism with impunity. Within no time I am offended, outraged and infuriated, and at once compelled by both the urge to correct spelling and grammar and the desire to tell Tom, Dick or Harry that he's a f**king racist bigot! It's time to close the laptop and back away slowly. My friend, Samm, and I have begun a writing routine, whereby we take notebooks, pens, drinks and snacks to an old wooden fishing boat on the beach in San Pedro and, once a week, we sit inside and write solidly without interference of computers or phones and with only the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the quiet activity of the fishermen nearby. I discovered this boat a few years ago whilst waiting for The Monkey to finish school, and on windy days I would sink into the hull and read a book in the sunshine, completely sheltered from the wind. It is a beautiful October afternoon: 25 degrees and brilliant sunshine, a man is walking a dog along the surf, the fishermen are idling in the shade and a couple are embracing a little further down on the sand. Here, in this perfect corner of the world where lazy Andalucian life goes on unperturbed, I can forget about the calamity of the world for a while and write freely... Birds chirp, the wind blows, the sun dances across the waves and that peacefulness that eluded me this morning now washes over me. They may well be right about that whole ‘No news is good news’ thing! So here is my first handwritten column from the boat... About not reading the news... For a newspaper. The irony is not lost on me – believe me!
-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views
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olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs Match fit A TEAM of Gibraltar FA BEofficials ‘APPY! match were chosen to referee an UEFA Under 21 Euro Qualifying match between Liechtenstein and Wales. Referee Jason Barcelo and his assistants Johan Ward, Andrew Parody andnowYaroDownload our app and slaff Borg covered their first begin enjoying the best Spanish international game with news on the go. Wales beating Liechenstein WANTED: Messi 3-1. Jason Barcelo handed out four yellow cards during the game as the all-Gibraltarian squad ensured the game ran smoothly. Gibraltar FA communications and marketing manThe Gonzalez Olive Press ager Steven said: “They are the only referees that can befor chosen." TOP news in Spain! "We send the best referees we can and in turn that puts Gibraltar FA on the interna- Rugby lads say tional stage." they’re on track
Lionel Messi up for grabs BARCELONA’S Lionel Messi is one of several star players who could leave his club on a free transfer next summer. The Argentine maestro has yet to sign a new contract with Barcelona and the Catalans will be growing anxious as the January transfer window approaches. Any player whose contract is due to expire in the summer of 2018 can agree
to join a foreign club on a free transfer when the winter window opens. And Messi could be one of a number of top class players who could be tempted with a bumper new deal elsewhere. In the Premier League, Arsenal duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have been stalling on signing a new contract while Manchester United have a handful of star men who are nearing the end of their current deals.
Path to glory to become an international club following victory
REFEREES: Gib lads
Replaceable GARETH Bale is on the cards for a transfer next summer. It comes after Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez said ‘everyone is transferable’ after being quizzed about Bale’s future at the Bernabeu. And according to Mundo Deportivo, the club is ‘determined to sacrifice’ Bale and expects there to be plenty of Premier League interest. It comes after a summer of a downturn in form. Perez said: “As for Bale, he is one of the best players we have and we are very pleased with him. "Every player is transferable right now and we'll see what happens in a year, although I don't know what'll happen next year, just as nobody does."
ON THE MOVE?: Bale
23 23
GIBRALTAR Rugby Football Union (GRFC) feel confident that last week’s win against Hungary will put them in good stead to be an international club. It was the first time Gibraltar played Hungary and extended their lead after halftime to win 21-15. The win comes after four players went to A&E following the Royal Marine fixture where the Marines came back to draw 21-21. The win is another string to their bow as GRFC is trying to be admitted into Rugby Europe to play against other smaller developing teams. Gibraltar Rugby spokesperson Jack Milner said: “A few more international wins and it will be hard for the IRB to keep Gibraltar
CAPTION:
backed into a corner. “Whenever we’ve applied for international status the voting has been 14-1. One country always vetoed Gibraltar. It doesn’t take Stevie Wonder to realise who’s been vetoing it.” Milner thinks it is a wellknown country across the
border that seems to keep rejecting their push for international recognition as there needs to be a unanimous vote to accept a new team. GRFC completely battered Finland and Montenegro in their last two internationals, slowly raising their
profile to the delight of fans back on the Rock. Milner added: “Fingers crossed Gibraltar will be recognised at international level hopefully by this time next year we just need a clean sheet of votes.” GRFC will Host Hungary for a rematch in February.
STAYING ON TOP RAFAEL Nadal beat Nick Kyrgios of Australia 6-2, 6-1 in the China Open final to win his sixth ATP title of the year. Top-ranked Nadal, who was tied with Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev at five titles this season, picked up his 75th career singles trophy with the win in Beijing. The 31-year-old Nadal's six trophies this year include a record 10th title at the French Open and a third at the U.S. Open. The last time the Spaniard won at least six titles in a year was in 2013 when he captured 10 trophies for the season. Kyrgios started Sunday struggling with his serve and never found a confident range throughout the match. His first-serve percentage mostly languished under the 50% mark In contrast, Nadal always looked in charge and saved all four break points he faced.
