Former Andalusian presidents in court as ERE trial gets going

64 Pages·2017·8.21 MB·English

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GOLF
THE NEWSPAPER FOR
A historic
SOUTHERN SPAIN
year draws
Official market leader
Audited by PGD/OJD to a close
in English December 15th to 21st 2017
www.surinenglish.com
A round-up of a great 2017
for Spain’s golfers and
News 2 What To Do 42
Comment 22 My Home 47 Andalucía’s courses in this
Lifestyle 24 Sport 51 month’s Costa del Golf
Health & Beauty 31 Classified 56 INSIDE
Food & Drink 38 Pastimes 62
Parties vie for
votes in Catalan
election
countdown
Polls suggest that
separatist parties will be
just short of an overall
majority in next Thursday’s
regional ballot
Political parties in Catalonia are in
the final stages of campaigning for
the election to the regional parlia-
ment on 21 December, as former presi-
SERVING UP A CHRISTMAS TREAT dent Carles Puigdemont, still in Bel-
gium, makes video appearances at
rallies. The removal of religious art-
works to Aragón has caused upset
among separatists this week. P16
Market traders at Mercamálaga are working around the clock
Young Wimbledon
to satisfy their customers’ festive demands
P38&39
champion among
province’s finest
recognised at SUR awards
Fishmongers at the wholesale market on the outskirts of Malaga. :: SALVADOR SALAS
this week
P8
Former Andalusian presidents
in court as ERE trial gets going
A decade of alleged Two former presidents of the Junta ment in relation to the administra- had never been employed there. Fur- :: S. SALAS
de Andalucía, Manuel Chaves and tion of a fund set aside for subsidies ther inquiries discovered that some
corruption in
José Antonio Griñán, are among the for struggling businesses between of the firms receiving funds were Extreme weather strikes
redundancy fund accused in a high profile trial that 2001 and 2010. The case hit the head- dummies apparently created solely again. Trees were
got under way in Seville this week. lines in 2013 when an investigation for that purpose. Among the defen-
uprooted in some areas
administration is Prosecutors are calling for the 22 de- revealed that funds had been used dants are five former Andalusian
while others experienced
fendants to be given sentences that to pay redundancy and early retire- ministers and other ex-officials. The
under scrutiny
add up to a total of 114 years in prison ment packages to firms whose lists trial is expected to last several snowfall
P5
for corrupt practice and embezzle- of recipients included people who months. P2
SPORT
Cyclist Chris Froome An unexpected boost Kenya at the double at
under the microscope for Malaga CF. A win the Malaga marathon.
after failing drugs test against Real Sociedad will Forty-five nationalities
during this year’s Vuelta a soon be followed by new took part in a record-
España midfield signings breaking race
P51 P52&54 P55
222222222222222 NEWS December 15th to 21st 2017
SUR IN ENGLISH
ERE trial gets under way with two former regional
presidents and 20 ex-officials among the accused
José Antonio Griñán and
dalena Álvarez, Andalusian minis-
Manuel Chaves are ter for Finance between 1994 and
2004, who, like Chaves, went on to
among the defendants in
become a central government min-
the case that questions a
ister in Madrid in the cabinet of So-
decade of subsidy policy cialist prime minister José Luis Ro-
dríguez Zapatero, is among this
under the socialist
group of seven who face a ten-year
government in Andalucía
ban on holding public office - the
penalty called for by the public
:: MARÍA DOLORES TORTOSA prosecution - or a two-year prison
SEVILLE. The high profile defen- sentence called for by the PP party’s
dants in the “ERE” case filed into a prosecution case.
Seville court on Wednesday for the
first day of a trial that is expected Embezzlement “by omission”
to go on for several months. Chaves’ successor, José Antonio
Among the accused are two for- Griñán, faces charges of embezzle-
mer presidents of the Socialist-run ment as well as corrupt practice.
Junta de Andalucía, Manuel Chaves Griñán was regional finance minis-
and José Antonio Griñán, as well as ter between 2004 and 2009 and
20 former officials at the regional president from 2009 to 2013. The
government, among them six ex- prosecutor believes that he not only
ministers. knew about the system but also
The trial will scrutinise the al- failed to act on warnings from audi-
leged corrupt practice and embez- tors about the inappropriate use of
zlement within the regional author- funds. This, says the prosecution,
ity over almost an entire decade be- amounts to embezzlement by omis-
tween 2001 and 2010. Chaves and Griñán (centre) surrounded by five former Junta ministers and other ex-officials. :: EFE sion. Griñán faces a six-year prison
The case broke into the headlines sentence and a 30-year ban on pub-
in 2013 when several arrests were the funds, and some of the firms lic office. The 14 others accused of
made in connection with an inves- had been set up with the sole aim the same two offences face between
tigation into irregularities concern- of receiving the subsidies. six and eight years in prison.
