Gibraltar Olive Press - Issue 63

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Property

Our bi–monthly property magazine is available inside SEE PAGE 9

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The Rock’s original community newspaper

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ON

Vol. 3 Issue 63 www.gibraltarolivepress.com January 31st - February 13th 2018 B uying

TheJanuary Gibraltar 31st -Olive February 13th 2018 Press speaks exclusively to Fabian Picardo on Brexit, the Gibraltarian constitution and his passion for politics. “We will never fall into the New Labour trap.” SEE PAGE 6

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Wind chilling We preview Galliano’s exciting new menswear line

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Gibraltar’s new literary sensation tells us all

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Load of waffle The dining experience taking the Rock by storm

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GALE force winds have battered Gibraltar closing schools, bringing down trees and diverting flights. One person was hospitalised, while Ocean Spa Plaza in Ocean Village, saw its upper floor scaffolding cover torn apart in the early hours of the morning. In shocking footage put on social media, steel bolts and scaffolding poles can be seen falling on top of St Anne’s school gymnasium and a line of cars below. The winds of more than 100km/h also meant that some flights from the Rock were di-

Hats off John

Page turner

or selling

verted, with passengers transported by coach to Malaga. St Anne’s and Notre Dame schools were shut due to minor damage, while a third school St Martin’s, also called off lessons. Following an emergency civil contingency meeting Minister Gilbert Licudi QC, said: “Today we have withstood the effects of very serious, abnormal wind conditions. “I am grateful to the emergency services, teachers and technical staff for quickly working to mitigate the effects of these conditions and to keep Gibraltar safe.”

TAKING A HIT: Ocean Village

Straight to detention A BITTER row between the government and Gibraltar Teachers’ Association (GTA) has escalated. The two bodies are at loggerheads, after a GTA spokesman claimed that 99% of teachers were ‘not happy’ with the government’s con-

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Row after claims ‘99% of teachers’ unhappy with controversial schools plan

troversial schools’ plan. In an angry statement, Victor Gonzalez insisted that ‘none of the staff’ at West-

side, Governor’s Meadow, Bishop Fitzgerald and St Martin’s were ‘happy with the plans as they currently stand’. He added: “99% of our members were not happy and they felt they are not being consulted.” The issue revolves around a plan announced in October that would see the construction of eight new schools on the Rock by the end of next year. As well as rebuilding existing schools, including Gibraltar College, Westside and Notre Dame, the government will open two brand new co-ed schools at Waterport. The government has now come in for further criticism after it supported senior teachers at Westside School

and banned the GTA from holding further meetings on site. Junior teachers expressed their ‘sadness and disappointment’ at the ban, adding: “We feel that as GTA members we have a right to meet our union representatives at our place of work irrespective of how good or bad current relations are. “We stand fully behind our union.” The GTA went public with its concerns aiming to put pressure on the government to consult more with teachers over the project. An anonymous survey into the reforms, carried out by independent MP Lawrence Llamas, found that 81% of 146 teachers believed the government had not sufficiently consulted them. A further 70% disagreed that the government had taken enough time to ensure that plans for reform were ‘carried out correctly,

with a minimum amount of disruption and in a way which puts children first.’ The two main concerns were the issue of a ‘mega school campus housing two independent secondary schools’ and ‘the unreasonably fast pace’ the plans are being implemented. “It is abundantly clear that teachers and other education professionals feel left out,” Llamas said. The government hit back at the GTA’s concerns however, arguing that it remains committed to further consultation with teachers and other education professionals. It also argued that new designs for Notre Dame, Westside and Bayside schools had been signed off by their respective head teachers. A representative from the GTA condemned the government’s action this week as a ‘gross overreaction’.


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NEWS IN BRIEF

Autism strategy A SEMINAR will be held to teach the parents of children and adults on the autism spectrum more about the condition.

Royal flush THE MoD has confirmed that the HMS Queen Elizabeth is likely to dock in Gibraltar over the next few weeks, her first overseas visit.

Land ahoy! A POLICE investigation is under way after one of its fast boats ran aground on a submerged reef off Sandy Bay.

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Stories and features in this edition of Gibraltar’s original community newspaper

Jyske retrial ordered

SEA SMUGGLERS EIGHT men have been arrested for people smuggling in Gibraltarian waters. Spaniard Mohamed Rochi Mohamed and Moroccan Mohammed Dkhissi have been charged with aiding illegal immigration, while the other six Moroccan nationals were all charged

January 31st - February 13th 2018

with being in Gibraltar illegally.

A RE-TRIAL has been ordered in the case involving Jyske Bank and Marrache & Co. The Court of Appeal has ruled that the judgment by Judge Jack was ‘unjustified and wrong’. It added that there were ‘material errors’ and ‘unfair’ conclusions in his decision. A lawsuit had been filed by the

liquidators of the collapsed law firm, Marrache & Co, against Jyske Bank for £6.7 million plus interest. The liquidators had accused the bank of dishonestly helping senior partners of the former legal firm in defrauding their clients. A court date for the re-trial will be announced soon.

Spy in the sky Drugs gang was able to track police cars, boats and helicopters A MAJOR drug gang has been caught using a sophistocated radar system to track police boats in the Straits. The hi-tech apparatus, which spanned two La Linea properties, also allowed smugglers to track the movement of vehicles and even helicopters. Disguised as a dome

HI–TECH: Scanner used by drug gang

on the roof, the radar was linked to a series of screens in the attic of one

of the homes. When police raided the properties they found four guns and €50,000 in cash, as well as dozens of bails of hashish. Ten members of the group were arrested while three boats and a series of 4x4 vehicles were impounded. Other members of the gang had their homes raided in Manilva and Estepona.

Catalunya

It’s unknown if the gang were able to watch the run up to their arrests. Police believe the gang have smuggled around 70,000 kilos of hashish since 2016, usually unloading the drugs on beaches in Cadiz, away from where police were operating. The crackdown comes after it was revealed that both Gibraltar and Spanish police fear a substantial escalation in drug

DOME: Used to disguise radar on the roof

smuggling. The Gibraltar Olive Press reported last issue that much of this is due to a reduced police presence in the Campo, with key units having been transferred to Catalunya.

Union city blues A LEADING union boss union for 13 years, has was wrongly dismissed, spent the last four years an industrial tribunal has battling the unfair sackruled. ing. Former general secretary The Tribunal rejected of the Gibraltar General the GGCA’s claims that and Clerical Association Tampin was made re(GGCA), Midundant to enchael Tampin, sure a reduced had been subworkload for the ject to ‘hurtful, union. humiliating and It ruled that he accusatory’ alwas ‘isolated and legations before marginalised’ by he lost his job in members of the 2013. union’s execuTampin, who tive committee had been a in the hope he member of the WIN: Tampin would resign.

Bad old days THE GSD opposition party has raised concerns over increased tobacco smuggling. MP Trevor Hammond believes more needs to be done to stop the amount of contraband being moved via Eastern Beach. Hammond posted a video on social media showing a small white boat receiving boxes of tobacco just metres away from the Waterport Terraces estate. Hammond expressed his disbelief that smuggling was occurring regularly at Eastern Beach, in broad daylight, with up to four boats operating at a time. “Back to the bad old days?” he wrote, “maybe not quite yet but this deeply concerns me.”


News

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January 31st - February 13th 2018

Shirk-ira

Ron out IT was the perfect celebration after scoring a brace of goals in Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Valencia. Cristiano Ronaldo took girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez for a hatrick of posh meals to celebrate her birthday in Marbella. Arriving by private jet, the pair dined at recently-opened Nobu, Trocadero Arena and at their hotel, the Marbella Club, on the weekend escape. Celebrating her 24th birthday, they mostly holed up in their exclusive suite - without children - in the grounds of the resort’s most famous five star hotel. Georgina, who gave birth to to his fourth child - their first child together - in November, appeared sombre, when snapped outside the hotel. Perhaps to do with Ronaldo allegedly sending a barrage of ‘late night texts’ to British glamour model, Rhian Sugden.

Return for Derek WORLD-renowned medium Derek Acorah will be coming to Gibraltar again in June. Following his successful appearance on Celebrity Big Brother last summer, Acorah is undertaking a Love Life Laughter Tour, with a date on the Rock. The show will take place at Inces Theatre, with VIP tickets allowing fans to meet and greet the star after the show and discuss anything from spirits to Big Brother. He last visited in 2016.

It has been the talk of the Rock with over 12,000 views in just two weeks! The popular column returns this issue, speaking to Gibraltarians about the topics that matter the most to them

Ron wheezy

SHAKIRA has been accused of avoiding tax worth tens of millions of euros while living in Spain. The Colombian popstar is being probed over income tax payments between 2011 and 2014. While the mother-of-two put Spain as her official residence from 2015, but hacienda says she was earning money while based here for four years before then. Sources close to the star say she has always complied with her tax obligations and that she was outside of Spain during that time. The 40-year-old, who is married to Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, is the latest high-profile star accused of dodging tax after Messi was found guilty in 2017.

Hats off

VISIONARY: Gib–born John

New Galliano collection is dubbed a success as his French label Margiela continues to grow IT looks like a line-up of swimmers at an Olympic final… but this is the latest collection of Gibraltarian fashion designer John Galliano. The collection for French label Maison Margiela has been described as ‘bright and optimistic’ during its unveiling at Paris Fashion Week. In his first collection for the label, models showed off transparent coats, all-white sportswear and bright yellow padded jackets. The show, at the Musée de l’Armée, was also described as ‘a significant step in Galliano’s rehabilitation’.

