FREE COPY MARBELLA THE NEWSPAPER FOR BABY TURTLES SOUTHERN SPAIN NEW LIFE ON Official market leader Audited by PGD/OJD THE BEACH September 25th to October 1st 2020 The first 38 of more than News ...... 2 Comment ...... 20 70 eggs, laid on Los Lifestyle ...... 22 Boliches beach and being What to do ...... 29 Health&Beauty ...... 32 looked after in Cabopino, Food&Drink ...... 36 hatched this week P8 in English Sport ...... 38 Dealing with the authorities in the new normal has become a red tape nightmare
No one answers the phone, The coronavirus crisis has made no appointments are administrative procedures with the Spanish authorities even more available, there’s only a of a nightmare than usual. Un- security guard to talk to... derstaffed departments have be- and people have more come bogged down with thou- questions than ever for the sands of extra claims and online overwhelmed civil servants processes have not been ready when needed. P6
Their businesses are part of the solution, not the problem, said protesters. SALVADOR SALAS
COVID CRISIS Bars, restaurants and nightclubs demand a rescue plan
Around 500 business owners joined a protest march in Malaga this week, calling for more help for the hospitality industry P3 2 September 25th to October 1st 2020 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH EU fine for the lack of proper sewage treatment rises to 10.6 million euros in two years
Failure to comply with process. It is the fourth largest mu- 12 million euros, plus another the first 6.1 million euros, although will not be ready before 2024. Un- requirements for waste nicipality in Malaga with no sew- 10.35 million for every six months it is demanding that the Junta de til then, an extra 634,320.36 euros treatment in Nerja, Coín age treatment, but the sentence of failure to comply after being no- Andalucía pays for the part for will be due every six months. So was for failing to comply with the tified of the sentence. The State which it is to blame. According to far, since the initial fine, the amount and Alhaurín el Grande EU regulation which made 2001 has now paid 32.7 million euros a decision in parliament on 10 has built up to 2.8 million euros. has added 4.4 million the deadline for populations greater to the European Commission (the March, Andalucía will have to pay The Junta de Andalucía says it euros a year than 15,000 to treat their waste. initial fine, plus the period between three million euros: 1.53 for Al- plans to go to the Supreme Court At that time, Cártama had 13,400 July 2018 and July 2019) to which haurín and 1.47 for Coín, and the to overturn the government’s de- inhabitants, which is half of its pre- another 20.6 million will have to sum will keep increasing until the cision to make it pay three million sent population. be added for the second half of treatment plant for the Malaga met- euros of the fine for the lack of FRANCISCO 2019 and the first of 2020. ropolitan area comes into opera- sewage treatment in Alhaurín el JIMÉNEZ The meter is still ticking away As far as Malaga province is con- tion. It will treat the waste from Al- Grande and Coín, but has not re-
For Spain as a whole, the fine was cerned, the government has paid haurín el Grande and Cártama, but leased any further details.
NERJA ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE MALAGA. The lack of action or even the historic laziness of the public administrations in providing ade- quate sewage treatment facilities has not only a high environmental cost but also an economic one. And it is very sizeable. In Malaga prov- ince alone the authorities - and therefore the taxpayers - are pay- ing 4.46 million euros a year to- wards the fine imposed by the EU on Spain in July 2018 for three places which were still failing to treat their waste: Coín, Alhaurín el Grande and Nerja. The historic The treatment plant is Sewage is released into the court decision that highlighted the practically ready. E. CABEZAS Guadalhorce river. SUR shameful situation in a total of 17 areas of the country dates back to Only town on the coast A black spot until 2024 2011, although the fine came seven with no sewage plant 4.37 2.8 years later, when the European Sewage from Alhaurín el Commission got tired of waiting million euros is the cost so far Grande, and that of Cártama million euros of accumulated for Spain to make progress. Work on the treatment plant for the lack of sewage treat- (which was not included in the fines correspond to the lack of Estepona and part of Marbella which is being built by the gov- ment in Nerja. 420,055 euros fine because in 2001 it had treatment in Alhaurín el were also on the black list, but by ernment began in 2014 but has is the fine imposed in July fewer than 15,000 inhabitants) Grande, of which 269,332 was the time the fine was imposed the suffered several delays. It is al- 2018 and the rest is the will be treated by the future the initial fine and the remain- Guadalmansa plant and the col- most ready now, as it only 989,298 euros which have to Malaga Norte plant, being built der consists of 634,320 euros lectors at San Pedro Alcántara had needs an electricity connection be paid for every six months of by the Junta. It won’t be com- for every six months of failure come into operation. That meant before it can start operating. delay. plete until 2024. to comply. there was no sanction for delay, but there was still the original sum of 738,290.98 euros to be paid. Between the four cases, the ac- COÍN ESTEPONA cumulated amount so far has risen to 10.61 million euros, of which 5.11 correspond to the two pro- jects which are the responsibility of the State (Estepona and Nerja) and the remaining 5.49 million for the Junta de Andalucía’s projects in Coín and Alhaurín el Grande. It could be worse, because Cártama was not included in this judicial
Sewage being released The Guadalmansa plant, in Coín. SUR in Estepona. SUR Waiting for damaged In operation since the pipes to be replaced 2.68 middle of 2017 0.73 million euros is the cost of million euros for the lack of Since April 2019 the waste from the black spot of Coín. This The enlargement of the Gua- sewage treatment in parts of Coín should have been treated amount consists of 257,936 dalmansa plant, paid for by Estepona and San Pedro. This is at the Bajo Guadalhorce station for the initial fine which was the State, was finished in 2017 the fine imposed for the time which was built by the Junta, imposed by the EU in July and serves Estepona, some between the European Court but a storm in 2018 destroyed 2018 and an additional parts of Marbella (San Pedro sentence in April 2011 and the the pipes. They will have been 607,481 euros for every six and Nueva Andalucía), Istán end of 2016, by which time the replaced by this autumn. months of delay. and Benahavís. works had been completed. September 25th to October 1st 2020 NEWS 3 SUR IN ENGLISH
Hotels reach end Bar, restaurant and club workers take to of a disastrous summer with no the streets to call for a rescue plan Covid outbreaks
Around five hundred P. MARTINEZ hospitality business owners demonstrated in MALAGA. The president of the Costa del Sol hoteliers associa- Malaga city centre tion, Luis Callejón Suñé, has demanding more help to marked the end of the summer survive the drop in season by praising the efforts revenue and restrictions made by establishments to guar- antee safety in these unusual on night life Covid conditions. Despite the “dramatic results” JUAN SOTO of a season when less than 80% of hotels opened in July and MALAGA. Bar, restaurant and August and their occupancy rate nightclub owners from Malaga was only 35%, “they have made and the Costa took to the streets the necessary investments to on Tuesday to call for a rescue take care of their guests and plan to save the entire sector. their staff”, he said. Around five hundred people He added that proof of their joined the protest march that commitment to health and made its way from the city hall to Criticism for the Junta de Andalucía’s restrictions at the protest in Malaga city on Tuesday morning. S. SALAS safety was that not one outbreak the regional government offices. of Covid-19 at a hotel has been After the march the business ticipants respected social dis- problem” in this crisis. up their shutters again. reported on the Costa del Sol owners read a manifesto calling tancing, forming lines of four peo- At the beginning of the march, The vice-president of the as- this season. for direct help to be able to sur- ple. Some of their placards car- the president of the association sociation Andalucía de Noche, Business owners had met the vive for the duration of the re- ried slogans referring to the in- Mahos, Javier Frutos, explained Juan Rambla, stressed that for challenge to make guests feel strictions, for the IVA (value added crease of cases of contagion de- that the situation is very complex the nightclub and disco-bar sec- as safe as they do at home, Cal- tax) to be reduced to four per cent spite the closing down of night- for the sector and that without tor the restrictions are much lejón Suñé said, taking all the for the sector and for their life; or complaining of “unfair re- help many businesses could close greater. He complained of a lack recommended precautions, ‘autónomo’ social security pay- strictions with no scientific down. He specified that currently of solidarity from the authorities such as extra cleaning, the in- ment to be eliminated during this justification”. 40 per cent of hospitality estab- and said that the closure of clubs stallation of screens, use of hand crisis period. Others stated that the sector lishments in the province are and bars had left a lot of workers sanitiser and guaranteeing dis- Throughout the march, par- was “part of the solution, not the closed and that many will not pull unemployed. tancing in communal areas. 4 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SUR IN ENGLISH
