Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 206

Treaty talks delay

CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has said he would still like to sign an EU treaty with Spain by the end of the year but it will probably need to wait until 2024.

In an interview he earmarked plans to have a Spanish consulate in Gibraltar that would recognise the Rock’s British sovereignty. But he admitted that Gibraltar would now have to wait until Spain has a new government to restart negotiations.

It comes after Spanish Acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the recent ‘serious incidents’ at sea were outside the ‘constructive spirit’ of the negotiations.

Albares also admitted the talks would only restart ‘once the investiture process is resolved’ and a new Spanish government comes together in Madrid.

In response, Picardo defended his territory’s action at sea, saying ‘we have exercised jurisdiction over the water because the law enforcement agents have felt it appropriate to do so.’

He insisted that ‘our water are our waters’ and that the ‘UN Law of the Sea made it clear that the reservation that Spain has filed [over Gibraltar waters] does not have the force of law’.

See page 7

NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL PULLOUT

P LIVE RESS The O

FAMILIES COME FIRST!

EXCLUSIVE:

Fishing chiefs vow to continue trawling off Gibraltar despite risk of further skirmishes and legal action

By Alberto Lejarraga & Kayleigh Beardsley in La Linea

SPANISH fishermen ‘don’t care’ about British territorial waters, they have brazenly told the Olive Press They insist they are more interested in ‘feeding their families’ than the sovereignty of Gibraltar’s waters. Sparking the likelihood of further incidents, two fishing bosses have backed the trawlers as they prepare to continue operating off the Rock. It comes despite the threat of massive fines and jail sentences - in a potential headache for UK-Spain relations at a sensitive time.

The fishermen, from La Linea - one of Spain’s poorest towns - claim they are ‘struggling to provide for their families’ due to the ongoing border row off the British Overseas Territory. There have been multiple skirmishes between Spanish boats and Gibraltarian police this summer which have threatened to drag the UK and Spain into an international spat.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry made a diplomatic protest to the British Embassy in Madrid over the ‘serious incidents’, while the Junta called on Gibraltar to ‘stop harassing’ the fishermen.

The boss of La Linea’s Fishing Association, Jonathan Sanchez, 33, faces

court for allegedly fishing ‘illegally’ off the Rock.

“I was fishing one mile from Gibraltar and our government says those waters are Spanish,” he insisted to the Olive Press

“As the nets I use are illegal in Gibraltar the police there are harassing us on a daily basis.”

Admit

Sanchez insisted he will not attend his court hearing, expected this month, if the Spanish Government does not provide him with a lawyer. However, he did admit the Spanish authorities have told him not to fish again near Gibraltar to avoid ‘making the conflict worse’.

“The Guardia Civil have asked us not

to fish there until the situation calms down.”

The problem, he insists, is fishing further

Tel: 952 147 834

See page 12

into Algeciras bay means netting far fewer fish due to an ongoing algae plague.

“We have gone from making €1,800 a month to not even €1,000,” he claimed.

“I almost cannot afford the petrol so I will have no choice but to fish nearer Gibraltar to provide for my wife and kid. I have a mortgage on my house as well as the boat.

“It is our livelihood and I don’t care who owns the water,” Sanchez added. His opinion is shared by Leoncio Fernandez, President of the Shipowners of Algeciras Bay, who added he ‘couldn't care less’ about the sovereignty of the waters.

“We don’t care who owns the waters, I don’t care if they are British or Spanish, we just need to fish because

Provocative police

we do it for a living,” he told the Olive Press

In response to the claims, the Gibraltar government ruled it was ‘certain’ where its territorial waters began and it would enforce international laws if fishermen from Spain entered them.

“His Majesty’s Government has abso-

The Olive Press watched a Royal Gibraltar Police boat controversially entering La Linea’s Puerto Chico Port and sailing just metres from Spanish boats. As fisherman Jonathan Sanchez insisted: “It’s provocative. They can come here, do whatever they want, and no one says anything to them.

“Tensions have been going on for years, but we have always fished in the area and a solution needs to be agreed because it is our livelihood.”

lutely no doubts about the sovereignty of the waters around Gibraltar, so we are asking for unnecessary incidents in the water to be avoided as they create risk for the crews of the vessels.”

Illegal tuna fishing in territorial waters carries a hefty fine of up to £1000. Recently, a Spanish fisherman landed a £600 fine and a 12-month ban.

DON’T CARE: Fishermen, while Jonathan Sanchez (inset) and Leoncio Fernandez (right)

PICTURE CREDITS: Kayleigh Beardsley

Scooter rules

POLICE reminded users of a Gibraltar scooter rental company they must wear helmets, be over 17, not ride on pavements and never carry a passenger.

Oily mess

A COURT in Gibraltar has slapped a £20,000 fine on the captain of the Gas Venus, Kim Sangsob, 56, for the oil spill on August 1 that caused extensive damage to the coastline.

Cave tribute

MINISTER for the Environment John Cortes unveiled a monument to recall the Gorham’s Cave Unesco World Heritage Site near Europa Point in Gibraltar.

Rape charge

A COURT charged Gibraltarian Elton Glover, 46, with two counts of rape, assault, intimidating witnesses and harassing conduct after a police investigation.

AUTHORITIES are still rubbing their eyes over the seizure of an incredible nine tonnes of cocaine en route to Algeciras, the largest bust ever made in Spanish history. The estimated black market value of the haul is expected to exceed €3 billion, once elements like purity levels and the recent surge in narcotics prices are factored in.

Snowed under

The joint operation, dubbed ‘Operation Nano’, has so far not produced any arrests. The seized cargo is scheduled to be presented by authorities on Friday, where further details of the operation will be provided. The previous record for Spain's largest cocaine seizure dates back to April 2018, also in the Port of Algeciras. That operation resulted in six indi-

viduals being caught and was publicly announced by then Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido.

Parenting under the influence

It was a collaborative effort between the National Police and the Tax Agency that uncovered a stash of highly pure cocaine concealed within 1,080 crates of bananas.

‘Predator’ snared

A SPANISH carer who allegedly raped a British girl 10 times has been dragged before a Gibraltar court.

Pedro Luis Garcia Vallejo, 25, from neighbouring La Linea, has been charged with one count of Sexual Activity with a Child relating to an abuse of his posi -

The ship was intercepted in the open waters by agents from the Policia Nacional and the Tax Agency, according to police sources. tion of trust, and 10 counts of rape against an underage female.

Spanish carer is accused of shocking sexual crimes against young girl in Gibraltar

By John Culatto

End of the road

A YOUNG man became the first Gibraltar person to lose their driving licence after clocking up more than seven penalty points for traffic offences.

Police officers caught the 20-year-old speeding on one of their roadside cameras.

The points he got for the offence pushed him over the seven point threshold for people who have held a licence for less than two years.

The threshold for more experienced drivers is 12 points, the police noted in a statement.

It means he will now lose his licence for six months.

The Care Agency has since suspended him pending an investigation. The age of the girl, confirmed by Royal Gibraltar Police to be a British citizen, has not been disclosed.

In a second court hearing, the defendant was granted bail and ordered to attend further proceedings at Gibraltar’s Supreme Court on September 14. He was ordered not to approach the alleged victim or set foot within a 200 metre-radius of the care home where the attacks are alleged to have occurred.

Vallejo’s lawyer said that the evidence against his

client amounted only to ‘hearsay’ from one other care worker and a police officer, adding that the alleged victim had not reported the defendant. He said that the alleged victim had sent the defendant cards thanking him for helping her.

Birth

The lawyer also claimed that his client had not been present at the children’s home when some of the alleged attacks took place because he had been attending the birth of his child. Vallejo was released on bail for the sum of £2,000.

A BRITISH couple from Oxford who admitted to being drunk while with a child in Gibraltar have been fined at the Magistrates Court.

The incident unfolded on September 2, when Tony Sheldrick, 26, was arrested in Cathedral Square over another matter.

“He smelled of alcohol, his eyes were glazed and he was unsteady on his feet,” a Royal Gibraltar Police spokesman said, “On seeing her husband being arrested, Hannah Sheldrick, 33, began shouting at police officers and crying. At the time, she was holding a one-year-old baby girl in her arms.”

As she showed signs of being drunk, officers used their powers under the Children’s Act to secure the child and carry her away from the area. The parents were fined £500 each.

Violent deaths

A TOTAL of 12 women have died at the hands of their partners or ex partners in Andalucia this year. The worrying figures have surpassed the number of deaths for gender-based violence in the region in all of 2022, when 11 women were killed.

Ice cool Jenni

SHE could be the most famous woman in the world right now.

But female football star Jenni Hermoso looked nothing but ice cool as she spent a few days on holiday in southern Spain.

Heading to Marbella after getting embroiled in the massive Spanish FA kiss scandal, she was spotted out and about in the Old Town.

And luckily the sharp eyed boss of ice cream parlour La Valenciana managed to

get a snap to record her visit.

“She came in with her family and ordered a nougat and white chocolate ice cream,” said Daniel Vila, who was working behind the counter at the time.

“At first, we didn’t realise it was her, but then I saw her tattoos while she was reaching out to pay.

