Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 334 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 13 Issue 334 www.theolivepress.es January 8th - January 21st 2020

FINALLY! Diving in

The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. Allen Wilson, a health and safety expert who has worked on numerous drowning cases around Europe, arrived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths of the trio. Wilson claimed the pool’s design with just one floor ‘outlet’ – instead of two – could have created an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and dragged them under water. It flies in the face of the Guardia Civil’s official investigation, which Continues on Page 2

EXPERT: Allen Wilson

RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote PEDRO Sanchez has become Spain’s official prime minister after winning a second vote of confidence yesterday. The PSOE leader will govern the country for the next four years, after an agonizing two-year wait and three general elections. Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, was forced to recall MPs to sit for the first time over the weekend to confirm his victory. It was his second attempt at an investiture vote since the PSOE won the most seats in December’s general election, but failed to win an overall majority. The vote saw MPs in Spain’s congress vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and a host of other parties. After a heated afternoon session, he won a knifeedge victory of 167 votes against 165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up by MPs from Unidos Podemos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Galego Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva Canarias.

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition victory In his letter, he referred to the two men’s shared It was no surprise who voted against the left-wing desire to look beyond ‘the eternal issue’ of sovercoalition, with 165 MPs from the Partido Popular, eignty and he extended the hand of friendship on Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, Navarra behalf of the people of Gibraltar. Suma and others saying ‘no’. He also offered his support for the promotion of The left erupted into applause, with some shed‘policies based on the principle of dialogue, unding tears, when it was revealed that Sanchez had derstanding and co-operation between our reclinched the vote. spective people’. Representatives screamed ‘si, se puede!’ while Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention of the Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was photographed pro-independence Catalan Republican Left party in tears. Spain’s most recent election was the (ERC), which agreed to sit out the vote after Sanfourth in as many years as the country failed to chez vowed to find a solution to the political conform a cohesive government. flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s sepa“It’s great news for Spain,” leading expat Hispanratist regional government tried to secede in 2017. ist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. “There are going to be lots of compromises, but also solutions.” Terrorists He added: “Sanchez is an amazing man and it’s The government’s opponents argue Sanchez’ remarkable to think he stuck it out after being ‘Frankenstein government’ will be too beholden kicked out of his own party and then came fightto Catalan separatists and pose a threat to Spain’s ing back. national unity. While Sanchez appealed for calm, “He has the qualities of a true and called on MPs to overcome the ‘atmosphere of statesman and speaks very well. He irritation’, his adversaries went on the offensive. will be a great asset for Europe.” PP leader Pablo Casado, accused him of being an Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s future in the Picardo also sent a letter of conhands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. gratulation to Sanchez on being In a tweet sent after the vote, Sanchez wrote: re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and “Spain is entering a time for defending dialogue fractious debate’. and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence and fights for social justice. Today is the dawn of a time of moderation, progress and hope.” Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000. Opinion Page 6

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Assault death

A BRITISH mum who mysteriously died during a family holiday to Tenerife was assaulted weeks earlier at her home in Motherwell, it has been revealed.

Dead German A YOUNG German man has died in a horrific car crash – that caused the car to burn on the A-7 motorway passing through Maro, in Nerja.

Gender killing A MAN has been arrested after allegedly killing his wife and three-year-old daughter in Barcelona on the Three Kings Day.

Beach bust THREE Moroccan men have been arrested on El Playazo beach in Nerja after being caught with nearly 2,000 kilos of hash.

CRIME

IS IT A COVER UP? From Page 1

concluded the three died as a result of their ‘inability to swim’. Their controversial report was thrown into jeopardy, however, when mother and wife Olubunmi Diya insisted all three could swim. Her lawyer, Fuengirola-based Javier Toro, later insisted daughter Comfort had even taken lessons a ‘week before the holiday’. Toro told the Olive Press this week that ‘many lines of investigation remained open’. Wilson, however, went further to claim the report done by the police was a ‘cover up’ to protect the Spanish tourist industry, the resort and the tour operators. “It stinks,” Wilson, who has worked for leading European tour operators on matters of pool safety, told the Olive Press. “The police say it was safe, but I personally believe they would not have the knowledge, experience or ability to carry out this type of investigation,” added Wilson, a former president of the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers, who has worked for TUI and Thomas Cook. He suspects that a drop in water level – reportedly evidenced on pictures after the incident – could have put pool-side skimmers out of action. This would have concentrated all suction onto one floor drain.

“There should be two floor vents spaced two metres apart, so you never get more than 50% of suction in a freak event,” Wilson said. “The floor vent looks like a drain in your back garden, so just from the pictures I’m already seeing non-compliance to international standards.” The trip is being funded by Wilson’s current health and safety firm, Studies in Work. A spokesperson for CLC said claims made by Toro and the Diya family were ‘directly at odds with the findings of the police report’. “Exhaustive investigations have confirmed the pool was working normally and there was no malfunction of any kind. “Our sympathies remain with the family at what we understand must be a stressful and desperately upsetting time for them.”

Monsters TWO men have been arrested after a pig was beat up with a sledgehammer before being put down. The alleged attackers, aged 51 and 38, are believed to have tied the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig to a fence by its snout on a farm in Valladolid. A vet was forced to put down the animal after it sustained severe bleeding from several wounds.

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Lucky skywalker Toddler cheats death after walking high rise tower ledge while ‘mum in shower’

THIS is the moment a toddler cheated death by walking along the ledge of a Spanish block of flats while her ‘mother was in the shower’. The video, taken by a horrified onlooker, shows the unidentified tot tiptoeing along a narrow section of the building’s exterior. She can be seen emerging from the window, before venturing along the corner of the block, where there is no barrier. Using her hand for support, she reaches a balcony before she doubles back and climbs through the window. The young daredevil is thought to be from a young Finnish

family, who are holidaying in Tenerife at the apartment in Playa Paraiso, Adeje. Police reportedly didn’t find out about the incident until they saw the video on Spanish TV channel La Sexta on Monday. The unbelievable footage was posted on the ‘I Love Tenerife’

If Carlsberg did smuggling SEVERAL British individuals have been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs by using their drink businesses as a cover. Policia Nacional had been tracking a British man since the arrest of two traffickers back in 2018. According to police, this Brit, and other compatriots, together had a network

of legitimate international beverage companies, allowing them to transport drugs unnoticed across the continent. Policia Nacional have arrested nine people after finding 239 kilos worth of marijuana buds and 17.8 kilos of synthetic drugs hidden among pallets of beer and other products.

Facebook group. An accompanying caption read: “OMG! This toddler managed to climb out of this building window whilst the parents were taking a shower. “This apparently happened over the weekend at a property in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife!”

Booze cruise

AN investigation has been launched after a tourist three times over the alcohol limit drove up a dual carriageway the wrong way. The boozed-up 43-year-old man travelled for 10 kilometres in the opposite direction on the A-45 between Malaga and Cordoba.

Hunt for Russian fugitive switches to wife A TRIO of European MEPs are demanding Spain help track down wanted Russian fugitive Alexander Chikovani and his wife. EU deputies Giuseppe Milazzo, Fulvio Martusciello and Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar have asked Spanish police to seek his current home, believed to be on the Costa Blanca or Costa Brava. They also want the authorities to probe his current business activities in Spain, in collaboration with his Russian wife Ksenia. According to Russian media, Chikovani transferred various assets to his wife, which were set to be frozen by the Russian authorities. Moscow court had ruled that Chikovani had to pay off a series of debts to creditors back home, before fleeing to Spain. However, he was able to transfer much of his property and other assets to his wife, who was able to withdraw the cash in Spain under her name. The court has now ordered Ksenia to return the multi-million euro debts to a series of creditors back home. The court insists she returns the ‘illegally ob-

tained assets to the bankruptcy estate for the payment of multimillion debts to defrauded creditors’. The fraudulent funds are now being used, it is claimed, for money laundering in Spain. According to Russian media, the pair are closely linked to various Russian criminals, ‘who protected their illegal activities for many years’. The Olive Press has discovered that Ksenia and Alexander set up two Spanish companies in Catalunya in 2018 to buy, sell and run hotels, spas and restaurants. Initially set up in Tarragona, they more recently moved their registered address to Barcelona, perhaps to evade the authorities. Alexander’s name was taken off the deeds of one of the companies in February this year. The EU deputies have now sent their request to the Ministry of Justice, which oversees money laundering and law enforcement probes in Spain. Chikovani, who is accused of major financial fraud in Russia, is on the Federal wanted list, as reported by the Olive Press in September last year.

NEWS

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January 8th - January 21st 2020

Courting the quokka CHEEKY: Rafa and quokka

when he posed with it during a trip to Australia this Christmas. The Mallorca star took a day off from preparations for the ATP Cup in Perth to visit the animal sanctuary on Rottnest Island. He sent the picture to his 22m followers on Instagram, alongside one IT was one of the funniest selfies of of Hollywood star Liam Hemsworth. the festive period. The world No.1 said: “They are not Tennis ace Rafael Nadal looked as scared to be close to people and we strange as the animal, a quokka, had some fun with them.”

Get digging! EXCLUSIVE By John Clarke

HE is the most famous murdered poet in history. Yet, the mystery of where Federico Garcia Lorca’s body was buried has continued for over half a century. Now investigators may, once again, kick start the search for him, based on a bone found in a park near Granada in 1986. The celebrated Blood Wedding writer was killed by fascists at the beginning of the Spanish civil war, in August, 1936. The homosexual scribe was seized at his home in Granada and later shot alongside three fellow Republicans and dumped in a yet-to-be-identified communal grave. Now the granddaughter of one of those killed - teacher Dioscoro Galinda - has filed an official request to a Granada court to reopen the investi-

Expat historian Ian Gibson lends weight to new push for search for famous murdered poet

BURIAL: Of Spain’s Lorca? gation into their whereabouts. “Spanish society has not yet had the opportunity to bury its most famous Andalucian,” insisted Nieves García Catalan in her request. She based her demands on the recent claims of former Granada Public Works boss Jose Antonio Valdivia, who hinted that a bone found in the village of Alfacar could have been from Lorca.

A long time investigation, which led to digs in three separate locations in 2009, 2014 and 2016, came to a standstill soon after the PP took control of the Junta in 2018. The new demand also includes evidence from celebrated Irish historian Sir Ian Gibson, who has long insisted Lorca was buried in Alfacar. This week, he told the Olive Press: “It’s about time they

Rising Phoenix IT would have been a case of fifth time lucky. But sadly it was not to be for Antonio Banderas on his fifth attempt at winning a Golden Globe award in America. Once again, the Spaniard had to settle for a nomination, as Joaquin Phoenix walked away with the Best Actor award for his role in Joker. It was the second time that Phoenix had bagged the award. Banderas, 59, was nominated for his role as Salvador Mallo in the Spanish drama Dolor y Gloria, di-

RUNNER UP: Banderas

rected by one of the godfathers of Spanish cinema, Pedro Almodovar. The film, which draws on Almodovar’s own life, is set across two timelines. In the present, Mallo is a film director who achieved major success in his prime but is now in his 50s and is quite depressed and lacks

WINNER: Phoenix

inspiration. In the past timeline, we witness young Salva’s youth, where he shares a tender relationship with his mother Jacinta (Penelope Cruz), as she tries her hardest to get him a good education in order to find a way out of poverty.

carried on with this search. It is abhorrent that Spain’s most famous playwright and poet is still buried in an unmarked grave.” The Madrid-based writer has written various books on the case and believes that the group were buried by a specific olive tree in Alfacar, before being dug up and later moved. “We believe they are buried under an ornamental fountain, which was due to be dug up, until the PP government got into the Junta in 2018. “This denuncia should hopefully get things moving again and I am fully prepared to give evidence as an expert,” he added. In the court request, seen by the Olive Press, the family asks for the official Guardia Civil ‘service sheets’ in Granada and Alfacar from August 18 to 20, 1936, when Lorca was executed. It also requests official police files on execution orders, anything on the exhumation of the poet and the registration of the transfer of his remains. It also asks for any evidence of those killed around that time by the Red Cross. The other two Republicans killed alongside Lorca were bullfighters Francisco Galadí and Joaquín Arcollas. It is believed 115,000 missing people are still buried in unmarked graves around Spain.

HISPANIST: Gibson

Golden moment IT kept the hordes watching as the countdown to New Year’s Day began. And this year, TV presenter Cristina Pedroche’s annual racy outfit snared a new record for Antena 3. The channel took a record 4.63m viewers as the presenter finally stripped down to a skin-tight gold outfit as the gongs rung midnight. The shiny number, designed by artist Jacinto de Manuel, was revealed at 23.57pm. Called Venus MMXX, it took an incredible 650 hours to make and had been worked on since July. It is the fifth year Pedroche has stripped down to a racy outfit as part of the New Year’s celebrations on Antena 3.

MUNOZ: And Pedroche

The star, who has been married to three Michelin star chef Dabiz Munoz for four years, spent the Reyes holiday in London, where Munoz has a restaurant.

NEWS

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January 8th - January 21st 2020

Action stations Squids out! Age in coming HE is one of the costas most esteemed British expats. Now, Dr Charles Betty has fittingly been awarded an MBE for his work helping elderly expats abroad. The 95-year-old, who set up the Age Care Association, has worked closely with the consulate in Malaga for decades. Betty, who moved to Spain in 1985, was described as a ‘true public servant’ by British Ambassador Hugh Elliott. He continues to work out of his home in Benalmadena and two years ago became the oldest student to receive a PhD from a British university. He became a Doctor of Philosophy at Northampton University after completing a 48,000-word thesis on why elderly expats living in Spain return to the UK. The former Welsh fusilier, from Nottinghamshire, was at the D-Day landings during the second world war.

A SQUADRON of US military planes have arrived in Spain in apparent anticipation of conflict following the recent tension in Iran. The military bases of Rota and Moron de la Frontera in Andaulcia have seen dozens of large cargo aircraft arrive in the largest deployment since the 2003 Gulf War. Residents of the small coastal town of Rota and Sevilla town of Moron have reported a large increase of traffic at the nearby base.

Rapid arrival of American military planes in Andalucia is set to cause an early test for new leader Sanchez By James Warren

This included large C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft carrying personnel and military equipment, as well as vehicles and smaller aircraft and helicopters. The arrivals coincided with

a controversial US attack in Iran, which killed the head of the elite Quds Force of Iran, Qasem Soleimani, last week. The move has caused considerable tension between Iran and the US with numerous threats coming from both sides, leading to worldwide concern that conflict is imminent.

That’s the life!

THERE will be 12 national holidays in Spain this year – the same as 2019, with four of them being locally in Andalucia. Of these, eight will be held jointly throughout Spain, while there are some regional variations. The eight national holidays are January 1, January 6, April 10 (Good Friday), May 1 (Workers Day), August 15 (Assumption of

SINGLE IMPLANT

the Virgin), October 12, December 8 (Immaculate Conception) and December 25. Andalucia will have additional holidays on February 28 (Andalucia Day), April 9 (Holy Thursday), November 2 (Feast of All Saints) and December 7 (Spanish Constitution Day). In contrast, the UK has seven public holidays.

IMPLANT BRIDGE

The move comes after the Olive Press reported that the US had requested to increase its presence at the base back in December. The naval base at Rota is currently home to a fleet of US Destroyer vessels that were placed there as part of the NATO missile shield in 2011. They are tasked to provide a forward mobility base in the event of an attack from Iran. US President Donald Trump issued a request to double the personnel and increase the number of warships docked at the base by 50%. The situation is set to provide the first test for the newly formed coalition government of left-leaning Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. His coalition partner Pablo Iglesias, of Podemos, is already strongly opposed to the existence of the bases and has long campaigned for their closure.

BREXIT could harm a €237 million squid trade for fishermen in Spain. The sale of imported squid from the Falkland Islands supports 10,000 jobs in Spain and the British overseas territory. Fishermen fear a hard Brexit could mean Spanish boats not being able to fish in Falklands waters once the UK leaves the EU. And if the UK enters World Trade Organisation rules, tariffs of between six and 18% will need to be levied on imports.

Falklands

An incredible 90% of all squid fished in the Falklands (80,000 tonnes) is shipped to Vigo in Galicia. And over a third of the squid eaten in Spain and Europe comes from the Falklands. The president of Vigo’s fishing vessel owners’ co-operative Javier Touva insisted: “Politicians in Spain and Britain are doing nothing and we are walking off a cliff. “There is no plan B.After Brexit will Spanish boats be able to fish in Falklands waters? Nobody has an answer.”

IMPLANT DENTURE

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NEWS

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Costa to caravan Tree-geddon A FORMER British expat is battling punishing demands from the UK taxman (HMRC) after she lost her €400,000 pension pot in a Spain-based fraud and had to flee home to survive. The 66-year-old pensioner is now facing financial ruin, from her new home - a static caravan site near Bournemouth. Cassie Jones transferred her UK pension offshore, via QROPS in 2015, as many expats have done, but the badly-invested funds left her with just €16,000 two years later. Jones - who was forced to sell her villa in the Algarve, Portugal, to survive - is now being punished by HMRC with a €70k tax bill for violating a five-year double taxation treaty. “I miss my old expat life, my home, the lady with the goats down the lane, my trying to speak the language, badly, and laughing – it’s all gone,”

UK pensioner faces punishing bills from the taxman after losing her entire pension pot in Spain-based investment scam By Joshua Parfitt

she told the Olive Press. “But I won’t give up justice. If my story can protect others in some way, I am willing to speak up.” Jones lost her money after investing it through Costa-Blanca based Continental Wealth Management (CWM). Its boss Darren Kirby convinced her to transfer her pension from decades in the UK’s technology industry, promising her a 10% annual profit. But the non-FCA regulated company recklessly invested her pension (alongside hundreds of other expats) into toxic investments that paid instant commissions to advisers and were doomed to fail, according to Olive Press investigations.

Taking its toll

A TOLL booth worker has revealed the appalling abuse inflicted by angry drivers who don’t want to pay road charges. The employee of five years said he had ‘been spat on’ during a long campaign of harassment from motorists. It comes as two Spanish tolls were scrapped, meaning 135 toll booth workers will be left jobless. Tolls on the AP-4 (Cadiz to Sevilla) and AP-7 (Tarragona-Valencia-Alicante) were phased out last week. The AP-7 along 82km of the Costa del Sol, which costs €12.60, with another €3.30 added for the extra 20km up to Guadiaro, in the Campo de Gibraltar, is not set to be scrapped until 2054.

Advisers correctly told her she could save UK income tax, between 25 and 40%, by transferring her pension via QROPS and making pension withdrawals in another EU country. But she had ‘no idea’ that if she returned to Britain within five years, the double taxation treaty would be void and her backdated pension withdrawals liable to UK income tax. “HMRC do not recognise victims of failed pensions, nor reasons for breaking the fiveyear treaty,” she continued. “Until you can submit proof of genuine reasons you then are under a criminal law investigation. “If your situation means you can’t afford accountants or lawyers, then you keep selling homes and downsizing until you live in a tent, or on the streets under a cardboard box.”

She is now appealing that HMRC recognise her as a pension scam victim, while she is fighting for compensation from those involved. A spokesperson for HMRC said: “We empathise with anyone who believes they have been misled about their pension investments and encourage them to report scams to Action Fraud. “HMRC has done much to combat pension scams, leading to the removal of over 600 overseas schemes in 2017, further safeguarding taxpayers and their savings. “We will continue to come down hard on scammers who we identify, working closely with the Pensions Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority in a cross-agency approach.” Jody Smart, former director of CWM, declined to a request for comment.

