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Attacked in action AN Olive Press journalist has been attacked after exposing a ‘violent’ gypsy family allegedly squatting and stealing electricity. Simon Wade was chased down the street and headbutted as a young man tore off his glasses and tried robbing his camera in broad daylight on the Costa Blanca. The dedicated journalist was photographing alleged squats, next to expat homes, when the man flung open the door with chest exposed and a tattoo reading ‘I die for my family’. “My specs can be replaced, and the bruising will fade, but decent people here are living with this 24/7,” Wade said. A denuncia was made to the Civil Guard, who revealed the perpetrator was a ‘wild beast’ with a string of convictions. It comes after British resident, Ena Cummings, 53, contacted us claiming gypsies had thrown ‘dead rats’ into the Virgen del Rosario complex’s pool and repeatedly set terraces on fire. “They're stealing electricity and water,” the Formentera del Segura resident told the Olive Press.
Opinion Page 6
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Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 13 Issue 326 www.theolivepress.es September 11th - September 24, 2019
Turn to page 7 to find out which were the biggest stories this fortnight and how to get the most up to date info
WE WON’T GO QUIETLY Expats take to streets as Boris shuts Parliament and exclusive Olive Press poll reveals unflinching Remain support EXCLUSIVE By Timothy McNulty
BORIS Johnson has managed to silence Parliament, but British expats in Spain have shown they will not be cowed into a harmful nodeal departure from the EU. Brits around the country are mobilising to oppose the shutdown
and stand up for their EU rights. Protests have spread to the Costa del Sol where pro-remain campaigners are planning a Protect Our Rights march in Malaga on September 22. It comes as an exclusive online poll by the Olive Press revealed an astonishing 73% of expats remain
staunchy in favour of remaining within the European Union past the October 31 deadline (Pages 6-7). The Facebook poll shows that had they been able to participate fully in the biggest ‘democratic exercise for generations’, the expat vote would have proved decisive.
Damage
MEET AND GREET WITH PETE WHILE LIAM STEALS THE SHOW AT GIBRALTAR CALLING FESTIVAL
“We are the people most affected and we didn't get a say, that is what is most unfair,” said protest organiser Valerie Lawrence, 68, based in Torrox, in the Axarquia. “Most of us could not vote and postal votes went missing. “Now we are just trying to stop Brexit or at least minimise the damage,” added the retired Yorkshire woman. It comes after an alarming treasury report issued two weeks ago spelt extreme danger for expats in various ways. The leaked Yellowhammer document warned of issues over pensions, healthcare and crossing borders, particularly in Gibraltar. The warnings however have not stopped a five-week shutdown of Parliament begin, amid chaotic and angry protests in the House of Commons by opposition MPs. Scuffles broke out around speaker John Bercow’s chair as Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle made a symbolic bid to pin Bercow in place late on Monday night.
COUP: Protesting MPs surround Speaker Bercow Commons doorkeepers intervened as other opposition MPs including Green MP Caroline Lucas helped up signs emblazoned with the words ‘silenced’ amid cries of ‘shame’. The PM has claimed the government will use the suspension to press ahead with negotiations with the EU to reach a deal, while still ‘preparing to leave without one’. "No matter how many devices this Parliament invents to tie my hands, I will strive to get an agreement in the national interest," he said. "This government will not delay Brexit any further." It comes after Johnson was warned he could face legal action if he chooses to ignore new legislation passed by Parliament blocking a no-deal Brexit. The law received Royal assent on Monday and forces Johnson to seek a delay until January 31 2020 unless MPs approval a deal by October 19.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Family affair A BRITISH teenager has viciously stabbed his expat parents in Spain’s Tenerife before throwing himself into a ravine.
Caught out FOOTAGE has emerged of a gang of drug smugglers unloading hashish from a boat onto an SUV on a beach in Estepona, with one member even threatening to kill the cameraman.
Smoked AN ugly battle between gay cruisers and residents of Arraijanal, Malaga has lead to a rise in homophobic attacks.
Dumped A BRITISH mum has been arrested after ‘abandoning her baby boy’ in the street, the 24-year-old tourist was held after her threemonth-old son was found in his pram
Wedding plan fraudster arrested after Olive Press expose finds her living it up in Spain A DISGRACED wedding planner wanted in the UK has been arrested after the Olive Press pictured her ‘sunning herself’ in a Spanish swimming pool. Dana Twidale was photographed at the Aquarium 2 apartments pool, in Benidorm, despite being wanted by British police. The mum-of-two, 42, is facing nine counts of fraud after allegedly charging happy couples ‘tens of thousands of euros’ for weddings that never materialised. “The pictures are 100 percent Dana,” her husband, Carl Twidale, told the Olive Press, this week. “They were sent to me from a girl holidaying around the same pool with her family,” he added from his home in Yorkshire.
Daddy drunk care A DRUNK dad who was three times over the alcohol limit while driving with his wife and kids has been arrested. Police stopped the Ecuadorian, 41, after they spotted a car skidding out of a Marbella petrol station. He had been driving heavily drunk and with his threeyear-old son travelling in between the two front seats without a seatbelt.
September 11th - September 24th 2019
Spotted
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
“Police contacted me at the weekend confirming she had been arrested. “However, I don’t know where she is exactly or if she has yet been charged.” We had contacted Carl after a tip off from a reader that Dana was holidaying in Benidorm. While he was unable to confirm it at the time, he got back in touch with the paper, after the holidaymaker spotted Dana living it up and sent him photos. The barber, from Kingston upon Hull - who was able to identify her from her tattoos was defrauded of over £4,000 (€4,100) during the three-year marriage, before splitting in 2017.
He only became aware of a ‘web of lies’ from the alleged con-artist earlier this year. “She has conned dozens of people, stealing tens of thousands,” Twidale said. “At this point, my only concern is getting Dana’s daughter back safely. “The 18-year-old is going through sexual transition and is vulnerable. “She has been missing for around six weeks and is believed to be with Dana.” Humberside Police told Carl, Dana had fled the UK after scores of people came forward claiming they had been conned by her. Among the victims was one couple from Harrogate who were left in turmoil when Dana allegedly went missing 24 hours
King Kong caged A DUTCH gangster, known as ‘King Kong’, has been captured by police in Marbella. Officers arrested him at a San Pedro bar over allegedly ordering multiple murders in the Netherlands. The 36-year-old is believed to be a prominent member of the outlawed Caloh Wagoh motorcycle club, considered a criminal organisation by Dutch police. The fugitive has been living the highlife in Marbella with his pregnant wife and three other children. Caloh Wagoh is believed to have several hundred members and, like other illegal biker gangs, use the Costa del Sol as a place to lie low.
POOLSIDE: Crook Dana Twidale (right) before their big day in July. Nicky Thorpe reported that she had paid ‘well over £2,000’ but was distraught to find an empty marquee two days before her wedding. Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es if you have met Dana or been affected
MANGOED
A PAIR of fruit thieves are feeling the squeeze after police found 676 kilos of stolen mangoes in their car. The robbers were snared after police spotted them changing a flat tyre in Arahal, near Sevilla. The suspects were unable to provide a receipt for the huge haul of mangoes. One of them had previous convictions for 12 similar robberies, some committed in the Velez-Malaga area.
Purge on gender violence A SHOCKING 20% of all domestic violence cases take place in Malaga. The province has opened more than 3,000 gender violence cases so far this year. The figures include 43 minors and represents 19.3% of the Andalucian total of 15,747 cases. Sexual violence has already claimed the lives of three women in the province: in Fuengirola on January 12, in Estepona on March 9 and in Cortes de la Frontera on July 17. “Violence against women affects us all, the victim cannot feel alone and we must not doubt: aggression against women is caused by the fact of being women,” said Junta delegate Maria Gamez.
Scot out
ONE of Scotland’s mostwanted men has been jailed after being caught in Spain as he met his wife at the airport. Joseph Lindsay, 34, has been flown back to the UK to face justice after he was traced to Tenerife by police. He has been jailed for four years, and was arrested in December. Detectives linked Lindsay to a gang jailed for a total of 87 years after an investigation into violence, drugs and firearms offences.
Buck up your ideas INBETWEENERS Star James Buckely has joked about visiting Spain in a rant that saw him brand Europe a ‘f***ing s**thole.’ Buckely has blasted Spain as somewhere ‘you can’t drink the water’ or ‘flush paper down the toilet,’ on his Youtube channel. “I don’t wanna talk about politics,” he said, “but there’s a whole Brexit thing going on at the moment. I’m sure there’s more to it, but when-
ever I go to Spain or Greece or whatever I’m like... let’s just leave this. Look at it. “You can’t drink the water, you can’t flush paper down the toilets,” continued the 32-year-old comedian.
NEWS No one’s getting at our kid Molly
September 11th - September 24th 2019
LIAM Gallagher has ramped up his personal security as he tried to build bridges with his previously estranged daughter. The Oasis star, 46, was snapped by the Olive Press hanging out with his child Molly, who he only met for the first time last year, at the Gibraltar Calling festival (see page 16). Burly security men led the Gal-
lagher entourage to the ‘locked down’ stage, while model Molly was heard shouting, ‘I thought there’d be no pictures’. Molly is the daughter of Kill City singer Lisa Moorish, who Liam had an affair with, while married to Patsy Kensit. Liam admitted, ‘there were tears’ as he and Molly met last year and ‘got really drunk’.
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TIGHT: Security ramps up for Gallagher and daughter
EX CL PI USI C VE
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Crime thriller Trio of British cinema crooks descend on Costa del Sol for Marbella International Film Festival
FALLEN: Spacey out and about amid abuse claims
Spaced out DISGRACED actor and producer Kevin Spacey has been filmed playing guitar and singing along with a local band on the streets of Sevilla at 2 am. Footage emerged showing the 60-year-old jovially playing the mandolin with band Tuna de Derecho de Sevilla, a group who study at the University of Sevilla. Speaking to ABC Sevilla, one of the band members,
Francisco Rodriguez, said: “I knew that he is fond of music and that he has a group, but I did not expect him to take the guitar and play with us." Just a few weeks ago the Hollywood star had a groping charge against him dropped in Massachusetts - but he is still facing charges in London and Los Angeles over sexual assault allegations.
Rich and powerful LOVE Island’s Francesca Allen may have only recently found fame but that has not stopped her enjoying its spoils in Marbella. The boutique owner, 32 has headed for some late summer sun on the Costa del Sol with family friends. These close mates include Edward Crossan and his family, the owners of the multi-million pound waste company Powerday. Holiday snaps show Francesca posing up a storm in a dove grey bikini with gold adornments with a hibiscus flower behind the ear to complete the tropical look.
SCREEN SCENE: British actors set to star in up and coming hits at glitzy film festival in Marbella
THEY do, of course, call it the Costa del Crime. So it is no surprise that a trio of movie hardmen will star at this year’s Marbella Film Festival
(MIFF). Kris Marshall from Death in Paradise, Craig Fairbrass from The Bank Job and Jason Flemyng from Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels are among the celebrity guests set to strut their stuff on the red carpet at MIFF this year. Among the films having their world premieres during next month’s event will be the crime thriller Trick & Treat which was shot in the town last year. The cast includes Ter-
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ry Stone, Emily Wyatt, Jessica Wright, Nick Nevern and Andy Loveday, who directed the film. Other stars set to attend screenings for 14th annual festival include Gavin and Stacy actor Larry Lamb. Hundreds of film fans are expected to descend on Marbella for the festival, which runs from October 2 - 6. The five-day movie extravaganza will see 30 independent films shown at the Teatro Goya in Puerto Banus.
This year's films have been sourced from Spain, the UK, the USA, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Ukraine, Turkey, Argentina, China, Poland, India, Paraguay and Germany. The event should be the ‘biggest yet’ according to director Mac Chakaveh. He said: “There are at least three world premieres this year and Marbella’s Film Festival is now becoming the event everyone talks about.”
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Jacque Talbot and Robert Firth discover how the Rock celebrates its biggest party of the year THERE'S celebration, there's pride, there's noise and red and white in every direction. Shirts, banners, flags and t-shirts all show the colours of Gibraltar on National Day. In 1967, 99% of the population voted to remain a British territory in the sovereign referendum. Time's passed and today they rejoice at the decision to remain. The population is proud of who they are and their history, and today is the perfect opportunity for those living on the Rock to show that. One of the revellers out early to enjoy the celebrations was Maggie Langshaw, 67, who has been attending Gibraltar National Day since she was a child. Gibraltar-born Maggie said: "I have been going all my life. "We like to hear the politicians here coming out and saying what they think is going to happen here." Retired Maggie added that she'd be watching the cel-
NEWS
ROCK ON!
September 11th - September 24th 2019
He said: "Gibraltar is a great place. People are so kind. It's like living in the UK apart from the weather. "I feel quite safe here. In the UK I wouldn't be walking around, but here you feel safe." His friend, Geoff, 81, agreed.
PARTY: Joanna (right) joins Rock revellers
ebrations from Casemates Square all day. "My cousin's playing in the band tonight," she said. Joanne Andrea, 49, of Moorish Castle Estate, said of the festivities: "It's the biggest day of our community. We celebrate together as a big family. "Whether you're Jewish,
Muslim or Christian, it doesn't matter. We all just very proud to be born here, to be Gibraltarian." Brian Gilbert, 82, had been watching the festivities from a bench just off Casemates. He moved to Gibraltar from Coventry two years ago after his partner died.
Laughing He said: "Gibraltar is the safest place in Europe. There's no crime at all." "A woman can walk down the street at three in the morning and she'll be absolutely fine." Indeed the younger generation have been throwing caution to the wind during National Day. Most of them, in groups of four or five, were smiling and laughing as they threw their hands up in front of the loudspeakers, which kept the party going until the early hours. Music booms at Casemates Square as performers entertain the crowd. Drinks flowed last night, with shops selling out of paracetamol as the Rock's inhabitants turn into Wednesday's work day with sore heads. But it was definitely worth it.
SOLID: Gibraltarians celebrate their annual day of independence
NEWS
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History unearthed
SOME 23 bullets found in Antequera have been traced back to the Spanish Civil War. It comes after researchers from the Universities of Sevilla and Granada and the Aranzadi Science Society discovered the ammunition in the atrium of the Dolmen of Menga, an ancient stone-made burial ground. Ballistic and forensic specialists believe that the bullets are 9mm caliber and there is evidence of ‘impact’ with an object or person. The experts have also concluded that the bullets were fired using a professional weapon. It is thought that executions carried out by Republicans between July 19 and August 8 took place at the burial site.
Bunny spoiler British vegan causes death of dozens of rabbits after breaking into Spanish farm to ‘rescue them’ A BRITISH expat vegan has been blamed for the death of up to 100 rabbits after a so-called ‘rescue mission’ backfired in Catalunya. ‘Mythical Mia’ - as she is known to her thousands of followers - broke into a farm in Osona and drove off with 16 of the animals before posting a video of herself on social media with a bloodstained face and legs.
In the clip, she told her 40,000 Instagram fans that farmers had pursued her and shot at her through the car window. But according to local sources, 90 rabbits had to be put down because they were left without a mother. Meanwhile, five were killed during the raid while others suffered broken spines. Mia said: “Despite ev-
BUG BACK
A GROUP of determined expats have helped clean up Spain’s famous Mar Menor coastline. Rubbish collection has long been a ‘dangerous eyesore’ as local authorities lack the resources to address the problem, according to a spokesperson for the Grupo de Orgullo de Los Alcazares (Pride Group of Los Alcazares). “The council already have enough on their hands with cleaning the roads and beaches, so we’re happy to help tidy barren areas of wasteland,” Mo Johnson told the Olive Press during a clean-up. “Once the Ayuntamiento heard of our efforts, they now give us gloves, litter pickers and dozens of bin bags”.
INFERNO: Suspected arsonist free Volunteer John Ogden said: “There’s no campaign and there’s no agenda, we’re just a group of like-minded Brits that want to keep our town clean.” On Sunday, the group filled over 40 bags of rubbish, as well as collecting two discarded chairs and a mattress.
Kicked into touch BUCK SHOT: Vegan raid
erything, I am just happy that those 16 lives are free from harm. They make everything worth it. “The farmer was extremely aggressive and attacked us, strangling activists and smashing their heads with metal poles. “The police came and told us to leave peacefully, which we did. After we left the farmers chased us down the motorway at 200km for an hour.” It comes after Catalunya police said it was unlikely a shotgun was fired, with the impact of the glass suggesting that the window is likely to have been hit by a 'forceful object’ instead.
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A PLAN to improve the working and living conditions of Mijas’ donkeys has been muzzled by politicians. It comes after some animals are alleged to have died in poor conditions, while many residents have blasted the ‘inaction’ of the town’s politicians. The latest proposals put forward by the local PP party had included limiting the weight ‘donkey taxis’ carry on their backs to 80kg. Anyone heavier than that would have to ride in a cart, according to the motion presented by PP councillor Mario Bravo. Also highlighted was the need for better sanitation, as well as an area where donkeys can run free. A webcam would have been installed for the public to keep an eye on the animals. But the proposal was sunk when both the PSOE and Ciudadanos parties rejected the motion, with Ciudadanos councillor Jose Carlos Martin claiming there were
‘no major problems’. He insisted the cameras would have been ‘excessive’ and used to ‘spy’ on owners. The parties have instead agreed to set up a committee to look into the matter. It comes after Bravo insisted: “I don’t care if you have other plans, but at least present something. “We have had four years of inaction. If you don’t support this, tell us what you will propose.” Swedish expat Mike Frizell, who campaigned for seven years to bring in new laws, has described the rejection as ‘shameful’. He said: “People in the village could have stood up saying, ‘enough with this, we don't accept this any more’. “But no, they are pretending like nothing is wrong. “Shame on you all, you are the ones that should have ended this overnight. “But you all are scared of the gypsy families, who own the donkeys and horses.”
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BREXIT CRISIS
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.
AS the world’s oldest democracy came to a shuddering halt thanks to Boris Johnson’s peroguing putsch the Olive Press carried out its own democratic exercise. The results of our exclusive online poll of more than 2000 readers revealed that 73% of expats would vote to remain if given the chance again. This is pretending as if most of us got much of say last time round. The burning truth is most of us could not vote despite the fact we stood to be most affected. The ‘Will of the People’ to not extend to the pueblos of Axarquía or Calpe despite friends, family and business links we as Brits resident Spain have with the UK. The expat vote in Spain alone could have tipped the result of the referendum, but why stop there. Give the right to vote to some 5.5 million Brits living abroad and put this Brexit bollocks to bed for a generation.
In the line of duty NEWS that one of our own has been attacked while covering a story has shocked us, fortunately it is not something that happens often. Not that that fact will consul poor Simon, only weeks into his new job as Costa Blanca South reporter. Simonwas attacked while looking into a case of out of control squatting after an expat called in with tales of an urbanization overrun. Headbutted and glasses snatched, he was nevertheless determined not to be intimidated and continue his report on behalf of the expat community. He himself brushed off the affair as simply more evidence of the harassment the expat residents of Formentera del Segura have had to suffer 24 hours a day. We will not be put off, the sooner the squatters are turfed out the better. PUBLISHER / EDITOR Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es
Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es
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BREXIT
after all the arguing, where do you stand now?
