FREE COPY IN PHOTOS THE NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHERN SPAIN Spring colour invades La Official market leader Audited by PGD/OJD Concepción March 22nd to 28th 2019 www.surinenglish.com With the wisterias among plants in bloom, this is News 2 Food & Drink 44 Comment 24 Sport 52 the best time to visit the
Lifestyle 26 My Home 59 Health & Beauty 38 Classified 63 botanical gardens P32 in English What To Do 48 Time Out 70 22 FESTIVAL DE MÁLAGA
FILM FESTIVAL GLAMOUR
Stars of the silver screen have been on the red carpet this week as Malaga shines as the capital of Spanish-language film P28&29
Actors pose for cameras outside Malaga’s Cervantes theatre. :: ÑITO SALAS
British residents around Spain travel to London to Nerja’s seabed is ‘an underwater join Saturday’s march to call for a people’s vote on rubbish dump’ say investigators any Brexit decision P18 Malaga CF fall further away from automatic Councillors and officials in Nerja and Coín promotion after yet have been quizzed over the pumping of another draw, this time raw sewage out to sea and into rivers away to Numancia P54
A Guardia Civil investigation, started “mountain” under the water last A popular recipe for by a complaint from environmen- summer off Nerja. Mayors and for- talists, into irregularities in efflu- mer mayors have been questioned smuggling drugs. Why do ent treatment in Nerja and Coín, by officers but strongly deny that it traffickers choose to hide has now been passed to a judge. A is their responsibility, blaming the substances among fruit survey ship found an estimated nine Junta de Andalucía for failing to pro- and veg? P6 tonnes of used wet wipes in a vide infrastructure. P2-3 A sewage outlet clogged with wipes off the Nerja coastline. :: SUR
Prosecution say that video Brits on trial for the kidnapping footage shows that Westley Capper forced Agnese of Latvian woman in 2014 say Klavina into his car outside they don’t know where she is Marbella nightclub P5 22222222 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH Inquiry ramps up into raw sewage illegally dumped in the sea or rivers by town councils
Some councillors and for municipalities with populations officials in Nerja and Coín over 15,000 that says they should have been quizzed but have treatment plants in place. they say it is the regional Coín waste government’s job to use In inland Coín, police say waste is being dumped in protected tribu- money from locals‘ water taries of the Pereilas river, causing bills to build new “a lifeless area”. Most towns and vil- treatment plants lages in the Guadalhorce valley, ex- cept Alhaurín de la Torre, dump waste from homes and businesses. :: JUAN CANO / FERNANDO Former mayor of Coín for the PP TORRES / ÁLVARO FRÍAS party, Fernando Fernández-Tapia, MALAGA. The minister for the In- who has now, ironically, taken on a terior has confirmed that a judge role in the new Junta de Andalucía, has now taken over the investiga- said that in 2010 “the Junta prom- tion into some members, past and ised 47 sewage treatment plants paid present, of two local councils and for by the water-bill levy. All town the dumping of untreated sewage halls can do is wait”. in nearby waterways or the sea. The planned lower Guadalhorce Fernando Grande-Marlaska, on a treatment plant for Coín, which also visit to Malaga on Wednesday, com- would serve Pizarra and Álora, mented on the investigation, code- should go into test phase shortly, named Operation Vastum, (from having been started in 2013. the Latin for waste dump). He said, “It’s early days and we’ll see what Nerja’s three outflow pipes the outcome is.” In Nerja, untreated sewage is still The Guardia Civil’s environ- A file photograph of pollution in the water on Burriana beach in Nerja. :: EUGENIO CABEZAS pumped into the sea at three points. mental protection unit, Seprona, Two pipes offshore opposite Burri- has been leading an inquiry since ana and Torrecilla beaches and one November 2017 into some public committing fraud by adding a sew- WHAT THE MINISTER AND MAYORS SAID closer to shore near the Maro cliffs. officials, initially at Coín and Nerja age-treatment levy to people’s wa- The current mayor of Nerja, Rosa councils and more recently extend- ter bills even though no treatment Fernando Grande-Marlaska Fernando Fernández-Tapia Arrabal, of the PSOE said, “It’s a mu- ing into Alhaurín el Grande. was going on. The levy is passed on Minister for the Interior Former PP mayor of Coín nicipal responsibility once the in- However, those quizzed so far, by the town halls to the Junta de “It’s early days and we’ll “In 2010 the Junta frastructure is in place, but not be- including some current and former Andalucía, which, the council offi- fore,” saying she was surprised by mayors, have hit back saying that it cials say, should be getting on with see what the outcome is” promised 47 sewage the inquiry and that she would tell isn’t their town halls’ job to treat putting in the missing treatment treatment plants paid for that to the judge if asked. waste if the Junta de Andalucía re- works. José A. Armijo by the water-bill levy. All a In Nerja, work on a treatment gional government hasn’t provided In total, 16 mayors, former may- Former PP mayor of Nerja town hall can do is wait” plant started in 2014 and it should the treatment plants to do it. ors, councillors and public officials “Nerja town hall met its have been up and running three in Nerja and Coín have been ques- years ago, however constructors’ fi- Fines for polluting tioned by police. The complaint was obligation in 2002 by Rosa Arrabal nancial problems and differences For several years, Spain has been originally against five local urban handing over the land to the PSOE mayor of Nerja within the council have stopped it fined by the EU for continuing to areas where waste went untreated, Junta and the Ministry for a “It’s municipal responsibility coming into service, even through allow some of its councils to dump including Estepona and San Pedro, it is four-fifths finished. untreated waste. The current inves- but with a new treatment plant treatment plant that isn’t in once the infrastructure is in The third phase of Operation Vas- tigation stems from a complaint by now open at Guadalmansa, near service yet” place, but not before” tum, involving Alhaurín el Grande, green action group, Ecologistas en Estepona, only three town halls are is still in the early stages and has not Acción, claiming that councils were apparently now flouting a 2001 law yet been passed to a judge. March 22nd to 28th 2019 3 SUR IN ENGLISH NEWS Nerja seabed is covered with nine tonnes of used wet wipes
As part of the Operation larities” in the dumping of un- ship, the Ángeles Alvariño, which Vastum inquiry, a boat treated sewage in waterways and is normally based in Galicia. out at sea. The cost for the expedition was from the Instituto de In Nerja, three outflow pipes 11,000 euros, which is paid for by Oceanografía and the pump effluent into the sea. One is the government but can poten- Guardia Civil analysed the only in water two metres deep and tially be recovered if anyone is close to a protected natural area; eventually tried and found guilty. damage caused by pipes it can be seen from any boat or pumping out raw sewage kayak. The others, offshore from Public prosecutor Burriana and Torrecilla beach, end The public prosecutor with respon- :: JUAN CANO / ÁLVARO FRÍAS about a kilometre out and the raw sibility for environmental cases in MALAGA. Imagine, if you can, a sewage flows in at a depth of about Malaga, Fernando Benítez, was on Opening of an underwater pipe with the raw waste near Nerja. :: SUR seabed where instead of thriving 40-50 metres. deck to witness the extent of the seagrass there is a carpet of wet As part of their study last wet wipe “mountain” first hand wipes. One already exists on the August, Seprona, the specialist en- via the video link. Costa del Sol, just 700 metres from vironmental agency of the Guardia He described the situation as “very the Maro-Cerro Gordo nature re- Civil, used