“‘It’s the world champion!’ I blurted out.” After agreeing to pose for a picture she revealed she was in Marbella for a week, before jetting to Mexico.

See Sordid and Seedy, p6/7

HIDDEN THOUGHTS

IT was on a long drive back from Portugal to Denia to catch the ferry to Ibiza that Paul Richardson stumbled across the little known region that would eventually become his home.

He was to turn his back on fastpaced modern life for a rural idyll – for the second time.

A decade earlier, he had landed in Ibiza to escape a hectic life back in London, arriving on the White Isle in his ‘little brown mini’. Apart from a suitcase full of New Romantic-style clothes he, crucially, had a deal to write his first book.

So eschewing the party hotspots – the clubbing scene in Ibiza was exploding in 1989 – he found a typical white-washed cottage and settled into a self-sufficient lifestyle growing vegetables and keeping chickens.

“I didn’t know how long I’d be in Ibiza, but I knew it’d be at least a year to write the book,” Paul told the Olive Press, this week. “In the end I was there for 10 years.”

While he still loves the island, he slowly watched the rural lifestyle disappear, as it became the St Tropez of Spain.

“Affordable rural living was not really an option any more,” he explained, adding he had been harking for the old lifestyle back – and that was when he came across the perfect spot by accident.

He had been to Portugal to interview classical pianist Maria João Pires, ‘she is quite brilliant’ says Paul, and on the way back he crossed into Caceres province.

Here he was to find what he had lost. He fell in love with the wideopen landscape, traffic-free roads and lack of ugly modern buildings and was to return to explore alongside his partner, Nacho Trives, several times.

On one of those occasions they came across a finca for sale outside the village of Hoyos and

By Dilip Kuner

made the decision to stay.

Now 23 years on he and Nacho - who married in 2010 - are still there. It is this period in his life that is the subject of his latest book Hidden Valley, which came out this summer.

“Everyone thought we were mad to leap off a cliff moving to such a remote place, especially as a gay couple,” said Paul.

In fact this is part of what the 59-year-old former Chichester Cathedral choirboy, Old Etonian and Cambridge University alumni (he left with a First in English) finds fascinating.

The journalist (he works for the Financial Times, Guardian and

As the Olive Press continues with the serialisation of respected author Paul Richardson’s new book, Dilip Kuner finds out about his last 30 years in Ibiza and finally unspoilt Extremadura

added: “It was like the wild west. People lived full on, with bar fights and all. It was a hard environment and you had to be tough enough to stand up for yourself.

“To be honest I was petrified and stayed at home a lot. It was quite a while until l earned their respect.”

But earn their respect he finally did and the help and advice he got from the villagers were crucial to the couple creating a new life together.

CAN YOU SEE ME? THEN SO CAN ALL OUR READERS

change even in Extremadura.

Paul explained: “Up until five to 10 years ago the matanza (pig slaughter) was a big thing. Everyone had a pig and came together for the slaughter. It was a cultural experience, something that had been done for hundreds of years. This is just one example of what is being lost.

“When I moved here it was remote, now communications are vastly improved.

“Madrid is just three-and-a half hours away. It is not just a transport thing. It is communication. Back when I moved here there was no internet, no mobile phone coverage. Now everyone is connected.

“Youngsters don’t want to stay, so farms and land are abandoned, which leads to fires.

“Old ways of doing things –collective knowledge – are forgotten. Even the weather has changed.”

He concluded: “It is a real shame that this cultural richness is being lost.”

Will he move on again? Are there any more, hidden rural idylls out there for Paul to discover? We’ll find out in his next book, perhaps.

NOW turn to page 26 for the next serialisation of his new book Hidden Valley, exclusively in the Olive Press

Hidden Valley: Finding freedom in Spain's deep country is published by Abacus Books. He has written seven travel books, his first being; Not Part of the Package: A Year in Ibiza

YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE AS VISUAL AS THIS FROM AS LITTLE AS £50 AN ISSUE

ONE of British television’s most successful and popular actors is coming to Spain this month to shoot a drama series about - British television!

David Tennant is one of an all-star cast filming Jilly Cooper’s novel Rivals set in the ruthless world of television back in the 1980s.

The Scottish actor shot to fame in 2005 when he took over the iconic role of Doctor Who from Christopher Eccleston and has reprised that role for three 60th anniversary specials that will be screened in November.

Shooting for the Disney+ production is heading to the Costa del Sol on September 18, where Tennant will be joined by an all-star cast including former Eastenders hard-man Danny Dyer.

One out, one in

NO sooner had heir to the Spanish throne Princess Leonor graduated from her Welsh school then her alma mater welcomed another royal student. Her younger sister, the Infanta Sofia, has started her Baccalaureate studies at the UWC Atlantic College.

The school is 35 kilometres from Cardiff, and her schooling will cost her parents around €82,000 from their own pockets for the two years of study.

Oldest Neanderthals

PEDESTRIANS and motorists coming into Gibraltar through its land border will soon be able to use automatic electronic gates.

The ‘e-gates’ are part of refurbishment plans for the frontier building, staffed by the Borders and Coastguard Agency and Gibraltar Customs.

The plans had been delayed ahead of an expected EU treaty but they have now been brought forward after Spain began dividing border crossers into EU and non-EU queues.

The government said in a statement that the automatic border control gates in addition to manual checks will ‘allow for a more fluid access of persons in the event of a No Negotiated Outcome’.

SPEWING RUBBISH’

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have found remains at a new former sea cave in Gibraltar that could prove the Neanderthals lived there longer than 127,000 years ago.

The latest findings follow a summer dig at a beach north of Vanguard Cave the Gibraltar Museum has called ‘The Neanderthals’ Grotto’.

“Samples have been taken for dating and we must await these results before confirming this to be the case,” Gibraltar Ministry of Heritage said in a statement.

Archaeologists are also investigating the remains of a large owl, stone tools, limpet shells and deer antler found at the site. They think the antler in particular could have been some sort of trophy the Neanderthals brought back to their home.

Border wars

Gibraltar creates special queue for ‘UK nationals only’, sparking delays at the frontier

A ROW is brewing at the Gibraltar border after Spain began dividing crossing pedestrians into EU and nonEU citizens, sparking painfully-long delays.

In a tit-for-tat move, authorities on the Rock this week ‘reluctantly’ created their own division, separating people into queues of ‘UK-nationals’ and ‘non-UK nationals’.

SINGLE mum Kate Langshaw is being unfairly evicted from her home in Javea on the Costa Blanca.

The owner of the property handed the deeds over to her son, who tried to hike the rent by €200, despite Kate having a set contract in place until 2026.

She has been renting the home for almost seven years and has never missed a payment. Despite this, the son then took her to court claiming she was a squatter, which was initially thrown out by a judge in Denia.

However he took an appeal to the courts in Alicante and it was overturned. She is now facing paying all his legal fees and costs and he is suing her for 'backdated' rent which could total more than €30,000.

Kate has just weeks to move out and find a new place. She has a seven-year-old son Lucas and a dog called Orri. We are raising funds to help Kate find a new place and to cover the costs of her legal fees.

Spain’s Policia Nacional force said it warned of the changes ‘over a week ago’, but Chief Minister Fabian

By John Culatto

Picardo slammed them as ‘unhelpful’. Delays of up to an hour have ensued this week as both sides struggled to adjust to the new measures.

Frontier users claimed Spanish police were giving a lot more attention to EU citizens crossing back into Spain, forcing them to wait in line to get their IDs and passports scanned. It followed delays of over

GIBRALTAR has toughened its border checks after Spain introduced a new regime without warning. Spanish guards at the frontier last month began registering the movements of Gibraltar red ID card-holders, in a first since EU treaty negotiations began.

As a result, the Rock’s authorities said they would take a ‘reciprocal and incremental’ response if no explanation was given.

The government said that a significant number of passports were being scanned, including those held by Gibralter red card holders.

A statement said that at ‘the height of the summer tourist season’, the new system has - caused lengthy queues and considerable inconvenience to thousands of people coming into Gibraltar - the vast majority of whom are actually Spanish’. The government said it ‘deeply regretted’ the situation and ‘will not hesitate to implement new passport and ID card scanning for non-UK nationals as well as new queuing protocols if no changes are forthcoming’. These changes are now in effect.

two hours for motorists and similar queues for pedestrians on September 1. Another move that has prompted delays is Spanish police creating separate lanes for two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. “Gibraltar was asked to guide vehicles into separate lanes following the Spanish measure,” the government said in a statement.

Risk

“This was physically impossible and would have put Gibraltar immigration officials at risk,” it added. “Such changes to traffic flow must be subject to cross frontier consultation and agreement, not imposition,” the government concluded. Picardo admitted that as Spain now has a caretaker government, ‘our contact with Spanish colleagues is perhaps not as fluid as it had been before’.

“Some of the work we have done seems to have been undone by some of the agents that want to undo the good relations,” Picardo said.

“That just leads to a potential deterioration [in relations with Spain] but I hope that we will be able to see common sense prevail.”

‘THE Government has launched a broadside against opposition party GSD for ‘spewing rubbish’ and harming tourism on the Rock over complaints of a pest infestations.

