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YT voice inLIUG Spain THE START: The first edition of the Olive Press in 2006 ot tekcit yaw enO 4 egaP !liaj
March 26th - April 8th 2021
Lessons needed
15 years of fun
As the Olive Press reaches its 15th birthday, we recall a few of our favourite interviews and remember a couple of our top readers, such as ex-prime minister Rajoy (above) and prime joker Paul Gascoigne...
EXCLUSIVE: Private school warning after a convicted British paedophile moved to Spain, dodged criminal record checks and found work as an English teacher
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Vol. 8 Issue 186 www.theolivepress.es
EXPOSED: COSTA CONMAN
A PAIR of young girls paedophile PR guru Max Clifthe ford sexually assaulted on his Costa del Sol have led to
conviction. Clifford - a long-time visitor to the coast and involved in charities and local events of - has been found guilty eight counts of sexual assault, mostly on minors. on At least two were groomed in the coast, after being lured with promises of stardom. his He is pictured here with showbiz chum Kenny Lynch at a bash in Marbella.
See full story on page
By Tom Powell and Jamie Micklethwaite NiCOSTA del Sol fraudster out gel Goldman is hiding in a classic English country cottage under the false name ‘Howard del Monte’. Goldman - aka ‘Del Monte’ has also returned to the business of buying and selling it coins, stamps and antiques, can be revealed. Renting on a six month lease in the charming Berkshire village of Kintbury, he and
2
It’s MORE fun in the sun
Cartel behind Putin’s mystery costa home EXCLUSIVE
The Olive Press can reveal that the Russian President may have bought a multimilliona euro Marbella mansion with group of six businessmen.
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in BRITS are still happier Spain, despite reports suggesting 90,000 have abandoned the expat dream. An exclusive Olive Press survey found that more than three quarters of our readers are happier since making the move.
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River deep,high mountain Rob Horgan goes native in the Serrania de Ronda and discovers backroad the the Genal gems of Valley
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HERE are few places beer with in the general an army general world where Ronda, stands all the … you can Celebrating however, rounds!and even fewer drink bar El Porton,a recent is one of where those places. the ish Legionnaire an olé promotion After introducingCarlosaway from with friends Velo is Spain’s oldestin quintessential quail eggs eager to - Carlosme to the town’s Iraq, Afghanistan include bullring - Span(above) me in the the ‘best regales signature tapa and party. me with “I have place in the Bosnia before tales - jamon been all world’. explaining from toursand says, taking over why Ronda to back into a swig the world and seen is been to.” his face. from his cana many “But Ronda and Originally things,” is the pushing his he ago when from Madrid, best place glasses he joined Carlos its two I have moved ever naires national basesthe Spanish to Ronda at present. some 35 Legion, here, counting “The quality which years can live of life on around has one in Ronda of 800 legioneveryonelike a gentleman is like else. “Everything here, in nowhere else Madrid is affordable, ing from I would in Spain. I in your tapas bar just be if you like to tapas pocket. like “And the bar and you can spend scenery you will the still have day gois breathtaking,” change he adds. “The walks Continues
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They’re all in our new Property magazine out this week
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Removing the floor
A VICTORY for mortgage been awarded of Justice. owners by the European has The court Court mortgage has ruled that two holders to additional in million because refundsSpain are entitled from It came they paid too muchthe banks clauses’ due to the interest. fail to that saw most so-called Spanish ‘floor rowers lower their interest banks to match rates to the European the The court Central base rate setborruled that Bank. by that repayments it was entire life of should unfair time that the mortgage cover and continue interest rates during the to be. were low the When and loweredthe central bank economy to stimulate base rate was some repayments years the eurozone ago, mortgage 1.5% to should continued2%, howeverhave tracked it to many to pay The surprise 3.5% and borrowers be appealed. ruling is final more. Around and cannot now be two million timated set to receiveborrowers should to be worth repayments, billions of euros.es-
Little slice of home
BRITISH yours for gym The chic spree in expats are a cool London on bella, justnew addition England. and the a buy-to-let the latest east of the to Bahia According south east Marto mortgage of installed technology,town, includes International sound cant rise and underfloor there has lender Skipton system, with a prebeen a cent years.in expat investment The property, heating. solar panels signifiNew figures Properties, marketed over rereveal to-lets by Panorama with 24-hoursits in a gated community are in are in the UK40% of expats’ security. capital, buy“Pricesthe pricey south while 25% east. nificantlyin London ing that in the pasthave increased sigattractivecapital gainsfew years, have beenmeanmortgage for investors,” very “Expats director Nigel said Skipton Pascoe. ing and have many reasons the mostlong term investment for investThe trendimportant.” is usually has occurred come pats, easier to secure as it has who previously lending becredit checks for Some 35% and recentstruggled exwith of expats credit vestment cited long history. ing, while as their main term of their another 19% reason for inpension buyplan. said it was part
of Marbella
AND THE KING OF RENOVATION ALL JOBS
MALAGA €2 millionprovince’s second La Estrella project failed biggest castle to take being used castle is will finally during spread overoff almost a decade Spanish be renovated the filming 25,000 A project TV series which ago. after a of ‘Douglas,square metres features onset of to give the el Guardian and is the structure currently It now the global financial a face battle of Teba, de back on, lift was investigation, where Historia’ and will crisis. abandoned the castle – a improve structure. consolidate in 2008 lies. the wallsaccessibility, at the undertake and generally improvearcheological the existing
PAGE 13
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THERESA Britain won’tMay has vowed half out’ Brexitaccept a ‘half in, in a landmark speech that long-lasting is likely to have and all expatseffects on Gibraltar The Prime in Spain. Minister 12-point plan issued to take Britaina out of the ing Street EU, with Downlooking to single market scrap EU toms union and current cusIn the biggestaccess. month tenure,speech of her sixshe said: “To clear, what be not mean I am proposing canmembership single market.” of the She added longer give Britain would no EU, however‘huge sums’ to the Parliament she conceded that vote on the will have the final Maintainingdeal. the common travel area Kingdom between the United Ireland is and the Republic of EXCLUSIVE By Gabrielle the Brexit also a priority during Pickard-Whitehead However, negotiations. and Laurence the border Dollimore tar with Spain of GibralA BRITISH was not mentioned. after finding expat has called in police a late-night five of her dogs executed rushed to in The Guardiamassacre. the vets he Control later. died 30 minutes “We want ing the horrificCivil are now investigatin 2004, found An X-ray attack that migration to control our imof Illona Mitchell’s showed he also in their pens the five rescue shot through also May. “We from the EU,” said dogs shot Meanwhile, gouged out. horses with left one on January the roof of had a bullet the Reyes its eye his mouth. importance also recognise the (Three Kings). 6, the night of was The detectives one of Mitchell’s Her beloved also attacked, and the best of the brightest section Seprona from the environment seven-year-old of the friendliest eye may have so savagely12 horses coming here. told Dizzy, ‘one recognise it was one that its to be removed. We dogs you meet’ and the contribution Vets have of the worstMitchell, 48, that have made.” seen and were will ever four-year-old, been struggling attacks they shot dead a puppy called Maisie visibly shocked they had to treat the May is believed They have were he has named Rocco, Meanwhileat the gates of their become too permit system to favour a workpens. an eye on put on extra patrolsby it. nervous and because shot in their Coco and Domingo, Deeply traumatised the estate trigger Article as she looks to night. at weekendsto keep skittish. ing they had beds, with Mitchell were thankfully by the attack and at It comes as 50 by March. “I am sickened before being cowered in their believ- ter Ella, 11 was not seen by her - that as to why published the House of Lords would carry - Mitchell Coco, two, killed in cold blood.kennels so angry that continued:daughder closuredata showing a borbaric attack out such a cruel someone had been shot someone would “I am range between thing as with Spain and baron innocent, at put 40% animals,” week. would the eyes, point-blank animals.”disgusting as this do someyear-old Domingo defenceless she told the while threeto innocent braltar. of jobs at risk in GiThe mother-of-one, Olive Press was shot through side of his Mitchell, this her estate The 32 above, the tack is from Chester, believes They laterface. page-report, in mountains who bought linked on Gibraltar found Jack, the atnear Granada German Shepherd, ban hunters to her recent decision governmentbased a six-year-old dence, estimates evito under a nearby estate that from her huge 173-hectare having convulsions Rock’s 26,000 10,500 of the tree, but despite the Sierra sits in stunning scenery workers the border de Baza. crossed being in “A frontierdaily. Continues on Page necessary which lacked the Est 1984 4 fluidity would fore put directly Opinion therePage 6 at risk the of 40% of jobs Antiques, force,” said the Gibraltar workFor all your a spokesman. Jewellers May’s speech insurance & Pawnbrokers was cheered needs! Leave campaigners, A huge variety by pushing for who are a ‘hard’ Brexit. 1 carat diamondof over She said:“We adopt a model do not seek to jewellery. already enjoyed by other countries. HIGH STREET estepona@ibexinsure.com seek to hold We do not PRICES: 7,000 OUR PRICE: bership as on to bits of memChoose one we leave,” 1,500 - 2,000 €+ “The British said May. lens offers of our great € Fuengirola change. And people voted for or UNBEATABLE it off selected get 30% is the ment’s job frames to deliver it.” governfuengirola@ibexinsure.com WE BUY, WE PRICES GUARANTEED See our ad Opinion inside for PAY MORE, Page 6 details. Diamonds@anthonys-diamonds.c
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EAGLE-EYED readers helped Olive Press snag one of ain’s most BritWORDS AND PICS Spain, just wanted fugitives in By Rob Horgan been named.hours after he had Laurence and Dollimore Following Within an hour, the Olive suspected a tip off to the paper, al Crime Agency, team scrambled paedophile Press car, Sammon was Matthew the scene after the who arrived at Sammon learning from to Fuengirola, and remainedcovered his face campervan dragged from his “Well done Olivearrest. that he was another builder silent when currently questioned time raid in a dramatic night- thanks to the expat Press and out at the camped He by and whisked an unmarked was then the Olive Press. away in for tipping us off, thiscommunity After a dayferia ground. bundled into police car. son we run is the reaBMW and Working closely Londoner working nearby, the these the taken to Madrid duly arrived be Daniel Reid, with informant The dramatic campaigns.” English-plated to in his for fingerprinted and day had started firstly track we were able to when Crimestoppers cream Moncayo prepared extradition. campervan. annual list issued its Following to Fuengirola, down Sammon Parking up, of most wanted two Reid the arrest, father-ofGuardia Civil then call in the tives in Torremolinos fugias he took he looked relaxed said he was day morning. on Thursto see Sammon On the run to arrest him. ‘relieved’ around the his dog for a walk for two years, taken away. Leading “As soon as mon - a blackbelt spoke with feria ground and Sam- stories to hundreds neighbours. the most I saw his face among of press was wanted in Jujitsu around the Once identified, world and said Reid, wanted I felt sick,” ing indecent in the UK for shar-- on national television, we called Guardia Civil from the “I let the hunt and CrimestopHis seizure images of children. was immediately him hang Blackpool. pers and so around my began a tense dren, after he wascame just 10 hours But, it was to on. hour waiting chilthree- arms we took him in with tion Captura named in Opera- newspaper the popular local and at first sitting in the game, with Reid open and is the Olive Press were none wiser. recorded arrest quickest that expat plasterer Sky News car beside us. the reached out crime reporter in the joint Reid, 40, “But and Spanish tin Brunt was UK ‘do Mar- a bit we always thought the job to, trusting us to SUCCESS: “It was a police operation. he was weird, Eventually, soon there too. fantastic result,” In a seriesproperly’. never talks he’s a real loner and Steve Reynolds, Reynolds Reid, Horgan, and truly as night had well said sages, of Facebook from the Nationand Brunt “He creepedabout his family. he announced mes- as black BMWfell, an unmarked a mon, 45, much that my family out so plain clothes arrived and two had workedthat Sam- livinglabourer and was currently in a campervan Incredibly, I fired him.” detectives for him moved in the Mijas and for the arrest, swiftly evidence police did not take Fuengirolaaround cating his passport confis- cluding from his campervanany area. and phone. Frisking him his computer inat the side and other of the
Secret Malaga
SOARING
Hom
Calle Carretera,
Mafia town
How the CEO of organized crime corrupted a town hall PAGE 8
OLIVE PRESS
2020
GREEN SPACES
19th 2007
AN ecological hundreds nightmare, “This is parently of ancient oaks a cynical ap- attempt and botched Pulled upstand dead. around to create ambience roproject, for a huge golf the golf rie rows they line up inmac- create space,” course and said Somme. like war graves in ee- geon Kit Hogg. “I tree surthe very Many centuries am sure few trees will of these protected old, they been sacrifi have gusting.” survive. insatiable ced for Europe’s It is disdesire for holiday homes. golf and Despite ongoing stop the Part of work, EU efforts to costaficationthe unrelenting tions and investigaof Andalucia, guarantee – crucially – they sound no of water, the death nature conservation work at knell for Los Merinos, near Ronda ern Spain. in south- continues unchecked. the true This is price of golf.