professional divers and worrying”, as “the marine life is serve, near Nerja. Guardia Civil in- sounding teams to assess the ex- being upset by public authorities’ vestigators and scientists witnessed tent of the affected area. They inefficiency.” it in a five-day study last summer called on the government’s Insti- As well as identifying the de- as part of their Operation Vastum tuto Español de Oceanografía, the struction of an important area of inquiries. national ocean-study institute, and protected shellfish, investigators Based on photos and videos used its 46-metre-long survey saw that new species were appear- taken off the Nerja coastline at a ing and taking advantage of the depth of up to about 50 metres, polluted water. they say that the bottom of the They reported back on a sort Mediterranean is home to a build- They reported back on a “crust” that forms over the resi- up of nine tonnes of the small dis- sort of “crust” that forms due from the pipe, hugging its posable towels. over the residue from the opening, and a layer of waste 20 So far 16 former and current pub- metres in diameter and, in some lic officials in Nerja and Coín have pipe, hugging its mouth places, three metres deep, full of been questioned as part of the in- plastic and other solid waste, but vestigation into “serious irregu- mostly wet wipes. The pipes carrying untreated effluent run out to sea offshore. :: SUR 4 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH
Four years for Guardia TEENAGER HELD OVER CALYPSO Civil officer who caused PHARMACY GUN- three deaths on the A-7 POINT HOLD-UP
Police have arrested a 16- year-old boy over a gunpoint The court found that the vehicle”. robbery at a chemists’ shop off-duty man had been The driver was in a Hyundai 140 on Mijas Costa. The attack under the influence of that had left the Churriana tunnel happened at the Farmacia Ca- on the outer-ring road as it joined lypso alongside the A-7 in an drink and drugs when he the motorway from Malaga going area frequented by expats caused the multiple pile- towards Fuengirola. After hitting a and tourists. The robber BMW on the left it moved over to burst into the shop with the up in June 2017 the right-hand lane, colliding with gun and pointed it at the another car. From there he was shopworker demanding he bounced across the no-go area where hand over money and his mo- :: JUAN CANO / ÁLVARO FRÍAS the two motorways merge, enter- bile phone. He fled after col- MALAGA. A court in Malaga has ing the fast lane of the road from lecting a small sum of cash. :: SUR sentenced a Guardia Civil officer for Malaga and hitting a taxi-bus. The causing a fatal accident on the A-7 taxi was forced right, spinning round motorway in June 2017 when he was and flinging five of the occupants off duty. out onto the carriageway. 112 REPORTS Fake police who stole Cocaine bike-delivery In the accident three people died The court has given a sentence of and nine were injured, some seri- four years to the driver and a driv- Body found with gunshot from drugs gangs held gang is caught by police ously, at the point where the Malaga ing ban of five years. In terms of his outer-ring motorway merges with civil liability to the victims, which wounds on city outskirts MALAGA MARBELLA the motorway from central Malaga, was also ruled on by the court, a :: SUR. Police have broken up a gang :: SUR. Police have arrested five close to Torremolinos. compensation payment of 1.44 mil- MALAGA that pretended to be Guardia Civil people in connection with a net- The judgement states that the lion euros was set, which will have :: F. TORRES. A body was found officers to steal from drug traffick- work of motorcycle riders who dis- off-duty officer was going at the very to be paid by the former officer to with gunshot wounds on Sunday ers and business people. The seven tributed cocaine on demand. As high speed of 149 km/h on a 120 the families. The judge also decided by the sewage treatment works members were surprised while hold- part of recent searches of proper- km/h motorway, which also had a that the man is free to return home on the Guadalhorce industrial es- ing a meeting to launder 480,000 ties in the Marbella area, 17 kilos lower limit of 100 km/h on that par- as the risk of escape is minimal while tate, near Malaga airport. The dis- euros on behalf of a drug gang at of cocaine were found. More than ticular stretch. He was found to be the period for a possible appeal of covery was made shortly before which they falsely claimed they were 1.2 million euros of their personal under the influence of drink and the sentence ends. 1pm and the male victim was re- undercover police in order to make property, including luxury cars, drugs, having taken a large amount The victims were in a family group moved for autopsy. The investi- off with the cash. The gang operated has been frozen by a judge pend- of cocaine, “which affected his men- from the Middle East who had just gation continues. in Malaga, Seville and Madrid. ing a fuller investigation. tal ability to drive and control of the arrived at Malaga station on holiday. March 22nd to 28th 2019 5 SUR IN ENGLISH NEWS Britons accused of kidnapping Latvian woman tell court they don’t know what happened to her
Westley Capper and Craig provincial court. asked the club’s doorman to close the Porter answered The young woman was last seen car door and, after taking some co- leaving the Aqwa Mist nightclub in caine, they drove out of the car park questions in the provincial Puerto Banús on 6 September 2014 heading for his house on the El court on Monday about and getting into a car with the de- Madroñal estate. the disappearance of fendants. The prosecution says that Minutes later, he said, Agnese video footage shows that Agnese was asked him to stop the car because she Agnese Klavina forced into the car against her will. wanted to get out. He dropped her She has not been seen since. off at the Ronda road roundabout, :: J. CANO / Á. FRÍAS In court on the first day of the trial, he said, as she told him she lived MALAGA. The two British men ac- Capper, whose defence is calling for nearby, even though her home was cused of the kidnapping of a Latvian his acquittal, said that he met Agnese really two kilometres away. woman in Marbella in 2014, told a that night in the club and had a few Malaga court on Monday that they drinks with her and her female friend. Drugs and alcohol did not know where she was. He then suggested, he said, that they He and Porter, he said, carried on to Westley Capper, the son of Brit- went back to his house to continue his home where they took more drugs ish multimillionaire John Capper, partying and Agnese agreed. and drank alcohol. and Craig Porter, face prison sen- The young woman had been Craig Porter confirmed in court tences of 12 years and damages of drunk, he said, and stumbled on the that he had gone back to Capper’s more than 80,000 euros for the dis- way to the car, which is why he had home where they continued “the appearance of Agnese Klavina. The to grab her arm to hold her up. party” by themselves. He told the trial began on Monday in Malaga’s According to Capper’s story, he court, however, that he didn’t remem- ber anything about what happened on the journey there from the night- club as he fell asleep in the car. In court on Monday the nightclub’s door- man said that the woman got into the car of her own accord and he had to close the door twice because the first time it didn’t close properly. “Nothing unusual” On Tuesday Agnese’s sister, called as a witness, told the court that there was nothing unusual going on in her life and that she had never said she wanted to disappear. The missing girl’s mother and a male friend also stated that she lived a normal life. Everything in her apart- ment, they said, had been left in its place, just as it would be if someone goes out and expects to return home a few hours later. There was no indi- cation that she might have planned The defendants in the courtroom on Monday. :: F. SILVA to disappear of her own accord.