Politicians see the New positive cases and hospital admissions EU recovery fund as key to getting a stabilise on the Costa in latest Covid data railway line as far as Marbella While numbers are still high locally, at 186 cases per 100,000 in the last 14 IGNACIO LILLO days, Covid-19 positives on MALAGA. Local politicians have Thursday were 383, down said they see the EU’s 140-bil- from 574 on Tuesday lion-euro economic support fund for Spain as the perfect way to get the money at last to SUR extend the Costa’s rail line be- yond Fuengirola towards Mar- MALAGA. Latest official regional bella and Estepona. data on Thursday this week re- The mayor of Malaga and the ported 383 new positive PCR tests president of the Diputación pro- in the previous 24 hours in vincial authority have said the Malaga province, including the government should be lobbied Costa del Sol. This was a drop on for when it starts to divide up Tuesday and Wednesday this the high amount of Covid-19 week, from 574 and 511 respec- money, the likes of which may tively, adding some support to never be seen again. the early theory that the second Two options are on the table wave might be slowing down lo- for any extension of the line. The cally. There was one new recorded cheapest would run parallel to death in Malaga province, bring- the AP-7 toll motorway, which ing the monthly total to 58, mean- a study in 2018 suggested would ing 356 locally since the start of File image of a Covid ward at Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, in July. SUR cost 2.4 billion euros. The more the pandemic in the spring. expensive involves more tun- In Malaga province there were and, on the same measure, Tor- nelling and running closer to 206 being treated in hospital in remolinos stood at 203, Mijas at Despite the high case num- the coast, costing 3.85bn euros. the latest published Thursday 186 and Benalmádena at 194. Schools bearing up bers, with two weeks gone since Francisco de La Torre, data, seven down on the previ- In the Axarquía, Nerja regis- schools started to go back, the Malaga’s mayor, made clear that ous day, and the number in in- tered 223 in Thursday’s data, well despite 283 Education minister reported the line shouldn’t be an exten- tensive care was 31, stable on although some Axarquía villages, Covid cases per separately on Thursday that so sion of the existing Cercanías the previous day. by their small size, registered far Covid-19 had had little track to Fuengirola, but a new, Taking the previous two weeks extremes of levels in the previ- 100,000 in the last negative effect on the nation’s faster line from Malaga connect- into account, Malaga province ous two weeks. While Sayalonga schooling. ing Marbella in 40 minutes. had seen an average of 186.20 was at 15 cases, meaning a rate 14 days in Spain Isabel Celaá said that all Franciso Salado, of the Dipu- positive PCR cases per 100,000. of 893 cases per 100,000 in the schools and colleges had tación, pointed out in the SUR- There were, however, wide vari- previous two weeks, nearby Be- opened fully or part time and organised TV debate that Mar- ances along the Costa and namargosa was showing zero SUR that in 95.5 per cent of them bella is the only town in Spain inland. contagion. there had been no incidents re- with 100,000 people that does The highest incidence in the Data analysed by SUR shows MADRID. Health officials said on lated to coronavirus. not have a direct rail link. previous 14 days among larger that 64,000 people had been Thursday evening this week “There’s no zero risk inside Among other projects in the towns was in Marbella, with 368 placed in self-isolation for possi- that Spain had seen 283 posi- or outside a school,” she ex- politicians’ sights for the EU cases per 100,000. Inland, ble contagion locally from March tive coronavirus cases per plained. She said that across funds is improving the connect- Ronda was showing 342 cases up to 31 August in the province. 100,000 people in the previous Spain there were currently ing water pipes from La Con- per 100,000 and Coín 338. This week it was revealed that two weeks. Some 10,653 more 2,852 classroom groups in self- cepción reservoir, near Marbella In the other western resorts, ruling councillors in Alhaurín de cases and 84 deaths were isolation, which amounted to which fills quickly and has to Estepona reported 207 per la Torre had gone into isolation added to the rolling totals on under one per cent of the total be released out to sea, to the wa- 100,000 in the previous two weeks, after the mayor tested positive. Thursday. in classes the country. ter-hungry Axarquía area. September 25th to October 1st 2020 5 SUR IN ENGLISH 6 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SUR IN ENGLISH The nightmare of dealing with red tape in a pandemic
Bureaucracy. Telephones always busy or not answered, a lack of available appointments and complicated procedures online. People are coming up against a barrage of problems with administration, as the authorities struggle to come to terms with the ‘new normal’
NURIA TRIGUERO
n this ‘new normal’, which has familiar with such technological Inothing normal about it, the se- tools. curity guards outside the doors The pandemic has also revealed of offices such as the SAE and SEPE that some institutions haven’t done employment agencies, Social Se- their homework in the digital field, curity, Hacienda (tax agency) and because online processing can be the traffic department, among oth- problematic for them too. The lo- ers, have found themselves doing cal president of the Colegio de thankless extra work for which Graduados Sociales (a professional they are not paid. They are the first association of administration spe- of all the offices reopening fully at only patched up the problem. Civil Again, all these problems are people members of the public see, cialists), Juan Fernández, told SUR: the same time. servants started to go on holiday exacerbated by the impossibility the ones who have to stop people “We suddenly wanted to have a The greatest example of a pub- and the ones who remained of contacting these departments going in if they don’t have an ap- completely digital society without lic institution which has been over- stopped working overtime, tired by phone, because all the lines are pointment, put up with their bad taking into the account what this whelmed by the effect of the pan- of trying to cover for the lack of constantly busy or are inoperative. temper, tell them what steps to take means in reality for most citizens, demic is SEPE, the Servicio de Em- staff. Despite the offices reopening in if they want to carry out a particu- many companies and the Admini- pleo Público Estatal (State Employ- The delay in approving applica- July, people can only go in person lar administrative process and even stration itself.” ment Service). The service has tions for benefits was just one in a by prior appointment and, in give out forms and collect them The overworked administrative 8,000 employees all over the coun- long line of problems. Another of Malaga at least, there are no dates once filled in. It is ironic that these system is making life more diffi- try (310 in Malaga province) and the most common issues was that available on the websites when you subcontracted workers, whose em- cult for individuals, as well as for has received nearly four million some workers were paid when they try to make one. ployment conditions are often not professionals and companies, who applications for unemployment shouldn’t have been. Companies Every morning, in despair, doz- ideal, have become the face of the are complaining that the Admini- benefit relating to ERTE furlough started to bring staff back to work ens of people turn up at the SEPE Administration in Spain. stration still seems to be in a state schemes brought in with the arri- and advised SEPE they had done offices but can’t get past the door. Anyone who has had to deal with of alarm and that delays, errors val of the Covid crisis. so, but the service continued to “It is unacceptable for the security the State (in any of its forms) since and a lack of communication are Between March and May, with pay them unemployment benefit. guard to be collecting in forms that the pandemic began will know: not helping them to get over the offices closed and staff working contain personal information from you need patience and determi- crisis. from home, this organisation had individuals and professionals,” said nation to carry out bureaucratic to deal with 130,000 new applica- Juan Fernández. processes these days. If you phone, SEPEs and ERTEs tions in the province. The backlog Between March and May Nevertheless, this is also the the lines are constantly busy or not “We shouldn’t generalise because was inevitable. May arrived and SEPE’s 310 employees in scene every day outside the Social answered at all, and in situations some departments are managing many people who had been unable Malaga had to handle Security and tax offices. Both al- where you are allowed to go in per- extremely well, but the question to work since March had still not 130,000 new applications low only a few appointments a day son you need an appointment first, is, why is it that some are and some received any payments. but they are still overwhelmed with and that can take a long time. aren’t? I believe it is to do with good In June the problem seemed to work. You can’t just go to a desk for in- governance, that abstract concept have been solved: the government Professional colleges The record is held by the depart- formation anymore; in fact, you that implies having guidelines, co- came to an agreement with the and business associations ment that deals with the new Mini- often can’t go into the office at all. herence and coordination,” said banks to make the payments in mum Living Income: according to “Do it online,” is the new mantra, Javier González de Lara, the presi- advance once people’s applications complain that the figures from the CSIF union for but even that isn’t always easy. dent of the Confederación de Em- had been approved. It also allo- Administration still civil servants (the government Many processes demand a digital presarios de Andalucía (CEA, an cated another 30 workers to the appears to be in a doesn’t provide information on a certificate, electronic ID or Cl@ve Andalusian business association), SEPE in Malaga. state of alarm provincial basis), up to 25 August code for security reasons, but that who doesn’t understand why there However, when the summer ar- Social Security had received 41,507 is an obstacle for those who are not has been a gradual return instead rived it became clear that this had applications for this new subsidy September 25th to October 1st 2020 NEWS 7 SUR IN ENGLISH
STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (SEPE) REPRESENTATIVES
Delays of months payment errors. Users’ frustra- Javier González de Lara for furlough tion is made worse by the im- Business owners possibility of contacting this “I can’t understand why government body. subsidies, mistakes staff have not gone back to and busy lines Most common procedures. working in the offices in Processing and payment of un- many areas of the The SEPE office, with 310 em- employment susbsidies, which Administration” ployees in Malaga faced an un- includes those affected by precedented avalanche of work, ERTE furloughing schemes. with 130,000 applications just The service also deals with dif- Juan Carlos Pedrosa between April and May. This ferent types of benefits and Civil servants SEPE. The security Health centre. Traffic depart- continues to cause delays and training courses. guards are the only Long queues to see a ment. People wait to “The underlying problem faces the general pub- doctor or get an ap- make enquiries. is that staff are scarce and lic see. M.FERNÁNDEZ pointment. SUR SALVADOR SALAS SOCIAL SECURITY getting older: in a few years’ time half of the civil Minimum Living deal with the new Minimum servants will have retired” Living Income, a process that is Income on top of totally jammed. the usual workload Juan Jiménez Most common procedures. Administration professionals Enquiries and paperwork re- “It’s unacceptable that it’s The Social Security depart- lated to pensions, disabilities, ments (INSS and Tesorería contracting workers, self-em- the security guard at the General) have around 600 civil ployment, maternity and pater- SEPE or the Social Security servants between them in nity allowances and Minimum who is dealing directly Malaga. This area also has to Living Income, among others. with the general public”
in Malaga province, and 4,050 had to go to the general registry, and HEALTH CENTRES continue using this because it been dealt with. Not even ten per that delays things,” said Daniel Pé- worked well with assistance for the cent. Also, nine out of ten of those rez, an employment lawyer. self-employed. Their applications applications had been turned Two week delays appointment by mobile app... were processed robotically and we down, so only 224 families in the Vehicles and drivers for an appointment the situation at health cen- dealt with over 60,000 beneficiar- province had been successful. Anyone who needs to go the Traf- tres is the most alarming part ies in three months,” she said. CSIF says this fiasco is due to fic Department must also arm with a GP of the general backlog in the “During the lockdown it was the lack of staff. The department themselves with patience: it’s al- public sector. clear that nobody could do any- that handles benefits for people most a miracle to actually get an Delays of up to 14 days for an thing in person, so there was a with dependent children was given appointment. The same applies at appointment (on the phone) Most common procedures. backlog. The problem is that when the task of dealing with these ap- the National Police for obtaining with a GP, queues in the Managing appointments with the state of alarm was over, the plications as well, and in Malaga it an NIE (Número de Identificación street for appointments doctors, paediatricians and Administration didn’t fully re- only has six members of staff. A de Extranjero). Things aren’t so which cannot be postponed, nurses; vaccines; issuing sick open. It is still in a state of pseudo- further 20 workers from other de- bad at Hacienda, but tax advisers telephone lines constantly notes, monitoring and tracing lockdown. With the holidays and partments are helping out volun- are complaining that they can no busy, impossible to make an contacts of Covid-19 cases. remote working there is a short- tarily when their own working day longer go in person if they have age of staff to deal with the pub- is over, spending hours of overtime queries and require information. lic,” said the president of the Co- processing applications. One factor is that many of the TRAFFIC legio de Gestores Administrati- In the field of law there are also staff in the public administrations vos of Malaga, Daniel Quijada, who a few problems. For example, if a are still working from home. also believes the Administration worker is dismissed and wants to “We wonder why a teacher has Getting an strictions on numbers of peo- was not properly prepared for take their employer to court, they to risk their health by going back appointment has ple inside the building and functioning remotely. have to attend a conciliation meet- to school but a civil servant can’t backlog of paperwork during Fernando Cubillos of the CC OO ing at the Centro de Mediación, Ar- sit behind a perspex screen,” said become an ordeal the pandemic are the reasons union in Malaga denies that re- bitraje y Conciliación (CMAC) first. González de Lara, but he is keen why the system is over- mote working is to blame and says The problem in Malaga is that the to point out the exceptions. Those who need to go to the whelmed. the problems are due to a lack of worker only has 20 days to take “The Junta’s Employment Min- Traffic Department in Malaga staff and planning. the matter to court and they can’t istry has been highly efficient in find the same message waiting Most common procedures. His counterpart at the CSIF un- get an appointment at the CMAC dealing with the avalanche of for them every day: Registering vehicles, cancel- ion, Juan Carlos Pedrosa, says peo- within that time. ERTEs,” he said. The head of that “There are no appointments ling and changing ownership ple are suffering the consequences “They haven’t been holding department, Rocío Blanco, said available for the next few days. of them, handling payments of of years of understaffing, and warns these meetings there since the this week that one of the key parts Try again later.” fines, issuing driving licences that things could get worse: “A lot lockdown, but we still have to pre- of her strategy is the automisation The shortage of staff, re- and permits. of civil servants are due to retire sent the claims. It means we have of processing. “We are going to in the next few years.” 8 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SUR IN ENGLISH
Volunteers look HERE AND THERE after the recently born turtles. JOSELE MARBELLA New sports centre to transported in a delicate opera- be built in San Pedro tion from Los Boliches beach in Fuengirola. H. BARBOTTA. Marbella mayor In the darkness of the night of Ángeles Muñoz announced on 3 into 4 August, a loggerhead sea Saturday that a new sports pa- turtle made a hole in the sand and vilion will be built on a 5,500 laid 73 eggs. She carefully covered metre plot on Calle Lyon which them up and left, not knowing that will form part of a major de- she had left her offspring at the velopment of the southern part mercy of the tides and the hun- of San Pedro. dreds of people who go every day The council has already put to that busy beach. There is no the drafting of the project out other record of a loggerhead tur- to tender with a budget of tle laying eggs on the Costa del Sol 180,000 euros, and the execu- for the last 80 years. tion of the work will involve an The news of this important, even investment of over four mil- extraordinaryy event, soon reached lion euros. the Andalusian marine sustain- able manamanagement centre MARBELLA (CEGMA(CEGMA), who arrived Roca’s art sales raise to taketa care of the eggs in collaboration 700,000 euros New life on the withwi Fuengirola townto hall, the Lo- H. B. Sales of artwork belonging calca Police and the to former Marbella planning beach in Marbella emergencyem serv- chief, Juan Antonio Roca have ices.ic so far raised just 777,337 euros Immediately at auction. This is despite the theth experts real- convicted mastermind of the Hatching. Baby loggerhead turtles were born for isedise that the nest town’s corruption scandal claim- the first time on the Costa del Sol this week after a was too close to the ing at one time that the collec- shore,shore and that the tion was worth 27 million. How- successful operation to save the eggs from damagee eggseggs werewer in danger, and ever, with many of the items thethe decisiondecisio was made to proving to be imitations as a move them. After sstudying the ideal means of laundering money, it HÉCTOR BARBOTTA place for them, they decided to set is difficult to estimate how much 2am on Wednesday, the first 38 lect them and take them to Alge- up a new incubator in the sand on money will ultimately be gen- They weren’t expected to hatch un- turtles set foot on Cabopino beach ciras, where they will remain in a Marbella beach. erated for town hall coffers. til early October, but on Tuesday in Marbella under the watchful eye care for a year before being re- As only 38 have already hatched, night the first loggerhead sea tur- of the privileged volunteers who leased out at the sea, their natural the volunteers must keep up their MALAGA tles to be born on a beach on the attended the birth. Not long after environment. round-the-clock watch. There are Cyclists will be allowed Costa de Sol had arrived. they hatched, experts from the These eggs came to be in Mar- still more than twenty eggs left to Between 11pm on Tuesday and Junta de Andalucía arrived to col- bella in August after they were take off... on Guadalhorce bridge