OPINION We would make the difference
September 11th - September 24th 2019
With the Brexit D-Day looming and battle lines drawn, the Olive Press takes the temperature of expats around Spain, three quarters of whom would vote to remain if given the choice again. Research by Jacque Talbot and Laurence Dollimore
A
N Olive Press online poll has revealed that almost three-quarters of expats in Spain would rather remain in the EU than leave. However, in an exclusive poll of over 2,100 readers, we discovered that an eye-catching 27% still want Britain to leave the union, despite having a potentially detrimental effect on their healthcare, pensions and freedom of movement. As the UK edges ever nearer to our supposed departure on October 31, anxiety levels are rising among many of the hundreds of thousands of British expats around Spain. So concerned are the estimated three million Brits, who live around Europe, that the British Foreign Office has just launched a €3.2m campaign to help calm fears - and coordinate advice. Despite the Spanish government and Junta insisting the rights of British expats will be respected, nothing has been set in stone. The continuing uncertain status of expats in Europe is already limiting our ability to plan or make life-changing decisions, while some expats have already been turned down for everything from mortgages to job interviews, claims Germany-based expat group, The British in Europe Coalition.
Families
“Confusion over immigration status, the British settled status scheme, and the right to return to the UK or the continent with our families is causing turmoil to Brits in Europe and EU citizens in the UK,” explained spokesman Rose Newell. “Many families now face the risk of being forced to choose between loved ones back home and partners or children. “A no-deal scenario is a disaster for British citizens in the EU, who will face 27 different no-deal solutions across the EU. “ The loss of freedom of movement, a right many of us freely exercise, is something many British citizens will mourn. “Many people’s livelihoods, especially those of frontier workers in Gibraltar are already at risk – and this will worsen in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”
DRAGGING IT OUT: Boris Johnson is hellbent on forcing Brexit on Ocober 31
Expats voting would have changed result If the huge number of British expats abroad (estimated at 5.5 million) were allowed to vote in the 2016 poll - and given that at least 73% appear in favour of remaining in the EU, as the exclusive Olive Press poll conducted on Facebook over a week suggests - this would have firmly tipped the referendum the other way. She also estimates that over 80% of all Brits living outside the UK have lost their right to vote, which - if true - makes a mockery that it was a democratic vote, as local British businessman. A leaked report from the UK Treasury two weeks ago, called Yellowhammer, backed this up warning of potential four hour queues getting in and out of the Rock. It also warned that British citizens travelling to the EU could be limited to 90-day stays and subject to tighter passport controls. It added that in the worst case scenario British expats will lose associated rights and access to services, which may include
BOOST FOR CRIMINALS A NO-DEAL Brexit could turn see Britain become a 'safe haven' for dangerous foreign criminals, according to classified police documents.
BREXIT IN BRIEF It could also make it harder to pursue dangerous British gangs, rapists and paedophiles, who flee to Europe to evade justice. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) raised concerns that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, police officers could lose tools which help them track and trace suspects. Alongside the International Crime Co-ordination Centre (ICCC) it believes the UK ‘could be seen as a
safe haven for foreign criminals.’ It believes that a hard Brexit could impede on the police being able to access EU databases, meaning the hunt for “missing persons” or “wanted offenders” could become “slower, less effective, and more bureaucratic.” The news comes just one month after the government's Operation Yellowhammer, which revealed that law enforcement data and ease of information sharing between the UK and EU will be disrupted.
healthcare. What grates many expats is the fact that so many were unable to vote in the last referendum due to a soon to be scrapped 15-year rule. To gain deeper insight into the issues facing us all as we approach deadline day, we spoke to ten expats across the spectrum of ages and backgrounds for their views.
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Karen Livermore, 55, ex-Editor Woman and Woman’s Own
My partner and I only moved here nine weeks ago, and it was a joy to escape the ridiculousness of the UK government and the whole Brexit shambles. I think at the time of the referendum much was made of the horrors of belonging to the EU, migration and of course the tactics of Nigel Farage, that the whole issue became clouded and the British public did not know what they were voting for. Since then, global economies have changed and people in the UK are now becoming fully aware of what leave will mean for them. If there were a second referendum the outcome would be very different, I’m sure of that. And anyone thinking Trump will be there to hand the UK massive trade deals… really?”
BREXIT CRISIS
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ON TOP: Olive Press website traffic for last four weeks
FIGURE IT OUT : CHECK, CHECK AND CHECK AGAIN REBEL ALLIANCE: Opposition leaders plot grand no-deal Brexit escape plan
David Giles, 61, concert promoter, Marbella:
“ Peter Langdale, 64, farmer, Axarquia:
“
It’s a complete farce. They talk about it being a democratic decision, but it clearly wasn’t as only a quarter of the country voted. Us expats, who are as British as anyone back home, were not allowed to vote if we’ve lived in Spain for 15 years. We were denied a vote - that in itself is anti-democratic. The people who live here and voted leave, they think it’s a golf club. They have no idea what Brexit will do to our economy. It will impact our import business as bringing in food to the UK will go through custom entry, meaning further delays for our clients and the British public. They say they voted leave because of immigration. Well, I’m sorry, but I’m an immigrant, and like most other immigrants, when I moved country, I just wanted to work. If they all leave the UK, what will happen to the NHS?”
Dean Holie, 60, owner of boat charter business Norton Charter, in Duquesa:
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I voted leave, and I feel even more strongly about that now than before. Of course it is going to be tough for the UK, but I believe the country will come back stronger than ever before. I believe us expats will be fine after a couple of years of small issues.”
I would have liked to remain. If something is not broken, why bother to try and fix it? To remain in the EU makes sense in every way - both economically and strategically for the UK. I think the reason people in the UK want to leave is because of this old ideology. This post-World War 2 idea about the country being a global superpower, which just isn’t the case anymore.”
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
But beware, there are many tricksters out there: Media owners far too willing to cut corners by buying links to their websites, followers to their Twitter feeds and likes to their Facebook pages. The moral however, is cheats never prosper. As any IT or SEO specialists worth their salt will tell you; Google and other search engines soon find out and they will be punished. The way to be sure is to ask for an actual Google Analytics report. The Olive Press is always happy to send out one for whatever period a potential client might want. We can give you an audience breakdown by age, sex and nationality at the touch of a button. Always, always ask for actuals and be VERY wary of any sites or social media pages that show sudden, suspicious surges in popularity or likes. As the Olive Press has discovered through exclusive investigations in Spain, numerous suspect businesses have set up offering Facebook likes, Twitter followers, or say Trip Advisor reviews … for a fee! One company CGI, based in Benalmadena, offered to do 50 reviews ‘of any business’ for €400 – with payments made by cash or PayPal. See story here: https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2018/08/31/exclusive-costa-del-sol-business-selling-fake-reviews-on-tripadvisor/
Alan David Ashley, 75, retired factory manager, Malaga:
“
I was torn. I wasn’t sure whether it would be good or bad to leave the EU. The thing is, I didn’t have all the facts, so I couldn’t make a fair decision. However, I don’t believe that the UK will leave because there are too many ifs and buts. It’s not like the old days - we don’t have a strong enough prime minister to see us right.”
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FACEBOOK FIDDLES
A simple check is to have a look at individual posts on Facebook and count the number of ‘likes’. The Olive Press is averaging about 40 to 50 likes per story, while many of our rivals are getting single figures, unless, of course, they boost (advertise) the post.
Ed Allison-Wright, 31, director at World Trade Center, Gibraltar:
“
Sandra Eveleigh, 71, Manilva, retired: Having been here for 20 years I wasn’t allowed to vote - but I wished the referendum turned out to be remain. I believe there are a lot of expats out there with illnesses like my husband’s who are very stressed about what impact Brexit will have on the treatment they receive and the worry of it all can only be bad for their health.”
THE Olive Press website has had a veritable summer of love. Www.theolivepress.es is now definitively Spain’s Number One news website. In August we had an amazing 1.4 MILLION visitors and an incredible 1.7 MILLION page views, and we continue to climb the Google analytics and Alexa.com charts. We’re growing all the time - due to an increased investment in real journalism - and are now at 72.000 position in the world, according to Alexa.com. This is enhanced by our 21,000 Facebook followers, 7,200 Twitter followers and our rapidly increasing in-roads on Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. We are getting around 50,000 unique visitors a day and the numbers are soaring.
Gibraltar has the potential, resilience and determination to actually come out of Brexit very well. It brings lots to businesses and the talent within the area remains globally competitive. Despite the uncertainty associated with Brexit, the lifestyle choices between Gibraltar and northern European destinations remain clear and compelling.”
THE MEDIA GROUP WITH REAL NUMBERS
Online stats are easily to manipulate, but if you do your checks you should find the best place to promote your business. All in all, we are the media group WITH THE NUMBERS! Don’t forget it. Send us an email today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 so we can find you a better, more effective way to market your business.
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress. es in the past two weeks are:
1
- CONFIRMED: Government will uprate UK State Pension
for those living in the EU until March 2023 in event of nodeal Brexit (45,872)
2 3
- ‘Europe’s best theme park’ just opened in Spain and it looks AMAZING (37,310)
4
(36,042)
- WATCH: Secret filming reveals Goldcar staff ‘BULLY’
5 Continues on Page 8
- WORTH IT? First findings emerge after Benidorm Mirador destroyed in search of ruins that ‘might not exist’
tourists and charge ‘€300 for scratch’ on Spain’s Costa del Sol and Costa del Sol (30,715)
- BAD CALL: Wanted Italian mafia boss rumbled on Spain’s Costa del Sol after making rookie mistake while driving (27,711)
Visitors: 702,122
Page views: 915,298
8
BREXIT CRISIS
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BREXIT IN BRIEF President prepares for nodeal Brexit
Property prices to fall if the UK leaves the EU
PRESIDENT of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, has been making plans to alleviate the effect of a hard Brexit. Moreno has stated that the area is liable to be affected because of the high number of British people living in Andalucia and the large quantities of tourists who visit each year.
PROPERTY prices may fall if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal. According to global accountancy firm KPMG, Northern Ireland will see the biggest drop in the next 12 months, of around 7.5%, while London may suffer a 7% decrease.
From Page 7
Christine Wibbett, 68, Estepona, retired:
“
I didn’t vote but I am happy to leave the EU. We’ve gone too far down the line for anything to be reversed now. But, at the moment, it’s just a bloody mess. Theresa May tried her best but, like the rest of them, politicians are more concerned with their own status than anything else.”
Oscar Gonzalez, ex diplomat, based in Marbella
“
“The arguments put forward by the three Brexiteers on your article last issue boil down to the usual vague, populist, stubborn and provincial reasons lo leave the EU: Proud to be British, regaining sovereignty, etc. On the other hand one could write a 500-page book with solid reasons to remain such as certification of medicaments, fast movement across EU countries of human organs for transplantation and of short life isotopes for nuclear medicine! The ailments of the UK (like de-industrialization, the selling of important and strategic assets i.e. the remains of the once proud automotive industry to foreign interests, immigration, etc) have little to do with the EU. Churchill once said that democracy was the second best way to run a country, the first best not yet found. The same with the EU.
Read more on what Brexit means for you at www.theolivepress. es Have your say: email us at newsdesk@theolivepress.es Agree or disagree with our poll? Join the debate... follow us on Facebook, Twitter or our website
SINGLE IMPLANT
IMPLANT BRIDGE
September 11th - September 24th 2019 Guy McCrow, 35, owner of the Beach House Marbella:
“
Brexit is a perception thing and as a business owner, I’ve tried to stay out of it as much as possible. It’s really a load of hot air. Some of our customers ask us about it, whether we are worried what it will do to our business - but, no I don’t - it’s all perception. Our English customers seem to have put the whole thing out of their heads, too, partying harder this summer than ever before.”
Company warning AROUND 90,000 Spanish companies have received letters from the government warning of the potential effects of a nodeal Brexit. The country’s tax agency, Hacienda, has recommended the atrisk businesses take steps to adapt to the possibility that the UK could leave with EU without an agreement on October 31. The letters list the new customs, tax and health-related requirements that businesses will have to meet to engage in cross-border trade. The industries which will face the biggest challenges will be those which export agri-food and animal products to the UK, thanks to the new health and quality requirements which could be imposed.
PENSIONS IN PERIL
BRITISH expats living in the EU may only have their state pension uprated for the next three years if a no-deal Brexit takes place. After March 2023 it is unknown if expats will see upra-
ting continue on a long-term basis, confirmed the UK government. Currently, State Pension is uprated each year by either the standard 2.5%, the Consumer Price Index or average wage.
IMPLANT DENTURE
10
www.theolivepress.es
GREEN
From grey to green A GLOBAL insurance firm in Spain has launched a scheme to replace single-use plastics in all Spanish offices. MAPFRE has launched the MAPFRE Sin Plastico campaign to help it contribute to the circular economy in Spain and Portugal. In total more than 80% of the company’s employees in these countries have participated. This means some 9,000 workers have turned to using reusable glass bottles and filtered water dispensers. This small change has prevented the use of 1.5 million single-use plastic bottles, the company claims. In 2018 MAPFRE recycled almost 1,000 tons of paper and processed over 4,000 tons of waste in total.
September 11th - September 24th 2019
Spain dumping to conclusions MOST recyclable construction waste in Spain is being dumped illegally, according to environmentalists. Just a quarter of trash from building sites is making it into the hands of authorised waste management companies. Spain’s Ministry of Ecological Transition has confirmed that
Spain is facing disciplinary proceedings from the EU for failing to meet the Waste Framework Directive.
Responsibility
Public documents released by the Spanish government have revealed trash from building
and demolition sites has accounted for 40% of all waste. This is some 10% to 15% above the EU average. It comes at a time when people in Spain are taking a greater responsibility to recycle their own household garbage.
TILTING FOR WINDMILLS
Tallest turbines in Malaga planned for new wind farm in Andalucia
A NEW 21-turbine wind farm has been planned for Malaga. The Hinojosa plant will be the province’s second largest in terms of capacity for electricity generation. Earmarked for the Guadalteba region, it will join
‘Environmental catastrophe’
the 23 turbines already built in the north of the province.
The turbines will also be Malaga’s largest, each standing at 123 metres high with a rotor diameter of 150 metres. Green Capital Power is the company behind the project and has so far committed €78.9 million in funding. Each turbine has 4.2 Megawatts (MW) of power, with 88.2 MW for the total plant. Eight turbines will be located in Cañete la Real, one in Ronda and one in Cuevas del Becerro. The rest will be installed in the three municipalities of Cadiz, while a substation is planned for Alcala del Valle. An environmental study is now being carried out after plans were submitted to the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Ministry of Ecological Transition. Some of the main negative impacts of the project will be reduced air quality, the removal of olive groves, changes in animal habitats
SITE: Guadalteba region
and visual impact. Malaga has 23 wind plants, which collectively produce 569.72 MW of power, making it the second biggest wind energy generator after Cadiz. The new wind farm is not likely to be built before 2021.
Life on Mars WANNABE astronauts in Spain have been given the opportunity to experience life on Mars. The programme offers thrill-seekers an idea of what life would be like on the red planet by simulating conditions in a cave in Cantabria, northern Spain. Candidates will be expected to survive on plants grown in a laboratory in conditions replicated directly from Mars. The crew will complete their ‘test mission’ in specially designed suits and be housed in a sustainable ‘living dome.’ Each mission has a maximum capacity of 10 people and costs €6,000 per person.
A BROWN algae has started to spread across the Costa del Sol, invading its beaches and waters. Fisherman working on the Strait of Gibraltar have said they are struggling to make any catches, estimating that 100% has been lost. Trawlers, meanwhile, believe half of their fish has been lost. The algae has reached phenomenal proportions, some blankets reaching around 50 centimeters in height. Estepona has had 2,800 tons of its seaweed collected over the course of six weeks. Nicolas Fernandez, Secretary of the Cadiz Federation of Fishermen’s Association, said: “It’s an environmental catastrophe.” The algae was first noticed in Ceuta in 2015, and has since spread. In Tarifa, the issue became so large the town’s mayor, biologist Francisco Ruiz Giraldez, claimed that it was now ‘aggressively taking up the entire sea floor of the Strait’. Giraldez and Fernandez have called on the Andalucia government for financial support, hoping they will be able to cushion the cost of fishing losses and cleaning of beaches.
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August 28th September 10th 2019
Vol. 4 Issue 104 www.theolivepress.es August 28th - September 10th 2019
As Brexit tensions boiling point, John reach Culatto explores why Gibraltar National this could be the Rock’sDay significant one yet most
MINISTRY of Defence workers could soon receive similar wages to civil servants on the Rock. It comes after Chief Minister Fabian Picardo backed the union pay claim, saying he would bring it up with ministers in London. Picardo pledged his ‘full support’ for all MoD employees against what he called UK ‘austerity’. "It is remarkable that it is now those working as locally employed civilians in the Ministry of Defence, who are being negatively impacted by UK austerity as they have been,” said Picardo. “Historically, Gibraltar has really turned a corner when we see our people having to seek parity of wages with Gibraltar Government salaries, and not the other way around as was the case almost 40 years ago.”
G
ET ready for the biggest the year when Gibraltar party of Spanish aggression. declares With it is red, white and Brexit tensions free. There is no latest National Day running high, this is bound to be bigger Rock in all its vibrantbetter time to see the than ever. than National Day character and colour Gibraltar has always stood Every year since at Casemates Square. September 10, 1992 throughout its 300-year history.by Britain the people of Gibraltar have assembled National Day is a celebration of what to show their desire Theto be British and defy Continues
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NO BED OF ROSES
LEAKED: Report warning of
Opposition urges Gibraltar to ‘get radical’ as leaked
four-hour border queues sees
“The impact of this gap in Gibraltar has been even worse considering our outstanding economic growth during the same period,” said the Government. Picardo said: “We will fully support our colleagues in all By John Culatto sectors of MoD employment in Gibraltar in their claims for better remuneration and FOUR hours of queuing to get terms and conditions.” The main Gibraltar union, in and out of Gibraltar could Unite, is leading the charge be the norm in a no-deal Brexalong with the Gibraltar it scenario. General Clerical Associa- That’s one of the many stark revealed the document was warnings predicted in the tion. published on August 1. “I will raise this issue myself leaked Yellowhammer docu- But Picardo has been quick to with ministers in London," ment, prepared by the UK dismiss the claims as ‘plansaid Picardo, who regularly government in the case of a ning for worst case scenarios.’ meets with top UK Govern- no-deal. “I maintain it will not be a ment representatives in the Although Chief Minister Fa- of roses,” the Gibraltar bed Govbian Picardo declared the leak UK capital. was ‘out of date’, it was later ernment said in a statement. “The many problems leaving
report warns of four-hour border queues
X
+THE SKY DOCTOR+ ALL AREAS
Keith Azopardi (far right) tell
the EU will create cannot be underestimated or indeed resolved by a new arrangement that anyone is able to negotiate. “We have repeatedly stated that we are working with the United Kingdom and Spain to address a no-deal situation,
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especially given how those issues would affect frontier flow.” The Government hopes the ‘Memorandums of Understanding’ signed last year could become ‘a non-legally binding basis’ for a no-deal scenario.
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It followed Opposition criticism that not enough was being done to plan for what many fear could bring Gibraltar to a standstill. “It is obvious we should be planning hard for a no-deal Brexit,” said GSD Leader Keith Azopardi. “The election of Boris Johnson has brought that prospect much closer. “The Government needs to invest more time and resources on no-deal planning and do so in a much more radical way. “Time will tell whether those preparations have been effective.” The Yellowhammer report highlights the risk of disruption to the supply of goods, including food, medicine and the shipment of waste. Picardo added: “As a responsible Government, we plan for the worst case scenarios, even though we are confident they will not occur.” With Gibraltar being on the EU’s most southern frontier, delays are likely to be substantial. The UK is expected to leave the EU on October 31.
one English news consolidates its reign as the number s.es IT’S OFFICIAL: exclusive content visit www.theolivepres site in Spain…. see page 7. For more
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August 30th - September 12th 2019 Vol. 3 Issue 62 www.theolivepress.es
KICK IN THE STOMACH
Howler!
preparing Health authorities are reportedlyhandling of heavy sanctions for failures in the food and ‘structural deficiencies’. at 6ft 2, A top scorer in his club and standing be signed by Baunbag was last year tipped to English Premier League club Liverpool. Reds said the In November, agents from the well’ in Eng19-year-old’s qualities ‘could fit were trackland and made it known that they ing him. off the pitch The rising star will now be firmly while he recovers from sickness. was first outbreak Salmonella the of alarm The
A RISING football star is one of at least 51 customers believed to have been poisoned at a Japanese restaurant in Mallorca. de Real Mallorca B footballer Victor Baunbag is among the dozens to have fallen ill this week after eating at Dragon Sushi on Calle Blanqerna in Palma. in MaThe Cameroonian forward, born already drid, is one of many who have bacteria tested positive for Salmonella - the found in uncooked meats and seafood.
CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome’ have grown after 16 children were given contaminated medication on the Costa del Sol. exInfants developed hypertrichosis cessive body hair growth - after taking omeprazole which had been contaminated by minoxidil – the active ingredient for alopecia medication. Some 13 babies had initially been diagnosed with the condition before three more cases linked to the tainted drugs were discovered earlier this month. Officials believe the contamination could have affected up to 30 Andalu50 cian pharmacies and more than batches of the drug.
Hair
Malaga-based pharmaceutical company Farma-Quimica Sur SL has been found to be the source of the batch. lot The affected batch is from re11072/10/42 and most have been are called while any missing packets being tracked down. Parents have been advised to seek medical help if their child has been given the formula and check with their an pharmacy if they have purchased as affected lot. Hypertrichosis, known ‘werewolf syndrome’, is a rare condition characterised by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body. Those with the condition have historiand cally been subject to great interest in in somes cases forced to perform travelling circuses and freak shows. inSpanish authorities have said this cident is isolated to children’s formula and that adults taking omeprazole capsules should not worry about developing symptoms. When the children their prescription the stopped taking hair growth subsided. Opinion Page 6
when raised 19-year-old Carlos Mora the entered emergency the restaurant. room the morning after eating at later that However it wasn’t until two days safety inspecDragon Sushi was closed by food tors, who ordered tests to be performed. stands at While the current number of victims could climb 51, authorities believe that figureremain closed much higher. The restaurant will until the case is complete.
VICTORY! Rental websites which scammed British holidaymakers out of thousands FINALLY shut down following Olive Press exposes
2
May 9th - May 22nd
CRIME
2019
Vox 4 blocked www.theolivepress.es
Dream Killas
www.theolivepress.es
Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt any Contact them with on stories or newsemail 951 273 575 or newsdesk@theolivepress.es
NEWS
April 25th - May 8th 2019 for BeniVOX’S top candidate been replaced dorm mayor has he received a after revelations sentence A BRITISH for expat is being handed a prestigious British gong by the Queen for her two-year prison in February services to tourists in Alicante. domestic violence Candida Wright will receive an MBE for two years ago from the British Ambassa2018. banher charitable work as an interpreter in dor to Spain. Brigido was Perez Davidparty THE socialist (PSOE) largest hospital in the Marina Alta, on Though she is a professional interpreter, election,thedespite the ned Candida often represents victims of sexual will hold on to from the Valencian May 16. MYSTERY surrounds the sentences sometimes government in the upcoming 58-year-old, known as ‘Candy’, has violence in Spanish courts for free, as well The if two-year the apparent suicide of an elin Spain offering financial support through her regional elections, according volunteered being waived derly British resident on con- with HELP of Denia & Mari- as charity. to a marketaccused research company. na Alta since it launched in 1984. has no previous the Costa Blanca. Sigma Dos revealed PSOE will During that time she has helped expats “One of the hardest things is when someofew The 84-year-old expat victions. to lung cancer a to have through cancer, bereavement, bureaucra- ne comes to the desk saying ‘my husband take between 29-30 seats, whiwas found threw herself from a bridge Brigido is helping mother Perez died and I don’t know what to do’,” expcy and court battles. Party (PP) will le the Popular ex-wife, his years ago. THE Olive Press in Javea after being seen legal action “My nephews and nieces were ‘repeatedly fallabused’ from As the president of the charity, she runs lained Candy, who lives in Ondara with see its representation her threw victims take ‘pacing frantically’ by the to it as 31 seats to 22-23. helphair desk at the Marina Salud hospital her Spanish husband. Her two children, rental comafter he ‘shoved and theher looking forward against a holiday railings. 35 and 25, live in Madrid and Valencia But with the totalground, seats inpulled in Denia. abroad,” holiday- really to the face’. A neighbour, who asked pany that scammedfor rental they have never been Valencia’s Generalitat at 99, “The most exciting thing was the pink in- respectively. While she helps with hospiher in the punched Olive Press. andneed dis- I was posted with the words tal procedures, burials and repatriation, not to be named, told the the card PSOE will again to form vitation Deleslie told the makers thousands Blanca. alsoa found saving up The judge Olive Press he saw the wohad coalition to reach the absolute politician BP (Buckingham Palace),” Candida told she’s often called upon to just be a ‘helping villas on the Costa paper was “I spent two years conned Brits abroad we just can’t graced man ‘peering over the edge’ hand’ to someone in need. majority of 50 seats. far-right Press. theand Olive‘deVillas Spain site It comes as the victims of for this trip, and new villa. after squeezing between a The poll suggests the PSOE‘insulted’ will it meant British Petroleum at “You’re sometimes dealing with people “I thought SCAM: Dream frequently 2014 to 2017. who was contacted by new following afford to pay for Ro- returns from phone the woman, who are cancer patients, or need amputamake a pact meaned’ with Valencianist first.” she joked. fence and a steel support ‘general manager’ stress kids are devastated.” There is no available Dream Villas Spain, Compromis seats)post-traumatic and The expat, who has lived in Spain for 45 tions, and it just gives you a wonderful feweb- (17-18 pillar at one end of the brion the plight The helped the family make whichAlba Gutierrez has shut left with (the one on the last issue’s report years, received a ‘Points of Light’ award eling to think ‘I really helped them today’.” MEETING QUEEN: Candida left-wing populist Podemos dge. House number been disconnected) who lost We after De- sella (6-7Alba seats). disorder. site has a police denuncia, lose ‘more Spain’s Companies of the Bolton family, rental. It was about an hour befoRosella Dream Villas The regional re police were alerted to a leslie said she willflights were and reveals that registered as and the name €2,000 on a Moraira in elections will fall 42, has now on May 26 the same day as the appears nowhere suicide attempt over the Petra Deleslie, after losing than €12,000’ asand her bank Spain, which is was incor- Gutierrez European elections. dry Gorgos riverbed while the list of employees. contacted us a villa in Mo- already booked claim their Digital Dream SL, Olifor ‘data pro- Another victim told the See children played on a nearby election porated in 2014 hosting’. €6,000 booking for her ex- were unable to hadour football pitch. on page 6 this week she guide and web money back. raira later this year Press cessing Carrer de la Fe, in ve Pressa villa in Marbella as “She was holding a white 18. in showed the Olive tended family of paper bag and kept looking for four after she She it filed tax booked Dream Vi- Based a surprise getaway We agreed to help‘desperate’ emails asking refund, after Palma, Mallorca, in the bag and then leaning 18-year-old have scammed a friends and five told us she was losing her llas Spain for a over the edge,” the neighLevels CON artists out of €300 bour told the Olive Press. daughters as a post-A for a break after British pensioner help him reto “I wanted to ask her what present. in Lon- after pretending she was doing, but I womoney left at a cashpoint Sarah Adam, based is convinced cover rried she spoke only SpaSaturday. don, told us she scammed. in Javea last proceTHE owners of a bike shop are 77, was approanish and assumed she was Town Hall beganthat the she has also been appealing Brian Stokes, families scammed out of not res-for witnesses a British feeding stray cats.” has begun the ‘20-something’ two byof- in The company has JAVEA Town Hallagainst the edings after learning reforfor ched theft of €40,000 of stock the Sa- from requests thousands EXCLUSIVE ponded to email just one minute! Spanish men outside legal proceedings who cut off owner had intentionally access la Nau By Joshua Parfitt Cabo deholiday Quickly bank Bikes in onfake The theft at Xabia’s the stairs, closing Calle comment. badell owner of a property in Coombes heritage fi- med bikes stolen he had left €20 saw ninePla Just after 7pm last Tuesday ancient site from claiming Meanwhile, DarrenMoraira public access to a thenwho booked villa, in Moraira, before transDream al Mar. to the thieves mor- A at 4am last Wednesday The BRITISH family another Spanish eyewitfrom Alicante-based the cashpoint. shing ground in Balconwho has Samuel Adler. Olive ning. Press a week’swithdraw holiday on the Costa ferring the deposit. ness revealed she had seen represent a very they couldn’t Villa Spain told the One The unknown owner, of the in bikes, claimed a Trek LR10, Blancaand villa “These works wereasked shocked to see She has now confirmed that cashing a heritage the woman jump from the the fraudsters areand cash themselves a luxurious four-storey built serious attack on to us all,” wasdrawing worth €13,000. their villahis advertised card, as avai- her family have been scammed eastern of two bridges on corresponds in andtoin re-insert on his credibility “Two thieves lable on a completely different over the holiday due for June. Stokes overlooking Cala Ambolo, pro- broke the Avenida de Augusta. for Jávea with ‘metal that just a minute andwhich a half they stole stole. “We were this close to leaving website. users from his legitimate a ‘stone staircase’access to the said a spokesperson “I was walking to MercadoInstinine bikes,” Martin Stadlhofer, Susan Bolton, 61, soon realised for our holiday that never perty business website. railings’ that cut fishery. Oceanographic Research na when I saw her take off 40, co-owner of Xabia’s Bikes, she had lost the ₤1,300 depo- existed,” Bolton told the Olive SCAM: Brit family caught by fake villa website her shoes, climb the railing, Llavadora del PinetBolufer said tute (IROX). He told the Olive Press they tations’. told the Olive Press. sit when Dream Villas Spain, Press. and no more,” the woman Councillor Isabel
Socialist win
helps victims take The Olive Press skyrocketing action following rental scam reports of holiday
Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca
Mystery suicide
Gong for Candy!
CATCH THESE CONMEN
Swallow the bait
Wheely fast!
SEL-FISH
(Personal contacts on page 6)
“I’m not sure they knew what they were doing as they knocked over a bike worth €12,000 and didn’t take it—which is great for us.”
based in Mallorca, shut off all contact. The mother-of-two from the West Midlands had spent weeks finding the perfect holiday
Animal horror A BRITISH expat called in police after finding a group of dogs chained in an abandoned house without food. Roger Ballantine contacted the Guardia Civil after finding the dogs while out walking near Orba. Ballantine had decided to investigate when he noticed a ‘pungent smell’ coming from the ruin. Inside he found scenes worthy of a horror film with dogs kept on short chains surrounded by trash and their own excrement. “It was despicable,” Ballantine told the Olive Press. “It is clear that farmers have chained these four dogs.”
“I knew we had been conned when I contacted them regarding an airport pick up and got no response. It made me become suspicious.” She added the company is now not responding to any calls or emails. Meanwhile, celebrity chocolate taster Angus Kennedy lost ₤5,000 when his family discovered a German man living at the Mallorcan villa they had booked through Dream Villas Spain. Kennedy, from Kent, revealed that when the family arrived this month, the owner, who gave his name as Klaus, was completely baffled and knew nothing about the rental or website.
had chosen the villa out of 780 different homes for rent on the site. They only realised they had been scammed when an airport pick-up never arrived, and he caught a taxi to the property to find the bewildered German. “What was different in our case is I was determined to get to the house, and then contacted the press” Angus told the Olive Press. “I think many more have been duped and the scam could be worth millions.” The website he used to book the trip, dreamvillasspain. com, claims its goal is to ‘create your dream holiday experience and exceed your expec-
The scam comes almost two years since the Olive Press exclusively exposed a string of fake holiday websites duping tourists coming to Spain. In a series of investigations we found dozens of tourists had been scammed millions of euros from the various sites, which illegally uploaded villa photos from legitimate sites. Among those scammed were British Rugby Union star Dean Schofield, who lost €50,000 on a fake villa in Mallorca. Spain Dream Villas, who operate as Digital Dreams SL, declined to comment. JWe were unable to contact anyone at Dream Villas Spain as we went to press.
told the Olive Press. “It all happened so quickly.” Three police cars and an ambulance raced to the scene to retrieve the body. Police confirmed the cause of death as suicide, while a spokesperson for the Town Hall said the lady was British and had lived in a block of flats next to the river ‘for many years’. Neither police or the town hall would reveal her name, suggesting it was proving problematic to contact her next of kin in the UK. None of the residents in the area by the bridge knew the octogenarian.
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A FRAUDULENT villa rental web952 147 834 site that tricked British holidaynailed after Olive makers out of thousands has finally family LAST: Scammers Dreamvillasspain.com while (right) victim Angus and shut down following an extensive AT Press campaign (inset left), the scam Olive Press campaign this year. bogus achs lurch as they read of in lost fielding calls concerning Dreamvillasspain.com was behind it It soon dawned on Angus he’d a rentals from Tenerife, to Marbella tactics of dreamvillasspain.com countless tales of heartbreak as heart- the Olive Press. his €5,500 and urgently needed seduced holidaymakers into pur- place to stay with his wife and five and Moraira. One of the most The way the scam operated was that breaking was from Petra Deleslie, prospective renters would receive chasing villa rentals that never ex- young children. 42, and the collapse of her €6,000 an email from ‘general manager’ isted. “I think many more have been the Costa The first case was reported by the duped and the scam could be worth month-long villa rental on Rosella Alba Gutierrez offering disOlive Press to the Guardia Civil in millions,” Angus told this paper at Blanca, booked for this October. counts for up-front payments on reThe mum-of-two from Kent was all spective villas. April when professional chocolate the time. family taster Angus Kennedy turned up at With mounting cases, this paper set to travel with 18 extended break’ But once paid, Gutierrez would shut members for a ‘much-needed out the a villa he had paid for in Mallorca. made a collective denuncia at the mother to off all contact, as it turned He was met with bewildered Ger- Guardia Civil in Moraira on behalf following the death of her company’s phone was a fake. had no 15:36 16/06/2017 lung cancer. 1 who owner, Klaus, heard - unmanUntitled-1.pdf of UK-based victims. were re- For months nothing was knowledge of ever putting his house Soon after, the Olive Press was “My nephews and nieces forward til a major UK news network got in ally looking up for rental. the website had been SUFFERER: Of hypertrichosis to it as they have never touch saying been abroad,” Deleslie shut down. Press can also reveal a The Olive told the Olive Press. - named and shamed in “I spent two years sav- second sitearticle - is also no longer ing up for this trip, and a separate C I just can’t afford to live. operated pay for a new villa. The Travelvacationtour.com M with exactly the same layout and kids are devastated.” UK BASED as dreamvillasspain.com, Deleslie added the cu- houses Y Brit Donna Archer mulative loss of flights and scammed for a Tenerife villa CM would cost her family out of €5,500 booked as a post GCSE gift to her €12,000 in total. his best mate in May. MY Then there was Sarah son and yet clear if legal action has Adams, who booked It is not for Spanish CY against the companies, taken been getaway a surprise residents are listed as ‘active’ on CMY to Malaga for four as both Companies House. friends and their joint- Spanish Civil could not comment www.globelink.co.uk K five daughters as a Guardia went to press. we before post-A Levels present. Find out more on page XX Both Deleslie and AdOpinion Page 6 96 626 5000 ams felt their stom+44 (0) 1353 699082
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FLOG IT: Mark Stacey in Javea
Going going gone!
RAID your jewellery boxes and plunder the garage because Flog It! is coming to the Costa Blanca! Mark Stacey, renowned British auctioneer, will be in Javea on September 14 to value your trinkets and even give you a juicy offer. The TV personality has appeared on Bargain Hunt, Flog it!, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and Antiques Road Trip - but this trip the will be raising funds for charity Guardian Angels.
“Six years ago Mark came over we had over 400 people through and door,” Sue Nutbrown, president the Guardian Angels, told the Olive Press.of “If your items are worth something, Mark will make you an offer and then livestream you its auctioning back in the UK.”
Help
The charity afternoon will take place at the Palacio de la Paz, 20 Calle de Salvia, and floggers will be charged la €5 for a valuation. Guardian Angels operates from Gandia down to Torrevieja guiding families, particularly expat Brits, through separation and divorce. “Our work is so important. In the UK families tend to have aunts and uncles around for support, but in a foreign country situations can get complicated,” Sue said. “We try to help in any way we can.” Sue said the event six years ago raised €6,000, which went to everything from ‘counselling’ to ‘medical care’ and ‘repatriation’. Pianists Lola Smolokowski will appear ‘jingling the keys’, while animal shelters and children’s charities would also be on site.
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mother to lung cancer a few years ago. “My nephews and nieces were really looking forward to it as they have never been abroad,” Deleslie told the Olive Press. “I spent two years saving up for this trip, and we just can’t afford to pay for new villa. The kids are devastated.” We helped the family make a police denuncia, after Deleslie said she will lose ‘more than €12,000’ as flights were already booked and her bank were unable to claim their money back. She showed the Olive Press emails asking Dream Villas Spain for a refund, after
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Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es
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JAVEA Town Hall has begun legal proceedings against the owner of a property who cut off public access to a heritage fishing ground in Balcon al Mar. The unknown owner, who has a luxurious four-storey villa overlooking Cala Ambolo, built a ‘stone staircase’ with ‘metal railings’ that cut access to the Llavadora del Pinet fishery. Councillor Isabel Bolufer said
the Town Hall began proceedings after learning that the owner had intentionally reformed the stairs, closing access to the ancient site from Calle Samuel Adler. “These works represent a very serious attack on a heritage that corresponds to us all,” said a spokesperson for Jávea Oceanographic Research Institute (IROX).