The Environmental Agency singled out GSD spokesperson Damon Bossino for not having his facts straight in what he referred to as a proliferation of cockroaches and rats.

The agency, responsible for pest control on government land and property, hit back with a number of statistics to disprove the claims.

They revealed that the number of pest-related complaints in 2023 stands at 559, compared to 733 in the entirety of 2022.

They argued that the data contradicts the notion of an overwhelming ‘infestation’ and suggests that the situation has been consistent and manageable.

They also called the presence of pests such as American and German cockroaches, as well as brown and black rats a typical occurrence for areas with a Mediterranean climate.

Running dry

RESERVOIR levels in Andalucia are continuing to fall as the region suffers the worst drought in the past 30 years. They sit at 20.6% of storage capacity - less than half the level of a decade ago, when they sat at 50.6% in late August. These figures are from just before the recent rain, but are not expected to have changed significantly. Malaga’s levels lie at 24%, with key reservoirs, such as Lake Viñuela (8.5% full), remaining at a critical level. Some 60ml/ sqm rain fell on La Viñuela over the weekend.

On the right track

Visits to St. Mary’s Lower Primary will be available on Monday, September 4, while Governor’s Meadow Lower Primary opened its doors on Tuesday, September 5.

Bishop Fitzgerald Upper Primary will welcome visitors on Wednesday, September 6.

All visits will take place from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: "The Government has invested well over £100 million in rebuilding our schools since we came into office in 2011."

A RESTORED footpath will connect the Rock of Gibraltar with the city centre under newly announced renovation plans.

The Devil’s Gap Battery will also receive a new interpretation centre and cafeteria.

The new official Upper Rock access point, a rocky path that has been mainly used by locals and some intrepid tourists, will connect to Union Jack Steps that lead to Flat Bastion Road.

The government also hopes to restore the final stretch of the Charles V Wall steps as part of the package, which will further allow walkers to have a direct access to the top of the Rock.

The new routes will be added to the list of the Gibraltar National Trails, which criss-cross the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

“I am delighted to be able to announce this new exciting restoration which will further enhance access to the Upper Rock,” Minister for Heritage John Cortes said.

THE Chief Minister has taken members of the public to view the new schools in Gibraltar.

DISPLAY: Gib’s Neanderthal history

DELAYS: at the border

Big impact

THE Gibraltar National Archives is hosting an exhibition in September to mark the 60th anniversary of its work at the United Nations.

Acting Archivist Gerard Wood, along with his team and volunteers, have put together this exhibition featuring 210 carefully selected images, photographs, documents, and press clippings.

Chief Minister Sir Joshua Hassan and Opposition Leader Peter Isola first presented Gibraltar's case to the UN on September 19, 1963.

In a foreword for the exhibition book

let, Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia said that Sir Joshua Hassan and Peter Isola ‘made history’ by addressing the Committee of 24 in September 1963.

It led to Gibraltar's and its people’s inaugural presence on the international stage.

A significant gap followed until Chief Minister Joe Bossano resumed UN addresses in 1992, a tradition continued by subsequent leaders Peter Caruana and Fabian Picardo.

The exhibition will consist of 200 panels categorized into four main themes of ‘Crime of the Century’, ‘We the Peoples’, ‘Self-Determination’, and ‘Moving Forward’. There will be audio and video footage from 1963 available, supported by primary sources such as documents and artifacts held at the Gibraltar National Archives.

“This exhibition is about the collective journey of a small people seeking the recognition and the exercise of their democratic right to choose,” Garcia explained.

He said that there will always be a faint glimmer of hope that the United Nations may eventually engage with Gibraltar in order to take forward our eventual decolonisation and delisting.

“In the meantime, it is our sacred

Exhibition chronicles

By John Culatto

duty to continue knocking on their door,” he added.

The exhibition will be held at the John Mackintosh Hall from September 20 to October 4.

NICE JOB!

GIBRALTAR’S environment minister has praised workers and volunteers who helped clean up the Gas Venus oil spill last month.

John Cortes met with NGO’s, members of the Port Department, the Department of the Environment and representatives from private contractors that were involved in the operation at Rosia Bay. Cortes highlighted ‘the excellent team effort and collaborative work from all parties in working tirelessly under difficult and extremely hot conditions to remove the heavy fuel oil and mitigate the environmental impact’. He presented key workers and volunteers with a certificate and medals for their efforts.

HISTORY: from the archives

GIB:As it was

Save the date

THIS year's calendar is now available for purchase, the Gibraltar Heritage Trust has announced.

Well-known Gibraltarian artist Leni Mifsud will have her artwork featured throughout the calendar.

With a career spanning over 60 years, she is one of Gibraltar’s most celebrated artists of the 20th century. They are currently being sold for £9 - or £8 with the presentation of a membership card - at the Main Guard shop and online at www.gibraltarheritagetust.org.gi.

Numbers are limited, so purchase your copy as soon as possible.

Gibraltar’s decadeslong work at the UN

Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION

Unnecessary sea stress

THE recent arrest of a Spanish fisherman at sea has opened up a whole can of worms about how much authority Gibraltar has to enforce its stricter environmental rules.

As the fisherman in question pointed out in our exclusive front-page interview, he has to fend for his family’s interests.

The only problem is that Spain defines the waters around Gibraltar as its own.

This means that according to Spanish law, he has a right to fish in these areas.

From the Gibraltar perspective though, these are British Territorial Waters and all fishing vessels need to comply with the laws of not using nets in its waters. Police then enforce the laws as is their job requirement and suddenly we have an international crisis on our hands.

On the one side, you have the Algeciras mayor telling Gibraltar the waters are Spanish and on the other, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo saying they are British. Who is right?

Well, as a Spanish international law professor pointed out, it was Franco who set out the ‘dry coast principle’ in 1971, but Spain’s fragile democracy was unable to change it.

It is probably the reason why Spain has never taken the issue to an international court.

It knows it would lose with what are irrational arguments, based on wording of a treaty that like many other treaties of the time, did not included a territory’s waters.

What could be more absurd than a criminal jumping into the sea when he was running from the police and suddenly they could not touch him because he was no longer in Gibraltar waters?

That Spain’s caretaker government takes into account the enforcement of Gibraltar law to conserve dwindling fish stocks as not in the ‘constructive spirit’ of treaty negotiations, only adds insult to injury.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Alberto Lejarraga alberto@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

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WITH his own mother locking herself in a Granada church and going on an ‘indefinite’ hunger strike until the ‘inhuman witch hunt’ against her son ended, it’s easy to think that Luis Rubiales must be a victim. The boss of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has certainly tried to play the underdog as he took on the might of the Spanish government and Fifa. His unquestioning belief that it’s OK to kiss a female player on the lips, throw another over the shoulder, and joke about marrying another in the locker room, has certainly

led to much navel-gazing in Spanish society.

But crucially, his kissing of Spanish striker Jenni Hermoso as Spain won the World Cup has shone a light on his six year-long position at RFEF, as well as how he got onto the podium in the first place.

And it isn’t pretty reading, with numerous ‘victims’ and witnesses coming forward over the way he allegedly trampled on and abused them on his way to the top of Spain’s football pyramid.

The accusations range from misogyny and sexual harassment to misappropriation of

SUPPORT: Locals get behind Rubiales calling for ‘the truth’

public funds, while anyone who dares to expose his alleged conduct is subject to aggressive legal threats - as Hermoso disgracefully, found out herself.

“The list of women and men aggrieved by Rubiales and his insults, bravado, blackmail, threats, espionage and persecution is too long and must stop,” La Liga President Javier Tebas wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the furore broke. And the rotten smell of corruption and sleaze has, it turns out, been pervading the halls of the Spanish RFEF in Madrid for years. Indeed, his own uncle, Juan Rubiales, came out

SORDID AND SEEDY ONE OF OUR OWN

from his job at RFEF over accusations of leaking confidential information with the aim of damaging his nephew’s reputation. Juan Rubiales confided that Luis would use a villa on the Granada coast (see Orgy Villa on page 1) to host sordid parties for his closest allies and fellow board members.

Present at these gatherings, he described as ‘orgies’, would be around eight to 10 young women, under the pretence of a ‘work event’, with their pay and all other expenses stuck on the federations tab.

“He is a man obsessed with power, obsessed with luxury, obsessed with money, even with women,” he claimed to El Confidencial . “I think this boy needs a programme of social re-education.”

He has a point. While president of the Football Players’ Association (AFE) between 2010 and 2017 he would allegedly ask marketing manager Tamara Ramos what colour underwear she was wearing and tell her to ‘put her knee pads on’. When she informed him in confidence she was pregnant, the first thing he did was to organise a meeting to announce it to the whole office - clearly irked that she would soon take maternity leave.

€103m Belli has won over the fans in a month

‘HE’S one of our own, he’s one of our own. Jude Bellingham, is… well, actually he’s another expat, settling in well into one of the largest diaspora in Europe, the Brits in Spain. Movie star looks and being the first Englishman to win La Liga’s Player of the Month award - a feat neither David Beckham, Steve McManaman nor Gary Lineker ever achieved - has certainly helped the English midfield maestro feel at home. Indeed, it couldn’t have been a better start for the Brummie, who has become an instant hero in Madrid following his €103 million signing from Borussia Dortmund last month. He has even managed to equal Real legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive start to life in Madrid after netting five goals in his first four games - including his most recent feat: scoring a 95th minute winner against Getafe at the weekend. We will have to wait two weeks - after the international break

- when Madrid take on Champions League (CL) debutants Real Sociedad to see if he can break Ronnie’s record.