I. LILLO. Malaga city hall has backtracked this week follow- ing indignation from cyclists who had spotted that the new as-yet unopened bridge across the Guadalhorce estu- ary had signs installed which said cycling was prohibited. Crossing the bridge, when it finally opens, will be allowed by bicycle, said councillor for Mobility José del Río, at a maxi- mum speed of 10 km/h with priority given to pedestrians at all times. The Virgen del Carmen public baths reopened last week. SUR MALAGA Municipal the installation of a new roof. Free entry to city’s The public baths had long suf- swimming pool fered from damp caused by leaks museums this Sunday and floods during bad weather, reopens after major which badly affected the struc- P. MARTÍNEZ. A total of 26 cul- renovation works ture of the building. tural spaces in Malaga city will The project included the reno- offer free entry on Sunday to vation of the saunas and the in- mark World Tourism Day. stallation of new lighting and ven- Museums and galleries in- TORREMOLINOS tilation systems. The heating sys- cluding the Picasso museum tem has also been improved and and birth house, the Pompi- T. BRYANT. The Virgen del Carmen double glazing has been installed dou and Russian museums municipal swimming pool in Tor- to ensure adequate insulation. have signed up to the initia- remolinos reopened last week af- “We have completed a series of tive, as well as other attractions ter undergoing extensive refor- much-needed improvements to such as the La Concepción bo- mation work. the building that will allow our tanical gardens, the Gerald Following years of delays, the residents and visitors to enjoy Brenan house and the La work, which began in January world-class facilities once again,” Araña archaeological site. and cost 138,000 euros, included councillor for Sport, José Piña said. September 25th to October 1st 2020 9 SUR IN ENGLISH 10 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SUR IN ENGLISH
Photo of the 4x4 carrying 600 kilos of hashish which crashed into a car while try- ing to get away from the po- lice in Estepona. SUR
cial plan for the Campo de Gibral- tar area, tension has been increas- ing because, in addition to the fac- tors mentioned here, it means a considerable increase in police presence, including the National Police Udyco and Greco units and the Guardia Civil’s OCON. This organisation, which was created specifically to combat traf- ficking in the Campo de Gibraltar, has already made over 4,000 ar- rests and seized 500 tonnes of hashish in just two years. The lat- est, ‘Operation Dismantle’, resulted in over 50 people being detained and it broke up the whole crimi- nal structure of the Los Castaña clan, from its leader, Antonio Tejón, who is back behind bars, downwards. A police inspec- The traffickers tor from Algeciras have lost more than “If the police is still in hospital three billion euros after being run in the hauls inter- over by a trafficker cepted by OCON in stop you and trying to escape in these two years, not a car full of drugs. forgetting the prop- SUR erties, boats and take the drugs, other logistical ele- ments which are identified by the authorities, and that I’ll never give makes a huge hole in cash flow for their drug-traffick- you work again” ing businesses. Traffickers With this new scenario, among turned on Guardia losses through robberies and the Civil officers who police operations, the priority now tried to intercept is to protect the drugs. “We know them on a beach in they are telling the drivers they Escalating violence. The officers Estepona. SUR will never call on them again to ‘work’ if we stop them and they have learned that the traffickers lose the drugs. That’s why they are are under severe pressure to so desperate to get away, and they deliberately crash into our cars,” protect the drugs they are says one officer. It pays well. The drivers receive 6,000 euros or transporting at all costs more for each time they transport the haul by road from the beach to the nursery. JUAN CANO Another officer who is assigned to the Campo de Gibraltar says that some clans, instead of threaten- he violence associated That sums up the new scenario muscular men who are unem- geciras who was kidnapped at ing not to use them again, make T with drug trafficking is in the cat and mouse game which ployed and able to carry packs gunpoint while eating at a res- them pay (symbolically) for the getting worse. Since 29 has been played for decades be- weighing between 30 and 40 ki- taurant in Estepona, in full view drugs they lose by working free of August, the date when the latest tween the State Security Forces los from a boat to a 4x4. The or- of dozens of witnesses. His body charge for the organisation for a phase of violence began, not a and traffickers on the coast be- ganisations operate at different was found hours later near the while, and that also explains the week has passed without a po- tween Malaga and the Campo de times, and in-between these work- hospital in Algeciras. unusual violence against the se- lice car being attacked or an ac- Gibraltar. “Before, if you caught ers look for different beaches and Secondly, against the security curity forces in order to protect the cident due to reckless driving by them, they accepted they had lost. new ‘nurseries’ (to store the drugs). forces. In some raids, after open- drugs. “They have joined forces. someone transporting hashish. The drugs continued to be Some, the most daring, form ing fire on the police and being They have set up cooperatives and In the most recent incident, a brought in, but there wasn’t as their own bands of ‘paleros’ (the arrested, the criminals would are lending each other ‘workers’, trafficker trying to get away much violence,” explains one vet- name traffickers use for those who make the excuse - with more or nurseries and areas,” he explains. crashed into a car driven by a eran officer. steal from others), disguise them- less credibility - that they thought In the past three weeks in this young pregnant woman. The im- Now, the rule is that there are selves as police officers, carry out the officers were fellow ‘paleros’ specific area, 15 officers and pact was so violent that one of no rules. Traffickers are under fake searches and then make off pretending to be the police. That’s three members of the public have the packs of drugs flew out of his pressure from all sides. The first with the merchandise. what those arrested two weeks been injured (the pregnant car and hit a passing cyclist. They reason, and probably the main In the past few years, since the ago did, after shooting pellets at woman, the cyclist and a driver want to escape no matter what, one, is that they have begun to rob traffickers began to rob each other, and wounding three plain clothes whose vehicle collided with a car even if puts their life - and that each other, breaking another of the climate has become increas- Guardia Civil officers who had loaded with drugs as it failed to of others - at risk, because they the unwritten rules of the ‘trade’: ingly mistrustful and, as a result, discovered a marijuana planta- stop at a junction). Unions are are under pressure now. They each to his own. violent. First, between themselves, tion at Coto de Bornos, in Cadiz calling for measures to be taken fear being told: “If they stop you The organisations usually re- with revenge attacks among local province. to protect the security forces, in and take the drugs off you, I’ll cruit people from gyms and the clans, such as the case of Brian Since 2018, when the Ministry the face of violence which shows never give you work again.” streets of poor districts. Young, Martos, a young ‘palero’ from Al- of the Interior announced a spe- no sign of decreasing. September 25th to October 1st 2020 11 SUR IN ENGLISH 12 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SUR IN ENGLISH
Local artists sell HERE AND THERE pieces of art to Town hall to replant 30 raise money for trees following protests Carlota’s operation Residents took to the EUGENIO CABEZAS streets after work started to cut down 83 ficus, VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA. Around 20 art- ists based in the Axarquía have jaracanda and mulberry formed a Facebook group trees as part of a called ‘Artistas Por Carlota’ to regeneration project raise money for Carlota García Lara, the four-year-old girl from EUGENIO CABEZAS Vélez-Málaga who needs an op- One of the crayfish found in Maro. SUR eration to save her feet and RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA. Rincón hands. de la Victoria town hall an- MARO and the southern USA, have Well-known local artists in- nounced on Wednesday that it Five-year search for been seen in the Sierra de las cluding Alberto Tarisco, owner would replant 30 of the 83 trees Nieves and also Granada prov- of Tres Puertas artist space in that are due to be felled as part crayfish ends in success ince, this is the first time it has Torre del Mar, have already sold of a remodelling plan in La Cala been spotted in the Axarquía. paintings to raise money for del Moral, following protests by E. C. Environmental group GENA The environmental group have Carlota’s operation. residents. - Ecologistas en Acción have for been hoping to catch sight of Local businesses along the The town hall claims that the the first time found examples crayfish in the area since 2015. Viejo Camino de Málaga shop- trees, most of which are ficus, of freshwater crayfish in Maro. The species was introduced into ping street in Vélez-Málaga town jacaranda and mulberry, are While examples of the spe- Spain in the 20th Century in an centre have offered their shop damaging the pavements and Protesters on Wednesday. SUR cies, which is native to Mexico attempt to repopulate rivers. windows to exhibit the works. underground pipes and that Vélez-Málaga town hall last residents have been “constantly would be replanted on land be- VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA week said that they would cover complaining” about damage they longing to the town hall, where Town hall gives away dog Adrián back home after the costs of the operation, have been causing for 30 years. they would be “guaranteed to which, if the family raises However, the protesters have bud and not cause damage to kits for cleaner streets one month in hospital enough money, will be carried been saying this week that the trees roads”. out at a private clinic in Valen- cause no damage and provide The new design for the ave- E. C. Vélez-Málaga town hall E. C. Adrián Martín, the young cia, by the prestigious surgeon, shade. They added that they had nue includes replacing the fi- launched a campaign on Tues- singer from Vélez-Málaga with Pedro Cavadas. Carlota’s four not been told about the felling. cus, jaracanda and mulberry day to encourage dog owners to Hydrocephalus, posted on social limbs were affected by necro- Parks and gardens councillor, trees with palm trees, which the clean up after their pets. media last Monday after spend- sis brought on by septicaemia José María Gómez, said on town hall argues will still pro- 2,000 kits, including reusable ing a month in Carlos Haya hos- in August. Wednesday that the 30 trees vide shade. bottles and bags will be avail- pital due to a bacterial infection. able in town halls and sub of- Adrían, 15, posted to his fans that fices in the various towns and he was back home and recover- villages that belong to Vélez. The ing well after his second stay in kits also come with an instruc- hospital this year. tion leaflet. Under the slogan ‘Look after Vélez-Málaga. It’s your home’, the town hall hopes to raise awareness of the corrosive ef- fect of dog urine on installations such as lamp posts, as well as the image that dirty streets give to visitors. The town hall has also put up posters with QR codes that give further information. Adrían Martín on Monday. SUR