NEWS
VOX’S top candidate for Benidorm mayor has been replaced after revelations he received a A BRITISH two-year prison sentence for expat is being handed tigious British gong a presdomestic violence in February services to tourists by the Queen for her in Alicante. 2018. Candida Wright will Davidparty Perez Brigido was ban- work receive an MBE for two years THE socialist her charitable ago (PSOE) will hold on ned the election,thedespite largest hospital inas an interpreter in dor to Spain. from the British Ambassato from the Valencian the Marina Alta, on government May 16. two-year Though she is a professional in the sentences sometimes regional elections, upcoming The if58-year-old, interpreter, Candida waived in Spain the according to a marketbeing volunteered with known as ‘Candy’, has violence often represents victims of sexual research company. HELP of in Spanish has no previous Sigma Dos accused na Altaconsince it launched in Denia & Mari- as offering financialcourts for free, as well revealed PSOE will 1984. victions. support through take between During that time 29-30 seats, whiher she has helped expats charity. le the Popular through Perez Brigido was found to have cancer, bereavement, “One Party (PP) will bureaucra- ne of the hardest things is when someosee its representation cy and court battles. ‘repeatedly his ex-wife, comes to the desk fall abused’ from 31 seats to 22-23. As the president died and I don’t knowsaying ‘my husband after he ‘shoved and the threw her of the charity, she But with the total what to do’,” runs help desk at the Marina seats inpulled to the ground, her hair Salud hospital lained Candy, who lives in Ondara expValencia’s Generalitat in Denia. her Spanish husband. with at 99, and punched her in the face’. PSOE will again Her two children, “The most exciting thing 35 and 25, live in to form Madrid and Valencia SCAM: Dream Villas Spain site conned Brits abroad coalition to reach vitation Theneed judge alsoa found the card dis- I was postedwas the pink in- respectively. the absolute While she helps with with the words majority of 50 BP (Buckingham graced had tal procedures, burials hospiseats. far-right politician Palace),” Candida which ‘general manager’ Ro- returns from 2014 to 2017. The poll suggests theand and told she’s often Olive‘dePress. frequently the PSOE‘insulted’ called upon to just repatriation, will sella Alba Gutierrez has shut There is no availablemake phone “I thought it meant a pact meaned’ be a ‘helping hand’ to someone with Valencianist the woman, who was British Petroleum Compromis first.” Spain’s Companies House number (the one on the web- (17-18 at “You’re sometimesin need. she joked. seats)post-traumatic and left with stress dealing with people left-wing populist The expat, and reveals that Dream Villas site has been disconnected) who are cancer patients, who has Podemos (6-7 seats). disorder. years, received a lived in Spain for 45 tions, and or need amputaSpain, which is registered as and the name Rosella ‘Points of Light’ The Alba award eling to it just gives you a wonderful feregional elections think ‘I really helped will Digital Dream SL, was incor- Gutierrez appears nowhere on Mayin them today’.” MEETING 26 the same day as fall the porated in 2014 for ‘data pro- the list of employees. European elections. QUEEN: Candida cessing and web hosting’. Another victim told the OliSee our election Based in Carrer de la Fe, in ve Press this week she guide had Palma, Mallorca, it filed tax booked a villa in Marbella as on page 6 a surprise getaway for four friends and five 18-year-old daughters as a post-A Levels CON artists have scammed a present. British pensioner out of €300 Sarah Adam, based in Lon- after pretending to help him redon, told us she is convinced cover money left at a cashpoint she has also been scammed. THE owners of ain Javea last Saturday. bike shop are The company has appealing not res-for witnesses Brian Stokes, 77, was approaa British theft of €40,000 families scammed ponded to email requests for ched byof- in two ‘20-something’ of stock just one minute! Spanish out of comment. thousands men outside the Sa- from The theft at Xabia’s Meanwhile, DarrenMoraira Coombes badell Bikes bank Cabo de la Nau in onfake EXCLUSIVE saw nine bikes stolen By Joshua Parfitt from Alicante-based Dream Pla claiming he had leftholiday €20 in at 4am last Wednesday mor- A ning. Press Villa Spain told the Olive the cashpoint. The thieves then BRITISH family who booked a week’swithdraw of the in the fraudsters are One cashing they couldn’t bikes, claimed holiday on the Costa villa, in Moraira, before transa Trek LR10, wasdrawing ferring the deposit. Blancaand worth €13,000. wereasked on his credibility and cash themselves shocked “Two thieves broke their villa advertised to see She has now confirmed users from his legitimate pro- Stokes in andtoin re-insert card, as avaithat just a minute lable on ahis completely different her family have been scammed and a half they perty business website. stole stole. nine bikes,” Martinwhich over the holiday website.
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Stadlhofer, 40, co-owner of Xabia’s Bikes, told the Olive Press. “I’m not sure they they were doing knew what as they knocked over a bike worth €12,000 and didn’t take it—which is great for us.”
GET EDUCATED Rose Moore sees the EU essen a y as a po ca d c a o sh p Leave and p oud ssue 325 pg 7 The ea y s he oppos e The e a e 28 sove e gn s a es nc ud ng he UK wh ch vo un a y chose o become assoc a ed S eve Dunne be eves ha he UK wou d a be e on WTO e ms No so m no go ng o we gh down you e e s page by quo ng chap e and ecommend ha S eve ooks n o he ve se bu spec fics o any ndus y ha he knows Tha T ump s y ng o ge a ade dea w h an EU ee UK shou d e you a you wan o know T ump s ade dea s have US fi s abe s F na y B en Mah e speaks o a numbe o UK c zens wa y o an EU a med o ce and an eve c ose un on Howeve hese a e deas floa ed by spec fic peop e and no EU po cy am mo e wo ed a he ns d ous 40 p us yea s o p o paganda aga ns he EEC/EU by he Ma Te eg aph Exp ess T mes and o cou se The Sun Wha d d Mu doch say when he was asked why he was so an EU? Some h ng a ong he nes o “When go n o No 10 hey do wha say when go o he EU ” The mp ca on s ha he had o ask o an appo n men
MYSTERY surrounds the apparent suicide of an elderly British resident on the Costa Blanca. The 84-year-old expat threw herself from a bridge in Javea after being seen ‘pacing frantically’ by the railings. A neighbour, who asked not to be named, Olive Press he saw told the man ‘peering over the woafter squeezing the edge’ between a fence and a steel pillar at one end support of the bridge. It was about an hour before police were alerted to a suicide attempt over the dry Gorgos riverbed while children played on a nearby football pitch. “She was holding paper bag and kept a white in the bag and then looking leaning over the edge,” the neighbour told the Olive “I wanted to ask Press. she was doing, her what rried she spoke but I wonish and assumedonly Spafeeding stray cats.” she was
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A WOMAN has been arrested for the attempted murder of her sleeping boyfriend after leading police to the knife she allegedly stabbed him with. The Spanish suspect, 41, is believed to have plunged a kitchen knife into the chest of the 51-year-old, also Spanish. Police arrived on the scene of the bloody attack in Mijas at around 00:40am after a neighbour reported a man and woman screaming.
I have never read so much rubbish. The three people in your paper who voted to leave they say there will only be a short term economic impact. Even the Leader of the House and leading Brexiteers says there will be a 40-year economic impact. Also, Britain can never be great again, as we have no industry and are really just a service country thanks to another great Tory leader. To finish this, I said in 2016 that 40 years ago we made a big mistake when we disbanded the Commonwealth as our main trading partners. I never thought that my generation could make such a stupid mistake twice.
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This is 100% Hypocrisy. “I love Europe but hate the EU.” Freedom of movement has allowed us to travel, live and work in this wonderful country. It’s made us more not less! I 147 weep for834 these 952 people and all that we may lose. Julie Ann Plank, Barcelona * O f f e r
It’s just democracy
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Olive press, what are you trying to say. They have the freedom to vote in a democratic election do they not? The sooner we are out of this bankrupt dictatorship the better. How many billions in debt is Spain? How many billions in debt is Italy. How many billions in debt is Greece? Southern Europe needs to wake up. Budgie McInally, Glasgow
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Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress
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‘Audid you manage that’
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Just assume for Y ha W minh W ute that this was justM a A JOY ride has gone pearW shaped after an Irish teen stupid accident (‘Audid smashed through a school wall in his dad’s Audi A4. m The cheeky 13-year-old you manage that’, Issue hopped W into the driver’s seat 325, pg 40). The father as his father left and kid were obviously in shock, the dad’s first reaction was to grab his child whilst angry people shouting in a foreign language they didn’t understand. This was and probably will be one expensive holiday. The insurance won’t cover anything because the kid was under 25 and the damages are in the €12,000-plus range. Not to mention that the car is totalled. The lesson to be learned here is don’t leave a child unattended in a hot car, for one reason or another! Alex Brown, Malaga TM
Round in circles o n l y .
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We just need the driving W instructors to do their job properly now and teach them how to use the inside lane on a roundabout (Driving force, Issue 325, pg 6). It is not ‘easier and safer to use the outside lane for every exit’. Do your job properly!
3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .
21/6/19 13:30
DRIVING FORCE
David Burden, Uttoxeter
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TWO bin men are being investigated after footage emerged of them tossing rubbish bags into the river while on the job. The unnamed municipal workers have been suspended without pay after they were filmed picking up several bags left next to a full bin and throwing them into a nearby stream in Marbella. The 90-second clip, which has since gone viral on social media, was filmed on Calle Bronze. Both workers believed no one was watching as they worked in the black of night, tossing at SCARY: Zara in hospital and Advertise here for (right) as little swollen arm six bags intowww.theolivepress the riverbed. FREE Vol. least 13 Issue €80 pertor 325 issue ducted blood tests as .es August 28th to as ensure in Manchester told the Olive A local was perched behind a there was no damage to her Press. lampost across the kidneys. “Zara was panicking He added: “Something with ing them the whole street, filmtime. and screamed out ‘daddy the that kind of suction would have Marbella town hall pool is sucking me and it won’t easily pulled a smaller child un- scribed their act as has deillegal and stop’,” Zack, a building contrac- der the water and they would a ‘very serious’ offence. have been killed. Mayor Angeles Munoz said she “It's incredible her little arm has was ‘tremendously ashamed of swollen m up so much it is now the behaviour’ of the workers. three times the size. “What has the doctors most running a Malaga-based couM M concerned is that the force of rier service, which also disthe suction may have forced tributed to Denmark, Poland toxins to be released into Zara’s and Sweden. bloodstream.” Zack stayed According to police the Brit ‘cheek to cheek’ with Zara keepsuspects would frequently ing her calm as emergency ser- A MAN has been change their rented cars and m arrested vices attempted to apartments to keep officers saw open the mwith nine rounds of ammum pool’s drainage system. off the scent. nition stuffed down “I am a tough lad but my first after shots were firedhis pants In May 58kg of drugs were near the thought was to go to the cor- Feria de Malaga. intercepted at a courier ofm ner of the pool and have a quiet Police in Malaga cuffed fice, with another 17kg disthe sob,” added the distraught fa-m 43-year-old Spaniard covered in August. M N m m who ther-of-two. Once identified, police then was bleeding from Zara’s mum Claire added: “It Five gunshots werehis mouth. conducted raids on the susheard afwas unbearable, I felt helpless ter a man reportedly pects’ homes, in which they shouted: and just wanted her out.” found a further 28kg of “Do you want shots? Well, drugs. you are going to have shots.” Opinion Page 6 No one was injured. m
Why? (Trash, Issue 325, pg 2) Their job is to toss it in a rubbish lorry, it makes no sense. If they can’t do theo ou job right Mu then they should be sacked. a High There arefive plenty of others that would be grateful for the job.
FIVE British men and women have been arrested after police busted a cannabis ‘delivery service’. The three men and two women, aged 38 to 62, are being held in prison after 100kg of drugs, intended for the UK and other countries, was seized. Policia Nacional officers found a mix of 52kg of hash and weed, along with 51kg of vacuum-packed marijuana buds. Around €23,000 in cash was also recovered by police. The detainees are accused of
Hypocrites to the max
Still a be-leaver!
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free the youngster. The dad and daughter were enjoying their first family holiday at the luxury villa in Estepona with Zara’s twin sister Lucy and their mum Claire, 42, having only bought the property in the Villas de Santa Maria urbanization at Christmas. Zara underwent treatment at the Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella where doctors con-
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A BRITISH father whose little girl is in hospital on the Costa del Sol after being sucked into a pool filter pump has called it an ‘accident waiting to happen.’ Doctors fear Zara Clarkson, six, from Manchester, may have blood poisoning after her tiny arm was trapped for more than three hours. Her father, Zack, 46, battled to keep his daughter’s head above water as firefighters raced to the scene with jackhammers and smashed apart the poolside to
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Six-year-old battles suspected blood poisoning after terrifying ordeal trapped in pool filter
Just after 7pm last another Spanish Tuesday eyewit-
ness revealed she due “We were this close for June. Susan Bolton, 61, the woman jump had seen from the she had lost the soon realised for our holiday to leaving eastern of two that never bridges on sit when Dream ₤1,300 depo- existed,” Bolton told the Avenida de Augusta. the Olive SCAM: Brit family based in Mallorca,Villas Spain, Press. caught by fake “I was walking to shut off all “I knew villa website He told the Olive contact. we had na when I saw herMercadowhen I contactedbeen conned had chosen the villa Press they tations’. The mother-of-two take off out her shoes, climb West Midlands had from the ding an airport pickthem regar- different homes for rent of 780 The scam comes almost the railing, up and got spent wee- no response. on the years ks finding the perfect since the Olive two and no more,” the woman It made me beco- site. Press told the Olive holiday me suspicious.” They only realised exclusively exposed Press. “It all they had fake a been scammed She added the company holiday websitesstring of happened so quickly.” when an airduping Three police is now port tourists coming to not responding to cars and Spain. any calls or and pick-up never arrived, In a emails. he caught series of investigations ambulance raced to the an sceproperty to find a taxi to the we found dozens ne to retrieve the Meanwhile, celebrity the bewildebody. chocola- red German. had been scammed of tourists Police confirmed te taster Angus millions of the cause euros from the ₤5,000 when hisKennedy lost “What was different of death as suicide, various while a covered a German family dis- case is I was determinedin our which illegally uploaded sites, spokesperson for the Town at the Mallorcan man living to the house, and then to get photos from legitimate villa Hall said the lady was Britibooked through villa they had ted the press” Angus contac- Among those scammedsites. Dream Villas Olive told the British were sh and had lived in a block Spain. Press. Rugby of flats “I think many more Dean Schofield, Union star many next to the river ‘for Kennedy, from Kent, years’. that when the familyrevealed duped and the scamhave been €50,000 on a fake who lost Neither villa in Macould be llorca. arrived worth millions.” police or this month, the hall would reveal the town Spain gave his name asowner, who The website he used to book rate asDream Villas, who ope- suggesting it washer name, completely baffled Klaus, was the trip, dreamvillasspain. Digital Dreams SL, proving de- problematic to contact clined nothing about the and knew com, claims its goal her is to ‘crea- JWe to comment. rental or te your next of kin in the website. were unable dream holiday expeUK. rience and exceed anyone at Dream to contact None of the residents in your expec- as Villas Spain area by we went to press. the bridge knew the the
Animal horror
A BRITISH expat dogs chained in ancalled in police after finding a group of Roger Ballantine abandoned house without food. the dogs while outcontacted the Guardia Civil after finding walking near Orba. Ballantine had decided ‘pungent smell’ coming to investigate when he noticed a from the ruin. Inside he found scenes worthy of kept on short chains a horror surrounded by trash film with dogs excrement. and their own “It was despicable,” clear that farmers Ballantine told the Olive Press. have chained these “It is four dogs.”
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THE Olive Press is helping victims take legal action against a holiday rental company that scammed holidaymakers thousands for rental villas on the Costa Blanca. It comes as the paper was contacted by new victims of Dream Villas Spain, following last issue’s report on the plight of the Bolton family, who lost €2,000 on a Moraira rental. Petra Deleslie, 42, has now contacted us after losing €6,000 booking a villa in Moraira later this year for her extended family of 18. We agreed to help after she told us she was ‘desperate’ for a break after losing her
+34 695 55 45 44
May 9th - May 22nd 2019
Dream Killas The Olive Press helps victims take action following skyrocketing reports of holiday rental scam
Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt
www.jbholiday.com
A FRAUDULENT villa rental website that tricked British holidaymakers out of thousands has finally shut down following an extensive Olive Press campaign this year. Dreamvillasspain.com was behind countless tales of heartbreak as 952 147 834 it seduced holidaymakers into purchasing villa rentals that never ex- AT LAST: Scammers Dreamvillasspain.com nailed isted. after Olive Press campaign (inset left), while (right) victim Angus and The first case was reported by family Olive Press to the Guardia Civilthe his €5,500 and urgently needed a the Costa Blanca, booked for this an email from ‘general in place to stay with his wife April when professional chocolate and five October. manager’ young children. Rosella Alba Gutierrez offering distaster Angus Kennedy turned up The mum-of-two from a villa he had paid for in Mallorca.at “I think many more have been set to travel with 18 Kent was all counts for up-front payments on extended fam- respective villas. He was met with bewildered Ger- duped and the scam could be worth ily members for a ‘much-needed But once paid, Gutierrez millions,” Angus told this paper man owner, Klaus, who had at break’ following the death would no the time. of her shut off all contact, as it turned knowledge of ever putting his house With mounting cases, this paper mother to lung cancer. the company’s phone was a fake.out up for rental. “My nephews and It soon dawned on Angus he’d lost made a collective denuncia at the ly looking forward nieces were real- For months nothing was heard to it as they have until Guardia Civil in Moraira on behalf never been abroad,” Deleslie told got a major UK news network in touch saying the website had of UK-based the Olive Press. been shut down. victims. “I spent two years Soon after, the trip, and I just saving up for this The Olive Press can also reveal a can’t afford to pay second site - named Olive and shamed Press for a new villa. The kids are devas- separate article - is also no longer in a was fielding tated.” live. Travelvacationtour.com calls concern- Deleslie added operated the cumulative loss with exactly the ing bogus rent- of flights would same layout and als from Tener- €12,000 in total. cost her family houses as dreamvillasspain.com, and scammed Brit Donna Archer ife, to Marbella Then there was Sarah Adams, out who of €5,500 for a Tenerife villa and Moraira. booked a surprise One of the aga for four friendsgetaway to Mal- booked as a post GCSE gift to her and their joint- son and his best mate most in May. heart- five daughters as a post-A Levels It is not yet clear if legal action breaking was present. has been taken against from Petra De- Both Deleslie and Adams felt their as both are listed the companies, leslie, 42, and stomachs lurch as they read of the Spanish Companies as ‘active’ on The British expats who are pro- the House. collapse scam tactics of of her €6,000 com in the Olive dreamvillasspain. Guardia Civil could not comment Brexit and proud SEE PAGE 7 before we went to press. m o n t h - l o n g The way the scamPress. operated was that villa rental on prospective renters would receive Opinion Page 6
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Vol. 1 Issue 12 www.theolivepress.es August 29th - September 11th 2019
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LEAVERS: Trio of Brits in Spain
A SPANISH man, 43, has been arrested in Velez-Malaga for allegedly masturbating in front of and groping two women, one of whom is a minor.
Picardo (left) to ‘get radical’
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With Brexit around the corner Gibraltar National Day has never felt more important. Check out our FREE guide inside on everything you need to know about the celebrations.
Fallen
He was referring to the fight for wages parity led by the founder of his party the GSLP, Sir Joe Bossano. The Chief Minister gave special mention to Gibraltar Defence Police officers and the soldiers of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. A Government spokesperson said that the ‘real pay of these individuals has fallen very significantly’.
A PAIR of legal cannabis smoking clubs on the Costa del Sol have been shut down over drug trafficking.
Celebrating
August 28th - September 10th 2019
TRASH!
Readers react to a group of Brexitsupporting Brits in Spain who said Slashed in they would vote Leave again his assleep no-deal moves closer (Leave and proud, Issue 325, pg 7)
ibraltar National Day
Vol. 13 Issue 325
A ROBBER on the run from the law since 2015 has been captured by police in Benahavis where the 56-year-old had been working as a labourer.
Pool shocker Ungrateful sods OLIV E
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
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NEWS IN BRIEF
FINAL WORDS
LETTERS
LE T T E R S
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1 Paid announcement (13) 2 Tanner’s aid (7) 3 Depend (4) 4 Confine (8) 5 Unit of weight (5) 6 Relating to building design (13) t Born in early December, perhaps (11) 12 Affliction of cats and other fur-lickers (8) 14 Violently frenzied (7) 16 Small in number (5) 18 Home of Salt Lake City (4)
All solutions are on page 38
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- September 10th 2019
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Bolted on FOOT FETISH: Tortoise gets stuck in
‘randy’ tortoise British centre
m Greece, and has been David Priaulx’s care for last 30 years. ve had so many escades with him over the rs,” David, who lives in on, told the Olive Press. e escaped once in Broad-
SSING: Torte
stairs, Kent, and went to stay two nights in a local B&B. “When we picked him up the owner gave me an invoice, saying ‘no one had ever stayed for free and he wasn’t going to be the first’. “Torte’s like my nemesis, but I love him and so does the whole family.” David added that Torte answers to his name. He said, however, that the randy tortoise will ‘pick on anyone’ and is known to make a loud ‘shrilling noise’ when mounting the shoes of his victims. Have you seen a tortoise around Jalon? Contact the Olive Press at newsdesk@theolivepress.es
BAREBACK: In Ibiza
Heritage hoedown GRANADA has celebrated World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day with a complete cultural programme of tours, concerts and workshops. Some 50 free activities across the city have been put on by the Ayuntamiento and trustees of the Alhambra and Generalife. Granada’s councilor for tourism, Manuel Olivares, stressed the need ‘to show children and young people the privilege of living in a city where different cultures were respected for a long time’. He added: “As a result of that coexistence we have a great wealth of heritage.” The World Solidarity Day of World Heritage cities commemorates the creation of the Organisation of World Heritage Cities in 1993 in the Moroccan city of Fez.