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Here’s to the next 15!
BRITISH CONSUL CHARMAINE ARBOUIN
Fortnightly
OLIVE PRESS
LAUNCHES
Last stretches by new law, of pristine alongside coast endangered EXCLUSIVE inland beauty spots La Cala
EU steps in to investigate El Algorrobico hotel opening after Junta u-turn that “disgraces” Spain... while a pair of British pensioners watch as their house - which DID have a licence - is torn to the ground.
Selling Euros?
KAT’Z CAFÉ-BAR
IMPACT: Tracking down covering the devastatingcrooked Nigel Goldman (above) and Costa del Sol fire in 2012
The English language press plays a vital role in keeping nationals in Spain informed. UK we very much appreciate And your help in getting key messages out to UK nationals here. After an incredibly difficult year for so many of us, including many businesses, it is great to see the Olive Press thriving. We look forward to seeing what the next 15 years bring.
OH TO BE OLVERA IN
El Horrible opens
Goldman fled Spain last year amid accusations of fraud, leaving behind dozens of victims owed a total of €15 million. While he refused to answer questions, he seems happy living with Couling, her two the daughters and two cats in modest three-bedroom property. While the pair are Kintbury’s Suzanne hottest topic of conversation, UK bolthole and (top) with they are rarely seen and ‘keep HIDEOUT: Goldman’s ticket. themselves to themselves’. “I have nothing to say to you, with a parking why he Couling’s family live nearby but I look forward to meeting “I don’t understand if a trafhasn’t been arrested, in Hungerford. you again,” he called down. fic warden can find him then In fact, the secretive man surely the police can,” said from Del Monte is seemingly to the the neighbour, who wished only ever seen leaving Parking ticket remain anonymous. house to go to the post office. the village When the Olive Press con- His hair was disheveled, but “Everyone in whatfronted him in his country- he did not have the mous- knows he’s Goldman, under.” side retreat, Goldman refused tache some have claimed he ever name he goesdeleted his sporting as part of his Goldman, who to come to the door, instead is of is now Facebook account recently, briefly poking his head out disguise. currently being investigated his bedroom window. The previous morning, Coulthe for failing to return millions ing was seen leaving in his fihouse at 9am to load up their of euros to investors silver Vauxhall Zafira with nancial companies. told the Olive boxes and head off, possibly Various victimsare practically Press that they to a car boot sale. life destitute after losing their One neighbour explained that schemes, that the the day they moved into ar- savings to his house, a traffic warden Continues on Page 4 rived and issued the couple
On behalf of all at the British Embassy and Consulates, I want to wish huge congratulations at the to all Olive Press on your 15th anniversary.
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Where are they?
Press can EXCLUSIVE: The Olive Nigel reveal that convicted fraudster using Goldman is back in business Del Monte’ the false name ‘Howard his partner Suzanne Couling via are peddling their wares a joint Ebay account called ‘Bensons Emporium’. the Village post office staff told Olive Press that he regularly to collects parcels addressed ‘Del Monte’, and also ‘sends many packages’.
Mijas Costa OLIVE PRESS
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ROM its very first issue in 2006 the Olive Press has been paigning for its community. camWhether fighting for the environment or digging into crooks, we have taken some big scalps. Starting from Issue One (see top right) we highlighted the ridiculous plans to build 2000 houses, two golf courses and two hotels on UNESCO-protected land near Ronda, as well A decade and a half of campaigning the madness of building as exposed has a 350-room scored some big wins for monstrosity on a virgin the Olive Press beach in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata. Both schemes - Los Merinos, in Ron- maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel When da, and the Algarrobico it comes to corruption hotel, in Alme- Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing ria - went into reverse after the first English newspaper we were legends Ferran dirt-bag, Adria to write made the UK AND Spanishour stories in a localwho had a restaurant column about the ERE scandal and Gordon Ramsey. newspaper, which he used at the Junta national newspapers and green to de Andalucia that cost an estimated And it was nice to chat groups includ- cover his tracks. ing Greenpeace and Ecologistas billion euros to Ciudadanos leader en Ac- We also tackled timeshare crook Toni also tackled to the taxpayers, while we cion joined our protests. Albert town Muldoon, who certainly deserves a scale on dozens of hall theft on a local as the Rivera, as well And then there were the occasions. only newspaper crooks, like mention for conning thousands of Crimestoppers’ Most peo- Animal cruelty has been to be able to pose a Wanted Daniel ple and eventually went to prison a Johnston, a bank robber, for bugbear and we have exposedcontinual couple of questions setting up fake escort websites. so many to Sammon, a dangerous and Matthew Meanwhile, evil abusers, as well as Michelle Obama the paedophile, scoundrels our crime reporting on who on her who we single-handedly allowed hunters visit to Marbella a few missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick ‘blew open circus lions and tigers to kill innocent years ago. to a village near Sevilla tracked down the case’, and a car park at to use the words of her grandin Fuengirola. tremadura (see below). a finca in Ex- Indeed, the mother, while our continuing positives And fraudsters like David investigaOn a more positive far outweigh the negfront, it ‘the dogman’ tion into missing Maddie McCann Klein, pet transport has to interview everyone from was great atives and yielded exclusive after exclusive, with its ana’s ex-lover James HewettPrincess Di- prefer to bewe would frequent links to Spain. judged to cooking SUPPLEMENT ON ESTEPONA DON’T MISS OUR 20-PAGE SPECIAL over 50 rather than the 15 years. As far as we are conFREE cerned we have only just begun.
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“We worked together at the school for 18 months, took on private classes together going to the homes of some of the children for extracurricular teaching and ran a summer camp at the school during 2018,” said the Irish colleague, who is filled with horror at the access he had to children. The Olive Press has discovered that the day after sentencing in the UK he changed his name by deed poll from Ben David Lewis to Ben David, in a process that takes just 15 minutes. He then applied for and received a British passport in his new name, while he also presented a doctored photocopy of his Israeli passport stamped and verified by a non-existent law firm that showed his name as Ben David Rose. The Olive Press has seen photocopies of these, plus a teaching degree and Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) certificates presented in the name of Ben David Rose as well as certificates in his original name. What is amazing is that by April 2019 he had applied for a teaching job at a leading private school in the upmarket Arturo Soria district that teaches the British curriculum to the children of Madrid’s elite. By now he also had a DBS certificate (a criminal record check in the UK) in the name of Ben David Rose on a request from a company called Grupo Estudiantes that he had formed himself. That DBS certificate, which the Olive Press believes could
...meanwhile, we spend time at the home of the world’s most famous plumber as he announces he’s becoming a Spanish citizen, after 15 years here and losing €15m to his ex-wives...
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Horrified
The
then and was offered the job after another teacher dropped out mid-term,” a former colleague Natasha Fitzsimons told the Olive Press. “I think they were desperate to fill the position so maybe they weren’t as thorough as they should have been.
The
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DANGER: Lewis got teaching post
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fences at Centro Penitenciario Madrid V, managed to hoodwink TWO schools and a language academy after creating a new identity, using forged documents. Former colleagues of the sex offender revealed that he created a new name to dodge criminal record checks in order to run summer camps and teach private classes to young children. He had changed his name to Ben David after being convicted in June 2016 of taking and possessing indecent images of children in England. As well as being placed on the sex offender list and being handed a two-year suspended sentence, he was barred from leaving the country or working with children. Yet within weeks he had moved to Spain and found work in Zaragoza as a live-in au pair to a family with three young children. The following year he relocated to Madrid and began teaching children at a well-known language academy after getting a criminal record check from Zaragoza police to show he had no convictions in Spain over the previous 12 months. Then in December 2017 he accepted a job as an English teacher at a leading semi-private (concertado) secondary Portals Nous, school that receives 07181, subsidies from the state. Mallorca. “He was going by the name Ben David by
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NAMES: two different passports
Fiona Govan in Madrid
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INTERNATIONAL schools around Spain have been put on high alert after a British man began teaching at one of Madrid’s most exclusive colleges months after being convicted in the UK. Questions have been raised after Ben Lewis, 31, was able to work at the school despite being on the UK’s sex offenders register. The Olive Press has discovered that Lewis, who is now awaiting trial for child sex of-
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CRIME
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SEEN HIM?
Mercy flight
BRITISH police are appealing to expats in Spain in the belief someone in the country may hold the key to solving a 27-year-old cold case. Karen Reed, 33, was shot five times after answering the door at her home in Woking on April 30, 1994, to a hitman disguised as a pizza delivery driver. “Intelligence from the original investigation suggested that suspects involved in the murder could have left for Spain in order to lie low from police,” DI Gareth Hicks of Surrey police told the Olive Press.
AN 18-MONTH-OLD baby was airlifted by the Air Force from Son Espases to Barcelona’s Vall d'Hebron hospital after going into respiratory arrest. The child is reportedly now stable in hospital.
Van catch A FISHMONGER’S van was stolen whilst he was making a delivery at the Son Ferriol fish market in Palma. Police say the suspect jumped into the white Citroen after spotting the keys were still in the ignition.
Tragic tractor AN ELDERLY man has died after overturning the tractor he was driving down the Ma-5101 highway in Vilafranca. The 81-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Betrayed trust A MAN has been jailed for two years after admitting to sexually abusing his 13-year-old cousin at their family home in the capital. The court heard how the man assaulted the youngster while she was sleeping.
March 26th - April 8th 2021
Kidnap attempt
VICTIM: Karen Reed and (left) the suspect
Investigators believe it was a contract killing but that the intended target may have been Ms Reed’s sister, Alison Pointing, whose husband was jailed for murdering a former Chechnyan prime minister and his brother. Call Crimestoppers from Spain on 900 555 111.
Best friends
A TRUCE has been reached between a gypsy clan and a group of migrants after a ‘war’ broke out over drugs. In the latest in a series of violent incidents a young African man was brutally assaulted in the capital. A video shared online showed the victim being circled by a
Gypsies and African migrants call off hostilities By Isha Sesay
group of gypsies on the terrace of a bar in the Son Gotleu district.
A BANK manager has been arrested for allegedly handing over the personal information of his clients to a criminal gang. Investigators say the man, aged 42, has worked in a well-known bank in Manacor for several years. He is accused of supplying the crooks with data from over 40 of his clients, which was then used to apply for loans. Once accepted, the requested money was transferred to one of the gang member’s bank accounts and then immediately
Wielding large sticks, the group pushed him to the ground and gave him a severe beating. Last week, a different African man was left seriously injured after a group of gypsies pounced
Bent bank manager withdrawn. Police estimate that more than €130,000 was swindled by the group. Alongside the bank employee, a 37-yearold man and a 42-year-old woman were also arrested. All three detainees have been charged with fraud and belonging to a criminal group.
on him outside a bar with sticks, chains and a machete. Tensions have been growing in recent months between Africans and gypsies living in Son Gotleu, allegedly over the control and distribution of drugs. In the footage of the latest incident, the president of the Balearic Federation of Gypsies, Carlos Cortes Rado, also known as 'El Charly', can be seen trying to protect the African from further harm, asking the gypsies to put down their weapons. He later asked to meet with Africans living in the district. After several hours of discussions, both parties signed a ‘peace agreement’ which said that regular meetings would be held to ‘maintain a peaceful coexistence’. Both sides hope the truce will hold.
A MAN is wanted by police in connection to the attempted kidnapping of a child - the latest in a series of attempted abductions. According to officers, the girl had been playing with her friends in Cala d’Or when a man pulled his vehicle up beside the group and demanded that the girl get inside his car so he could ‘take her home’. She refused and ran away with her friends. The suspect has been described as a middle aged man driving a white van. In recent months, there has been a spate of attempted kidnappings across the island. In October, a man reportedly attempted to abduct a girl, aged nine, outsidean English academy in Santa Maria. Weeks later, a man attempted to kidnap two children as they were walking home from school in Montuiri. Two men also targeted a young boy outside a school in Palma.
Porn games PORN maker Nacho Vidal has been charged with the homicide of a professional photographer who died during a ritualistic ‘toad venom sniffing’ session in Valencia, which was supposed to help him overcome his cocaine addiction.
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March 26th - April 8th 2021
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Flushed with success EXCLUSIVE
He can afford to holiday anywhere in the world. But Charlie Mullins, plumber to the stars, wouldn’t swap the Costa del Sol idyll he bought into 15 years ago - at the same time as the Olive Press launched - for all the builder’s tea in Britain. Kirsty McKenzie finds out why over a brew at his palatial mansion
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LIVING LA VIDA: Charlie in his Spanish home
Raising the bar The Olive Press is a professional newspaper, with some very interesting articles. We are very fortunate that they are extending the coverage around Spain. I wish them every success and you have my total support.