A DEADLY army of parasites is threatening to decimate Andalucia’s olive trees. Researchers have discovered an alarming 128 different parasites in soils around the region threatening to kill or harm the trees. In what is believed to be the largest number of microorganisms worldwide, each can cause viruses that affect crop production. The majority affect olives, including the Xyvella virus, but others are affecting chestnut trees, walnuts and many fruit trees. The team at Cordoba University compiled the alarming list after taking a total of 376 soil samples around Western Andalucia. The news comes as farmers noticed a 5% year on year drop in crops for no apparent reason. Data was collected over a period of four years. “The creation of the database is of great importance, since these soil organisms are a real problem in agriculture,” explained lead researcher Antonio Archidona-Yuste, of the Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible. His project on the diversity of plant-parasitic nematodes in cultivated olive trees in southern Spain, insisted most of the bacteria were types of worms. His team is now set to study what can be done to reduce the concentration of these organisms and battle them. It is particularly hoped to increase productivity in the olive industry, which remains the largest income provider in the region.

British fire death

A BRITISH man has died in a house fire near Sotogrande. The 50-year-old died from smoke inhalation at his home in Alcaidesa. Several other people trapped inside the house were able to escape.

2019 round up

What a

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Deep end

Government in action Another month, another election. The cogs of democracy in Spain are clanking again in what has seemed a year of repetitive headlines with two general elections and two winning parties without an absolute majority. To British expats, many without a vote, it may seem a chore to read up on Spanish politics. But you should do: for a new government means a turbo-charged Spanish state ready to enact a backlog of laws that will affect each and every one of you. From Brexit to the environment and from new laws governing scooters to social justice, expect a raft of new measures regulating our lives here. Whether you’re a fan of socialism or not, a democratically elected government in power, at last, is good news for Spain. And there is no doubt Pedro Sanchez is a gentleman and a fighter and with Pablo Iglesias alongside him, he has one of the most intelligent party leaders in Europe. Now we can all move forwards for the next four years without another darn election.

Publisher / Editor

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Charlie Smith Joshua Parfitt charlie@theolivepress.es joshua@theolivepress.es

A look back at the biggest s landmark year

n a year marred by Brexit and culminating in the rise of Boris Johnson (left) to become Prime Minister, there have actually been other stories holding the attention of expats in Spain. For one, pop star Julio Iglesias found out

January

he had a lovechild by a Portuguese ballerina. Then there was the almost unbelievable collapse of Thomas Cook, the Catalan riots, while Spain eventually dug up General Franco. Royals including Harry and Megan, and a sweating (or

OLIVE PRESS

g Get Plannin

There’s a r whole yea ahead. Contact us if you r missed you copy of ourll annual wa planner

A ANDALUCÍ

Your

expat The year began with voice in British expats in Spain Spain still facing the uncera Mijas Cost FREE tainty of unresolved Brexit chaos – some things never change. Our first front page of the year (Issue 308) carried the news that Sanchez , as Pedro year wait the Spanish Prime Minister had promised British expats their Main Man o comes the after a turbulent tw be an m ly rights would remain unchanged after Brexit ‘no matter what’. in Spain The near vernment forms a go Weeks later the world held its breath as rescue efforts began for little Julen Rosello, the two-year-old who fell down a Malaga well Diving in (Issue 309). Olive Press journalists were at the site alongside the global media, before it ANDALUCÍA emerged Julen G et Pl an ni ng LIVE Your had died and a Mijas Costa RESS voiSpaexcepainint family legal battle ensued. In other news the British PM Theresa May (reTerrorists The nearly ma n bec es the Main member her?) still Diving in forms a governmentom in Spain after Man, as Pedro Sanchez a turbulent tw o year wait couldn’t get her Brexit deal through Parliament. The month was rounded off with the grisly tale of British expat GRIM JANUARY: 4 83 Nicholas Smith (left) who unearthed the ‘human From poorTeJulen to l: 952 147pag es 5 See back garden burial remains’ of a teenager in his back garden in Mijas (Issue 310).

! Y L L A N I F ary 8th ress.es Janu

.theolivep e 334 www

Vol. 13 Issu

- January 21st

2020

EXCLUSIVE tt Parfi By Joshua

O P

ng experts n world’s leadi ONE of the pool deaths has flow c on swimming investigate the tragins to Spain toof three British citize drownings s Eve. on Christma a health and safety ex-s Allen Wilson, worked on numerou arpert who has s around Europe, . yesterday drowning case t Costa del Sol rived on the Olive Press last nigh sh He told the the pool, where Briti he believed iel Diya, 52 Comfort manuel tourists Gabr and Praise-Em Diya, nine, on Christmas Eve, was after the vote ro Sanchez Diya, 16, died official IEVED: Ped ld me Spain’s vote of ‘hazardous’.the Club La Costa Wor h REL nd hez has beco victory He insisted rt in Fuengirola - whic t PEDRO Sanc after winning a seco r the coalition ’s shared - was ‘mos minister e in tears afte (CLC) reso week prim to the two men’ of soverthe this . hs lo Iglesias he referred yesterday country for he is set to visite’ for the shock deat emos’ Pab confidence govern the two-year wait In his letter, beyond ‘the eternal issue dship on will r blam MED: Pod ing to leade y frien E likel st the left-w OVERWHEL desire to look extended the hand of n The PSO years, after an agonizing voted again do Popular, who he pool’s desig of the trio. . rise and four the y altar surp Parti next ed eignt – inle of Gibr otion of It was no from the ral elections. hez, 47, from Madrid, rra Wilson claim floor ‘outlet’created and three gene lf of the peop support for the prom with 165 MPs s per Catalunya, Nava Sanc beha one time tion, ster just first coali his mini the e ed with dialogue, unos, Junt – could have Acting prim recall MPs to sit for ry. He also offer d on the principle of een our reVox, Ciudadan rs saying ‘no’. stead of two suction vacuum’ and shedto was forced end to confirm his victo titure vote ‘policies baseand co-operation betw ause, with some Suma and othe an ‘excessive under water. an inves ted into appl led that Sanchez had the week derstanding le’. of the the Guardiah over his second attempt at seats in December’s The left erup dragged them it was revea the face of the abstention party It was spective peop all maIt flies in ial investigation, whic ding tears, when victory was over Left E won the most while n an hez’s PSO e!’ blica win the Sanc vote. to pued Repu since Key to Civil’s offic clinched the es screamed ‘si, se after Sannce Catalan ion, but failed congress vote photographed on Page 2 general elect saw MPs in Spain’s ing pro-independeagreed to sit out the vote ical conRepresentativ ed Iglesias, who was ion was the Continues polit h proposed left-w jority. The vote (ERC), whic find a solution to the lunya’s sepat elect hez hugg to Sanchez’s up by Pablo Iglerecen Sanc to ‘no’ or to most failed d n’s try ped either ‘yes’ chez vowe dogged Spain since Cata as the coun in tears. Spai r parties. e in 2017. rnment, prop many years nt. coalition gove party and a host of othe flict that has government tried to seced fourth in as won a knife sive governme leading expat Hispansias’s Podemos afternoon session, he 18 ratist regional form a cohe ed 165, while for Spain,” s. After a heat of 167 votes against ined. “It’s great news on told the Olive Presromises, but hez’ edge victory rity from Catalunya, absta ist, Sir Ian Gibs g to be lots of comp s argue Sanclden the first coabeho MPs, the majo hez will preside over nt’s opponent are goin the re too rnme be after “The it’s gove will The ” man and It means Sanc nt in Spain since 1977 government’ t to Spain’s also solutions. chez is an amazing after being ‘Frankenstein ratists and pose a threa for calm, “San out lition governme aled He added: Unidos Pohe stuck it tor Franco. to Catalan sepa. While Sanchez appe came fightere of le to think then death of dictapropped up by MPs from Galego Naosph rkab and ‘atm unity rema the come national his own party The PSOE is , Más País, Compromís, a Canarias. offensive. MPs to over kicked out of ing back. a true and called on adversaries went on the of being an demos, PNV k, Teruel Existe and Nuev qualities of irritation’, his o Casado, accused himfuture in the “He has the speaks very well. He tionalist Bloc pe.” PP leader Pabl had left the country’s . statesman and t asset for Euro Fabian on ‘extremist’ whorists and coup-mongers’hez wrote: Allen Wils will be a grea ster EXPERT: Chief Mini r of conhands of ‘terro after the vote, Sanc dialogue Gibraltar’s lette a sent ding sent le In a tweet ring a time for defen Picardo alsoto Sanchez on being for all peop ous and “Spain is ente ics. A government gratulation for social juspolit after ‘a tortu and useful co-existence and fights moderation, re-elected, te’. that restores the dawn of a time of fractious deba is tice. Today hope.” roll out a polexpected to progress and is who n tion coali in Spai Spain’s new income tax for people icy of raising €130,000. 6 earn more than Opinion Page

The

Few people failed to have their festive period touched by the tragic drowning of three tourists at a swimming pool in Fuengirola. The Christmas Eve nightmare led to family debates around tables across Britain, Spain and indeed much of the world. An extreme, bizarre event such as this is sure to spark speculation. And were they able to swim or not? How can one not imagine if it were their nine-year-old, what would they do, how would they act? Speculation is rife and this newspaper’s phones have been ringing off the hook with armchair pool engineers offering their thoughts. But now, it seems, a true expert with an extensive career investigating freak drownings is to be given a chance to solve the case. While it is not our place to oppose official police reports, expert Allen Wilson must be given complete access and a total free reign to investigate anything he sees fit. No stone must be left unturned. After all, the millions of tourists who come to Spain every year deserve to be assured there is no reason to fear the place that is the centre of so many happy holidays.

January 8th - January 21st 2020

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ONE of the world’ s leading expert on swimming s to Spain to pool deaths has flown drownings of investigate the tragic on Christmas three British citizens Allen Wilson, Eve. pert who has a health and safety exworked on numer drowning cases ous around Europe, arrived on the Costa He told the Olive del Sol yesterday. Press last night he believed the tourists Gabrie pool, where British l Diya, 52 Comfo Diya, nine, and rt Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died ‘hazardous’. on Christmas Eve, was He insisted the (CLC) resort Club La Costa World he is set to visitin Fuengirola - which RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after likely to blame’ this week - was ‘most PEDRO the vote for the shock deaths Sanche of the trio. prime minister z has become Spain’s official Wilson claime after winning confidence yesterd a second vote with just one d the pool’s design of ay. stead of two floor ‘outlet’ – in- The PSOE leader will govern the country for an ‘excessive – could have created next four years, after an agoniz the suction and ing three vacuum two-ye dragged them general electio ar wait ’ and ns. Acting prime minist It flies in the under water. er OVERWHELMED Civil’s official face of the Guardia was forced to recall Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, MPs to sit for investigation, : Podemos’ Pablo the first time which over the weekend to confirm It was no surpris Iglesias in tears his victory. It was his second after the coalit coalition, with e who voted against the left-wi Continues on attempt at an ion victory 165 since the PSOE Page 2 investiture In his letter, he Vox, Ciudadanos, MPs from the Partido Populang general electio won the most seats in Decem vote desire to look referred to the two men’s shared Suma and others Junts per Catalunya, Navarrr, n, ber’s beyond ‘the eterna jority. The vote but failed to win an overall a eignty and he l issue’ of soverThe left erupte saying ‘no’. saw MPs in Spain’s maextend d either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ congress vote behalf of the people ed the hand of friendship ding tears, when into applause, with some to Sanche on shedz’s proposed left-wi of Gibraltar. coalition govern He also offered clinched the vote.it was revealed that Sanche his support for z had sias’s Podemos ment, propped up by Pablo ng ‘policie Repres s Igleparty based entatives and a host on the princip the promotion of After a heated derstanding and le of dialogue, Sanchez hugged screamed ‘si, se puede!’ afternoon sessionof other parties. while edge victory of , he won a knifespective people co-operation between our unin tears. Spain’sIglesias, who was photographed ’. reMPs, the majori 167 votes against 165, while Key to Sanche fourth in as manymost recent election was z’s victory It means Sanchety from Catalunya, abstained. 18 the years as the countr was the absten pro-independe form a cohesiv z will preside tion of the y failed to nce Catalan Repub e lition government over (ERC), which lican Left party “It’s great news government. in Spain since the first coaagreed to sit out for Spain,” leading death of dictato 1977 after the chez vowed to the vote after Sanist, Sir Ian Gibson r Franco. expat Hispanfind The PSOE is proppe flict that has doggeda solution to the politica “There are going told the Olive Press. d up by MPs l conSpain since demos, PNV, EXPERT: Allen ratist regional also solutions.” to be lots of compromises Más País, Compr from Unidos Pogovernment tried Catalunya’s sepaWilson , but tionalist Block, to secede in 2017. He added: “Sanch Teruel Existe andomís, Galego Naez is an amazin Nueva Canarias. remarkable to g man and it’s think he stuck Terrorists kicked out of his it The government’s own party and out after being then came fightopponents ‘Frankenstein ing back. government’ will argue Sanchez’ to Catalan separa “He has the be too behold qualities of a en national unity. tists and pose a threat to Spain’s statesman and While Sanchez speaks very well.true and called on MPs appealed for calm, will be a great He asset to overcome irritation’, his Gibraltar’s Chief for Europe.” adversaries went the ‘atmosphere of PP leader Pablo Picardo also sent Minister Fabian on the offensi a letter of con‘extremist’ who Casado, accused him of beingve. gratulation to an hands of ‘terror had left the country’s future re-elected, afterSanchez on being in the ists In a tweet sent and coup-mongers’. fractious debate ‘a tortuous and ’. “Spain is enterin after the vote, Sanchez wrote: g a time for defend and useful politics ing dialogu that restores co-exis. A government for all peoplee tence and tice. Today is the dawn of a fights for social justime of moder progress and hope.” ation, Spain’s new coalitio icy of raising incomen is expected to roll out a poltax for people earn more than in Spain who €130,000.

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Tel: 952 147 There were on in February, as 952 147 more 834 gruesome goings 834 we reported how British grandmother Valerie Butroid’s dead body was kept in her Marbella home for a year by her daughter (Issue 311). Meanwhile, questions abounded after a Marbella chiringuito opened by Pamela Anderson and Eva Longoria was torched to the ground. Elsewhere, Chris Stewart’s beloved Driving Over Lemons country was under threat from a new series of mega-pylons being built in the Alpujarras (Issue 312). Over in Mallorca, British filmmaker Carl Whiteley, who mixed with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, was left in a coma after an unexplained balcony fall (Issue 48). But there was also a heartwarming tale to round off the month, as 80-year-old Hector Baglietto survived a boat crash off Gibraltar and heroically swam to shore ANDALUCÍA (Issue 91). See pages 5

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z EXCL USIVE Joshua Parfit Pedro Sanche By it t r wa Main Man, as ent two yeaONE of the world’s leading expert on swimming n becomes the bul s to Spain to pool deaths has flown The nearly ma ment in Spain after a tur drownings of investigate the tragic ern three gov British citizen a on Christmas s forms Eve.

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

leading experts flown ONE of the world’s pool deaths has on swimming investigate the tragic to Spain to British citizens

three drownings of Eve. on Christmas a health and safety exAllen Wilson, worked on numerous pert who has around Europe, ardrowning cases del Sol yesterday. rived on the Costa Press last night Olive He told the pool, where British he believed the Diya, 52 Comfort tourists Gabriel Praise-Emmanuel Eve, was Diya, nine, and on Christmas the vote Diya, 16, died Sanchez after World RELIEVED: Pedro ‘hazardous’. Spain’s official Club La Costa He insisted thein Fuengirola - which PEDRO Sanchez has becomea second vote of (CLC) resort this week - was ‘most r after winning prime ministe visit to he is set for the shock deaths confidence yesterday. govern the country for the likely to blame’ r wait leader will two-yea PSOE ng The agonizi of the trio. years, after an the pool’s design Wilson claimedfloor ‘outlet’ – in- next four general elections. , z, 47, from Madrid with just one– could have created and three minister Sanche first time stead of two suction vacuum’ and Acting primeto recall MPs to sit for the victory. was forced an ‘excessive under water. d to confirm his vote dragged them face of the Guardia over the weeken attempt at an investiture er’s the second in Decemb his in which It was seats It flies investigation, mawon the most Civil’s official since the PSOE , but failed to win an overall vote s 2 election congres Page general Continues on g saw MPs in Spain’s jority. The vote to Sanchez’s proposed left-win Igleeither ‘yes’ or ‘no’ ent, propped up by Pablo of other parties. coalition governm s party and a host , he won a knifesias’s Podemo 18 afternoon session After a heated 167 votes against 165, while edge victory of y from Catalunya, abstained.coaMPs, the majorit z will preside over the first the It means Sanche in Spain since 1977 after ent lition governm Franco. Unidos Podeath of dictator d up by MPs from NaThe PSOE is proppePaís, Compromís, Galego s. Más Nueva Canaria demos, PNV, Teruel Existe and tionalist Block,

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The nearly ma forms a gover n becomes the Main Ma n, as nment in Spain after a turbu Pedro Sanchez lent two yea r wait

Allen Wilson, pert who has a health and safety exworked on numer drowning cases around Europ ous rived on the Costa e, arHe told the Olive del Sol yesterday. Press last night he believed the tourists Gabrie pool, where British l Diya, 52 Comfo Diya, nine, and rt Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died ‘hazardous’. on Christmas Eve, was He insisted the (CLC) resort Club La Costa World he is set to visitin Fuengirola - which RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after likely to blame’ this week - was ‘most PEDRO the vote for the shock deaths Sanche of the trio. prime minister z has become Spain’s official Wilson claime after winning confidence yesterd a second vote with just one d the pool’s design of ay. stead of two floor ‘outlet’ – in- The PSOE leader will govern the country for an ‘excessive – could have created next four years, after an agoniz the suction and ing three vacuum two-year wait dragged them general electio ’ and ns. Acting prime minist It flies in the under water. er OVERWHELMED Civil’s official face of the Guardia was forced to recall Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, MPs to sit for investigation, : Podemos’ Pablo on victory the first time which over the weekend to confirm coaliti It was no surpris Iglesias in tears the shared his victory. It was his second s in tears after after the coalit two men’s coalition, with e who voted against the left-wi Continues on attempt at an referred to the os’ Pablo Iglesia ion victory 165 since the PSOE Page 2 issue’ of soverinvestiture MED: Podem In his letter, he In his letter, he Vox, Ciudadanos, MPs from the Partido Populang OVERWHEL beyond ‘the eternalof friendship on the left-wing general electio won the most seats in Decem vote desire to look , who voted against desire to look referred to the two men’s shared Suma and others Junts per Catalunya, Navarrr, n, ber’s extended the hand beyond ‘the eterna It was no surprise MPs from the Partido Popular eignty and he jority. The vote but failed to win an overall a of Gibraltar. 165 eignty and he l issue’ of soverThe left erupte saying ‘no’. ya, Navarra saw MPs in Spain’s mapromotion of coalition, with extend behalf of the people d either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ Junts per Catalun support for the dialogue, uncongress vote behalf of the people ed the hand of friendship ding tears, when into applause, with some Vox, Ciudadanos,saying ‘no’. to also offered his of Sanche le He on shedz’s proposed left-wi of Gibraltar. coalition govern shedon the princip between our reHe also offered clinched the vote.it was revealed that Sanche Suma and others into applause, with some had ‘policies based his support for z z had co-operation sias’s Podemos ment, propped up by Pablo ng and ‘policie ding the promo The left erupted it was revealed that Sanche Repres s based on the Iglederstan entatives . of the After a heated party and a host of other parties principle of dialogution of ding tears, when derstanding and spective people’ victory was the abstention Sanchez hugged screamed ‘si, se puede!’ afternoon session . while e, z’s while edge victory of , he won a knifeican Left party clinched the vote.screamed ‘si, se puede!’ spective people co-operation between our unKey to Sanche in tears. Spain’sIglesias, who was photographed nce Catalan Republ ’. reafter SanMPs, the majori 167 votes against 165, while Representatives Iglesias, who was photographed pro-independe Key to Sanche the to sit out the vote fourth in as manymost recent election was ty was 18 confrom l agreed hugged z z’s Catalu victory election which politica Sanche It means Sanche the nya, abstained. to the (ERC), years as the countr was the absten pro-independe most recent to form a cohesiv find a solution Catalunya’s sepaz will preside tion of the y failed to nce Catalan Repub in tears. Spain’s years as the country failed e government. chez vowed to lition government over the first coasince Spain (ERC), many as lican 2017. “It’s dogged in in which great news for Left party in Spain since fourth agreed to sit out to secede flict that has death of dictato Spain,” leading e government. 1977 after the chez vowed to the vote after Sangovernment tried ist, Sir Ian Gibson r Franco. form a cohesiv for Spain,” leading expat Hispan expat Hispanratist regional find The PSOE is proppe flict that has doggeda solution to the politica “There are going told the Olive Press. “It’s great news told the Olive Press. d up by MPs l cons but Spain since demos, PNV, orist EXPE ratist regional Terr ist, Sir Ian Gibson to be lots of compromises, RT: also solutions.” to be lots of compromises Más País, Compr from Unidos Poz’ Allen argue government tried Catalunya’s sepaWilsoSanche , but tionalist Block, n “There are going to secede in 2017. He added: “Sanch Teruel Existe andomís, Galego Naent’s opponents be too beholden The governm g man and it’s ez is an amazin Nueva Canarias. also solutions.” government’ willa threat to Spain’s remarkable to z is an amazin g man and it’s being ‘Frankenstein think he stuck He added: “Sanche he stuck it out after Terrorists ists and pose kicked out of his d for calm, think it out after being fightto Catalan separat The government’s remarkable to own party and then came Sanchez appeale own of While party here unity. and l his ‘atmosp then came fightopponents nationa kicked out of ‘Frankenstein ing back. to overcome the the offensive. true ing back. government’ will argue Sanchez’ and called on MPs ries went on qualities of a He to an the “He Catalan be adversa has being too his has of “He beholden separatis the qu irritation’, s very well. cused him