ing the granting of subsidies to help The suspects arrested included This is not the first time that for-
struggling businesses. Francisco Javier Guerrero, former di- mer presidents of a Spanish region
rector general of Employment, and and officials have been on trial for
False redundancies his driver who allegedly received a criminal offence, however it is the
Most of the grants under scrutiny benefits through firms created for first time that the high profile de-
were to help firms pay redundancy the purpose and spent the money fendants are not accused of increas-
and early retirement packages in or- on cocaine and parties. Another ing their own personal wealth
der to reduce their workforces and branch of the case involved over-in- through an illegal system.
stay in business. flated commissions for insurers and Wednesday’s court session in-
The case got its name from the intermediaries. volved the prosecutors reading out
acronym ERE (which stands for ‘ex- Manuel Chaves, who was presi- their accusations, calling for a to-
pedientes de regulación de empleo’) dent of the Junta de Andalucía be- tal of 114 years in prison for the de-
used in cases of mass redundancies. tween 1990 and 2009, is among the fendants. Thursday saw the defence
The investigation revealed years seven defendants accused of cor- lawyers laying down their case. The
of apparent abuse of the system: nu- rupt practice. The prosecution be- representatives of the two former
merous names that appeared on the lieves that he was aware of the presidents stated that their clients
lists of employees to be paid off be- “opaque” system being run by the neither took part in the awarding
longed to people who had never agency IFA-IDEA responsible for of the subsidies nor knew about the
worked for the firms applying for The former presidents exchange comments during the session. :: EFE processing the subsidy claims. Mag- irregularities.
December 15th to 21st 2017 NEWS 3
SUR IN ENGLISH
Airport’s annual passenger figures Benalmádena’s
Vincci Aleysa
reach 17 million for the first time ever named best luxury
hotel in Spain in
Trivago Awards
The volume of travellers Ryanair ground staff
who used Malaga Airport :: ALBERTO GÓMEZ
threaten to strike
BENALMÁDENA. The Vincci
between January and
on 30 December Selección Aleysa Boutique & Spa
November was up 11.9
in Benalmádena has been
per cent on the same named the best luxury hotel in
Spain’s main trade unions have Spain in the Trivago Awards. The
period of last year
said that the Ryanair ground staff recognition is based on the re-
in Spain will go on strike on 30 views posted by users online.
:: EFE December if the company does The hotel, which has 35 rooms
MALAGA. Between January and not meet their demands for salary and around 60 employees, was
November this year some 17.6 mil- increases and improved condi- praised for the “warmth” of the
lion passengers have used the tions. In a report submitted to the staff and the “quality” of the
Malaga-Costa del Sol airport, al- mediation body SIMA, the un- services.
most a million more than the fig- ions, which represent around a The manager Sara González
ure for the same period of the pre- Malaga airport is the third busiest in mainland Spain. :: SUR thousand workers, outline 12 de- said that one of the reasons for
vious year. mands, which include a three per this special attention on the part
The figures, released on Tues- them more than 15 million trav- The growth looks set to continue cent salary increase, no more of the members of staff is that
day by the Spanish airports author- elled to or from airports outside into next year. than 214 working days a year and the hotel does not outsource its
ity Aena, revealed that the increase Spain (up 12.7 per cent on last year), A new route between Malaga a higher overtime pay rate. The services and that all the workers
in passenger figures of 11.9 per cent with domestic flights represent- and Lyon was announced this week news comes just days after Ry- are direct employees.
reflected the increase in the num- ing just 6.9 per cent of the total. by Transavia, the low cost arm of anair’s Irish, German, Italian and The mayor of Benalmádena,
ber of flights, up 11 per cent to The busiest day in November was Air France-KLM. Flights will link Portuguese pilots announced Víctor Navas, described the ho-
128,796 in the last 11 months. Sunday 5th when 385 flights the Costa del Sol with Lyon-Saint strikes. The Italians were due to tel as a national benchmark in its
The vast majority of passengers brought 51,934 passengers through Exupéry twice a week from April stop today, 15 December, and the field.
used commercial flights and of the airport. 2018. Irish on Wednesday 20 December.