Jennifer Cunningham – Spain’s leading female insurance agent
HEN Charlie Mullins invites you round for a cuppa the first thing you’re dying to do is visit the loo. Who wouldn’t want to snoop inside the bathroom of Britain’s richest plumbing boss whose firm looks after the lavatories of the rich and famous: Dames Judy and Helen, Sir Richard Branson, Hugh Grant and Joanna Lumley (who also does his TV commercials). And let me tell you, it doesn’t disappoint. Even the one here in Spain, in La Cala de Mijas. Glossy white doors swing open to reveal a shimmering magenta temple of calm with monogrammed towels, a giant bathtub and rubber duckies. There’s sparkling silver all over the villa, and acres of black, purple and grey; signed football shirts won at charity auctions line the walls; ornamental skeletons and glittering panthers artfully placed. Welcome to Casa de Charlie where the living is, well …spectacular … as befitting the 68-year-old majority shareholder of London’s Pimlico Plumbers, whose net worth is over £70 million and counting... Londoner Charlie made the blue-collar job sexy in the city, with smart uniforms, liveried vans and a touch of lavatory humour - plumbing-themed number plates (LAV 1, F1USH). Today his empire stretches from Lambeth to Mijas - not bad for a council estate lad who left school at 15 with no qualifications. This time next year he could even be London’s Mayor, having announced his candidacy as an Independent in the May 6 elections. I find the plumbing Pasha reclining on a pristine white sunbed dressed head-to-toe in Dolce
and Gabbana - pink ny to think that with all shorts, white brandhis money and celebrity ed tee; a blue signet pals, he’d rather watch ring emblazoned with a Rod Stewart doppela C glints on his pinkie. ganger over a pint with his “Drink?” he asks. “I’ll have buddies in Spain than live it what you’re having.” “Double large with the real deal in Lonscotch, then?” he jokes. We setdon. tle for milky builder’s tea served “I’ve seen the real Rod, course in a latte glass. “My favourite,” I have. But I have more friends beams the holder of the first in Spain than in the UK, I’m very OBE ever awarded for services at home here,” he says with feelto plumbing. ing. ‘I bought this place for the kids He has his lawyers working on a 15 years ago,” he tells me as way for him to stay longer than we move into the kitchen, more three months in any six and say gleaming white surfaces, stat‘Bollocks to Brexit’ – to quote ues and glamour. He used to the slogan on the giant sign he own the villa next put on the comdoor but sold it pany rooftop in after his 40-year Lambeth. I have more marriage to their An ardent Brefriends in Spain mainer and big mother ended. Though still raw Tory donor (as than in the from his second well as busidivorce (if I had UK, I’m very at ness advisor a swig of scotch and plumber to home here for every time he David Camermentioned his on and George two ex-wives, I’d Osborne), he be on the bathroom floor by switched sides and poured milnow), family makes up for it – lions into the Lib Dem campaign two sons, two daughters, the to stop Brexit. 10 grandchildren they’ve given Charlie courts controversy and him, and years of happy holiday limelight in equal measure. He’s memories. starred on The Secret Million“They love coming to Spain,” says aire, and is a regular fixture on Charlie, who’s totally smitten on Jeremy Vine and Good Morning the country and has his eye on a Britain. “It’s just good business sea view mansion in La Cala. sense. I worked that out 30 odd “I love the restaurant La Sala years ago,” he says - though and Legends,” he raves. “The some of his business practices entertainment here, you can’t beat it. I love heading out and watching all the tribute acts. Can you guess my favourite?” he grins, raking a hand through his spikey blonde-highlighted mane. Yes, I tell him. (He could be a tribute act himself.) But it’s fun-
have been panned in the press: his ‘no jabs, no jobs’ dictat to anti-vaxxers on the payroll; letting go of 30 staff who didn’t return to work after their furlough payments ended; his extortionate £180-an-hour call-out fees, his mainly self-employed workforce and the way he keeps tabs on them via trackers fitted in the vans they have to rent from him.
Backlash
Does he mind the backlash? “People get the wrong idea of me, they think I only do things for money but that’s not true. I just think people should work hard.” The money’s still rolling in. “We’re up 20% from the good times,” he says brightly. “I’m not lying!” he adds, a phrase he often uses after saying something a bit smug. As for becoming a Spanish citizen, he is definitely going ahead, he told the Olive Press exclusively. “My people are sorting it out for me. I’d hate to not be here, I really would. I’d miss the weather!”
4 www.theolivepress.es Paedo teacher From Front
be fake, allowed him to work with children and stated he was ‘clear of any previous convictions’. It is unclear how he was able to secure this certificate as in a normal DBS check you need to provide all your addresses for the previous five years, your National Insurance number, your passport and your driving licence. But his masquerade came to a shattering end when on June 24 last year police arrested him after cameras were found in the children’s changing rooms at his new school.
No idea
They then searched his home, a shared rented flat in the Las Tablas suburb, north of Madrid. “I had absolutely no idea about his previous conviction when the police arrived at the door and searched the flat,” said a former flatmate, who spoke to the Olive Press anonymously this week. “I subsequently discovered he had hidden laptops, mobile phones and memory cards in our shared basement lock up as well as lots of documents. “I found both the originals and the ones he had forged. I handed them all over to police,” she said. “He was an utterly convincing liar, and it is just terrifying that I lived with him for several years and had no idea who he really was, and the disgusting things he was up to,” she said. Fellow teachers at his former school this week demanded action to tighten up rules and to investigate how easily he was able to dupe authorities and gain access to children. “The whole criminal records check is obviously flawed here in Spain and clearly ripe for abuse by those very people that need SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Real to be kept away from and fake certificates kids,” said one.
NEWS
March 26th - April 8th 2021
Grisly discovery
Doors closed
A DOG that had been trapped inside a Palma flat for four months is thought to have survived by eating its dead owner. Police were called to the Son Gotleu district after neighbours reported that there was an unpleasant smell coming from the apartment. Officers found the remains of the homeowner - confirmed as a 38-year-old woman - as well as her pet, which had managed to survive. Investigators say the woman had probably died of natural causes, with a time of death set at four months ago. Efforts are now being made to trace the woman’s next of kin and the dog is being cared for at an animal shelter.
THE Balearic government has ordered the interior areas of bars and restaurants to close in Mallorca. In response to a surge in coronavirus cases on the island, only terraces will be open to the public. This measure will come into force from today (Friday) and stay in place until at least April 11. Balearics President Francina Armengol asked for ‘responsibility from all’ to prevent further infections. “If there is a new wave of cases, new decisions will be made,” warned Armengol.
Bye, bye Franco
Legacy of Franco being ‘erased’ from Palma PALMA is working to wipe out the memory of dictator Franco by renaming 12 streets at a cost of €40,000. Mayor Jose Hila said that ‘erasing Franco's heritage from the streets was not only a legal obligation, but also a moral obligation towards his victims’. Amongst the changes will be Avinguda Joan March, which
will now be known as Avinguda Gran i General Consell. This pays homage to the main governing institution during the Kingdom of Mallorca and puts Joan March to rest. He was once one of the richest men in Spain and was known to be Franco’s personal banker. The remaining 11 streets will be named after famous cartographers, musicians, poets and politicians from the Second Republic, including anarchist Federica Montseny. The Council’s move has however received criticism after being slammed as ‘unnecessary’ and ‘mistreating history’. One person not in favour of the
changes was Toledo mayor, Milagros Tolon, who vented his anger to the mayor over Twitter that Carrer de Toledo was being wiped off the map.
Regime
He said: “I have proposed that it continues to have a street named after it in Palma.” Some 1,800 people died under the Franco regime in Mallorca with the remains of some of the victims found in recent weeks. “We will continue to change street names, open graves and identify bodies so that we can return them to their families,” said Hila.
Travel ban enforced THE Balearic government has said that the region will be under a ‘perimeter closure’ from today (Friday). This means that entry into and out of the Balearic Islands will be prohibited unless for a justified cause such as health or work. This rule does not apply to international tourists but only domestic travellers – meaning those that want to travel to the archipelago from another region in Spain (and vice-versa). Inter-island travel by Balearic residents between Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca will be permitted. Meanwhile, 30% of Easter hotel bookings have been cancelled in Mallorca as a result of the German government ordering all those that travel abroad to present a negative PCR upon their return.
At risk
Despite the German government advising against all non-essential travel, its removal of the Balearics from its list of ‘at risk areas’ initially caused an avalanche in bookings to the archipelago. This in turn led to airlines increasing their offer exponentially. In the coming weeks, TUI expects to schedule more than 300 return flights between Germany and the Balearic Islands. Meanwhile, Ryanair has added 200 more flights and Eurowings scheduled another 300 connections.
Missing expat teen A BRITISH teenager has been reported missing in Mallorca after vanishing from outside her school. Taya O’Loughlin, aged 14, went missing around 8am on Tuesday. She was last spotted outside the Ramon Llull secondary school in Palma with a Spanish girl that according to Diario de Mallorca, lives in a
children’s care home. It is understood that her mother reported her disappearance to Policia Nacional at 3pm that day. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing black trousers, a grey top and was carrying a black rucksack that had flower patterns on it. She is described as being 5ft 8in tall and weighing 66 kilos..
Anyone with information on Taya’s whereabouts is urged to call the police.
Part of life! THE Olive Press has been part of life for us all for many years. For someone like me, who has travelled extensively and seen the media at its best and worse, it was certainly refreshing to find a high quality local periodical, which was factual, impartial, interesting and progressive, for once. Spain and the Costa Del Sol, in particular, is a diverse and multicultural region, with a transient community enjoying a free and open lifestyle, which also brings its own set of problems. With many challenges in the last year, such as Brexit with all of its ramifications and much mis-information, followed by the pandemic, with its myriad of problems, accurate reporting is essential. With a large foreign readership, for me it is important to reflect what is happening in an open and professional manner, which the Olive Press has succeeded in doing. So well done and let me take this opportunity to congratulate Jon and his team on their 15th Anniversary and may there be many more.
Derek A. Langley Regional Vice–President British Chamber of Commerce in Spain
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www.theolivepress.es Voted Voted top top expat expat paper paper in in Spain Spain
A A campaigning, campaigning, community community newspaper, newspaper, the theOlive OlivePress Press represents represents the huge expatriate expatriate community communityininSpain Spainwith withan an estimated estimated readership, readership, including including the the websites, websites, of more of more than than two million two million people people a month. a month.
OPINION Parents’ nightmare IMAGINE being a parent contacted by police to say that your child has been identified from photographs uploaded and traded between paedophiles on the dark web? Now imagine that the person who took those photos was a trusted teacher at your child’s school, a teacher you had invited into your home to give your child extra English classes? And if the horror of that scenario isn’t enough, then imagine finding out that that teacher had done the same before, been prosecuted and put on a sex offender list and banned from working with children? This latest case in Madrid has highlighted just how weak the system is at identifying and protecting our most vulnerable from those who want to abuse them. It has revealed just how easy it is for a known paedophile to escape his past crimes, create a new identity and produce documents convincing enough to be hired at an expensive private school. Last year alone, data from 16 police forces across the UK showed that 913 sex offenders had gone missing. At a time when bilingual education has become so prized that hundreds of native English teachers are hired each year to work in schools across Spain, we need more vigorous checks in place to ensure another one can’t slip through the net.
Merry go round Political shenanigans that kicked off with a failed coup in Murcia threaten to reshape the political landscape from Madrid where elections will be held on May 4 to the Valenciana Community where regional head of the Ciudadanos party resigned last week as his party slides slowly but surely towards electoral oblivion. Instability and uncertainty is the last thing needed in Spain right now as fears of a fourth wave loom just as the country is preparing to open up again to foreign tourism. Isn’t it about time Spain’s elected representatives put a stop to the petty political infighting and focus on the bigger picture?
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Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.
NEWS FEATURE
All change! They say that a week is a long time in politics… and that adage runs particularly true in Spain, writes Fiona Govan
SPAIN has seen an intense period of tumultuous political drama that started with a falling out between coalition partners in the southern region of Murcia, sparking a series of repercussions that could see a reshaping of the Spanish political scene entirely. Tensions had been brewing in Murcia where a series of corruption scandals involving the conservative Popular Party (PP) and allegations of jumping the coronavirus vaccination queue led to a rebellion by junior coalition partner, centrist party Ciudadanos. Ciudadanos, the party that soared in the polls when it went national in 2014 on a market-friendly, anti-corruption platform which sought to wipe out the traditional leftright divide and occupy the centre ground, had allied with the PSOE in an attempt to oust the PP from power in a region where it has ruled for 26 years by calling a no confidence vote. The attempted coup ultimately failed when on Thursday afternoon the regional chamber, with the support of Vox and three Ciudadanos deputies who rebelled against the
CHANGING FACES OF POWER: (from left to right) Iñigo Errejon, Pablo Iglesias, Pedro Sanchez, Isabel Ayuso, Pablo Casado and Santiago Abascal party line and were thrown out of their party, voted in favour of the PP. But the wrecking ball had already been set in motion and the true battlefield shifted 400km north to Madrid. Fearing a similar move in Madrid, where the PP governs with fragile support from Ciudadanos, conservative leader Isabel Ayuso took a gamble; she dissolved the regional government triggering snap elections set for May 4. But the shockwaves didn’t end there. In a
surprise move, the pony-tailed Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias announced on Monday that he would step down from his role in national politics and as Deputy Prime Minister in Pedro Sanchez’s coalition government to lead the challenge of the Left in Madrid. This is the party that grew out of the indignado movement in the wake of Spain’s economic crisis to become a dazzling new force in Spain dedicated to tackling corruption and fighting austerity.