SUR Álvaro Molina, the 12-year-old boy from Peri- A dream ana with Cerebral Palsy, accomplished his come true dream to climb La Maroma, Malaga province’s highest mountain, last Saturday. Álvaro was for Álvaro joined by local sports clubs and his parents. September 25th to October 1st 2020 NEWS 13 SUR IN ENGLISH
months later,” the lawyer explained. A Norwegian family has spent a year trying “The officers told us that the squatters were known to them, that they were violent and that it would to evict squatters from their house in Caleta be better not to confront them,” he added. It was then when the lawyer first acted on behalf of the Hokholts. However, the case was rejected by VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA the judge who said that it hadn’t been made clear that the house Lisbeth and Jørn Hokholt was a second residence. are waiting for a court to A second attempt was made by respond to a petition from López-Chicheri, but this time it their lawyer after the was delayed due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. “Follow- hearing was postponed ing the delay until November, I until November have written again to the court ask- ing for an eviction order to be is- EUGENIO CABEZAS sued, in accordance with the lat- est instructions from the public Lisbeth and Jørn Hokholt are sib- prosecutor.” lings from Norway whose parents built a house in Caleta de Vélez at Damage the end of the 1960s. They have Lisbeth and Jørn have been un- spent their holidays in the house able to travel due to the pandemic. since they were children and as “They are very stressed. They find adults they have continued to come it inconceivable that a situation with their own children and more like this could occur in a European recently, grandchildren. country,” said López-Chicheri. Casa Elsa was a paradise for the Norwegian siblings Lisbeth and Jørn Hokholt, in front of the house with squatters in Caleta de Vélez last year. SUR The siblings are still paying all family from Oslo, who would come the bills and fear the house has to the Axarquía at least once a year been “completely destroyed”. to relax. However, for the last year to Malaga. in Norway. The estate agents who However, it was postponed until “From what we could see from the house has been occupied by They were joined by Norwegian work with Norwegians are seeing November as the squatters hadn’t the outside in December, there was squatters; a number of families television company NRK, who were a huge fall in clients who don’t want been allocated a lawyer. already a lot of damage. The squat- with young children. filming a documentary about to run the risk of having squatters “This is a shocking situation. To ters say that they will only leave It was the Hokholt’s neighbours squatters in Spain as there are in their homes,” said the family’s start with, the National Police, to with a court order,” explained the who first alerted the family to the other Norwegians in the same lawyer, Eduardo López-Chicheri. whom the situation was first re- lawyer, “I don’t want to imagine situation and three days later Lis- situation. The case was due to go to court ported, failed to go to the house what it will be like when we get it beth and Jørn flew from Norway “It’s having huge repercussions in Vélez-Málaga last Thursday. until we went in December, three back,” he concluded. 14 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SUR IN ENGLISH
Former British COMMUNITY SPIRIT consul in Malaga, Mike Bartram dies, and serious athletes as possible in order to hit their target figure aged 83 Friends give a helping hand to of 20,000 euros. Numerous people have al- ready signed up for the fun run RACHEL HAYNES victims of Covid-19 pandemic and almost 500 euros had al- ready been donated to the cause. MALAGA. Michael Anthony Bar- Hayley and Leslie are cur- tram, British consul in Malaga be- A group of caring government assistance. Along rently working alongside other tween 1990 and 2000, died in the expats are hoping to with the help of customers and local charities to see how the city’s Hospital Regional on Tues- raise 20,000 euros for staff of Friends Bar in money can best be distributed day morning. The retired diplo- Benalmádena, a five-kilometre between those most in need. mat fell ill just a day after arriving unemployed who do sponsored run (Run for Relief) “Covid-19 has had a major im- with his family from the UK on Sat- not qualify for social has been organised to take place pact on the lives of many peo- urday to spend some time in their security payments in La Paloma Park in ple in Benalmádena. Businesses Malaga home. He was 83. Benalmádena on Sunday 25 Oc- are closing down and many peo- Originally from Southend-on- TONY BRYANT tober. Organisers will enforce ple are struggling because of the Sea near London, Mike was posted staggered starting times in or- financial crisis. Some of these to Malaga after consular jobs in BENALMÁDENA. A group of Brit- der to comply with social dis- Hayley and Leslie Davies. SUR people do not qualify for any fi- various countries, including Paki- ish expats have joined forces to tancing regulations and all run- nancial assistance, so now is the stan, Japan, Guatemala and the raise money for local people who ners will receive an official cer- cal community has been affected time for people to come together US. His last post before Malaga was are experiencing financial prob- tificate on completion. by the lack of tourism as a result and help each other. We need to Havana, Cuba. lems caused by the Covid-19 cri- Run organiser Matt Torking- of the pandemic. Many people put a smile back on their faces Mike retired in 2000, shortly af- sis. The brainchild of mother ton, who is also participating, in Benalmádena rely on this and and let them know they are not ter the British consulate moved and daughter team Leslie and has been unemployed since los- they are currently struggling to alone,” Leslie explained. into its current premises. By then Hayley Davies, Benalmádena Re- ing his job as a waiter when the support their families. We hope in love with Malaga, he and his wife lief - ‘Friends Giving a Helping restaurant he was working in to see an end to this soon and i More information : Visit the Raili continued to live in the city. Hand’ - has been set up to help closed at the start of the state of together we can get through it Benalmadena Relief Facebook “I would like to keep forever in those who are currently unem- alarm. better,” Matt told SUR in English. page or donate via my memory the magical profile of ployed and who do not qualify “We are raising money for a The caring expats are hoping https://www.gofundme.com/f/f the streets of Malaga and the happy for social security payments or fantastic cause. Much of the lo- to attract as many fun runners riends-give-a-helping-hand faces of its people,” he told a SUR reporter in an interview in 1992. “The longer I spend here, the more painful it will be to leave.” The couple later moved to Duquesa pub owners Southend-on-Sea to be closer to their son Matthew, who lives in London with his wife Amy, although reach 10,000-euro they regularly returned to their home in Malaga. charity target “Mike was a gentle, fair, sincere, knowledgeable man,” former con- sular officer Ana Monzó said this week. Sarah and Simon night charity quizzes last Octo- His ashes will be buried at the Dearing started the ber and set themselves the five- English Cemetery in Malaga. Friday night quizzes figure goal. In under a year they have at their pub, the Rose reached the target, and Sarah and Thistle, last October says that they managed to do so even with a three-month closure JENNIE RHODES during Spain’s lockdown. Over the 11 months they’ve Sarah and Simon Dearing sporting Rose and Thistle masks. S. D. MANILVA. The owners of the Rose been holding events, the couple and Thistle bar at Puerto de Du- have raised money for The Royal table Cat Society, Gatos de fundraiser for the children of quesa in Sabinillas have hit their British Legion, Heart Animal Res- Manilva, Acorn, Friends for Can- Sabinillas through the Charita- 10,000-euro fundraising target cue, the Bobby Moore cancer cer and Luisana kid’s charity. ble Society of St George. to help local good causes. fund, SOS Los Barrios dog pound, Sarah told SUR in English that “This is a Christmas gift ap- Simon and Sarah Dearing, who Adana, Samaritans, the Charita- they plan to carry on with the peal so every child gets presents have owned the pub for two and ble Society of St George, Pat’s Res- quizzes for charities, as well as at Christmas,” the business owner a half years, started the Friday cue Retreat, Sotogrande Chari- organising a further seasonal explained.