More Rock police pride please

HE is best known as Harry Potter’s youthful wizard chum. But Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Potter saga, looked very much the city slicker as he puffed on a cigarette between takes for his new series, Snatch. The 29-year-old delighted fans as filming got under way in Nerja for the second series of the hit Crackle drama, which is based on Guy Ritchie’s film Snatch, released in 2000. The series, which tells the story of a gang of young hustlers, is being filmed over four months and is expected to bring tens of millions of Euros to Andalucia. Other stars from the show have posted photos of the area up on Instagram. They include Phoebe Dynevor, who previously starred in The Musketeers and Waterloo Road, as well as Luke Pasqualino, who appeared in The Borgias. PAIR: Phoebe and Luke

COMEBACK KID: Galliano returns to the catwalk

It has been seven years since he was arrested for an alleged anti-Semitic rant in a Paris bar in 2011, which led to his sacking from leading fashion house Dior. Luckily for him the 57-yearold had many friends in the industry, including Kate Moss and Anna Wintour, who helped him land a job at Margiela in 2014. Sales jumped by 20% within

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PAPPED: Cris and Georgina

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a year of his joining and the brand now has over 60 stores across France. Born in Gibraltar, Galliano emigrated to London as a child where his father worked as a plumber. He swiftly rose through the ranks of the fashion world after studying at Central Saint Martins, being named British Designer of the Year four times.

TOUGH GUYS: Cast do a walk through

Voices of Gibraltar

Conor Lavagna, 18, Student I’ve built a bond with the people who happen to wear police uniforms over the years. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d honestly love to join and be a part of them. However, I’ve been told I’m gifted with the hands of an artist and I’ve recently realised that. With my choice of wanting to join the police force, I could be throwing that talent away. However, if I could combine those two together that would honestly create a dream come true. Not many people preach what the police do on a daily basis. Yes, they may make some mistakes but they’re human after all aren’t they? We all are, so why is it when someone in a uniform makes a mistake all hell breaks loose? Sure, not much action happens in Gibraltar compared to the UK but not everything is posted on social media. So you never really know what happens.

Reversing the transplant taboo Krisanne Zapata, 35, Secretary Organ transplant and donation - for many people this sounds life threatening or an illegality but on the other hand it is a vital life saving thing, very much needed at this time. Sadly this is still a taboo in our society and I, nine year after I started my petition in 2009, will never surrender until ALL Gibraltarians have the option to become a donor. Whether during your life or when you pass away, you can give someone else another chance in life through YOU! This is so important!


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THE Rock’s long-awaited sewage treatment plant could finally be completed by 2020, The good news comes after approval was given to construct the plant near Europa Point. The government has awarded a joint venture contract to Northumbrian Water and Modern Water. It would put an end to the Rock pumping raw sewage into the Mediterranean, leading to considerable criticism from environmentalists and politicians. The Olive Press has regularly highlighted the issue, while the European Court of Justice ruled in 2017 that the UK had failed to fulfil its obligations under EU law. “I am delighted at this important step forward,” said John Cortes, the Minister for Environment. “On a personal note, as an environmentalist, I take pride in being a part

January 31st - February 13th 2018

WASTE NOT!

UNACCEPTABLE: Sea sewage

of leading the further developments of Gibraltar’s environmental credentials and the delivery of Gibraltar’s wastewater treatment works.” The plant will treat all of Gibraltar’s urban wastewater, ensuring any stagnant bodies of water on the Rock drain away safely. Last year, we reported at local outrage when raw sewage was pictured flowing down a street adjacent to St Bernard’s school. It was unable to drain away after a period of heavy rainfall. Modern Water will be responsible for the design and build section of the project while Northumbria Water will be in charge of the day-to-day running.

No joke

The police are conducting an investigation into prank callers A WOMAN has been arrested for prank calling the police. The 18-year-old called the 199 emergency hotline ‘multiple’ times, according to a RGP spokesman, who described them as ‘nuisance calls’.

It is the second time in a week, the emergency services have had to deal with sinister prank calls. In a previous incident police sent out a rescue boat to locate seven people allegedly at danger at sea. However, it later emerged that it was only a prank call, police confirmed. “We are not able to confirm that the two cases are connected,” a spokesman told the

Olive Press last night. “Prank calls cause an unnecessary additional burden

on our control room operators, who operate in a highly stressful environment,” said the spokesman. They block the lines for genuine callers and are a waste of resources. He added that the most recent case was still under investigation and he was therefore unable to give further details, except to add that the woman had been bailed. Prank calls cost the NHS in England millions of pounds a year. Dominic Thomas, 45, made over 700 fake emergency calls - racking up a £34,000 phone bill - for the UK taxpayer last year.

A+ for Friends with benefits Prior Park

SETTLING THE SCORE: Picardo and Diaz

A GIBRALTAR leader has met with the head of the Junta for the first time. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo sat down with Susana Diaz to discuss how they could limit any negative fall-out from Brexit on both sides of the border. During a meeting in Sevilla, the pair also agreed to take advantage of business opportunities that could emerge after the UK leaves the EU. Picardo described the meeting as ‘positive and constructive’ and believed it could lead to working together ‘to ensure continued economic wellbeing’. Despite on-going political tensions between Gibraltar and Spain over the future of the territory, more locally

Andalucia and the Rock depend on each other. More than 13,000 Gibraltar workers live in Spain, of which over 8,000 are Spanish. This makes Gibraltar the second largest employer in Andalucia, behind the Junta itself. Gibraltar businesses meanwhile purchase €450 million of items from Spanish suppliers annually, according to a 2013 Chamber of Commerce report, mainly in Andalucia. And Gibraltarians themselves spend €80 million in the Campo every year. The pair have a few things in common. They both represent socialist parties and both speak fluent Spanish.

A GIBRALTARIAN private school has scooped a series of ‘Best Practice’ awards. The Rock’s first independent co-ed school, Prior Park, has been rated ‘Fully Compliant’ across five different categories. These include student welfare and providing a ‘safe and supportive environment for young people’. The inspection was carried out by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). “The excellent ratings given by COBIS reinforce the values and high standards that everyone at Prior Park is so dedicated to uphold,” said a school spokesman.


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www.gibraltarolivepress.com The Rock’s only investigative

local newspaper

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

OPINION Galliant Galliano It is brilliant that a Gibraltarian designer has debuted a new and exciting collection. In his classic style, the transparent caps and exotic colours certainly do fit into the category of ‘bright and optimistic’. With the perfect setting to show just how far this fellow Gibbo has come. However, International Holocaust Day is an important date across the world. And we must not forget the slurs Galliano said at a Parisian bar that led to his arrest because anti-Semitism, in whatever form, cannot be tolerated. January 27 is a date for the diary and though we celebrate Galliano success we also caution against his past actions in respect of the commemoration of the Holocaust.

Prank caller In a time when emergency services are being stretched to their limit, prank callers should be ashamed that they are wasting valuable time and resources. The best case scenario - a waste of taxpayer money is bad enough, but with the worst possibly meaning that someone who truly needs help dies while services are falsely directed elsewhere is unbearable to think of. What drives a person to prank call 199? A misplaced sense of humour or perhaps something more complicated like a mental illness? An issue that the police in the UK are increasingly having to frustatingly deal with due to the cuts in social care. Either way proper education should be given to drum into everyone that emergency numbers are for just that - emergencies. If it was ‘just for laughs’ it won’t seem so funny if one day this girl finds herself second in the phone queue to an equally idiotic prankster. Publisher/ Editor

Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618 News editor

SALES: sales@theolivepress.es Admin (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Accounts Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress.es

reporters Joe Wallen joe@theolivepress.es Jed Neill jed@theolivepress.es Designer James Partington design@theolivepress.es

Maria Angeles Vázquez mangeles@theolivepress.es Admin and account assistant Distribution Graham Warters distribution@theolivepress.es

The bright side of Brexit Fe at u re

Gibraltar has a veto on the Brexit agreement and is not afraid to use it, the Chief Minister tells JOE WALLEN in an Olive Press exclusive

I

F Brexit threatens to leave the British Territory of Gibraltar between a rock and a hard place, its fiesty Chief Minister has other plans. In an exclusive interview with the Gibraltar Olive Press, Fabian Picardo has called for a second referendum on the final terms of any Brexit agreement and vowed to veto any aspects not beneficial to Gibraltar. His demands come as the future of the sunkissed British territory is set to be resolved this month, following negotiations between Spain and the UK. Gibraltar recorded the highest ‘Remain’ vote of any electorate, with 96% expressing a desire to stay in the EU. Coming from humble beginnings on one of Gibraltar’s most deprived estates in Upper Town and ending up at Oriel College, Oxford before qualifying as a barrister, Picardo is determined that Brexit will not restrict the opportunities he had as a young Gibraltarian. “I was afforded every opportunity by the GSLP government here, growing up,” he says proudly. “I wanted to enter politics to ensure that remained the case and that Gibraltar continued to flourish.” “It’s about setting Gibraltar up for the next 50 years of Gibraltarian success and prosperity - giving our children the benefits and tools we had.” It was those opportunities that inspired him to join the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party as an adult, where his passion for the Gibraltarian people and charismatic personality saw him rise

AT HOME: The Upper Town boy working hard in his office

“I haven’t lost my European zeal. I still believe in Europe and Gibraltar” rapidly through the ranks to become its leader. Picardo believes now is the time to safeguard the future of the Rock’s next generation, in particular from any negative Brexit fallout. While he acknowledges the fact that he is unable to influence all British policy in Gibraltar, such as defence, he confirmed that he can veto

Clarke Media Ltd. Registration number: 113878 Suite 2B, 143 Main Street, Gibraltar Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Desposito legal 834-2017