Send your informatio n to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es
A THOUSAND-year-old fortress in Spain has been flagged up on the risk list over fears it is on the verge of collapse. The Hispania Nostra heritage association has included La Popa castle near Barcelona on its ‘Red List’. The database keeps track of all national monuments and sites in Spain that may disappear if urgent measures are not taken. The ancient complex, on top of a 100-metre long rock formation in Castellcir, is reportedly ‘in a very bad state’. It comes after technicians labelled the condition of La Popa’s ancient walls and chapel as ‘catastrophic’.
ACT TWO
TripAdvisor’s ‘best theme park in Europe’ opens sister park in Spain
EUROPE’S top theme park, according to TripAdvisor, receives more than two million annual visitors despite having no rides - and Spain is about to find out why. The famous French theme park Puy Du Fou has opted to open a second site on the outskirts of Toledo. Puy du Fou Espana is modeled on its French counterpart which is the second most popular theme park in France after Disneyland Paris. The park attracts two million visitors a year through its gates with historical set piece reenactments featuring viking ship battles and warring kings - all set in the Middle
EPIC: Shows reinact scenes from Spanish history Ages. Spread across 30 hectares, From 2021, visitors to Spain’s Puy du Fou Espana will put latest theme park will be able on four shows every day, to enjoy the El Sueno de To- within epic sets featuring casledo performance, which is tles and colosseums. based on 1,500 years of Span- The new park, just an hour ish history. from Madrid, will also have a huge medieval village with shops and restaurants along with two further settlements to explore. France’s Puy du Fou, which THE first exhibition in Spain by renowned Scottish landfirst opened in 1978, has rescape artist Ronagh Wheeler has been planned for Marbelceived five stars on TripAdvila’s Magpie Gallery. sor from over 14,000 reviews. Wheeler, an artist with some 25 years experience will be The amusement park has also showcasing her latest works, inspired by travel and nature. been voted the Best Theme The Sussex-based painter’s acrylic art uses soft colour tones Park in Europe as well as and work with palette knives to translate her expressions fifth Best Theme Park in the onto canvas in the form of landscapes and seascapes. World. The exhibition runs from September 20 to October 20. The mark two park in Spain The opening features a selection of Wheeler’s most has now opened - although at deductive and emotional pieces, as well as a chance to present, guests can only visit on Fridays and Saturdays. LANDSCAPES: By Wheeler meet the artist herself.
Magpie’s treasure
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September 11th September 23th 2019
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A WOMAN has been filmed riding naked upon a red Ferrari as its cigar-chomping driver cruises the streets of Ibiza. The woman appears completely oblivious as she dances to reggaeton music blaring from the slow-moving supercar. The incident was filmed at the Marina Ibiza on the Balearic island, and was later widely shared on social media. But the driver is now being pursued for reckless driving. A city council spokesperson said the authorities hope to track down the culprits soon as ‘there are not many cars like this in Ibiza’.
NEWS
Do you have a what’s on?
Monumental mill AN exceptionally well-preserved Roman mill has been excavated in Andalucia, providing a glimpse into life 2,000 years ago. The discovery in Jerez de la Frontera is believed to be one of the most important archaeological finds on the Iberian Peninsula. Excavations have unearthed a unique hydraulic complex complete with three waterwheels and four floodgates ‘in perfect condition.’ “Because of its size, it is currently the only known example of its kind from ancient Hispania,” said Ángel Muñoz, Cadiz’s Head of Historical Heritage Protection. The mill had been in use as late as the 18th century and now the building’s origins have been found to stretch back centuries. Site archaeologist Luis Cobos said: “Given its size and the mortars used, it must be of an era of American great economic splendor in the area, possibly between the two centuries before and after Christ.”
EUROPE’S largest exhibition of model Lego continues in Muelle Uno in Malaga this summer, ending September 22.
Photo op THE biggest collection of 3D images in Spain will arrive September 22, in Malaga, at an interactive event.
Colourful INHABITANTS of Villanueva del Trabuco will host their annual parade, full bright colours and brass bands, September 15.
Tuneful THE Chanquete World Music Festival will be the perfect way to end the summer, taking place Saturday September 14, El Playazo Beach.
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CARPETS TEXTILES & CRAFTS An amazing treasure trove of all things Moroccan and Persian in the heart of charming Gaucin
NEWS
LA CULTURA
A TURN TOO FAR September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
Jack Gaioni explores a notorious Civil War concentration camp, why a Republican turned fascist and how Franco controlled the Spanish press
All sorts of commissions undertaken… plus regular buying trips to Morocco and Turkey Tel: 722 51 10 57 Contact WhatsApp only: (0044) 751 687 1966 m.asummers@outlook.com www.alisregalosgaucin.com Num 20 La Plazoleta, Gaucin, 29480 Malaga Spain
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F you were hoping to read a pleasant ‘feel good’ article, read no further. If you were hoping to read some logical, ‘moral-to-the story account’ - again, read no further. What follows is illogical, disturbing, and, at times, horrendous. It will leave you with more questions than answers. If you choose to continue reading, consider the enigmatic life of Carlos Rodriguez del Risco… Born in 1901 in the Catalu-
nyan pueblo of Vilanova i to the notorious Mauthaula Geltru, Carlos Rodriguez sen concentration camp in del Risco grew up sympa- Austria. From 1940-1945 thetic to the Republican Rodriguez del Risco wit(anti-Franco) cause. At the nessed unimaginable horclose of the Spanish Civ- rors. The camp was used to il War, like thousands of imprison ‘the incorrigible other defeated Republican political enemies of the Resoldiers and sympathizers, ich’: socialists, communists, he fled to France to avoid freemasons, homosexuals, the revengeful anarchists, wrath of Franco. gypsies, He was interned AND SpanAs many as in a barbed ish Republiwire ‘enclosure’ 20,000 Jews were cans whose camp along the ideology was subject to the French border. especially The conditions gas chamber on anathema to were dreadNazi fascism. the spot ful. Hundreds As many as died due to ex20,000 Jews posure, brutal were subject treatment, pneumonia and to the gas chamber on the malnutrition. For a young spot even before being regmilitary man like Carlos, istered in the Mauthausen there was an alternative: camp. Rodriguez del Risco join the French Foreign was also an eye-witness to Legion. He did exactly that the Nazis performing pseubut his timing could not do-scientific experiments, have been worse. This was lynchings, lethal injections, the start of World War II beatings and sadistic humiland his battalion was used iations from guards, goldas cannon fodder against tooth extraction, starvation, the Germans. He was cap- electrocution, hypothermia, tured by the Nazis and, and malnutrition. Most died along with 7,000 other however from exceptionally Spanish Republicans, sent hard labour as Mauthausen
was primarily a slave labor camp. Five thousand of Carlos’s Spanish Republican compatriots did not survive. On May 5,1945 the Mauthausen concentration camp was liberated by American forces. Most of the surviving Spanish Republicans returned again to France fearing retribution for their fervent anti-Franco politics. Rodriguez del Ricco chose a different trajectory. One year after he was freed from the horrors of Mauthausen, Carlos was in Madrid and began writing a series of accounts entitled: ‘Yo he estado en Mauthausen’ (‘I was at Mauthausen’) in Arriba - the officially sanctioned newspaper for the Franco regime and the voice of the Falange. Carlos recounted his eyewitness accounts of the aforementioned Mauthausen nightmare in a series of 28 installments. Stylistically, his articles were non-fiction, part adventure story, part diary, and part political. He is detailed in his descriptions of the torment and horror that he and other Spanish Repub-
Jakin Boor (aka dictator Franco) Arriba was the official newspaper of the Spanish State under Franco for the next 35 years. Carlos’s Yo he estado en Mauthausen was not the only serialized set of articles spewing vitriolic anti-semantic sentiment. Interestingly, it was Franco himself, writing under the pseudonym Jakin Boor, who would begin to write a series of articles which would continue to rant against freemasonry, Communism and Jews, but additionally the formation of the State of Israel. In August, 1949 Arriba carried an article written by Franco entitled ‘Alta masoneria’ (High Masonry) which declared: “The recognition of Israel and its entry into the United Nations is hypocritical and [its] unjust conduct towards Spain, obeys exclusively the dictates of free masonry.” An earlier Arriba article put forth: “The international Jewish-Masonic conspiracy is the creator of the great evils that have arrived for humanity; such are capitalism and Marxism”. During Spain’s transition to democracy soon after Franco’s death, the Spanish Council of Ministers ordered the closure of the newspaper Arriba. In June of 1979, Arriba’s final issue was published.
FASCIST: Rag that featured General Franco’s articles
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
DID YOU KNOW?
“Mauthausen concentration camp is to the Spanish Republicans what Auschwitz is to the Jews”
The Photographer of Mauthausen is a 2018 Spanish biographical/ historical film. The movie, starring Mario Casas (left), tells the life of photographer Francesco Boix during his imprisonment in Mauthausen. Based on real events, Boix was able to smuggle photographs that were later used as evidence of Nazi crimes during the Nuremberg trials. The movie is free on Netflix.
Dr R.Wheatley, author Hitler and Spain
PHOTOGRAPHER: Francesco Boix’s tale told in Netflix biopic
licans suffered at the hands of the Nazis. His narrative has been deemed original and factually accurate by Holocaust historians. For example, Carlos was able to observe the high-ranking officer Heinrich Himmler’s inspection of the camp. (1941). He identified by name individual S.S. guards who were particularly brutal. He was able to detail the little-known account of a train-load arrival of entire Spanish Republican families. He was witness to the ‘astonishment, anger and terror’ of Spanish boys as young as 10 being imprisoned ‘despite the desperation of the women, mothers, sisters and wives who stayed on the train’ and were sent back to Spain to an unknown future. Yet, in the same serialized articles Rodriguez del Risco writes of a political about-face. He obscures his concentration camp experiences with virulent anti-Semitic diatribes. Parts of Yo he estado en Mauthausen are wildly unsympathetic to the extermination of the Jews that he witnessed. His hardened portrayal of the Jews is revealed when he states that: “They (the Jews) lack humanity and are hyp-
PATH: Route Republicans took through Pyrenees
ocrites, fakes and egotists Risco also wrote of his ‘poand a little more or less food litical conversion’ when he would result in scenes of a began to renounce his longson beating his own father.” held defense of Republican He blames the ideology. He Jews as guilty condemned for their own his fellow Carlos slaughter while captive comhe calls Hitler patriots announced a ‘true patriot claiming they his complete who feels the ‘had stained pressing need to their hands devotion to work for the rewith blood’. Franco surgence of his Carlos ancountry - a man nounced his without a doubt, complete extraordinary.” According devotion to Franco and the to Rodriguez del Risco’s ac- Nationalistic cause when he count, the real masterminds declared in his last article: behind the cruelties he suf- “Catholic by conviction. I fered and observed were am a soldier of the Church; Hitler’s advisors and Mau- a fervent Spaniard. I will thausen’s SS guards. always be a loyal servant of Curiously, Rodriguez del my country. And my country is now, whether or not the communists and renegades like it, unanimously represented by Franco - a man providently chosen to liberate it from the most tremendous loss of life of all time.” It would be easy to dismiss Yo he estado en Mauthausen as purely Francoist propaganda. But the author’s political about-face raises some interesting questions: Was Rodriguez del Risco
SAVED AT LAST: Mauthausen survivors cheer the soldiers of the Eleventh Armored Division of the US Third Army a day after their liberation. Photo Donald R. Ornitz
forced at gun-point (figuratively and maybe even literally) to write this account? Was Carlos subject to what psychologists have called ‘Stockholm syndrome’ where by prisoners often identify with their captors? Was he sane? Was Carlos the first example of what would later be called a ‘Holocaust denier’? Was this typical of the political climate in Spain in 1946? Even though Carlos’s narrative is grounded in historical fact, how much can be trusted as
something other than political propaganda for the Franco regime? We will probably never know the answers to these questions. Carlos Rodriguez del Risco would never be heard of publicly again after his articles were published. He would die less than three years later with no direct descendants. His story remains complicated, contradictory, fascinating, incomprehensible yet always horrific. Remember…you were warned.
Another famous survivor to emerge from the Mauthausen concentration camp was Simon Wiesenthal. He would dedicate his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals - most notably, Adolf Eichmann. The clinical definition of the Stockholm syndrome reads: “A psychological condition where prisoners express positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with their captors.”
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
LA CULTURA
SUPERNOVA: Liam Gallagher got biggest singalongs with Wonderwall
A quarter of a century since the launch of Definitely Maybe, Liam Gallagher shows he still has the swagger to carry off his former band Oasis’s best tunes, writes Jon Clarke. While (far right) Charlie Smith is wowed by Mel C and the professionalism of Take That
RUNNING ORDER: Oasis encore
LATIN BEAT: Enrique Iglesias
Rock 'n' Roll Star
H
E’S been ridiculed, sidelined and generally parodied over recent years. So it was great to see Liam Gallagher, the veritable
Eastern adventure The Biggest City You’ve Never Heard Of - Andy Wynn’s insider take on the ‘real’ China
A
ndy Wynn and his wife Julie spent more than six years living in China. Now living in Spain, this is a story of their personal growth through the challenges they faced in the country. Eye opening and informative, it shows what life is really like on the streets of modern Asia. Their experience was humorous, shocking, often testing and frequently uncomfortable but always educational and fun. What they discovered is that ‘China forces you to question everything you’ve ever known and everything you have ever been taught about how to do even the most mundane, everyday things’. This month you can meet the authors and get a signed copy of their fascinating book. They will be ready to answer questions and provide further insight into China’s unique culture at The Bookshop San Pedro on September 24 from 5-7pm. €13.50, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro www.thebookshop.es
SATURDAY
Rock n Roll star, come out fighting in his headline role at the Gibraltar Calling music festival. Despite stalking onto stage in his usual snarling fashion, he quickly warmed to the crowd in with crowd favourite Morning and venue, in its debut at Eu- Glory, before returning with Coropa Point. lumbia, Slide away, Cigs N AlcoWhile he was playing second hol and the obligatory rendition fiddle to global superstar En- of Wonderwall, which had the rique Iglesias on Saturday biggest singalong of the weeknight, there was no doubt who end by far. won the battle. A couple of his For all extents own tunes hit the and purposes chord, including One for the this was an OaWall of Glass sis set, with a Latin lovers and and Greedy Soul, few of his own while the second songs peppered the large’ish encore of Superin. sonic and the Spanish Having first seen amazing Chamthem at their pagne Supernocontingent prime at Earl’s va really hit the Court in London spot. in 1994, promotEarlier in the ing their seminal first album, evening, we had stood stage and then at the legendary left watching a soulful, heartKnebworth shows two years felt performance from Pete later, I didn’t know what to ex- Docherty, who should probably pect. have been on later. But what we got was classic The former bad boy of Rock N Oasis right from the off. Who Roll has mellowed somewhat needs brother Noel? in recent years and he was Kicking off with a storning Rock not only happy to chat, filling N Roll Star, he then waded right us in on his recently opened
nine-bedroom hotel in Margate, but even took and waved a Union Jack for waiting fans below. It was a nervy start though, perhaps still being light, but when he got into a few of his excellent Libertines back catalogue the crowd perked up, in particular to Don’t Look Back into the Sun and Can’t Stand me Now. How different to the performance of Enrique Iglesias later in the evening. Cocksure and full tilt, with a banging light and laser show, this was one for the Latin lovers and the large’ish Spanish contingent in the crowd. It was slick and impressive and the fans went appropriately wild. A wiggle of those famous hips, a melting smile, it was hard not to be won over.
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
TO THE TOP: Feel good classics from iconic gary and the boys
SPICE UP A SPORTY: Mel C
YOUR LIFE
FTER Liam Gallagher reminded the Rock why the 90s was Britain’s most exciting musical decade, it seemed like Gibraltar Calling had hit its peak. That was until Take That hit the main stage on Sunday, with their raucously-cheered-on back catalogue of feel-good hits.
SUNDAY Celebrating 30 years as a band, Gary, Mark and Howard served up a masterclass in pop, complete with surprisingly-well choreographed dance routines. The British boy band hardly
seemed to have aged a day since 1990, with Gary looking sharp in a dog tooth suit and Mark channelling his inner cowboy in some green and white denim. All the way back to the VIP section, songs like Shine, Rule the World and Greatest Day were absolute crowd-pleasers. But the biggest cheers of the
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
LA CULTURA
STARS OF OLD: Golden boy David Essex (left) was joined by Patrick Myers (centre) as Freddie Mercury at the packed-out Europa Point Leisure Complex in Gibraltar entire festival were for the old- She didn’t mess around, er stuff - even Chief Minister spinning tunes like Nirvana’s Fabian Picardo couldn’t resist Smells Like Teen Spirit and tapping his foot to It Only Takes the Prodigy’s Out of Space A Minute. as she jumped With revellers about behind the baying for more, decks. Nirvana’s the trio duly disShe even threw patched a suin current hits Smells Like perb Relight My like Stormzy’s Teen Spirit and Fire, before givVossi Bop, being way to what fore continuing the Prodigy’s Gary described the 90s theme Out of Space as their ‘good by dancing down friend, Mel C’ the runway to riwho was on DJ val the shapes duty. thrown by Take That. After And make no mistake, the whipping the crowd into a frenformer Spice Girl was here to zy, Gibraltar was merry and still party. singing Spice Up Your Life.
So with ‘the world’s best Queen tribute band’ up next, it should have been a night to remember for Gibraltarians. And you have to hand it to Killer Queen, they were good, but didn’t hit all the right notes in the way their support acts had. After being moved from the smaller classic stage the group, featuring an uncanny Brian May and a chunky Freddie Mercury, did their best to hold the huge crowd. A well-rehearsed rendition of the Queen frontman’s famous Ay-Oh routine from Live Aid 1985 went down a treat, before the band played out the rest of the classics. It was a Rhapsody for many.
Festival overview, by Claire Spencer THERE was something rather magical about the smoking mountain rising out of a crystal clear Mediterranean Sea. It gives the impression of incongruity, a small piece of The UK somehow tacked onto the Southernmost tip of Iberia, a shrine from antiquity where the ancients paid tribute to their gods at the gateway to Atlantis and the Northern pillar of Hercules. This is where music lovers came to pay tribute to their gods at the weekend; those giants of pop and rock headed by the likes of Take That, Enrique Iglesias and the mighty Liam Gallagher. This year saw a change of venue to The Europa Point Leisure Complex overlooking the Rif Mountains in Morocco on the other side of the straits. It was a gamble, but it mostly paid off, with the
sound being as good and the location better. The shuttle buses from town moved everyone efficiently, looking like an unstoppable army of ants crawling around the Rock. While the organisation left a few concerned about long lines to get drink tokens and a lack of food late in the evening, the general mood was one of contention. There was certainly music for everyone, with the big names on the main stage, and favourites from yesteryear like 10CC, Slade and Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel imploring everyone to ‘come up and see him’ on the Classic Stage. Seventies heartthrob David Essex certainly looked a fair bit older but sounded in fine voice and rocked the crowd, much as he did back in 1973. There were plenty of tears.
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
New Marbella picnic party set to offer something different... something new... something chic...