Seven arrested in connection with death of man abducted in Estepona Images from the security footage released by the police. :: SUR Police say Agnese’s experts is analysing body lan- guage said that Capper invades Brian Martos Carmona more detentions have not been gestures show “fear” the young woman’s intimate was forced into a vehicle ruled out. in CCTV footage space which indicates a threat Brian Martos was not killed by and she moves backwards “to near busy bars in a bullet to the head, nor was he recover her space”. The images October last year and stabbed, as initial reports stated, In court on Tuesday police spe- show a struggle in which the his body was found an but he was shot in the arm and cialists explained their conclu- woman makes defensive ges- the bullet went through his side, sions after analysing the CCTV tures while the defendant hour and a half later in damaging his lungs and heart. footage showing Agnese leaving “holds her tightly by the wrists” Algeciras One of the seven arrested, con- the nightclub and getting in the explained the officers who went sidered to be the victim’s killer, car with Capper and Porter. on to describe how in the se- :: J. CANO / Á. FRÍAS was sent to prison without bail They explained that the last im- quence of her getting into the MALAGA. Seven people have this week. Another four suspects ages of the missing woman car shows that her dominant been arrested in connection with have been charged but released on show that she was afraid. The emotion is “fear”. the death of Brian Carmona, the bail and two more were due to ap- 27-year-old who was violently pear before a judge on Thursday. forced into a vehicle in front of The men were armed and wear- customers of busy bar terraces on ing balaclavas when they reached 2 October last year in the Plaza de the terrace where the victim was Ortiz in Estepona. His body having a drink on the night of 2 turned up just an hour and a half October. Carmona attempted to later near Algeciras. flee the scene and shots were fired National Police have now ar- as the men chased. Eventually he rested seven people in connec- was bundled into the vehicle by tion with his death, although The square in Estepona. :: EFE force. 6 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH A popular recipe for hiding drugs
Traffickers often camouflage their drugs among food items... but why? used to check for the presence of drugs in the lorry, by masking the scent of the hashish with the smell FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND FISH of the onions. Sardines Hashish hidden among boxes of fish before JUAN ÁLVARO freezing CANO FRÍAS On this occasion, the product cho- [email protected] sen by the drug traffickers came [email protected] from the sea. In 2013, the National MALAGA. They have been found Police in Malaga broke up an or- hidden in an artificial leg, the brake ganisation which was bringing fluid of a lorry, avocados in a ware- hashish into the country, hidden house, tins of sardines and even 2 among sardines. The drug was cam- inside the body of a pet dog. The ouflaged inside the boxes of fish inventiveness of traffickers when before being frozen in Morocco, looking for ways to hide their drugs making a compact block between constantly tests those whose mis- the sardines and the drugs, which sion it is to find them: the State made it difficult for Customs to security forces. detect. However, the authorities If there is one recurring factor, 1 discovered the system and confis- though, it is food. That became cated around 900 kilos of the drug. clear several months ago with ‘Op- eración Bananero’, the biggest haul Bananas (made of plastic) of cocaine in the history of Malaga Pieces of hollow fruit filled and the second biggest in Spain with cocaine and Europe. More than 6,300 ki- It was not the first time, nor the los of white powder, which once last, that an organisation hid co- cut and adulterated would have caine in a container of bananas, sold for more than one billion euros but it was the first time that the on the black market, were camou- drugs were hidden in hollow fruit flaged among tons of bananas. Yes: made of plastic. In an attempt to bananas. Which raises the ques-q fool the police checks, the traffick- tion, why do the traffickers choose ers filled the fake bananas with to hideide their drugs among fruit, 4 the cocaine and spread them out fish or frozen foods? among real pieces of fruit in boxes Thehe answeranswer ffromrom an oofficerfficer eex-x- 1. BoxesBoxes ofof babananasnanas werewe used to hide in different pallets. The police dis- periencedenced in the fight against drug 3 the 6,300 kilos of cocacocaine discovered in covered this trick in 2011, arrested traffickingficking is logical: “Because it is Malaga a few months aago. :: SUR those responsible and confiscated not an easy decision for sanitary a cargo of 162 kilos of cocaine reasonsons and the cold chain, to open 2. A blow for the organorganisation which was which had come from Ecuador. the containers. Just think, if you’re hidihidingng cocaine amongam tofu, hazel- wrongng and the cargo goes bad, you nut cream and frozen food. :: SUR Chard run the risk of lelegalgal action and a de- More than 2,000 kilos of mandd for compensation”. 