Mike Bartram, in 2000. SUR September 25th to October 1st 2020 15 SUR IN ENGLISH 16 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 BUSINESS AND FINANCE SUR IN ENGLISH
THE BIGGER PICTURE Investors look to snap up local JEREMY BLATCH hotels for sale due to Covid crisis Gold: a hedge for all seasons COSTA DEL SOL “It would put an end to long- term, seasonal fixed contracts [email protected] Hoteliers’ representatives and see a move to short-term six- are fearful that the funds’ month contracts, and so fuel in- focus on return on creased seasonality in the next arkets are a reflection to reach the 30-year average, the investment could shorten three or four years. These funds M of human behaviour price of gold would quadruple. are only motivated by return on and endeavour. In fi- Gold is an insurance against the length of season investment,” he said, adding that nancial markets and in an econ- central banks expanding the the crisis could mean 20 per cent omy, nothing happens in a vac- money supply and debasing the PILAR MARTÍNEZ of hotel properties go that way. uum. Eleven years of central purchasing power of the USD banks’ money expansion while and other Fiat paper currencies. In the wake of hotels being Big spending power maintaining artificially low in- The gold price moves inversely forced to close early this season The investment funds have a lot terest rates has pushed up asset to the US dollar. Gold is a proven due to a lack of demand, invest- of faith in the Costa and some prices, creating asset price infla- store of value. Unlike paper cur- ment funds have started to turn have up to 100 million euros to tion and moral hazard. Public rency, it cannot be printed, and their attention to the Costa del spend, said experts, although and corporate debtors are taking unlike crypto currencies, it can- Sol, looking to buy hotel prop- those actually looking on the Costa on more debt, not less. Counter- not be hacked. erties in distress. It heralds a is so far just a trickle. party risk (the probability that Today the US 30-year Treas- potential shift in emphasis in Carlos Ramallo, of Ramallo the other party in a trading or in- ury Bond (the global credit the business model for the area. Abogados lawyers, told SUR that vestment credit transaction may benchmark) has a negative real The president of the Costa del foreign investors had recently default on its contractual obliga- yield (nominal yield adjusted for Sol Hoteliers Association (Aeh- been looking for buildings in tion) brought down Lehman and inflation). Meanwhile, investors cos), Luis Callejón Suñé, said this Malaga city as well as the Axar- AIG during the financial crash, in European sovereign bonds week that his group is receiving quía, where there is more on sale and it is much higher today than with a negative nominal yield (in an average of four proposals a Investors focus on Costa hotels. EP and better prices. it was in 2009! Gold is the only terms of actual value of capital week from these funds, who are Another firm of experts recog- traded asset that is not someone invested) receive no yield while looking for a bargain as a result haven’t ruled out putting up a nised that the level of debt of ho- else’s liability and that always re- they wait. As a hedge in a crisis, of the coronavirus crisis. For Sale sign at a later date. They tels is very high and it is a good tains a ‘bid’. gold compares favourably with For the time being, local spe- point out that the season this time for investors to look on the Gold moves on fear, princi- treasury bonds that now give a cialist advisers to these funds year only lasted three or four Costa del Sol. pally the fear of a fall in paper negative real yield. have only confirmed that there is months, not reaching more than There are also established ho- currency’s purchasing power. We know that deflation, infla- a steady drip of enquires when 40 per cent occupancy on aver- tel groups looking to capitalise on Since 1930, the US dollar has tion and stagflation may occur asked by SUR. Although deals age. Many have not announced a the opportunity and expand their lost 98% of its value against gold, over the next decade. What we have not yet been done, they say reopening date next year yet. portfolio. In July, the founder of while in that time gold has been cannot know for sure is in what that there are up to 12 hotels Callejón Suñé explained that the progressive Room Mate chain, a proven hedge against the rising economic order this will occur, who are prepared to negotiate a the investors look for high annual Kike Sarasola, told SUR he was cost of fuel, food and cost of liv- or which will take precedence. In sale. return on investment and their looking for deals or joint ventures ing. Since Nixon took the USD off all of these scenarios, gold both So far, no hotelier is admitting arrival on the Costa would mean to take over the management of the gold standard in 1971, gold protects and gives an opportu- to anything concrete, but many a change in model. more properties. has gained 3,000 per cent. nity for capital appreciation. Gold ETFs (exchange-traded Gold should be a part of any funds) give the investor an expo- capital preservation strategy. If sure to the gold price, but unlike wishing to preserve the purchas- firmed they had received letters physical bullion, investors in ing power of our capital, we Expats worry that their UK asking them to cut up their cards. ETFs may find themselves as un- should remember that the stock However Barclays current ac- secured creditors to a counter- market can stay irrational longer bank accounts may be closed counts holders did not so far seem party risk during a crisis of li- than we can remain solvent. to have been affected. quidity like that of 2008. Due to The UK government said this the convenience of holding a pa- SUR. Expats who still rely on a UK are deciding not to continue. week, “Most people living in per receipt, investors and man- The author is a member of the bank account or credit card have Media stories last weekend Europe should not see any agers often overlook this. Society of Trustees and Estate been worried this week by reports highlighted concerns from Brit- change to their banking when The amount of gold and pre- Practitioners and an investment that British banks have been pull- ons in Europe. Lloyds Bank con- the transition period ends. cious metals owned by investors counsellor. The comments and ing the plug on their financial firmed to The Sunday Times that Whether UK banks can service in the US at the height of bull observations by the author are a products, unless the customer it will be ending its customer ac- customers living in an EEA coun- markets during the past 30 years reflection of his opinion and do can prove a UK address. counts in the Netherlands, Slova- try is a matter of local law and is 7%. In spite of the recent rally not constitute an offer to buy and No agreed trade deal with the kia, Germany, Ireland, Italy and regulation. Also banks are set in gold, US ownership of gold hold securities, nor does he receive EU means banks face more re- Portugal. up differently, and may take dif- and precious metals is still only any remuneration of any kind from strictions and bureaucracy serv- Customers of Barclaycard who ferent actions to continue to around 0.5%. If this figure were names referred to. icing overseas clients and some use a Spanish address also con- serve their customers.” September 25th to October 1st 2020 NEWS 17 SUR IN ENGLISH GIBRALTAR
Gibraltar, those from the EU will Border problems lie ahead for people and not be affected because Gibraltar is not in the Customs Union and they already have to pass through some goods if no Brexit agreement reached a hard border to get there. How- ever, some goods coming to Gibral- tar from the UK, namely those of animal origin, would be subject to Two Technical Notices ture relationship of Gibraltar with EU rules which say they have to be issued by the Gibraltar the European Union, the situation checked upon entry to the EU and government spell out the at the border will change consid- again when they leave. This means erably because British nationals that these goods would have to be situation in detail and will be subject to the same controls checked at the existing Border warn people to prepare as those from other non-EU coun- Control Post (BCP) in Algeciras, for the worst, just in case tries. This means their passports Spain, and then transferred to Gi- will have to be stamped every time braltar by ship. they cross the border in either di- These changes, which affect peo- rection, and their documents ple and goods, could result in long DEBBIE scanned into the Schengen Infor- delays, which Gibraltar is keen to BARTLETT mation System. avoid if possible. The government People crossing from Gibral- is holding talks with Spain and the tar into Spain would only be able EU about ways of doing this, in- to spend 90 out of any 180 days cluding the possibility of being part GIBRALTAR. Potential problems in the Schengen area, and could of Schengen, but one problem with for people and some goods cross- be questioned about the reasons that is that Spain says it wants to ing the border between Gibraltar for their visit and whether they control entry points to Gibraltar and Spain have been spelled out have the means of subsistence and the Gibraltar authorities say in detail recently through two Tech- while they are there. having Spanish officers on their nical Notices issued by the Gibral- Also, from 2020, the ETIAS territory is a line they are not pre- tar government. The first docu- travel pre-authorisation system pared to cross. The talks continue, ment explains that if there is no would apply. but an awful lot of people currently agreement which covers the fu- In terms of goods crossing into Crossing the border would be a much slower process than now. SUR have their fingers crossed.
