German buys NCO's Residence for €1.4 million

(Photo: sur.es)

TARIFA It had been a dream for many years: Tarifa wanted back the land it had ceded to the Ministry of Defence, located  uniquely within the framework of the Los Maderos tower, but now home to an abandoned building that only accumulated rubbish. But the dream came to an end yesterday when the Ministry confirmed that the Residencia de Suboficiales had been sold at public auction to a German national resident in Marbella. It is an old building, some 1250m2 built by the Ministry on land that had been ceded to it in 1951. But not so many years ago, the alarm went up because it was clearly in a very bad state, after the Ministry stopped using in the 1980s. Other attempts at a sale had been attempted but there were no bidders, possibly because the Council had gone to court to request its return. The Council lost, but so did the building. Its price came down a couple of times but at last, on March 21st, the German buyer came away with its ownership. It appears that his intention is to create a hotel/tourism complex after extensive renovation  work. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION IN THE FUTURE but you can make a donation NOW, too! Please click here for more information on how to help us continue. (This item was translated and edited.)

Regional elections: €50 'in advance'

A curious, rather than furious, reaction to the elections held last Sunday in Andalucía. When they were counting the votes at one of the polling stations in Sanlúcar de Barrameda the officials found inside an electoral envelope, a €50 bill and a note that reads: "The winning party, whichever it might be, is going to cheat and rob me. Therefore I am paying these €50 in advance. If I were you, I would spend them on a couple of drinks at some bar somewhere, and then I would think about the fact that today I have done nothing to improve democracy but rather to destroy the welfare state." The money was handed over to a court, but there is no news as to whether any politician actually saw it all...

3rd most expensive electricity bills go up on Sunday

As we have pointed out before, Spain has the most costly electricity on mainland Europe, after Malta and Cyprus. We have also warned that our bills will be going up on April 1 (fools that we are), although the real costs to our pockets were kept very much up the sleeve of Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism José Manuel Soria. He waited only two days after the regional elections in Andalucía and Asturias (the PP, his party, did not do anywhere near as well as they expected) to announce that the increase would be in the 5% to 7% region for the 20 million consumers using the TUR rate (see Electricity price hikes expected on April 1). This will mean up to another €5.18 on our monthly bills.

Pilots to strike every Monday and Friday

Iberia Express begins operations

SPAIN The Iberia Airlines (part of British Airways) pilots belonging to the SEPLA Union -the majority- voted to strike every Monday and Friday beginning on April 9 until July 20, both dates included. The reason is that they have not been able to reach an agreement with the company about its new low-cost airline Iberia Express, among other things. The latter began operations last Sunday, after the Development Ministry-appointed mediator, former minister Manuel Pimentel, announced that the talks had come to an end. The strikes so far, in December, January and February, have meant some €36million in losses, some €3m per day. It is possible, according to sources, that other unions, covering ground services such as baggage handling and cleaning, may join the pilots by striking as well.

Will this illegal eyesore be knocked down - ever?

SPAIN The saga of the El Algarrobico Hotel at Cabo de Gata, Almería, has been going on for years. It was built totally illegally at a time when the government seemed to say 'anything goes' in the heyday of the country's building boom (the one that is now the cause of such desperate economic measures). The local town authorities, who gave it a permit in 2003 despite knowledge that its construction was not following the then current 1988 coastal protection laws ('no construction at less than 100m of the coastline'), appealed a ruling of last year that declared it illegal. But the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that it is an illegal structure. According to El País, Mar Moreno, the Andalusia government’s chief of staff, said the regional administration was waiting for the green light from the courts to “take a shovel and knock down the building.” If memory serves well, the Junta once took the position that everything was okay, and hoped it would open soon.  Let us hope this is not a case of plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose ('The more things change, the more they stay the same').

CaixaBank and Banca Cívica: too many branches in the same places

Branches in the same village

ANDALUCÍA La Caixa's policy over the years in Andalucía has been to have an office even in the smallest villages and pueblos. As a result, CaixaBank as it is now called, has 637 branches in the region. But Banca Cívica -or rather Cajasol, one of the entities that forms part of it- had the same policy for many years and now has 660 branches in Andalucía. So, with the merger of CaixaBank and Banca Cívica working out the details of the approved takeover, there is a clear duplication of offices in many such places. Nowhere else are the numbers so close. Speaking to employees of both entities this morning over coffee (they still sit at separate tables), the expressions on the Cajasol/Cívica staff were wrinkled with worry, whereas those of La Caixa's lot were smiling rather than not. In other words, the Cajasol employees appear to be expecting to lose their jobs.