Mad for Murals see page 8

livepress.com Vol. 4 Issue 91 www.gibraltaro

February 27th - March 12th 2019

‘RUBBER MAN’ BOUNCES BACK

Plane terror

THIS is the dramatic moment a British Airways plane hit heavy turbulence while trying to land in Gibraltar. The clip, which went viral on social media, shows the plane tilting violently from side to side while attempting to land. One Gibraltar resident, said: “I was in that plane, it was very scary indeed.” Another witness of the plane, that was eventually forced to divert to Malaga, wrote: “It was awful! Never seen a plane rock from side to side as much! I’m still shaken by it!” British Airways confirmed the plane was diverted due to strong winds and that it landed safely in Malaga. Opinion Page 6

EXCLUSIVE

AGAIN AN octogenarian fisherman whose boat was smashed on rocks during strong winds has told the Gibraltar Olive Press how remaining calm was key to staying alive. Pensioner Hector Baglietto, 80, was forced to swim to safety and clamber over jagged rocks when his sixmetre fibreglass ship, Tyjack, ran aground close to Europa Point (pictured left). The former fireman, who had been fishing when a three-metre wave slammed his vessel onto rocks, told the Gibraltar Olive Press: “I am lucky to be alive.” He added however he was ‘never afraid’ when he got into trouble during strong winds last Tuesday.

Best to remain THE Gibraltar government waded into a dramatic day in Parliament yesterday, insisting the cancelling of Article 50 and staying in the EU would be ‘the best possible outcome’. A spokesman made the comments, just hours after the UK’s Labour Party announced it would support a second referendum, while Theresa May confirmed MPs would get a vote on whether to delay Article 50 on March 13. Gibraltar said it would back a ‘remain’ outcome in any new referendum, despite the many concerns it had over EU institutions and countries. However, the Rock remains concerned over the delay of the so-called meaningful vote for MPs until March 12, just two weeks before the UK departure date.

80-year-old Hector Baglietto tells Olive Press how he survived dramatic Europa Point boat crash

EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto

“That first wave knocked me forward, cracking my rib and half-flooding my boat,” Baglietto, a former Gibraltar footballer, revealed. “The next wave threw it onto shallow rocks. It was very scary. If it had capsized I would not be here to tell the tale.” Speaking at his Glacis Estate home, he revealed: “I then waded across the rocks while being lashed by the waves until I got to dry land near the Europa Point cottages.” He continued: “I was soaked right through and in quite a lot of pain, also with a broken toe and plenty more

Consequences

REPLICA: Of boat while (above)

brave Hector

If May’s deal is rejected, MPs will then vote on whether they want to leave the EU with or

treated the ‘shaken’ without a deal on March 13, bruises.” Despite his inju- Service before he was a vote is held on exries, he added that he was Gibraltarian,to St Bernard’s before Article 50. tending ‘very calm’ throughout the transferred for medical atten- “The Government is conordeal thanks to his de- Hospital cerned about the consequenction. cades of experience. explained how he es of an extension for obvious The grandfather, who is Hector been brought up in a reasons,” the No6 statement one of 11 children, is known had of fishermen in Cata- added. family ‘rubber the as to his friends Gibraltar will continue to Bay. man’ as he always manages lan brave local, who re- brace itself for a no deal Brexto get back up without seri- The from the Admiralty it. tired position of the Governous injury. Service at 50, admitted “The is that Gibraltar must “It is a nickname that I have Fire st time he ment

2019 round up

stories that made 2019 another r for the Olive Press non-sweating) Prince Andrew hid from the British press out here in Spain. There were numerous floods across the country, a Mercadona crimewave, a Champions League final, celebrity weddings and even a scrape with

Paul Hollywood of Great British Bake Off fame. Spain also saw the birth of not one but two new Olive Press newspapers. This year definitely has a tough act to follow. But in the meantime, here are the top news stories

March

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Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez The nearly man becomes the after a turbulent two year wait forms a government in Spain

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. exAllen Wilson, a health and safety pert who has worked on numerous ardrowning cases around Europe, rived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths of the trio. Wilson claimed the pool’s design inwith just one floor ‘outlet’ – stead of two – could have created an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and dragged them under water. It flies in the face of the Guardia Civil’s official investigation, which Continues on Page 2

the vote RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after Spain’s official PEDRO Sanchez has become second vote of prime minister after winning a confidence yesterday. country for the The PSOE leader will govern the wait two-year agonizing an next four years, after and three general elections. from Madrid, Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, the first time was forced to recall MPs to sit for over the weekend to confirm his victory. investiture vote It was his second attempt at an in December’s since the PSOE won the most seats overall maan general election, but failed to win congress vote jority. The vote saw MPs in Spain’s left-wing either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed by Pablo Iglecoalition government, propped up parties. other of sias’s Podemos party and a host he won a knifeAfter a heated afternoon session, 165, while 18 edge victory of 167 votes against abstained. Catalunya, MPs, the majority from the first coaIt means Sanchez will preside over 1977 after the lition government in Spain since death of dictator Franco. Unidos PoThe PSOE is propped up by MPs from Galego Nademos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Canarias. tionalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva

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EXPERT: Allen Wilson

History was made in March, as the Olive Press launched its fourth newspaper on the Costa Blanca. The paper’s first front page carried a classic story about a neighbourly tiff, in which one expat rejoiced as his neighbour was forced by police to cut a row of cypress trees (Issue 1). Meanwhile, ‘Michelin muppet’ Marbella chef Dani Garcia angered green groups with a new chiringuito in a protected area (Issue 314) and plucky group of British expats travelled to London to protest against Brexit – the largest public demonstration since the Iraq War.

January 8th - January 21st 2020

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the coalition victory Pablo Iglesias in tears after OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ men’s shared In his letter, he referred to the two the left-wing issue’ of soverIt was no surprise who voted against desire to look beyond ‘the eternal Popular, of friendship on coalition, with 165 MPs from the Partido Navarra eignty and he extended the hand Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, of the people of Gibraltar. behalf promotion of Suma and others saying ‘no’. He also offered his support for the some sheddialogue, unof principle the The left erupted into applause, with on based ‘policies Sanchez had our reding tears, when it was revealed that derstanding and co-operation between clinched the vote. spective people’. puede!’ while of the abstention the was victory Representatives screamed ‘si, se Sanchez’s to Key photographed Left party Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was pro-independence Catalan Republican after Sanwas the vote in tears. Spain’s most recent election failed to (ERC), which agreed to sit out the political confourth in as many years as the country chez vowed to find a solution to the sepaform a cohesive government. flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s Hispanexpat 2017. leading in Spain,” secede to for “It’s great news ratist regional government tried ist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. but “There are going to be lots of compromises, Terrorists also solutions.” argue Sanchez’ man and it’s The government’s opponents He added: “Sanchez is an amazing after being beholden too be will out ‘Frankenstein government’ remarkable to think he stuck it to Spain’s came fightto Catalan separatists and pose a threat for calm, kicked out of his own party and then ing back. national unity. While Sanchez appealed ‘atmosphere of “He has the qualities of a true and called on MPs to overcome the the offensive. statesman and speaks very well. He irritation’, his adversaries went on him of being an will be a great asset for Europe.” PP leader Pablo Casado, accused future in the Fabian country’s the left Minister had Chief who Gibraltar’s ‘extremist’ ’. Picardo also sent a letter of conhands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers Sanchez wrote: gratulation to Sanchez on being In a tweet sent after the vote, dialogue re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and “Spain is entering a time for defendingall people for fractious debate’. and useful politics. A government for social justhat restores co-existence and fights moderation, of tice. Today is the dawn of a time progress and hope.” a polout roll to Spain’s new coalition is expected in Spain who icy of raising income tax for people earn more than €130,000. Opinion Page 6

‘We’ve got the power’ was the triumphant headline gracing the Olive Press front pages in Mallorca in the month of May (Issue 318). This was the story that from Mallorca to Alicante to Andalucia, expats were joining gypsies and Down syndrome candidates on the ballot lists in one of the most diverse elections in Spanish history. In other news there were two huge governmental blunders as much-loved expat nursery Wonderland in Marbella was closed down due to a council error, while a Mijas-based British ex-

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pat had his passport cancelled by the UK Government (issue 317). A British expat was also cuffed for starting a forest fire in Nerja, while the world also said goodbye to penniless British comedian Freddie Starr, who was found dead at his Mijas home. TheOlivePress-256x170-HOME02.indd

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March 28th - April 10th 2019

HOUSE RULES

ANXIOUS expats breathed a sigh of relief this week after Parliament voted to wrestle back control of the Brexit process in yet another humiliation for Theresa May. The fresh blow for the British Pri-a me Minister has put the future of million expats in Europe firmly into the hands of MPs, who are expected to vote against a hard Brexit. It comes after thousands of expats joined a million marchers at a mas-

What drove this expat to cut off his member? Page 7

WORRY: One of the posters at the huge antiBrexit demo

Celebrating the end of the Spanish Civil War

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GROWING PAINS

Costa Blanca home is voted best in Europe

Page 20

Olive Press reviews Madrid’s hot new hotel Page 26

go awry with his neighbours, who he insists refused to be friendly ‘from the outset’. Capps, who trained as a paramedic, claims the neighbour’s four dogs barked continually and their owner hid inside the house whenever approached. Despite calling in the Guardia Civil to investigate and contacting the mayor of Benissa for help, he said the neighbour refused to negotiate a compromise. A letter to the town hall, seen by the Olive Press, pleaded for help, insisting the man was deliberately threatening them and that he carried a gun.

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

AN expat is celebrating after his nuisance neighbour was told to trim a row of ‘intrusive’ trees, following an Olive Press probe. American expat Gordon Capps, 59, is overjoyed after police confirmed they had ordered his Portuguese neighbour to cut the line of cypress trees to just 1.5 metres in height. Capps had sought our help after the ‘disturbed’ 30-something neighbour planted a dozen trees alongside his garden fence, threatening to block his stunning views of the Sierra de Bernia y Ferrer. The 59-year-old film worker said the move was the ‘last straw’ in a bizarre ongoing feud with the neighbour, who he claims recently approached him with a rifle on his shoulder. “It feels like he’s putting up 12 middle fingers at us,” Gordon,

Gun

and armed neighbour at home of his ‘threatening’ CONCERNED: Capps points Benissa last March with his everything about it, except French wife Catherine, a retiwho worked as a prop master that one thing.” for CSI Las Vegas, told the Capps, from Los Angeles, red yoga teacher. But things quickly began to Olive Press. bought his stunning villa in “We love this place, we love Tel. (+34) 96 649 18 29 info@hispaniahomes.es www.hispaniahomes.co.uk

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As well as asking the town hall to check if he had a licence for the rifle, the September 2018 missive asked if local police could speak to him about his dogs. Capps claimed he was ‘worried for his life’ and that the neighbour appeared to have ‘mental health issues’. Another neighbour, Spaniard Jaime Serra Ortola, 43, has also denounced the neighbour for ‘death threats’ against him and his dog. “I’ve denounced him countless times and the police have twice been round. It’s fair to say he is unhinged,” he told the Olive Press. The feud began when Capps put up a low bamboo fence to create some privacy from the neighbour who spied on him while swimming, and then reacted furiously, screaming ‘this is war!’ Capps now fears the trees will not only block his view, but the roots could destroy his pool. The Olive Press was unable to speak to the neighbour, despite various visits.

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PLASTIC FANTASTIC: How this remarkable centre architectural prize, See could win Spain important page IV

WOAH: Emerging from the rock, this stunning home in Valencia is trademark Fran Silvestre, a Spanish architect who is continuing to make his mark in the architectural world. See Fran-tastic page XVI

ON LAND AND SEA

ress.es April 10th - April 23rd 2019

ROCK STEADY

HE average property price two consecutive years for thein Spain has grown for Prices rise for two consecutive years, The national average house first time in a decade. price rose from between while mortgage 3.9% to 8.4%, according values continue to grow Along the Mediterranean coasts to various sources. foreigners buy, the average price and on the islands, where most Balearic Islands. hike has been 4.06%, according to Tinsa, Spain’s leading property “Prices have been rising most appraisal company. But the figures have mostly but nothing like they did in years since the recovery began, not yet made up for the big the boom years, and nowhere during the long six year recession, drops with the exception of the enough to claw back the ground lost in the bust,” explainednear spected analyst Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property Insight.re-

However, he added ‘at the very Spanish property continued least, the data suggests that the Mortgage lending to home to grow last year.’ January to 19,390 new loans,buyers meanwhile was up 6.1% in according to the Association Spanish Notaries. of The average new loan made an increase of 0.9% in a year.in January had a value of €135,616, As long as mortgage lending residential acquisitions continues for to increase, as it has done the last few years, the Spanish property market is set to grow.for

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June Despite temperatures hotting up in June, the mood was relatively cool among Tottenham and Liverpool fans gathered in Madrid for the Champions League Final. Olive Press reporters in the Spanish capital watched as the Reds’ 2-0 victory passed almost without incident (Issue 319). One man not celebrating was British businessman Robert Mansfield-Hewitt. As we reported on our front page (Issue 320), he spent a year of his life locked up without charge in the notorious Botafuegos prison after being falsely fingered in a drugs raid on a garage.

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2020 ss.es January 8th - January 21st Vol. 13 Issue 334 www.theolivepre

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Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez The nearly man becomes the after a turbulent two year wait forms a government in Spain

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

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THE Gibralta announced a r Government has land. major new development in the Harbour area with the The project will be underta creation of a entirely locally-b ken By Timothy mation project.£300 million recla- and McNulty ased developeby The Governm will be made up rs The Victoria the land will ent has also said space of leisure, situated insideKeys development, commer community, retail and our tiger-like econom growth on the provide sustainable mand has a knock on effect on dey, and western side of cial space. for residential timing could not next to Coalingthe harbour basin The the tion. accommodabe any better. the rock for the next 10 years. Chief Minister Island, aims “It is with a huge create up to 60,000 Fabian A No.6 to metres of new said: “This deal represen Picardo that we are able sense of pride gether spokesperson said: “To- Picardo said: “A larger ts yet an- another site would other great vote to announce yet with the Coaling deliver of confidence multi-million site, the Victoria Island project the best future-proofed pound in ect at this important junctureproj- ment will complem Keys develop- Spain for our community.” has opposed ent the natural .” growth of our tions in the past land reclamamodern city for on the grounds de- that Gibralta cades to come. r waters, making has no territorial “It will create such projects siggal in Madrid’ illenificant recreatio s eyes. nal Spanish authorit UK BASED areas for the ies have warned com- London they munity and could take legal acpublic accessprovide tion if similar construc tion projnew stretches along ects infringed on Spanish Reliable private ‘soverharbour and of our eign waters.’ Lettings | Sales hire transfer mari- Meanwhile, services for any nas.” Picardo said it occasion Investments | Relocatio was essential the for Spanish This continue • Luxury vehicles ns d re- ed by the opportunities present• Door to quest for commer Victor Keys project residents Commercial and Residenti door service cial ‘exploite were • Airport al d to the fullest.’ TM collections www.globelink • Wedding s transport .co.uk Tel: +350 200 44955 • Sightseei ng day trips enquiries@seekersproperty • Restauran gibraltar.com t shuttles Find out more 96 626 5000 www.simply-shutt at: +44 (0) 1353 les.com 699082 tel: 951 279 117 10 Engineer Lane, info@sim

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Border battle as nuisance neighbour forced to cut down intrusive cypress trees

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As spring came around it was Mercadona hitting the headlines on the Costa del Sol, after a spate of thefts from expats at Spain’s biggest supermarket chain (Issue 316). From across the frontier on the Rock came the Government’s huge announcement of a £300 million land reclamation plan to create the Victoria Keys development (Issue 94). The first of several Olive Press articles on Continental Wealth Management (CWM) on the Costa Blanca (Issue 2) also revealed the seedy business habits of Darren Kirby.

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PROTEST: Puns, pets and expats were all in attendance at the antiBrexit march in London at the weekend

sive anti-Brexit protest in London at the weekend. “It was great to be there making of history I hope,” said Sue Wilson Bremain in Spain. “It is not the first time we have vobited with our feet, but it was our ggest ever march contingent,” she added. so “It was a sign of commitment that

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FINALLY! The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

In lighter news, Sergio Ramos and Pilar Rubio tied the knot at a bash attended by the Beckhams and catered for by Dani Garcia. Meanwhile, Mallorca breathed a sigh of relief, as a notorious arsonist behind 36 separate bin fires, was finally snared by police (Issue 56).