Fight for the vote The 15-year cut-off date that prevents an estimated one million overseas Brits from voting in the UK parliamentary election is about to be scrapped, writes Sue Wilson of Bremain in Spain
U
NLESS you were paying very close attention, you may have missed a reference to our voting rights in UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s recent Budget announcement. Hidden away in the small print on page 48 was the following government statement: “Overseas Electors – The government is providing an additional £2.5million to remove the limit preventing British citizens who live overseas from voting after 15 years.” This welcome news followed a recent announcement that the government’s manifesto commitment – to scrap the 15-year rule – would be included in the forthcoming Electoral Integrity Bill, expected to be laid before parliament later this year. The 2019 Conservative manifesto stated, “We will make it easier for British expats to vote in Parliamentary elections, and get rid of the arbitrary 15-year limit on their voting rights”. Although the news of the bill and budget commitments were largely welcomed, there was naturally considerable scepticism too. Brits long denied their democratic voting rights were quick to point out the failed government promises of the past. This was not, after all, the first time such a manifesto promise had been made. Nor the second. Over 5 million UK nationals around the world have been denied their right to vote, some for years, if not decades. For the last 25 years, veteran campaigner, Harry Shindler, MBE, has been c h a mp i o n i n g the fight for his right to vote in British elections. Harry,
who has lived in Italy for 40 years and will turn 100 in July, does not share the scepticism felt by many. He told me: “This government, unlike others that were in power before, have the numbers to make it happen.” When I asked him what he would say to those that doubted the government’s word, he replied: “Have faith! This thing will happen after 25 years of campaigning. With the promises made this time, I have every confidence.” Harry is so confident, in fact, that he is already planning a celebratory dinner in Westminster for when his decades-long fight is finally over. The Electoral Integrity Bill’s passage through parliament may not be quite as straightforward as the government would hope, as it includes controversial proposals regarding the need for ID when casting ballots. Despite government claims that the new measures will “strengthen the integrity of UK elections”, campaigners disagree, claiming that millions will be prevented from exercising their right to vote. The government claims the new ID cards would prevent electoral fraud. However, an Electoral Commission report suggested there was no evidence of electoral fraud in the last general election. Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society said, “rather than pulling up the drawbridge to large groups of voters, ministers should deal with bringing in the nine million people who are missing from the electoral register”. British citizens living abroad make up a significant portion of those “missing” from the register. After the 2015 general election, the government made a
SEASONED CAMPAIGNER: Harry Shindler commitment to scrapping the 15-year rule. The following year, they produced a policy document entitled “A democracy that works for everyone”. In 2017, a further promise appeared in the Conservative Party Manifesto, followed by the “Overseas Voters Bill 2017-2019”. The bill failed when it was “talked out” by serial filibusterer, Tory MP Philip Davies – not because he was opposed to the concept, but because he was against Private Members Bills on principle. I remember it well – I was observing firsthand from the public gallery of the House of Commons. What is different this time is that the new bill is a government-sponsored bill, which cannot therefore be ‘talked out’. Not to mention that we have the budget commitment for additional funding, and the government has an 80-seat majority. In correspondence received from the Cabinet Office in 2020, the government recognised our strong links with our homeland. They said that ‘most British citizens overseas retain deep ties to the United Kingdom’. “Many still have family there, some will return there, others are drawing a British pension after a lifetime of hard work and some have fought for our country”.
March 26th - April 8th 2021
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Are you with the With the battle lines drawn for an ideologically charged fight for the capital, Ayuso introduced the slogan “Communism or Liberty”. The move has set Madrid for a clash against the polarised forces of Left and Right, sending Ciudadanos plummeting towards electoral oblivion and driving the PP further into the arms of the far-right Vox, led by Santiago Abascal, if it is to have any hope of maintaining power in the region.
Judeans People Front?
“If I have to make a pact, I have no problem with Vox,” said Ayuso, who has forged a reputation as a maverick defying the leftist central government and health authorities by keeping bars and shops open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a pact will be uncomfortable for Pablo Casado, national head of the party and leader of the opposition, who has made efforts to present a more moderate face and distance the party from the extreme views of Vox. Meanwhile the Socialists will launch their own bid for Madrid, where they came first in the previous elections but failed to find support to pull together a government. The repercussions don’t end with Madrid as Ciudadanos’ waning power could have significance in both Andalucia and CastillaLeon where they are in coalition with the PP to rule. The governments’ in both regions have so far insisted the pacts remain valid. In fact, the Popular Party and Ciudadanos strengthened their commitment to the coalition in Andalucia, where they joined forces in 2018 to end almost 37 years of uninterrupted rule by the Socialists, by signing a five-point agreement not to waver from the pact. But back in Madrid, the far left itself is fractured. On Tuesday, Más Madrid – a breakaway group led by Iglesias’ former wingman Iñigo Errejon – refused the offer to join forces with Podemos and run together on a joint far left list. For any fans of Monty Python’s Life of Brian the situation is laughably familiar but ultimately depressing for those who fear Ayuso
I await, with interest, a response to my latest enquiries asking the Cabinet Office for an update. The right to vote is widely recognised as a fundamental human right. Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives”. Since Brexit, our voting rights have been further diminished, and our voices further silenced. All the more reason to continue the fight to restore our lost UK voting rights. I confess to a hint of scepticism, but it’s hard not to be lifted by Harry’s optimism and faith. Not to mention his energy and commitment, despite his long struggle and his age. He asked me to pass on his appreciation to all those that have lobbied their MPs or joined his campaign. He said he was “proud of us all” and added that we have “reached the top of the mountain”. Let’s hope that the view from the summit is the one we hoped to see.
The Olive Press has been an important communication channel for us for the last 15 years along the Costa del Sol. The Metro Grupo wishes them continued success and resilience in our changing times, and continued success with their expansion throughout Spain.
Sue Wilson is the Chair of Bremain in Spain, a group that campaigns to protect the rights of British migrants living in Spain & across Europe.
Karen Wolfson Director of Marketing, MetroGrupo
is unstoppable. “Are you the Judeans People Front?” asks Brian. “F**K off! We’re the People’s Front of Judea.”
What the polls say
The latest opinion poll by GAD3 currently predicts a win for Isabel Ayuso and the conservative People’s Party (PP) with over 40% support among likely voters, about double the result in the previous election in May 2019. This would win them between 6062 seats but still falls short of the 69 seats needed to form a majority government. This is well ahead of Spain’s main ruling Socialist Party which scores 24% of voter share or between 35 and 37 seats, down from 27% at the last election. Vox looks set to win 7.9% of the vote (between 10 and 12 seats), a slight drop from the 8.9% in 2019. Ciudadanos looks set for electoral oblivion scoring only 1.9% support of potential voters, a whopping drop from the 19.4% share and 26 seats it won in the last election. This is below the 5% share needed to secure a presence in the regional parliament. Mas Madrid drops 9.2% (13-14 seats) from the 14.6% (20 seats) it won in 2019 while Podemos looks set to double its share of support from 5% to 10.9% (winning 14.15 seats). If results fall along these lines then the likely result would be a PP government with the support of Vox as a leftist group involving PSOE, Podemos and Mas Madrid still wouldn’t reach 50 percent of the seats.
T
HE past 15 years since the inception of the Olive Press have seen tumultuous times. The financial crisis has come and gone, Brexit reared its ugly head and now the COVID pandemic is in full swing. And the Olive Press website has been there through every step of the way. Bringing Spanish news to a world-wide audience on a 24/7 basis www.theolivepress.es has grown from a sapling into a fully grown tree. From a standing start in 2006, it rapidly grew until it took its place not just as the premiere English language news website in Spain - but also became a player on the world stage. According to INFLUENTIAL: Our good work is Amazon’s Alexa. widely recognised com, by 2018 the site was ranked at an incredible 9,079th place out of more than 2 million websites in Spain. Meanwhile our domain authority sits at a steady 67 to 70/100 and last year we welcomed 22 MILLION visitors to our site.
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What’s more they all came to read about Spain, for we don’t give them the latest gossip from Coronation Street, British royal tittle tattle or criminals being arrested in New Zealand, as some of our downmarket rivals in Spain do. Since the Olive Press website went behind a paywall, our numbers have inevitably dipped, but we still get an amazing 20,000-plus visits a day. And that’s without any tourists coming to Spain. With registered users steadily growing - 18,000 people have so far signed up for our daily newsletter, which is crammed full of the latest news - we are confident that we will keep on gathering new fans over the next few years. So, from everyone at the Olive Press, a big thankyou to all our readers who have made this possible - and we pledge to keep you in the know for the next 15 years and beyond.
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
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Everything Brits can do to avoid getting 1- caught out by 90-day rule as March 31 looms (4,726 views) driver found hiding in hedge from po2-liceBritish after delivery driver killed in horror crash on Spain’s Costa del Sol (4,674 views)
Here’s to 15 more Happy birthday to the Olive Press and congratulations for surviving through these difficult times. Here’s to the next 15 years and more! Andy Chapell & Pauline Elkin Owners of Molino del Santo hotel
Andalucia to review restrictions 3-onSpain’s and perimetral lockdowns between regions March 18 for possible travel over Easter (4,291 views)
of British expats in Spain re4- Thousands main exposed and unprotected since Brexit (3,826 views) is when the clocks go forward in Spain 5- This in 2021 and why it might be the last time (3,771 views)
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SPANISH airline Air Nostrum is in line to receive €42 million of European Union COVID recovery funds to convert its fleet to electric. With car companies gradually making the switch from petrol and diesel to electric, planes would be the next logical step, as they are responsible for a huge percentage of
PLUG AND FLY carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Air Nostrum, part of the Iberia Regional fleet, announced this week that it has teamed
up with fellow Spanish airline Volotea – based in Asturias, northern Spain – and new start-up Dante Aeronautical to electrify their short and medium-range planes. The goal is to reach zero emissions by 2026, with the first functional electric plane scheduled to enter service as early as 2024.
Green matters By Martin Tye
March 26th - April 8th 2021 In a new green column, Martin Tye asks are you aware that Spain is the Dirty Man of Europe?
WHO GIVES A S**T?
Beach sweep T AT only 17-years-old, Nikki Wegloop is already president of a charitable foundation and is convinced that she has the power to save the world, or at least clean up her corner of it. “It’s extraordinary how much you can achieve with a group of volunteers in just a few hours,” she tells the Olive Press by phone as she rides the school bus home to Mijas Costa. “When you first get to the beach you think ‘oh it’s quite clean’ but then you look closer and you start to see all the waste. It renders you speechless really. We collect anything between 300 and 800 kilos of plastic rubbish in one session, it really is amazing.”
The Costas have their very own Greta Thunberg. Fiona Govan chats to a teenage environmentalist from Mijas who is encouraging locals to help her rid the seas of plastic pollution
HOW DO WE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE?
Plastic
Nikki and her mother Natasha are the Dutch pair behind Mi Moana which works with town halls to organise beach clean ups that take place on a different playa across the Costa del Sol each month. Volunteers comb the beach collecting detritus and divers scour the marine floor, bagging up the rubbish for recycling. “We recently picked up 800kg of wet wipes that came through a sewage pipe and collected around the galleon, a popular dive site off the beach in Marbella,” explained Natasha, who has been working as an estate agent after arriving in Spain 14 years ago. “People don’t seem to realise
HE theme of this week’s column is not about cleaning up dog poop, but more about the indifference of the human race. My inspiration did, however, come from the amount of dog waste left outside my office in San Pedro de Alcantara, where every morning I have to navigate a street littered with dog poo. The owners of dogs live in the immediate neighbourhood … so why don’t they clean up after their treasured pet? Do they all have bad backs? No ... put simply, they can’t be bothered. The apathy of the human race really is a tragic worldwide pandemic. Did you know it is easy to calculate the time it takes to eat a Big Mac? Approximately 1.8 kilometres. The discarded wrappers appear then by the side of the road. How sad.