3.3 TheThe GuardiaGuardia Civil found hashish among tons of Thehe organisation behind the mas- hhahashishshish among tonst of onions in chard sive haul of cocaine discovered in Almogía.AAlmogía. :: SUR This time, the drugs were travelling Malagaaga used that strategy, although in another lorry full of chard. Twelve withh a twist. They had de- 4. The police identified a group sending tons of the vegetable were used by signeded a business struc-struc- hashish from Morocco to Malaga an organisation to hide 2,200 kilos ture which iim-m- hidden among boxes ofo sardines. :: SUR of hashish travelling from Malaga porteded such a to France. The Guardia Civil inter- volumeme of mer- 5. They made plastic babananas, filled cepted the lorry in 2016 and detained chandisendise tthathat it them with cocaine and hid them among the leader of the group, who were gavee it the ap- the real fruit. :: SUR hiding their drugs among vegetables pearanceance of lelegal-gal- 5 in refrigerated lorries. Thanks to the ity. In fact, the leader’s knowledge of the transport 6,30000 kilos of co- sector, he used to choose the time cainee entered SpainSpain via when large numbers of lorries car- Portugalugal in 70 con- difficult to detect, because it meant againstagainst a band of Dutch traffickers transportitransportingng the drugs. rying this type of product were cross- tainersers of bananas. In checking thousands of pieces of who were bringing cocaine into the ing the border, in the hope that the otherr words, it was like fruit to find the drugs. However, country in containers of frozen food. Onions checks would not be very stringent. lookinging for like a needle in December 2017 an investigation They wrapped the drug really well A methodmethod tot confuse the in a haystack. by the National Police and the Tax and then submerged it in containers sniffer dogsdog Lettuce Thehe followingfollowing are just some of AgAgencyency resulted in one of these of hazelnut cream and tofu, which The Guardia Civil called it ‘Oper- Marihuana hidden in a lorry the operations uncovered in Malaga cargos being intercepted, and the were then frozen and transported in ación Caribe’.Caribe In 2015, they discov- heading for Ireland whichch demonstrate the preferred arrest of the man believed believed respon- refrigeratedrefrigerated lorlorriesries together wiwithth ered a method meth used by an organi- It was all apparently innocuous. A methods used by traffickers to hide sible: a 72-year-old who was con- other products such as prawn crack- sation of Spanish and Italian traf- lorry loaded with more than 20 tons their drugs. sidered the biggest cocaine traf- ers and Chinese rice which did not fickers, the latter believed to have of lettuce, packed into boxes, left Al- ficker in North Africa. Although contain drugs. This was a very de- links with the Camorra of Naples, haurín de la Torre and set off for Ire- Pineapples Moroccan, he was arrested in tailed method, to the point that in to bring hashish into Spain and land. However, Guardia Civil and Na- A haul of 990 kilos from the Malaga, which is where he ran his order to lay a false trail, the traffick- then transport it to Italy. The net- tional Police officers had information biggest cocaine trafficker in businesses. In total, officers inter- ers falsified a well-known brand of work was based in Almogía, in from the Irish Garda Siochana, warn- North Africa cepted 990 kilos of the drug. s. fast food which is very popular in Malaga province, where the police ing that a network of Irish citizens He started with hashish, but soon Holland, which is where the drugs had to roll up their sleeves and set who were living in Malaga were ex- moved on to the cocaine business, Tofu and hazelnut cream were being taken. As a result of the to work to find the 1,200 kilos of porting something which wasn’t ex- using an ingenious method to hide Refrigerated lorries to police operation 550 kilos of cocaine hashish which the group had hid- actly a salad vegetable. When the lorry the drug: in cylinders covered in a transport frozen food were seized, but it also served to in- den among tons of onions. By us- was intercepted, the officers found type of yellow wax, hidden among Last August, the National Police car- form them about a previously un- ing this method, they had hoped 170 kilos of marihuana hidden among pineapples. That made it extremely ried out an important operation seen and very unusual method of to fool any sniffer dogs which were the lettuces. March 22nd to 28th 2019 SUR IN ENGLISH 7 8 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH
WAITING BY PROVINCE Over 100,000 people with dependency Almeria. 6,197 waiting to be given a personal action plan / as- sessment (PIA) and 18,865 bene- needs waiting to be seen in the region fiting. Cadiz. 13,609 waiting for their PIA and 26,211 benefiting.
The new PP-Cs Junta tional Dependency Law. Cordoba. 6,620 waiting and coalition claims that the Bendodo, accompanied by the re- 22,248 benefiting. gional minister for Social Policy, outgoing PSOE party hid Rocío Ruiz, said that they had found Granada. 11,896 waiting and 34,733 from the waiting 34,733 previously- unaccounted- 25,558 already benefiting. list for social care or for applicants that were omitted from official reporting statistics as Huelva. 4,576 waiting and support and announces they were still waiting for the ini- 15,687 already benefiting an emergency injection tial assessment and to see if they of 77 million euros qualified. Jaén. 3,660 waiting and 25,522 already benefiting. Malaga affected :: MARÍA DOLORES TORTOSA Some 12,00 people in Malaga prov- Malaga. 12,114 waiting for a SEVILLE. More than 100,00 peo- ince are either waiting to be assessed ersona assesment/action plan ple with dependency needs, includ- or waiting to hear if they qualify for and 33,521 already benefiting ing the elderly and the disabled, are the extra support, according to the waiting to be assessed and to receive Junta data. Seville. 12,722 waiting for social care support in Andalucía. The Dependency Law grades peo- The Dependency Law provides extra support to those in need. :: SUR their personal action plan and The data was released this week ple according to their need. To qual- 44,601 already benefiting from and is according to Elias Bendodo, ify, applicants need a formal assess- million euros to try to clear the back- The PSOE party, which ran the the scheme. spokesperson for the new PP-Cs ad- ment and it is this long wait that log, similar to the scheme recently service until recently, reacted an- ministration at the Junta de Anda- has been criticised. announced to reduce waiting lists grily, saying that including people lucía, which is responsible for de- The Junta has announced an in hospitals and outpatients depart- that may not even qualify counted livering social care under Spain’s na- emergency injection of funds of 77 ments. as “manipulation” of the data.