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

the vote RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after Spain’s official PEDRO Sanchez has become second vote of prime minister after winning a confidence yesterday. country for the The PSOE leader will govern the two-year wait next four years, after an agonizing and three general elections. from Madrid, Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, the first time was forced to recall MPs to sit for over the weekend to confirm his victory. investiture vote It was his second attempt at an in December’s since the PSOE won the most seats overall maan general election, but failed to win congress vote jority. The vote saw MPs in Spain’s left-wing either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed by Pablo Iglecoalition government, propped up other parties. sias’s Podemos party and a host of he won a knifeAfter a heated afternoon session, 165, while 18 edge victory of 167 votes against abstained. MPs, the majority from Catalunya, the first coaIt means Sanchez will preside over 1977 after the lition government in Spain since death of dictator Franco. Unidos PoThe PSOE is propped up by MPs from Galego Nademos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Canarias. tionalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva

the coalition victory Pablo Iglesias in tears after OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ men’s shared In his letter, he referred to the two the left-wing issue’ of soverIt was no surprise who voted against desire to look beyond ‘the eternal Popular, of friendship on coalition, with 165 MPs from the Partido Navarra eignty and he extended the hand Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, behalf of the people of Gibraltar. promotion of Suma and others saying ‘no’. He also offered his support for the some shedThe left erupted into applause, with on the principle of dialogue, unbased ‘policies had Sanchez our reding tears, when it was revealed that derstanding and co-operation between clinched the vote. people’. spective while puede!’ of the Representatives screamed ‘si, se Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention photographed Left party Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was pro-independence Catalan Republican after Sanwas the vote in tears. Spain’s most recent election failed to (ERC), which agreed to sit out the political confourth in as many years as the country chez vowed to find a solution to the sepaform a cohesive government. flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s expat Hispan“It’s great news for Spain,” leading government tried to secede in 2017. regional ratist ist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. but “There are going to be lots of compromises, Terrorists also solutions.” argue Sanchez’ man and it’s The government’s opponents He added: “Sanchez is an amazing after being too beholden out ‘Frankenstein government’ will be remarkable to think he stuck it to Spain’s came fightto Catalan separatists and pose a threat for calm, kicked out of his own party and then appealed Sanchez While ing back. national unity. ‘atmosphere of “He has the qualities of a true and called on MPs to overcome the the offensive. statesman and speaks very well. He irritation’, his adversaries went on him of being an will be a great asset for Europe.” PP leader Pablo Casado, accused future in the Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s Picardo also sent a letter of conhands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. Sanchez wrote: gratulation to Sanchez on being In a tweet sent after the vote, dialogue re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and “Spain is entering a time for defendingall people for government A politics. debate’. fractious and useful for social justhat restores co-existence and fights moderation, of time a of dawn the is Today tice. progress and hope.” to roll out a polSpain’s new coalition is expected in Spain who icy of raising income tax for people earn more than €130,000. Opinion Page 6

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ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. Allen Wilson, a health and safety expert who has worked on numerous drowning cases around Europe, arrived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emman Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, uel was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths of the trio. Wilson claimed the pool’s design with just one floor ‘outlet’ – instead of two – could have created an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and dragged them under water. It flies in the face of the Guardia Civil’s official investigation, which Continues on Page 2

EXPERT: Allen Wilson

RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote PEDRO Sanchez has become Spain’s official prime minister after winning a second vote of confidence yesterday. The PSOE leader will govern the country for the next four years, after an agonizing two-year wait and three general elections. Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, was forced to recall MPs to sit for the over the weekend to confirm his victory. first time It was his second attempt at an investiture vote since the PSOE won the most seats in December’s general election, but failed to win an jority. The vote saw MPs in Spain’s overall macongress vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and a host of other parties. After a heated afternoon session, he edge victory of 167 votes against won a knife165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up by MPs from demos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Unidos PoGalego Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva Canarias.

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition victory It was no surprise who voted against the left-wing In his letter, he referred to the two coalition, with 165 MPs from the men’s shared Partido desire to look beyond ‘the eternal Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, Popular, issue’ of soverNavarra eignty and he extended the hand Suma and others saying ‘no’. of friendship on behalf of the people of Gibraltar. The left erupted into applause, with He also offered his support for the ding tears, when it was revealed that some shedpromotion of Sanchez had ‘policies based on the principle clinched the vote. of dialogue, understanding and co-operation between Representatives screamed ‘si, se our repuede!’ while spective people’. Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was photographed Key to Sanchez’s victory was the in tears. Spain’s most recent election abstention of the pro-independence Catalan Republican fourth in as many years as the country was the Left party failed to (ERC), which agreed to sit out the form a cohesive government. vote after Sanchez vowed to find a solution to the “It’s great news for Spain,” leading political conexpat flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s ist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. Hispanseparatist regional government tried to “There are going to be lots of compromises, secede in 2017. but also solutions.” He added: “Sanchez is an amazing Terrorists man and it’s remarkable to think he stuck it The government’s opponents out argue Sanchez’ kicked out of his own party and then after being ‘Frankenstein government’ will came fightbe too beholden ing back. to Catalan separatists and pose a threat “He has the qualities of a true national unity. While Sanchez appealedto Spain’s for calm, statesman and speaks very well. and called on MPs to overcome the He ‘atmosphere of will be a great asset for Europe.” irritation’, his adversaries went on the offensive. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian PP leader Pablo Casado, accused him Picardo also sent a letter of con‘extremist’ who had left the country’s of being an future in the gratulation to Sanchez on being hands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’ . re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and In a tweet sent after the vote, Sanchez fractious debate’. “Spain is entering a time for defending wrote: dialogue and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence and fights for social justice. Today is the dawn of a time of moderation, progress and hope.” Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000. Opinion Page 6

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2019 round up

www.theolivepress.es

From Page 7

September

Oh what a wonderful year! July The Olive Press went from strength to strength in the summer, as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Costa de la Luz supplement. We also congratulated our columnist Bill Anderson on becoming the first British councillor in Mijas. July also saw a grinning Robert Mansfield-Hewitt (left) walk free from Algeciras’ violent Botafuegos prison, thanking the Olive Press for our campaign for his freedom (Issue 322). It was also a good month for Javier Sanchez, after it was proven by a Spanish court that Spanish pop star lothario Julio Iglesias was in fact his father. There was another anniversary too, as we celebrated the 100th issue of the Olive Press Gibraltar, which splashed on a pledge by Chief Minister Picardo to ‘fight Brexit’. The

OLIVE PRESS

August In August (yes August!), tornadoes and hail storms battered the Costa del Sol, while a shocking string of ‘werewolf syndrome’ cases saw children suffer excessive facial hair growth after taking a dodgy medication (Issue 325). Over on the Costa Blanca, a court ruled in favour of the victims of the aptly named Jane and Bill Scammell, who stole €270,000 from an elderly couple to fund their glamorous lifestyle (Issue 10). There was also a horny tortoise on the loose after it escaped from its British owner (Issue 12). Meanwhile Mallorca was reeling, as the island woke to the news that a muchloved British expat bar, Betty’s, was fighting for its life after its owners were subjected to vile homophobic abuse (Issue 60). The Balearics were at the centre of another huge story when Harry and Megan had their environmental credentials questioned over the use of a private plane to jet into Ibiza for a family holiday (Issue 61). Finally, the exclusive golf courses of Sotogrande drew a panicking Prince Andrew, who escaped to southern Spain amid the storm of his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein. ROYAL ROMPS: From Andrew’s summer sojourn to Sotogrande, to Harry’s green credentials in Ibiza

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January 8th - January 21st 2020

Tensions ran high in September, as British expats took to the streets of Spain to protest the harmful ‘nodeal’ Brexit threatened by the new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Issue 326). Our exclusive poll also revealed that a shocking 27% of British expats in Spain still wanted Britain to leave the EU. And then, a story that rocked the world – the collapse of Thomas Cook. Olive Press reporters across the country recorded the plight of some 70,000 Brits, whose holidays with the travel giant had left them stranded in Spain (Issue 327). In other news dogged Olive Press hack Simon Wade was given a bloody nose after he was headbutted by a young man while investigating squatters in Formentera del Segura, Alicante (Issue 13).

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The nearly man beco mes the Main Man, forms a government as in Spain after a turb Pedro Sanchez ulent two year wait

ONE of the world’s leading on swimming pool deaths experts to Spain to investigat has flown e the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. Allen Wilson, a health pert who has worked and safety exdrowning cases aroundon numerous rived on the Costa del Europe, arSol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, tourists Gabriel Diya, where British 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Em Diya, 16, died on Christmas manuel Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirol RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote he is set to visit this week a - which likely to blame’ for the - was ‘most PEDRO Sanchez has become shock deaths prime of the trio. minister after winning Spain’s official a second vote of confidence yesterday. Wilson claimed the with just one floor pool’s design The PSOE leader will stead of two – could ‘outlet’ – in- next four years, after govern the country for the an agonizing two-year an ‘excessive suction have created and three general wait elections. vacuum’ and dragged them under water. Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, It flies in the face of the Guardia was forced to recall MPs to sit for Civil’s official investigat the ion, which over the weekend to confirm his victory. first time It was his second attempt at an investiture vote Continues on Page since the PSOE won the most 2 general election, but failed seats in December’s jority. The vote saw MPs to win an overall main Spain’s congress vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and After a heated afternoon a host of other parties. edge victory of 167 votessession, he won a knifeagainst 165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up demos, PNV, Más País, by MPs from Unidos PoEXPERT: Allen Wilson tionalist Block, Teruel Compromís, Galego NaExiste and Nueva Canarias.

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition It was no surprise who victory voted against the left-wing coalition, with 165 MPs In his letter, he referred from the Partido Popular, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts desire to look beyond to the two men’s shared ‘the eternal issue’ of soverSuma and others saying per Catalunya, Navarra eignty and he extended ‘no’. the hand of friendship The left erupted into behalf of the people of on applause, with some shedGibraltar. ding tears, when it was He also offered his support revealed that Sanchez for the promotion of had clinched the vote. ‘policies based on the principle of dialogue, Representatives screamed understanding and co-operati on between our reSanchez hugged Iglesias, ‘si, se puede!’ while spective people’. in tears. Spain’s most who was photographed Key to Sanchez’s victory recent election was the was the abstention of the fourth in as many years pro-indep endence Catalan Republican Left form a cohesive governmeas the country failed to party (ERC), which agreed to sit out the vote after San“It’s great news for Spain,”nt. chez vowed to find a solution leading expat Hispanto the political conist, Sir Ian Gibson told flict that has dogged Spain the Olive Press. “There are going to be ratist regional governme since Catalunya’s sepalots of compromises, but nt tried to secede in 2017. also solutions.” He added: “Sanchez is an Terrorists remarkable to think he amazing man and it’s stuck it out after being The government’s opponent kicked out of his own party s argue Sanchez’ and then came fight‘Frankenstein governme ing back. to Catalan separatists andnt’ will be too beholden “He has the qualities pose a threat to Spain’s national unity. While Sanchez statesman and speaks of a true and called on MPs to overcome appealed for calm, very well. He will be a great asset for the ‘atmosphere of irritation’, his adversarie Europe.” s went on the offensive. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister PP leader Pablo Casado, Picardo also sent a letter Fabian ‘extremist’ who had left accused him of being an of conthe country’s future in gratulation to Sanchez the hands of ‘terrorists and on being coup-mongers’. re-elected, after ‘a tortuous In a tweet sent after and the fractious debate’. “Spain is entering a time vote, Sanchez wrote: for defending dialogue and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existen ce tice. Today is the dawn and fights for social jusof a time of moderatio progress and hope.” n, Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax earn more than €130,000for people in Spain who . Opinion Page 6

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21st 2020

The nearly man beco mes the Main Man, forms a governmen as t in Spain after a turb Pedro Sanchez ulent two year wait

ONE of the world’s leading on swimming pool deaths experts has flown to Spain to investiga te the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. Allen Wilson, a health pert who has worked and safety exdrowning cases aroundon numerous rived on the Costa del Europe, arSol yesterday . He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, tourists Gabriel Diya, where British 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Em Diya, 16, died on Christma manuel s Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengiro RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote he is set to visit this week la - which likely to blame’ for the - was ‘most PEDRO Sanchez has become shock deaths prime of the trio. minister after winning Spain’s official a second vote of confidence yesterday. Wilson claimed the with just one floor pool’s design The PSOE leader will stead of two – could ‘outlet’ – in- next four years, after govern the country for the an agonizing two-year an ‘excessive suction have created and three general wait elections. vacuum’ and dragged them under water. Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, It flies in the face of was forced to recall MPs to sit for the first time Civil’s official investigathe Guardia over the weekend tion, which to confirm It was his second attempt his victory. at an investiture vote Continues on Page since the PSOE won the 2 most seats in Decembe general election, but failed r’s jority. The vote saw MPs to win an overall main Spain’s congress vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed left-wing coalition government, propped up by Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and After a heated afternoon a host of other parties. session, he won a knifeedge victory of 167 votes against 165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up by MPs from Unidos Podemos, PNV, Más País, EXPERT: Allen Wilson tionalist Block, Teruel Compromís, Galego NaExiste and Nueva Canarias .

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalitio It was no surprise who n victory voted against the left-wing coalition, with 165 MPs In his letter, he referred from the Partido Popular, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts desire to look beyond to the two men’s shared ‘the eternal issue’ of soverSuma and others saying per Catalunya, Navarra eignty and he extended ‘no’. the hand of friendship The left erupted into behalf of the people of on applause, with some shedGibraltar. ding tears, when it was He also offered his support revealed that Sanchez for the promotion of had clinched the vote. ‘policies based on the principle of dialogue, Representatives screamed understanding and co-opera tion between our reSanchez hugged Iglesias, ‘si, se puede!’ while spective people’. in tears. Spain’s most who was photographed Key to Sanchez’s victory recent election was the was fourth in as many years pro-independence Catalan the abstention of the Republican Left party form a cohesive governm as the country failed to (ERC), which agreed to ent. sit out the vote after San“It’s great news for Spain,” chez vowed to find a solution leading expat Hispanto the political conist, Sir Ian Gibson told flict that has dogged Spain the Olive Press. “There are going to be ratist regional governm since Catalunya’s sepalots of compromises, but ent tried to secede in 2017. also solutions.” He added: “Sanchez is an amazing man and Terrorists it’s remarkable to think he stuck it out after being The government’s opponen kicked out of his own party ts argue Sanchez’ and then came fight‘Frankenstein governm ent’ ing back. to Catalan separatists and will be too beholden “He has the qualities pose a threat to Spain’s national unity. While Sanchez statesman and speaks of a true and called on MPs to overcome appealed for calm, very well. He will be a great asset for the ‘atmosphere of irritation’, his adversari Europe.” es Gibraltar’s Chief Minister PP leader Pablo Casado, went on the offensive. Fabian Picardo also sent a letter ‘extremist’ who had left accused him of being an of conthe country’s future in gratulation to Sanchez the hands of ‘terrorists and on being coup-mongers’. re-elected, after ‘a tortuous In a tweet sent after and the fractious debate’. “Spain is entering a time vote, Sanchez wrote: for defending dialogue and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence tice. Today is the dawn and fights for social jusof a time of moderation, progress and hope.” Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax earn more than €130,000for people in Spain who . Opinion Page 6

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2019 round up

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November

October was a month of several shady expats for the Olive Press to investigate. First came Nadine Dijkman, a notorious Dutch businesswoman in Sotogrande accued of taking €300,000 from a couple’s property purchase into her personal account, and not paying her staff (Issue 328). Then it was the turn of former US conman ‘the Chief’ – Karim el indio Ismaili – who caught our attention in Mijas after being bizarrely accused of nicking wooden planks from neighbours (Issue 329). Next up was Jody Smart, the well-known expat fashion designer, accused of using €1 million from collapsed financial firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM) on the Costa Blanca (Issue 16). Nadal also ended an almost two-decade wait by wedding his childhood sweetheart Xisca Perello in Mallorca, while in Gibraltar Fabian Picardo was re-elected to serve as Chief Minister for a third term (Issue 108). And as if that weren’t enough, Spain’s Socialist Government took the decision to exhume the remains of General Franco, while Catalunya faced over a week of violent protests-turned-riots after Spain jailed nine of the region’s separatist leaders.

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A VEGA Baja mayor has demanded €80m in flood aid for the devastated Murcia region. Los Alcazares leader Cervera insisted a majorMario Perez tion project should be flood retenimplemen ted urgently to prevent the sort of serious flooding that happened in September. He told the governme this week that it is alsont in Madrid serve the Mar Menor, vital to prebadly hit by the so-called which was The week of heavy rain Gota Fria. deaths of millions of fish led to the and the destruction of dozens of homes. He insisted future floods needed to Continues on Page

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

POLICE on the Costa Blanca have been slammed allowed a confused andafter they tated British great-gradisoriento walk out of a policendfather station into the dead of night alone. The massive surge - off The family of pensione the recent Catalan crisisthe back of Pearce, 68, are demandir Philip ng anof Islam - could see the and a fear swers from Benidorm DISAPPEARED: Philip ing 15% of the seats in party seizwhy he was released police over (above Pearce on Septemright) the last picture enjoying a drink (above), while The expected gains Parliament. ber 10, at 3am. of the pensioner in damage centre-right will seriously Alicante Airport They now fear for his life after he “It’s absolutely gut-wrenching for which could lose over Ciudadanos, has ther-of-three. half been missing for an alarming its us as a family, not knowing seats, while the ruling PSOE two months. and left wing he is and why he disappea where Owner of Alicante Transfer Podemos are also expected s, red. And in a shocking email David McQueen, said to suf“I just want him home fer. he has so badly. I spent ‘four British Consulate, seenfrom the miss him so much.” to five’ hours every Vox, which has pledged by the Olive Press this week, day Spain from immigran to ‘defend’ there are Philip was known to be suffering ings scouring abandoned buildts, is predictsuggestio and traveller commun ns of a breach of duty from the early signs of ed to finish third in the country’s ities of care. tia, but was ‘happy and demen- around the Costa Blanca. fourth general election in as many The official email years. when he left for Alicantesmiling’ “I even sent my dog out with a with a GoPro camera pensioner had clearlyreveals the friend and travelling The latest polling suggests to search in every Vox, led partner. he ‘did not remembe told police He was having by Santiago Abascal, bush r where he a good holiday we’ve and in every corner, but its 24 seats in Spain’s will increase was staying’ nor where 350-seat parhe was until he left his Playa Levante said. found nothing,” McQueen liament to 46. from in England. hotel at 5.30pm on Septemb er 9 “I’ve got 130 taxi to buy cigarettes before he drivers lost who his start Wallet bearings and was taken Failed to at 4am and finish police. The consulate email Meanwhile Albert Rivera’s at 2am, but none of CiuPhilip was carrying also stated Two months on, Lee told dadanos will be reduced neither his ive Press the Ol- the hotels and esfrom 57 to passport nor his wallet 14. In the 40dB poll a when search and request for ‘a ground tablishments have he was taken by a gain 14% of the vote, Vox is set to sniffer dogs’ has gone seen a alongside the stranger to unanswe sign of PhilPP in second place with Benidorm’s Policia Nacional red, sta- left searchin while the family are ip.” 91 seats and the PSOE 21.2% and tion in the Old Town g for answers. coming The just first family with 27.3% and 121 votes. has midnight, as CCTV footage after “We just need closure on wheth- spent con- er my dad The PSOE’s predicted firms. is still alive or not,” ting up weeks putvictory would see the party posters and Lee said. However, what is not clear handing is seats than in April’s with two less how out flyers “But apart from claiming and why he was allowed last election, prompting another headache the station three hours to leave sent out some drones to have of his missing father for its to look, around Benidorm leader Pedro Sanchez the police “The police are simplylater. form a government. as he tries to not an- anything don’t seem to be doing with contact details. swering our question at all.” A spokeswoman for Pearce, 41, told the s,” son Lee It comes as scores of British Opinion page 6 Olive Press idents res- the British Consullast night. have spent weeks ing for signs of the search- ate told the Olive grandfa- Press it ‘does not A DANGEROUS lurch to the right could see Spain’s anti-imm igrant Vox party becoming ers in this weekend’s the kingmakgeneral election.

expat

voice in Spain

The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

EXPERT: Allen Wilson

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition victory In his letter, he referred to the two men’s shared It was no surprise who voted against the left-wing desire to look beyond ‘the eternal issue’ of sovercoalition, with 165 MPs from the Partido Popular, eignty and he extended the hand of friendship on Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, Navarra behalf of the people of Gibraltar. Suma and others saying ‘no’. He also offered his support for the promotion of The left erupted into applause, with some shed‘policies based on the principle of dialogue, unding tears, when it was revealed that Sanchez had derstanding and co-operation between our reclinched the vote. spective people’. Representatives screamed ‘si, se puede!’ while Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention of the Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was photographed pro-independence Catalan Republican Left party in tears. Spain’s most recent election was the (ERC), which agreed to sit out the vote after Sanfourth in as many years as the country failed to chez vowed to find a solution to the political conform a cohesive government. flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s sepaHispan“It’s great news for Spain,” leading expat ratist regional government tried to secede in 2017. ist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. “There are going to be lots of compromises, but also solutions.” Terrorists He added: “Sanchez is an amazing man and it’s The government’s opponents argue Sanchez’ remarkable to think he stuck it out after being ‘Frankenstein government’ will be too beholden fightcame then and party own his of kicked out to Catalan separatists and pose a threat to Spain’s ing back. national unity. While Sanchez appealed for calm, “He has the qualities of a true and called on MPs to overcome the ‘atmosphere of statesman and speaks very well. He irritation’, his adversaries went on the offensive. will be a great asset for Europe.” PP leader Pablo Casado, accused him of being an Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s future in the Picardo also sent a letter of conhands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. gratulation to Sanchez on being In a tweet sent after the vote, Sanchez wrote: re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and “Spain is entering a time for defending dialogue fractious debate’. and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence and fights for social justice. Today is the dawn of a time of moderation, progress and hope.” Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000.