ALTRUISTIC: Volunteers hard at work that wet wipes aren’t biodegradable, whatever the packet says, and they float around for years and years. “We also find a lot of q-tips and endless cigarette butts littered across the beach – sometimes 600 to 700 butts on one stretch of beach. And these contain plastics.” The pandemic has also brought new challenges. “When lockdown first happened there was obvious improvement, the beaches were cleaner because people couldn’t go. “But now we find discarded masks, plastic gloves and small
Zpeeding along SPAIN’S National Police has added 300 environmentally-friendly ‘Z cars’ to its fleet of vehicles. The plug-in hybrids will be rolled out along with the installation of another 200 charging points at police buildings nationwide. Known as ‘Type Z’ radio patrol cars, they are modified Peugeot 3008s that use electric power in urban areas and switch to petrol on the open road.
plastic bottles used to contain hand sanitizer,” said Nikki who admits she feels different from most people her age, who are more interested in taking selfies to post on social media. “When I go to a place and look around I don’t see the beauty anymore, I see the rubbish. When I dive, it’s not the fish I notice first but the plastic floating around them,” she says. But there are still reasons to be optimistic. “I feel like we can make a difference. As a society we are improving slowly, there is still a lot of work to do but more and more people are joining in and adopting the right mindset. We just organise the event, it’s the volunteers that come and do all the hard work.” The next beach clear up event takes place at Mistral Beach, Puerto Banus on Saturday March 20. For more information and to sign up to future events visit MiMoana Facebook page.
In the 1960’s, an organisation called Keep Britain Tidy was launched. Through the use of high profile celebrities like Abba (below), the government backed charity spread the message well. Numerous endeavours to reduce litter, improve local places and prevent waste were instigated. Has it worked? To a point yes, but looking at the litter issue in the UK and around the world, you could be forgiven for thinking the end result is the same.
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It’s easy for me to write and moan about this issue. I can, however, offer a solution. One that the very people this article is written about would largely support. Until they receive punishment. I believe that actions should have consequences. Take Singapore as an example. Singapore has a habit of banning what it sees as undesirable behaviour and enforcing each ban with financial penalties. So they issued tens of thousands of fines a year for littering. The minimum fine was 200 euros. The 1960s Keep Singapore Clean campaign was solid. It believed that improved environmental conditions would not only enhance quality of life but it would cultivate national pride AND also attract foreign investors and tourists. Isn’t that what Spain wants? Singapore started a ‘broom brigade’ of 7000 day labourers, alongside the litter campaign, in the 1960s. By 1990, only 2000 people were needed. Now it’s fewer. Spain has massive unemployment, particularly in the under 30 age group. Follow my thought process? I believe Spain’s regions have an abundance of labour resources. Use them better. And ... make the FINE FIT THE CRIME. 100% Certified Green Energy
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A decade and a half of campaigning has scored some big wins for the Olive Press
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IMPACT: Tracking down crooked Nigel Goldman (above) and covering the devastating Costa del Sol fire in 2012
On behalf of all at the British Embassy and Consulates, I want to wish huge congratulations to all at the Olive Press on your 15th anniversary. The English language press plays a vital role in keeping UK nationals in Spain informed. And we very much appreciate your help in getting key messages out to UK nationals here. After an incredibly difficult year for so many of us, including many businesses, it is great to see the Olive Press thriving. We look forward to seeing what the next 15 years bring.
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Within an hour, the team scrambled to Olive Press car, Sammon covered Fuengirola, and learning from another remained silenthis face that he was currentl builder questioned by the Olive when Press. y camped He was out at the feria ground. then bundled into the BMW and taken After a day working to Madrid to nearby, the be fingerpr Londoner duly arrived in his for extradit inted and prepared English-plated cream Moncayo Followin ion. campervan. g the arrest, father-o ftwo Reid said he Parking up, he looked was ‘relieved’ relaxed to see Sammo as he took his dog n taken around the feria for a walk “As soon as I saw his away. spoke with neighboground and the most wanted Iface among felt sick,” said Once identified, urs. we called the “I letReid, from Blackpool. Guardia Civil and him hang around pers and so began Crimestop- dren, we took him in my chila tense three- arms with hour waiting game, and at first were noneopen with Reid wiser. the sitting in the car beside us. “But we always Sky News crime reporter Mar- a bit weird, he’s thought he was tin Brunt was soon a there too. never talks about real loner and Eventually, as night his family. and truly fell, an had well “He creeped my family black BMW arrivedunmarked much that I fired him.” out so plain clothes detectiv and two Incredibly, police did not take es swiftly evidence moved in for the from his campervanany incating his passporarrest, confis- cluding his compute r and other t and phone. Frisking him at the side of the CONTINUES ON PAGE
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The hulking shell set for a 311-room of concrete - once SWATHES of rural mega resort - has Andalucia are in remained an eyesore danger of being concret ed over after work was halted by for years after a new planning law the courts. was brought in Bunkers are also being by the regional governm 700-home golf course dug to stop a Green groups includin ent. scheme, near g EcologisNerja, which will tas en Accion and ment of one of thesee the developjoined with hundreGreenpeace have Costa del Sol’s final stretches of pristine ciations to fight on ds of local assocoast. And protesters in fronts opened up a series of new during Mijas the are also COVID digging in to stop crisis. SOON LEGAL?: the law being used to build in woods Algarrobico They are up in arms overlooking over the so- one, but TWO the sea at El Chapar called LISTA law new hotels the lockdown - that- passed during beaches in the supposedlyon virgin The first of many ral. planned protect is set to allow ed natural dozens of previou park of Cabo de Gata. - took place outside council protests sly outlawe offices d proj- The first involves the in ects to go ahead. green light for la Cala de Mijas this week. a 30-room hotel It could also see In particular, activist near the about a controv s are outraged famous Bahia de Los the globally Valdevaqueros projectcontroversial course in Nerja, ersial new golf beach, while the second Genoveses of homes go up on of hundreds is for a two- tected a heavily-prostand of woodlandas well as a final star hotel close to the pristine virgin in Mijas. Cala Under the beach, near Tarifa. de San Pedro bay They are also furious recently resubm about not Protestors fear (pictured above). the new law will also project, backed by TV celebrit itted now allow the legaliza y Ana tion of nearby Rosa Quintana, the stunning area between Bolonia and El Algarro- see a series of hotels getTarifa would bico hotel, Ecologi built. sts are also worried built dis- Los Merino that the s project for gracef ully courses and hundreds oftwo-golf on a virgin es houson UNESCO-prote beach, near land See page 24 near Ronda could cted virgin Carboneras, despite be revived, due to a preme being quashed by the SuCourt. planning mix up. Fairway to hell: See page 6
AN ecological nightmare, “This hundreds of ancient is a cynical and oaks ap- attempt botched parently stand to create ambien Pulled up for a dead. ce around the golf course and roproject, they huge golf mac- create space,” rie rows like warline up in ee- geon Kit Hogg.said tree surgraves in the very “I Somme. few of these am sure Many centurie trees will survive. protected s It is disbeen sacrificed old, they have gusting.” insatiable desirefor Europe’s Despite ongoing efforts to holiday homes. for golf and stop the work, EU investigaPart of the tions and – crucially – no unrelenting guarant costafication ee of they sound the of Andalucia, Los Merinos water, work at , near Ronda nature conserv death knell for continues uncheck ation in southed. This is ern Spain. the true price of golf. Exclusive story
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BANGED UP: Samm on bundled into police car and (inset) his campervan
EAGLE-EYED Olive Press readers helped snag WORDS AND ain’s most wanted one of BritBy Rob HorganPICS and Spain, just hours fugitives in Laurence Dollimo after he had re It’s a true city of been named. culture, but Followin Malaga has so much g a tip off to the paper, al Crime Agency, who arrived more at suspected paedoph the scene after the arrest. ile Matthew “Well Sammon was dragged PAGE 16 done from his thanks to the Olive Press and campervan in a dramati expat time raid and whisked c night- for tipping us off, community this is the away in son we an unmarked police run these campaig reans.” Working closely withcar. The dramatic day had started informant when Daniel Reid, we were able to annualCrimestoppers issued its firstly track down list of most wanted fugito Fuengirola, then Sammon tives in Torremolinos S on ThursGuardia Civil to arrestcall in the day morning. On the run for two him. Leading to hundred mon - a blackbe years, Sam- stories around the s of press was wanted in thelt in Jujitsu - on national televisio world and ing indecent imagesUK for shar- was immediately n, the hunt on. of children . His seizure came But, it was to popular just 10 hours newspa after he was named per the Olive local in Opera- that tion Captura and Don’t miss our 12-Pag expat plasterer Reid,Press 40, recorded arrest inis the quickest reached out to, trusting Ronda supplement e us to SUCCESS: Reid, and Spanish police the joint UK ‘do the job properly ’. Reynolds and Horgan, “It was a fantastic operation. In a series of Faceboo Brunt PAGE 19 k mesSteve Reynolds, fromresult,” said sages, he announ ced that Sam- as a labourer and was currently the Nation- mon, living in a camper 45, had worked van around for him the Mijas and Fuengirola area.
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g l and convicted By Tom Powel reveal that back in business usinte’ ethwaite is Jamie Mickl Mon Ni- Goldman ‘Howard Del Sol fraudster out COSTA del false name last year is hiding an fled Spain gel GoldmanEnglish country the g Goldm accusations of fraud, in a classic the false name vicSuzanne Coulin his partner g their wares via amid behind dozens of milcottage underMonte’. leaving on page - are peddlin account called tims owed a total of €15 ‘Howard del See full story ‘Del Monte’ Ebay aka joint a an Goldm lion. d to the busito answer ns Emporium’. has also returne and selling ‘Benso post office staff told the While he refused ly seems happy s, it Village ness of buying that he regularto questions, he and antique g, her two Olive Press with Coulin addressed coins, stamps d. in the collects parcels ‘sends living ers and two cats propalso lease can be reveale and , daught a six month ire ‘Del Monte’ edroom Renting on modest three-b ng Berksh packages’. Suzanne in the charmi ry, he and many erty. are Kintbury’s and (top) with village of Kintbu UK bolthole While the pairof conversation, Goldman’s ticket. hottest topic seen and ‘keep HIDEOUT: with a parking why he g to say to you,g “I don’t understand if a trafthey are rarelyto themselves’. “I have nothin to meetin arrested, themselves live nearby but I look forward down. hasn’t been find him then in Couling’s family said fic warden can again,” he called still happier police can,” in Hungerford.secretive man you BRITS are surely the reports sugwished to the who despite our, fact, gly In Spain, t the neighb is seemin have abanous. from Del Monte leaving the gesting 90,000 dream. Parking ticke remain anonym in the village one only ever seen office. doned the expatOlive Press but post “Every led, to the Goldman, whathouse to go Olive Press con- His hair was disheve An exclusivethat more than mous- knows he’she goes under.” y- he did not have the When the survey found s of our readhe ever name his in his countr who deleted y, is fronted himGoldman refused tache some have claimed three quarter r since makpart of his Goldman, t recentl are happie side retreat, the door, instead is now sporting as Facebook accoun investigated EXCLUSIVEreveal that ers to move. of disguise. tly being to come ing the s Coulhis head out can return millionfis morning, the curren briefly pokingwindow. The Olive PressPresident may his for failing to The previou story, see No leaving investors in his bedroom For the full h dream on the Russian a multimillion ing was seento load up their of euros to nies. end to Spanis have boughtla mansion with a house at 9am ll Zafira with nancial compa told the Olive 4. victims s Vauxha page y euro Marbel Variou silver smen. off, possibl are practically group of six busines page 3 Press that theylosing their life boxes and head on sale. that to a car boot explained that destitute after See full story his schemes, g One neighbourmoved into the savings to Leading Buildin 4 es on Page day they Costa Del Sols arthe 1996. Continu warden since ist, house, a traffic the couple and Window Special rived and issued inside.
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legends Ferran Adria and Gordon Ramsey. And it was nice to chat to Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera, as well as the only newspaper to be able to pose a couple of questions to Michelle Obama on her visit to Marbella a few years ago. Indeed, the positives far outweigh the negatives and we would prefer to be judged over 50 rather than 15 years. As far as we are concerned we have only just begun.
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When it comes to corruption we were the first English newspaper to write about the ERE scandal at the Junta de Andalucia that cost an estimated billion euros to the taxpayers, while we also tackled town hall theft on a local scale on dozens of occasions. Animal cruelty has been a continual bugbear and we have exposed so many evil abusers, as well as the scoundrels who allowed hunters to kill innocent circus lions and tigers at a finca in Extremadura (see below). On a more positive front, it was great to interview everyone from Princess Diana’s ex-lover James Hewett to cooking
The
maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing dirt-bag, who had a restaurant column in a local newspaper, which he used to cover his tracks. We also tackled timeshare crook Toni Muldoon, who certainly deserves a mention for conning thousands of people and eventually went to prison for setting up fake escort websites. Meanwhile, our crime reporting on missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick ‘blew open the case’, to use the words of her grandmother, while our continuing investigation into missing Maddie McCann has yielded exclusive after exclusive, with its frequent links to Spain.