IN BRIEF
COVID-19 Online locator form for travellers from ‘relevant areas’
D.B. Passengers flying into Gi- braltar who have been in a so- called ‘Relevant Area’ in the pre- vious 14 days will have to com- plete an online locator form from now on. This online form re- places the existing manual ones, and the government will use the The locator form applies to some information to contact the per- passengers arriving by air. SUR son if they or someone they have travelled with develops Covid- do not include UK, Jersey, Guern- 19 symptoms, and to identify sey, Isle of Man, Andorra, Mon- people travelling from ‘Relevant aco, San Marino, Vatican City, Ice- Areas’ and act if someone is un- land, Liechtenstein, Norway, Swit- willing to be tested for the virus zerland, Australia, Canada, Geor- or refuses to self-isolate. gia, Japan, New Zealand, The relevant areas at present Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, are those outside the EU, but they Tunisia, Uruguay, and China
CULTURE HEALTH A very different look to Cross-border worker Xmas and New Year dies from coronavirus
D.B. The most magical time of the D.B. There have been no deaths year is going virtual in Gibraltar from Covid-19 in Gibraltar, but this winter. Unless the pandemic this week came the sad news situation improves and the ban that a cross-border worker, a on large gatherings is lifted, the woman in her 40s who lived and Christmas Festival of Lights, the was diagnosed with the disease Christmas attractions in John in Spain, has died. Mackintosh Square and the New This week 22 people (11 staff Year’s Celebrations at Casemates members and 11 pupils) from will not be held in their usual for- Westside School went into self- mat but some will go online. No isolation after a second person decision has been taken yet about tested positive for Covid-19 the Three Kings Parade on 5 there. Other students at the January. Culture Minister John school have been able to con- Cortes said, “We will find a way tinue attending as usual, if they to enjoy ourselves anyway, as we were not contacted and asked did on National Day.” to self-isolate. 18 NEWS September 25th to October 1st 2020 SPAIN SUR IN ENGLISH
Ambassador stresses the need to register as resident in latest message to Brits
Hugh Elliott reassured UK nationals that rights are protected if they show they were living in Spain by the end of 2020
SUR IN ENGLISH
MALAGA. With 100 days until the end of the Transition Period on 31 December, the British ambas- sador in Madrid, Hugh Elliott, A Local Police officer checks on bus passengers in a controlled area of the capital this week. EP has recorded a video message for UK Nationals living in Spain. Speaking about the negotia- tions on the future relationship More areas of the Madrid region set between the UK and the EU, the ambassador said: “I want to re- Hugh Elliott, in a still taken assure you that your rights as from his latest video. SUR to face restrictions in coming days UK nationals living in Spain are already protected under the FACEBOOK SESSIONS Withdrawal Agreement. And that The regional and national “sustained increase” in the pan- on Wednesday for 221 National both the UK and Spanish gov- governments are demic in Madrid in the last few Police and Guardia Civil to join ernments are fully committed 6 October, 6pm: Pensions, cooperating more fully weeks. the checks being made on local to implementing the citizens’ benefits, working and driving. However regional health offi- people. The Ministry of Defence rights provisions in [it].” and troops have been cials pointed to the number of implied on Thursday that up to In his message, the ambassa- 13 October, 1pm: offered if needed, despite cases in the capital area appear- 7,500 troops could be supplied dor reminds UK nationals of the Healthcare. criticism from the Left ing to stabilise later in the week, to Madrid if needed. need to register as a resident as suggesting that just local restric- The increased cooperation be- soon as possible, but acknowl- 27 October, 1pm: Travel. SUR tions would come in in some 16 tween the conservative regional edges that there are difficulties more areas from Monday, where government and Socialist-led na- with getting appointments in 10 November, 6pm: Educa- MADRID. Residents in Madrid and the rate of contagion measured tional government started this some places. tion – studying and teaching. its surrounding area have been through tests was above 1,000 week with PM Pedro Sánchez UK nationals will still be pro- getting the message for the last per 100,000 people in the last meeting regional president, Isa- tected by the Agreement, as long 24 November, 6pm: ‘Swal- few days that the 37 health-cen- two weeks. bel Díaz Ayuso. as they can prove they were le- lows’; People usually who stay tre catchment areas partially This will be on top of the However there was criticism gally living in Spain before the only 90-180 days. locked down last Monday would 850,000 people currently facing from parts of the Left that Ma- end of 2020. The embassy has not be the last. local restrictions in Madrid. drid had “chosen” to lockdown advised residents to make sure 1 December, 6pm: The regional government has Neighbourhoods have been di- poorer areas of the capital re- they have documentation (eg. Residency. repeatedly said it might extend vided, with residents affected gion first. padrón certificate, rental agree- measures to more neighbour- only allowed out in their imme- The PSOE Socialist leader in ment, utility bills) to demon- 8 December, 6pm: General. hoods, although the possibility of diate area for good reason. parliament, Adriana Lastra, said strate they were living here be- closing the Madrid region’s bor- The Madrid regional govern- “the latest contribution of the fore the end of the year. ders was also being mentioned. ment said it doesn’t have enough Right is to unite the working class Elliott also pointed out that if gov.uk/livinginspain. On Wednesday, the regional Local Police to enforce the local- in virus and illness”. Calls for anyone is having difficulties A series of live question and government said it was “evalu- ised lockdowns, even as they large-scale protests were how- completing their residency ap- answer sessions is being ar- ating putting restrictions on all stand. ever dampened down after min- plication, the UK has provided ranged by the Embassy over the the devolved region” similar to The regional vice-president, isters expressed concern at the funding to three organisations autumn on its Brits in Spain those in the spring, due to the Ignacio Aguado, asked “urgently” health risks involved. to help, details of which are on Facebook page.