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December 4th - December 17th 2019 Vol. 5, Issue 111 www.theolivepress.es

s how he chased and pinned Gibraltar security guard reveal fatal Costa stabbing down an alleged murderer, after EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto

A BATTLE-hardened security guard for Gibraltar’s Chief Minis-a ter has chased and pinned down suspected murderer. Brave James Abecasis told the Olive Press how he tackled the knife-wielding attacker as he fled the scene of a fatal stabbing on the Costa del Sol. reFather-of-one Abecasis, 28, vealed how he chased the alleged in killer, a Brazilian, after stepping to try and stop the vicious attack outside a nightclub in Estepona. While most people wou ld have left the scene, the former him soldier said his ‘instinct’ told to chase the attacker, who was running away. he “I went flying after him and as rounded the block I tackled him to the floor, getting grazed on my hand as I took away the knife from him,” he continued. “I then held him down with a club security guard until the police arrived a few minutes later and cuffed him.”

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I vow our ‘progressive’ nation is soon to be reborn

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CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has insisted that legalizing abortion without a referendum would be like ‘shoving progessivism’ down Gibraltarians throats. In an exclusive interview with the Olive Press, the leader, who was recently elected to his third consecutive term, said his government needed to be ‘realistic’ with such hot topics. While he confirmed he was pro-abortion, he insisted: “We have to deliver the progressive agenda in a way that doesn’t break our society.” “Conservative society has adopted our agenda because we have ensured we’ve respected the freedom and liberty of those who wish to disagree with us.” He added ahead of next referendum: March’s “There are others who are so progressive, they would force things down the throats of those who disagree with them. “I think that’s actually so progressive that it becomes anti-libertarian.”

EXCLUSIVE CHAT with the Chief Minister See Page 4

Violent

Gibraltar-born Abecasis - who spent four years with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, much of it in the Middle East - had been on a night out with friends. When they came out of the Mykonos nightclub in Estepona, at 4am, a fight quickly broke out between two strangers. It has since emerged that Sabiel nillas hairdresser Abdessamad Ammali, 21, from Morocco, died within minutes of the stabbing. He had accidentally spilled his beer over the attacker, it has since emerged. “They were on the floor hitting each other and no-one had intervened,” he told the Olive Press. to That is when he decided he had do something.“Someone held one the Royal Gibraltar Regiment of the guys and INSTINCT: Abecasis served with I held the other, who I had faceto-face,” he revealed. “It was really violent and there was literally a UK BASED river of blood as his attacker must have hit an artery,”

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TRAGIC: Victim Abdessamad (top), blood at the crime scene (centre) and police arriving at Estepona Port

IT will go down as the hottest decade on record. on With temperatures soaring, both land and sea, global warming has become a major issue for Europe. With temperatures about 1.1C above the average from 2010 to 2019, desertadded. ification has been spreading, in particAbecasis revealed that his army ular, through southern Spain. training has helped him through The provinces of Granada, Malaga and life.“I definitely don’t regret it,” Almeria are at serious risk, while Murhe said. “I am proud of what I did. cia and large parts of Valencia are also Even the judge at the initial court in danger of semi-desert conditions. case hearing this week told me The ‘exceptional’ heat around the how brave I was.” world was announced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as climate activist Greta Thunberg (pictured) arrived in Portugal by boat in en route for a key climate summit Madrid this week. to stay in the capital for two See page 19 She is settaking part in a huge demonweeks, stration this Friday. Opinion page 6

revealed Abecasis, who has been working in the Chief Minister’s “I security team for four months. think I will have a few flashbacks he because of all the blood there,”

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LANDMARK: The remains of dictator Franco removed from Madrid shrine

comment on individua l cases’ such as Philip’s. A Policia Nacional claimed ‘helicopters’ spokesman scrambled to search forhad been Philip on various Benidorm hillsides. However, he failed to answer questions about the exact details of his release from the whether sniffer dogs station or and ground searches had been deployed or would be soon.

Have you seen Philip? Get in touch at newsdes k@ theolivepress.es

December

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Vol. 13 Issue 334 www.theolivepress.es January 8th - January 21st 2020

2019

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

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November 7th - Novembe r 20th,

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Your voice in Spain

Another milestone in November – the Olive Press Costa Blanca Sur / Murcia was born. Duty of care A roaring first front page splashed claims after missing British on the Mar Menor crisis and the great-grandfather was allowed to news that a missing British grandfaleave police station at 3am in clearly ther was allowed to walk free from a disoriented state police station in a disoriented state. Right turn And who could forget when grumpy British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood threatened to fill in the Olive Press cakehole just for asking a question. There was also the news that Swedish teen activist You Greta Thuntotal doughnut! berg was stranded in Find out what’s eating Paul Hollywood America in on Page 3 need of a lift after the location of the Chile COP25 climate conference was switched last minute to Madrid (Issue 330). Meanwhile we reported how Triple A, the beleaguered Marbella animal shelter – vehemently supported by another local paper – slammed allegations that it allowed the slow and agonising deaths of animals. We also splashed on the connections between Irish and Dutch gangs and local criminals after three suspected murders in three months (Issue 331).

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RIOTS AND WEDDINGS: Catalans take to the streets, while Nadal finally tied the knot

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October

January 8th - January 21st 2020

The final month of the year began with the news that notorious scammer and Euro Weekly News columnist David ‘the Dogman’ Klein had kicked the bucket (Issue 332). Meanwhile, James Abecasis proved that Gibraltarians are rock solid, after the Chief Minister’s security guard revealed how he tackled and held a knife-wielding thug who stabbed a clubber to death in Estepona Port (Issue 111). Up in Murcia an unlikely group of expats were forced to take to the streets and defend their community after a series of muggings (Issue 4). A bumper festive final edition of the year also delved into the ‘Costa del Crime’ in a special report by author and journalist David Baird, following a string of shocking gangland killings along Spain’s southern coast (Issue 333). There was a Christmas Eve tragedy too, as three members of the Diya family drowned in a swimming pool at the Club la Costa World resort in Fuengirola. And finally, a rollercoaster 2019 ended with a nightmare before Christmas as Boris Johnson led the Tory Party to its best general election victory since Thatcher, giving him a mandate to govern Britain for the next five years and make good on his primary campaign promise to ‘get Brexit done’.

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New green age A STRING of environmental policies are set to come into force, now that a government has been formed. A coalition of the PSOE, Podemos and a few smaller parties will pave the way for a windfall on electric car purchases and extra charging points. Another goal is that by 2050, 100% of electricity must be from renewable sources, a significant increase from the current 40%. This goal also matches the goal that the European Union recently set with regards to emission neutrality. Animal rights are also included as part of these new policies as the two parties are seeking to introduce a law that makes it a crime to mistreat animals. In addition, the parties also want to push forward a single-use plastic law ‘to achieve zero waste by 2050.’ The agreement also plans to create an ‘environmental damage compensation fund’ that will be funded by the ‘donations’ from companies that engage in activities that are potentially dangerous for the environment.

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Air heads IT is the largest low-emissions zone in southern Europe. From this week, drivers of old cars are being penalised from driving into a big 95 km square area of Barcelona. Petrol cars registered before 2000 and diesel cars older than 2006 will be banned and face a fine of €100 to €500 each time they enter the zone. The new ruling is expected to take 50,000 cars out of the area from its first week. But deputy mayor Janet Sanz hopes it will reduce the

Barcelona drivers to face dirty car fines

number of cars in the city by 125,000 within three years. The levels of air pollution should drop by 20% within four years. Furthermore, if the targets aren’t met, the city will introduce a London-style congestion charge for all vehicles. “It’s a combination of re-

Blown away A MASSIVE new wind farm is providing electricity for 30,000 inland Andalucia homes. The Los Arcos project (above) features 10 giant turbines between the towns of Almargen, Campillos and Teba. Set up by company Enel Green Power Espana, a subsidiary of Endesa, it cost 35m euros. Endesa has 12 wind farms across Andalucia, five in Malaga and five in Cadiz.

ducing pollution but reconfiguring public space so that everyone can enjoy it,” said Sanz. During a three month moratorium offenders picked up on 150 cameras will receive notification of the infraction but not be fined. Unlike a similar zone in central Madrid, the ban covers the entire metropolitan area, some 20 times larger. In the Madrid zone, levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO²) fell by 48% in a year. Both cities frequently exceed World Health Organization levels for Nitrogen Oxide and other pollutants. The low-emissions zone is designed to complement the city’s so-called ‘superblocks scheme’, in which areas made up of nine blocks are closed to through traffic and partly pedestrianised. There are currently six superblocks, with 11 more at various stages of completion. The plan envisages a total of 503 encompassing almost all the city. The city hopes the scheme will encourage people to use the city’s excellent public transport system. And the authorities have introduced new tariffs, including a travel card offering unlimited journeys on buses and trains within the metro-

A dog is for life...

politan area for just €40 a month. Owners of banned vehicles who earn less than €8,000 a year will be exempt, as well as delivery vehicles. Banned vehicles will be allowed to enter the city 10 times a year.

THREE animals are abandoned every five minutes in Spain, it has been revealed. The figure amounts to 300,000 animals every year, according to green group Ecologistas en Accion. The new data coincides with the Christmas period when, according to the organisation, 33% of pets are abandoned. Half of the country’s cats and dogs arrive in homes as gifts during this time, while there has also been an increase in non-traditional pets. Turtles, ferrets, raccoons and parrots are among the increasing numbers of exotic and invasive species in Spanish homes.

January 8th - January 21st 2020 Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

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New beds to help people with dementia Page 4

Readers react to the news that Cordoba is to host bullfighting workshops for children (online, January 2)

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Like Scotland, Gibraltar might avoid ‘trap’ of joining an EU trade deal

FABIAN Picardo has insisted braltar can ‘walk away from any GiEXCLUSIVE bad deal’ signed with Europe. By John Culatto The Chief Minister added that enclave was ‘ready’ to swerve the for Gibraltar. agreement that was bad for the any “No deal with the EU may be better ritory, which voted by 96% to stayter- than a bad deal.” in Picardo referred the EU. to those who are It comes after Johnson’s landslide ‘foolishly wringing their hands with glee at talk of vetoes’. victory at the UK elections that left the Tories with a sufficient majority to leave the European Union on JanHistoric uary 31. It comes after Marco Aguiriano, However, Picardo revealed that Gi- Spanish Secretary of state for the braltar has the option of not signing EU, the Future Trade Agreement (FTA) Spainsaid that ‘it is very clear’ that would have the final word on with the EU. Gibraltar He told Parliament definitively that Aguirianoin the FTA. said that despite trying to the FTA ‘may not include anything ‘consolidate the prosperity with the of interest to us’ on the benefit side, Gibraltar while ‘many obligations’ on the neg- holding Campo,’ he would not be back ‘on the historic reinative side. forcement on the claim to Gibraltar’. This would be the case even if Picardo FTA included the possibility of the know continued: “I think we all nancial services privileges for fi- ally that EU member states generGihave a veto over the internationbraltar companies to passport into al agreements that the EU enters the EU. into “We will need to be involved from He with third countries.” added that they would have to be the beginning but ready to walk careful not to be provoked over the away in the end if the balance following months. STRENGTH: Gibraltar is looking rights and obligations is bad for of “We elsewhere in face of Brexit will always want to have strong braltar businesses,” said Picardo. Gi- relations with the EU, our closest needs to understand that we are right for a commercial “We must hold our nerve and never going to compromise on matadvantage.” be neighbour. He said that the Gibraltar commuready to walk away from a bad deal “But everyone beyond Gibraltar ters of sovereignty,” he added. “We are never going to sell our birth- nity had to “consider carefully what part of any future UK – EU Free Trade Agreement’ they want for Gibraltar. He added that Johnson had confirmed his ‘continued and entirely fulsome support for Gibraltar’ in GIBRALTAR is pushing for new a fi- tengo, Senior Executive of phone call since his victory. nancial services work with the secthe Min“Although it was not our choice, and istry of Financial Services told ond largest economy in the world. the we continue to see the challenges Olive Press. As the territory decides to leave it presents, we will leave the EU with European Union on January 31 a the Both Astengo and Minister for Firethe United nancial Kingdom,” said Picardo. Services Albert Isola took cent visit to China is being seen as Despite the blow to the territory’s stepping stone to greater things. a the stage at the Free Trade Port Ininterests, thanks to the work of ternational Cooperation Forum “This is a very big development the be- Digital Economy and Blockchain on Gibraltar Government, the Withcause China makes up about a fifth drawal “The Agreement forum was held following on will now apply of the world’s population,” Paul As- from the announcement by Gibraltar when it leaves the EU to the Chion January 31. nese government “This means that we will enjoy that it was going the benefit of the transitional arrangeto adopt blockments applying to Gibraltar also,” chain at creating he told Parliament. their own which At one point, there were reports that is a very big de- Mike Ashton is providing informa- this would not be the case because velopment,” As- tion on insurance of Spanish pressure. services. tengo revealed. UK BASED “It has proved With Joe Bossa- companies to attractive to Chinese no working on in terms of see what we’re doing been doing that they invited us to other aspects of said Astengo.our licensing regime,” a closed-shop event limited to 500 people.” Chinese trade, “It’s a recognition of the work we’ve He said Brexit would lead to more links being established with other for Spanish countries and China was one of the residents priorities. “There are now more Chinese peowww.globelink.co.uk ple living in Gibraltar than there ever were in the past, a lot related to See page 19 the types of businesses we’re developing,” he concluded. 96 626 5000 “These are the small seeds that we +44 (0) 1353 699082 hope will grow into something more substantial.”

New pledge from Gibraltar’s Extinction Rebellion

Page 4

We chat with Gib playwright Julian Felice Page 8

Far east movement

What’s going on in Gib this Xmas? Page 17

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January 8th - January 21st 2020 Vol. 13 Issue 334 www.theolivepress.es

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Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez The nearly man becomes the after a turbulent two year wait forms a government in Spain

Diving in EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. exAllen Wilson, a health and safety pert who has worked on numerous ardrowning cases around Europe, rived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths trio. of the Wilson claimed the pool’s design inwith just one floor ‘outlet’ – stead of two – could have created an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and dragged them under water. It flies in the face of the Guardia Civil’s official investigation, which

the vote RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after Spain’s official PEDRO Sanchez has become second vote of prime minister after winning a

confidence yesterday. country for the The PSOE leader will govern the two-year wait next four years, after an agonizing and three general elections. from Madrid, Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, the first time was forced to recall MPs to sit for over the weekend to confirm his victory. investiture vote It was his second attempt at an in December’s since the PSOE won the most seats overall maan general election, but failed to win congress vote jority. The vote saw MPs in Spain’s left-wing either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Sanchez’s proposed by Pablo Iglecoalition government, propped up other parties. sias’s Podemos party and a host of he won a knifeAfter a heated afternoon session, 165, while 18 edge victory of 167 votes against abstained. Catalunya, from majority MPs, the the first coaIt means Sanchez will preside over 1977 after the lition government in Spain since death of dictator Franco. Unidos Pofrom MPs by up The PSOE is propped Galego Nademos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Canarias. tionalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva

Continues on Page 2

EXPERT: Allen Wilson

the coalition victory Pablo Iglesias in tears after OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ men’s shared In his letter, he referred to the two the left-wing issue’ of soverIt was no surprise who voted against desire to look beyond ‘the eternal Popular, of friendship on coalition, with 165 MPs from the Partido Navarra eignty and he extended the hand Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, behalf of the people of Gibraltar. promotion of Suma and others saying ‘no’. He also offered his support for the some sheddialogue, unThe left erupted into applause, with ‘policies based on the principle of Sanchez had our reding tears, when it was revealed that derstanding and co-operation between clinched the vote. spective people’. puede!’ while of the Representatives screamed ‘si, se Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention photographed Left party Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was pro-independence Catalan Republican after Sanwas the vote in tears. Spain’s most recent election failed to (ERC), which agreed to sit out the political confourth in as many years as the country chez vowed to find a solution to the sepaform a cohesive government. flict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s expat Hispanin 2017. secede to tried “It’s great news for Spain,” leading government ratist regional ist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. but “There are going to be lots of compromises, Terrorists also solutions.” argue Sanchez’ and it’s man opponents amazing an is government’s The “Sanchez He added: too beholden out after being ‘Frankenstein government’ will be remarkable to think he stuck it to Spain’s came fightto Catalan separatists and pose a threat for calm, kicked out of his own party and then ing back. national unity. While Sanchez appealed ‘atmosphere of true the a of overcome to qualities MPs the on has called “He and the offensive. statesman and speaks very well. He irritation’, his adversaries went on him of being an will be a great asset for Europe.” PP leader Pablo Casado, accused future in the Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s conof coup-mongers’. letter a and sent Picardo also hands of ‘terrorists Sanchez wrote: gratulation to Sanchez on being In a tweet sent after the vote, dialogue re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and “Spain is entering a time for defendingall people for fractious debate’. and useful politics. A government for social justhat restores co-existence and fights moderation, of tice. Today is the dawn of a time progress and hope.” to roll out a polSpain’s new coalition is expected in Spain who icy of raising income tax for people earn more than €130,000. Opinion Page 6

Costa Blanca Issue 20

Tel: 952 147 834

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BRITISH expats are understandably in turmoil about their futures in Spain, following the Conservative Party’s huge election victory. Healthcare, pensions and the fate of the pound are bound to keep many of us awake this Christmas, now that Boris Johnson (far right) has promised to ‘get Brexit done’ by the end of January. But, while it could be an unsettling festive period ahead, it may not be as bad as many of us fear, believes Our Man in Spain.

Sparkle

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S u b j e c t

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c o n d i t i o n s .