Costa del Sol in
Plaza Mayor will have to build two new lanes the top twenty
centre. The current dual carriage-
way needs widening, said the high- destinations with
on the motorway before it opens outlet ways agency at the Ministry of
Public Works, which blames the the highest hotel
tailbacks that already form on the
profitability
MA-20 at this point on the exist-
The developers of the
ing shopping and leisure complex.
new designer outlet The cost of the works, whose
plans have been unveiled at city :: P. M.
shopping complex need
hall, will cost some three million MALAGA. The Costa del Sol is
to widen the MA-20 to
euros, and take five months to com- moving up the ranking of prof-
avoid further hold-ups plete. Work could start next April, itable tourist destinations for ho-
if the ministry approves the plans teliers. According to a study by
at the junction
submitted, and could be complete Exceltur, while the Costa del Sol
by mid-October, which is when the in general is in the top 20, Mar-
:: JUAN SOTO developers hope to open the de- bella is second in the country af-
MALAGA. The developers of the signer outlet village. ter Ibiza in terms of RevPar (reve-
future designer outlet centre next The developers predict that the nue per available room). During
to Plaza Mayor, Sonae Sierra and centre will receive some three mil- peak season the average for Mar-
McArthurGlen, have been told by lion visitors in its first few years, bella was 153.9 euros, up 4.5% on
the central government that they who will join the ten million peo- last year. In Malaga city the
must build two extra lanes on the ple who already visit the Plaza RevPar was up 12% this year to
MA-20 to improve access to the Tailbacks already form at the Plaza Mayor exit. :: SUR Mayor centre every year. 85.4 euros.
Xxx
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:: NOMBRE APELLIDO. Xxx
4 NEWS December 15th to 21st 2017
SUR IN ENGLISH
Tensions rise in Archidona 112 REPORTS
migrant detention centre Owner injured in raid on Toddler left locked inside Pair accused of poisoning
Christmas biscuit factory school bus for 5 hours their neighbour’s cats
ANTEQUERA RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA MALAGA
As internees get restless,
According to campaigners against :: SUR. The owner of well-known :: E.C. An inquiry has been ordered :: SUR. A couple are waiting to be
another boat with the use of the prison building to La Perla, maker of traditional ‘man- into how a three-year-old girl man- sentenced over the supposed poi-
house migrants, the increasing un- tecado’ almond treats in Antequera, aged to get locked inside a school soning of five of their neighbour’s
migrants from Africa
rest is due to the realisation that was stabbed this week after surpris- bus and be left for five hours on eight cats. A judge has been decid-
reaches the Costa del Sol
some will be soon repatriated. “They ing two late-night raiders in the fac- Tuesday. Sources said that the girl, ing whether to agree with the prose-
are aware that they will soon be ex- tory below his home. The alleged as- who is in pre-school, had fallen cution request for them to be jailed
:: SUR pelled. After risking their lives to sailants were arrested after police asleep and nobody had checked over accusations they threw poi-
MALAGA. Tensions have been ris- get here, they are not going to make examined local CCTV footage. whether the bus was empty. soned meatballs over a dividing wall.
ing inside the new Archidona jail, it easy,” said a campaigner. The
which has been acting as a tempo- same sources said that smoke had
rary migrant detention centre ahead been seeing coming from the build-
of its formal opening as a prison. ing and noises were heard inside.
Currently there are some 500 il- Meanwhile a further 53 sub-Sa-
legal immigrants held there and on haran boat migrants reached El
Wednesday, sources said, distur- Hornillo beach near Torre del Mar,
bances broke out. east of Malaga, on Wednesday.
Workers who were supervising So far this year over 2,000 illegal
had to be withdrawn for their own immigrants have arrived by sea
safety and specialist riot police called along the Costa del Sol, double the
in. number that arrived last year.
Two held over
by police in connection with the theft
of cash and personal belongings from
thefts from
passengers at Malaga airport. Accord-
passengers at ing to sources, the accused targeted
tourists who had just arrived at the
Malaga airport
airport by distracting them and mak- :: SUR
ing off with bags and purses.
LORRY DEATH
They allegedly carried out nine A 58-year-old lorry driver was killed last weekend when the ve-
thefts and have taken in total l BEACH TRAGEDY AT hicle he was driving plunged onto the beach off the notoriously
:: SUR 30,000 euros, 30,000 roubles, 450 tight bend on the A-7 near Mijas Playa, in La Cala de Mijas. The
MALAGA. A 58-year-old man from pounds, 10 laptops, smartphones, A-7 BEND IN LA CALA accident happened on Sunday at kilometre 202 and caused a
the Czech Republic and a 39-year- jewellery, watches and other elec- tailback of several kilometres.
old man from Kosovo have been held tronic devices.
December 15th to 21st 2017 NEWS 5
SUR IN ENGLISH
The first snow of the
season reaches inland areas
:: F. J. cess to the former to be cut off as
MALAGA. While in some parts a precautionary measure.
of the region Monday’s weather The town of Yunquera was the
front brought strong winds and only urban area to see snow, but it
uprooted trees, inland areas ex- did not settle in the same way as it
perienced the first snowfall of did at the Caucón and Saucillo passes.
the season. There were no registered inci-
The El Torcal nature reserve, in dents as a result of the snow.