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Getting things done
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ROM its very first issue in 2006 the Olive Press has been campaigning for its community. Whether fighting for the environment or digging into crooks, we have taken some big scalps. Starting from Issue One (see top right) we highlighted the ridiculous plans to build 2000 houses, two golf courses and two hotels on UNESCO-protected land near Ronda, as well as exposed the madness of building a 350-room monstrosity on a virgin beach in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata. Both schemes - Los Merinos, in Ronda, and the Algarrobico hotel, in Almeria - went into reverse after our stories made the UK AND Spanish national newspapers and green groups including Greenpeace and Ecologistas en Accion joined our protests. And then there were the crooks, like Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted Daniel Johnston, a bank robber, and Matthew Sammon, a dangerous paedophile, who we single-handedly tracked down to a village near Sevilla and a car park in Fuengirola. And fraudsters like David ‘the dogman’ Klein, pet transport
PARKING)
2
Bracing for Brexit
Vol. 11 Issue 257
Voted BEST expat paper in Spain www.theolivepres
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Property www.theolivepress.es
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They’re all in our new Property magazine out this week
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A VICTORY for mortgage been awarded owners has by the European of Justice. Court The court mortgage has ruled that two holders in to additional Spain are million entitled refunds because from It came they paid too muchthe banks interest. clauses’ due to the so-called that saw fail to lower most Spanish ‘floor banks rowers to their interest rates match the the European base rate to borCentral set by The court ruled that Bank. that repayments it was unfair entire life and should time that of the mortgage cover the during the continue interest rates were low and When theto be. lowered central bank base economy to stimulate the rate was some years eurozone repayments ago, mortgage should have 1.5% to tracked it continued2%, however many to to pay 3.5% borrowers The surprise and be appealed. ruling is final more. and cannot Around two now be set million borrowers should timated to to receive repayments, be worth esbillions of euros.
Little slice of home
a cool The chic BRITISH bella, justnew addition to Bahia spree in expats are on a buy-to-let Marthe latest east of the town, England. London and the south east of According installed technology, withincludes sound system, to mortgage a preInternational and underfloor solar panels there has lender Skipton cant rise The property, heating. been cent years.in expat investment a signifiProperties, marketed by over re- with sits in a gated Panorama New figures 24-hour security. community to-lets are reveal 40% of are in the in the UK capital,expats’ buy“Prices in pricey south east. while 25% nificantly London have increased ing that in the past few years, sigmeanattractivecapital gains have mortgage for investors,” saidbeen very director Nigel Skipton “Expats have Pascoe. ing and long many reasons term investment for investthe most is usually The trendimportant.” has occurred come easier as it has pats, who to secure lending becredit checkspreviously struggledfor exwith Some 35% and recent credit history. vestment of expats cited long term ing, while as their main reason inanother 19% for of their pension said it was buyplan. part
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MALAGA €2 millionprovince’s second La Estrella project failed to biggest castle will finally be being used castle is spreadtake off almost a decade renovated over 25,000 after a ago. Spanish TV during the filming of ‘Douglas,square metres and A project series which features el Guardian is currently to give the onset of the structure the battle of de Historia’ – It now back global financial a face lift was Teba, where the castle a abandoned crisis. investigation, on, and will improve in 2008 at lies. consolidate the accessibility, structure. the walls undertake and generally archeological improve the existing
PAGE 13
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THERESA May Britain won’t accepthas vowed half out’ Brexit in a ‘half in, a landmark speech that is likely to have long-lasting effects on Gibraltar and all expats in Spain. The Prime Minister issued a 12-point plan to out of the EU, take Britain ing Street looking with Downsingle market and to scrap EU toms union access.current cusIn the biggest speech month tenure, she of her sixsaid: “To be clear, what I am proposin g cannot mean members hip of the single market.” She added Britain longer give ‘huge would no EU, however she sums’ to the conceded that Parliament will have the final vote on the deal. Maintaining the travel area between common Kingdom and the the United EXCLUSIVE Republic of Ireland is also a priority By Gabrielle Pickard during -Whitehead the Brexit negotiati and Laurence ons. Dollimore However, the border rushed to the vets tar with Spain was of Gibral- A BRITISH expat he died 30 minutes has not men- after later. tioned. finding five of her called in police An X-ray showed dogs executed in a late-night massacre he also had a in 2004, found the The Guardia Civil . five rescue dogs shot shot through the roof of his mouth.bullet in their pens on January are now investiga Meanwh Control ing the horrific attack t6, the night of was also ile, one of Mitchell’s 12 horses the Reyes (Three that “We want to control also left one attacked, so savagely of Illona Kings). Her beloved seven-ye that its eye migration from the our im- gouged Mitchell’s horses with its eye ar-old Dizzy, ‘one Vetsmay have to be removed. out. EU,” said of the May. “We also have friendlies been t dogs you will recognise the The detectives from the meet’ and a puppy ever four-year-old, struggling to treat the importance of the environment brightest section Seprona told Mitchell, shot dead at the gatescalled Maisie were he has become named Rocco, because and the best coming 48, that it was one too of their pens. Meanwhile Coco Deeply traumati nervous and skittish. recognise the contributhere. We seen and of the worst attacks they had were visibly shocked ion they shot in their beds, and Domingo, were thankfully was sed by the attack - that have made.” by it. They have put on not seen by her daughwith Mitchell believing they had cowered extra patrols to keep ter Ella, May is believed to an eye in their kennels so angry 11 - Mitchell continued: “I am before being killed permit system asfavour a work- night. on the estate at weekends and at that someone would do Coco, two, had beenin cold blood. something as disgustin trigger Article 50 byshe looks to “I am g as this to innocent sickened as to March. range between the shot at point-blank animals.” It comes as the House why of Lords would carry out such a cruel someone year-old Domingo eyes, while three- Mitchell, from published data showing and bar- week. Chester, believes was shot through a bor- baric attack on innocent, defencele side of his face. the atthe tack is linked to der closure with animals,” she told ss The mother-of-one, the Olive Press this ban hunters fromher recent decision to put 40% of jobs Spain would above, who bought They later found Jack, her huge her estate in mountai at risk in Gia braltar. ns near Granada German Shepherd, having six-year-old estate that sits in stunning173-hectare convulsions the Sierra scenery in under a nearby tree, The 32 page-rep de Baza. but despite being ort, based on Gibraltar governm Continues on Page ent evidence, estimates 4 10,500 of the Rock’s 26,000 workers Opinion Page 6 Est 1984 crossed the border daily. “A frontier which necessary fluidity lacked the fore put directly atwould thereAntiques, Jewellers risk the jobs of 40% of the Gibraltar For all your & Pawnbrokers force,” said a spokesm workinsurance needs! A huge variety of May’s speech was an. over Leave campaigners,cheered by 1 carat diamond jewell pushing for a ‘hard’ who are ery. She said:“We do Brexit. not seek to HIGH STREET PRICES adopt a model already Choose one of our : 7,000€+ estepona@ibexins enjoyed great by other countries ure.com OUR PRICE: 1,500 lens offers or get 30% seek to hold on to . We do not 2,000€ bits of memoff selected frames bership as we leave,” Fuengirola UNBEATABLE PRICE “The British people said May. See our ad inside S GUARANTEED for details. change. And it is voted for WE BUY, WE PAY ment’s job to deliverthe governfuengirola@ibexin MORE it.” sure.com Diamonds@anthonys-d , WE PAY CASH Opinion Page 6 iamonds.com
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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER
18 January
Happy 15th anniversary!
2
The time of
We made it!
A
A message from the publisher Jon Clarke
W
ELL Issue 365: The number of days in the year and certainly sleepless nights I have had worrying about being sued, being attacked or being able to make the deadline. There have certainly been some moments, like the time when we couldn’t afford the printing bill, or the 5am finish when we had to send the entire paper to the printers from our local pub, after a series of power cuts. And it’s not exactly been a picnic since 2010 with half a decade of recession, followed by four years of Brexit… and then COVID to add to the mix. But luckily for us, the best journalism comes out of crises and it’s in times of trouble when good journalists are needed more than ever. And we have had some of the best, dozens in fact, who have gone on to work in national newspapers back home or on TV networks in America and even Russia. This intrepid bunch of men and women went out to investigate, probe and explore the four corners of this fine country, scouring the very best stories along the way. Now, after launching our sixth edition in Valencia and taking on our first national journalist in Madrid, we are certainly not resting on our laurels. While we are consolidating our position in Andalucia and on the east coast this year with more papers and more journalists, we are looking to expand again to give our readers even better coverage, in particular online, where we publish 20-plus stories a day. It is luckily thanks to our excellent readers and, above all, clients that we are able to continue to expand and improve our service. Thanks so much to all of you for allowing me to do this job that I love so much, sleepless nights and all.
S a journalist who rolled up on Spanish shores in 1994 I had no idea what to expect. I had intended to spend a few glorious weeks of laziness enjoying life with my girlfriend and spending my meagre savings on an extended holiday, before returning to the Fleet Street rat race at the Sunday Mirror. It did not take long to become seduced by the relaxed Spanish lifestyle – and a return to the hard grind of the UK started to seem not very enticing. So almost by accident I settled down in Spain. I married my girlfriend (Sandra) at Mijas Town Hall the next year, and since then have raised three children here. I would not change a single minute of the life I have enjoyed in this wonder-
NEWCOMER: Dilip arrives in 1994
It came as a shock the first time he read it 15 years ago, but now News Editor Dilip Kuner (inset) is proud of the varied mix - and above all campaigning DNA - of the Olive Press ful country. My first challenge back then was getting a job. Given my background in journalism I naturally looked for opportunities in the press. Not speaking Spanish at the time, my options were of course severely limited. There were very few English language newspapers on the Costa del Sol – and the ‘No Vacancies’ signs were out in force. Which seemed a bit odd, as reading them they could certainly have done with a little more journalistic talent. This was a recurring theme down the years – papers came and went and some were a better read than others. Most were entirely advertisement-led with little thought given to what is, in my mind, the most important bit – the stories themselves. So I made a new life for myself - as do many expats – working in the restaurant trade, doing a bit of writing in my spare time.
That is until the Olive Press arrived on the scene. I remember the first time I picked up a copy and was slightly shocked - and definitely delighted - to find a local English newspaper that put journalism first. At the time I was helping to run a couple of restaurants with my father. But reading the Olive Press that first time definitely implanted in my mind an itch to make a return to the world of print. There was something about its wide selection of stories, its ability to find an interesting feature and, above all, to take on some of the coast’s worst crooks that I loved. It would not be for another six years that I made it back to my ‘first love’ of journalism, but during that time I always picked up my fortnightly copy of the Olive Press and followed the local news avidly. Why? Because it offered investigative reporting that looked behind the headlines and covered real issues that affected the expat communities in Spain. While I was to spend a few years at one of its former rivals (not one I care to remember), it was great to be finally offered a job at the Olive Press last year. In the course of the 15 years since I first picked up the paper somewhere around La Cala de Mijas it has always reflected on the things that interest me. And gratifyingly for a journalist, I discovered it had not given up on its original remit, based on quality content and NOT advertising.
Now’s the time to write your book! English-speaking Kindle books soar during lockdown in Spain
H
ave you always wanted to write a novel? Maybe a memoir? Henry Baum of ex-pat book hub Self-Publishing Review says independent publishing has never been more popular due to the toque de quedas.
“I’m an American novelist living in Valencia, Spain. When I moved from Los Angeles in 2014, I brought my book promotion company with me. Self-Publishing Review is one of the original sites
for ‘indie’ authors, that is, those who write, edit, and publish their books themselves online. Since I founded the company in 2008, we’ve helped an estimated twenty thousand English-speaking writers from around the world achieve publication. SPR is a family business. My wife, a British ex-pat and qualified book editor, organises the US and UK-based teams that work for us. We are now one of the most trusted authorities in this industry and a go-to source for
authors of all genres. The self-publishing industry is booming, because it’s free to publish a book on Amazon’s KDP eBook system. And, of course, expats in Spain have long used Amazon to buy English language books, because it can be difficult to get a good selection in shops. Since lockdown is upon us, and pubs and clubs are out, many have turned to writing that book they always wanted to pen, as well as re-discovering the joys of reading.
With all the time spent at home, people are buying more books. At Self-Publishing Review, we specialise in helping English-speaking authors achieve their dream: Publish and sell your book, and become a Best Selling author. We offer editing, reviews, and our popular promotion service that can get you to #1 on Amazon, with an estimated quarter of a million global views. We give free advice to authors looking for a start, and you’ll find lots of information about writing
and publishing on our website at www.selfpublishingreview. com. You are also welcome to ask us anything by email: edit o r @ s e l f p u b l i s h i n g r e v i e w. com. Get your exclusive Olive Press discount code for SPR’s author services, valid until May! www.selfpublishingreview.com/OP
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our lives Even better, its DNA is still following the big issues of the day and exposing wrongdoing. And indeed, since I joined we have consistently looked at dodgy businessmen, bent politicians and greedy developers, alongside some excellent environmental stories and travel stuff. But it’s the human stories that best tick my box… and we are never short of them. The Olive Press has grown and evolved over 15 years – just as Spain has. I await to see what the next 15 years bring for Spain and, obviously, at the place where I spent my working days.