E n d s

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

21/6/19 13:30

FREE By Joshua Parfitt and Robert Firth

c u s t o m e r s

OLIVE PRESS

COSTA BLANCA

The

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f o r

Vol. 1 Issue 20 www.theolivepress.es

Your expat

voice in Spain

December 19th - January 8th, 2020

Nightmare Before Christmas

“No deal is now a very remote possibility and our citizens rights are still in place,” insisted ambassador Hugh Elliot at a meeting with expats on the Costa Blanca this week. Putting a little sparkle back on the Christmas tree, he promised that the same healthcare agreements, uprating of pensions and rights to work will not change for British stay ‘the same as long as you reexpats until December next year. main a resident in Spain’. And after that period, they will However, Anne Hernandez, of

Brexpats in Spain, insisted it was still not clear and claimed ‘mounting’ confusion was causing many

...but there are plenty of reasons

There’s so much to read in this bumper Olive Press special festive edition

But British ambassador offers crumb of hope to expats nursing

wounds following Boris Johnson’s landslide victory

residents distress, with some even contemplating suicide. “It is putting people under incred-

ible pressure. Some have said; ‘I am so suicidal,’ particularly some of the elderly,” she told the Olive Press this week. British councillor for San Fulgencio, Darren Parmenter, hit back however, criticising the ‘amount of misinformation’ groups like hers have been pedalling. He told the Olive Press that once the current withdrawal agreement was signed everyone would be much more optimistic. “Not once has any of these groups said that, if the withdrawal agreement is passed, you have nothing to worry about,” he slammed. “It might have saved lots of unnecessary panic, ‘feelings of suicide’ and even people selling up and moving back to the UK because of the uncertainties.”

to be cheerful...

LETTERS Blame the parents

LEAVERS: Trio of Brits in Spain

Total lack of care Dear Olive Press, they take live here, come toedu ExpatsGet don dogs, cats cate and maybe even horses (In Spain three animals

abandoned every five minutes, Online, Janu-

areMoore sees the EU, essentially, as a political Rose ary 5).hip (Leave and proud, Issue 325, pg 7). The dictators they give love. states, them a.home, Theyis give There are 28 sovereign the opposite reality bags and pack their they sour turns all it when But to become ly chose voluntari including the UK, which l animals beautifu on those backs their turn wouldwithUK the that believes Dunne Steve d. associate glance. second a even out to going not I’m so. Not terms. fair better on WTO to death, locked to starve leftpage been have Many and in by quoting chapterere. letters your down weigh or chained up somewh a rented looks into the in recommend that Steve but I property verse, , they don’t believe the Spanish have you Then Trump that he knows. That industry any of specifics with their relido to all spayed, pets deal their getting with an EU-free UK should a trade to get is trying trade deals to know: Trump’s you all you want the tellgion. of any animalforhave to letFinally,females it is ok ButUS-first Brent Mahler speaks labels. have either they born and as they their babies, force armed an EU of are of UK citizens warythem, a number in the them putare or drown or neck the snap ideas these , However and an ever closer union. rubbish. with crushed be to bin am I policy. people and not EU from cars. floated by specific d dogs being thrown witnesse I have years of proat the insidious 40-plus worried more in a carrier bag was dogs own our of One the Mail, Telegraph, byfound EEC/EU the against paganda die. to sun full in a tree fromand, hanging Sun. What did six of course, Thesole Times Express, survivor of and the oldasked hours She was why he was so anhe was when sayonly Murdoch ds. shepher Belgian l beautifu of: “When I go into d g along the lines ti-EU? Somethinful are suppose how us as humans I go to the EU.” The they do what I say: when 10disgrace No.It’s this is. wrongent! how ones, sionate compas the be to appointm an for ask to had implication is that he

Lorraine Islip, Malaga

How any respectable parent could want their child to go on a workshop to teach them it is acceptable to torture and kill any animal is beyond words. But all the time this ignorant country allows this bloodthirsty sport to carry on, the spectators will relish in this slaughter. Sheila Farrelly, Barcelona

Unacceptable

Whether it’s bulls, dogs, cats, birds or whatever...there is no need to hurt these animals. Yes I understand about keeping these traditions alive, but that can be done without putting animals through the most awful pain and death. How can anyone can say that no one has the right to speak in defence of these animals just because they are not from Spain? Based on that attitude there would be no one helping those in distress in war torn countries...there would be no one helping anywhere in the world and that cannot be the right way in the future. Cruelty and torture to any animal is totally unacceptable. Margaret Rowse, Malaga

Children are the future

Teach the kids the history of bullfighting and draw the line there. Teach the kids that it’s not ok to torture an animal to death. Kids today need to be taught empathy and respect, not how to kill. Rebecca Kitchen, Marbella

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Christine Rowlands, chair of Conservatives Abroad on the Costa del Sol, had a more conciliatory view. Despite being a ‘staunch remainer,’ she told the Olive Press she was glad the election result meant Brexit would ‘finally be over’. “The reaction has been good from both sides,” she said. “My members just want the job done.” She added the party was now ‘passionate’ to overturn the 15-year voting ban for expats who have lived abroad that long.

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

The last property I rented didn’t have an LFO (Rent and be damned, pg 37, Issue 333). I didn’t know, as I rented through an agent who I would have thought would have checked this out. The landlord then went on to sell the house while we were a few months into a year-long tenancy. He removed the water pipes from the property in a bid to make us move, when we went to the police to denounce him we learned he didn’t have a license. We also learned he was ex-Guardia, who was booted out for drug smuggling (lovely guy). We mistakenly went with the same agent for our current rental, but luckily the property is properly licensed, although I wouldn’t trust the agent for a third time. Sarah Jayne Harlington, Malaga

Practice what you preach It seems that a lot of people who say that they are Christian have only read the old testament and not the new (There’s room at this inn, pg 12, Issue 333). They like to publicly be seen going to church but that’s as far as their charity goes. Let’s face it the Tories who profess to be religious and pious introduced austerity and food banks; if they saw Jesus on the streets now with his followers, the Police on horseback would be summoned to kettle and arrest all of them. Stephen Taylor, Yorkshire

No fear I pay my taxes, both national and local, in Spain. I also pay HMRC in the UK although I no longer have a vote there. I pay my Social Security. I drive a taxed car on Spanish plates. I shop locally and drink local wine. I participate in local village festivities where I am on the ‘Padron’. What have I to fear from Brexit? Peter Miln, Campanillas

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All solutions are on page 30

LA CULTURA

British talent

OZUNA and Il Divo have been added to the lineup for the Starlite Marbella festival this summer. The reggaeton star and the British quartet will take to the stage at the Nagüeles quarry on July 17 and July 10 respectively. They join a long list of acts already announced, which includes Lionel Richie, Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson, India Martinez and more. Starlite runs from Thursday, July 2 until Saturday, August 29, and tickets went on sale on January 3 at www.starlitecatalanaoccidente.com.

A BRITISH man has been charged with criminal damage after he trashed a €23.5 million Picasso painting. Shakeel Massey, 20, from London remains in custody for the attack on the Spanish artist’s Bust of a Woman (1944). The work of art is housed at London’s Tate Modern and the gallery has now removed it from public display. It was reported to have been ripped although the venue has not revealed any details regarding its condition.

what’s on Bach at it LISTEN to Bach’s Christmas Oratorio conducted by Salvador Vazquez at the Auditorio Edgar Neville in Malaga on January 13 at 20:30 and on January 14 at 20:00.

Happy Year

Why are we waiting? Children in the UK may have got their presents on Christmas Day, but children in Spain had to wait until January 6 – Dia de los Reyes Magos CITIES and towns throughout the country have held the famous ‘Reyes Magos’ parades where people dress up as the Three Kings/Wise Men in order to replicate

Tate crime

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Malaga-born Pablo Picasso created the piece, which portrays his lover Dora Maar in Nazi-occupied Paris. “The work of art is with our conservation team for expert assessment. Tate Modern remains open,” said a gallery spokesperson. A Met Police statement said: “Detectives investigating an incident of criminal damage at the Tate Modern, Bankside, on Saturday, 28 December have charged a man.” Massey is to attend a pretrial hearing at Inner London Crown Court on January 30 after being denied bail.

Picasso popularity OVER 700,000 people visited the Picasso museum last year – its greatest number of visitors ever. The figure is a 4% increase on the year before, as tourists flocked to see the artwork of one of Malaga’s favourite sons. “Its growth is a result of the museum’s varied cultural offering and its educational programme,” said a Museo Picasso Malaga (MPM) spokesperson. The continued growth in the last seven years comes as the MPM announced a visual art exhibition, Genealogies of art, or the history of art as visual art, for February 27.

their gift giving to baby Jesus 12 days after his birth. From Malaga to Estepona, from Murcia to Alcoi, the whole of Spain lit up for the Dia de los Reyes Magos,

which is celebrated on the Day of the Epiphany (January 6). During the parade, amid dancers, musicians and puppeteers, the Three Kings

ride on camels or elaborate floats and throw sweets to the children and accompanying adults. One of the Kings, Baltasar is painted in blackface, something that has caused a fair amount of controversy over the years – with protesters arguing it’s racist and traditionalists claiming that it’s simply the way it has always been done. Christmas Day is still an important holiday for Spaniards – but it takes a back seat compared to the Dia de los Reyes Magos – as this is the day that children receive their presents. Kids leave their shoes by the door and wait eagerly for the Three Kings to fill them up with gifts – similar to Father Christmas and stockings above the fireplace.

Tradition

Another important tradition is the Roscon de Reyes, which is a round cake with candied fruit on the top. To top it all off, inside the cake there are two items to find: a small king and a faba bean. Whoever gets the slice with the king is meant to have good luck for the whole year, while the unlucky eater of the slice with the bean has to pay for the whole thing!

ENTER the New Year with a smile on your face at La Casa Amarilla in Malaga where you can follow the protagonist on their escape from negativity, on until January 24.

Journey TAKE a journey into the exhibition titled Journey which includes oils, acrylics and mixed media, on until January 11.

Space out THE use of space is explored in a joint exhibition at the Museo Picasso Malaga by the American sculptor Alexander Calder and Malaga’s very own Pablo Ruiz Picasso, on until February 2.

Arigato DO not miss out on the exhibition of Japanese culture and traditions which depicts the countryside, sumo wrestlers, courtesans and some sexually explicit paintings, on until January 12.

Arab nights EXPERIENCE your own Arabian fantasy at the Carmen Thyssen Musueum in Malaga, with this new exhibition that focuses on the theme of Arabic life or how it was romantically depicted by artists in the 19th century, on until March 1.

Royal ap

January 8th - January 21st 2020

he portrayed herself as nobility from a long Moorish/Andalucian bloodline. Yet birth records indicate she was 100% Irish, born in County Sligo to “common stock”. She claimed her name was Maria Dolores (“Lola”) Montez, but her birth certificate states her official name as Eliza Gilbert. She was considered to be breathtakingly beautiful, intelligent, courageous and above all, independent. Others considered her as egocentric, manipulative and temperamental to the extreme. She was known to the public as a lustful dancer, but behind the curtain, she was a political force who mingled with European monarchs, artists and intellectuals. To be sure, her life was full of contradictions, but she possessed one trait that nearly everyone could agree upon: She was a charismatic seductress of the highest order. Meet Eliza Gilbert…a.k.a. Lola Montez .

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Enthralled

Eliza’s mother described her daughter as “fanciful, wayward, and given to fibbing”. One school teacher recalled Eliza’s “beautiful countenance” with a “habitual expression of indomitable self-will”. Young Eliza courted scandal from an early age. She eloped as a teenager and not surprisingly her marriage didn’t last. Her much older husband was able to win a judicial divorce on grounds of Eliza’s adulterous behavior. At 20, she was a “woman with a past”. With her reputation in tatters, she fled to Cadiz, Spain in an attempt to reinvent

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ENCHANTRESS: Lola Montez

ENCHANTED: KIng Ludwig I

herself. She studied Spanish roll-call of lovers however which dance, customs and language. vaulted this “tigress persona” to Knowing full well that Spanish international celebrity. culture was very much in fashion In Paris she met composer Franz in Victorian London, she decided Liszt. His concert tours attracted to return to England to launch wildly enthusiastic audiences her new career as: “Lola Montez and royalty throughout Europe. -The Spanish Dancer”. Lola, with her immense power of Eliza, now known as “Lola”, seduction, initiated a very public booked passage on a ship to love affair which would deeply Southampton. There, she met affect Liszt’s music composiThe Earl of Malmesbury—a tions and his personal life. The prominent nobleman and a gen- composer was so infatuated with erous art patron. Immediately her that he would write glowing charmed by Loletters of recla’s magnetic ommendations personality, the that opened the Lola mimed Earl used his indoors for her in fluence to book music venues the crushing her dancing throughout Eudebut at Her of spiders that rope. In Paris Majesty’s The(post-Liszt) she had invaded her frequented the atre in London. He would later ashionable undergarments fhigh-society write that he was saamong the first lons where she to be ‘‘duped befriended the by the beautiful and wily Lola city’s most popular literary boheMontez”. Her behavior later in mians. There she won the confilife would suggest that it would dence of novelist Alexandre Duhave been unusual for Lola not mas—a social dynamo in Paris to have traded sexual favours with a unique status among Pawith the Earl. risian high society. He would latHer performances were unlike er write the classics: The Count anything the London audiences of Monte Cristo and The Three had ever seen: “The Spaniard Musketeers. Their romantic dallidances with the body, the lips, ance was legend but short-lived. the eyes, the head, the neck, the Lola made friends easily-espeheart .... her dance IS Spanish cially among journalists and passion” wrote London’s Morn- wealthy men. Alex Dujarier was ing Post. Her tour-de-force was both. He was the drama critic a routine which became known and owner of La Presse -France’s as The Spider Dance. With her most widely-read newspaper. head thrown back, eyes flashing Dujarier was swept away by the and fluid burlesque like aban- fearless and lighthearted spirit don, Lola mimed the crushing of of Lola’s personality. They too spiders that had invaded her un- became lovers, but it didn’t end dergarments. She did not leave well for young Alex. When one much to the imagination as she Parisian art patron criticized often did not wear her bloomers. Lola’s dance routine, Alex chalAudiences were enthralled. But lenged the man to a pistol duel. her run on the British stage was Dujarier was shot and killed. He short-lived. She was recognized died in Lola’s arms. as the former Eliza Gilbert and Lola moved on to Munich where booed off stage. Exposed in the she captured the heart of Bavarpress as a fraud, she fled to the ian King Ludwig I. Ludwig was an Continent. Europe had not seen eccentric monarch and notorianything or anyone like Ms. Mon- ous ladies’ man. Upon meeting tez. Lola was outrageous in ways Lola, he stood motionless, and that were beyond beauty and gazing upon her enormous apsexuality. She had enormous peal, he is said to have become appeal and powers of seduction. truly bewitched by the 61-yearHer Spider Dance garnered the old monarch became obsessed attention (both positive and neg- with the 21-year-old dancer. In a ative) of kings, the press, artists, short time, Lola became a royal theatre managers and most im- mistress, lavished with jewels, a portantly the public. It was her pension and a small palace. Lud-

wig crowed her “The Countess of Landsfeld”. Over time however, Lola did little to gratiate herself to the King’s subjects. Lola was discourteous to the queen. She flaunted her questionable morals, had a disdain for etiquette and insulted her audiences. When she started meddling in Bavarian politics it became too much for the locals. There were riots replete with arson and physical violence. The lords of Bavaria, by royal decree, revoked Lola’s rights and demanded she leave the country. Ludwig protested claiming: “I would rather lose my Crown!” He got his wish. King Ludwig I was forced to abdicate giving up his crown. Lola once again was seductive in ways which often ruined some of the most influential men in Europe.

Allure

Once again , Lola was forced to flee the country. She headed across the Atlantic where she toured the United States and later Australia. However, as her beauty began to fade, her dance routine became less “art’’ and more “stripper burlesque.” She would find religion, tried lecturing and writing a book, none of which resulted in much distinction. Sadly, Lola died in New York on January 17 1861 when she was just 39 years old. It would be easy to write off Lola as a scheming high priced prostitute. It would not be a stretch to moralize that her life was a display of egotism and

LA CULTURA

pproval SEDUCED: Franz Liszt vanity. It would be easy to make the case that she used sexual manipulation to run roughshod over everyone around her. Yet in a way, Lola was an example of allure, intelligence, daring and forceful will that challenged the constricted roles allowed to women in the Victorian Age. She

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Jack Gaioni reveals the fascinating story of Lola, the fake Spanish dirty dancer who captured a king’s heart

ICONIC: Lola’s Spider Dance had the uncanny ability to charm some of the most powerful and influential men in Europe that could further her aspirations. She fought to free her own life from society’s prejudices and restrictions. Lola achieved fame and success (such as it was) on her own terms. Lola knew exact-

ly what she was doing. We don’t have to like her life to admire her life. In her book, The Arts of Beauty, she best summed up her life’s philosophy: “To all Men and Women of every land Who are not afraid of Themselves

Who trust so much in their own souls that They dare to stand up in the might of their Own individuality To meet the tidal currents of the world.” ********** R.I.P. Lola

LA CULTURA

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Cook yourself healthy A Pinch of Nom by Kay Featherstone and Kate Allinson was a global sensation when it came out

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Golden greats THEY are some of the most seductive artworks of the 20th century. Now Gustav Klimt’s iconic gold paintings are to get an intriguing exhibition in Malaga. Featuring the Austrian’s seminal The Kiss (left), the exhibit will have an audiovisual display of dozens of his works immersing viewers into his intriguing world. The show, which launches at Muelle Uno, on January 17, will be similar to the popular Van Gogh Alive exhibition last year.

November 6th - November 19th 2019

PROPERTY

New golden mile Marbella’s best known agent Christopher Clover of Panorama Properties looks ahead to what the market holds in 2020

lthough the volume of sales in the property market comprised of the three municipalities of Marbella, Estepona and Benahavis dropped slightly during 2019, most agents are reporting a surge of sales in the last quarter of the year, and there are fundamental reasons to be optimistic with respect to the evolution of the market in this area over 2020. Post Brexit Mini-boom One factor that has affected the market in this past year has been the ‘pent-up’ demand caused by Brexit: when there is uncertainty in any market, purchasers normally take the attitude of ‘let us wait and see what happens’. Now there is certainty in the direction of Brexit, and a corresponding increase in the value of the pound, there is little doubt that this pent-up demand will result in several hundred purchases in the next few months, giving an important boost to the market in 2020. A surplus of brand-new properties in some areas

other hand, there are positive indicators, as stated recently by Luis de Guindos, the Vice President of the European bank, which point to an economic upturn mid-2020. Most other professionals we have consulted are also cautiously optimistic with respect European growth. The property market shows absolutely no sign of overheating such as in the years before the crisis starting in the end of 2007, which lends additional optimism to professionals assessing the market.

Especially in the area of the New Golden Mile of Estepona, there has been an increasing surplus of new projects/ properties on the market. Following the law of supply and demand never being in equilibrium, this is not a surprise Prime and Ultra prime markets and it normal in any property market. are thriving There are now so many new promotions (not counting projects of less than The higher-end market which comprises an important part five units) that a potenof the market in this area tial buyer couldn’t see all tends to be less affected by of them even in a week’s Marbella has economic ups and downs time. Our own study of ‘Ultra-Prime’ anyway. This should be April 2019 illustrates added to the fact that that there were almost as areas for the most purchases today are many properties in new developments for sale at first time in its ‘lifestyle’ purchases much more than purchases just that time (1911 units), as history for investment. If Marbelall those sold from 2016 la now has areas which are to 2018 (2063 units). considered ‘Ultra-Prime’ The new developments with the best location, design and ar- for the first time in its history, it is bechitecture, the highest quality finishes, cause the buyers in this area are willing the most effective promotional efforts to pay high prices, compared to only a and of course the best prices will pros- few years ago, to live in these areas. per. The buyer will end up with more competitive prices in addition to an New, world-class hotels and amazing choice of well-finished new more tourism will bring more afproperties. The less competitive proj- fluence to the area ects will have to work hard to improve on the above points and will eventually The continuing increase in tourism in the Marbella area will remain the sell, but more slowly. prime source of buyers for real estate. The Economy: cautious optimism Just look at the increase of tourism in the lowest month of the year, DecemThere have been indicators of an eco- ber! The number of cars on the road nomic slowdown in Europe and in is like that of the shoulder seasons Spain in the last few months. On the only a few years ago. The arrival of the

Four Seasons, as well as the W Hotel, will bring a whole new segment of the luxury market to Marbella from those habitual clients of these world-famous brands, who have not yet discovered Marbella and who will return, many of them with their friends. Improvements are still needed If the Marbella area real estate market is to remain healthy over the medium and longer term, it is clear that the municipal governments of this area need to make further improvements and solve old problems. For example, after 20 years of urbanistic chaos in Marbella, due to no fault whatsoever of the property owners, further steps must be taken to solve the problem of first occupation certificates where thousands of owners are technically living illegally in their homes where, also, with no first occupation certificate, they cannot rent legally their properties out for less than two months, in accordance with the law for touristic rentals. There also has to be a solution, now rather than later, to push the overcrowded coastal highway traffic up to the autopista during the peak season. Despite recent improvements, many areas and neighbourhoods need more attention and care from the municipal authorities. It is up to all of us to come together, individually and collectively, to work with the public authorities to encourage them to undertake these improvements and help Marbella and surrounding areas reach their full potential as a quality resort area, the only resort area on the whole Mediterranean Basin with a 12-month season. May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy, productive and positive 2020!