THE EURO ZONE Covid-induced recession will consumption and employment duced recession could prove to MARK NAYLER only end if Spain posts GDP such as that seen globally be- be intense but relatively short- growth (no matter how small) tween 2007 and 2009, and in lived. What kind of in the third quarter of this year, Spain between 2008 and 2013. So, how does the rest of 2020 which we’re just coming to the Given the broad academic defi- look? Despite the optimism of recession? end of. nition, then, there are numer- economy minister Nadia Cal- Tentative comparisons be- ous ways in which a country viño, who said at the end of tween the current situation can be in recession. August that growth in the third and the global recession that The rate of Spain’s GDP con- quarter is likely to be 10%, the started in 2007 have already traction during Q2 this year is Bank of Spain doesn’t see the he newly-updated statis- difference of just 0.7%. Is this a started to appear in Spanish alarming, not least because it economy returning to a pre- T tics for Spain’s GDP per- cause for optimism, continued and international media, but hasn’t hit such lows since the Covid state until 2023. formance in the second gloom, or neither? they’re premature. The theo- outbreak of civil war in the The government of Pedro quarter of this year reveal that Coming after a 5.2% decline retical definition of a recession summer of 1936. But by itself, Sánchez has stated that a huge things weren’t quite as bad as in the first quarter of 2020, the is a downturn in economic ac- the decline of 17.8% doesn’t injection of funds from the EU some thought. According to the updated figure still means that tivity that lasts for at least two necessarily signal the onset of will help stave off a drawn-out National Statistics Institute, Spain has technically entered consecutive quarters (or half a the kind of recession seen a period of economic stagnation, the country’s economy con- recession - a term all-too-read- year), which could cover a very decade ago: depending on the but that’s entirely dependent tracted by 17.8% between April ily associated with the traumas slight downturn in GDP that statistics for the quarter now on how it uses the money. and June (i.e. during the na- of the “Great Recession” of quickly returns to expansion, a ending, and on how the Span- All of which means that it’s tionwide lockdown), as op- 2007-2009 and, in Spain, of the dramatic yet brief contraction, ish economy performs still unclear just what kind of posed to the 18.5% the insti- period between 2008 and or a grinding, long-term de- throughout the final three recession Spain entered back tute estimated back in July - a 2013. Equally technically, the cline in output, productivity, months of 2020, the Covid-in- in April this year. September 25th to October 1st 2020 19 SUR IN ENGLISH 20 September 25th to October 1st 2020 COMMENT SUR IN ENGLISH
LETTERS THE MUSIC MAKER PETER EDGERTON TO THE EDITOR www.e-peter.com Accident waiting to happen Carless whisper
I nearly had a serious accident by being hit by a bike from behind while walking along the Senda Litoral last week. There are considerably more bike users using the pathway for lei- n Austin 1300 and a been thinking about cars lately, livery date so as not to be availed surely travel. I have noticed there are no signs to say that it A white Nissan Sunny are pondering the possibility of hir- with mind-numbing nonsense is mandatory to have a warning bell or horn on your bike. the only two cars I’ve ing one and indulging in couple about nought to sixties, hand- Time and time again I had to jump aside to allow a bike user ever owned. I remember the of nights away at a rural retreat brake turns and torque values, to pass to avoid being hit as you do not hear them coming. former had a permanent oil somewhere in Andalucía. whatever the hell they are. He An even worst accident could happen if it is one of these elec- leak reminiscent of the Angel The other day, I thought I’d do actually bought himself some trified scooters which are more powerful and faster. As well Falls and that the latter was a very blokey thing and fanta- driving gloves once and has been as all these numerous notices warning people about the co- simply indestructible. When size about which would be my ridiculed mercilessly for it ever ronavirus, notices making it compulsory to have a warning they eventually came to take it perfect car for driving through since. In fact, as soon as I’ve fin- alarm on all types of bikes should be put up. Town councils, away for scrap, it was still per- rolling countryside of southern ished writing this, I’ll give him please note. MICHAEL GILLEN fectly servicable but I was leav- Spain. Unfortunately, that game a call just to remind him of the ing the country, had a million lasted approximately four sec- fact and laugh some more. things to do and needed a quick onds as I quickly realised I don’t Still, people who love cars solution. I like to imagine that know anything whatsoever about aren’t doing anyone any harm, Freedom with These people say that some bloke back at the any cars. I mean I know Porsches I suppose, and to tell the truth responsibility masks don’t do anything. scrapyard turned the key out and Ferraris are talked about in right now I wouldn’t mind a bit But you have to be lacking of curiosity, found that the car hushed and reverent tones by of advice from one of them about Everyone is allowed to use in common sense if you worked perfectly well, gave it men who find it hard to get a girl- which car to hire - if they could their freedom as they wish, think a physical barrier be- to his daughter for her eight- friend and that Rolls Royces were just keep it to a snappy thirty but they’ve got to do it with tween your health and dan- eenth birthday and she’s still popular once and th.. well, no, seconds and not get lost in de- the level of responsibility that ger is good for nothing. driving it to the village school that’s about it, actually. tail about streamline dashboard corresponds with the need Society as a whole is tired where she teaches recalcitrant There are car magazines, I designs and cross-threaded for everyone to coexist peace- of these irresponsible indi- youths from Monday to Friday. also know that; mainly because spark plugs. Which they can’t, fully with one another. viduals who offer nothing to Or maybe they just crushed it I had a friend who bought one of course. It’s unbelievable how the the collective. Without a with a big machine. every month. I soon learned to I might just try to rent a Nis- anti-maskers can only think mask, putting two fingers Anyway, rather bizarrely, I’ve avoid him for a week after de- san Sunny, then. of themselves and not about up to everyone else, I would the damage they can cause expect these self-loathing IDÍGORAS to others. people to struggle to find The same applies to young work or be accepted by any- people who hang out in the one in the future because of Still 30.... streets drinking with no con- their attitude and the insen- So, if cern for those they could in- sitivity they are showing we‛re not allowed to fect. They’re all showing now. you‛ve such a lack of solidarity! FEDERICO BARBERO share anything now - got 30 we might be sweets and We accept letters by email [email protected] - or ordinary post. contagious They must include identification and a telephone number and be exclusive to give 20 to SUR in English. We do not publish anonymous letters. Opinions expressed by contributors to this and other pages of SUR in English do not necessarily re- a friend, flect those of the publishers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publishers. how many have you got left? Published by: PRENSA MALAGUEÑA S. A. Director General: ANTONIO GONZÁLEZ
Editor in Chief Editor Advertising Manager MANUEL CASTILLO Rachel Haynes Emma Vera Publications Director Assistant editor Commercial Director Pedro Luis Gómez Daryl Finch Jorge Artero
THE BOTTOM LINE the opposition) who hope for more wrong happen, nobody did; not those doing the PEDRO LUIS GÓMEZ than right decisions to score a political governing or those being governed. goal, and no one is free of guilt. Where We sought shelter in the idea that the one side governs, the others are there; heat would kill it (as our distinguished and where the others govern, they are professor, researcher and medical doc- No smile for this tourist there: both of them waiting for their ad- tor Juan Manual Pascual said, in Spain versary to make a mistake so they can great experts in virus and epidemics have jump into the arena and score a point. emerged from under every stone) and That’s where we are, with the worst po- we had faith. litical class this country’s had in decades. What with those months of lockdown, he world looks on in surprise as among them, even though its population And so what? Well look, if this bug has when we applauded and danced and T we become indisputable leaders and size are greater than many Euro- decided to come and stay in our house, hardly noticed any coffins (even though in all things Covid. This bug has pean countries. let’s not throw him a welcoming party, there were thousands), and our politi- thrown out all the tourists and settled in So what does that mean? Nothing, sim- because this coronavirus disguised as a cians now immersed in everything ex- Spain, where obviously everyone would ply a rap on the knuckles for those who ‘tourist’ does not deserve a smile. In- cept what interests the general public, like to live. go around saying that in Andalucía we’re stead we have to try to throw him out it all seems like a bad dream. Nine out of the ten regions in Europe more inept and do things worse than eve- anyway we can, although now it seems But no. We have to get rid of this “tour- with the highest rate of infection are in ryone else; it has to be said. we’re doing the opposite. ist” who’s come to live here. As long as this country, and despite those who would The thing is, in this burlesque specta- The way things were “relaxed” around he’s among us the real tourists won’t like it to be (the political class is beyond cle playing out before us, it seems that this damn virus has been disgraceful. We come. repair, as is social media), Andalucía isn’t there are politicians (generally those in didn’t prepare ourselves for what could And we won’t sleep at night... September 25th to October 1st 2020 21 SUR IN ENGLISH 2222222222222222 September 25th to October 1st 2020 LIFESTYLE SUR IN ENGLISH