But is he to become a galactico, like Ronaldo, Zidane or Beckham - or a flop like Michael Owen and Eden Hazard?

The first warning signs must come from the awkward spell of the last famous British player who attempted to adapt to life in Spain.

Despite winning four Champions League medals, Welshman Gareth Bale became a major figure-of-fun over his lack of Spanish and efforts to integrate after arriving for a world record fee in 2013.

While the former Tottenham forward performed wonders for the merengues (in particularly CL finals), he was not well-liked either in the dressing room or the stands.

Bellingham, the opposite face of Bale

What’s been apparent since Jude landed in Madrid has been his attitude as much as his

football.

Unlike Bale, he has made it clear he is keen to integrate as quickly as possible, which will mean eating at strange hours, getting used to extreme temperatures (cold and boiling) and plenty of late nights.

According to sources he is also insistent on mastering the language, unlike Bale who ‘only spoke in English’.

But then again, he does have a head start: He studied Spanish at school until the age of 13 and apparently has sought the advice of Beckham who stressed the importance of learning the lingo.

From day one, he has been seen joking with everyone, with many of the players sharing pics of themselves with Belli at the gym or just hanging out together.

It is probably fair to say that his previous experience in Germany served as the ideal apprenticeship. While he spoke to the media in English, he was known to speak halting Ger-

From orgies with ‘eight to 10 young girls’ to using public money to pay for home renovations, the scandalous own goals of football boss Luis Rubiales are raining in, writes Walter Finch

‘Belli’ in Madrid: Instant hero or just another expat struggling to adapt and settle in his new life in Spain? Walt Finch finds out if Jude Bellingham is to be the next Gary Lineker or a flop like Michael Owen

LEGEND:

G ibraltar

National Day

RED, WHITE AND TRUE

It’s back! National Day celebrations return after four long years

THE hottest date on Gibraltar’s annual calendar is on September 10, when it celebrates its historic National Day. This year, the Rock marks its 56th anniversary as a self-governing British territory, and thousands of revellers will flock to its public and private spaces to commemorate this grand occasion.

The festivities, returning in full force for the first time in four years - the pan-

demic and then death of the Queen led to cancellations of the events - will be held in Casemates Square, John Mackintosh Square and Governor’s Parade.

A tradition started in 1992, the celebration marks the identity and independence of Gibraltar and gives residents the chance to come together as one.

Plenty to celebrate

For Gibraltar, the date of September 10 signifies several historic moments.

The most important is the 1967 sovereignty referendum, where residents were asked to vote whether they wanted to go under the sovereignty of Spain or remain with the UK, but with self-governed institutions. The result came out 100% in favour

of remaining with Great Britain.

G ibraltar National Day

A SMALL NATION WITH A BIG HEART

Q-What sort of feelings does this year's national day conjure after not being able to assemble together for so long?

A-

The group as a whole and I personally are very excited to once again engage with our community in person on 10th September. Whilst it was of course understandable that we weren’t able to do so the last three years, and we did try to maintain the day alive as best we could, there is nothing like a packed Casemates Square and Gibraltar filled with our people in red and white celebrating the day. I believe that fostering a community spirit is crucial to creating a sense of pride and unity, which I consider to be essential traits in cementing and developing our unique national identity.

Q-

Where is the struggle for self-determination now in context of the ongoing talks over the EU treaty and what effect do you foresee that a deal or no deal could have over SDGG arguments at UN meetings?

eyes, hearts and minds of the Gibraltarians, they held the first National Day at John Mackintosh Square (the Piazza) on September 10, 1992.

that the attending crowd could not fit into the square!

A-

If one thinks about it, there is an element of self-determination in the ongoing talks and all surrounding issues in the sense that it is Gibraltar (through its Government and representatives) that is making its own case for what it wants its post-Brexit reality to be. This ability to choose what we want ourselves is at the very heart of the SDGG ethos. It is a bit speculative to try and predetermine what the SDGG’s arguments at the UN will be depending on the outcome of any deal. We shall have to assess what Gibraltar’s position is and proceed accordingly but, whatever the position, we shall continue to put across Gibraltar’s views and aspirations as forcefully as we can!

progress our rights.

At the time, the idea was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1967 sovereignty referendum – they could not have seen the phenomenal growth and popularity of the event they had created!

Coincidentally, September 10 also marks the date when the Gibraltar Legislative Council became responsible for internal affairs in 1964, giving plenty to celebrate, all on one day.

Instant popularity of National Day

After that first year, the Gibraltar government stepped in to help organise the event, provide some funding for the occasion, and declared September 10 a public holiday.

In 1993, the venue was changed to the larger Grand Casemates Square and, in 1998, to the naval ground.

Today, the celebration runs at multiple sites and the residents don their national colours of red and white for fun family activities and a rousing public rally.

Q-

On the topic of UN meetings, has there been any progress recently considering the different government in office and its political will to enter in more constructive dialogue?

A- Not if one looks at it just from the perspective of having achieved decolonisation. That said, we find that there are increasingly more sympathetic ears to our cause and the exercise of self-determination in society in generally has become so important that, I think, the political aspect of this issue will gain increased support. Of note is that HM Government of Gibraltar was able to have a private meeting with the Secretary General of the UN during its last visit. That is not an easy thing to achieve and hopefully is a sign of them taking us seriously and paying more attention.

Q- Does the fact that Spain and the EU ignore Gibraltar as an entity in talks over the EU treaty frustrate you in the call for self-determination, even if the local delegation is ever-present at meetings over the last years?

A-I think that although the official position is that negotiations are officially between the UK and Spain, Gibraltar is far from being ignored. Not only is it present in all meetings but, as I understand it, it is Gibraltar’s views and positions that are shaping the discussions and even the minutiae of the outcome.

The inaugural run of National Day on September 10 1992 was so successful

On top of that, the Rock’s private venues host their own special events in commemoration of National Day. Emilia Hazellsmith of Ocean Village, a thriving area of the Rock’s social scene, says: “National Day is an all-day event with music, dancing and great food and drinks – not to be missed, especially in Ocean Village where live music and fun is the order of the day!”

Dress up and come on down

As is tradition, the official National Day celebrations start with a children's fancy dress competition on Main Street, followed by a street party in John Mackintosh Square.

Q-

To what extent do you think Gibraltar is moving forward in its bid for self-determination, considering in effect it is now needing to contend to so many different voices - the UK, EU and Spain - just to maintain its current way of life?

A- As I said above, negotiating a deal for Gibraltar post-Brexit is already a way of manifesting our wishes and ensuring they are respected and, if possible, implemented. We will need to wait to see what the final outcome of those negotiations is but the SDGG will remain steadfast in its resolve to campaign for the right to self-determination. One must remember that such a right is not exercised once and for all, or indeed only once. The right to self-determination is a continuing right in the sense that we must always be in charge of our own future. So we can, and should always try, to

Q- What is the future for self-determination in Gibraltar considering the increasing pressure on similar territories like Taiwan, Basque Country, Catalunya, Western Sahara, Kurdistan and Hong Kong? Does the lack of diplomatic muscle evidently doom these and the Rock's struggles to oblivion?

A- We must continue to fight for it. Yes we are a small nation with limited resources but we have always punched above our weight. In this day and age it is inconceivable to me that any third party should have the right to impose its intentions on our country against our democratically expressed wishes. As more and more countries or territories such as the ones you mention seek to pursue their own agendas, Gibraltar’s position can be strengthened and it might become more difficult to refute our arguments. We must therefore continue the fight however frustrated we might sometimes get and however long it takes. It is a fight worth fighting. For our sake, in honour of those generations before who gave up so much and for the sake of our children.

The intriguing history of Gibraltar

A6.8km limestone rock, Gibraltar is considered a special place by its 32,000 residents.

The Rock combines a close relationship with the UK with the best of the Mediterranean climate and lifestyle. It was an important naval base during both the Napoleonic Wars and WWII, as it controlled the narrow entrance and exit to the Mediterranean Sea, known as the Gibraltar Strait, which is just 14.3km wide. To this day, half of global seaborne trade passes through the Strait.

Going back in history, Gibraltar has been populated by many significant tribes and peoples.

At Gorham’s Cave, there is evidence of Neanderthal habitation, with stone tools and animal bones. The island also shows evidence of Neolithic inhabitants, followed by Carthaginians and Romans, who called Gibraltar ‘Mons Calpe’, after one of the pillars of Hercules.

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Gibraltar was captured by the Vandals and became part of the Visigotic Kingdom of Hispania for 400 years.

During the Reconquista, in 711 A.D., the Moors conquered Gibraltar. The current name originates from Arabic – Jabal Tariq, which means ‘mount of Tariq’. When the Moors were expelled from Spain in 1462, it fell under Spanish rule.