Brussels says Spain needs to tap EU rescue fund

SPAIN (El País / Claudi Pérez) European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said a few months back that European citizens are not ready for another round of bank recapitalization, but there may be an exception: Spain. The European Commission believes the Madrid government should tap the European Union rescue fund to accelerate the government-orchestrated restructuring that is already under way in order to get credit flowing again. Brussels believes the restructuring plan introduced by the team of Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, which calls for additional provisions of 52 billion euros by the banks to cover possible losses on real estate assets on their books could be insufficient if the crisis drags on. The restructuring is aimed at fomenting further consolidation in the sector, using when necessary injections from the Deposit Guarantee Fund, which is funded by the banks themselves.>>>

What's the strike all about?

(Photo: AP)

Tomorrow's General Strike is against the Reformas Laborales (Labour Reforms) set out by the new PP government. There are many details, but the cutbacks are expected to scythe through the entire working population, in private and public entities. Briefly, it is much easier now to hire and fire, cut wages, force early retirement, etc. The reform is not as drastic as in Greece, but closer to Britain's (i.e. mainly benefiting business). The byword for strikers is akin to "What happens to the Welfare State?" There is as yet no answer.

How will tomorrow's General Strike affect you?

In case you'd forgotten, there is a General Strike called for tomorrow, Thursday, March 29, beginning at midnight tonight. So, you ask, how will it affect me? In general, most offices and businesses are open, though some may be at minimal staff level. The following is an attempt at warning you of possible consequences: Schools: Your child should have a notice from his/her teacher advising him/her (or you) of the fact that the teacher may or may not turn up for work. In any case the school is open for business, though there may only be a skeleton staff on duty. Universities: Probably not worth going to class, as trouble is expected as usual. Hospitals/Medical Centres: Staff are expected to back strike as cutbacks will impact here particularly. Expect skeleton nursing and administrative staff, but not particularly from doctors and specialists. Shops: they are all open, though smaller ones in larger towns and cities may choose to close because of pickets. Banks/Post Offices: open as usual with just a few on strike if at all. Airports: open but probably understaffed, so expect delays. Public Transport: Minimally staffed, expect delays. Petrol stations: open for business as usual. No regional trains or buses will be operating. PICKETS & DEMOS: These may be present just about anywhere (e.g. the Frontier in La Línea, in front of the larger stores such as Carrefour), so be prepared for delays. If you choose to cross the picket line, which you are free to do, expect abuse. Just be careful.

Processionaries out in force

Photo: Antonio J. Sierra

The following comes from an item we published in February 2010. The reason we repeat it today is that we have been receiving reports not only of the presence in force of these nasty little beggars, but we think they may have something to do, as well, with animal poisoning, dogs in particular. These caterpillars can be very dangerous to animals and people. "The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is known as ‘procesionaria del pino’ in Spanish and during late winter/early spring they will be coming out of the trees and forming conspicuous snakelike lines as they traverse the ground searching for soft soil to burrow into. They will not be far from a pine tree, but that does not mean that you will only see them in large pine woods, they are just as likely to be found in urbanisations and road side plantings wherever pine trees are present. There are several stages within their lifecycle but they are only dangerous to people and pets during the caterpillar phase. In the adult phase they are a simple and unremarkable, short lived moth which emerges in the summer and flies at night. The male moth is attracted to the female moth by pheromones that she emits. They will mate and a single female can then lay up to 300 tiny eggs which she attaches in a mass to a pine needle. Around one month later these eggs hatch into minute caterpillars. These larvae have 5 growth stages that are called 'instars'.  They grow quickly in body size, moult their skin and that denotes the start of the next instar. You can read the whole article here.