Hospital Costa del Sol extension Regional hospitals to start carrying out operations on will be finished soon, says Junta Saturdays to clear backlog
The new regional still going on behind the scenes to Bautista was talking to media Initially the plan will centage of people waiting”. government wants to recover the licence contract for op- with the new director of the Costa focus on centres with The new regional government erating the new extension. In par- del Sol local health district, Luisa has allocated 25.5 million euros end the arms-length- ticular, he said, the 12 million euros Lorenzo. He added that the presi- the longest waiting lists to the plan and Aguirre said that company status of the that has been released to be able dent of the Junta, Juanma Moreno in Almeria, Huelva and the work would be carried out “a hospital and reintegrate to cancel the contract with the and the regional minister of health Granada provinces. hundred per cent with our net- original company that was to build Jesús Aguirre were taking a per- work and our people”, however it in the full Andalusian and operate the extension, is go- sonal interest in getting the hos- he added that if they couldn’t health service ing through the last bureaucratic pital finished and open. :: SUR reach their targets they would hurdles within the Junta. “When ALMERIA. The new regional outsource, which is something they give the OK, we’ll pass this Public financing minister for Health, Jesús Aguirre, the previous PSOE government document to the management at The regional health service still said this week in Almeria that a had also done. :: MÓNICA PÉREZ the hospital and then to the re- hopes to finish the extension, new plan will come into force on The specialist areas with most MARBELLA. “We’ll have the ex- gional government for approval. which has been paralysed for many 1 April to reduce waiting lists for people waiting are traumatology, tension to our hospital facilities years, with public money, rather surgery in the region’s hospitals, ophthalmic, general surgery and in the not-too-distant future. Out to tender than the original private financ- with some operating theatres urology. There’ll be no need to wait 15 years Once this phase is over, Bautista ing model that stalled over a dis- opening on Saturdays . The outgoing Junta de Anda- more. It will be within the dura- went on to say, “The project com- pute over fee income planned for He said that initially the re- lucía had said there were 71,868 tion of this regional parliament.” pletion will be put out to tender the new operators from a car park gional health service would pri- people waiting to be operated on This announcement was made and we’ll get back this important onsite and other disagreements. oritise those who “have been at the end of June last year, how- by the provincial delegate for part of the hospital so it is up and Bautista also said that the plan waiting for the telephone to ring ever the new PP-Cs government Health of the Junta de Andalucía, running as soon as possible and was to integrate the whole Costa for at least a year”, and also the claims that there were 86,147 Carlos Bautista, who was explain- there are more healthcare profes- del Sol Hospital back into the provinces of Almeria, Huelva and more people that should have ing on a visit to the Costa del Sol sionals and operating theatres health service and not run it as an Granada “where there are the been included on the lists in the Hospital in Marbella that work is working. arms-length company anymore. hospitals with the highest per- Andalucía region. March 22nd to 28th 2019 9 SUR IN ENGLISH NEWS
had caused a split which culminated Plan to reduce train this week with Fernández stepping Ex-mayor of Torremolinos says he down completely from the PP after fares between the 43 years as a member. four stations in won’t stand again and quits PP In his resignation announcement he didn’t hold back in his criticism Fuengirola to of the current local PP chief. Pre- senting a file with his accusations, encourage local use he questioned Del Cid’s financial af- The once all-powerful fairs, including “fraudulent” sepa- Pedro Fernández Montes ration of assets with her husband :: IVÁN GELIBTER and debt in family business affairs. FUENGIROLA. The mayor of has said he will support He claimed that regional PP head, Fuengiola has been in touch with candidates of the Elias Bendodo, hadn’t allowed a free Renfe over the possibility of re- independent Por Mi vote of party members to decide Del ducing the fare on the Cercaniás Cid’s’ local leadership “because he rail line for the four stations that Pueblo party knew that Margarita didn’t have their run through the municipality. support”. The idea, which came from the :: IVÁN GELIBTER On Margarita del Cid, he said, “her Ciudadanos group on the coun- TORREMOLINOS. The former long- marriage is deep in debt”. “How can cil, is to have cheaper fares for standing mayor of Torremolinos has a person in that situation run a town short hops between the stations announced that he is leaving the hall when she can’t even keep her and so create a form of urban conservative Partido Popular (PP) own house in order?” he explained. metro in Fuengirola. and looks set to lend his support to Fernández Montes announced Currently the fare is 1.80 euros the independent political group, Por that he will be supporting the Por per trip and the idea presented Mi Pueblo. Mi Pueblo party which is expanding to Renfe is to get the fare down Pedro Fernández Montes was its influence ahead of May’s elec- to close to one euro for journeys mayor of Torremolinos for two dec- tions in many towns and village s between the four local stations ades from 1995 to 2015 before los- Fernández Montes announces he is standing down. :: IVAN GELIBTER in the province on a platform of lo- of Fuengirola, Los Boliches, Tor- ing his majority and a minority PSOE cal action and independence. reblanca and Carvajal on the C1 council taking over. as the provincial leaders of the party town and therefore candidate to be In reply Del Cid said, “The only Fuengirola-Malaga line. Since stepping down, Fernández sought to refresh its leadership. They mayor in May’s local election. thing I want is for everyone to keep Renfe is said to be studying Montes has been involved in a high- imposed Margarita del Cid as the The downgrading of the former their cool and work positively towards the idea, which would be via a profile civil war within the local PP leader of the local PP group in the mayor’s position within the town a common goal for Torremolinos.” form of prepaid ‘bonotren’ card.
Jellyfish-free zones to be set up on some Marbella beaches
Last year 80 tonnes of jellyfish were scooped out of west Costa waters; now with nets and floats, councillors aim to make bathing more pleasant
:: MÓNICA PÉREZ MARBELLA. The councillor for Beaches in Marbella, Manuel Car- deña, has announced he will set up special jellyfish-free areas in the wa- ter on some beaches this summer. :: SALVADOR SALAS Local data shows that some 80 tonnes of organic debris, mostly jel- DOLPHINS IN THE PORT OF MALAGA lyfish, was removed from western Costa waters last summer as the area A small pod of dolphins was spotted inside the enclosed area of suffered from frequent swarms put- A surface-rubbish-removal boat for use alongside beaches. :: J-L the port of Malaga last Saturday, near to the Muelle Uno shopping ting bathers off. area. Experts from the Aula de Mar marine study centre were on Now Marbella believes that it has on a zone in the water screened by Beaches will include San Pedro, the quayside for several hours to observe them. They said that, come up with part of a solution by a net and floats. On days when there Puerto Banús, Nueva Andalucía, Es- unusually, two species were playing together in the water that day; asking the several floating play-park are a lot of jelly fish in the water, trella de Mar and Marbella Playa in the sociable bottlenose and the more solitary striped dolphin. operators in the municipality to add bathers will be able to swim there. Las Chapas. 10 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH Puerto Banús bullring to reopen in June with a full programme of events
Work is being carried out to adapt the old Plaza del Toros and create a multi- purpose arena suitable for cultural and sporting events
:: NIEVES CASTRO MARBELLA. The old bullring at Puerto Banús, which has been closed since 2010, is undergoing extensive works to convert it into the multi- purpose Marbella Arena, a venue for cultural and sporting events. The company responsible for the renovations, Grupo Teatro Goya, has invested 30 million euros in the project which will adapt the bullring to make it suitable for all sorts of shows, concerts, exhibi- tions and presentations. The first phase is due to be com- pleted this May and the arena will :: JOSELE-LANZA be ready to open its doors towards Work being carried out in the Plaza del Toros. :: JOSELE-LANZA the end of June. WARRIOR NUNS TAKE MARBELLA Sunset Events, the firm respon- sible for the programme of events reggae, jazz, Indie and Latin con- family; a night of Spanish pop mu- The first scenes of a new series for Netflix, Warrior Nun were filmed scheduled to take place this sum- certs lined up, but also sports sic; Cuban artiste Pablo Milanés; a last week in the Plaza de Iglesia in Marbella. The production group mer, is planning to offer a diverse events and theatre performances. Hip Hop festival; a Latino festival; Fresco Film are planning to shoot scenes in Antequera, Ronda, range of entertainment. Among the major events they a musical My Way about the life Malaga and Marbella until the end of June. The team of 140 people, This will not feature just live have confirmed for the summer of Frank Sinatra and a concert by including actors and technicians, also filmed inside the Villa del Mar, music, although they already have are flamenco stars Diego ‘El Cigala’, The Wailers, Bob Marley’s legen- the most exclusive property at the Hotel Marbella Club. classical, pop, rock, hip-hop, folk, Navajita Plateá and Farruco and dary band. March 22nd to 28th 2019 SUR IN ENGLISH 11 12 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH
Among those taking on the core- St George changes name to champion role were; Malaga gour- met chef, José Carlos García, rep- The British School of Malaga resenting aspiration; SUR journal- ist, Pilar Rodríguez Quirós, repre- senting communication; and Brit- :: SUR The relaunch took place last Fri- ish artist, Felicity Hindmarsh, rep- MALAGA. A well-known English- day, 15 March, at an event attended resenting creativity. language private school in Malaga by members of the school commu- The eight champions, with help city has been marking its official nity and local area. from the students, each planted name change. St George, in the It was a student-led event, with a tree in the school grounds. east of the city, is now known as eight prominent members of the The morning ended with cello, The British School of Málaga after school and local community asked violin and piano recitals from stu- it joined the International Schools to become champions of the dents and speeches from the prin- Partnership Group. school’s eight core values. cipal, Fiona Lee-Allan. The event was attended by school and community members. :: SUR
Belgian investors eyeing up city’s old post office
Before it can be The building, which has been auctioned, debt and wrapped in protective netting and suffers from graffiti on its lowest disagreement between floor, was handed over to the re- different local authorities gional government by Madrid in need to be sorted out 2010 as a way of cancelling out a his- toric debt of 30 million euros be- tween the two public bodies. :: JESÚS HINOJOSA The situation was further com- MALAGA. The Correos building, plicated by an embargo placed on once Malaga city’s main post office, its sale by the Diputación provin- is getting closer to being bought and cial authority over a debt the Junta redeveloped, and it looks like a group has outstanding with them. Sources of Belgian investors is the most in- say that only around 1.5 million terested so far. euros is still outstanding, meaning However the building has been the embargo could be lifted soon. blighted by a game of pass the par- However the final hurdle has cel between different public authori- still to be jumped as the Junta still ties, and getting it to a stage where needs to get the city council to it can be bought and turned into a change the site’s planning desig- hotel has so far been far from easy. nation. Currently it is earmarked The modern block, on the edge for public use but councillors needs of the city centre near El Corte to update its status to allow a pri- Inglés, has been an eyesore for some vate business to use it. However time. The Junta de Andalucía, the the town hall has so far said ‘no’ as current owner, needs to arrange a it wants the Junta to give the city public bidding process in order for a similar-sized piece of public in- anyone to buy it. frastructure in compensation.
The old post office building has been disused for some time. :: SUR
Malaga’s telephone of 300 across Malaga, only half are used each day. As such, there are plans boxes to become to turn several into tourist informa- tion centres. These new facilities will information points feature tablets equipped with de- tailed local maps showing key infor- mation such as monuments and at- :: JUAN SOTO tractions with their opening hours. MALAGA. The council in Malaga They will complement the city’s six plans to give a new lease of life to staffed tourist information centres, several of the city’s disused telephone and will be accessible 24/7, unlike boxes. The rise of mobile phones has the existing centres, which are only contributed in recent years to a huge open from 09:00-18:00 (or 22:00 dur- fall in the use of telephone boxes – ing designated periods). March 22nd to 28th 2019 SUR IN ENGLISH 13 14 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH Award winning motorhome park is full to capacity with international visitors
Aerial view of the motorhome park in Malaga, which is IGNACIO usually full at this LILLO time of year. [email protected] :: ÑITO SALAS This method of travelling has become so popular that the park has to turn away about 20 motorhomes a day in the winter months, which is peak season
MALAGA. An idea by two friends, veteran motorhome travellers, has become a prosperous business which is so busy that it has put up the ‘No Vacancies’ sign during the winter, which is peak season. “We were in Tarifa about two years ago, and it oc- curred to us that there is nowhere in Malaga for people who have come from Europe and want a high qual- ity park to stay in,” says Francisco More than half the Jiménez, co-owner of the business. This is actually a second line of clients are from Germany business for both of them, because or France and they stay they also have other jobs. “Every for two months hobby which is done with love and care turns out well,” says Francisco, and the motorhome park has already received two top European awards. 100 motorhomes, with spaces for nor- “We wanted to be different, not just mal-sized and ‘long body’ (over eight a parking area. We thought about metres) vehicles. They have drink- what we would like to have, and that ing water and electricity, sewage dis- was the concept we worked on”. posal and rubbish recycling bins. There There are five members of staff , is also an ecological shop selling prod- all of whom speak other languages, ucts from Malaga, a massage area and and upon arrival clients are given a bar. The cost is around 10 to 12 euros maps of Malaga, information about per vehicle per day. “A lot of people buses, taxis, car hire and recommen- come for a few days or a week, but dations of places to visit. Although it some stay for a month or two because is part of Malaga city, the park is very they fall in love with Malaga,” says close to La Cala del Moral. Francisco. The owners called the park The result is a small village of about Tourists soaking up the sun outside their motorhome. :: ÑITO SALAS ‘Malaga Beach’ to highlight the prox- March 22nd to 28th 2019 15 SUR IN ENGLISH NEWS
An enjoyable way of life for long-term visitors and permanent residents imity to the city and its attractions. French, and the others are mostly They are already receiving repeat Scandinavian, British, Belgian and bookings. Dutch. Although it may come as a People from Malaga fast in the sun,” adds Bernarda, who surprise to many, these visitors have who are living in their is also happy that she can walk her Increasingly popular money to spend. dog on the beach a few metres away. Between 3,000 and 4,000 mo- “People think motorhomes are a motorhome talk about “It’s a different way of life. You torhomes use the park during the cheap market, but it absolutely is their day-to-day life on have to be someone who isn’t ma- year, mainly retired couples in the not. They all eat out at least once a the park terialistic, and have a bit of hippie winter and families with children day, they go shopping, hire cars, al- blood in you, but the quality of this in the summer. The park offers bi- most as if they were in a hotel, and life can’t be beaten,” says Manuel. cycle hire and will soon be intro- it is becoming more popular every :: I. LILLO He also likes the fact that all the ducing scooters as well. High sea- year,” says Jiménez. MALAGA. Among a mixture of neighbours are foreign, polite and son in this business is from Decem- In winter there are queues to get conversations, most of them in make no noise. “It’s like a commune ber to April, because that is when in to the park and they have to turn German and French, outside the where everyone helps everyone else. retired travellers from all over away up to 20 motorhomes a day be- motorhomes at the Malaga Beach When someone tells me it’s a shame Europe come for the sunshine in cause there is no room. However, in park, we hear one in Spanish, be- I live in a motorhome I tell them southern Spain. In some cases, they summer it is normally only full at tween two of the three residents that it’s just like having an apart- are living in mansions on wheels weekends and during the August Fair. of Malaga who spend most of ment 20 metres from the sea,” he worth more than 300,000 euros, Many motorhome travellers bring their time here. Bernarda has a says. He also uses his vehicle to drive and the Andalusian coast is on their their pets with them, especially home in the city and when she Manuel at home. :: ÑITO SALAS to other places for work. habitual route, competing with dogs, and the park is beside the only retired and cashed in her pension Many motorhome owners from other southern destinations includ- beach in the city where dogs are per- plan she decided to invest in a who is divorced and wanted to northern Europe were just pass- ing Portugal and Morocco. When mitted to run free. small motorhome, which she move closer to his daughters. “In- ing through but ended up staying we visited, many of the clients were It is clear to see that the world of shares with her dog. “I’m much stead of buying an apartment I for several months. “They’re nearly ‘at home’ and were relaxing, dressed motorhomes is an increasingly popu- happier here than at home, where bought one of these and I’m happy all retired and they live comfort- in tee-shirts and shorts. lar form of tourism, but it is also I’d just sit and watch TV all day,” living like this,” he says. able lives, with good pensions and About half the clients on the proving to be a profitable business she says, smiling. “There’s nothing like getting up luxury motorhomes. They live like Malaga Beach park are German or for Malaga and the Costa del Sol. Parked next to her is Manuel, in the morning and having break- kings here,” says Manuel.