AWARDS

January 31st - February 13th 2018

2016/2017 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2017

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

POWER STRUGGLE: But Fabian has a close relationship with Theresa May

conditions of any future agreement, such as in business or social care provision, if they negatively impact Gibraltar. This power has been bestowed on his government under Section 47(3) of the Gibraltarian Constitution, which states that issues solely related to the Rock are under the responsibility of Gibraltarian politicians, even in the context of the European Union. The Gibraltarian Constitution was drawn up by politicians in London, so rebuking Picardo’s arguments would appear difficult, even in a court of law. “It is clear that we do have a Brexit veto for Gibraltar, in Gibraltar,” confirms the top barrister. “We will be able to determine whether aspects of what is agreed will be implemented in Gibraltar or not. “The application to Gibraltar will be determined by the Gibraltarian cabinet and parliament.” Furthermore, Picardo divulged that he believes it is ‘absolutely right, proper and fair’ that British citizens should get a second referendum on Brexit once the final terms of any deal are agreed with Brussels. He doesn’t feel it was fair to hold the Brexit vote when citizens did not, and still do not, know what terms they were potentially voting for. “It’s complex but I think there is democratic legitimacy for a second referendum as new arrangements will have been agreed,” he reasons. His call for a further referendum comes the same week as the former leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, shockingly backed a second vote, to stop ‘whining and moaning’ over Brexit. Aside from his delight in seeing Farage backtrack, pro-Europe Picardo enjoyed recalling his earliest ‘political’ memory – his grandfather telling him how he had driven in President Eisenhower’s motorcycle escort when the American leader made his historic visit to Spain in 1959. Picardo, like many Gibraltarians, has Spanish lineage and believes Brexit can also provide a momentous opportunity for improving relations with Gibraltar’s close neighbour. “I haven’t lost my European zeal,” Picardo says enthusiastically. “I still believe in Europe and Gibraltar is a place where you will understand the need for Europe


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Fe at u re

Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es January 31st - February 13th 2018 And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.

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olive press online October 2015

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Gibraltar’s best English daily news website Visitors: xxxxxxxx Most read this

on on The top five mostfortnight read stories www.gibraltarolivepress.com in the past two www.theolivepress.es weeks are:  Costa del Sol on weather alert -Foodies overjoyed as with Gibraltar welcomes and its dropping temperatures

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first bubble waffle restaurant more rain - 4616 views

-Penalver overjoyed after becoming director  VIDEO: Floods hit Costa del Sol at the Hunter Group as heavy rain continues - 4604 views author to head-EXCLUSIVE! Gibraltarian

line London literary festival alongside E.L  Gangsters’ paradise: A look at James

the key figures past and present of the Costa del Crime - 3872 views -‘Out of control’ - Campo battles increased

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 Torremolinos to open Anda-Tortilla trouble! Owners Cadiz bar blame lucia’sofbiggest shopping and leisure Masterchef for salmonella centre - 3122 outbreak views

Statistics for: January 15 to January 29  Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi -final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

FAMILY MAN: Fabian with his son Sebastian and wife Justine

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BE ‘APPY! more than anywhere else. “You look at our impact on Andalucia, you have 13,000 people living in Spain coming to work in Gibraltar every day. “We are the second biggest employers in the whole of Andalucia, after the Junta, and contribute an incredible 25% of the region’s GDP. “This has taken place while we are at loggerheads and not talking. “If we spent the energy we spend arguing over the issue of Gibraltarian sovereignty on cooperating and creating a business plan for the region, we would create 100,000 jobs instead of 13,000. “Perhaps if Brexit requires us to be in ‘damage limitation’ mode, it enables us to enter into more ambitious shared prosperity endeavours, just as long as we can put aside old arguments and look at the opportunities having a non-EU territory on the shores of the EU can create for Spain.” Picardo is also now increasingly optimistic that Brexit will provide new markets for Gibraltar’s financial services, online gaming and insurance industries. Research carried out after the referendum result was declared allayed concerns about the Rock’s future. Revealingly, it was discovered that only 10% of Gibraltar’s financial services business went to markets outside the UK. This meant that an overwhelming 90% of business was conducted with Britain. “I see it as an opportunity to build bridges with other countries outside of the EU,” he contests. “Just look at the countries the UK is looking to do business with – China, New Zealand, Australia, India, the USA and Canada. “Those countries alone represent two billion people and the others in Europe have not really been our customers so far. “I back Liam Fox’s initiatives in kicking down the doors of international trade barriers and establishing new trade relationships for the UK because we will always be part of those new trade arrangements. “You add on the DLT, blockchain and cryptocurrency industries we have – those technologies are making frontiers invisible and irrelevant, wherever you are in the world. “Finally, we are establishing a seriously strong

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ON A MISSION: With a speech and (left) with the London mayor Sadiq Khan

“We will never fall into the New Labour trap because we have socialist in our name”

relationship with China and other countries on their One Belt One Road initiative. “That alone is a huge recipe for growth.” The Rock has a healthcare system currently envied by doctors and patients alike across the world. The Gibraltar Healthcare Authority recently announced with pride that it has not had to cancel a single operation due to bed shortages since February 2017. Contrast this with Britain’s beleaguered NHS, where 50,000 non-essential operations were cancelled in January alone. Education in Gibraltar is also entirely subsidised by the government, with many youngsters studying in the UK free of charge. Again, contrast this with the UK where students have racked up crippling debts or missing out on university completely after the maximum cost of one year’s tuition was raised to £9,250. “We will never fall into the New Labour trap because we have socialist in our name,” Picardo says emphatically.

“The things we do, and the motivation behind our politics, is to make the lives of everyone in our community better. “It was the philosophy that gave rise to the birth of the GSLP, it is what drives me. “If you look at where we are investing, and where the debate is in Gibraltar, it is literally as if you had taken the political debate in the United Kingdom and turned it on its head. “I get told I am spending too much on healthcare and too much on education – it is the opposite here. “You ask the people in the ambulances sitting outside hospitals for four or five hours, or in the corridors of A&E departments, whether they think the United Kingdom government should invest more in healthcare.” During Picardo’s tenure as Chief Minister, Gibraltar’s GDP per capita has sharply risen – to £56,612 according to official figures in 2017 – ranking Gibraltar as the fourth wealthiest territory on the globe. Despite the boom in living standards in Gibraltar over the past decade, one could be forgiven for feeling slightly sorry for Fabian Picardo, given his impending Brexit workload. However, this former Upper Town boy believes there is even more to be excited about as a young Gibraltarian than in his own childhood. Indeed, the welfare of the next generation will continue to be foremost in his mind, in and out of the political sphere. His wife Justine has just given birth to their third child, Valentina. Meanwhile, the man responsible for the future of all Gibraltarians, young and old, is utterly confident in the territory’s continued success. “Gibraltar will not be paralysed by Brexit,” he says fiercely. “Far from it!”

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i b r a l t a r Academy of Dance - Book of Spells 2018, Until February 2

THE journey of a young girl overcoming her demons is set to music for this unique performance at John Mackintosh Hall. Tickets are on sale now.

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apunzel A Tangled Performance, Until February 3

A HILARIOUS modern adaption of the Rapunzel story is set to arrive in Gibraltar in pantomine form at the Inces Hall Theatre on Main Street. Tickerts are priced at £6-7.

January 31st - February 13th 2018

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lassic and V i n t a g e Vehicles, February 2

A SPECTACULAR display of old school cars is set to delight motorists for one afternoon only in Grand Casemates Square.

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FLYING IN: Potter and pals

TO the delight of young wizards and witches across the Rock, Harry Potter will be the theme for this year’s World Book Day. Children are encouraged to dress as their favourite Harry Potter character on March 1 and are invited to enjoy arts and crafts activities all day in The Gallery. Staff from the Gibraltar Cultural Services

will also read extracts from the popular BE ‘APPY! books at John Mackintosh Hall. Furthermore, the ‘Book Crossing and Book Fair’ will return at the Lower Exhibition room, whereby Gibraltarians are encouraged to ‘bring a book – take a book’, to encourage wider reading. Local authors will also be present proFIRING GTSA Download our appBLANKS: now and moting their books.

Rocks off for Roberts EXCLUSIVE By Joe Wallen

A GIBRALTARIAN erotic author will showcase her work at a leading London literary festival alongside world-famous 50 Shades of Grey author E.L James. Jaimie Roberts, of Ocean Heights, is one of the Rock’s best kept secrets, but not for much longer. The author of UK bestsellers

Gibraltarian erotic writer finally comes out of the shadows at leading London literary festival

Deviant and Siren will be signing her novels at the London Calling event on February 24. She explains that despite her phenomenal success - she has 12 books to her name - she hasn’t courted publicity to protect her sons.

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‘Bringing music to your ears, and Gibraltar to your screen’

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“Due to the erotic romance of many of my books I didn’t wish to embarrass my two sons or lead to them being picked on,” Roberts told the Gibraltar Olive Press. “However, now that my eldest is studying for his A-levels and my youngest is 14, I don’t worry so much.” The London Calling event sees over 100 best selling romance authors from around the world gather to showcase their work. Roberts will also be promoting the follow up to Siren, which will be coming out on February 1. “It’s all about revenge - she is a woman scorned and plenty of drama ensues,” she teases. Originally from London, Roberts (right) moved to Gibraltar in 2001 with her now husband, viewing the Rock as the perfect place to bring up a family. Her two sons were born here and Roberts sees no reason why

Out of ammo

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MEMBERS of a Gibraltarian shooting club will be unable to compete in competitions across Europe after an EU Court of The Olive Justice ruling.Press In 2015, the president of the GiTargetinShooting TOP braltar for news Spain!Association (GTSA), Albert Buhagiar, requested a European Firearm Pass for members of his group.

Impact

she would leave Gibraltar anytime soon. “I love everything about Gibraltar, I would never move back to the UK, we felt at home the moment we got here,” she enthuses. “Besides, you have the best of both worlds – you have that little bit of England here and then you also have Spain right next door. “I’m so proud to be representing Gibraltar, it’s going to be an absolutely massive event. “Who would have thought little old me from the Rock would be appearing alongside E.L James, I can’t believe it!”