During the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704, Anglo-Dutch armies conquered Gibraltar on behalf of a claim made to the Spanish crown by their ruling Habsburg family. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht handed the Rock to Great Britain – for keeps. Despite a couple of unsuccessful siege attempts by Spain, the Rock did not return to Spanish sovereignty, and the idea of Spanish rule was rejected by Gibraltarians in the referendum of September 10, 1967.

Over the centuries, Gibraltar has attracted inhabitants with Italian, Portuguese, Maltese, Jewish and French origin, as well as Brits.

In 2002, Gibraltar was designated as a British Overseas Territory, which it remains to this day.

It has, in August 2022, been recognised by the UK as a city.

The present economy of Gibraltar is largely based on tourism,

In the private sector, many of the Rock’s bars and restaurants have organised their very own celebrations, starting with breakfast parties and continuing all day long with various offers on food, drink and entertainment.

The day’s main attraction is the Freedom of the City ceremony, where the mayor reads the Gibraltar National Day Declaration to the gathered crowd. The official entertainment also includes live music, aerial displays and family activities.

Ahead of the big day, the SDGG has been inviting residents to sign the National Day Banner, which is an expression of unity for inhabitants of the Rock. After being signed by thousands of people, via a stall in Casemates Square, it will be displayed on the National Day stage on September 10.

CAPTURE: of Gibraltar by the British

online gambling, financial services and the supply of maritime fuel. It has its own airport and seaports. The inhabitants speak a mixture of Spanish, English and local dialect called Llanito.

An interview with Richard Buttigieg, SDGG chairman

CAPTION

PARTY PLANNING

EXHIBITIONS, festivals, a boat procession and fashion show are all planned for this year’s National Celebrations.

The Self Determination for Gibraltar Group (SDGG) said it had teamed up with Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS) to put on the ‘wide-ranging series of events’.

The days leading up to National Day promise to be one of the most exciting cultural celebrations of the year.

“As in the past, the emphasis remains very much on celebration, with varied entertainment, offering a range of shows and activities for all to enjoy in the spirit of this special occasion,” SDGG chairman Richard Buttigieg said.

“I am confident that Gibraltarians of all ages will have much to enjoy in the lead-up to and on National Day itself.”

Events leading up to and including National Day are as follows:

● ‘Model for a Day’ – Charity Fashion Show - September 6 – 8.30pm

● Boat Procession - September 8 - Coaling Island - 7pm for a 7.30pm start

● National Day Mass - September 9 – The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe - 7.30pm

● ‘Our Gibraltar’ Exhibition - Until September 8 – Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery

● Rock & Paper’ Exhibition by ACE Art - Until September 29 – The Fine Arts Gallery

National Day - September 10

Celebrations begin at 9:30 with live music and performances followed by the political Rally.

● 9:30am to 12:10pm - Live Music and performances (Casemates Square)

● 10:30am - Childrens fancy dress piazza

● 12:25pm - Political rally (Casemates square)

● 1:15pm to 3pm - DJ music (Casemates square)

● 1:30pm to 7pm - Fun for Kids (John Mackintosh Square)

● 1:30pm onwards - Popular live music (Rock Bastion restaurant)

● 1:30pm onwards - Family fun: King’s Bastion Leisure Ice skating & Centre Just for Kidz Play Area

● 2pm - 10pm - Nobiggie Festival 2023 (Victoria Stadium Recreational Area) - Locklead and Enzo Leep will be headlining.

● 2pm onwards - Live Music (Rock on the Rock Club)

● 2:30pm - Aerial Display (Eastern Beach)

● 2:30pm to 7pm - Jazz Band Governor’s Parade (Rosia Bay)

● 4pm - Aerial Display (Rosia Bay)

● 4pm to 12pm - Monkey Rocks (Europa Sports Complex)

● 9pm to 12:30am - Rock Concert (Casemates Square)

● 10:30pm Fireworks Display (Detached Mole)

Red, white and free

A message from Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on National Day

NATIONAL Day was established on September 10, 1992 in order to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1967 sovereignty referendum. This year it will be extra special as we celebrate together in Casemates Square for the first time since the pandemic and since the coronation of King Charles III. It is also the first time we hold a political rally since the last General Election took place four years ago; a reflection of the difficult period we have all had to face in recent times.

On September 10, 1967, the People of Gibraltar were given the choice as to whether they wanted to retain their existing links with the United Kingdom, with democratic local institutions, or whether they wished instead to become part of Spain. This was the first time that the People of Gibraltar were given a say over the sovereignty of Gibraltar. The referendum generation voted overwhelmingly to remain British. Our forefathers refused to sell our birth-right. They did not surrender to the bully next door. More than 300 years of British rule have taught us not to give in to bullies.

Today, our resolve to assert our British sovereignty and defend our right to self-determination remains as strong as the Rock itself.

We continue to face some of those old challenges, and we will face them with as much strength and vigour as we did in 1967.

That peaceful courage in the face of adversity is what makes us Gibraltarians; a people determined to ensure that the future of our homeland is such as we and no others may decide.

National Day is when the people of Gibraltar make a visible, united stand for our right to self-determination.

It is an annual celebration of a unique identity made, defined and chosen by the Gibraltarians: Red, white and British. Red, white and proud. Red, white and free.

G ibraltar National Day

SPREAD THE WORD!

10 facts that make Gibraltar one of the coolest places on the planet

- English is the official language of Gibraltar, but many Gibraltarians also speak Llanito, a mix of Andalucian Spanish, British English, and traces of Genoese, Maltese, and Portuguese.

Words like chakaru, for bouncer or a ‘chucker-out’, chinga, for chewing gum, or juva, for vacuum cleaner, pay homage to both Spanish and English origins.

3- Gibraltar is home to the Barbary macaque, a species of monkeys that have been celebrated for years. From 1915 to 1991, the British army and the Gibraltar Regiment named, fed, and controlled the monkey population. Some of these detail-oriented records taken by the so-called Keeper of the Apes were published in the Gibraltar Chronicle. One such announcement reads: “Rock Apes. Births: To Phyllis, wife of Tony, at the Upper Rock, on 30th June 1942— a child. Both doing well.”

4

- Gibraltar International Airport has a runway that cuts through one of the territory’s busiest 4-lane highways. If you think the commute you take every day is bad, imagine having to wait for a plane to take off or land for the road to open back up again.

- The pastel homes, doors with archways, and green shutters of Gibraltar--not particularly Andalucian or Victorian British in nature--might transport you to the north of Italy. For a reason: in 18th century Gibraltar, 34% of its population was from Genoa, and today this lasting influence can be seen in its architecture and the distinctly Italian surnames of its citizens. 5

- Despite its five kilometre length and one kilometre width, the Rock boasts 52 kilometres of bombproof underground tunnels. Fearing a German invasion during WWII, Gibraltarians built nearly an entire city below ground, complete with electric generators, telephone lines, bakeries, and hospitals.

6- For nearly 300 years, Gibraltar was the sole home to the Jewish community in the Iberian Peninsula. Once numbering in the thousands across the peninsula, after their expulsion from Spain in the 15th century they took refuge in the British territory, and now make up 2% of the Rock’s census.

Le Petit Chef The smallest chef in the world conquers Gibraltar. Gibraltar, 07/07/2023 – Embark on a culinary journey like no other at the Sunborn Gibraltar Hotel!

Starting from Tuesday, 18th July 2023, Le Petit Chef – 58 mm small chef will transport you into a world where 3D cinema meets exceptional gastronomy, making gourmet hearts beat faster.

Indulge in an unforgettable dinner theatre experience where every guest can look forward to a show on their own plate.

As you savour delectable regional and international delicacies, witness the table transform into a captivating screen, bringing the little chef to life with his entertaining performances and culinary misadventures.

Rest assured, the skilled kitchen crew of the Sunborn Hotel Gibraltar is always there to save the day and help Le Petit Chef deliver culinary masterpieces to your table. The carefully preselected menu tantalizes your taste buds with mouthwatering options such as bouillabaisse soup, caprese salad appetizers, lobster and saltimbocca mains,

and delightful ice cream dessert.

With Le Grand Chef and Le Vegan Chef variants available, there's something to please every palate, ensuring an unforgettable gourmet experience for all guests.

"With great pleasure we are now also able to open a location with the Sunborn Hotel Gibraltar. The opening is a great expansion for us, and we are happy to be able to entertain guests with an unforgettable theatre and gourmet experience together with the team on site," says Christine Corvers-Vitzu, Managing Director of 2Spicy Entertainment GmbH. Behind the mesmerizing animations lies the talented Belgian artist collective, "Skullmapping." founded in 2010 by Filip Sterckx and Antoon Verbeeck.

With their expertise in 3D mapping technology and artistic prowess, they brought the 58 mm small chef to life in 2015, enchanting audiences worldwide. Starting from July 18 th, 2023, "Le Petit Chef" will play from Tuesday to Saturday, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Don't miss out and join us at the Sunborn Gibraltar Hotel for this extraordinary experience.

For reservations, bookings, prices, and detailed menus, visit lepetitchef.com/Gibraltar.

More information can be found at www.2spicy.de

7- There are over 150 caves inside the Rock, the most well known of which is St. Michael’s Cave. A twisting maze of limestone, the cave was created from a steady drip of water that eroded the stone over time. St. Michael’s Cave is the most visited cave of Gibraltar’s Rock.