It’s a double
Olive Press digital editor Fiona Govan is also celebrating the 15th anniversary of her career as a correspondent in a muchchanged Madrid
I INK IN THE VEINS: Dilip, a long time Olive Press reader
drive F for change Cordoba correspondent Cristina Hodgson, reflects on 15 years of dodgy driving, quaint customs and vegetarian liberation in Ole Ole Land
IFTEEN YEARS ago today I was living in sleepysville Extremadura and Rafa Nadal was the new national hero. The Spaniard won his second French Open in 2006 and he’s taken home The Musketeers' Trophy 11 more times since. Almost as impressive as Nadal’s serving has been the improvement in the nation’s driving. An eye-watering 4,101 lives were lost on Spanish roads in 2006, compared to 870 last year. Back in the day, before better roads and speed cameras, it seemed that every hot-blooded Spaniard was a frustrated F1 driver … or maybe it was just me getting used to driving on the right hand side. The queuing etiquette also took some getting used to. No one forms an orderly one here, everyone mills around. Either you take a numbered ticket or you have to memorise the face of the person who arrived before you. It’s a time-honoured tradition that has served generations of Spaniards perfectly well and finally I know my place. Like everyone else when joining a queue I now dutifully utter the sacred words: ‘Quien es el ultimo?’ But if we think that’s weird, it’s nothing compared to how the meat-living Spanish saw vegetarianism. When I first arrived no one seemed to understand the concept of the word as I was invariably offered jamon. Jamon is a source of great pride among Spaniards. Not to eat it is practically a criminal offense. But we vegetarians have been liberated. Today most supermarkets stock a good range of plant-based foods and no one bats an eyelid when I pass on the pata negra. In fact my only regret after 15 years in the sunny land of Ole Ole is that HP Sauce hasn’t made it to local shops inland yet. That and the super-helpful nature of Spanish shopkeepers as they embark on an entire stock audit in search of this magical condiment, refusing to let me leave til they’ve finished!
ARRIVED fresh faced in the spring of 2006, dispatched to The Daily Telegraph’s Madrid desk to provide British readers with light-hearted tales of holiday mishaps on the Costas and the strange things Spaniards got up to at fiestas. Plus countless stories on how Spain had finally broken the pact of silence to explore its dark past; that of the Spanish Civil War and ensuing fascist dictatorship, and the inevitable calls to dig up Franco from his tomb in the Valley of the Fallen. Spain was booming. The periphery of the capital was a construction site, literally, as the Madrid ring road was being dug up and sunk underground, transform- RIDING OUT: One of Fiona’s first forays while reporting for ing the rubbish-strewn the Telegraph in Madrid ditch where the Manzanares pitifully trickled into the won- ed prawn heads and restaurants were derful recreation area now known as still family-run, offering classic Spanish Madrid Rio. fare with a €10 menu del dia in overCranes stretched their lofty arms over lit, smoke-filled dining rooms. People the city, transforming the skyline with mostly shopped at their local markets skyscrapers in the swanky business back when they still contained butchdistrict and modern apartment com- ers, fishmongers and vegetable stalls, plexes in spanking new suburbs to not collections of food outlets offering house a thriving class of affluent work- exotic international fare from arepas to ers mortgaged to the hilt but full of op- poke bowls. timism for their bright future. Then the recession struck and suddenBut traditional Spain was omnipresent. ly news from Spain became less a disBar floors were still strewn with discard- traction from the weighty world issues of the day and more an ominous threat that could destabilise the Euro. I started to write about bank bailouts and debt restructuring, construction company crashes and home repossessions … followed by corruption scandal after corruption scandal. A powerful indignado movement led to the birth of Podemos and an end to Spain’s two-party system, bringing with it political instability and the rise of the far right. The Basque separatist cause waned and was replaced in Spain’s narrative with the struggle for an independent Catalonia. Then Brexit busted the European project entirely – at least for Brits, upending rights taken for granted when we made the move to Spain. The last year has been overwhelmingly dominated by the pandemic, presaging an economic crisis that threatens to run deeper and longer than any previous one. NOWADAYS: Fiona with pet Rufus But at least they finally dug up Franco!
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LA CULTURA Raise the wreck
March 26th - April 8th 2021
Lady is not for returning
Unyielding
Elche council has campaigned for many years for it to be permanently displayed in the area. Despite the pleas, the national government constantly refused to yield ground on the possibility of the Lady returning to its ‘home’ region. In 2016, Valencian president, Ximo Puig, suggested that a branch of the Archaeological Museum should be formed in Elche to feature the statue but nothing came of the idea. Valencian Compromis party senator, Carles Mulet, led the latest move for the Lady’s return, 124 years after her departure . He said: “Art ought to be in its place of origin and the Lady is part of a whole series of works in the Madrid museum, while it would be the focal point both culturally and for tourists if it took centre-stage in Elche.”
A PHOENICIAN ship that sank off the Spanish coast will see the light of day again after some 2,700 years. The wreck of the Mazarron II has been protected from the elements by a steel dome for decades, but it has become dislodged after the seabed moved, meaning the structure now endangers the remains it was meant to protect. The ship’s valuable cargo of litharge lead, a residue from which silver can be obtained, is now set to be extracted, according to the Ministry of Culture.
Ship from pre-biblical times to be rescued from seabed
Exhibition
The wreck is sitting in only 2.5 metres of water, about 50 metres off the coast of Mazarron (Murcia). Originally discovered by divers in 1994, the protective steel dome was installed six years later. However, authorities have now decided to raise the wreck and its cargo in order to conserve, restore and exhibit it at the National Museum of Underwater Archeology (Arqva)
Honouring a great FRANCE and Spain may have their differences but when it comes to surrealist painter Picasso they are going to act as one. The governments of the two nations have agreed to set up a bilateral commission to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the death of the Malaga born painter, which will take place in 2023.
Colourful
DIVING INTO THE PAST: Inspecting the shipwreck By Simon Wade
in nearby Cartagena. An international conference is planned in order to pool various experts’ intelligence
regarding the best method of extraction. A multidisciplinary team involving UNESCO will be formed, with restoration work carried out in the Arqua laboratory.
Picasso – who led a life as colourful as his paintings - died in 1973 in France. Although he had spent most of his life in the neighbouring country, he always maintained an intensely sentimental and artistic relationship with Spain. Now the two governments have decided it appropriate to share the planning of the events to mark his death to ensure the importance of Picasso to both nations is made clear.
OP QUICK Crossword Across 1 It suffers meltdown when overloaded (4) 4 Supply route (8) 8 Forms of art (8) 9 Romantic meeting (4) 10 Follow furtively (5) 11 Wild horses (7) 13 His opposite (4) 14 Sweet potato (3) 15 Address to Her Majesty (4) 16 Brass hats (4-3) 18 Often sported by 16 Across (5) 20 Down (4) 21 “The moment has come” (4,2,2) 22 Sent into battle (8) 23 Type of cricket (4)
OP Sudoku
SPAIN’S Culture Commission has refused to permanently transfer an iconic statue back to Elche. The Commission voted for the ‘Lady of Elche’ to continue being exhibited at Madrid’s National Archaeological Museum. The Lady of Elche is a polychrome stone bust that was discovered by chance in August 1897 at L’Alcudia, an archaeological site on a private estate just south of Elche. It’s a piece of Iberian sculpture dating back to the fourth century BC and was bought by the Louvre museum in Paris for 4,000 francs and put on display there. In 1941, it returned to Spain where it stayed for 30 years in the Prado Museum before a ministerial order decreed that it should form part of the Archaeological Museum.
Down 2 The latest (2,2,3,6) 3 Clears the air? (7) 4 Breathe hard (4) 5 Seasoned smoked beef (8) 6 Shown to one’s seat (3,2) 7 Peoples crookedly initiate loans (13) 12 Sometimes found with tea (8) 15 Politically, well red (7) 17 Kind of nut (5) 19 Variety (4)
All solutions are on page 14
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Worth a trip
Best of both
THE Spanish Minister for Tourism, Maria Reyes Maroto has announced that vaccine passports could be introduced in May. “We could be in a position to start implementing the digital passport on May 19”, she told Antena 3 TV station. The news comes just a day after Maroto said that Spain
Balearic beach ranked high for its beautiful white sands Picture by Roberto Faccenda
DON’T mix grape with grain has long been the refrain of drinkers in the know trying to avoid a hangover. But Spanish brewers Cruzcampo have decided they want no truck with the saying and have brewed up a cross between wine and beer. They describe Cruzcampo Grape Beer as a ‘refreshing mix between red wine and traditional hops’. Grape Beer is the brainchild of Juan Jimenez and Jorge Varela, master brewers. Utilising Spain’s tempranillo grape, a variety known for its full body and rich taste, and combining it with Nelson Sauvin hops, Varela hopes that their new recipe pays homage to two of Spain’s best loved drinks. “We have used a special blend of pilsner malt, wheat malt and oats to create a refreshing yet hearty drink that can be enjoyed any time of year,” said Jimenez.
PICTURESQUE: Platje de Ses Illetesis the fifth best in Europe
A LONG winding golden beach on the Trucador Peninsula has been named fifth best in a list of the top 20 to visit in Europe. Platja de Ses Illetes on the Balearic Island of Formentera had the wow factor. It swayed Lonely Planet travel site’s writers to name it ahead of the other incredible beaches in Spain. The travel guide described
the unspoiled beach on Formentera as ‘paradise’, as it announced its European top 20 for this year. Posting on their website, the travel experts wrote: “No matter your taste in beach, Europe obliges. “From the wild, wind-lashed shores of the Atlantic coast to mountain-fringed Arctic bays where whales raise their tails,
Full steam
most active champion of digital vaccine passports’. Countries around the world are keen to implement similar schemes, and the EU has published draft legislation on a ‘green digital pass’. The Spanish Secretary for Tourism, Fernando Valdes, has also said that a bilateral travel plan could be struck with the UK.
plans to reopen tourism when 30-40% of the nation’s population has been immunised against COVID-19. Grievously affected by the pandemic due to its reliance on tourism, Spain is eager to see its beaches filled in summer and has described itself as ‘the
and the sunlit, snuggled-away coves of Italy and Greece, we bring you the cream of the European coast with these top 20 beaches." One of two Spanish entries, Platja Illetes was joined by Praia as Catedrais in Galicia, which ranked number 13 on the list. Both were named alongside stunning beaches in Sicily, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Norway on the list. Speaking about Platja Illetes, the Lonely Planet’s writers wrote: “With its long sweep of bleach-blonde and translucent azure waters, Formentera’s Platja Illetes fits the barefoot paradise bill neatly.” Meanwhile Praia as Catedrais was applauded for being the place to go if ‘you want to worship at the altar of the beach gods’.
March 26th - April 8th 2021
13
Makes a difference We have been working with the Olive Press for over 10 years. And the dedication given from Jon Clarke and his investigative team to uncovering important news is what makes the difference between the Olive Press and other English language news sources in Andalucia. The newspaper has also made the Costa de la Luz more visible to readers from all over Andalucia and we have seen the difference this makes to our business. We look forward to carry on working with the Olive Press for the foreseeable future.
James Stuart The Califa Group, Cadiz
€20m makeover THE owners of one of Spain’s most luxurious hotels that hosted Princess Diana and the Rolling Stonesare to be handed a €20 MILLION grant to reopen its doors. The Junta de Andalucia and the European Regional Development fund has pledged to support the reconstruction and reopening of the Hotel Byblos in Mijas, which has been closed since 2010. The hotel will be managed by Grupo Marugal under a franchise agreement with international hotel group Hyatt. Its previous owner, UK business tycoon Lord Alan Sugar, had been embroiled in a lengthy legal wrangle with troubled developer Aifos. Princess Diana stayed no less than three times at the leafy enclave behind Fuengirola, where she was famously photographed topless by paparazzi.
14
COLUMNISTS
March 26th April 8th 2021 OLD HA CK IN THE SU N
Mensa or densa?
A
RE you a digital doer or a real-life print reader? The Olive Press alternates weekly publication of my columns between actual print and ether-controlled messages beamed from outer space. But if you are one of the 75% of over 65’s who do not access so called digital platforms, you are safe in my hands. However, those who have managed to stretch their little grey cells to master the art of accessing digital information are more likely to be high Mensa achievers who do crosswords with a pen, and say, moi, instead of me. Personally, I am of the Densa brigade. I find reading a real newspaper, especially while lying in the sun, very relaxing, and it has the added advantage of acting as an umbrella over the face when getting some extra ZZZZ’s in. Laptops tend to be uncomfortable and difficult to balance on the nose.