The passes, granted by the EU, allow individuals to transport registered firearms from one member state to another, whether for competition or sale. However, the EU Court of Justice concluded that as Gibraltar is outside of the EU’s customs area, its rules are not applicable to the territory, even if their application would have had a positive impact on local services. The Gibraltar Olive Press has contacted the GTSA for comment.

Pen pals FIVE short story writing competitions have been launched as part of this year’s Gibraltar Spring Festival. The contests are open to budding writers from Gibraltar as well as those resident on the Rock. There will be separate competitions for those in years 4 and 5, years 6 and 7, years 8 to 11, years 12 and 13 and then for adults. The winners of each category will receive a £300 prize from the Ministry of Culture and a trophy. Deadline for submissions is March 19 and winning entries will be printed in the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Guetta load of that!

DAVID Guetta will play at one of the Costa del Sol’s biggest music festivals. The French DJ and producer will be one of the biggest acts at the Weekend Beach Festival in Torre del Mar this summer. Other international superstars are still to be announced. The fifth edition of the festival will take place on the Axarquia beach from July 4 to 7. Other artists include The Offspring, Jimmy Cliff, Bunbury, Izal, Macaco, Invisible Dance, Aborosie, El Langui, Celtas Cortos, Muchachito, Arco, Neuman and Long Live Sweden. Last year saw more than 35,000 revellers join the fun and this year is expected to attract even more.


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January 2018

Issue 18

9

Picture this

January 31st - February 13th 2018

Spain’s most ‘instagrammable’ property revealed, plus we take a look at the most photofriendly homes up for grabs in Andalucia

SEE PAGE VI >>

Bottoms up!

MALAGA’S Victoria beer factory has been nominated for Building of the Year 2018. The 100-year-old brewery was recently renovated by local architect firm GANA. The awards are handed out every year by Archdaily, the world’s most visited architectural website. The winners in each category will be chosen by Archdaily’s registered users. Winners will be announced in the first week of February.

SOLDIER ON C OURTS in Spain have vowed to speed up mortgage floor clause claims for 2018. It comes after 165,000 suits were submitted last year, but only 3% (5,000) were dealt with in court. The severe delays are the result of a government decision to only allow 54 purposefully built courts to deal with all mortgage floor clause cases, causing a ‘judicial bottleneck’ that leaves

Fight for justice on mortgage floor clauses to get easier this year people waiting years before being repaid what they owed for overpaying their mortgage. But Spain’s General Judicial Council has announced an additional court covering cases in the Canary Islands

and Fuerteventura, as well as increasing the amount of judges to 50 and hiring more civil servants to help process the lawsuits. Lenders are purposefully not helping the cause, having rejected some 650,000 clients who attempted

to claim directly with their banks. Some reports claim they are proposing token funds, or offering to cancel abusive clauses by private agreement and replace them with high-fixed interest rates which are just as bad as the floor clause rate. Spain’s General Council is now calling for the special courts to be scrapped, arguing for a ‘more effective’ plan to avoid the ‘total collapse’ of the Spanish judicial system.

Victory bonanza

ANOTHER five Irish investors have won their deposits back via the Spanish courts. All of them had invested in off-plan developments that never got built. The judgement is one of over 200 won by Reclaim in Spain and the lawyer Martin de la Herran, of Abolex, over the last two years. “Martin is confident of all cases being successful - he will not take a case to court unless he is 99% certain of winning,” victim Ollie Reel told the Olive Press. “The claim is against the banks (not the developer/agent) and people just have to provide the correct evidence to make a successful claim.” In the latest case, each of the claimants got their deposits back plus 29% interest. “We expect many more victories this year,” added Reel, from Armagh, in Northern Ireland.

Buying or selling?


II 10

Property

www.gibraltarolivepress.com

HOME SALES IN ANDALUCIA Q3 2017

Foreign buyers dominate home sales in Malaga The latest figures show foreign buyers made up 14% of the market in Andalucia in Q3 of 2017. In Malaga province, the figure was more than double at 30%. Of the 7,638 properties bought in Malaga, some 2,262 were purchased by foreign buyers, the majority being British.

Agencies need more regulation, writes Mark Stucklin

A

RIPPLE of alarm is running through Spain’s property sector over the return of cowboy realtors. The reappearance of these opportunists keen to ride the crest of the new buying wave is worrying some of the most established names in the business. They’re concerned that it could have a negative effect on the sector’s reputation which has cost so much to rebuild in an industry that is permanently under the spotlight. You only need to look back a decade or so, when it was fashionable to be a developer or estate agent with no experience, to understand the concern among the companies with more experience. This includes those who have sat out the crisis and the new arrivals who have helped to relaunch the market (for example Aedas Homes). The risk of the arrival of newbie companies pursuing easy money is one of challenges to be met in the new property market cycle. It was precisely the ‘chiringuitos’ (beach bars) – the term used at the time (a decade ago) to describe the amateurs in the property sector – who helped inflate the bubble and damage the industry’s reputa-

January 31st2018 - February 13th 2018 January

Cowboy concerns

tion through malpractice. New en- gain the high profile they had in the trants in property development were past. helped along by easy bank loans for “We aren’t aware of this phenomenon at the moment,” he adds, “but dubious housing schemes. “The economic context allowed peo- we’re not ruling out the occasional ple with no training or experience in incident.” He believes that the sector itself enthe sector to become part of it with sures there aren’t the sole objective of many of these making easy money on Many of the new agents, since it an all-or-nothing basis,” badly affects the says Daniel Cuervo, entrants lack serious and reGeneral Secretary of professionalism sponsible compathe Spanish Property Developer and Conand are chasing nies. “Suppliers and structor Association easy money partners who (APCE). These pseudonurture non-proprofessional operations fessionals will tar were the first to disappear during the property crisis. themselves with the same brush Banks nowadays are more cautious and find it difficult to work with proand don’t give loans to just anyone. fessional companies,” he says. This means the development sector His words are, for the time being, is more protected from opportunists, backed up by the facts. According according to Cuervo. to the national business registry “The loan market requires a signifi- compiled by the Spanish Institute of cant injection of capital, such as hav- Statistics (INE), in 2017 there were ing the land paid for as well as the 67,812 companies involved in sellproject and licence costs. You also ing property, the lowest figure since need to show a track record of abil- the registry started in 2008 with ity, know-how and professionalism,” 106,375 on its books. Since then, he explains, adding that “it would be the number has not stopped falling. very difficult for non-professionals to But if the property development

business is protected from cowboy operations by financing considerations, the estate agency business is not. Anyone can set up as an estate agent in Spain, and the barriers to entry are low, which helps explain why the number of companies in the sector has risen from 149,000 in 2015 to 169,000 today, according to figures from the INE. Industry insiders fear that many of the new entrants lack professionalism, are chasing easy money and could end up damaging the industry’s reputation, just like they did in the past. “It seems that the real estate agency business has no restrictions and anyone can work in it,” one unhappy client told the Olive Press. “In my case I got the impression that they just want to close sales any way they can, and collect their commission, without taking care of the client.” Some industry insiders are calling on the Spanish Government to regulate the business and make it difficult for cowboy operations to take advantage of the recovery and damage the industry’s reputation again.

www.spanishpropertyinsight. com


Property

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Fashion funds

AMANCIO Ortega has injected €100 million into his Spanish real estate business Pontegadea España. It comes after the billionaire created the new subsidiary for Spanish properties in November. The new business will focus on properties in Spain and currently has holdings worth more than €1.6 billion, including Madrid’s Torre Cepsa tower designed by British architect Norman Foster. The Zara founder’s property corporation Pontegadea Inmobiliaria already has separate companies in the US, France, UK and Korea, which are dedicated to managing the property business in each country and has holdings worth €6.7 billion.

January 31st2018 - February 13th 2018 January

RICHARD Branson’s long planned eco-hotel has come one step nearer to reality. A Mallorca mayor has publicly backed the scheme, insisting it would bring jobs to the quiet town in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. The project, first conceived in the early 2000s, aims to be ‘the best eco resort in Europe’. It would see the historic Son Bunyola estate turned into a luxury environmentally-friendly resort. Although many locals were behind the original project and the jobs it would have created, after a lengthy battle the local town hall in Banyalbufar refused the building permits.

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Green light The Virgin boss currently has three properties in Mallorca, all of which have been moderately restored while keeping the historic value intact, winning favour among locals. The Son Bunyola estate was sold after the original project fell through but it was recently re-bought by the billionaire entrepreneur. The property, encompassing three villas, is vast and contains a third of the town’s open land. The Council of Mallorca will have the final say on the project.

Lotta sterling

England ace Raheem Sterling netting a mega bucks purchase on the Costa del Sol

W

ONDER kid Raheem Sterling is investing big bucks into a new home on the Costa del Sol. The Manchester City star is celebrating his stunning form by forking out more than €5 million on a palatial Marbella pad. The holiday hotspot is said to be a favourite for the forward, who signed with City for £49m from Liverpool and earns around £200,000-a-week. The 23-year-old has been repeatedly seen jumping on an EasyJet flight to Malaga during his time off from fighting it out for the Premier League. The youngster and his wife Paige Milian already have a huge £3m mansion in the Cheshire countryside but are keen to add the Spanish pad to their property empire.

SUN IS SHINING: On Spain’s British property market

Sunny forecast

A PLACE in the Sun has forecast a rosey outlook for Spain’s property market this year. It comes after 2017 saw a much betterthan-expected bump in enquirires from Brits looking to buy in Spain, despite the ongoing Brexit fallout. And Spain has continued to be the hot favourite, receiving far more enquiries and with Brits remaining the bigget buyers.