New dog park for Algeciras

ALGECIRAS The Council recently opened a new park in a neglected area that is aimed not only at 'people leisure' but also at the canine variety. The new 2,600m2 facility, next to Plaza  Marqués de Verboom, includes the usual park furniture like benches, wastebaskets, lighting and fountains, as well as a drinking spout for dogs and a special 500m2 'agility course' for our best friends that consists of eight exercise machines especially designed for them. Other similar facilities are planned for several areas of the town, such as San Bernabé, San García and close to the cemetery. It's a dog's life, isn't it?

Private project for sand recovery at Sotogrande

SAN ROQUE / Sotogrande Emergency work is being carried out on the sands near El Cucurucho. The idea is to recover at least some of the 12,000 m2 that have been lost over the last two years as the result of winter and spring storms, as well as to protect the beachside homes there. This is only the beginning of an ambitious project financed by Sotogrande (estimate: over €500,000) that will include the construction of two breakwaters. This beach is used by local people as well as visitors to Sotogrande, and is an important asset to San Roque tourism.

CaixaBank takes over Banca Cívica in share swap

MADRID (El País/Íñigo de Barrón) The top management of Banca Cívica on Friday reached an in-principle accord for the Spanish bank to be taken over by its rival Caixabank. Caixabank will absorb Banca Cívica via a share swap, the terms of which are still being worked out. The exchange, however, will be based on a valuation above Banca Cívica’s closing share price on Friday. Banca Cívica’s shares closed down 6.33 percent at 2.22 euros on concerns the offer could be below market price.>>>

PP wins but Left will govern in coalition

Image: Front Page of Europa Sur

ANDALUCÍA The Partido Popular won yesterday's regional elections in Andalucía. This is the first time in over 30 years of democracy that the PP beats the PSOE in Andalucía. But their 50 seats on the parliamentary roster does not give them an absolute majority, whereas the PSOE's 47 and IU's 17 will govern as a Leftist coalition. This is actually a surprise, as all the polls had given the PP a vast majority that did not come about in reality. Participation was 62.23%, low compared to other elections, which has traditionally benefitted the right, though this seems to be the exception proving the rule. (More on this subject later.) 

Monkey's Helping Hands

This was sent in by Notalot, an ole friend from way back. From a little less time back comes this great piece about how Capuchin monkeys are trained to help the disabled. There's another good one on the same subject here, too.

Did you put your clocks forward?

Did you remember to put your clocks forward? We lost an hour's sleep last night, but they'll give it back in October, unless the cutbacks impact on time as well... Did you remember all your clocks? The one on the oven? In the car? And, by the way, they did the same in the UK.
(Right, that's the last time you'll see this clock until October)

Over half of union executives get paid by private and public companies

Cándido Méndez (l. CC.OO.)
and Fernández Toxo (UGT)

SPAIN The unions have called a General Strike for March 29th, which the centre-Right Government and business oppose almost as a matter of course. Perhaps some of the unions' executives should be counted among them. A recent study revealed that over half the top echelons of both the Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) and Unión General the Trabajadores (UGT), the country's two principal unions that house many smaller versions, are members of the Board of Directors of public and private companies. That, and they are present in public organizations as well as on the board of foundations that belong to them or others. Their mere presence on these boards allow them to receive interesting extra pay in the shape of expenses, monies for turning up at meetings and, in some cases, salaries that are supposed to go to the union coffers. The study points out that they are quite at ease working on both sides of the Us/Them fence, alternating their work for the unions and for their business paymasters.>>>

Clocks spring forward tonight

An hour's sleep, we lose! An hour's living, we gain! The times, they are a-changing tonight when two o'clock in the wee hours suddenly becomes 3a.m. thus depriving some of us of the lovely early morning sunshine - and others of their dark evenings. Never mind, we'll get that hour back in October.

Spanish ministry complains to Britain about fishing

MADRID The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the British Embassy's number 2, Chargé d'Affairs Robert John Tinline (in the absence of Ambassador Giles Paxman) to express the Spanish Government's complaint that the maritime authorities of Gibraltar have decided not to allow Spanish fishing boats within 3 miles of the Rock on the Eastern side, and 1.5 miles within the Bay of Algeciras. The Ministry asked Tinline to 'find measures to re-establish' the agreements reached in 1999, which allowed commercial fishing up to a maximum of 225 metres from the coast. The Spanish say that this agreement was broken unilaterally when Gibraltar invoked the 1991 Nature Protection Law. The Ministry adopted this measure parallel to a meeting the Mayor of Algeciras and National Deputy José Ignacio Landaluce held with Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, during which the subject of fishing was on the agenda.