EVENT OF THE YEAR
I
F you think that all the action and excitement has finished now that August is over and the summer crowds have left, think again. Chicnic brings a fresh, funky and fabulous attitude to Marbella in September. Taking place at the stunning Finca La Conception, one of Marbella’s best kept secrets but only minutes from Puerto Banus, Chicnic will feature a heady combination of live music, DJs, gastronomy and drink all in a picture perfect setting on Saturday, September 28. Topping the bill is Grammy Award-nominated DJ/Producer Todd Terry. One of the pioneers of the New York House scene ‘Todd the God’ is the genius behind anthems including Can You Feel It, Something Going On and Keep on Jumpin. Todd will be joined by a lineup of Marbella’s best DJs, including Tito Pulpo, John Mena, Ceaser Cooper and Raquel DK and Mario Z, as well as live percussion by Gustavo Gottardi and electric violin from Lamaya.
GRAMMY-NOMINATED:Todd Terry (above) and violinist Lamaya (right)
To make the experience a comfortable one, there are Chicnic blankets to sit on so people can drink, eat and dance the afternoon and the evening away. Alternatively you or you can go off to the cocktail and food garden or the pool lounge and dip your feet while watching all the action. A wide selection of wines, champagnes and spirits complemented by deli-
cious food prepared by lo- 2:00 pm. to 8pm., providcal chefs are all available. ed by the students of Les Chicnic also Roches, the offers the finest Global Les Roches Chicnic will be H o s p i t a l i t y Experience University in the newest and the World. Lounge. This exclusive most creative, David Giles, location with a CEO of Rock dynamic and VIP entrance, Lounge, the comfortable c o m p a n y hottest ticket seating and behind the stagefront views will pro- event, said: “Chicnic will vide complementary gour- be the newest and most met food and wine from creative, dynamic and hot-
test ticket in Marbella this year. “We have seen a move towards these kind of events and festivals worldwide, where guests want the experience of a festival atmosphere, but also demand a high standard of food, drink and other amenities. “At Chicnic we’ll be providing great bars and food stations with nine hours of fantastic entertainment,
including the legendary Todd Terry, who we are delighted and excited to be bringing to Marbella exclusively for this event. “When you combine the luxury food and drink options, international artists and one of the most stunning venues in Marbella, we’re sure that Chicnic is going to become one of the most popular and talked about events of the year!”
PROPERTY
Demo job
PREPARATIONS have begun for the demolition of the iconic Astoria building in Malaga. This move comes as part of a plan to convert the old Astoria and Victoria cinemas in the city’s Plaza de la Merced into a major cultural centre. The demolition work, which is expected to last about two months, will be followed by further excavation works valued at a cost of more than €380,000. The site is set to become a ‘cultural souk’ with an underground concert hall with a capacity for about 1,500 people.
Bank restrictions blamed for plummeting mortgage loans across Andalucia
MORTGAGE loans in Andalucia have plummeted by almost 10% in June. The month of June had seen only 5,966 mortgage loans applications signed with the average value also 18% down at €100,431. Real estate agents have blamed the 9.7% drop on the reluctance of banks to grant mortgages. “The banks look at the mortgage loan seekers with a magnifying glass,” said a spokesman at Spain’s real estate regulation body API. Banks have only granted 70% or 80% of the amount of the price of the house, forcing buy-
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
Jewel of the south
FUNDING has been found for a multi million euro hotel and housing complex on Andalucia’s Costa de la Luz. Grupo Soluciones will invest €200 million by 2023 in the Costa Ballena development, made up of 91,000 square metres near Chipiona. Alongside two luxury hotels,
one of them five star, the project will also see two urbanizations built called Eleven Views and White Sands. Eleven Views is set to become Grupo Soluciones’ ‘flagship’ project with more than 70% of homes enjoying sea views and prices ranging between €250,000 and €500,000.
Mortgage plummet RELUCTANCE: From bamks to sign off on mortgages ers to have the remaining 30% have that money saved and in cash, according to the group. when buyers get it through They added: “It is difficult to family loans, the bank does not
grant the loan if the monthly fee exceeds 30% of the sales of the applicant.” The regions of Andalucia where the greatest falls have been recorded were in Cordoba, Sevilla and Malaga. In Cordoba, mortgages on homes decreased from 732 in May to only 475 in June, which represents a 36% drop. In Sevilla and Malaga, 1,183 and 1,498 home mortgages were signed, 15% and 11% less than the previous month, respectively. The only areas to see a bump in mortgages were Huelva and Jaen but they saw only modest gains of up to 464 and 271 respectively.
Breaking ground A PROJECT to build more than 500 homes between El Candado and La Araña in Malaga has been resumed. The planned development includes 29 houses for the relocation of the Montegolf urbanization, which was damaged by a landslide twenty years ago. An initial environmental study has been carried on the design by the architect Angel Asenjo to ensure the stability of the new planned foundations. On September 11, 2000, the earthquake caused serious damage to the development and forced some 40 neighbors to be evicted from their homes. The phenomenon caused great cracks in the streets and in the houses, of which three had to be demolished and two others were very damaged.
Ghost of Algarrobico AN economist has questioned the viability of a future luxury hotel in the port of Malaga. Rafael Esteve, professor of Economics at the University of Malaga has questioned the economic and social viability of the €115 million venture. He has warned the planned 35-storey hotel designed by architect Jose Segui could become another ‘Algarrobico’. This references the infamous Algarrobico project in Almeria which left the illegal 411-room hotel only 95% built and still abandoned 14 years later. Esteve has argued the fact of having 12 rooms per floor has opened the development to ‘ruinous exploitation’ unless exorbitant prices are applied. He added: “The threat of a new ‘Algarrobico’ in the most iconic place in Malaga must dissipate once and for all.”
INFAMOUS: Algarrobico (left) and tower planned for Malaga port (right)
CRACKED: Houses damaged in earthquake
PROPERTY MORTGAGE THINK TANK
22
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019 by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola
MORTGAGE FLUTTER
D
ESPITE the sun, this summer saw banks catch the chills over Spain’s new mortgage laws. The new rules came into force in June and have had an immediate impact with the number of mortgages on housing falling by 2.5% compared to the figures a year ago. Real estate agents have blamed this drop on the reluctance of banks to grant mortgages in response to the new law. These new regulations obligate banks to have greater transparency in the granting of loans. The main changes see early redemptions fees reduced with fixed-rate mortgages set at 2% during the first decade and 1.5% from that date onwards. While with variable rate mortgages, the customers
Spain’s new mortgage laws may be discouraging banks but their hesitation is only temporary, writes Tancreda de Pola
can choose to pay in three years, with a 0.25% commission, or five years, with 0.15%. Furthermore, banks may only charge an opening commission, to be included in the mortgage processing costs. This is the only commission to survive the new dictat.
G r o u n d clauses are also prohibited with the banks not able to set a minimum interest on variable rate mortgages from now on. Other, more o n e ro u s rules, have also been discouraging the banks from lending. These include the requirement allowing the borrower to demand the loan be converted into their home currency on the event the euro exchange goes against them by 20%. Importantly, the directors of
Spain’s largest banks have been optimistic in that they expect this reaction to be only temporary, as the sector adjusts to the new system. And if you share their optimism, the Finance Bureau will be on hand to get you the best mortgage deal possible. We will be in your corner to highlight any hidden fees or compulsory add-ons tucked away in the small print and ensure you get the best possible mortgage rate to suit your needs and circumstances. The Finance Bureau has more than 15 years’ experience in finding expats the best deal possible and making sure they’re avoiding the many pitfalls associated with buying abroad. When it comes to buying a mortgage, getting it wrong is not an option.
To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 Email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670
PROPERTY
23
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
TOP DOG: Palma’s Intermodal Station, the winner of last year’s competition by Joan Miquel Segui Colomar
THE call has gone out for entries to the Tile of Spain Awards 2019. Architects, designers and students have been invited to submit projects to the annual event now in its 18th year. The competition is held by the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association to celebrate projects from across the globe that make use of Spanish-made ceramics. The 39,000 prize will be split between three categories: Architecture, Interior Design and Final Degree Project, which is awarded specifically to architecture students. The winners of the two main categories, Archi-
Sign of the tiles By Timothy McNulty
Champions of Spanish ceramics Eugeni Bach. invited to enter Tomoko Sakamoto, the of graphic national awards co-founder studio Spread, and the tecture and Interior Design will each receive €17,000, and the winning final year project will be awarded €5,000. Dutch architect Jacob van Rijs will head this year’s judging panel and will be joined by architects Ines Lobo, David Lorente and
president of the Castellon Region College of Architects, Ramon Monfort will also be on the panel. Last year, the first prize in the architecture category was awarded to Joan Miquel Segui Colomar for his use of Spanish ceramics in the new entrance at
Palma’s Intermodal Station. Entry to this year’s awards is free and submissions are being accepted until October 24 2019.
24
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
W
BUSINESS
E all know someone that knows someone that says you’d be mad not to invest in this stock as ‘it’s going to the moon’ or ‘this is a sure-fire win, get in why you still can’. They usually turn out to have a finger in the pie of the stock you invest in, and it goes down like a soufflé taken out of the oven too soon... and you have just put your money into it! In my experience there are two types of investors; the investor who follows his/her own strategy and the investor who makes trades on the basis of tips passed to them. For the latter group, they are overwhelmed with Nova Top 5’s, 2020 Investment Tips, Top Shares for 2020 and other tipsters who all seem to be full of wisdom. The tip-seeking investor thinks they can lie back and relax while golden tips flow towards them. I get continuous requests to compile top five and top ten tips; explain where the dollar will go in 2020, and whether or not you should be in this or that stock. I have only one tip for you: never follow an analyst, trade fair expert or guru blindly.
Crystal ball
Always keep a clear mind and research first. One of the disadvantages of following tips is that they might offer only a very temporary solution for your investments. When I advise you today and my tip is correct, what are you going to do next week when I’m on holiday? You are once again facing the problem of wanting to invest money, but not knowing where or in what to invest. Therefore, tips do not provide a basis for maintaining a consistent portfolio and strategy. There are also those who’ll offer you a subscription. My advice is not use these unless you are aware of the quality of the service. Always do your homework. I, like any other investor, do not have a crystal ball on my desk (if you do find one my details are at the bottom). Let me know! However, there are many who pretend to be able to look into the future and predict prices. Do not allow yourself to be deceived. Do not trust any tip on face value and always review the story and reputation
KNOWLEDGEABLE: British investment specialist Nik Rainer, from BinckBank
THOU SHALL NOT
FOLLOW TIPS
of the man with the crystal ball. You should never follow a tip without first doing some background research. Indeed, there are many people who are more knowledgeable about investing in stock markets than others, but do their forecasts always turn out the way they said they would? No, but if your tipster is right most of the time, you have a very valuable stock exchange companion. In addition, you’ll need to determine whether his vision is suitable to you. Check on what his choices are based on (technical, fundamental analysis etc.), and more importantly, whether you know and are familiar with the instruments he is suggesting you to invest in. If these points are all positive and the tipster has a good and reliable track record, the ingredients for a potentially rewarding investment plan are all there. Your own investment approach. What’s better is your own investment approach. Based on research and education. You don’t rely on other people’s tips, but you have identified which markets you want to follow, when a share meets info@instalacionesemasur.com your criteria, how you take action, and when you move to make the trade. Although this is more time www.instalacionesemasur.com consuming, it is the most constructive and often rewarding way of investing.
Nik Rainer, from BinckBank on the joys and pitfalls of investing in the stock market
i n s t a l a c i o n e s
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tel: 952 89 25 15 C/Espinosa – Edif Manisabi, Local 12 Ctra Sabinillas, 29692, Manilva (Málaga)
20 years of experience
Or as a colleague of mine always says: Do you want a fish, or do you want to learn to fish? (I’m sure someone said that a couple of millennia ago too). Let’s face it, laziness is part of human nature and we would generally rather receive tips in our laps, rather than rolling up our sleeves and doing the work ourselves. In addition, it is good to be able to blame the so-called “experts” for disappointing investment results. Ultimately, however, you are the one who determines whether or not you are successful in the stock markets. Hopefully you feel more attracted to the strategic group of investors and you are willing to invest time in order to construct your portfolio with a stable return. Thou shall keep a watchful eye on your neighbour, family and friends - and I don’t mean with the drone you just bought from Ebay.
Anyone interested in investing should email info@binckbank.com or call 0034 951565656
How the Investment Academy works The BinckBank investors account is perfect for any wannabe stock exchange investors. The bank is registered with Spain’s financial regulator CNMV and you can open an account with a small investment. It uses the Saxo Bank of Denmark’s multi-lingual trading platforms and you can see your account online at all times. Best of all you can come in and speak to a specialist at any time and there are regular free courses and seminars (Director Kaspar Huijsman gives one above) on how to invest your money.
Over the next few months there are a series of seminars set up starting next month on whether a recession is looking. Here are the dates:
Marbella 24/10 Is there a new recession coming? An incisive seminar with financial specialist Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist of Saxo Bank Marbella 05/11 Training Session Financial Instruments for beginners I Marbella 06/11 Training Session Financial Instruments - advanced I sign up at www.binckbank.com/investment-academy/events
Trading in financial products always involves a risk. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. As a general rule, you should therefore only trade in financial products if you understand the products and the risks associated with them. The information in this column should not be interpreted as individual investment advice. Although BinckBank compiles and maintains these pages from reliable sources, BinckBank cannot guarantee that the information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. Any information used from this column without prior verification or advice, is at your own risk. We advise that you only invest in products that fit your knowledge and experience and do not invest in financial instruments where you do not understand the risks.
About BinckBank BinckBank is part of the Saxo Bank Group since August 2019. Copenhagen-based, Saxo Bank is a leading Fintech specialist focused on multi-asset trading and investment and delivering ‘Banking-as-a-Service’ to wholesale clients. Both companies originate from the first generation of internet start-ups and have grown to leading companies in Trading and Investing with a clear mission of democratising investment and trading for everyone.
26
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
BUSINESS
Goldcar ‘bullies’ and ‘lies’ to extract thousands of euros from its customers, investigation reveals
Driving down
SPAIN has seen the biggest decline in new car registration since the 2008 economic crash. The sharp decline has been attributed to the introduction of new emission tests, which deflated car sales by 48% last August. Car registration has decreased by 30.8% to 74,490 units compared to the same month in 2018, according to industry groups. This is the biggest drop for August in terms of commercialization of cars since 2008, when levels collapsed 41.27% in the middle of the economic crisis. Spain’s automobile employers association Anfac has called for urgent measures to reverse this trend as soon as possible. In particular Anfac would like to see ‘a crash plan with stimulus measures to encourage the purchase of new vehicles’.
AN undercover investigation has revealed that rental firm Goldcar uses ‘criminal lying and bullying’ as sales tactics. Consumer publication Which? said it caught the car hire company ‘red handed’ using ‘pressure-selling’. In secret filming at Malaga and Alicante airports Goldcar threatened to charge journalists posing as holidaymakers ‘€300 for a tiny scratch’. The notorious firm also offered an excess and deposit of just €1,100, while it said drivers who broke down would be charged €8.50 for every kilometre on a tow truck. Goldcar told several lies, including ‘if you don’t buy our insur-
FOOL’S GOLD Brexit bite
CAUGHT: Which? probe found mis-selling by Goldcar in Malaga and Alicante ance, you’re only covered for cies wouldn’t be valid, and that tional insurance when renting a third-party damage’, according unless they accepted Goldcar’s, car and are covered with ‘basic’ to Which? they would be unable to hire the insurance by law. Other untruths included that vehicle. In Europe, customers It comes after numerous comcustomers’ own insurance poli- are not required to buy addi- plaints have been made against Goldcar, including claims of customers having €1,200 frozen on their credit card for refusing to pay an extra €100 insurance payment. SPAIN’S Iberdrola has sold part of its substantial offWhich? advises customers to shore wind farm operation in the UK in a €1.8 billion ‘never rent from Goldcar’. deal. Some of the best-rated car hire The energy firm has completed the sale of the East Anfirms in contrast include Enterglia ONE wind farm after receiving the necessary apprise, Hertz and Avis. A Goldproval from the Crown Estate. car statement read: “Goldcar The move will see a 40% stake in the North Sea wind would never condone the use farm go to the Australian Macquarie group through of misleading statements that Iberdrola’s British subsidiary Scottish Power Reneware not aligned with our terms ables. East Anglia ONE will be one of the largest in the and conditions. Where we find world when it enters into operations in 2020, supplyunaligned practice we will take ing 600,000 British homes with clean energy. firm action.”
STRONG GUST
PREPARATION IS KEY
W
E are all well and truly fed up of hearing the ‘B’ word and the majority of expats I now speak to have reached the stage that they just want Brexit over with – whatever the outcome! If only life were that easy. We wonder, constantly, if those behind the doors of No.10 really do understand the upheaval they are causing from a point of view of those still residing in the UK, those that are unsure where is the best place for them to live and those of us who have already chosen to live our lives elsewhere. Whatever your opinion on Brexit and whatever the outcome, there are some things that won’t change on October 31 and these are the things we can take control of and act on
BREXIT has been blamed for the second consecutive summer fall in British tourist numbers to Spain. For the second year in a row, July has seen a decrease in the number of foreign visitors to Spain. The fall of the British economy and the devaluation of the pound due to uncertainty over Brexit has seen fewer Brits seek the Spainish sun in favour of cheaper alternatives. In total, 161,000 fewer British tourists have visited Spain in the last two years while a fall of 1.6% has already been registered so far this year.
Worrying times
THE Bank of Spain has warned of the risk of an upcoming economic crisis. Governor Hernandez de Cos has warned ‘urgent’ progress needs to be made to reform the European Banking Union before another financial crash hits. De Cos has defended the need to create a fiscal stabilization instrument in the eurozone. He described the situation as ‘very worrying’.