Adventurous

GEM: Raheem’s home

The luxury villa in Marbella is located just 100m from the beach between Puerto Banus and San Pedro de Alcantara. Costing a cool €5 million, the description says it 'represents a unique opportunity to experience the Marbella lifestyle'.

“We British are an adventurous, acquisitive bunch who love property and 2018 will see a sizable number of people move forward with plans to buy their place in the sun”, says Andy Bridge, Managing Director of A Place in the Sun. “Each year throws up issues that impact the number of buyers – the value of the pound, Brexit worries, the wider economy – but inevitably we don’t want to be put off”.

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Property

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January 31st2018 - February 13th 2018 January

Snappy happy

Andalucia’s most ‘instagrammable’ properties

A

SPANISH villa has been labelled one of the ‘most Instagrammable’ luxury pads in the world. Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent Villas announced its Black Collection 2018 this week, a selection of 40 stunning villas chosen by a panel of experts based on location, décor, popularity with guests and ‘Instagrammableness’. The Mallorca villa (left) comes complete with a pebbled beach and is built on a 275-hectare private estate on the northwest coast of the island. The property’s name - Se Terra Rotja - translates as ‘red earth’, with the villa capped with terracotta tiles and constructed with red-tinged stone and mortar. Priced from £2026 (€2305) per person per week, the villa sleeps eight people across its four ensuite bedrooms. Below we have rounded up some of Andalucia’s ‘most instagrammable’ villas.

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3.850.000 €

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This stunning four-bed is one to get the camera snapping. Set in the exclusive El Madroñal estate and with views of Africa, this 2,600m2 property comes with a separate apartment ideal for guests or live-in helper. Built to the highest specifications, this ecofriendly property has everything to provide the most comfortable life, including its iridescent mosaic tiled, salt water infinity pool (11 m) with pre-installation for heat pump, landscape gardens and the large terrace area that curves around the back of the house allowing views of the whole property.

The leading home decoration magazine for homeowners with style… Tel. (+34) 951 38 38 97 | info@homeandlifestyle.es | www.homeandlifestyle.es

www.spanishestateagent.com Continues on next page


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January 31st2018 - February 13th 2018 January

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Property

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January 31st2018 - February 13th 2018 January

€29,000,000 €6,500,000

Soto mansion

Zagaleta belter From previous page

This unbelievable property is the stuff of Instagram dreams, but you’ll have to get saving to meet its whopping €29,000,000 price tag. Constructed over three levels plus an enormous sub basement area, this superb property offers everything you could possibly wish for. With south facing panoramic views over the enormous 6900m2 completely flat plot, to the Mediterranean sea and beyond. The villa has a large office, library complete with private lounge, and a gym area. The guest accommodation here is an open plan studio style, with a fully fitted kitchen, bedroom, bathrooms and dressing room, and although this area is fully integrated into the overall structure of the house, it is completely independent and is ideal for guests wishing to have their own privacy. Here you also find the staff accommodation comprising of a

shared kitchen, living room, two bedrooms en suite and walk in wardrobes. The entire ground level has been primarily designed for your entertainment, offering a spacious lobby with central bar and is ideal for parties or receptions, a wine cellar, billiard room, home theater, double bowling alley and a golf simulator. Also at this level is a fabulous spa, with a saltwater swimming pool and various saunas - a classic sauna, steam bath, salt bath, coldarium, all with access to a large covered terrace, jacuzzi and a separate bar. A simply stunning property, completely unique to this stunning part of the world. With two gated and fully guarded entrances the estate has 24 hour high level armed security.

This fabulous and impressive project set in a breathtaking, private location, will be built to the highest of standards. Using all natural materials, hand crafted carpentry and large natural stone slabs. With full home automation, under floor heating, air conditioning and integrated security systems this property will be delivered fully furnished as shown, with an indoor swimming pool and spa, gymnasium, cinema room, bodega, 6 car garage, paddle tennis and tennis court and jogging track. It comes complete with drawing room, dinning room, family kitchen, catering kitchen, TV family room, a gentleman’s study, 6 bedroom suites, a 2 bedroom guest/staff apartment and a further staff apartment.

www.holmesotogrande.com Reference HSN2-1146 Price Bedrooms 9 Baths 9

www.propertyoverseasgroup.com Reference: R2630780

€220,000

Malaga chic

This cute apartment is just a stone’s throw away from Museo Thyssen, Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Larios - a wonderful carfree environment full of small shops, restaurants and bars, but yet with complete peace on its own street. The project consists of a restoration of an old magazine headquarters that will turn into a total of 11 apartments in modern, urban, industrial style with 4 metre-high ceilings.

www.maklarringen.se Reference CNON126 From Bedrooms 1-2


Property

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January 31st2018 - February 13th 2018 January

15 XVI 15

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Maklarringen is a Swedish real estate agency with 70 offices in Sweden and a long presence in Spain and on the whole Costa del Sol.


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January 31st - February 13th 2018

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STM Group Insurance+TheolivepressEs leaves weathers Gibraltar BE ‘APPY! Brexit storm after allowing Deloitte auditors to inspect the Download our appfirm now and

THE insurance market in Gibraltar is set to go from strength-tostrength despite Brexit, accord- begin enjoying the best Spanish ing to a partner news on the go. at Hassans. BELEAGUERED financial Nigel Feetham, a lawyer spe- services company STM Group cialising in tax and financial has confirmed that it will reservices, believes any uncer- locate its headquarters to the tainty will be offset by the sta- UK this month. bility of the Gibraltar-UK trad- The news comes after an ing relationship. agreement was also reached As the largest share of the Gi- with the Gibraltar Financial braltarian insurance industry is Services Commission (GFSC) UK facing, FeethamThe believesOlive it to Press allow auditors from Dewill be business as usual. loitte to inspect the firm. The compaTOP for news in Gibraltar-based Spain! ny is under investigation for Huge allegedly not abiding by com“The decision by the UK to pliance regulations. leave the EU had a huge potential impact on the Gibraltar Profit financial sector that relied on passporting arrangements,” The UK move was about maxFeetham said. imising profit as opposed to “These concerns were largely a fallout from the on-going mitigated by the UK Govern- investigation in Gibraltar, ment providing assurances to STM’s chief executive Alan the Gibraltar Government on Kentish said. the continuation of the Gibral- “With the UK budget instanttar-UK trading relationship ly curtailing most of our new post-Brexit.” ROPS business in March and Feetham was also keen to down- the exceptional circumstance play any fears over Gibraltarian of the fourth quarter, 2017 insurers leaving for Malta. has certainly brought its un-

Business

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January 31st - February 13th 2018

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January 31st - February 13th 2018

Going, going, gone expected challenges,” Kentish said. “Pleasingly, however, management was able to react proactively which allowed the business to perform in line with expectations.

“Such a repositioning of our business is time consuming and required some integration during 2017. “This investment brings opportunities in 2018 to improve our profit margins.” The GFSC had ruled that inspectors would have access to the firm over compliance concerns, but this decision had been put on hold in December after STM Group launched an appeal in the Gibraltar Supreme Court. However, the new agreement between STM Group and the

GFSC will see Deloitte auditors probe the company. Kentish described the agreement as a ‘workable solution’ and that it was ‘pleasing’ to avoid a court date which was in ‘neither party’s interest’. The investigation will review the effectiveness and oversight of STM’s internal compliance operation and assess any conflict of interest in the firm’s business dealings. The Deloitte auditors will report their findings to STM and the GFSC at the end of March.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Howdy partner ISOLAS, the international law firm, has appointed Emma Lejeune and Selwyn Figueras as new Partners.

Page turner GIBRALTARIAN businesswoman Ayelet Mamo Shay has released a new novel, ‘Relocation, Darling, Relocation’, telling the stories of small Jewish communities across the globe.

Young enterprise STUDENTS have now launched their projects for this years 10th anniversary Young Enterprise competition.

Money talks A CROSS-PARTY delegation of Gibraltarian MPs visited London to participate in discussions on managing public finances.


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BUSINESS

Tolling the bell

TRAFFIC on the Costa del Sol could be greatly reduced under plans by the Junta to drastically overhaul its current transport infrastructure. The plans include scrapping the toll charge along the AP-7, introducing cycle lanes and widening the

roads from San Pedro to Ronda (A-397) and Marbella to Cartama (A-355) as well as a light rail transport link to run alongside the A-7. However, there was no mention of a high-speed rail link that has been long promised to connect Mal-

January 31st - February January 31st - February 13th 201813th 2018

New plans set on overhauling transport network along the Costa del Sol

TOLLS: Could be a thing of the past

aga to the western part of the Costa del Sol. The draft plan called Plan de Ordenación del Territorio (POT), is part of a 20-

Moving in

INNOVATION: Bitcoin property

CHARLES GOMEZ & COMPANY L a w y e r s

A PROPERTY company in Marbella has become the first in Andalucia to allow the sale of properties with Bitcoin. Sergey Sinichkin, the owner and director of Drumelia Real Estate, has agreed to sell the Villa in La Alqueria property in Benahavis in Bitcoin. The property, which is valued at 2.49 million, is also being made available for 183.54 Bitcoins. The price is subject to market fluctuations in the price of bitcoin. “Those who accept the payment of a property in bitcoins are investors in cryptocurrencies,” said Sinichkin. “They trust bitcoin will be consolidated and that it’s a safe payment method. “Actually, in practice, it’s just like any other currency.” Marbella currently has three Bitcoin ATMs, at The Local on Calle Malvas, Estrella de Belen on Calle Quevedo and Platinum Calls on Centro Cristamar.

year scheme to ease mobility along the coast and is more than 200 pages long. New access routes were pencilled in to directly connect Benahavis, Istan, Elviria, Mijas and Fuengirola to the AP-7. Environment minister Jose Fiscal said tensions with previous POTs have been addressed after the previous plan was annulled by the Supreme Court.