UNSTOPPABLE: Tennis maestro Rafael Nadal
ON THE MIC: Balague
Brave new world
LEADING Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has announced he will be speaking at the 2017 Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival. He will be using the opportunity to promote his biography on Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. Argentine Pochettino has been manager of Spurs since 2014 and he previously managed Southampton. He was capped twenty times by Argentina during his playing career. The biography on Pochettino is titled Brave New World and will document an exclusive, behind the scenes look at the life of the Premier League manager. Balague is a regular pundit on Sky Sports’ show Revista de la Liga and has also written for The Times and The Observer.
Still got it LEWIS Hamilton said he was determined not to be beaten by youth as he fought off 20-year-old Max Verstappen for victory in the Japanese GP last weekend. The Red Bull youngster, who only turned 20 at the end of September, celebrated his birthday with victory at the Malaysia GP just a week ago. But it was Hamilton at the tender age of 32 who prevailed at Suzuka as he fought off Verstappen for a win which propelled the Mercedes driver 59 points clear in the Drivers’ World Championship. Hamilton said jokingly afterwards: “At one point and I’m thinking ‘Jeez, the guy behind me is so much younger than me, I’ve got make sure I kind of man up and show my age and make sure that I stay ahead. Show that I’m actually still very young at heart.’”
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CHRISTIAN Benteke’s 7.5 second goal against Gibraltar has been placed in the Guinness World Records as the fastest goal in the world. Belgium beat Gibraltar 9-1 in the world cup qualifiers this year.
Local hero GIBRALTARIAN Steven Alman of the Royal Army Medical Corps won gold and silver at this year's Invictus Games but says his ultimate goal is to fly the flag of Gibraltar and represent the British territory at the next games.
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Contestants from MTV reality competition series The Challenge have descended on Gi-
Clutching at straws
New campaign wants to end use of plastic straws on the Rock
GIBRALTARIANS are being asked to suck up an original new environmental campaign. Campaigners are hoping to persuade cafes and restaurants around the Rock to ditch plastic straws for paper and metal alternatives. The Paws Off Straws movement has been launched by the Nautilus Project, after the success of the group’s anti plastic bag campaign. The group hopes to see as much plastic banned from Gibraltar as possible in a bid to further aid the marine environment. The marine biologist Lewis
Call to arms FANS of the Call of Duty franchise will be able to re-enact Gibraltar’s wartime effort. It will be available to play as a multiplayer map when Call of Duty: WWII goes on sale November 3.
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KILLER: Straw lodged in turtle’s nostril Stagnetto, leading the cam- on our beaches to underpaign, told the Olive Press: stand what the most press“We spent the Summer con- ing issues here were. ducting extensive research “We understood that along with plastic bags straws were the big one. People were buying drinks and heading down to the beach, especially over the summer and throwing their straws away.” He hopes that the new campaign will attract big corporate backers like Morrisons, which supported the group’s recent #plastic2paper project. The Nautilus Project is a family run NGO in Gibraltar which believes that small sustainable changes to the environment on the Rock can make big differences in the long run.
braltar. The cast filmed a lengthy shoot in the Upper Rock on September 30, before heading down to the Victoria Stadium to film some background shots. The Challenge has been running on MTV since 1998 and this series has been titled The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30. It has hit the headlines as contestants are unknowingly competing for a share of $1m dollars, the largest cash prize in the history of the show.
Christmas coming ‘too early’ CHRISTMAS displays are going up too early, claim users of Facebook’s Speak Freely group. One local, Laura Levinskaite was upset to see a festive display at a Gibraltar supermarket go up when it is ‘still summer’, in her opinion. Another local chimed in: “They should at least wait until November. When it’s earlier they spoil the festive season.” Another user defended the move, saying: “Most people need at least two monthly paydays to get all the presents so it needs to be October really.”
PREPARED: At Eroski
Go-go Pascal EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
NARCOS star Pedro Pascal has revealed that he once worked as a club dancer in Spain. The 42-year-old Chilean spilled the beans while promoting his new lucrative fragrance deal with Solo Loewe in Madrid. "I am in love with Spain,” the actor said, “I came here to do a study on the city for my anthropology course at the University of New York. “I loved it so much that when I finished, I stayed two more months in Madrid, working, going out, going to parties.” He went on to reveal how a chance encounter with a nightclub owner landed him one of his first gigs in the ‘entertainment’ world…as a dancer! “I made many friends. I met a charming person named Dani Pannullo, a choreographer who created his own dance company two years later.
PASCAL: In starring Narcos role “He gave me work at his club, at his parties. It was in the House of Devotion, which was held every Thursday in Morocco nightclub.” The hunk, who recently found fame as the sexually ambiguous Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones, revealed that he even danced alongside the late Ronda-born designer David Delfin,
who passed away from cancer this year. “I did not take off my clothes, but I danced and wore silver hair,” he recalls, “I have some photos that would make you die (laughing), and I have photos with David dancing on the stage in the Morocco club.” Pascal’s latest film, The Kingsman: The Golden Circle, is in cinemas now.