- Gibraltar is the setting for two of the James Bond movies, and is the shocking backdrop for Bond’s famous burial at sea scene in You Only Live Twice.

- Gibraltar’s low tax rates and government incentives have made the Rock an online gambling paradise. The industry, constituting as much as 25% of the country’s GDP, has been named one of the four major pillars of the local economy by the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce.

- On March 20th, 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono on the Rock of Gibraltar. The iconic couple initially wished to get married in Paris or at sea. However, due to the difference in their nationalities, there would be a delay in having a ceremony in any place but Gibraltar, where Lennon’s British citizenship would allow them to marry immediately.

By Laurence Dollimore

THE unpretentious tourist resort of Motril, on Granada’s Costa Tropical, should have been enjoying the last few days of summer last week. Instead, it found itself at the centre of a global media frenzy over a story that wouldn’t look out of place in a Pedro Almodovar film.

The protagonist was the 72-year-old mother of ousted football boss Luis Rubiales, who had locked herself inside the Divina Pastora church, declaring a hunger strike over the ‘mistreatment’ of her ‘honourable’ son.

Angeles Bejar insisted he had done nothing wrong by kissing Jenni Hermoso and she was passing the hours of her self-confinement ‘crying and praying’.

Within hours, dozens of camera crews and journalists from Spain, Portugal and the UK had camped outside - including the Olive Press.

We were expecting a huge backlash and, indeed, we heard that a counter-protest would be arriving, but it soon transpired to be the total opposite.

While thousands of Jenni supporters had gathered in Madrid, there was no chance of Motril turning on their ‘son’, the local boy who had ‘made it big’.

for the PSOE socialist party at the Junta. Indeed, he had risen to the very top as the Employment Delegate for Granada and, almost inev-

HUNGER: Angeles on strike in local church

itably, we discovered got sucked into the huge ERE scandal.

It emerges he is still facing trial for his part in the biggest corruption case in Spanish history that during a decade alone saw €680 million stolen from public coffers.

An inconvenient truth brushed under the carpet by local supporters

And we quickly discovered why: Luis was born into privilege as the son of Manuel Rubiales, the mayor of Motril for over a decade. And therein lay the crux - indeed probably the exact reasons why poor little Luis thought he could get away with anything.

For daddy had not only run the town like his fiefdom, as most mayors invariably do in Andalucia, but he had gone on to become a senior bigwig

He is facing three years in prison for using public money from Brussels, via Madrid, to help stimulate employment and help ailing companies.

But that’s ancient history here in old school Andalucia - an inconvenient truth brushed under the carpet by locals who are still suspicious of the central government. Indeed the onslaught of national - and international - criticism against Luis only served to provoke a rally-round-the-flag effect in Motril.

Dozens of residents showed up to voice their support for Rubiales and his mother, decrying the ‘extreme feminism’ they claim is ‘sweeping across Spain.’

This fervent support laid bare the fractures caused by Spain’s ongoing culture wars, symbolised by the rise of Vox, which calls to redefine domestic violence as ‘intrafamilial violence’, claiming male victims are too often ignored.

Gender-based violence is a key issue for far-right Vox and shows the country has a long way to go to shake off the ‘machismo’ attitudes that still run rife in southern Spain.

Motril is no exception, with women and men of all ages blasting the ‘witch hunt’ of Rubiales.

“Men do much worse in the streets everyday and never get punished,” one local told the Olive Press, adding: “The justice system in Spain is broken.”

While the dust has seemingly settled on Motril, for now, the issue of women’s rights is far from over in Spain.

After the meeting he allegedly made the vulgar comment that she should have ‘got f***ed from behind instead’. He has insisted the claims are false and announced ‘legal proceedings’. Almost as sinister are the allegations he used

€120,000 of AFE funds to pay for a renovation to his house, not to mention suspicious trips to New York with female colleagues.

Architect Yasmina Eid-Mached claimed he told her to ‘send the costs’ of his sumptuous Madrid villa to the union.

She also alleged that during a later argument, he subsequently pushed her aggressively and grabbed her arm, leaving her with injuries to her wrist and ribs.

This apparent attitude towards women continued after he won election to become the president of the RFEF in 2017.

It was most publicly noticeable in his rock-solid support for divisive and unpopular women’s coach Jorge Vilda (who eventually managed the team to its World Cup victory).

Come late 2021, three senior players of the women’s team, Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro and Irene Paredes, wrote an email to the RFEF complaining about Vilda and the federation itself.

man among his teammates.

An atypical football player

Bellingham decided at a very young age to bravely take the step to try a new country and quickly adapted to life in Germany, having landed in Dortmund at just 17.

However, the difference between England and Germany is not as great as with Spain

Fortunately the powers that be at Real believe he can adapt to life in the capital, although inevitably there are still some niggling ‘fears’ that he will find the pressure too much.

For now, the backroom staff at Real - not to mention his entourage of staff and family - are working around the clock to ensure one of the great talents of world football stays wrapped in cotton wool off the pitch.

And on the pitch - fingers crossed unless you are a Barca or Athletico fan - we are looking at a cross between Zidane, Ronaldo and all-time legend Emilio Butragueño.

Among various complaints was their anger that Vilda refused to let the players lock their hotel room doors and search their bags while on national duty.

Rubiales and the RFEF then made a public statement lambasting the criticism and threatening the players with a five-year ban from the national team.

They implied the players were blackmailing them by ‘applying pressure to the federation’.

Many of the players had simply had enough, and on September 23, 2022, 15 players posted an open letter to the federation.

This resulted in all the players being banned ‘until they apologised’. Only three did in the end.

Now they are joined by the rest of the squadsome 56 in total - who have announced they will not play again for Spain while ‘the current management’ remains at the RFEF.

It is hard to disagree with them.

After Rubiales mum brought her own protest to a rapid end after just three days, she would do well to put herself in the boots of those four and a half dozen players… and the thoughts of 99.9% of the Spanish female population.

My poor little boy… the son of a political ‘fraudster’!

FATHER AND SON: The Rubiales

GALACTICO: Belli slots the 95th minute winner home against Getafe

LA CULTURA

WINE TIME

THE simplicity of late-summer eating, the sensuousness of it and the concentrated taste of produce at a pitch of ripeness: figs, nectarines, melon, pears. The balm of an ice-cold salmorejo, silky with oil and piquant with garlic. Yellow figs, intensely sweet, with thin slices of ham. A Russian salad made with cooked carrots and peas, potatoes and a little onion and a boiled egg, all of it diced and bound together with homemade mayonnaise. Hunger comes at odd times of the day and night. I’ve taken to eating at five in the afternoon and sleeping until eight. For lunch today, my summer staple: linguine with a raw tomato sauce. For midnight supper a thin fillet of our own pork, a scatter of oregano, pepper and salt sizzled on the griddle and sliced

Figs, pears and melons in baffling quantities… And

into strips.

Just beside the stove stands a bowl with the remains of the grated raw tomato from lunch, ready seasoned with fresh basil and olive oil, so I slide the red slick on to the hot pan, push it around a bit, et voilà, an instant sauce for my pork steak.

Struggling to eat the fruit that now arrives in baffling quantities. Pears that are green and hard and

952 147 834

then turn yellow, aromatic and juicy. (I’ve taken to drying them in slices out in the sun, on the chicken-wire rack we use for sun-drying tomatoes.)

Strawberries, smaller and smaller as the season progresses but more and more strongly perfumed, to the point that a cloud of strawberry smell bursts out from the fridge when you open the door. Japanese nashi, shaped like apples but tasting more like pears, with a pellucid crispness to their pearly flesh. Small yellow peaches, good to eat but even better peeled, sliced and bottled in syrup for the winter. Cantaloupe melons, the round ones with the orange flesh, gloriously perfumed, the best of all possible breakfast foods. The pig gets all the peelings and pips. Meanwhile the fire has retreated from the forefront of my consciousness. This morning on my early rounds I catch myself thinking: How can a landscape be so ravaged, so damaged, and still retain its loveliness? Yet it does. The surface may be temporarily scarred, but the lie of the land, its shape, its soul, can’t be touched. As the sun came up I walked out of the house and away to the edge of the forest. From here there was a view that filled up my senses always, the

land falling away towards the stream, the valley holding the village clustered around the church as if in cupped hands, and sometimes a big horizontal brushstroke of snow tinted rose-pink on the distant peaks. All around me lay the vineyard. A faint dew had fallen overnight, moistening the leaves. Trailing fronds of grapevine reached out to touch each other, their leaves having lost their sprightly greenness and begun to turn brownish yellow and redden around the edg-

es, as if the lifeforce was now being diverted away from the plant itself and into the swelling fruit.

I liked the way the vines surrounded the house, hugging it protectively, gently bobbing like a lake of green. At any time of year they were worthy of my attention. The black, wrinkled stumps standing mute and unflinching in a winter downpour had an air of something mineral rather than vegetable, as if carved out of black volcanic basalt. In April the buds burst into delicate

*Data extracted from process closure surveys after using our roadside assistance and breakdown services.