Electricity price hikes expected on April 1

SPAIN We told you about the price hike last week but here is the reason behind it, and the percentages. The electric companies' association, Unesa, says that the peajes should be going up by 30%, which would amount to about 15% on our electricity bill. The Supreme Court sided with the companies and ordered the price hike that should have taken place on January 1 to happen as soon as possible. However, the peaje and the price the companies have to pay for the energy have come down, which means that the bills should not go up by more than 12 or 13%. The Spanish power system is so convoluted and complicated to explain that we are not bothering to do so, but way of a general concept you should know that, first, what is called a Tarifa de Último Recurso (TUR, or 'tariff of last resort') and to which some 20 million consumers -that is, the vast majority including us- are subscribed, and which is revised every three months, is made up of two components: the peajes that pay the companies and are regulated by the government, and, second, the price of energy that results from an auction called Cesur (please don't ask, just accept!).

Galicia drug ring arrests in Jimena and Algeciras

JIMENA The Guardia Civil Recently arrested two local men, one from Jimena and another from Algeciras, for their involvement in a notorious cocaine trafficking ring based in Galicia. The arrests were part of an operation that includes arrests in Pontevedra, Galicia.A total of 7.2 kilos of pure cocaine were found in the operation, allegedly ready for distribution to various parts of the country. The man who was supposedly to receive the drug for distribution was F.G.F.C., 35, of Jimena, while his collaborator in Algeciras was C.J.P.P., 26. Operación Potro, as it is called, was concluded on Wednesday after two years of close investigation, including following vehicles from Galicia to Cádiz, even though the gang made very careful security plans. More arrests were made and homes and vehicles searched after a car belonging to the gang was stopped in the province of Cádiz (photo).

Seussical's wild success

SAN ROQUE / Sotogrande Yesterday was the first session of the musical Seussical!, offered by the kids at Sotogrande International School at the Juan Luis Galiardo Theatre in San Roque and directed by Kristyn Art. The morning session for local children was exceptionally successful, as can be seen from the photo. The essence of the musical, it's 'moral' if you like, is "A person is a person, no matter the size." That, of course, is what connects the audience with the players.

History & Archaeology Workshops coming up

JIMENA This year's History & Archaeology Workshops, the 19th edition (already!) is scheduled for the weekend of March 30 and 31, with a full programme of conferences and events, as it always is. The spirit behind this event since its inception is the Official Chronicler of Jimena, Don José Regueira Ramos, once the village pharmacist and father of the two present incumbents. He started them with others, including Hamo Sassoon, long time resident of the village, sadly absent since 2004. Read the whole programme below, untranslated; if you want to attend, you will have to have Spanish.>>>

Dr Seuss, the Seussical, in San Roque

SAN ROQUE On March 22nd and 23rd (today and tomorrow!) Sotogrande International School's well established arts department presents Seussical! Seussical is based on the works of the popular children's writer Dr. Seuss. He is best known for books like The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! These stories include wondrous characters, creatures and places such as Mayzie la Bird, Horton the Elephant and the Jungle of Nool! Through jazzy and upbeat music and Broadway style dancing the cast will teach the audience about not giving up and believing in the power of imagination!

Students in this production range from twelve to seventeen years old and are excited about sharing their talent with the San Roque community. Sotogrande International School finds it very important to connect with the community and we hope that with this musical full of dancing, singing and spectacle we can share our love of the arts! The performances will take place at 7:30pm and the tickets are free. We will be asking for small donations for the schools NGO, The Kindred Project, which supports communities in Asni, Morocco, Uganda and Goa.

Clocks spring forward on Saturday/Sunday

An hour's sleep, we lose! An hour's living, we gain! The times, they are a-changing this coming Saturday night (Sunday morning, really) when two o'clock in the wee hours suddenly becomes 3a.m. thus depriving some of us of the lovely early morning sunshine - and others of their dark evenings. Never mind, we'll get that hour back in October.