Antequera, and the Sierra de las Elsewhere, waterlogging,
Nieves mountains, located to the caused by heavy rain, closed the
east of Ronda, were covered in a N-331 (Malaga to Cordoba) as it
blanket of white, causing road ac- passed through Antequera.
Most of the problems were caused by fallen trees. :: SALVADOR SALAS
Another bout of extreme weather
brings disruption to the region
Fallen trees was the main
The Alameda Principal was closed branches in Rincón de la Victoria,
culprit as traffic chaos hit to traffic after a ficus tree (one of Alhaurín de la Torre, Vélez-Málaga
the province’s street the youngest in the avenue - around and Pizarra, as well as a fallen elec-
50 years old) fell onto the north tricity pylon in Estepona.
after a morning of strong
section. One woman suffered mi- The amber weather warning for
gusts of wind nor injuries. high winds kept the province’s fish-
Another tree fell onto the area ing fleets in port on Monday morn-
:: F. JIMÉNEZ / I. LILLO where metro works are under way. ing, when waves of 2.5 metres were
MALAGA. Fire brigades around The Alameda and part of the Paseo recorded. The Sierra de las Nieves, covered in white. :: RAFAEL FLORES
the region were swamped with calls del Parque were closed to traffic.
on Monday morning due to prob- More fallen trees affected traffic
lems caused by the strong winds in the Paseo de los Curas, adding
and rain that hit the Costa del Sol to the traffic chaos.
and inland areas. Most of the call- In Torremolinos part of the mu-
outs were due to fallen trees or nicipal swimming pool complex
parts of trees blocking roads and had to be evacuated after a section
causing traffic disruptions. of the exterior wall covering fell to
The situation was particularly the ground.
chaotic in the city of Malaga where In the rest of the province, fire
gusts of winds of up to 100 km/h brigades were called out to deal with
were recorded. problems caused by falling trees or
Weather reveals
to be replaced, either because they
are an inappropriate species for their
weaknesses in
location or because their survival
thousands of trees chances are low.
In the case of the Alameda Princi-
in Malaga’s streets pal, known for its avenue of trees and
where two trees fell, only four of the
larger ficus are considered to be
healthy.
:: I. L. The council plans to replant all of
MALAGA. Monday’s gales of up to the high-risk trees within the next
100 km/h resulted in around 40 trees 25 years.
being uprooted in the city of Malaga.
While this number is quite small
considering that there are 130,000
within the city limits, it highlighted
a problem that the city hall is al-
ready aware of.
According to its Environment de-
partment, there are around 9,000
trees throughout the city that need
6 NEWS December 15th to 21st 2017
SUR IN ENGLISH
Seed ‘bombs’ launched to HERE AND THERE
repopulate fire-damaged area
30 species of native trees
and plants were dropped
over the Barranco Pérez
ravine from a Guardia Civil
helicopter on Wednesday Nerja’s City Sightseeing train. :: SUR
morning
City Sightseeing tour company and the sixteenth in the
company arrives in whole of Spain. While the company
:: AGUSTÍN PELÁEZ usually uses open-top red buses in
Nerja with tourist train
CÓMPETA. Malaga’s Diputación, large cities, it has opted for a road
the public body which oversees train for its latest project.
the province’s local authorities, NERJA The full tour, which lasts 45 min-
carried out a pilot project in an at- :: J. RHODES. City Sightseeing, utes, takes in Plaza de España, the
tempt to plant new trees in a fire- the open-top bus tour company Nerja museum, the Balcón de Eu-
damaged area near Cómpeta on which operates in cities such as ropa and the old town centre. It
Wednesday. Malaga and Seville in Andalucía, starts from Calle Diputación and
The project, which is the first as well as major cities around the operates between 11am and 4pm.
of its kind in Andalucía, spread world, inaugurated a sightseeing City Sightseeing gave residents
27,000 seed ‘bombs’ containing train in Nerja on Tuesday. the opportunity to try the new
over half a million seeds from 30 Nerja is the eighth Andalusian bus for free from Tuesday until
different species of native trees destination for the multinational yesterday.