Worship
Devotees who worship at the altar of the God of ethernet culture will also tell you that you can compare news items quickly by surfing the net, to establish real or fake news. But before you don your wetsuit,
Benny Davis
Ramblings of an 80-somethin g expat
may I point out that fake news happens far less frequently in print, and if on the rare occasion the unthinkable happens, lawsuits leap into action far more quickly than on the web, encouraging extreme caution on the part of newspaper editors and owners. I understand that instant information is available in seconds through sites such as Google, Bing, etc. Call me old fashioned, but that method doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as finally coming up trumps with answers after spending hours, even days, of searching through old files and reference libraries. At the moment, I am writing an article about a serial killer who wrought havoc back in the Victorian era and am running barefooted through my enormous collection of information, amassed over countless years as a writer. If I cannot find the answers, I will have to revert to my fail-safe solution, ‘Gertrude,’ grandmother of Amazon’s virtual assistant ‘Alexa.’ Although she answers in a shaky voice with the occasional additional sound effect of flatulence, she never lets me down and fits into my lifestyle far more comfortably than the pre-mentioned Miss SmoothyPants.
Kerching! Helping UK veterans in Spain with the residency process N
O one is certain just how many British people living in Spain once served in the UK armed services but one estimate puts the figure at something like 30,000. Certainly, it is common for Age in Spain to come across Veterans (of all ages) and their families as part of its work to support British people in the process of becoming resident in Spain. For instance, on Tenerife our Regional Co-ordinator is supporting the Sarah Byrne pictured with her husband Aiden (who sadly paswidow of an ex Royal sed away in September last year) and son Paul at the 2019 Engineer with the pro- Remembrance Day ceremony in Westhaven Bay, Tenerife. cess of exchanging her green residency certificate for the new (UKNSF) in TIE. In another example, Age in Spain’s Spain that Support Coordinator picked up the case we will be a of someone acting in the role of carer for single point his mother (who had served in the Armed of contact for Forces) and we were able to give infor- Veterans and mation and support about his residency their families who need help with the restatus alongside making links for the fa- sidency process. mily with a military charity and with the For any UK national who was legally liSpanish system, to make sure they get ving in Spain by 31 December 2020 there the support they need and are entitled to. is still time to apply for residency in Spain Age in Spain has a longstanding rela- under the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement tionship with the network of great ser- and now Veterans and their families vices organisations both here and in the can contact Age In Spain to access free UK, as well as working with individual UKNSF support. veterans. That is why we have agreed with the Simply email veterans@ageinspain. other organisations delivering the United org or call +34 932 20 97 41 We’re Kingdom Nationals Support Fund here to help.
I
T’S a great feeling to be slowly coming out of lockdown and let’s hope we don’t go backwards! Finally, there seems to be a whiff of positivity in the air as Spain is slowly opening up again and the vaccine roll-out is starting to gain traction. Israel and the UK seem to be in the lead with the EU and rest of the world needing to catch up. For many people there is uncertainty about having the vaccine, but for those of us living abroad, or those wanting to go on holiday, it seems there’s little choice. Whilst we’re all expecting vaccine passports to come into being, is it right that for people who do need and want to travel they have to have the vacwhich seems elitist to me. cine to be able to do so? Again, is this an erosion of Many families will simply not be able to afford to travour fredom? el if these rules remain in place and where will that Like most people, any concerns I had of having the leave the travel and tourism industry? vaccine were quickly dismissed because if I don’t Of course we need safety measures in place to travhave it, it will be much more difficult, maybe even imel but I don’t see how it’s fair to attach such high possible, to go to and from the UK to see my family. costs for testing when it’s in everyone’s interest. I have an imminent trip planned to the UK for me Currently, if you have symptoms you’re able to go and my partner that will cost £650 - and that’s just along to a local testing station and get one done for for the PCR tests and home-testing free, but not if it’s because you’ve kits which are now necessary. travelled, or plan to. Also, who is fiAdd on the cost of flights and it makes nancially benefiting from the income Many families for a very expensive trip and definitely generated from private testing? I not affordable for all families. very much doubt it will be ploughed will simply Before you travel you’ll need a neginto the NHS or Spanish healthnot be able to back ative PCR or antigen test to be able care system. to get into the UK. You’ll still need cannot wait to see what governafford to travel Iments to self-isolate for 10 days on return have in store for us when they given the cost finally decide on international travel even after using the home-testing kit, which costs £210 per person. come May 17th. With this you test yourself on day two Will we have to pay for vaccine passand again on day eight and providing they are both ports as well and how will that even work when only negative you are then free to go out afthe elderly and vulnerable will have been vaccinated ter the 10 days. by summer? You also have the option to test We all know people desperate to have a well-deyourself again on day five if you served holiday. I mean what did most of us all work pay an extra £100, and if that test for in the UK? is negative, you are immediately A holiday is not a luxury when we spend most of our allowed to be released from quarlives working and paying into tax systems, and then antine. only allowed a few weeks off a year in which to go On your return to Spain you will where the hell we want. And don’t even get me startalso need a negative PCR ed on all the poor hospitality business owners, hotel test to enter the country. companies and travel and tourism workers who are Kerching! It would seem hanging on by a thread! that the powers that be It’s not difficult, get everyone vaccinated asap, give want to do as much as us our freedoms back and in the words of Jessie J, they can to deter people ‘forget about the price tag’. from travelling abroad YOU CAN FOLLOW ME by making the cost of @tereniataras the tests expensive,
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 1 Fuse, 4 Pipeline, 8 Etchings, 9 Date, 10 Stalk, 11 Broncos, 13 Hers, 14 Yam, 15 Ma’am, 16 High-ups, 18 Braid, 20 Fuzz, 21 This is it, 22 Deployed, 23 Test. Down: 2 Up to the minute, 3 Exhales, 4 Pant, 5 Pastrami, 6 Led in, 7 Nationalities, 12 Sympathy, 15 Marxist, 17 Hazel, 19 Kind.
SUDOKU
Give us back our freedom without the hefty price tag - a holiday is not a luxury when we pay all those taxes
Terenia Taras
Telling it like it is
BUSINESS Put your feet up!
March 26th - April 8th 2021
15
Countryside challenge
THE Spanish government has unveiled a €10billion plan to combat rural depopulation. Using cash largely from the EU, the scheme involves 130 measures to try to reverse the trend of people moving from the country to cities. Government minister Teresa Ribera said that five rural regions that make up 53% of the country now have only 15% of its population. Over the past 50 years, Spain's countryside has lost 28% of its population and is now known as la España vacia — or empty Spain. The government aid package involves extending the 5G telephone network across Spain. Extra help will also be given to the elderly as well as help for women and young people to find jobs in depopulated regions.
Four-day working week trial on the cards SPAIN is on the verge of launching a €50 million trial of the four-day working week. The national government has reportedly informally agreed to a pilot project proposed by left wing political party Mas Pais. Discussions are still taking place with the next meeting due in the coming weeks, Iñigo Errejon of Mas Pais said: “With the four-day work week (32 hours), we’re launching into the real debate of our times.”
SPAIN’S two football giants – Real Madrid and Barcelona – will have to pay back millions of euros in illegal state aid. Tax breaks that the two clubs have enjoyed for the past quarter of a century had been declared illegal by the European Commission, a decision that has now been confirmed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The EU’s competitions chief, Margrethe Vestager, ordered four Spanish football clubs to pay back tens of
INCENSED: The hotel chain wants compensation
By Dilip Kuner
He added: “Spain is one of the countries where workers put in more hours than the European average. But we’re not among the most productive countries. I maintain that working more hours does not mean working better.” Details of the plan are still unders discussion, but Mas Pais has proposed a three-year, €50 million scheme under which the government would help cover extra expenses million of euros back in 2016. run up by particiThe cash had come from overpriced pating companies. property deals, cheap loans and tax breaks – the costs of which all fell at Trial the taxpayers’ door. The other two clubs were CA Mas Pais has sugOsasuna and Athletic Bilbao. gested that these FC Barcelona had won an appeal costs should be to the EU’s General Court, but the paid 100% in the ECJ has now affirmed the original first year, 50% in decision. the second and 33% in the third.
Pay back time
Melia’s Moan
DETERMINED: Iñigo Errejon The party’s Hector Tejero said: that he expects 200 businesses to sign up to a trial, with between 3,000 and 6,000 workers affected. He said: “The only red lines are that we want to see a true reduction of working hours and no loss of salary or jobs.” He added that the project could be launched this autumn, saying: “Spain will be the first country to undertake a trial of this magnitude. A pilot project like this hasn’t been undertaken anywhere in the world.”
SPAIN’S biggest hotel chain, Melia Hotels, is suing the government for €116 million in damages due to their enforced closure during last year’s first State of Alarm. Melia - headquartered in Palma - has over 100 hotels in the country with 25 on Mallorca including in Palma, Alcudia and on various beachfronts around the island. The chain was founded in 1956 and is the world’s 17th biggest with hotels in 40 countries. A Melia spokesperson said: “Our claim is related to losses suffered as a result of the government-imposed lockdown between midMarch and late June of 2020.” Almost 15% of Spain’s total Gross Domestic Product relies on tourism, which has been severely curtailed over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. That percentage is far higher in regions which have tourism as one of their economic mainstays. The national government has recently approved rescue packages for airline Air Europa and travel operator Avoris.
Friends.
Reset.
Music.
At OD Port Portals we have our own star rating. In fact, we have all the stars of the Mallorca sky and we will enjoy them all together every summer night at OD Sky Bar, on our spacious terrace and at our restaurant On Top. A hotel full of local experiences, music, art, gastronomy, yoga, pre-parties, flea markets, brunches, concerts, Pilates, tardeo, sea, sun and all the stars. A hotel full of life.
Horizon.
Sunset.
Memories.
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Vol. 4 Issue 102
www.theolivepress.es
Your expat
voice in Spain
Snap to attention
Flash me, please
FINAL WORDS
A LAW has been passed to phase out fluorescent warning triangles and instead oblige drivers to use flashing beacons à la Starsky and Hutch to indicate if they have broken down.
How an ancient war photo has finally led to a brand new Spanish museum, writes Fiona Govan
Junk dress POPULAR designer Rosa Montesa from Valencia has crafted a beautiful Fallas outfit entirely from other people’s crisp packets, cleaning products, cola bottles and other litter.
Now that’s zippy
March 26th - April 8th 2021
A RUN down slum building in Madrid is finally about to become a key museum - all thanks to an 85-year-old photo! The one-story block was inhabited by 13 families when it was
Dog’s day FIREFIGHTERS in the Alicante region have rescued a dog that fell into a snow well in the Sierra de Carrasqueta on Saturday due to slippery conditions.
A MAN has gained the dubious distinction of setting a new speed record on Spain’s public roads. Instead of a trophy he could end up with an unwanted prize - a jail term - after he was clocked at 256 kph on a motorway - more than double the 120 kph limit and the fastest ever recorded by the police.
identified as being the location of a famous snap by legendary war photographer Robert Capa, a decade ago. Now 10 Peironcely Street, in the southern suburb of Vallecas, is
It’s a Record A drugs test found the Barcelona man, 48, was driving along the AP-7 near Tarragona under the influence of cocaine. His BMW M2 CS was designed more for the racetrack than the
to become the Robert Capa centre for the interpretation of the aerial bombing. It comes after Madrid City Council expropriated the building and rehoused all the fampublic highway. It has a six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine, blasting out 450 horsepower, with a price tag starting at €103,900. He faces a €600 speeding fine and between €500 and €1,000 for driving on drugs. If he is charged with reckless driving he could end up with a two-year sentence.
ilies in larger modern flats in other parts of the city. They had all been crammed into the warren-like slum home, which had 15 tiny apartments measuring between 17 and 28m2. The powerful image, taken by the Hungarian photojournalist in the winter of 1936, shows a woman smiling from a doorway while three children play amid the rubble outside. The area had been the focus of sustained bombing by the fascist forces as they attempted - and failed - to force their way into the city. They never did, in part thanks to the famous slogan ‘no pasaran’.
A NEW zip wire has opened where adrenaline junkies can soar through a valley at speeds up between 130 and 160kph. The ride promises thrill seekers the buzz of flying through the air for over two km (2,036 metres to be exact) secured in a harness 1,200 metres above sea level for unrivalled views across the Parque Nacional de Ordesa and Monte Perdido in the Pyrenees. Those with the stomach to try the experience are promised a bird’s eye view of the Ordea mountain range, the Ara valley and Bujaruelo river soaring over the villages of Sarvise, Torla, Buesa and Janovas, The zip-line which has been installed near the town of Fiscal in the Aragonses province of Huesca drops by 400metres from start to finish over a gradient of 20%. The new attraction has been funded by local businessman Jorge Rabal with an investment of €800,000 with hopes of boosting the area as a tourist destination.
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