With Brexit around the corner and the pound plummeting, it is the perfect time to get your finances in order
BY TIM GOVAERTS now. The UK and Spain currently have a Double Taxation (DT) agreement in place, which is not affected by the UK leaving the EU. This means that you should be preparing now and not waiting for the outcome of Brexit to ensure that your financial affairs are still the most tax efficient solution for you as a Spanish Tax resident in terms of your savings, investments and pensions. With the current exchange rate being so unnaturally low and potentially set to get even worse, it makes it all the more important to ensure that what we do have is not eaten up by the taxman in either country. Did you know that once you leave the
www.theblacktowergroup.com combined advice of your financial planner and local tax expert. Thinking ahead BEFORE your move to Spain could help save you thousands, but if you are already here, all is not lost. If you are unsure if your current investments could be costing you more UK your ISAs and investments are no than they need to, or not achieving longer tax efficient and worse than the growth you hoped for, getting that, you could be faced with a Capi- advice from a financial advice comtal Gains Tax (CGT) liability if you were pany that has weathered more than to cash these in after leaving the UK? one or two financial storms is essenIn respect of property the official tial for your financial wellbeing and peace of mind. Spanish view is that the Blacktower Financial day you move is the day Management has been your principle residence The day you established for over 32 changes, in theory making your UK property a sec- move is the day years and has worked with its clients through your principle ond property that could be the good and the bad subject to CGT. residence times, offering sound fiIf you think that your UK changes nancial advice. property may take a while Blacktower will be by to sell the best advice may your side both now and be to ‘stay-put’ until you in the future, we are here to help have that ‘sale agreed’. Taxation in Spain can be complex you. and complicated, so you will need the
Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain
27
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
Spain’s multimillionaires surge by 74% in a decade as the poor get poorer
RICH GET RICHER
THE number of Spanish ‘super rico' millionaires tripled during the last decade, new Government figures have revealed. In 2017 Spain had 611 ‘super rich individuals - those taxpayers whose r e p o r t e d wealth is more than €30 million. Hacienda(Tax Agency) data identifies this LOADED: Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, Spain’s richest man, is among the expanded group of super ricos as a 74% in-
BREXIT BREAKWATER Jonathan Holdaway recommends that Brits in Spain begin financial preparations for Brexit as soon as possible My wife and I were relieved to get back to Although a very proud Enour little part of Spain after two weeks back glishman - having served in the UK to see family and friends and, my country and even graced amongst other things celebrate our young- the hallowed turf of Twickest granddaughter’s first birthday, and a few enham (admittedly only in a days later my own. touch rugby tournament) - I Firstly, we had very much missed our two am mildly embarrassed by dogs Toby and Robbie and our newly ‘adopt- the current political situation, especialed’ kittens Punta and Lara. ly when quizzed by newly made friends More importantly we were pleased to get and business contacts of all nationaliback to the more consistent summer weath- ties. er - although it was noticeably cooler than I am not sufficiently equipped to know when we had left and the therfor sure whether ‘in’ or mometer was touching 40 de‘out’ of the EU will be the grees. best option for the UK in Political Even the usually delightful the long term – I mean shenanigans cooling breeze had started who can you actually to feel like you were walking trust? in Westminster around with a hairdryer being Whatever happens, the getting more blown in your face! unprecedented social and This maybe explains why al- farcical by the day economic turmoil that has most half of the UK’s state been caused by the outpension-drawing population, come of the referendum who have elected to move in June 2016 – and the abroad (121,000 according to the ONS) many more years of the same to come, choose Spain as the place they wish to is likely to have a lasting impact on the spend their Autumn years. country. With the UK’s imminent exit from the EU, My wife and I have returned even more these people may no longer be able to take keen to push ahead quickly now with for granted some of the things they have be- our residency applications; to become come accustomed to enjoying. 100% legal here in Spain, pay our taxWith the political shenanigans in Westmin- es and contribute to the social security ster getting more and more farcical by the system. day, it is possibly going to take some time Although we do fear for the future of before they receive clarity about how much our four grown up children and three their lives will change. granddaughters still living (currently) in the UK. Politics aside, many see moving to another country as the chance to ‘start again’ or undertake some sort of adventure as the catalyst for change. It’s very important to know as much as possible what you are going into - but even some people with experience of their destination country encounter unexpected bureaucracy and legislation that can derail their plans (more so in Spain than a lot of countries).
Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864
crease on 2011 when this exclusive group counted just 352 people among its ranks. This was the same year former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero brought back property tax as Spain was hit by economic crisis. In the same period the number of millionaires with wealth of over €1.5 million also shot up by 35% to 60,337. Meanwhile the estates of Spain’s 202,400 most well-off taxpayers - who pay wealth tax - totalled €669 billion, a 55% surge compared to eight years
ago. Even more alarming is the 110% increase in the total combined wealth of those in the €30 million-plus category since 2011. However this year’s Hacienda figures will again raise questions over the lenient policies Madrid has for its super rich. The Capital is the only Spanish autonomous community where taxpayers pay no ‘estate tax’, thus depriving public coffers of
€955.6 million a year. The good news for the rich comes against a backdrop of stark inequality, with the net wealth of Spain’s poorest 50% having decreased by 4% since 2008, according to the Oxfam Intermon report. Inditex founder Amancio Ortega is Spain’s richest man and the world’s fourth richest with a fortune of around €62 billion.
Benefits Consultancy KIM CLARK If you suffer from... • Mobility problems • Pain / Breathlessness • Falls / Stumbles
Or you need... • Help with washing / dressing • Supervision
You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness / disability benefits while living in Spain FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com
28
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
Fun and games THE Casino Admiral San Roque (see pg 29) has unveiled the exciting plans for its third anniversary, which involve music, magic, raffles and prizes. Topping the bill are Elvis and Robbie Williams tribute acts, while DJ Michael keeps the party going with his 80s and 90s classics. After lucky guests are greeted at the door with welcome drinks, illusionist Alex Ku is then on hand to wow crowds with his magic. A raffle will also take place, with a hotel night and two show tickets up for grabs, as well as a lucky roulette in which multiple prizes are on offer. The casino’s new electronic bingo hall - the biggest in Andalucia - will also double its prize pots on the Mystery Jackpots Lucky Chance games. The anniversary celebrations take place on September 21.
National week pulls in global acts to Gibraltar, but for visitors in September, the Rock keeps partying THE action doesn’t stop on the Rock after the biggest week in the festive calendar. Some of the biggest names in music were on the Rock from September 3-10, setting us up for more of that unique fusion of culture only Gibraltar can offer as summer ends. National Week dazzled visitors once again as the highest level of pop, rock, classical and opera were all showcased around the British territory to the south of Spain. Take That, Liam Gallagher and Enrique Iglesias all graced the stage at the Gibraltar Calling Festival held from September 7-8 at Eu-
FOOD,DRINK Tourism boost
SPELLBINDING: Performance by tenor Bocelli
ropa Point. It had been preceded by a spellbinding concert at St Michael’s Cave by conductor Denis Vlasenko. He played Tchaikovsky with the European Symphony Orchestra earlier this month. Andrea Bocelli showed why he is called the ‘the world’s most beloved tenor’ on Monday night. David Guetta rounded off celebrations with a stunning display of
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
his DJ skills on National Day, along with other top guests. Looking forward, Cleopatra Porter presents another of her fabulous nights of entertainment on September 20 at the John Mackintosh Hall theatre. Combining traditional Spanish La Copla artists like David Cordobes and Charo Lopez with a Gibraltarian twist, this will be a night to remember.
The multicultural fusion continues with an Arabian night at the Barbary Restaurant on the Sunborn floating hotel the following day. Not forgetting the intellectuals, the Calpe Conference at the Gibraltar University from September 19-21 will give updates on Gibraltar’s contribution to
archaeology. From the Gibraltar skull to the Neolithic paintings found in Gorham’s Cave, experts like Clive Finlayson will speak of how the latest discoveries have helped us grow in understanding our closest genetic ancestors. The National Week might be over, but the party does not stop on the Rock.
Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.
With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD
BRITISH
For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi
www.visitgibraltar.gi
Heritage STREET PARTIES MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE HISTORY MUSIC
Phoenician Empire Calentita
Jazz
INTERNATIONAL
THE ROCK The MoorishMusicCastle Festivals Food Festival Pillars of Hercules National Week, Chess, Snooker, Backgammon Championships 100000 YEARS Darts, LITERARY FESTIVAL
Neanderthal Settlements
ibraltar
#VISITGIBRALTAR
A year of Culture
Bring hearts, minds and souls
& TRAVELSCHWEPPED AWAY 29
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
Meals on wheels
SPAIN’S online food delivery market, which includes UberEats and Deliveroo, has grown by over a quarter. The sector’s 26% growth in 2018 means it is now worth €900 million, according to data from Just Eat. Takeaway food delivery contributes €2.4 billion to the Spanish economy, with €600 million of that comprising internet orders. A stronger economy and a 2% increase in coastal business are among the reasons for the booming sector. Although Barcelona tops the rankings during summer, Cadiz sees the largest increase in the Autumn, with a 173% boost in online trade.
Court prevents Coca-Cola Schweppes company in Spain importing tonic from UK
COCA-COLA has been banned from selling Schweppes tonic in Spain. A court has prevented the Red Parallel company from importing the drink from the United Kingdom and distributing it in Spain. It comes after a judge ruled the Japanese firm Suntory was the only company with the right to sell Schweppes tonics in the country. Barcelona-based Red Parallel had profited hugely from importing the tonic from the UK and selling it in Spain at a lower price.
BOTTLE BAN: Coca-Cola handed drinks court order This lucrative business mod- ing by the Commercial Court el saw the company shift 17.3 Number 8 of Barcelona. million bottles and net €5.9 This sentence has ruled Red million between 2009 and Parallel must pay compensa2014. tion to Suntory for damages “The only thing we did was buy amounting to €293,480. English Schweppes tonic from The tonic Schweppes was born English wholesalers, therefore in 1783 but was a late arrival to merchandise was already in Spain, only entering the Iberifree circulation in the Europe- an market in 1957. an Economic Area,” said the The brand quickly became a company following the rul- market leader, with a 54.8% share, and experienced a strong increase in sales as the popularity of gin and tonic soared. Suntory’s legal director María Rodríguez said: “The rights of SPANISH chef Jose Andres said he would ‘offset any the Schweppes brand in Spain has vowed to reimburse his difficulties’ for those underare not exhausted. staff after a ‘glitch’ left em- paid. However another bar“The only Schweppes tonic that ployees a little lighter come tender Cindy Martinez recan be marketed in Spain is that payday. jected his claims of a ‘payroll manufactured by Schweppes The 50-year-old celebrity glitch’, while a lawsuit said Suntory Spain or another comcook faced backlash after a ‘it is plain underpayment pany of our same group.” bartender at the food hall of wages’. Andres, who was The legal dispute, which began Mercado Little Spain in New famed for his Washington in 2014, looks set to continue York alleged ‘systematic’ un- tapas restaurant Jaleo, and with an appeal expected to be derpayment. has since been working with launched with Spain’s Supreme Andres, who runs the busi- those affected by Hurricane Court. ness with the Adria brothers, Dorian.
Cooking the books
PLEDGE: Andres to pay up
30
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
FOOD,DRINK
Dispatch from Joshua Parfitt in Benidorm
HISTORY IN THE BREAKING First findings emerge from beneath the demolition of one of the Costa Blanca’s most beloved landmarks
I
www.bistropoint.gi UNIVERSITY OF GIBRALTAR, EUROPA POINT
Reservations on 200 76588 or bistropoint@huntergroup.gi
T was the backdrop of proposals. Tourists from across the globe flocked to Benidorm’s Mirador del Castillo to walk among its chalk-white balustrades and glance over the shimmering Mediterranean. It filled Instagram feeds, family photo albums and tourism brochures - even the official Visit Benidorm site has the landmark as a website banner. But one of the Costa Blanca’s most beloved viewpoints was demolished on June 12 in search of ruins the Town Hall ‘didn’t know’ were even there. During a press visit on August 23, the Lure Arquelogía team in charge of the dig exclusively revealed their findings so far. What were they? Two small tables displaying coins from the ‘1950s’ tossed into a wishing well and a few bits of broken pottery. “The plates are from Manises, in Valencia,” Lourdes López Martínez, director of projects at Lure Arqueología, told the Olive Press. “The 16th century plates have imperfections - meaning the inhabitant was rich enough to buy Manises plates, but not rich enough to avoid purchasing factory seconds.” So, that’s it? Benidorm ripped up a landmark to find a medieval TK Maxx? The enthusiasm of the dig was not so well shared by a site worker brought in to move the heavy machinery. “I kept the beautiful white arches until the very end,” the man, who asked to remain nameless, told the
Olive Press. “But eventually, our project is to find what lies underneath, and I had to topple them.” Showing this paper a secret video of the falling arches, he cautioned ‘you never spoke to me’ and walked back to work. The six-month project at the Mirador - otherwise known as the Balcon al Mediterraneo or Punta Canfali - received €500,000 of EU funds as part of a Valencian-wide programme to recuperate the Community’s cultural heritage. “This project is vital. The ruins at Punta Canfali are the very origin of Benidorm,” mayor Toni Pérez told the Olive Press. “Its history will have an in-
SMASHED APART: Benidorm’s Mirador del Castillo calculable value for us all.” With the Town Hall investing another €500,000 into the €1 million dig, Pérez was adamant the works would improve the Benidorm experience for ‘thousands and thousands of people’. Given current findings, it’s a tall order. TripAdvisor lists the Mirador as numbers one, two and five best-rated ‘Benidorm Landmarks’. (The three separate entries are due to the Mirador’s many names.) One of these entries records 75% of all one-star reviews appearing since demolition began in June, with tourists lamenting the ‘boarded up and demolished’ viewpoint. “This amazing view point in Benidorm where I proposed to my wife has been demolished,” wrote one user from Hamilton, UK. “They should have just left it as the views were stunning.”
VISTA: Seafront in Benidorm where icon ripped up
& TRAVEL Another, from Liverpool, wrote: “Benidorm Town Hall has taken a huge gamble. “Plaça Del Castell was without a shadow of a doubt the most famous and beautiful
landmark in Benidorm. “It’s beautiful blue and white marble balustrades and immaculate tiling made this square a joy to go to. “Views afforded from here of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea were unsurpassed - but not anymore.” Needless to say, if the Lure Arqueología - contracted by Benidorm Town Hall - are to
31
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
find something, it better be Olive Press. good. Outstandingly good. Pointing out the thick walls, The impetus for the works she was excited the outline comes from two discove- of the original building can ries in 1993 and 2014, still be traced upon the icowhich indicated the pre- nic headland. sence of walls beneath the A perfectly intact alijbe - a Mirador’s stunning patio. well where rainwater was History records the founda- collected and stored - was tion of a castle in 1325 by also a major find. nobleman, admiral and Va- Descending into it through lencian Kingdom’s spokes- a ladder, graffiti on the wall man Bernat de Sarrià. reads ‘DBGJ, 1816’ - a 19th After authorising its city century ‘[insert name] woz charter, he built this fortifi- ere’. cation on the present-day The findings show promise, Punta Canfali to defend and Toni Pérez assured rethe region from Bar- porters the Mirador would bary pirates. be rebuilt in November in Benidorm was pilla- the ‘same style’, but perged and plundered haps with a glass panel at least three times here or there. I am from Beover the centuries, nidorm, and this has been but the the most amacastle zing work of stood and my life,” BarIt would be was guarbara added. ded throu- inconceivable for “ E v e r y t i m e gh the ages Britain to remove we find someby the noble thing, I feel Houses of Nelson’s Column I’m contribuMendoza and ting to my cion a rumour Fajardo. ty’s history.” At least, unIf the Mirador til the British del Castillo obliterated it in 1817 while will reveal some treasure, aiding Spain to kick out Na- it has until November 1 to poleon’s imperial army. find it. It would be inconFollowing the two recent ceivable for Britain to rediscoveries the questions move Nelson’s Column on still dangled: what’s left of a rumour some centurion this history? and is it worth bought a knock-off helmet destroying the Mirador for? hundreds of years ago. “We didn’t know if we’d But Benidorm has taken find anything here at all,” apart the crown of its own Barbara, an employee with glory. Time will tell if it comes Lure Arqueología, told the back encrusted with a ruby.
The Gin & Tonic bar to visit in Benalmadena Pueblo
135
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HEALTH
33
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
ABORTION WARNING Fresh pregnancy advice issued to all women after first ‘listeria abortion’ on Costa del Sol
ADHD drive
UNDIAGNOSED ADHD has been blamed for reckless driving on Spain’s roads. Some one in five drivers who lost their licences had the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a medical study in Barcelona. The research, carried out at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital, found almost a quarter of banned drivers had the disorder, compared with 5% of the general adult population. “ADHD causes impulsive behavior and the possibility of having an accident, with or without injuries, is greater than that of individuals who do not have this disorder,” said research leader Miquel Casas. The psychiatrist added: “It doesn’t mean they can’t drive but untreated ADHD causes more problems.”
THE Government has said all pregnant women must be assessed after Malaga’s first abortion due to listeriosis. A woman 22 weeks pregnant lost her baby at the Hospital Costa del Sol last week, amid the spread of listeria in contaminated meat products. This is the sixth abortion caused by Spain’s biggest ever listeriosis outbreak, which has so far killed three people. Four abortions were in public hospitals in Sevilla, with another in a private medical centre in Madrid. It comes as a child with ‘very evolved cancer’ became the
Howling for justice
latest recorded case, taking Andalucia’s total to 205 and the number nationwide to 213. The number of hospitalised patients has also increased to 46, while the total of pregnant victims has dropped to 14. Meanwhile, the Junta advised ALL pregnant women to be checked by their GP or gyne-
cologist, according to Diario Sur. Officials had previously said that only pregnant women with symptoms needed to consult medical advice. But this new advice, issued to all doctors, recommends that even ‘asymptomatic’ women who have eaten the contaminated meat should be
WAIT IN LINE
THE Costa del Sol has had the worst increase in waiting times to see an external medical specialist, new data has revealed. The number of patients from the region had to wait more than 60 days went from 43 in December 2018 to 2240 in June 2019. On social media, the General Secretary of the PSOE of Malaga, Jose L. Ruiz Espej, vented his fury at the sharp increase. He said: “Enough of announcing crash plans that don’t exist. Enough of deceiving Malaga and Malaga.”
checked. Doctors will contact pregnant women in their care to decide if they need to be prescribed the antibiotic amoxicillin. In this new protocol, which is backed up by eight different scientific groups, recommendations will be based on risk. Pregnant women will be asked if they have eaten the infected La Mecha brand of the popular Spanish meatloaf’ from Sevilla-based firm Magrudis. The Junta has now extended the health alert to another brand of meat products, Sabores de Paterna, based in Cadiz. If patients are unable to remember they will be given the drug, which in the last 10 days has successfully reduced the symptoms of 61% of victims. A British man returning to the UK after a holiday in Spain was among the other suspected victims.
THE parents of a group of babies and toddlers who developed ‘werewolf syndrome’ due to a drug mix up have sought legal action against the pharmaceutical company responsible. It comes after at least 20 children began growing abnormal body hair after Malaga-based Farma-Quimica allegedly mixed up the packaging for omeprazole and Minoxidil (Howler, page 1, Issue 325). The former treats stomach problems while the latter helps treat alopecia sufferers. The mislabelled medicine was recalled in July and the company has been closed down until an investigation into the error is completed. A mother of an affected 10-month old baby has said families are preparing to file a joint lawsuit against manufacturers. While the hair is expected to fall out eventually, some families have been warned of possible long-term side effects - including the widening of blood vessels, which could impact the children’s hearts, kidneys and livers in the future. All mislabelled batches are now off the market, according to Health Minister Maria Luisa Carcedo.