January 8th - January 21st 2020

BUSINESS

New year new assets Jonathan Holdaway presents his advice on how to diversify your portfolio in 2020

he New Year is an excellent time to This strategy has many complex iterations, review the current asset allocation in but at its root it’s simply about spreading your portfolio and adjust in line with your portfolio across several asset classes. your investment goals as no doubt the fi- Diversification can help mitigate the risk nancial landscape looks different now to and volatility in your portfolio, potentially what it did 12 months ago! reducing the number and severity of stoIn the last issue I took a brief look at the five mach-churning ups and downs. main asset classes available to an investor Remember, diversification does not ensure – namely Equities, Fixed Income, Money a profit or guarantee against loss. Market, Guaranteed and Property. The four primary components of a diversiDiversification is the practice of spreading fied investment portfolio: your investments around so that your ex- Developed Market stocks – These are shaposure to any one type of asres of US, UK, Japanese and set is limited. EU companies. Stocks repreThis practice is designed to sent the most aggressive porReducing the help reduce the volatility of tion of your portfolio and proyour portfolio over time. number and vide the opportunity for higher One of the keys to successgrowth over the long term. ful investing is learning how severity of However, this greater poto balance your comfort level tential for growth carries a with risk against your time stomach-churning greater risk, particularly in horizon. ups and downs the short term. Because stocInvest your retirement nest ks are generally more volatile egg too conservatively at a than other types of assets, young age, and you run the risk that the your investment in a stock could be worth growth rate of your investments won’t less if and when you decide to sell it. keep pace with inflation. Conversely, if you invest too aggressively Bonds - Most bonds provide regular intewhen you’re older, you could leave your rest income and are generally considered to savings exposed to market volatility, which be less volatile than stocks. could erode the value of your assets at an They can also act as a cushion against the age when you have fewer opportunities to unpredictable ups and downs of the stock recoup your losses. market, as they often behave differently One way to balance risk and reward in your than stocks. investment portfolio is to diversify your as- Investors who are more focused on safety sets.

than growth often favour government or other high-quality bonds, while reducing their exposure to stocks. These investors may have to accept lower long-term returns, as many bonds—especially high-quality issues—generally don’t offer returns as high as stocks over the long term. Short-term investments - These include money market funds and short-term CDs (certificates of deposit). Money market funds are conservative investments that offer stability and easy access to your money, ideal for those looking to preserve principal. In exchange for that level of safety, money market funds usually provide lower returns than bond funds or individual bonds. International stocks - Stocks issued by emerging market companies often perform differently than their developed market counterparts, providing exposure to alternative opportunities. If you’re searching for investments that offer both higher potential returns and higher risk, you may want to consider adding some foreign stocks to your portfolio. Additional components of a diversified portfolio: Sector funds - Although these invest in

stocks, sector funds, as their name suggests, focus on a particular segment of the economy such as technology or banking. They can be valuable tools for investors seeking opportunities in different phases of the economic cycle. Commodity focused funds - While only the most experienced investors should invest in commodities, adding equity funds that focus on commodity-intensive industries to your portfolio—such as oil and gas, mining, and natural resources—can provide a good hedge against inflation. Real estate funds - Real estate funds, including real estate investment trusts (REITs), can also play a role in diversifying your portfolio and providing some protection against the risk of inflation. Asset allocation funds - For investors who don’t have the time or the expertise to build a diversified portfolio, asset allocation funds can serve as an effective single-fund strategy as the asset allocation is managed for you by the manager with a specific risk approach.In the next issue I will look at how Diversification can have a real impact on your Portfolio returns If you would like to review your own Portfolio please telephone or email me for an initial consultation at my expense.

Jonathan now has an office Malaga, which can be found here: Alameda Colón, 9, 1, 7. 29001 Málaga, Spain. Phone: +34 951 579226

Contact me for a no obligation investment product and/or portfolio review and at my expense on +34 654 898 303/+44 77230 27864 or email me at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com I’ll even buy the coffee.

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BUSINESS

Green money SANTANDER has committed itself to being carbon neutral in 2020. It comes after the main Spanish banks presented a joint pledge to reduce their carbon footprints at the COP25 climate conference in Madrid. Santander, which employs 200,000 people worldwide, will now offset all the emissions it generates. The bank already achieved reductions in its emissions and electricity consumption by 27% and 36% respectively between 2011 and 2018. Around 43% of Santander’s electricity is already renewable and it has promised that all of its electricity will come from green sources by 2025.

No tickets to ride

Sensible Spaniards

xxx

FOUR out of 10 Spaniards would use their ‘El Gordo’ winnings to pay off debts, it has been revealed. Murcia is the region most likely to try and get rid of its debts with the prize money (43.6%), while Andalu-

January 8th - January 21st 2020 cia is the least (36.6%), according to a new poll by iAhorro bank. Spain’s famous lottery attracts millions to buy tickets every Christmas, with the hope of winning the €4,000,000 jackpot. The second most common option for spending winnings is buying a house (26.8%), third is adding to a savings account (23.5%) and fourth is splashing out on family and friends (10.5%).

No silver lining

THE number of people employed in Spain has increased by 2.02%, according to new government data. Figures from the Ministry of Employment show that there were 384,373 more registered workers in December 2019 than in the

Number of ‘employed’ increases, but at slowest rate since recession

same month in 2018. This leaves the country’s total workforce standing at 19.4 million, although the actual employment increase

is the lowest in six years. Not since 2013 – a year when employment rates took a kicking from the last recession – has there been

A TOTAL of 147 train stations have stopped selling tickets at their ticket offices. The move by railway companies Adif and Renfe is a response to lower passenger rates at smaller stations. Andalucia is the most affected region, with 20 stations no longer selling tickets at offices, while Castilla y Leon has 15, Castilla-La Mancha (15), Extremadura (12) and Galicia (10). As of January 1 ‘face-to-face’ ticket sales will only be maintained at stations which have more than 100 passengers per day. Ticket machines are to be installed at all stations, where they aren’t already, and tickets can now be bought at Correos.

such a small increase. Steady rises have continued for the last six years, until last summer when the number of those registered with Social Security as ‘employed’ hit record levels. However signs of exhaustion have been reported and a similarly weak decrease has also been registered in unemployment levels. In the last 12 months unemployment has fallen by 38,692 people, the lowest decrease since 2012. The drop in unemployment also slowed down locally and Malaga only reduced its figure in 2019 by 2,764. That meant 148,485 were registered as unemployed at the end of the year, a drop of 1.83% – half that of 2018. Yet despite the slowdown, Malaga is still reducing its number of unemployed at a faster rate than Andalucia (-1.37%) and Spain as a whole (-1.21%).

Helping hand

BinckBank Saxo Bank has announced its first seminar of the new year. Kaspar Huijsman will be leading the Tips and Trends talk in Marbella on January 23 from 15:30 - 17:00. The talk will provide a general overview of the current state of the stock markets, highlight current insecurities, evaluate the sectors to consider and those to avoid, and assess the risks involved in investing. The event is suitable for investors and traders of all levels and the bank’s friendly team are there to help you and will be around for a cocktail afterwords. Sign up for one of the last remaining places at www. binckbank.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

THE ageing of fish, artificial intelligence in the kitchen and the challenges of allergies are three of the subjects to be tackled at Spain’s leading international food festival next week. Now in its 18th year the culinary congress, Madrid Fusion, will also address the relationship between neuro-marketing and haute cuisine, as well as ethics and environmental responsibility. A stunning range of speakers have been lined up for the three-day event, which kicks off on January 13. They include Cadiz’s Angel León and Marbella’s Dani Garcia, as well as Juanlu Fernandez, of Lu, in Jerez. Madrid’s innovative three Michelin star whizkid David Munoz is being joined by Alicante’s Alberto Ferruz, from BonAmb, in Javea. Flying in from abroad are legends such as Kojo Kimura, from Tokyo, as well as Ivan and Sergey Berezutsky, from Twins Garden, in Moscow, Rene Frank, from Berlin, Vicky Cheng, from Hong Kong, and Isabella Poti, from Italy. Some of the highlights of the event include Joan Roca’s keynote address on sustainable cooking on the 13th. The celebrated Catalan chef from el Celler de Can Roca will be joined by his brother Josep the following day looking at food intolerances and allergies. One of the most interesting seminars is on fish ageing and features Australian Josh-

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Fusion of fun Artificial intelligence and fish ageing on the agenda as international culinary jet set land at Madrid Fusion

ua Niland, from Saint Peter restaurant. He is joined by Dani Garcia from Marbella’s Lobito de Mar. On the 15th the subject is revisited by Japanese chef Kimura, of Sushi Kimura. Another fascinating session is described as a ‘world first’ looking at ‘Artificial Intelligence and cooking’. The event features Munoz, from DiverXo, as well as Fernando Sáenz from DellaSera, alongside Juan Carlos Martínez and Carolina Martín from Spanish company I+DEA Siro Foods. Two chefs from the Murcia region, David Lopez, from Local de Ensayo, and Maria Gomez of Magoga, will host a session called ‘The Truffle of the desert’. Famous Russian chefs Artem & Alexei Grebenshchikov, of Bourgeois Bohemias, in St. Petersburg talk about their success on the 14th. On the 15th a session, Malaga, Tradition and Michelin stars, features Diego Gallegos from Sollo, in Fuengirola, José Carlos García, from Malaga, and Juanjo Carmona, from El Lago, in Marbella.

POINTED: Kimuna SESSION: With Munoz

TALENT: Poti

ALICANTE’S: Ferruz

Boca battle

A PAIR of Andalucian chefs are to do battle at Madrid Fusion over who makes the best sarnie! Irene Garrido, from Gastrobar KGB in Malaga, is joined by Angel Rodriguez, of Palo Cortao, in Sevilla, along with four other sandwich specialists from around the country. The winner of the seventh Concurso de Bocadillos de Autor, on January 13, will scoop a cup and a cheque for €1,500. The two runners up will get cheques for €300. The event sponsored by bread brand Saint Honore Perlage, gives each contestant an hour to make the perfect gourmet bocadillo. They can use any one of five different loaves from the firm, along with any ingredient. Previous winners included Raquel Garcia from the Benahavis cookery school. The first two winners of the coveted prize came from Valencia; Raul Lopez, of Casa L’Art, in Alicante, and Juan Casamayor, from Restaurante Moltto, in Valencia.

Gastro: Angel Rodriguez

LOCAL: Raquel Garcia

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Gibraltar’s chess festival brings in international tourism throughout January

Checkmate

IBRALTAR will be welcoming some of the top chess players in the world to an open tournament in January. The 18th edition of the Gibraltar International Chess Festival will be held on January 20-31. It has become a big hit with chess fans all over the world. The event has been voted the best open tournament for a number of years, being held at the idyllic location of the Caleta Hotel overlooking the Med. There will be three levels of competition, with the amateur and challenger tournaments being held in the mornings and the Masters held over two weeks in the afternoons. Among the stars coming to town are joint top seeds Maxine Vachier-Lagrave and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, as well as legends like Brit Michael Adams and Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk. This year a chess seminar will be held at the University of Gibraltar from January 16-18 where players can sharpen

their skills. “Then we have at least 10 payGrand Master Veselin Topalov ing guests coming to Gibraltar and International Master Elis- early in order to attend the abeth Paehtz will be sharing seminar prior to the festival. their knowledge with students “Anatoly Karpov, former world who get a guaranteed entry to champion from the 70s and the Chess Masters. 80s, coming for the first time “Once again we have many of as a VIP guest of honour after the world’s top men and wom- the three-day chess seminar.” en chess players coming,” leg- The two weeks of the festival end of the game, are always abuzz Stuart Conquest with activity, with “This year, I’ve told the Olive visitors able to Press. mill around the noticed more “In fact, we think luxurious fourpeople coming star Caleta Howe’re going to have a record tel with the top than ever turnout with names in chess some of our lofrom around the before” cal young players world. playing as well.” “This year, I’ve noticed more David Howell, one of the UK’s people coming than ever betop players who came in joint fore,” continued the former second last time, will this year British Champion. sit out the Masters and instead “For example, we got some take up a commentary posi- girls coming from China via Motion. rocco. “We’re looking at having be- “Then we’ve got Gibtelecom tween 60 and 80 players in powering the website so will we each of the morning events broadcasting every match live already with a week to go,” re- with exclusive analysis.” vealed organiser Conquest. Conquest himself was World

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

CONCENTRATION: Topalov and Stuart Conquest (right) contemplating moves Champion at Under-16 level when he was just 14-years-old. For the last decade he has been based in Gibraltar, teaching children how to play chess at the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For those who want cut-price accommodation, the Holiday Inn Express, a new build opened only a couple of years ago, is a three-star hotel just 10 minutes walk from the venue. “It’s going to be something special this year,” concluded Conquest. “The festival’s reputation has

grown year on year as people know if they come they will have a good time. “The social diary is built around the chess so it’s not just about playing chess and going back

to your hotel. “Everyone is welcome to come to participate, pass by for a few nights or even a day.”

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD

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For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

UNCHING a freshly prepared steak tartare by the photocopier, I am amazed at the spread on offer. Our office has been taken over for an afternoon of finger food, prepared by private chef Andres Akos of My Chef at Home Spain. The Budapest-born cook brings the party to the people, with his firm offering stunning menus to clients across the whole Costa del Sol. “It’s not catering though,” the 26-year-old tells me as I bite into a sumptuous cheese montadito with chorizo and balsamic vinegar onion jam. “I specialize in high quality produce and have a large range of menus including sushi, Mediterranean, BBQ, tapas.”

Luxury

My colleagues and I opted for the finger food menu, which Andres somehow whipped up on a computer desk. “I can cook anywhere,” said Andres, whose 10-year culinary journey has seen him travel from his native Hungary to London, Austria, Germany and Spain. “I call clients beforehand to make sure there is enough space and I bring all my own things like plates, pans etc.” But Andres often doesn’t need a kitchen at all and explained that this month he is making sushi at a Marbella show home without any cooking facilities. In our office the coconut chocolate and raspberry desserts were a favourite, while the seafood nibbles and zingy blueberry jam and manchego montaditos

Dine out at home

January 8th - January 21st 2020

MY CHEF AT HOME SPAIN costa del sol

A leading Costa del Sol private chef brings fine dining to the comfort of your own home (or office) Charlie Smith tucks in... also went down a treat. “I buy the best quality ingredients personally selected from unique shops and suppliers,” Andres said. “My food is suitable for all kinds of people, because from an affordable price you can find luxury menus.” My Chef at Home Spain can provide food every occasion for groups of up to 50. Prices per person for a finger food menu, which includes a glass of cava, start at €26.50. There are also more exclusive offerings like the gourmet meat menu, which at €89.50 includes Kobe nigiris, mini burgers and an Angus and Wagyu grill. Andres has cooked for weddings, birthdays, hen dos and caters for all dietary needs. Call +34 632023978 or email contact@mychefathomespain. com

STAR QUALITY: Andres’ chocolate cake, grilled beef and (above) the canapes he prepared for the Olive Press

January 8th - January 21st 2020

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

S the temperatures drop and the mountains around Spain ‘white up’, a host of romantic weekend escapes and family capers open up. While skiing is on many tourist and expat agendas, simply getting up into stunning mountain scenery is enough for most. Sitting by a fire, reading a good book, taking a bracing stroll, followed by a massage or dip in a spa is a wonderful way to relax during winter in Spain. Here, the Olive Press offers 10 options to find yourself in soaring hills and peaks around the country.

Winter Olive Press editor Jon Clarke picks out his top ten seasonal chestnuts in the Spanish mountains - and they’re not just for skiing

La Pleta

Baqueira Beret (Lerida)

This Pyrenean gem sits in the heart of Spain’s most regal skiing retreat Baqueira. While you may spot any number of Spain’s Royals taking to the slopes, you can equally happily hole up and enjoy the interior of La Pleta with its stunning snowy vistas. As well as a spa and Alpine style rooms, it also counts on noless than four restaurants, each with their own style and pricepoint. (www.lapleta.com)

Casa Irene Arties (Lerida)

In breathtaking mountain scenery you can’t avoid being impressed. Since 1974, Casa Irene has been serving visitors to the stunning Valle de Aran area, a dream for walkers and skiers, sitting just six kilometres from the celebrated nearby slopes of Baqueira. There are just 22 rooms, each very Alpine in style, as well as its own spa, pool and highly-rated restaurant. (www.hotelcasairene.com)

Terra hotel Bonansa (Huesca)

Well integrated into the rolling landscape, the Terra hotel in Bonansa is leading the way in eco-accommodation. High in the Aragon Pyrenees, it has been carefully built with bioclimatic and contemporary lines. A stylish escape, it was designed by architect Alejandro Royo, who was born in the village, and counts on just six suites. The area is perfect for walking and birdwatching in winter. (www.hotelterra.es)

Vinas de Larrede Larrede (Huesca)

Looking like an Alpine chalet, constructed of Siberian wood and with its ornate carved balconies, charming Vinas de Larrede is the very epitome of a mountain retreat. It is also an award-winning hotel for both its romantic luxury and innovative cuisine. Even better, the 17-room boutique hotel sits in the Valle de Tena, just 20 minutes from the Pyrenean skiing resort of Formigal and you can rent skis and gear at the hotel. For nature lovers the breathtaking Ordesa National Park is just 30 minutes away. (www.hotelvinasdelarrede.es)

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

January 8th - January 21st 2020

wonderland La Vella Fraga

Solsona (Lerida)

This historic 11th century country estate (or masia) sits at the entrance to the Catalan Pyrenees. Sitting in 300 hectares of its own stunning woodland scenery, in winter expect it to turn white with snowy peaks as a backdrop. Just 90 minutes from Barcelona, its 13 rooms are all well appointed and feature plenty of antique furniture (www.hotelvellafraga.com)

Hotel Kenia Nevada Sierra Nevada (Granada)

This grande dame of the Sierra Nevada resort, in Granada, couldn’t be better located or established. Just 100m from the main ski lift, as well as 200m from all the resort’s main restaurants, its staff are friendly and bend over backwards to ensure you have a fabulous stay. The rooms are comfortable, without being luxurious, but there is a heated indoor pool and a full massage and spa area for apres-ski relaxation.