and plants, including pines, carob,
rosemary, thyme, lavender, grasses, Weekend Beach Judge orders removal
mustard and cereal crops, over the
announces more names of Torrox phone mast
Barranco Pérez ravine which be-
longs to Cómpeta and is located in
the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama TORRE DEL MAR TORROX
mountain range. :: J. R. Organisers of Torre del Mar’s :: E. C. A judge in Malaga has or-
A Guardia Civil helicopter was Weekend Beach Festival added new dered the removal of a phone mast
used to distribute the seeds over The ‘seed bombs’ launched over the Barranco Pérez area. :: SUR names to the 2018 line-up earlier from the Generación del 27 neigh-
the area which is impossible to ac- this week. bourhood in Torrox Costa. Torrox
cess by foot. The ‘bombs’, or discs, Two hundred hectares of Medi- by the late Japanese farmer, biolo- American rock band, The Off- town hall initially requested the
are made of clay, which according terranean forest were destroyed gist and philosopher, Masanobu spring, along with Jamaican reggae removal of the mast in 2014,
to provincial Environment chief, by wildfires in 2014 and mayor of Fukuoka, over 70 years ago. legend, Jimmy Cliff, will be two of which the company contested in
Marina Bravo, “protects the seeds Cómpeta, Obdulio Pérez, said on According to Bravo, the experi- the biggest names at the fifth Week- court. Since it was installed, resi-
from birds, rodents and insects”. Tuesday that the Junta de Anda- ment will be closely monitored end Beach event. dents living in the area have re-
She also said “rain will help their lucía had not done anything in the and, if successful, similar projects The Offspring, who are best ported a rise in the number of can-
germination and they will be per- area since the fires happened more could be carried out in other areas known for their hits, ‘You’re Gonna cer cases, which they believe has
fectly preserved.” Bravo added that than three years ago. including Villanueva de Tapia and Go Far Kid’ and ‘The Kids Aren’t Al- been caused by the mast.
in previous experiments of this The technique used by the Di- Sierra de Yeguas, which are both right’, will be coming to Torre del
kind, 80 per cent of the seeds putación, known as ‘Nendo Dango’, near Antequera and home to old Mar as part of their 2018 European
Nerja becomes third
planted had germinated. meaning ‘seed ball’, was developed rubbish tips. tour.
Jimmy Cliff’s career spans 50 beach-fine town
years and his biggest hits include
‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’, NERJA
Junta de Andalucía gives green The complex comprises 20 indi- ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ and ‘Samba :: E. C. Nerja has become the third
vidual apartments, six single rooms Reggae. town in the Axarquía to implement
light to Periana hotel complex
and 14 double rooms as well as a re- fines for ‘beach hoggers’. Follow-
ception area and meeting spaces. ing in the footsteps of Torrox and
It was originally opened in the Algarrobo, Nerja town hall will im-
mid-1990s but closed its doors after pose fines of 30 euros for anyone
:: AGUSTÍN PELÁEZ since its closure in 2003. Torrubia just five years. There are other simi- caught ‘reserving’ areas on the
PERIANA. Periana’s Villa Turística, believes that as Axarquía is currently lar sites owned by the Junta de An- beach with objects such as chairs
a hotel complex which has been enjoying a tourism boom, the Villa dalucía that have remained open or parasols and then leaving them
closed for 14 years, looks set to be Turística will bring visitors and em- but the decision was taken to close there. Making fires and sand sculp-
given another chance. ployment to the town. the Periana one in 2003. tures on the beach without prior
According to Periana’s mayor, Ra- “Our objective is to open the Villa Torrubia said that four hotel permission from the town hall will
fael Torrubia, the Junta de Andalucía Turística again and generate wealth groups have already “shown an in- also be banned under the by-law,
has agreed in principle to allow Peri- in the area and that is why we are terest” in the complex and he hopes which is expected to come into
ana town hall to reopen the site, working with the Junta,” he said that work will start to open it up The Offspring in 2013. :: B. A force before summer 2018.
which has not been maintained last Friday. again “within the space of a year”.
December 15th to 21st 2017 7
SUR IN ENGLISH
8 NEWS December 15th to 21st 2017
SUR IN ENGLISH
The pride of the province Seven outstanding
tles, was also recognised for his com-
members of society were mitment to Malaga province and par-
ticularly Marbella, where he opened
selected by the group’s
lines up at SUR awards event his racquets club in 1997. The Madrid-
own journalists as the
born player said he was “very proud”
Malagueños of the Year to receive the award and admitted
that he fell in love with the province
of Malaga when he came here to play
a small tournament 37 years ago. He
:: A. M. ROMERO / J. SOTO also said how delighted he was to
MALAGA. More than a thousand share the award with Davidovich,
people packed into Malaga’s congress the 18-year-old from Rincón de la Vic-
centre on Monday for the Malagueños toria, who was crowned Wimbledon
del Año awards, given by this news- boys’ champion this summer. Despite
paper’s Spanish sister, SUR. his Russian origins, the young player
In an event resumed after a break stressed that he was Spanish and
since 2011, recognition was given to ‘Malagueño’ and that he was pleased
outstanding members of the local to win the award alongside the “leg-
community in six different catego- end” Santana.
ries. There to witness the ceremony
were the president of the Junta de Tourism
Andalucía, Susana Díaz, the president In the Tourism section the award was
of the Malaga provincial government, given to the Malaga’s Miramar hotel,
Elias Bendodo, and the mayor of which reopened last year as a five-
Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, among star luxury establishment 90 years
other authorities. after the building received its first
guests, in recognition of the project’s
Sport sensitivity and respect for local tra-
The award in the Sports category was ditions. The Santos hotel group’s chair-
shared by past and present faces of man, José Luis Santos, said that the
Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, and hotel had been one of his family firm’s
Alejandro Davidovich. most important projects and that he
Santana, whose win at Wimble- was proud of being able to “recover
Award winners and authorities after the ceremony on Monday. :: SALVADOR SALAS don in 1966 was just one of many ti- part of the history of Malaga”.