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September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
Costa del Sol’s Gastric Mind Band clinic goes from strength to strength with an expat and her sister losing a whopping 10 stone between them, writes Charlie Smith
HEALTH
ALL IN THE MIND
“
MARTIN and Marion are like family, I wish I’d found them years ago.” These are the words of Jackie Hay, describing her weight loss treatment with the incredible husband and wife expat team behind Gastric Mind Band (GMB). Since 2001 Martin and Marion Shirran have been helping people like Jackie lose kilo after kilo through their remarkable business, based in southern Spain. Their GMB invention is a pioneering weight-loss therapy that relies on a mix of cognitive behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy. The treatment, which was launched in Spain by the Northampton couple 17 years ago, has been endorsed by numerous celebrities and TV shows back home in the UK. Hundreds of happy customers have flown over to Spain since then, shedding thousands of kilos between them. So it is excellent news that they are also now treating expat locals as well. Costa del Sol-based Jackie, 61, originally from Hull, was pre-diabetic and weighed
107 kilos before her GMB other hopeless strategies treatment earlier this year before finally ‘finding light saw her drop to at the end of just 73 kilos. the tunnel’ The former with GMB and ‘Finding light baker y -owner even appeared at the end of was bordering on ITV’s This the tunnel’ with on the ‘morbidMorning last ly obese’ medmonth with her GMB and even ical classificaSharon appearing on ITV sister tion, when she Ward, 46, who finally decided has also manto give the Shirrans a call. aged to lose 30 kilos, via She had tried numerous this method. miracle pills, fad diets and Between them, the pair
have shed an amazing 10 stone after going through GMB’s four-day course. “I can’t believe it,” Jackie told the Olive Press this week. “People now don’t recognise me in the street, I’ve had to have a whole new wardrobe. “We’ve never looked back and I’ve recommended it to several people since. “It has improved my general health too and my doctors took me off my metformin
think about food completely, I don’t overeat anymore,” she added. What makes the GMB approach special is that it is purely psychological and does not involve invasive surgical procedures like liposuction and actual gastric bands - which can cost up to €6,000. A forensic questionnaire, which can take up to six hours, is used to go deep into the human psyche to create an understanding of a person’s emotions, wants and needs. Four sessions, each of which incorporate cognitive behaviour therapy, are then used to help unravel the behaviour humans have developed over unhealthy relationships with food. Jackie revealed that so successful has been the treatment that five other local expats are also currently undergoing the GMB treatment. “It was very pleasant,” she added, “it wasn’t scary and they completely changed my point of view with food. straight away, because “I even managed to get a they said my blood sugars cuddle with Eamonn Holmes on This Mornhad decreased ing.” enough on their own.” “I even managed If like Jackie and her sister In total, Jackie, to get a cuddle you want to who has lived with Eamonn change your between Marlife, get in bella and FuenHolmes on This touch with Gasgirola for the Morning.” tric Mind Band. last 30 years, For more inlost a staggerformation visit ing 18 kilos in 14 weeks and www.gmband.com or call 34 kilos in total. “They’ve changed the way I (0034) 951 311 591
CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD • Non - Surgical Weight Loss • Permanent Weight Loss Solutions • Completely Non-Invasive • Change in just four sessions • Competitive Pricing TRANSFORMATION: Sharon ward lost 30 kilos
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35
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
W
ITH the uncertainties of Brexit you need to know that you can access healthcare anytime you need. GP On Demand can give expats access to UK based GPs to get the health advice they need at the end of a phone 24/7.
there are increasing prob- And now this service is belems and delays in making ing made available to exan appointment to see your pats. GP. With GP’s regSo the deistered with mand for telethe General Imagine being phone and onMedical Counline access to able to phone and cil (GMC) and a GP provided speak to a UK GP with approvby private seral from the in the middle of vices in the UK Care Quality the night is becoming Commission increasingly (CQC), this is popular. a high-quality Our own GP on service that Demand UK service is an gives ex-Pats access to Enexample of that. glish speaking, UK based GP on Demand provides ac- GP’s. cess by telephone to a UK Even if Brexit was not on based, NHS registered GP the horizon, the comfort 24/7 365 days a year. the service provides is well It also provides access to a worth having at your side. video consultation between And, just to round the serthe hours of 8.00 a.m. and vice off, the whole family 10.00 p.m. (London time) living with you is covered. for those consultations Just imagine being able to which would benefit from phone and speak to a UK visual interaction. GP in the middle of the night – deal or no deal.
BE PREPARED This week has seen the installation of a new Prime Minister; another act in the seemingly never-ending Brexit saga. Even the dumb money was on Boris Johnson to win the race. Boris’s name was no doubt etched on the nameplate number 10 some time ago with the same confidence the engraver etched Shane Lowry’s name on the Claret Jug at The Open Golf after the 15th hole. Back here in the UK, it seems we are making preparations for Boris’s “Do or die” No-Deal Brexit.
Brexit There are all sorts of opinions flying around as to what the implications of a no-deal Brexit would be. One thing seems certain – nobody really knows for sure. So, on a personal level, it would seem prudent to make our own individual preparations.
Doctors without borders
How you can access a UK-based GP anytime, anywhere while in Spain One of the most important issues, Brexit or no Brexit, is our health and our access to medical care. A great bastion of British society would still seem to be the NHS. It must still be reasonable if even Donald
Trump is inclined to insist it’s on the table in any new trade deal and our usually equivocal politicians are adamant that he can get that idea out of his head. But in this period of Brexit uncertainty, there is one
Think of the children
r ur ou s Yo ry to er o st ed llow t o ee 0 f Tw ,00 7
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For more eye health information for you or your grandchildren, pop into the store the Fuengirola store on Avenida Ramon Y Cajal 6, or see the eye health section of the website www.specsavers.es
For more information, go to www.gpondemandexpat. com
When you take out an advertising campaign with the Olive Press, you get a lot more than just the printed newspaper
s r r nd ou e sa in pap ou s s Th viewnew l of ita g di
“The difficulty with children with poor eyesight is they often don’t realise there is anything wrong before it is identified in an eye test. “This means they struggle unnecessarily at school and can be misdiagnosed with learning difficulties simply because of their poor vision. “To avoid issues like these, we also recommend yearly eye tests for children before they go to full-time education and incorporating an eye test into the ‘Back to School’ routine to pick up any changes early, before it starts to affect their learning.” According to charity ONCE, they have 4,245 members aged 18 and under who are suffering from low vision or blindness and studies show that one out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress. Common eye conditions can all be identified with a complete eye test. The sooner that vision problems are detected, the better the outcome. Conditions such as squint and amblyopia (lazy eye) can be treated more effectively if they are picked up earlier. Book a Back to School eye test at Specsavers Opticas during September and see their range of glasses which are specially designed for children, including a new range of Toy Story glasses.
There’s even a service that can deliver, at extra cost, prescriptions to your door.
te l ee ia 00 si Fr tor 0,0 eb i 1 w ed ur ay o -d in r-a to si
Parents should check that poor eye sight is not holding their children back, says Specsavers Opticas
Prescriptions
vi
O
PTICIANS are using the start of the new school year as an opportunity to inform parents and children of the importance of regular eye tests. At the start of term, they recommend that parents take their children to a professional who can check their vision and take the right measures to ensure that their eyesight is not holding them back. Poor vision can inhibit learning and hold them back from performing well in sports. Juan Carlos Martinez Moral, president of the General Council of Colleges of Opticians-Optometrists (CGCOO), said: “As vision can often change during your school career, it is important to have regular eye examinations by an optician-optometrist. “By having your eyes tested at least once a year, you can rule out refractive problems such as long-sightedness, short-sightedness, or astigmatism; binocular vision abnormalities such as strabismus, or amblyopia, popularly referred to as ‘lazy eye’. Francisco Jurado from optical group Specsavers Opticas agreed: “We have seen a high number of children needing glasses across our opticians in Spain and experts around the world are reporting a sharp increase in myopia in young children.
thing that can offer ex-Pats a bit of security in terms of access to health care – GP on Demand expat (www. gpondemandexpat.com) . Great as our NHS might be, it is under some strain and
We promote you on our hugely popu Facebook page with 17,000 likes lar and as many followers
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COLUMNISTS Clean up your act
Mallorca DIARIES
38
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
By Lesley Keith
O
NE unavoidable fact Guest columnist Lesley Keith, from of life here is that if you own a car that’s our Mallorca edition, discovers registered in Spain queuing reaches new heights when you need to get an I.T.V. test. I’ve no idea what that stands getting her ITV and she also has for but it’s supposed to mean your car is roadworthy. some requests for holidaymakers not If your car passes you win yourself a colourful window wanting to send the cleaners cuckoo. sticker. Between me and my partner small reflector was missing hall, which incidentally is an we’ve had to endure five of from his rear bumper and my absolutely surreal world. these now. previous car failed last time Men dressed all in grey, weaMine was due at the end of so I know this is not a forma- ring lanyards and carrying clipboards surround the queue June but despite trying to lity. book it when it was, what I My appointment was 8am at every point. considered pretty early befo- and there is obviously a huge Like prison guards watching rehand the first appointment backlog because even with new inmates entering WorI could get was an appointment mwood Scrubs their eyes are for last week. the queue for cold and they never crack I actually hate the test spilled a smile..... Alright I’m getAmong these doing this sort out onto the ting carried away here but in amongst all these polyester of thing, this is road. polyester clad, a man’s world Now, if you’ve clad, macho types there’s macho types and I always ever been to chickens wandering carelessthere’s chickens one of those ly about and feral cats eating feel uncomfortable and vulnetheme half stale bread. wandering about huge rable for some parks you will Some poor guy spends the reason, espeknow what I’m whole day in a pit looking cially here with saying here, you at the undersides of all the the language problem. think the queue ends when vehicles, it must be a million degrees down there, whateI’m getting better at Spanish you enter the doors. but with specialist things like Oh no, that euphoria quic- ver he’s paid it isn’t enouthis I’m hopeless and anyway kly dissipates as you realise gh. Another one is in a tiny this was in deepest Inca and you’re only ‘inside’ and the cubicle the size of a phone booth, he looked important they only really speak Cata- queueing continues. lan. In this situation it’s the same, so I made sure I smiled My partner’s car failed two you think you’re there but at him. Anyway, I braked, I months earlier because a you’ve merely pulled into the twisted my steering wheel
NOT SIMPLE: Life in Spain can be tough, especially getting your ITV test, as Lesley found out
, I flashed my indicators for all I was worth and it was all worthwhile, my car passed. Big sigh of relief for another year. This year’s sticker colour is a lovely yellow. So here comes September, night time temperatures have dropped a bit and the end of the season is in sight. As cleaners of holiday-let villas and apartments, my friends and I have devised a short list of things we would like to pass onto holiday makers -----
1. Never strip your beds. - We love to see your stains.
ALL ASS NO CLASS
2. Cotton wool to clean off your make up? - There’s good, white, fluffy towels for that.
After J-Lo’s dig at the media last month, Marbella veteran Giles Brown explores the changing face of celebrity into the Holy Trinity of BBC Light Entertainment – the late Bruce Forsyth and Ronnie Corbett (who once stormed into the nightclub where my friend was chatting up the comedian’s curfew-breaking daughter, and escorted her off with some choice words for us ruffians) and the, still very much with us Jimmy Tarbuck – whose son Tarby Jr became a good friend. Over recent years, however, the nature of celebrity has changed. Whereas Tarby et al became famous after years of performing, all the modern celebrity has to do is appear in a reality TV show to ensure his or her 15 minutes of fame. Which sometimes results in ‘Diva-ish’ behaviour. I still shudder at the memory of two women who were clinging onto the arms of a pair of TOWIE lads drunkenly screaming ‘naaaaaaah f**king pictures’ at me, as if they were with Brad Pitt and George Clooney. The fact that the Essex lads involved were eating and drinking (lots) at the restaurant for free in exchange for being photographed seemed to have slipped their collective brain cell. One quick look at the large bill that was subsequently presented to them soon sobered everyone up, and they
4. Leave all wet towels on your beds. - The next guest will surely appreciate a damp mattress. 5. Move the furniture around. - Don’t even think of replacing it, moving heavy objects in 35C heat is such fun. 6. Leave your half eaten smelly cheeses in the fridge. - It’s a cleaners favourite thing. 7. Staying two weeks? - Live out of your suitcase, do not unpack, having stuff all over the floor makes it so much easier for us to clean. 8. Always drop you hair combings all over the floor It feeds the cockroaches.
FAME: Giles Brown and a professional Eva Longoria were duly papped. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the celeb, the less trouble they are. Thus a teenage Premiership footballer can keep you waiting for hours for a few words, while a genuine rock n roll legend like drummer Kenny Jones, or Hollywood star such as Eva Longoria, is always professional. Ahhh, Eva. The Desperate Housewives actor turned up on time, was funny during our interview for 15 minutes, posed for the obligatory photo and then retweeted me when I mentioned how professional she was.
To paraphrase Ben Affleck’s mum, Eva was all class, and I couldn’t possibly comment on any other part of her anatomy!
9. Finally, and most importantly, do not leave a tip. We really are paid far too much already. OK a touch of sarcasm there and everyone deserves a nice holiday but trust me, avoiding the above will increase your enjoyment (especially the feel good factor of number 9).
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
Across: 1 Absurd, 4 Rioja, 8 Vanilla, 9 Sonic, 10 Roam, 11 Israeli, 13 Impracticable, 15 Emperor, 17 Writ, 19 Extra, 20 Ant bear, 21 Total, 22 Shekel Down: 1 Advertisement, 2 Sunlamp, 3 Rely, 4 Restrict, 5 Ounce, 6 Architectural, 7 Sagittarian, 12 Hairball, 14 Berserk, 16 Petit, 18 Utah
SUDOKU
J
ENNIFER Lopez may have wowed her fans with her performance on the coast last month, but the singer certainly didn’t impress the Press! The star was playing her only gig in Spain this year, and journalists and photographers flocked to the concert from all over the country with their approved credentials. But 15 minutes before she was due to take to the stage, J-Lo decided that she didn’t want any Press present and had the security team throw them all out. It seems that her ‘diva’ tag is well earned then! At one point the difficult Ms Lopez was engaged to actor Ben Affleck, whose mother famously described her potential daughter in law - who was once rumoured to have insured various body parts up to $1million - after they split as being ‘All ass and no class’. During my eclectic career thus far on the coast and further afield, which has included everything from concert production to public relations and, of course, radio, magazine and newspaper journalism, I’ve had the mixed pleasure of dealing with various levels of fame and fortune. As a callow youth spending his teen years in Marbella in the 80s, I tended to bump
3. Bin liners? - No need, we love cleaning dirty bins and spraying the ants and worse that they encourage along.
SPORT OPEN SESAME
RAFAEL Nadal has held off Daniil Medvedev in a five-set classic to win the US Open and move within one place of Roger Federer’s 20 grand slams. The Spaniard, 33, beat the Russian 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in front of a buzzing crowd of 24,000 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Second seed Rafa was two sets up, before his 23-yearold opponent forced a decider, but Nadal clung on to clinch his 19th major. The match that lasted four hours and 50 minutes - just four minutes shorter than the longest ever US Open final. “It was the most emotional night in my tennis career,” said Nadal post-match, “the nerves were so high, it was a crazy match.”
If you have a sports story, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575
39
September 11th - Sept 23, 2019
United we stand Ex-Red Devil Ander Herrera among all-star football lineup in court over match fixing allegations
PLAYERS and staff at Real Zaragoza and Levante have lined up in court as Spain’s first major match-fixing trial got underway. A former Man United midfielder was among the 42 defendants charged over over a suspect match in 2011 between the two sides. Real Zaragoza’s 2-1 win in the last match of the season, spared the club relegation from the Spanish first division. But the match triggered an anti-corruption probe and investigators have since alleged the result had been pre-arranged between the clubs. Ander Herrera and the other accused made no com-
IN THE DOCK: Herrera
IN THE DOCK: Herrera with old teammates in court
ments as they arrived at the court in Valencia for the start of proceedings. The official file put forward by prosecutors had named players, coaches and directors from across the two clubs, and claimed €965,000 had changed hands. Pictures from inside the courtroom show both sets of players, and club officials sat in a manner resembling an awkward team photo. The Prosecutor’s Office has
requested two years in prison for each defendant and six years of disqualification for players and former executives. As well as a fine of more than € 1 million, if the accusations are proven. The case is expected to carry on through to September 30 with sentencing to follow within the following two months.
Terminated
Bet in play LIVE Sports betting has become the clear winner with online gamblers in Spain. The average number of online players in Spain has tripled from almost 280,000 in 2013 to 830,00 in 2018. While classic casino games such as poker, blackjack and roulette have also grown, betting on sporting events has become an obvious favourite. In terms of the volume of money placed, live sports betting has seen an enormous growth rate in recent years, reaching a high of €537 million in November 2018. The start of LaLiga and Spanish participation in an international tournament have also
A PREMIER League winner’s stint on Spain’s Costa del Sol has come to an abrupt end with his contract terminated after just four weeks – but Shinji Okazaki has now found a new club in northeastern Spain. The former Leicester striker left Malaga CF without playing a single league game having joined on a free transfer in July, but the 33-year-old will remain in the Segunda Division, signing for SD Huesca. Malaga has suffered financial problems off the pitch and had not budgeted properly for the Japan international’s wages. This has left the 2016 title-winner back hunting for a new club after he left the King Power Stadium earlier this summer. Okazaki had been Malaga’s marquee signing when he joined on July 20.
OFF: Okazaki forced out He had hoped his move to Spain would boost his chances of making the Japan squad for the 2022 World Cup. Malaga had to publicly apologise to Okazaki and his agent after owner Abdullah Al Thani took a week to sanction the deal. La Liga then barred Okazaki’s registration as his contract would have taken Malaga over their salary cap. Before leaving, Okazaki had only been able to play three pre-season games ASK ABOUT OUR LONG and did not feature in any of Malaga’s TERM RETALS opening league fixNO HIDDEN SURPRISES tures. A club statement OR EXTRA COSTS AT read: “Malaga CF MALAGA AIRPORT wants to thank the player for his commitment.”
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FINAL WORDS
Bottom of class SPANISH school children receive 130 teaching hours per year above the OECD average but still score worse results than pupils in Finland, despite the Finns getting 246 less hours.
Caught high A MARIJUANA farm has been rumbled by police in Catalunya after being spotted by a helicopter crew filming the Vuelta Espana.
Stags stuck A GERMAN stag party got stuck in a Metro lift and missed the entire La Tomatina festival. The 12 overloaded the a station lift (meant for eight) in their rush to attend the festival.
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Vol. 13 Issue 326 www.theolivepress.es September 10th - September 23, 2019
COME FLY WITH ME!
SUMMERTIME, and the living is easyJet! This image shows the moment an off-duty pilot flew himself to his own holiday in Alicante. EasyJet captain Michael Bradley piloted the plane
Cruzing for a bruising A MAP of Spain’s favourite beers has angered Andalucians after it was implied they only drink Cruzcampo. A graphic by Data Centric, compiled from public surveys shows the basic brand as the most popular in the southernmost region. One social media user said: “Cruzcampo is only drunk in Sevilla,
the rest of Andalucians drink Alhambra.” Another commented: “In Granada, we don’t drink piss.” Meanwhile in other autonomous communities, Estrella de Galicia reigned supreme, being the top tipple for Asturians, Cantabrians, Castilian-Leonese, Basques, Riojans, and Valencians.
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Cent-imental
TAKING FLIGHT: Off-duty pilot
Off-duty pilot wings to the rescue after two-hour flight delay
from Manchester Airport after passengers - including Bradley’s wife and son - faced a two-hour delay due to a
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missing pilot. Phoning up his airliner before passing security, Bradley offered his services as he was still carrying his licence and ID. “They phoned me back and said ‘please, please pretty please with a big cherry on top’, can you fly the aeroplane to Alicante?’,” he explained to passengers in a now-viral video. Commenting on his casual dress, he said: “If you’re alright for one of your pilots to look like this today, we’ll go to Alicante.” The decision was met with cheers from passengers. Michelle Potts, from Denton, said: “It could only happen to me.
“I get to boarding and guy at the desk casually says, ‘oh your pilot’s gone missing but a guy that’s going on your flight is going to fly the plane’. “Luckily the guy was actually a pilot! It probably would have been cancelled if it wasn’t for him. Legend.” A spokesman for easyJet said the flight’s delay was ‘due to the knock on effects of the French ATC failure on Sunday’ which meant crew had to rely on standbys. “This is fully in line with regulations as he had his licence and ID with him. Safety is always our highest priority,” he added. He said the incident was ‘exceptional’ and added Michael was well rested, having previously had four days off and was legally permitted to fly the aircraft.
A BAR has left a customer shell-shocked after charging her 10 cents extra for an ice cube for her drink. Marcelle Richardson, 56, went to Bar Ballesta for a drink with a friend when she was left aghast at the bar ‘s peculiar policy. She said: “I ordered a coffee. “The waitress there mentioned that, because I ordered a coffee, they charge 10 cents per ice cube. “I was absolutely shocked, but I didn’t want to cause a fuss so I agreed to pay.” The manager of the bar in Benidoleig, Alicante told the Olive Press: “The charge for ice is only for our cold drinks. “For Coca Cola, juice, mineral water etc., there is no charge.” Have you been charged for ice? Get in touch at newsdesk@theolivepress.es