Construction

“Planning has to be an ally of economic growth, and we should never allow it to slow down,” he said. The plans are not yet written in ink as the Junta does not have the power to remove tolls or construct new access routes. All it can do is reserve land for future construction and wait for the POT to be voted on in the Spanish parliament.

Dedicated property specialists for a fast, thorough and affordable legal service. Email the property details to property@gomezco.gi for a free quote. T: 200 74998

w w w. c h a r l e s g o m e z . g i

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FINTECH

Crypto goals Gibraltar United will allow their players to be paid in cryptocurrency from March

January 31st - February 13th 2018

19

Christopher Cousins lockhead Byof Igniteratings.com Enter the coffee shops!

In the second article of his informative series, Chris Cousins of Ignite Ratings explains how today’s cryptocurrency market has taken its inspiration from the old coffee shops of Amsterdam

Gibraltar United has become the first football club in the world to use cryptocurrency. The club, owned by Heritage Sports Holdings, will offer GOING DIGITAL: United set for crypto kick–off players and staff the opportu- with an increasing number “I hate the concept of giving nity to be paid in digital cur- of companies now accept- them cash, so Quantocoin fills rency from March. ing digital payment for their the void.” The move has been made pos- products. Dana praised the forward sible through a link up be- Furthermore, he believes it thinking attitude of the Gitween Heritage Sports Hold- suits his players, as many do braltarian government and ings and Quantocoin, a platnot have tra- Gibraltar Financial Services form allowing ditional bank Commission in making the for payment in accounts. Rock an attractive place to tie different crypThe Quanto- his cryptocurrency platform to “Each player will coin platform a football club. tocurrencies, such as Bitcoin allows players “I think they have dedicated have his own or Litecoin. to bank solely time, money and understand“I’m convinced Quantocoin wallet through their ing to create a sophisticated we are setting phones. platform for companies in and app” a precedent,” “Each player fintech and cryptocurrencies,” Pablo Dana, will have his Dana said. a partner in own Quanto- “Rather than remaining in the Quantocoin, coin wallet and past, the Gibraltarian authoritold the Gibraltar Olive Press. app,” Dana said. ties and financial sector have “Cryptocurrencies will be the “Many of our players come seized the opportunity in an unique method of payment in from secluded regions of incredible way. the next three to four years.” Egypt and Algeria, we don’t “For entrepreneurs like us, Dana believes the option to be just have Gibraltarians play- having people on our side who paid in a cryptocurrency al- ing for us and their banking understand is a great bonus lows his staff more freedom, structure isn’t good. for the Rock.”

In stark contrast to large investors, the market than the exchange itself. small-time investor is automatically disad- As a collective they became powerful influvantaged — why? encers. Simple, lack of information. However, that did not stop manipulators from Large investors or ‘whales’ as we call them in using these groups to their own advantage crypto, get the best deals, they get the inside often spreading rumours to pump stocks calls with founders and know what will pump they got on the cheap, or for a fee from large before it pumps. shareholders or the company itself. Due to buying power they can move the mar- The similarities of the old trading world in kets and the smaller investors are left trying Amsterdam to what we see in the crypto tradto get scraps of information to trade on. ing space is amazing. So smaller traders tried to get an advantage Today big whales get the lion's share of new and quickly started what we would call trad- offerings, smaller investors try to get an ading clubs. vantage by joining private groups, often with Back in the 1600s, traders would hang individuals promoting their own purposes. around Amsterdam coffee shops (as they do Today's traders, myself included, are drawn today, but for different reasons — those im- to groups, simply because we don't have ports had not arrived yet!). any other source of inforAt the coffee shops traders mation. would spend time discussSome take the approach ing stocks. that any information is betTraders developed mini ter then no information, and ‘exchanges’ in the coffee many have made a good shops with brokers that profit by buying the rumour would buy and sell shares and selling the news. and settle at the main exThe same market manipulachange later. tion that existed in the 17th What is interesting for us century therefore continues to note is that when these to this day! traders combined their resources they actually had See more at more power to move the IN THE KNOW: Cousins www.igniteratings.com

A new dawn is coming to the world of conventional lending www.lendo.io


20

LETTERS

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Reactions to the news that the number of migrant crossing attempts tripled in 2017 (Issue 60, right) 6

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F E AT U R E

The Rock’s only

investigative

local newspaper

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

OPINION

Grease lightning

In another shocking episode fraudsters ing unbeknowing tourists attempting are targetto cross the frontier. We have received a number of acting in a violent manner to reports of the men those Gibraltarians that attempt both tourists and to warn others of the scam. While it does not appear that the in Gibraltar has been damaged tourism industry seriously by their actions, the men are only increasing Here at the Gibraltar Olive Press, in confidence. we urge you to report these crooks to both the Spanish and Gibraltarian police. The more pressure we put on the more likely these men will the Spanish police, no longer get away with just a slap on the wrist.

Migrant madness

Having spent several days with Saharan migrants in Morocco it a group of subcurrent system is not working foris obvious that the Prospective migrants are risking anyone. ing Africa to reach Morocco, withtheir lives traversthe majority falling victim to assaults and robberies by organised criminal groups on route. In Morocco, violence is breaking grants and local residents over out between mithe lack of existing resources and jobs. For countries like Spain and Italy they are having to spend money that they desperately their own social issues on rescuing need to combat the panteras at sea, which are arriving with increasing frequency. For the ‘lucky’ migrants that do reach their destination, with some having set off from home over a decade before, they are often deported as they do not have a strong enough asylum To save bloodshed, money and claim. resources for all involved, the international community to organise and process migrants must do more they begin their harrowing journeys. claims before In this way, those who desperately need refuge abroad can receive it, while those granted citizenship in Europe can unlikely to be gre resources elsewhere, without focus their mearisking their lives in the process.

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

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January 31st - February 13th 2018

Dame of the rock WEBSITE

As the migrant numbers across the Strait triple this year, the Olive Press sent Joe Wallen to spend a weekend with a group of refugees about to set sail out of Tangier. In a moving dispatch, he hears of frequent attacks and even witnesses them himself... but even in the most hopeless of situations, there is optimism for a better future

December 20th - January 3rd

2018

‘THEYYTRE ‘THE TREATATUS US WORSE WOR SETHA THANN DOGSSININ DOG THESTR STREET’ THE EET’ I

T is just past midday in Amy’s Restaurant on Rue Khatib, a simple, yet charming Selfies they took as they were rescued by the Spanish Red Cross near Senegalese kitchen hidden in the cata- been printed off and stuck Tarifa have combs of Tangier’s Old Town. on a board, along with dozens of others pegThe place is packed and animated who fills the air as refugees from across chatter have recently made it. rica tuck into delicacies from homeWest Af- “There is very little for us to celebrate includ- here so when our brothers ing ‘yassa poulet’ and ‘thie bou dienne’. make it, it is It emerges that just yesterday a ‘pantera’, as if everyone of us has made it,” says Christopher, 28, from Sierra Leone. or makeshift dinghy, more at home swimming pool, has successfully landedin a “We all dream of making it onto the Hall on of Fame one day,” he continues the Costa del Sol. laughThe big group of Gambians, Cameroonians ing, pointing at the pictures of those who have succeeded in going the ‘Back Way’. and Nigerians on board have made promised land – Fortress Europe. it to the “They are our Biggie Smalls, our NWA, our Dr Dre,” the hip-hop fanatic jokes.

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!

With the festive season on us, the appeal for a range of kids’ charitiesGibraltar Olive Press launches a general close to home. By Joe Wallen

“CHILDREN are not distractions from more impor- ish and refugee tant work, they are the most important work,” said families Chronicles of Narnia novelist can fending children is the centralC. S. Lewis and de- stay if they fall theme of the Olive on hard Press’ Christmas appeal this year. times. Another imporAt a time when preserving the planet for the next tant charity generation has never been greater, children are be- is working that coming increasingly vulnerable. hard for children at An incredible one in three children grow up in pov- Christmas erty in the Campo de Gibraltar. is Childline in GiIt is the most underprivileged part of Spain and braltar. many children have limited access to a decent edu- The charity cation, poor healthcare and not was set up in 2006 GENEROUS: Present giveaway Alarmingly 66% of local childrenenough food. to books or pens or other after don’t have access and offers vital support to children on school resources. the Rock who feel unhappy, threatened or alone. Luckily charities like Hogar Betania are striving to The charity offers eradicate child poverty across three main separate services and the region. has so far logged 6,000 callers. At this time of year they are working that youngsters have proper food hard to ensure The first is Childline’s helpline which is available and shelter and every day of that none live on the streets. the year for children to chat live and discuss issues when otherwise But the charity is also asking they may have nobig hearted people one to speak and companies to donate presents for local fami- The second to. lies, who are unable to buy them for their own chil- arrested andservice involves helping out if a child is dren. a volunteer will stand in at the request of the The toys will be distributed on Royal Gibraltar Police. in a special event involving theJanuary 5 in La Linea Lastly Childline in Gibraltar runs an education programme, working with parents, “The campaign is very close to Three Kings. local schools and my heart as its role youth organisations is to help families with children to raise awareness about isLa Linea and Gibraltar,” Carmen in dire poverty in sues affecting children on the Rock. Hogar Betania told the Gibraltar Moya Langston of But Childline relies on the financial support of evOlive Press. eryday Gibraltarians. As well as the Christmas present charity also runs a Summer Camp campaign the This Christmas we are asking you to dig deep and impoverished children, offering each year for 60 help the team. educational activi- “Every penny ties and three meals a day. we raise stays right here in Gibraltar helping us It also operates a shelter where Gibraltarian, Span- person Jo support local youngsters in need,” chairAbergel told the Gibraltar Olive Press. If you wish to donate online or volunteer you can contact Childline Gibraltar via the website www.childline.gi. Meanwhile, if you would like to volunteer or donate to Hogar Betania can do so through the website on you info@ hogarbetania.es

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2012 - 2017

Hugh Oxford, Gibraltar

Moroccan madness A lot of the blame must fall on the Moroccan king, his short-sighted policies has seen their country open their borders to everyone. As a result there is unrest, they cannot cope. Elizabeth Dorston, London

Cruel to be kind The kindest way to assist economic migrants is to ban them from Europe, unless they have a visa.They would not make the crossing if they knew it was a waste of time.