Vandalism in Ma
Local artists exhibit postcards to
benefit people in need this Christmas
:: FÉLIX LORENZO at the Agrupación de Cofradías, in During the festive season these
MALAGA. Until 5 January, 24 art- a collection entitled ‘Postales Soli- postcards will also be available for
ists from Malaga are exhibiting small darias’, as part of the annual Christ- purchase for 3.95 euros anywhere
works of art in the exhibition room mas campaign by SUR and Unicaja. that you can buy SUR. Proceeds from
sales and the exhibition will all go
directly to charities which aid fami-
lies, children, and individuals in
need around Malaga.
The artworks are filled with “joy,
light, and hope”, according to Pe-
dro Luis Gómez, director of publi-
cations at SUR. This year’s Christ-
mas campaign has been made pos-
sible with the help of Malaga town
hall and council, and El Corte Inglés. :: JOSELE-LANZA
At the opening of the exhibition
FRANCO-ERA WINDOW REMOVED
this week, he thanked supporters
who have “made this dream possi-
ble” and the local painters who took
part, which include Revello de Work to remove the stained glass window in Marbella town hall,
Torro, Evaristo Guerra, Rittwagen, which features symbols from General Franco’s era, has begun. The
Andrés Merida, María Jose S. Perea, nine-metre-tall window weighs 80 kilograms and builders are work-
and Paco Jurado. ing from 10-metre-high scaffolding. The old window will be con-
Some ten charities will benefit served and new stained glass will go in its place which will include
from the campaign, which has now the coat of arms of the town.
María José S. Perea and Paco Jurado. :: SALVADOR SALAS been a tradition for 24 years.
December 15th to 21st 2017 NEWS 9
SUR IN ENGLISH
Business cutor who now works in the gender Work expected to start late 2018
An Estepona businessman who violence courts, dedicated her prize
started out with a small workshop to Ana Orantes, the woman who was
on A-7 exits east of Marbella
and now runs three of the Costa’s big- murdered by her ex-husband after
gest hypermarkets was the recipient going public with her case of abuse,
of the award in the Business section. now 20 years ago. De Torres described
Aurelio Martín’s firm, Costasol de Orantes as a “heroine who lit the path
Hipermercados, holds the franchise for the fight against violence against
The first section to be
to manage the Carrefour stores in women”, before naming other more
Estepona, Mijas and Torremolinos recent victims. improved will be from
and was praised for his ability to pre-
the town centre to the
serve the spirit of a family firm within Culture
hospital, and Puerto
a multinational giant. The award-winner best known to
many in the audience, however, Banús-San Pedro
Science was actor and comedian Dani Ro-
improvements could
Innovation and professional and aca- vira, the recipient of the prize in
follow soon after
demic achievement in the field of the Culture category. The Malaga-
medicine earned neurosurgeon born star of films such as Spanish
Miguel Ángel Arráez the award in the Affair (Ocho Apellidos Vascos) was :: MÓNICA PÉREZ
Science category. The doctor whose chosen not only for his professional MARBELLA. Long-awaited im-
feats include the removal of a tumour career but also for his commitment provements to the motorway ex-
from a musician’s brain while the pa- to charitable causes through his its on the A-7 east of Marbella could
tient was playing the saxophone, said foundation. He dedicated his award start by the end of next year.
that the award was “a real Christmas to Pablo Ráez, the young leukae- Central government has said it
present” and that he would continue mia sufferer who lost his battle ear- is to start a public consultation in
to work with “strength and pride, but lier this year and the comedian February on its plans to upgrade
also with the humility of a doctor”. Chiquito de la Calzada who died the access sliproads on the section
recently. of the road between the Marbella The mayor of Marbella (right) with government officials. :: SUR
Society The president of the Junta closed arch and Hospital Costa del Sol.