THE BUSIEST DAYS
The peak cruising season will bring 11 April. This will be the day with the most activity this sea- son, as four ships carrying a total about 180,000 passengers to Malaga of 13,256 passengers will be ar- riving in Malaga.
A total of 113 ships are neraries,” say sources at the compa- 9 May. Three ships will coin- expected, and this ny. In addition to these cruises, whe- cide at the Port, carrying 10,606 re passengers stay at least one night passengers between them. season the tourism in the city before leaving or upon arri- industry is trying to ving, Pullmantur has a further three 23 May. Three cruise ships with attract more luxury scheduled during this period. 9,950 passengers will arrive in Malagaport has also announced a Malaga Port. cruise liners new initiative, ‘Parking at your de- parture port’, in conjunction with 31 March. Three cruise ships :: PILAR MARTÍNEZ the cruise company, so passengers with 9,770 passengers are expected. MALAGA. The peak season for who arrive in a private car can leave cruises is beginning at Malaga Port, it parked near the terminal while they 27 April. A busy day in terms of and from 20 March to 30 June, 113 are away. arrivals, with five ships carrying ships are expected to visit the capi- 4,406 passengers. tal city of the Costa del Sol, carrying New visitors 180,000 passengers, according to fig- A total of 14 cruise ships will be visi- ures from Malaga port. Here, the arri- Seven of the 11 ships due to visit Malaga are luxury cruisers. :: F. SILVA ting Malaga for the first time, inclu- ella Cruises company, part of TUI val of spring marks the start of the ding Royal Caribbean’s new ‘Spec- Group. “Other companies who are busiest months for this sector, with luxury cruise tourism, and Malaga is fact, during the next few months trum of the Seas’, for whom Malaga regular visitors, such as Norwegian 43 cruise ships due to arrive in April very well positioned for that as its seven of the 11 cruise liners which will be the first stop after leaving the Cruise Line, MSC Cruceros and AIDA and in May. The only month which terminal at El Palmeral is just metres are scheduled to come to Malaga are shipyard. This giant of the seas will Cruises will be using Malaga again is busier is October, when 46 liners from the historic city centre. Sources within that category. arrive on 16 April, during Holy Week. this season, and other ships designed are scheduled to visit. at Malaga port say that half of all cruise “The Seadream, Sea Cloud and Another landmark this season for more exclusive tourism will be The new peak season is marked by passengers who arrive in Malaga each Crystal Cruises companies have cho- will be the first visit by the ‘Marella visiting for the first time,” say efforts within the sector to attract year are on board ‘premium’ ships. In sen Malaga to start and end their iti- Explorer 2’, from the British Mar- sources at the Port. 16 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS SUR IN ENGLISH
HERE AND THERE Wind and heat spread two Child recovering after fires in under 24 hours bouncy castle accident Nerja - Torrox harbour come of it. The mayor of Torrox Óscar Medina, said the project was, plans reinitiated “fundamental for social, economic TORROX PERIANA and tourism development in the Ax- :: E. C. Emergency services were :: A. P. An eight-year-old girl is recov- TORROX arquía.” Navarro also spoke of the called to two separate fires in the ering well at the Axarquía hospital :: E. C. A proposal to reactivate plans need “not to copy the western Costa Torrox area last weekend. The first after falling off a bouncy castle dur- to build a harbour between Torrox del Sol” as she said that the Axar- broke out in a field of stubble by the ing the San José celebrations in Peri- and Nerja was one of the main items quía “has different characteristics” Torrox to Cómpeta road, while the ana last Sunday. Strong winds caused on the agenda during a visit to the and that the area needs to consider second started in greenhouses in the ropes tying the inflatable castle Axarquía on Tuesday by Patricia Na- the concept of “ecotourism.” The re- the Pecho la Torre area of El Mor- to give way. The girl, who is from the varro from the regional government, gional politician also visited che. Both are believed to have spread Periana area, was on the castle with the Junta de Andalucía. The idea has Almáchar and Vélez-Málaga, where due to the high temperatures and five other children who did not need been on the cards for a number of the reinstatement of the town’s strong winds the area experienced medical attention. The girl’s injuries years, although nothing has ever tram system was discussed. last Saturday and Sunday. The fire in Torrox. :: AXARQUIA PLUS are not said to be serious.