- finally - the grapes swelled and were ready to pick for wine. Their variety, no one could tell me, writes

Paul Richardson of life in September in his new book, Hidden Valley

PICKING: The grapes were plentiful but noone knew the variety

One vine was a lonely thing, but a large number of them were magical

FATTENED UP: The pig gets all the peelings and pips

LA CULTURA

shoots, which unfurled into tiny leaves and grew tiny clusters of green pinheads: embryo grapes. One vine on its own was a lonely thing, but a large number of them was a magical collective entity, sprouting and fruiting as one, branches moving in the breeze like a single organism.

Baudilio, the old man who had worked this land for half a century, once told me his father had first laid out the vineyard nearly a century ago, planting it with vine cuttings brought from an important winemaking region far from here where he regularly worked the grape harvest. Baudilio had more

vineyards around the village and a bar in the main street serve glasses of his strong, pungent white wine. In springtime he ploughed between the rows with a plough drawn by the family mule, which lived in the hut that would eventually become my bedroom.

What no one could tell me, not even he, were the grape varieties. In the old days nobody much worried about such things; varietal identity is a modern obsession.

There was white and there

A new season

LATE SEPTEMBER: Practically its own season. Bright, fresh days with the memory of water – the downpours of last week, which stopped summer dead in its tracks – still present in corners of the land where the sun seldom reaches, still damp, the soil still dark after rain.

was red, and these were mostly white, with an occasional red one popping up randomly in the midst of them. The wines we had tasted in the village bars were white, but strong and sometimes slightly oxidised or sherry-ish, and surprisingly pallid in colour.

They were fermented and stored in big-bellied clay urns or vats, which made the cellars of village houses look like a set for Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The vats were treated inside with a resin derived from pine sap to seal and disinfect the clay, which often gave the wines a hint of the balsamic piney taste you find, much more prominently, in Greek retsina.

The idea was appealing to me: I imagined a link, over huge distances of time and space, between the amphoras of Attica and the clay vats of this village in twenty-first-century Spain.

How the grass revives, brave little blades of a vivacious green pushing up and out, stippling the ground like a computer-generated colouring-in. There’s a pleasant mental confusion about walking out in the early morning and seeing these tender shoots, feeling the humid air on your face.

The sheep are energised, running this way and that, hardly able to believe these pastures new, this deliciousness right under their muzzles.

The maize hangs in long rows, the dry cobs tied into pairs –a job that has us channelling crabbed old Galician grandmothers as we sit on wooden

In search of setas

IN the damp afternoon after a rain shower I go to the woods to walk, and also to forage for wild fungi Mushrooming is a subtle and mysterious art. The mental attitude required is a via negativa, a not- wanting-too-much, a not-looking- too-hard. Synoptic vision, casting your whole eye over an expanse of ground, ready to pick up the signals, the curve of the cap, the colour a shade or two away from the sur- rounding variants of brown, a fun- gal aroma your nose detects. When you see one there’s a tiny charge of pleasure in the brain, like the dopa- mine hit a new email in your inbox is meant to produce.

It’s a knowing before you even real- ly know; a prescience. Or perhaps a reverse déjà vu: you imagine you knew it was there, how could it not have been? The tell-tale way the mushroom has pushed up the

leaf layer then again, you’ve poked carefully with a stick or your foot at dozens of such tell-tale liftings and found nothing underneath but a tussock of grass that has pushed through a wodge of dry leaves and raised it slightly, and even as you did so some thing told you it was a waste of time, so there’s hardly a cast-iron logic there. Yet this time it’s textbook. The hard, round cap the russet brown of a Hov- is loaf; the thick bulbous stem white as marble. When your fingers reach

PRODUCE: Everything from the maize to olives and fruit gets conserved and potted

stools out on the porch. We tear off the dry outer sheaths leaving just enough on either side to twist and tie, shooting the breeze all the while.

This year’s colours in the cobs’ mosaic patterns are a pastel pink, a drop-dead coral red, dark elegant grey and a dun green that’s almost khaki. As we twist and tie we speculate and joke about the randomness or otherwise of the cobs’ intricate patterning: a message from an alien culture? Some kind of heavenly barcode? Or simply nature in all her meticulous unfathomable beauty?

around that cool, dry pillar, that’s when you know you’ve found your perfect Boletus edulis. That’s the first satisfaction. The second comes soon after, bundled up with the first. I like them best baked with potato and garlic, with buttered eggs, a rich autumnal rice with rabbit and pumpkin, and raw in slicescarpaccio-thin dribbled with olive oil and scattered with parmesan. Tonight Nacho makes a salad in the scattergun inven- tive manner of his cooking, and it’s a palpable hit.

Peppery rocket and carrot julienne and crisp sweet apple and shavings of raw cep, which imbue the dish with their insinuating perfume; a memory of damp leaf mulch; a whis- per from the woods.

PERFECTLY RIPE: Succulent peaches and tasty peppers

Deadly summer

A TOTAL of 90 people have died of heat stroke in Malaga province this summer.

Some 51 people lost their lives from heat stroke in July, and 39 in August, according to the Carlos III Health Institute. The institution says that this is the highest number of heat stroke deaths since 2015, the year its started registering them.

Some 92% of the deceased (83) were over 65 years old, and 46 of them were over 85. However, two victims were under 44 years old.

In Andalucia as a whole there were 609 heat stroke deaths during June, July and August, over 25% more than last year, when there were 434 victims.

GIBRALTAR’S Government has met with Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society to talk about the recently published National Dementia Strategy.

At the meeting, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo reaffirmed Daphne Alcantara, the institution’s Chairperson, the Government's support to making Gibraltar a dementia friendly city.

The newest five-year National Dementia Strategy aims to improve public and professional awareness and under-

FIGHTING DEMENTIA

standing of dementia in Gibraltar. Its objective is to inform individuals and their families about the importance of early diagnosis and to promote its prevention.

It also tackles the issue of those living with dementia to develop the necessary services to meet the needs of people suffering from the health issue in the com-

munity

“I am delighted to endorse this Strategy. The aim is to facilitate an improvement in the quality of life of those living with dementia and their families and carers by strengthening existing services using an integrated and focused approach,” Albert Isola, Minister for Health and Care said.

Alzheimer’s Month

Gibraltar welcomes World Alzheimer's Month as over 1% of its population suffers from dementia

GIBRALTAR has welcomed World Alzheimer's Month as the Government issued a statement to highlight

LEGIONNAIRES’ DEATH

AN 85-year-old man has died in Caceres from Legionnaires disease, with six others affected and hospitalised. Among the affected were an 85-yearold woman and three men aged 76, 71, and 55. Additionally, two 65-year-old men were admitted to intensive care..

Rafael Mateos, the city’s mayor, said: “The problems are usually in the vapour sprays, and that is where controls have to be increased.”

Eight public fountains were turned off until the source of the outbreak could

be traced.

Typically, Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious but is very easily spread through bacteria inhaled from water or soil particles. The bacterium was discovered as a result of precautionary measures. The bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease also causes Pontiac fever, an illness resembling flu.

Pontiac fever usually clears on its own, but untreated Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal.

the importance of raising awareness of the condition. Under this year’s theme of ‘never too early, never too late,’ Chief Minister Fabian Picardo's message marked the start of the period. “Dementia is something we, unfortunately, cannot avoid. It is something I have seen in my own family.

Are you suffering from anxiety?

Are you depressed?

Are your children having social issues?

PERHAPS YOU NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL TO TALK TO I HOPE WE CAN HELP. CALL US IN CONFIDENCE.

Change through relocation abroad can also add to mental health pressures and these life changes are never easy.

Counselling and therapy has changed the lives of many. Getting in touch is the first step.

Recognising that there is an issue is the first step on the road to recovery.

Help is available through our confidential counselling service.

+34 664 666 252 info@counselling4anxiety.eu www.counselling4anxiety.eu

Extra jabbing

ALL children in Spain aged between six months and five years will be eligible to get a flu vaccine this autumn.

Previous policy has been for only youngsters with underlying conditions to receive a flu shot.

The age range extension according to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics will mean that between 55% and 60% of young children will get a dose.

Javier Alvarez of the association said: “This will bring added protection as children are the main spreaders of influenza in schools and nurseries - passing on the virus to people they live with.”

He pointed out that flu affects up to 40% of young children, and that 5% of cases end up in hospital - especially if somebody is suffering with other ailments.

Covid

It's something I know has deeply affected very many families in Gibraltar and around the world,” he said. He went on to emphasise the teamwork between the Government and the Gibraltar Alzheimer's and Dementia Society to combat the disease, praising the charity.

“I want to recognise the great work done in partnership by the Government and the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society. Last year, I became a Dementia Friend, alongside my cabinet colleagues and committed my Government’s support to making Gibraltar

a Dementia Friendly society. I am very pleased to see that many Government departments and Ministries have now become Dementia Friends and, like me, are now even more aware of what it is like to live with Dementia.”

Currently, there are 366 people living with dementia in Gibraltar, which accounts for over 1% of its population. And, in the world, more than 55 million people live with the condition, with approximately 10 million new cases each year, according to the World’s Health Organisation.