Flor de Torres, the award winner in the ceremony with words of rec- The announcement was made lic consultation is completed, the the area. Madrid also hopes to put
the Society section, has devoted her ognition for the achievements of in Madrid on Wednesday at a meet- contract to carry out the works can out to tender early next year the con-
career to the fight for equality and all the winners and stressed the ing between the mayor of Marbella, be put out to tender and work start. tract to design an extra lane on the
against sexual or gender discrimina- importance of a free and critical Ángeles Muñoz, and government This will be the first phase of ex- A-7 between Puerto Banús and San
tion and violence. The public prose- press as a guarantee for democracy. highways officials. Once the pub- pected improvements to the A-7 in Pedro, which is often congested.
arbella. :: J-L
Wall belonging to Saudi royal HERE AND THERE
family to be rebuilt by council to Marbella gets tough on Kempinski closes for two contracts have been laid off in an
graffiti in public places months in 4m upgrade agreement reached with trade un-
allow beach access to reopen ions which allows them to con-
tinue to receive their salary.
MARBELLA ESTEPONA Lola Villalba of trade union
:: N.C. Councillors in Marbella are :: C.M. The Kempinski hotel, near Comisiones Obreras has wel-
:: MÓNICA PÉREZ getting tough on people vandalis- Estepona, has closed for two comed the investment the own-
MARBELLA. The council in Mar- ing public spaces with graffiti. A months for renovations. The four- ers of the hotel are making, say-
bella has reached an agreement with task force has been set up to blitz million-euro building work is af- ing that it is another sign that the
the owners of a large mansion off clean current graffiti in the town fecting the lobby area and the res- tourism sector has overcome the
the Golden Mile that will finally al- and the Local Police has commit- taurant, and bosses have decided financial crisis.
low a much-used access to the beach ted to clamping down on suspects. that it is better to shut the doors. The hotel has said it wants to
to be reopened. Officials say that many offenders Around a hundred people work “create elegant and modern pub-
For the last two years, the pedes- are underage and are “looking to at the hotel and sixty on full-time lic areas”.
trian path from the Miramar area gain notoriety” with their work.
near Nagüeles onto Playa de Casa- One million euros for Las Flores work won’t be
blanca, west of Marbella town cen-
Casares fiber optic delayed, says expert
tre, has been unpassable due the pre-
carious state of a wall, forcing beach-
goers to make a detour via a beach CASARES ESTEPONA
bar. The wall is part of the garden of :: C.M. Avatel, a Marbella-based :: C.M. The municipal archaeolo-
a large beachside mansion that is telco company, is to invest a mil- gist for Estepona has denied that
linked to the Saudi royal family. lion euros in 2018 to roll out fiber building work in the town’s Plaza
Officials were forced to close the optic in Casares. The company is de Las Flores will be held up if his-
walkway for fear of the wall falling The dangerous wall. :: JOSELE-LANZA already in Casares Costa and will torically important remains are
on top of people using the pathway now reach the village and the Se- found. A new 10-million euro bou-
and have been in negotiations since 25,000 euros to Marbella council to cadero area. It will also offer cable tique hotel is to be built but local
then with the owners. The owners carry out the work. television with international chan- businesses are concerned that the
had wanted to increase its height As the wall is located on protected nels. Avatel already has 25,000 cus- work will be drawn out as the site
during the rebuilding, which was coastal land, additional permission tomers on the Costa and the in- could have many hidden remains.
the cause of the delay. has had to be sought from different Vandalism in Marbella. :: J-L stallation will create eight jobs. The hotel is due to open in 2019.
The owning family has now paid authorities.
10 NEWS December 15th to 21st 2017
SUR IN ENGLISH
Charities call for Fall in birth rate in
Malaga province
solidarity with the means almost as
many deaths as
homeless during the new borns
season of goodwill :: NURIA TRIGUERO
MALAGA. The birth rate in
Malaga province fell in the first
six months of this year, mean-
ing there were almost as many
On Christmas Eve the charity will deaths as births.
offer 3,000 people a roast chicken In total, 6,728 babies came
dinner, which will be supplied by into the world, while the num-
30 local restaurants. They will also ber of deceased rose to 6,654.
TONY
BRYANT distribute food parcels to the home- These figures translate into a
less on the morning of Christmas 5.6 per cent fall in births and a
(cid:13) [email protected] Eve. three per cent increase in deaths
According to the Development compared to the same period
There are an estimated
Group for Homeless People in last year.