Clubs and societies set to celebrate Funding to turn Roman 20 years of Nerja’s Residents’ Day villa into a museum
Spain’s Ministry of Public believed to date from the seventh The event will start at Works is going to invest Century BC until the 3rd Century, 12pm in the Plaza de have been found in the Granadil- 70 per cent of the total to las and Arroyo Benagalbón streams España and will include a continue the excavations in Torre de Benagalbón, which be- programme of live music and preservation of the longs to Rincón de la Victoria. and dancing as well as The project, which is one of five Roman remains in Malaga province announced by presentations of the ministry in June 2018, will donations to charities :: SUR culminate in an indoor museum RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA. designed to showcase and preserve :: JENNIE RHODES Spain’s Ministry of Public Works the settlement. NERJA. Nerja will be celebrating (Ministerio de Fomento) has an- The only other monument to 20 years of Residents’ Day this Sun- nounced that it will invest receive money from the fund in day, 24 March, from 12pm on Plaza 700,000 euros in a project to turn the Axarquía is Vélez-Málaga’s Is- de España. The aim is to bring resi- a Roman discovery in Rincón de lamic fortress. dents, visitors and holiday makers la Victoria into a museum. Speaking after the funding was together, along with the numerous Speaking last week, the town’s confirmed last week, Salado ex- clubs, societies and charities that are mayor, Francisco Salado, said that pressed his satisfaction that the based in the town. the ministry would cover 70 per project will “be a unique testa- This year 39 clubs and societies, cent of the one million euro pro- ment to the town’s history, which including Cudeca Cancer Hospice, ject, which will see the comple- until now has not seen the light various animal charities, interna- tion of an excavation project of day.” tional organisations, the town hall which started in 1989. He added that the project would and businesses will have stalls around Archaeologists discovered the leave “an important legacy to the plaza, which is located behind remains of a small Roman baths, show visitors the magnitude of the town hall near to the Balcón de along with mosaics and tombs in the settlement and the impor- Europa. 1989, and since then other pieces, tance of Roman coastal towns.” Su Maull from the Cudeca Hos- Visitors enjoying Residents’ Day last year. :: JENNIE RHODES pice, which has been participating in the event for many years, said: “On month the 41 Club presented the they do for the local community. This our stall you’ll find a tombola, a se- Nerja-based Taller de la Amistad will be followed at approximately lection of clothes from our Nerja shop (which will also be attending) with 3.20pm with the presentation of a and hand-crafted items donated by a 500 euro cheque. cheque from the AIC to the Cruz Roja one of our customers. All the money In addition to the stalls, six of the (Red Cross), which will also have a raised goes towards helping people participating organisations will also stall at the event. Red Cross volun- with cancer.” be running bars, selling typical food teer, Richard Weale, said, “The stall Peter MacLeod, from the 41 Club, and drinks from the different coun- will be staffed by English-speaking said: “We welcome the opportunity tries represented. There will be mu- volunteers and we will be able to an- to promote our club. We have nearly sic and dancing on the stage through- swer questions about activities for 50 members from 10 different coun- out the day and at midday the town older people and other services.” In tries, with a big social side, monthly hall will be awarding Nerja’s Ameri- the event of rain or strong winds, meetings with speakers as well as the can International Club (AIC) a spe- Residents’ Day will be postponed charity work we do.” Earlier this cial honour in recognition of the work until Sunday 31 March. Image of what the museum will look like. :: SUR March 22nd to 28th 2019 SUR IN ENGLISH 17 18 March 22nd to 28th 2019 NEWS BREXIT SUR IN ENGLISH
Brexit set for British residents in Malaga travel to delay as UK awaits EU’s Article 50 London for the Put it to the People march extension decision
Protesters are calling for mined to have two, three, four :: JENNIE RHODES the people to be votes on her deal, trying to get peo- MALAGA. This week in West- ple to change their minds, despite minster has certainly given consulted before any nothing having changed between marchers attending Saturday’s further decisions on votes. All we are asking is the protest plenty of fuel for thought. Brexit are taken chance to look at all the new in- After MPs voted overwhelmingly formation that has emerged in the for an extension to Article 50 last last two years, and have a second week, on Monday, House of Com- :: JENNIE RHODES referendum, because we know that mons Speaker, John Bercow, re- MALAGA. Numerous Brits living many sensible people have changed jected a third meaningful vote in Malaga will be among at least 100 their minds because of that new on Theresa May’s Withdrawal UK residents in Spain travelling to information.” Agreement, stating that the deal London for Saturday’s Put it to the She added, “I feel I have to had to be “fundamentally differ- People march, to call on the gov- march in London to play a tiny part ent - not in terms of wording, but ernment to give the UK population in showing the government what different in terms of substance,” another chance to vote on Brexit. we want.” for it to be heard again. Following a statement on Biggest march to date Spaniards in London Wednesday evening, during It is expected to be the biggest anti- Carmen Ortega and José Luis Mil- which she once again urged poli- Brexit demonstration to date and let, who are both from Vélez- ticians to unite behind her deal, hundreds of thousands of protest- Málaga but have lived and worked May returned to Brussels on ers will be calling for a people’s as teachers in London for over five Thursday for the Spring EU vote. For many this is a “now or years, are also planning to go to summit to negotiate the exten- never” moment to get their voices the event. sion with the leaders of the re- heard, with less than a week be- Millet told SUR in English, “I maining 27 countries. fore the date set by the British gov- am going to the march because the In an open letter to European ernment for the UK to leave the UK deserves another opportunity Council president, Donald Tusk, EU, and with parliament voting to vote, as politicians lied to the May asked the Council to grant against a second referendum but people and now everyone has seen an extension until 30 June. in favour of extending Article 50 the negative consequences of those However, the Council was ex- last week. lies.” pected to agree to a shorter ex- Bremain in Spain chair, Sue Wil- Bremain in Spain members at the anti Brexit march last October. :: SUR Ortega said, “I have made Lon- tension - until 23 May, which son said in a press release this don my home. I work and pay my is the date of the European Par- week, “If Theresa May can keep lot box, so I’m voting with my Project, Brexpats-Hear our voice taxes here and have a life here now. liament elections. A longer ex- asking parliament the same ques- feet.” Theresa will be meeting up and Españoles en Reino Unido. I have spent the last three years tension would mean the UK tion, how can she deny the public with the Bremain in Spain group Tamara Essex, a British resident worrying about my future and I having to field candidates and a second chance?” who are gathering at Green Park living in Malaga, will also be walk- feel strongly that Brexit is having the EU has made it clear since Theresa O’Shea, an English tube station at 11:30 and will join ing with the Bremain in Spain a huge, negative effect on my life.” the 2016 referendum that Brexit teacher who has lived in Malaga the march from there. group, explained why she decided Anyone travelling to London for needs to have happened to avoid province for over 20 years, is trav- Other groups that represent Brit- to fly to London for the march. the march on Saturday is invited this happening. elling to London especially for the ons abroad and Spanish residents “We are at such a critical mo- to meet up with other Brits and march. She told SUR in English, “I living in the UK to be joining Bre- ment for the future of our coun- Spaniards at Green Park under- wasn’t allowed to vote in the bal- main in Spain include In Limbo try. The Prime Minister is deter- ground station from 11.30am.
May on Wednesday. :: EP