Nigel Christopher, Oxford

Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on

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HOPEFUL: Alfonso (left) and Dieudonne are looking ahead to the future

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Christopher is already one of the luckier ones. He was granted refugee status in Morocco three years ago after an arduous journey across the Sahara Desert, via Guinea, Mali, and Algeria. He tells me in impeccable English how his parents had been killed in Sierra Leone’s long civil war in which 300,000 civilians died in bitter conflict between 1991 and 2002. He had finally made it to Morocco with his two best friends, one of whom has now made it to France and successfully claimed asylum, while the other died in the MediterTANGIER LIFE: Christopher (left) in ranean when his boat capsized in July. his room and Habas with his crutches Fighting back tears, he recalls the day he heard of his friend’s death. horrible smugglers. me is, over the next 48 hours I am He has literally no idea where she is “It is basically a complete lottery,” now. sworn at and barked at by groups ofspat it, locals plains. “They called the Red Cross he ex- Alfonso, 27, from Cameroon, shows me a on various boat began to sink, but no one was as the criss-cross of scars across his forehead Complicit occasions. so it slowly went down and down. on duty, and neck, the complexity of which far out- are the in the treatment of the migrants Moroccan police who I learn play a strips the layout of Tangier “I pray that when I finally get my chance, vital role in assisting it He claims he got the scars itself. is on one of the better days.” after being beat- arduous sea crossing. the migrants in their en up by the Moroccan police in the The Morocco to Spain migrant route hills “It is the biggest game you will ever play,” exploded in popularity in 2017, with has near Tangier, all for daring to live there. laughs Dieudonné, a Cameroonian over This cruelty at the hands of the Moroccan 15,000 people so far rescued has just paid for a berth on one of the who lethal Straits, marking a 338% increase in the police becomes a running theme of my two ‘panteras’ on last days spent with the this week. year alone. group. Dieudonné has had his hair done for the “Here in Morocco there is a journey The reasons for this are the and dreams of becoming ‘the bigmodern-day apartheid, they gest very real security concerns reggae star since Buju Banton’ and Complicit in the treat us worse than the dogs in crossing to Italy from Libwants in the street,” claims Christo- We to arrive looking the part. ya, with much of the countreatment of the pher, laugh together as he performs for try run by lawless militias, the adding that none of the appreciative restaurant. resulting in many migrants migrants are the 20 flatmates has a job. It turns “No one will hire us and the of the out the police are the main source being literally sold into slavmigrants’ ramshackle panteras. Moroccan police, only ery or forced into sex work. work we ever get is oc- They casional construction work. ficerspurchase them from plain clothes ofFootage recently obtained they claim In fact we can only make sell who have previously seized them and by CNN shows a group of them on. money when tourists take “They migrants from Niger and pity on us and we can work lectioncome round every week with a seSenegal being sold to the highest bidder of in photos and as once guides.” a house a ‘safehouse’ outside of Tripoli. enough money they buy one – it is our has All claim they have very Another reason is a new agreement be- voked violence at the experienced unpro- own Christmas catalogue,” he says comtween Italy and Libya, which has provided hands of Moroccans, pletely deadpan. almost on a weekly basis. more funding for the Libyan coastguard A typical journey costs between £1000 to Their claims ring true and catch migrants. later that day as we £1500 in a rubber paddle pantera boat but sit having dinner in Café Africain. With thousands of these new migrants for an congregating in Morocco, I decided now Out of nowhere a Moroccan man lurches roccan extra £1000, they can pay the Mopolice off. a ride across the Strait to seek a to take into the café and takes a swing at me, “Basically few of shouting ‘sympathisant this involves telling them the them out and see how they are faring. de nègre’. beach we are going from The phrase needs little translation, It takes a while but in the heart of but it is they just go elsewhere,” and the time and Tangier no Dieudonné less shocking. says. city, I eventually bumped into Christopher, “The next night they will be back but Several of my new we are who agreed to let me visit his cheap rented ately and block thefriends leap up immedi- long gone, to freedom,” he laughs. home. assailant and the inci- Regardless of your views towards dent is over before it has begun. He calls it ‘African House’ and he refugees and migrants it is hard not these to be it with 20 other migrants who have shares As shocking as the attempted attack on overwhelmed all esby the hardship they caped persecution and repressive regimes suffered to reach Morocco and their have optiaround the continent. mism despite the dangers that lay ahead. One of his flatmates Habas, 34, from As my 48 hours in the house comes ria, tells me how he has so far made Libeend, Christopher shows me his prizedto an FOUR posunsuccessful attempts to cross to Spain. session. “I’d rather drown in that sea than stay It is a poster of US hip-hop legend here Tupac, or go home,” he tells me. who was shot dead in 1996. He is currently on crutches with a “Is it a crime, to fight, for what is broken leg, the result of falling off the border he raps from the song Only God Canmine?” Judge in an attempt to get into the nearby wall Me. Spanish enclave of Ceuta. “Everybody’s dyin’ – tell me what’s And he will make a fifth attempt as of tryin’,” the song goes. “I’ve been the use soon as trapped his leg is back to full strength, he insists. since birth, cautious, cause I’m cursed,” Meanwhile, Diallo, 23, from Mali, tells it continues. me a harrowing story about watching After everything the group have his wife been raped and kidnapped on the Algerian through, I can only hope they are successborder after he ran out of money to ful making it onto their very own pay his AMY’S: Social hub for migrants in the Hall of city Fame.

Nothing wrong with economic migrants. Nothing wrong with highly skilled people coming to do jobs nobody in this country can do but people who want to contribute and assimilate. Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

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Our readers respond to the incredible news that Gibraltarian Fleur HassanNahoum has been made the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem TOP for news in Spain! www.allaboutandalucia.com

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So chuffed

Harsh truths

Well done! It is so well deserved! What a magnificent achievement Fleur!

Jerusalem has not just been the capital of the state of Israel but also the capital of the Jewish people for thousands of years. Leonard M, London

Naomi Hassan Weisfogel, Gibraltar

Playground pals Great stuff Fleur! A long way from our Gibraltarian schooldays - well done you! Jo Edwards, Gibraltar

Wider perspective Despite its imperfections the actions of Israel fade quickly into the background when compared with the almost daily atrocities perpetrated by the Sharia states in the same region. Maybe Ms Hassan-Nahoum has a point when she says maybe anti-semitism is just a bit deeper than everything else?

Dedicated dialogue The children of Palestine and Israel deserve a better future. That requires negotiations, in an open spirit as Hassan-Nahoum says, where both sides are prepared to give so they can also then take.

Molly Malone, Belfast

Show of support The vast majority of Jews support Israel’s right to exist, as do most normal people. Well said Fleur!

Tracey Beckwith, London

Miguel Iunes, Malaga

Has anything piqued your 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

CARAVANING

2018 a

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Uni of Gib: Top of class

Back to school A NEW advanced English course will teach the necessary language skills to those wishing to work in the hospitality sector on the Rock. Launched by the University of Gibraltar, the 5-day intensive course will run from February 12 to 16. The Advanced English for the Tourism & Hospitality Sector course will be run by David Buttigieg, an experienced languages teacher.

Communicate

“Being proficient in English or any other language allows Gibraltar’s Tourism and Hospitality sector to effectively deal and communicate with international tourists visiting Gibraltar,” a university spokesman told the Gibraltar Olive Press. The course will cost £300.

Bubbling over Bubble Waffle Cafe opens in Casemates Square EXCLUSIVE By Joe Wallen

THE bubble waffle craze that has taken the culinary world by storm has finally arrived in Gibraltar, courtesy of a new restaurant in Grand Casemates Square. Bubble Waffle Café, owned by the Chinese-born Gibraltarian resident Zhenou Chou, 38, and his family, only opened this month but it is already proving to be a hit. The café offers Hong Kong’s famous savoury waffles with a variety of ice creams and sweet toppings, including caramel mini fudge and chocolate vermicelli. “People are coming already and trying what we have as we are offering something completely different to what is already on offer in Gibral-

TUCKING IN: Chou and his creation tar,” Chao told the Gibraltar Olive Press. “There are already many Chinese restaurants here, but nothing offering what we do.” Chao truly represents Gibraltar’s multicultural ethos – born in China, his wife is from Hong Kong, he lived in the Netherlands for 17 years,

l a d o n a i r a s alo n s e s s i o n s p ro udly pres en ts : Irish tenor

Dominic McGorian

February 16 2018 This is the first of a programme of monthly Salon Sessions: world-class performances featuring international artists, accompanied by good company, fine wine and a tapas supper. Tickets are €3 5 and include food, drinks and shuttle transport from La Posada (Calle Fuentes, 49), El Gastor. Tickets can be paid for at La Posada on the day, but owing to limited availability, should be booked in advance. Transport 2 0 : 0 0 ; Tapas 20:30; Concert 21:30. Contact info @ladonaira.com.

as well as Spain, before moving to Gibraltar 7 years ago. His diverse background is reflected in the restaurant’s comprehensive menu. As well as the famous bubble waffle, he also offers Dutch street snacks such as frikandel, steamed Chinese delicacies such as baopao and Japanese treats such as waffle teriyaki fish. “The waffles are my favourite,” Chao enthuses. “They are warm, with the cold ice cream inside, perfect for a sunny Spring afternoon. “I love living in Gibraltar. “It is such a great place to bring up your children, everyone is so friendly and it’s great to mix with people from all around the world.”