7,000 people sleeping Malaga, there are more than 7,000 Lux Mundi runs a soup kitchen in Fuengirola. :: T. B. The national statistics insti-
people sleeping rough in the prov- tute, announcing the figures,
rough in the province of
ince of Malaga. It is also estimated pointed out that traditionally
Malaga, and around forty
that around 40 per cent of the home- there are more deaths and less
Long-term homeless
per cent of homeless in less people in Spain are foreigners, ries of personal and financial births than in the second half
Spain are foreign of whom 20 per cent have been liv- man is housed by situations led to a life of petty of the year.
ing rough for more than ten years. crime and homelessness, yet he On a national level, a nega-
The Malaga branch of Bancosol, Torremolinos town hall has survived on the benevolence tive birth rate continues, with
MALAGA. Charitable organisations like the rest of foodbanks in Spain, of a few kind-hearted expats. 187,703 people born and 219,835
in the province of Malaga are re- makes a contribution with food to It was one of these, an English dying, a difference of 32,132.
minding the public of the ongoing people at risk of social exclusion dis- One of the long-standing home- woman who has lived in the
need to help the thousands of peo- tributed through local charities and less people in Torremolinos has town for several years, who
Junta de
ple sleeping rough in the region as organisations. Its annual target is to recently been housed by the so- helped Rubio obtain much of
well as those with reduced means assist 50,000 people and the recent cial welfare department of Tor- the documentation needed to
Andalucía updates
to feed their families. The Christ- Gran Recogida collection boosted remolinos town hall. qualify for social housing. Prior
mas period often comes with a wave its supplies by 600,000 kilos. Other José María, known affection- to this, the 72-year-old did not and toughens law
of solidarity which in turn helps vol- collection campaigns continue ately as Rubio, was abandoned as possess identification and being
on domestic
unteers provide extra support to the throughout the year and members a child and grew up in the of no fixed abode, he basically
homeless and those in need. of the public are also invited to be- town’s former orphanage. A se- did not exist. violence
Ángeles Malagueños de la Noche, come, volunteers, members or make
a Malaga-based non-profit-making donations.
charity, supplies approximately one A Bancosol volunteer said, “Al- give underwear, which many don’t Hula Tiki Lounge with her husband,
million meals a year to the home- though in general people are quite have,” Marta Rivera of Lux Mundi went out into the streets last year :: LALIA GONZÁLEZ
less and underprivileged families. openhanded at Christmas, we are explained to SUR in English. with Christmas cards and food par- SEVILLE. The Junta de Anda-
They serve over 2,500 people daily, asking for people to dig a little Arte Contra el Hambre (Art cels for the homeless. She also col- lucía regional government agreed
providing them with breakfast, deeper this year so that everyone against hunger) is a Torremolinos- lected over 80 kilos of warm cloth- this week to update domestic vio-
lunch and dinner. can enjoy a few comforts over the based non-profit charity created to ing and blankets, which she per- lence laws to bring them into line
holidays.” help people without resources sonally distributed. However Char- with national and EU standards
through collections of food, cloth- lie expresses her sadness at the lack as well as introducing some new,
DROP-OFF POINTS Soup kitchens ing, appliances, toys and school sup- of support for the homeless prob- tougher measures of its own.
The Lux Mundi Ecumenical Centre plies. The charity is always in need lem in the area Among the new features are
A ngeles Malagueños de la No- in Fuengirola works hard to see that of donations and anyone wishing “If we could find a local charity the inclusion of old or disabled
che. Calle Fuentecilla 2, Malaga. the local underprivileged and home- to contribute clothes, blankets and to work with us we would love to persons who are in the care of an
691 154 973. less people get at least one hot meal toiletries can deposit them in the host a free dinner on Boxing Day abused woman as potential vic-
a week. The soup kitchen operates association’s charity shop, which is for the needy, however without the tims of domestic violence, as well
L ux Mundi. Calle Nueva 3, on a Monday and cold packed situated in Calle Buenos Aires in Tor- support to help drive people in our as her children. From now on the
Fuengirola. 952 47 48 40 lunches are available on Thursday. remolinos. door it’s not going to happen and it definition of what constitutes
The centre always offers warm cloth- really is such a shame. I really strug- violence will be broadened to in-
A rte Contra el Hambre. Calle ing and blankets to those in need, Searching for support gled last year so we hope even just clude sexual assault, harassment
Buenos Aires, Torremolinos. @AR- and this year they will be supply- It is not only the charities and organi- doing a little will help highlight and exploitation; genital muti-
TEContraElHambre. ing new under garments as well. The sations that are doing their bit for that more needs to be done, because lation; forced marriage; cyber-
centre will also offer a special Christ- the homeless at Christmas, for one the problem is only getting worse,” bullying and cultural traditions.
H ula Tiki Lounge. Calle Salva- mas lunch on 5 January. bar owner in Montemar, Torremoli- Charlie said. A woman’s right to receive
dor Allende 44, Montemar, Torre- “Every Christmas we like to give nos, has been looking after the home- support and counselling with-
molinos. 655 45 35 99. them a present. Last year it was less of the area for the last two years. · out having reported any offence
shoes; this year we would like to Charlie García, who runs the (cid:122) C omment : Page 22. is also guaranteed.