Evidence also shows that when children are vaccinated, the number of flu cases among adults is reduced. The autumn flu vaccination campaign will start in tandem with a fresh set of Covid-19 booster shots, focused on the most vulnerable with everybody aged over 60 included.

The Covid injections will start with the most elderly whose risks of contracting a serious disease increases if they contract the coronavirus.

Other groups include health and social workers as well as people who work in institutions like residences, disability centres, and prisons. It is not yet clear which drugs will be used as Spain has bought more than 100 million doses that are outdated as new Covid variants have appeared over the past year.

HELP NEEDED

SPAIN is grappling with a rise in youth suicides that poses serious questions about the country's child mental health services.

Last year 22 youngsters aged 10 to 14 ended their lives – the highest figures since 1991.

And calls to child helplines have grown nearly five-fold, from 958 in 2019 to 4,554, according to the Foundation Anar, a non-profit organisation that helps children and adolescents at risk in Spain. The suffering endured during the pandemic exacerbated issues such as eating disorders and self-harm among youngsters. Spain’s public healthcare system struggled to cope, with only one in five trained clinical psychologists specialising in

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child and adolescent care – around 540 in total.

Experts are advocating for immediate action, demanding more placements in the psychology training program and a specialised child psychology branch.

People can also call Samaritans in Spain between 10am and 10pm on FREEPHONE 900 525 100 for a confidential service in English or email pat@samaritansinspain.com

Spain’s national suicide helpline 024 also offers a service in English

Across: 1 Vienna, 5 Tiddly, 8 Rent-free, 9 Omit, 10 Lily, 11 Yule log, 12 Skid, 14 His, 15 Turn, 17 Gastric, 19 Save, 20 Saga, 21 Overdose, 22 Terror, 23 Sadist.

Down: 2 Ice-pick, 3 Nutty, 4 Array, 5 Trellis, 6 Droplet, 7 Lying, 13 Despair, 14 Harbour, 16 Revises, 17 Glare, 18 Crews, 19 Sided.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

CAPITAL OF COOL

DESPERATE to escape the hordes and scorching heat of southern Spain, there are only really two places to head for in the car: Galicia or northern Portugal.

Lisbon has it all thanks to its rich diversity, cultural heritage and excellent food and wine scene.

CAPTION:

The continent’s westernmost capital has magnificent sights, wonderful restaurants and a fun nightlife scene, without the hefty prices - or overwhelming tourism - of Barcelona or Paris, say.

Just a six-hour drive away from Malaga (or nine from Valencia) it also has fantastic beaches at

POMBALINE BAIXA CASCAIS

WEST of Lisbon lies Cascais, an affluent beach town that looks out onto the Atlantic.

The drive alone makes the trip worthwhile, heading out along the Tagus River, travelling west on the scenic N6. The 30 km route hugs the coast, as the river becomes the ocean, past small beaches hiding in rocky inlets (think Playa del Cristo) where the tide rises and falls against the natural sea walls.

DOWNTOWN Lisbon was almost entirely destroyed during the city’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami of 1755, and subsequent fire.

In the devastation’s aftermath, the Marquis of Pombal took complete control of reconstruction.

The Marquis’s vision differed drastically from the old city’s narrow, winding roads. He commissioned a grid network with wide avenues, making this Europe’s first modern city, with plenty of wonderful old trams still running.

The area hosts the city’s shopping district and is the most bustling daytime sector.

The roads towards the river culminate in the Praca de Comercio, where the city puts on concerts, festivals and cultural celebrations throughout the year.

BEFORE clubbing until six in the morning, most nights in Lisbon start on the crowded, cobbled streets of Bairro Alto. Thousands of people stand outside the hundreds of bars packed into just a few square blocks to quaff pints of beer from just €1.50 and pints of mojitos from €6 (yes, pints of mojitos). Most bars also offer even larger 75cl versions – worthwhile for the mojito, but it can end up being more expensive for the beers. Despite the heavy foot traffic, taxis and even trams worm their way through at night.

Some revellers sit on the boots of council cleaning vehicles to cadge a free ride as they drive past.

A FAIRYTALE city fit for a Disney princess, Sintra is a day trip not to be missed.

It’s just 30 minutes (by train or car) to this mystical city awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.

With a skyline to rival Manhattan, a host of 19th-century turrets and domes stand majestically above the colourful town houses. Cupped between two impressive mountains, both can be climbed and are within two hours of the city centre.

The effort is worth it for the rewards at the top: the mediaeval Castelo dos Mouros perches on the crest of one summit and the Pena Palace on the other, once the summer residence of Portugal’s monarchs during the 18th and 19th centuries.

HEAD beyond the city centre, west of the magnificent 25 de Abril Bridge (a Golden Gate lookalike named after the date of Portugal’s independence from Salazar’s regime) to find Belem, a focal point of Lisbon’s history.

Here, in a single square, you’ll find the Tower of Belem, the Jeronimos Monastery, and some of the best pastries in the city.

From the Tower of Belem, you see Lisbon from a different vantage point to anywhere else in the city, a view that underlines its relationship with the Atlantic and the Tagus River.

The monastery is like any great European Catholic church: dark, immense and echoic. Two famous Portuguese legends rest in peace here: Camoes the poet and Vasco da Gama the explorer. After sightseeing, head east to a bakery with blue awnings named Pasteis de Belem to try Lisbon’s famous pastel de nata. Make sure it’s dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

ADRAGA & NEARBY BEACHES

Some of Europe’s best beaches sit just around the corner. Just 20 minutes from Sintra and half an hour north of Cascais, Praia da Adraga is one true gem on wonderful white sand, crashing waves and one of Portugal’s best beach restaurants. A splendid place for kids with a network of tunnels leading to smaller coves, the waves are surfable, if pretty gnarly for beginners. Nearby, Praia da Ursa may have a steep climb down, but when you get there you’ll find a dozen beachgoers tops.

As the temperatures finally drop and the masses head home, Dilip Kuner offers up half a dozen reasons to take a trip to Lisbon

REcycle P LIVE RESS The O

Late for lunch

A HELICOPTER pilot from Spain’s DGT traffic authority crashed while trying to make a lunch stop a restaurant in Almeria.

Battle ready

A FIVE-DAY course for people wanting to go and fight in Ukraine against Russian forces is being offered by a company in Catalunya’s Lleida for €700.

In vane?

MALAGA’S iconic Caminito del Rey will install a weather station provided by Spain’s Met Office AEMET to display more accurate weather data after it was closed several times for feared high winds that never materialised.

Rhythm stick

WITH his unusual yoga stances, he stalked the stage with the grace of a ballet dancer. But, make no mistake, Baxter Dury had the presence of a pit bull, at his first major concert in southern Spain, at Cala Mijas Festival.

The enigmatic Londoner has all the swagger of his famous dad, the legendary Ian Dury (and his Blockheads), but with more finesse. And the intelligence of his lyr-

While Arcade Fire rocked, it was British talents Baxter Dury, Idles and Underworld who stole the show at Cala Mijas

By Jon Clarke

ics, as well as the way he cleverly ad-libbed his way through various songs, with references to Spain, had the crowd in stitches.

This was Brit pop (for want of a better word) at its best, particularly on standout tracks like Cocaine Man and particularly, Baxter (these are my friends) Another UK band with an even edgier, angrier sound were Idles, from Bristol.

The five-piece blew the (mostly) Spanish crowd away as they stomped around stage behind frontman Joe Talbot, his neck pulsating with aggression. Mesmerizing and brilliant, only guitarist Mark Bowen in full Arabic dish dash came close to

Get on the horn!

A GROUP of bulls managed to successfully block the A3 motorway near Valencia. They managed to escape from their truck after it tipped over. The incident caused tailbacks of two kilometres.

RECORD RIND

matching the showman.

Of the major acts across the well-organized three-day festival, the plaudits had to go to Canadian legends Arcade Fire, who played an absolutely faultless set on Friday. This collective of talented musicians just keep going from strength to strength, and will no doubt be playing these brilliant tunes, like the Rolling Stones do into their 70s. Thier first headline show of the year in Spain, they had come to enjoy themselves as they descended down the 100 steps from the hills behind, waving to the crowd. Hits; they played them all, with the excellent Rebellion (Lies), Haiti and, in particular, Afterlife, getting everyone jumping. Saturday’s headliners the

Strokes, while hitting the heights, in particular with hits from their seminal first album, Is This It, failed to truly ignite, largely due to lead singer Julian Casavantes clearly being worse for wear. Luckily an excellent performance from experimental French group, M83, made up for it, while the house was well and truly blown away by UK dance legends, Underworld, who came on at 2.30am and rocked till the wee hours.

A SPANISH cheese has become the most expensive ever sold. The 2.2-kilo fromage, from Cabrales, in Asturias, sold for a record €30,000. Artisan Ivan Suarez smashed his previous Guinness World Record of €20,500 paid in 2019. Made from cow, goat and sheep milk, it undertakes a ten-month maturation process in a cave 1,400 metres up in the soaring Picos de Europa. Suarez has won the award at the Cabrales Cheese Contest for four years in a row.

"It's my passion for my local area and its cheesemakers that fuels my competitive streak," he insisted.

ICONIC: Baxter and dad Ian (inset)

PICTURE CREDITS: Walter Finch