Las Mugas Formigal (Huesca)

There are few ways to get closer to the slopes than to literally sleep next to them. The exclusive handful of igloos - called Las Mugas - that sit at 1,800m in the skiing resort of Formigal - are a brilliant way to eat and sleep surrounded by snow. You are taken up to these ingenious tents by snowmobiles from the main resort and will enjoy 24-hour service and dinner served up after a hard day on the slopes. At night, the stars will be your main companions. (www.formigal-panticosa.com/mugas)

Cortijo rural las Navas Parauta (Malaga)

Appropriately sitting in the Sierra de las Nieves (Sierra of the Snows) at 1,100m high above the Costa del Sol, Cortijo las Navas is one extraordinary escape. Halfway along the road to Ronda you take a right turn into the recently turned National park and drive for 10 minutes into the hills. A stunning old farmhouse, while it has been reformed it is very much a rustic, not luxury, retreat, where the focus is on hiking and nature. The owners live next door and manage the enormous hunting estate, culling and preparing various game, such as boar and deer, for guests to eat. (www.i-sierradelasnieves.com/cortijo-rural-las-navas/)

Hotel El Lodge Sierra Nevada (Granada)

If money is no object then you should consider whiling away a weekend in El Lodge, in the Sierra Nevada. The sister hotel of the five star Marbella Club, this is the very epitome of mountain luxury. Originally built for Spain’s king, it was always set up with luxury at its heart and these days Spain’s top celebrities and captains of industry stay here. There is a heated outdoor pool, jacuzzi and Turkish bath and plenty of luxury trimmings like boot warming, while you ski literally from the door. (www.ellodge.es)

Can Borrell Meranges (Girona)

Can Borrell is one of the most remarkable rural escapes in Spain. Set in the Medieval hamlet of Meranges, in the Catalan Pyrenees, this charming rural hotel sits at a staggering 1,500m and has wonderful views in all directions. Rooms are simple but comfortable and you can walk from the door up into the nearby peaks, which are covered in snow in winter. Best of all there is a wonderful restaurant and you can hole up in the cozy lounge reading books or playing the numerous board games with your kids. www.canborrell.com

December 18th - January 7th 2020

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PROPERTY

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Triple transplant A 10-YEAR-OLD girl with a rare condition affecting just 10 children globally has been saved with a triple organ transplant. Little Iria was born with a mutation of the NEK8 gene, which causes tissue sclerosis and organs to stop working. After being born with heart failure, the youngster underwent a heart transplant, before doctors discovered she had liver problems, for which she was put on medication. But after her liver failed, surgeons at Barcelona’s Vall d’Hebron Hospital performed a liver and kidney transplant. Spain’s first child to undergo a triple organ transplant has said she is ‘happy’ and plans to return to school.

HEALTH

Med strong THE Mediterranean diet has been crowned the healthiest nutritional plan to follow by a panel of doctors, nutritionists and fitness experts. For the third year in a row, the Med diet with its emphasis on plant-based foods, whole grains, lean protein and olive oil took the top spot in the US News & World Report’s annual ranking of diets. Its benefits include lowering the risks of diabetes and dementia, and Penelope Cruz is even known to be a fan. The actress said the diet of her native Spain is how she reached her goal weight four months after giving birth to her son Leo in January 2011. Eating a Mediterranean diet could also help preserve kidney function in thou-

Good news for expats and Spaniards as Mediterranean diet voted healthiest in world

sands of patients who have already had transplants, new research suggests. Figures suggest around a third of patients who receive a donor kidney lose

function within a decade of the life-changing operation. But scientists have found following the fish and nut-heavy diet, which cuts back on red meat, could help keep the

Drop in the overweight THREE out of ten children children in Andalucia are obese or overweight, new government data has revealed. Rates have decreased slightly, but since 2011, the number of overweight kids has remained steady at 21%, according to Ministry of Health figures. Obesity prevalence has dropped from 17.7% nine years ago – when the Comprehensive Plan for Childhood Obesity was introduced – to 11.8% in 2019. An average of 25,600 children are treated for being overweight or obese in Andalucian medical centres every year. More boys than girls are overweight, while children aged nine to 12 are most at risk.

organ healthier for longer. Academics at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands followed 632 kidney transplant patients for five years. Dr Antonio Gomes-Neto and his team gave participants a score between zero and nine for how much they adhered to a Mediterranean diet. Patients with a score of seven had a 29% lower risk of kidney function decline. They also had a 32% lower risk of kidney failure, according to the results published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Gomes-Neto said: “Increasing scientific evidence has demonstrated health benefits of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular and kidney health.

Men stub it out THE number of men lighting up around the world has fallen, although a quarter of Spain still smokes, it has emerged. The World Health Organization (WHO) figures show that the number of men smoking has fallen for the first time ever. But Spain is still one of the heaviest smoking nations in the EU and sees 52,000 smoking-related deaths a year. Three quarters of Spanish smokers have tried to ditch the habit, with the low success rates being blamed on ineffective nicotine patches and gum.

Hot stuff! EATING chilli peppers four times a week could cut your risk of dying from a heart attack, scientists have claimed. Researchers followed 23,000 volunteers over eight years and found that adults who ate chilli peppers regularly were less likely to die prematurely. And they were 40 % less likely to die from a heart attack according to a report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Capsaicin – an anti-inflammatory compound and the substance that creates the burning sensation – is thought to be the reason for this.

COLUMNISTS

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Paws for thought Thank goodness that’s all over! As Spain shut ONE of the Olive Press’ most popular columnists has sadly hung up his paws. Eddie the hotel hound passed away at Christmas, after a short illness. The popular dog wrote a col-

A dog’s life,

So did you have a good Christmas?

down for the festive period, the Hacienda still had a lastminute gift for Giles Brown

THIS is somewhat of a Grinch spoiler alert, but I’m pleased the festive season is finally over. Perhaps it is something to do with my British roots or, more likely, that I’m a cranky so and so, but Christmas and New Year celebrations in Spain seem to last forever. As a freelancer, it’s the time of year when ‘goodwill to all men’ is stretched to the limit. From the start of December I play the annual festive game of ‘will I get my outstanding invoices paid before Spain shuts down until mid-January’. This year I managed to get most of my ‘hard-earned’ cash in, which was handy as the fan belts on the Landcruiser decided to festively let go on the night of the Olive Press Christmas dinner. As a freeloading freelancer who has been known to work for complementary food, this was a double tragedy, I can assure you. While the rest of Spain

umn for the Olive Press for two spells over the last decade, with the help of his owner Andy Chapell, of popular Ronda hotel Molino del Santo. Here, Chapell writes a tribute to his best furry friend:

RIP Eddie the hotel hound

Ours was shaping up to be idyllic. We’d spent hours decorating. The daughters’ flights were booked from London, my sister-in-law was suddenly able to get time off work to be here too and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. FOOD & DRINK With a larder ofGChristmas with full DININ SECRETS offayre ANDAand LUCIA.com plenty of fine wines in the cellar, what could go wrong? The dog having a sudden, unexpected, fatal heart attack on December 23 – that’s what messed it all up. And not just any dog but Eddie Dogg – a special spirit, rescued by Adana from a rubbish bin ten and a half years ago.

Half-baked promises Cookery schools go hungry in Andalucia due to budget cuts and unpaid wages

shut down until after Three Kings – and as an aside, I always assumed that an epiphany was some sort of fruit based cocktail, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t come to the phone at the moment. I’m having an epiphany’ – there were certain sections of the administration that continued to work tirelessly. I am, of course, referring to the noble men and women of Hacienda and Social Security who, in a pincer movement of ruthless efficiency and deadly timing that would have made the

Mighty

COOKERY schools across Andalucia are going hungry as It’s the same problem at the whonearby could not have La Fonda culinarybeen a bigger the Junta fails toApaydog out for in Benalmadena, untheir ingredients. part of all school of our lives – he’s at the heart of Students at La Consula school paid wages are crippling the school, family which has virtually every photo we’ve taken in a been left in Churriana have RIOT: David Munoz’s new Streetxo launched crumbling under pressu resre. Facebook page indefinite strike action taurant in Madrid boasts unusual decade. , after A dog with his own chairs funding cuts left the school Employees of the school (inset) as well as adventurous food have now been left waitin – food search Eddie Chapell Elkin. unable to purchase and for more than eight monthg s other cooking suppli A es. dog whoforinspired master their salariehis s, which have to write a sebeen postponed again after ries of columns for this esteemed publicathe Junta was allegedly unto ‘justify theview tion with aablecanine’s paymeof nts’.hotel life. The desperate staff are at IT is the most exciting restaurant opening of A riot of colour, quirky Hotel guests brought him toys from UK, their wits’ the yearthe chairs and an equally so far. end, despite Manadventurous mix of Far Eastern and uel him Spain’ssausagJesus Garcia hottest chef David Munoz staff keptgenera leftover breakfast , the directo Spanish r his super-hip Streetxo restauranthas moved cuisine, it is little surprise the queue to get in l of the Junta, promisto Corte is norma es, he even wheedled his way to sleeping lly between one and two hours. ing in mid-February that they Ingles on Calle Serrano, in the heart of MaThat said, the waiting list of his would drid’s upmarket neighbourhoo paid ‘as soon asnight. flagship DiLEGEND: Eddie, the much-loved alongsidesible’. ourbebed every posd of Salamanverxo restau rant is currently over ca. month hotel hound six and (below) one of his s so He knew Aexactly to cantease The keeping hisMichelin sit-in at thehow young threeschool was star genius has And his next it isn’t too bad. celled following the promise big project: A created the same sort ofcolumns buzz he has rubber toys justntoutside of arm’s reach and of payme other joint Diverxo, also in the capital. at his plan to open a Streetxo in last month, but London in June this year. the staff are then laughing at now us lookin as he g at new ways to pressurise the trotted off, he had an Juntaand as their needs have still not been sense. met. uncanny sixth EXOTIC: Florida feeling heading to Marbella A good friend who had suf-

Duke of Wellington proud, ransacked my bank account on January 1. This year can only get better after that. But I perhaps saw an omen of what 2020 has in store for the coast. Counting in the New Year on my radio show, my drive home was punctuated by the sounds of fireworks. fered a terrible trauma visAt least I think they were Miam i vib in Marb itedsand Ed instantly knew fireworks. The wayes2019 RETROitMarbe heating needed consolation. A lla hango ut South ended, might have been Beach is celebr spring with an all-American twist, with a Miami Grill daughter going through a event the launch various gangs, ing this criminal month. The exotic Florida feeling will Atime BAR in didn’t difficult need Barcelona is almost tangible breakhaving ofmeat allbeand setfrom Marchthe 14 to mother April 12, with ing the mould, not because fish sizzlin g toofbe ask kept company. BBQ every Friday, Saturday andserved to what tling-from ofthe scores. it is serving up, but Sunday, and among other bands

A good vintage

because offurry - live Blues Brothers-style music who is doing A weighted head the at weekends. serving. There will also be, as always, free resting on yourmove, thigh, acIn a unique Entrepanes on Saturdays, while pancakes arechildren’s entertainment Diaz, a trendy the heart companied by bar a inheavy n. South Beach is open every day on available for childre of the Catalan capital, is now Avenida del Limonar 124, Marbella (exit El Rosario). sigh whilst sadwaiter eyes meet only hiring s over 50. For reservations, call 952 113 And with anyone two million people 005, email info@yours south- makes feel beachmarbella.com, or search South aged betwee n 45 and 64 out Beach Marbella on Facebook. of work across less alone. Eddie justy, the countr owner Kim Diaz is urging knew. more bosses to follow suit.

Streetwise

Latest Olive Press columnist Eddie the dog is ‘em-barking’ on a A dog’s life, great career – no bones about it by Eddie the hotel hound

Humouring humans

O the editor – wooing me with promises of becoming Andalucia’s premier pooch – wants me to write a column about my life. Small village dog hits the big time... Not bad for an Adana rescue mutt, eh? As you may know I live at Hotel Molino del Santo in the station of Benaojan. It’s pretty much dog heaven,

Suffered ASK ABOUT BritisOUR Faithful but not very h FoLONG od Shoppin g, scruffy livebut rednotWorldwide brave, De TERM RETALS (very) naughty, enthusiastic for anything that NO HIDDEN SURPRISES meant we’d spend time ode use c E0315 together, perfectly beOR EXTRA COSTS AT V I L haved on long car jourBCSO neys to Atlantic beaches. off you r MALAGA AIRPORT Walking, swimming, play-

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ing, dozing – everything we did was enriched having that mutt at our side. As we drive and walk in our area near Ronda, memories abound. Every track, path, river, stream and mountainside has been experienced together. walks we ExpMaybe orting6000 British pin essmany sticks shared, more thanHap twice that Brichased and retrieved. We try to be positive tishCo rne rSh op.co.uk ‘no edog was ever more adored’ one friend Orde– r onlin 24/7 or call +44(0) 1454 22 88 70 wrote – and we know he had a great life. But his loss still reduces us to silence two weeks on. We all miss him so much. The 16/01/20the 15 16:10 evening of his death I sat alone under stars in the garden and howled. Eddie might have thought that amusing: master imitates dog. Christmas presents already bought for and

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Eddie with owner

Andy

with semi-wild countryside mings and bones appearing with all the olfactory treats at the door – so it’s mostly one could desire. (My master dried had to check the meaning of Upsidedog food for me. olfactory when I dictated it. Masters: hotel closed equals I’d like to bypass him totally a lot and Mistress around thus avoiding censorship of take more to talk to me and what I discuss but paws were them.me out and about with not designed for keyboards). Hotel closed equals change There is a river nearby where as I swim in the warmer months andthey go off on holidays family visits. I’ve been and barely any cars – which advise is just as well as my road it is d by my mates that imperative to perfect a sense is somewhere south of sad zero. Most importantly, there see and sulky look when I suitcas es, but this is just are more sticks than you can a front. shake a stick at! I go on my own holiday with The hotel has been closed a friend for the winter and I’ve been walkin of theirs who is a asked if that is better or and g guide in the area – worse than the busy season. long we have a ball. Proper walks every day and a I say you need to be posi- dog-ce tive, take in the good things Obviountred home. Perfect. sly I pretend it’s great around you. to see them when they reDownside: closed turn; you have to humou r requals o m no bagshotel of meat trim- them...

f Eddie were distributed in his memory on theTo25th – and all, conta blubbed again. get in touch withwe Eddie ct his owners Andy and Paulin e at the Hotelsome Today I discovered moulted hair Molino del Santo . Bda Es- betacion s/n, 29370 Benaojan, Malag a. 952 167 hind the door, I thought I saw him - 952bathroom 167 927. info@molinodelsanto.com 151 in the garden earlier and now he’s sneaking into my dreams. Hey ho. We were very lucky to share over ten years with a black and white creature and he suffered little at the end as far as we can tell.

SPORT Match Point SPAIN go into their final round-robin game against Japan for the ATP Cup undefeated with two wins from two. The Spanish team led by Rafael Nadal defeated both Georgia and Uruguay 3-0 and now face also unbeaten Japan. The ATP Cup is a new tournament held in Australia where the top 24 teams get to compete. Split into six groups of four, the top team from each group qualifies to the quarter-finals, along with the two best second placed teams. Spain need to come out on top against a talented Japanese team led by Yoshihito Nishioka in order to guarantee their spot in the quarter-finals and not have to rely on other results.

January 8th - January 21st 2020

Basques topple Catalans

THIS week marks the start of the second round of the Euroleague – Europe’s top tier basketball competition. In the final gameweek of the first round, we had an all-Spanish clash as Baskonia and Barcelona went head to head with the Basques managing to hold on and defeat the Catalans by just two points, 76-74. This was a much needed win for Baskonia who have now moved to a record of 7-10

and sit in 12th place, four places outside the play-offs. This defeat meant that the Blaugrana – another nickname for Barcelona – slipped to third place in the standings, allowing their arch rivals Real Madrid to move ahead of them into second. The Queen – as Madrid is commonly referred to – defeated French champions ASVEL Villeurbanne, 87-77, and moved to a record of

End of the road

Baskonia defeat Barcelona in all-Spanish derby as first round of Europe’s premier basketball league comes to a close 14-3, one win ahead of Barcelona. The fourth and final Spanish team in the Euroleague this season is Valencia, who de-

Wolves’ wandering Spaniard PREMIER League star Adama Traore has revealed he is yet to decide on whether to play for Spain. The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, who has netted five goals this season, was born in Spain to Malian parents. The 23-year-old said he hoped his league form would get him

another call-up from Spain after he couldn’t take up the national team’s offer the first time around due to injury. “My mentality is to work for the team and the performance for the team gives me half a chance with two international teams and I am happy for that,” he told the BBC.

feated Alba Berlin from Germany, 91-77. With this win the Bats – Valencia’s nickname – moved to 10th place with a record of 8-9, lying just outside the play-offs due to head to head results. While the two El Clasico rivals seem to be cruising through to the play-offs, the other two Spanish teams have their work cut out for them and need to come up with some big wins in the second round in order to get all four Spanish teams in the play-offs, for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

SPAIN’S greatest Formula One driver, Fernando Alonso, has suffered heartache at the Dakar Rally, with a ripped wheel that cost him over two and a half hours. The former two-time world champion retired from F1 in 2018 but has not stopped racing. Recently he has taken part in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, which covers uncharted miles of desert. Sand dunes 250 metres tall are just one of the many difficulties the drivers have to face. Although Alonso wanted to win the Dakar Rally, he said he was realistic about his chances as a rookie in an event that requires lots of experience, and this accident proves just that. Alonso and his co-driver – Dakar legend Marc Coma – ended up fixing the problem themselves and drove the final 120km without any front brakes.

ALONSO: Fixes car

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Gang bang

FINAL WORDS

POLICE have broken up a gang that was allegedly planning to steal from a rival gang, kill one of their men and then frame him for the theft.

Bullseye A WOMAN has had to be hospitalised after she got struck in the eye by an airborne toy during Dia de Los Reyes Magos parade in Alicante.

Light work THE Mayor of Torrox has met with the director of Malaga’s port authority to request permission to allow visitors into Torrox’s lighthouse.

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Vol. 13 Issue 334 www.theolivepress.es January 8th - January 21st 2020

Oops, I did it again

Wall of shame SAUSAGE, corn on the cob, sardines… These are just some of the offending ingredients included in the worst paellas of the year. Jamie Oliver already angered Spain for his use of chorizo and now the Olive Press has compiled a Top 10 of the ugliest examples of Spain’s signature dish. Paella originates from Valencia and the traditional recipe consists of ingredients such as rice, chicken, rabbit and beans amongst others.

Instagram star draws criticism with insensitive Holocaust snap A PREGNANT Spanish influencer has been slammed for an inappropriate social media post at a Holocaust memorial. Elena Tablada, 38, posed for a picture at the Memorial to the

Poke in the eye A MOTHER is demanding compensation from the Murcian government after a boy poked her daughter in the eye at school. The woman has asked €200 from the regional Ministry of Education following the incident at an education institute in Los Alcazares.

Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, which she uploaded to Instagram. In front of a large row of concrete blocks built in 2005 to honour the millions of people The compensation was intended to cover taxi expenses while taking her daughter to hospital and three lost days of work. The Legal Council of the Region of Murcia has advised that the Government is not responsible for the accidental injury of an unknown cause. It said teachers cannot be held responsible for the incident, and suggested the claim would be disregarded.

brutally murdered, a smiling Tablada posed in a colourful coat. But as if that weren’t enough, the online star captured the incendiary snap with a smiling emoji and the hashtag ‘babyintheoven’. The caption is a reference to her second pregnancy – a girl – with husband Javier Ungria, which she announced in November. After global backlash to the offending photo, Tablada kept the picture online, but changed the caption to read ‘Never Forget’. One online commenter said: “The worst part about it is

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she probably wants people to pick up on it and publicise her (how stupid she is).” Another added: “By the way... Who puts a ‘baby in the oven’? It’s ‘BUN IN THE OVEN!’” The memorial is composed of 2,711 blocks of different heights and is located near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.