January 31st - February 13th 2018

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Columnists

January 31st - February 13th 2018

50 not out! Well, gentle reader, I finally reached the landmark birthday

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y big Five Zero, which had been lurking darkly on the horizon and was as welcome as a tropical storm at a garden party - came and went. Believe it or not, I enjoyed myself immensely. Granted, I have refused to act my age for a very long time and seem to have dodged the middle aged bullet that normally involves golf and talk- ROCKING OUT: Partying up a storm ing about schools at dinner parties. and we made his beach- Having been at my 40th Perhaps a more conven- front Marbella house, ‘Base during what I refer to as my, tional 50-year-old would Camp’ for the weekend’s ahem, ‘interesting’ period, have celebrated the event festivities. And we didn’t he made a rather brilliant with a discreet gathering. put a foot wrong - manag- observation about my radio So naturally I did the op- ing to cram in chiringuito career. posite and threw a loud lunches, dinners and even “In those dark days, when and lively bash with the a quick caña in the Old Giles would end up sitting theme of ‘Rock Gods, Biker Town over a 48-hour period. in a room talking to himChicks, Soul The party self in the early hours of Sisters and itself was the morning, would he have Divas’ at an a riot, with ever thought that he would “The theme of old friend’s some fabu- carve a successful career restaurant lous outfits out of…..you guessed it, ‘Rock Gods, in Puerto on display – sitting in a room talking to Biker Chicks, Banus. As a none more himself in the early hours of disclaimer I so than from the morning!” Soul Sisters and just want to Hobson him- With close family and Divas’” add that he’s self who was friends – including a numknown me s p l e n d i d l y ber of surprise visitors from for over 30 dressed in a the UK – and rock legend years, so knew damn well look he described as ‘Hen- Russ on DJ duties – my what he was letting himself drix – the Vegas years’. 50th was everything I had in for! Hobson is renowned for hoped it would be. One of my best friends, who never missing an oppor- So here’s to the next 50. I refer to as ‘Hobson’, flew tunity for giving a speech, You have all been duly out especially for the event and this was no exception. warned!


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Sport

January 31st - February 13th 2018

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The School of Sport was opened by BE ‘APPY! Lord Coe and will take on its first intake of students in RISING STAR: Edmund September +TheolivepressEs

Download our app now and A NEW educational facility begin enjoying the has best enhanced Spanish Gibraltar’s repnews on the go. utation as a world-class destination to study sport, accordKYLE Edmund is to lead Great ing to Lord Sebastian Coe. Britain’s upcoming Davis Cup The athletics legend and curteam for the World Group rent head of the IAAF paid a match in Spain. visit to the Rock to open the The British number two, who new ‘School of Sport’ at the recently reached the Australian University of Gibraltar. Open semi-finals, will be joined The school will be offering by Cameron Norrie, Liam places on five courses from Broady, Jamie Murray The and OliveSeptember. Press Dominic Inglot. “Sport is an extraordinary The tie will take TOP place for at the growth sector in the global news in Spain! Puente Romano tennis club economy and I’m delighted in Marbella, with Spain firm to see the University of Gifavourites as matches will be braltar taking it so seriously,” played on clay. Lord Coe told the press. According to Dr Nick Pye, the new Head of the School Tough “With it being played on their of Sport, the university will favoured clay surface it’s going to be an incredibly tough first round,” the Great Britain captain Leon Smith told the press. “That being said, our team bring form into the tie and have A CELTA Vigo forward nothing to lose.” has been accused of raThe winner of the tie will face cially abusing a Levante either Australia or Germany in midfielder after t h e the quarter-finals. Great Britain won the Davis teams met in La Cup as recently as 2015, but Liga. Aspas, are without former world num- Iago ber one Andy Murray this time who has also played seven times for around due to a hip injury.

King Kyle

School of excellence LORD OF SPORT: Coe initially offer five separate Sports Management courses. The first will be a PhD research course, followed by a postgraduate, undergraduate

Kick it out IAGO

Nation kicks off THE Gibraltarian football team has been draw against Liechtenstein, Macedonia and Armenia in the inaugral UEFA Nations League. The UEFA Nations League is a football competition designed to match similarly ranked teams against one another in a league system. All 55 European footballing nations have been divided into four separate leagues depending on their ranking, which in turn are split into four groups. Gibraltar is in Group Four of the bottom ranked League D and will play its opening group fixture in September. Group winners will gain promotion to the league above, while those that finish bottom of their group will be relegated.

IN TROUBLE: Aspas

Spain, is accused of calling Colombian Jefferson Lerma a ‘black s**t’. Lerma claimed he reported the incident to the match referee, but the referee ignored him. Levante has vowed to stand up for Lerma, confirming that they ‘want to give full backing to the player and reject any expression of racism in football.’ C

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Allegations

GOALS: Gib team to play from September

Aspas denied the allegations in a statement published on Celta’s website. “Whatever is said on the field, stays on the field,” he wrote. “That is why I am not going to repeat what he said to me. “In any case, I did not call him what he says I called him.” The case continues.

and professionally certified short courses. However, what sets aside the School of Sport from its competitors is its integrated four-year combined undergraduate and masters course, according to Pye. Students can sign up to the university and do not have to re-apply to do their masters while continuing to take advantage of the exemplary facilities available in Gibraltar. The Island Games will see a new multi-sport complex opening at Europa Point in Gen03.pdf 1 16/10/2012 08:51:33 the Summer of 2019.

Once the Games has concluded, students will also be granted access to its stateof-the-art football, rugby and cricket facilities. Pye also excitedly told the Gibraltar Olive Press that linkups with the Gibraltar FA and the Gibraltar Sports & Leisure Authority would grant students invaluable work experience. “Gibraltar also benefits from a major climatic difference from our competitors in Europe,” he said with a hint of laughter, “that makes a big difference too!”

What a racket FIFTEEN Gibraltarians have qualified as table tennis coaches after a push to promote the sport on the Rock. The coaches qualified after a partnership between the Gibraltar Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and the International Table Tennis Association. They were taught on table tennis techniques, tournament organisation, rules, physical training and how to run coaching sessions for the disabled. “Table tennis is a fantastic sport, fast and furious, mind stimulating for those who want to play competitively and great for cardio vascular fitness and recreational enjoyment at all ages,” said a spokesman from the GTTA. The GTTA Championships will take place in April, with the best players selected to represent Gibraltar at the Island Games.


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The Rock’s only

Kings of the Campo January 31st - February 13th 2018

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FINAL WORDS

THE Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival has been voted the ‘best in the world’ by the Association of Chess Professionals.

Rapid racers HM Customs said it had engaged in 254 pursuits in 2017 using high-speed inflatable boats as drug smuggling increased across the strait.

Doppelganger TWO long-tailed macaques, the same genus as those on the Rock, have been cloned using the same technique that produced Dolly the sheep in China.

STARSTRUCK: Kids met the Balon Linense players

Vol. 3 Issue 63 www.gibraltarolivepress.com January 31st - February 13th 2018

Spanish state employee has been on sick leave with full pay for 12 years A WORK-SHY Spanish government employee has been away from his desk for 12 out of the last 15 years. The nursing assistant has been paid in full despite having over 4,000 days of sick leave since 2001. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, receives a monthly salary of €1,500 from the Doctor Esquerdo psychiatric hospital, in Alicante. As well as his sick leave, the employee managed to take his full quota of holidays. In total, he took seven separate years of sick leave, three of those stretching to a yearand-a-half. On each occasion his doctors signed him off in the correct

Sick note OFF AGAIN: Esquerdo

manner. “It is legal, even if ethically and morally it may not seem so,” claimed a spokesman for the Alicante region. “We’ve tried everything from

a legal standpoint – we even started disciplinary proceedings against him.” Incredibly the employee was able to prove it was an unfair dismissal and managed to keep his job. He was also able to win a separate case proving that the Social Security department had not properly notified him to come back to work following a period of sick leave. His employers are now attempting to secure permanent disability leave so he can be taken off their books once and for all.

Care for Me – Marbella ...NEW SERVICES As well as care at home and nursing services we now provide the following exclusive services: • Blood tests at home • Benefits: convenient, no driving to the clinic/ hospital after fasting, hassle free, results sent directly to your doctor. • Medical assistance insurance – we escort clients and translate between you and your medical professionals. • Benefits: For a flat monthly fee of 35€ you can avail of the free Spanish Healthcare, no need for private medical insurance

A CHRISTMAS present campaign has been deemed a huge success after over 150 children from deprived backgrounds received gifts. The Three Kings event, held by charity Hogar Betania and promoted by the Olive Press, saw over 1,000 toys given out. A further 100 gifts were given to older children A as well as 240 items of GROUP clothing. of CanaThe Three Kings, played dian enby residents of the chargineers ity’s hostel, were joined who conby three players from the structed Balon Linense football an ‘underteam. ground city’ inside the Rock in Wish list World War Two have “A lot of families were been presented with a overwhelmed, especially ‘Gibraltar Key’. as we had taken to give It signifies the bravery each child presents from of the 300 men as they their wish list,” said Carcut miles of tunnels men Moya Langston of through the limestone Hogar Betania. rock and built a fully “One of the boys was so equipped hospital and excited to see the football barracks. players he forgot to get Gibraltar played a vital a photo with the Three role in World War Two, Kings and had to be sent with the successful alback in by his mother.” lied invasion of French Hogar Betania aim to North Africa launched eradicate child poverty from the Rock. across the Campo region.

Cutting edge

email: nursemanager@careforme.es tel: 952 636 900 tel: 682 870 120

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