We, too, are banned at La Línea town hall

Mayor Araujo in Cádiz

LA LÍNEA It turns out that both JimenaPulse and CampoPulse are blocked from the computers at the Town Hall. Rather surprisingly, since we're in English, a language not spoken by just about everybody there. This in common with all local media and the social networks, a ban that began yesterday. Trying to access us or pretty much anyone else brings up a notice that reads (in translation): "The content of the website you are intending to see has been detected (sic) as inappropriate. If you think it has been blocked erroneously contact the data processing department." The measure has appeared when much of the media has and is criticising Mayor Gemma Araujo's decision to 'lock herself in' the offices of Diputación in Cádiz - something many consider mere electioneering (regional elections are on Sunday). The reasons given by Araujo for the ban are that "the decision had been taken some time ago and is being implemented gradually" so the Council has limited the use of telephones and computers because of "inadequate practices. As for computers, we are proceeding to forbid access to web pages that are unrelated to the work, such as visits to publications, e-commerce or social networks." Apparently phones have been used in the past to ring special (high-tariff) numbers (often used prostitutes and pornographers) as well as for long-distance calls. Disciplinary measures were also announced.

'Bomblettes' found near border

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle/Eyleen Sheil) A total of 72 ‘bomblettes’ which are approximately 60 years old were found at the commercial entrance to the frontier on Monday night. The ordnance were found by the internet connection pipes, which brings all the internet into Gibraltar, salt water main pipes, high voltage cable and the power for the new airport terminal. Chris Ghio, a WO2 in the army explained how they were informed of the finding. He said, “The 72 air drop weapons were found by contractors who were working in the area and initially found various bits of a ‘bomblette’, when a whole one was found, we were called in, we got a call late afternoon stating that there was some unexploded ordnance found at the area by the commercial border.”>>>

'We won't be having Father's or Mother's Day at school'

JIMENA/San Martín del Tesorillo (Source: TioJimeno) This note was handed to parents by their children at the school in Tesorillo. It reads as follows: "We wish to inform you that under the new instruction regulations, and because the concept of family is changing, we will not be celebrating Father's or Mother's Day, as we will be carrying out activities related to The Family Day, on May 15. Signed by the pre-school and 1st and 2nd grade teachers. " The father who sent it in to TioJimeno was unable to explain things to his child.

Head of layoff-fund scam and driver “spent 25,000 euros a month on drugs,” court hears

(Photo: noticias.terra.es)

Trujillo was sent to prison without bail

SEVILLA (El País / Javier Martín Arroyo) The former chauffeur of an ex-official in the Andalusian administration at the head of an alleged multimillion-euro layoff scam involving public funds said on Tuesday that he and his boss spent tens of thousands of euros of the region’s money on cocaine every month. Juan Francisco Trujillo, the then-driver of regional employment office chief Javier Guerrero, told Judge Mercedes Ayala that he and his boss spent around 25,000 euros a month on cocaine that they shared in “marathon sessions.” They consumed up to five grams a day. Trujillo received 1.3 million euros from a 650-million slush fund managed by Guerrero that was allegedly used to pay generous but unmerited early retirement packages to friends, family members and political allies.>>>

What's this all about, then?

JIMENA Who are they all, and what are they doing? You recognize a couple of these studiously studying students, don't you? No? Well, here are some of the things they are saying about Sambana Ceramics and Catherine's classes: "An absorbing and creative course that is inspiring us all." J.A. "Catherine, our teacher, has so much patience. She is systematically guiding us through the creative stages." M.W. "The pottery course has stirred up my imagination. I am now looking at the shapes, colours and textures of everyday objects around me with quite a different eye." S.S. "I have to stop myself from going to the pottery during the rest of the week." B.B. Maybe you'd like to join them? You can, but make it soon as Catherine only has two places left! Call her on 697 574 027, or e-mail her at guarda.fuegos@hotmail.com.

Kids' rugby tryouts this Saturday

(Photo: rfu.com)

JIMENA This coming Saturday, from 11am to 1pm, there is a rugby tryout taking place at the Tres Rosas Polo Club just outside Marchenilla. Initially it is for boys or girls from ages 10 to 14, and will be taken by a professional Rugby coach from Gibraltar. The idea is to get local people interested in the game and if the response is good enough, regular sessions are in the offing. Dress code is trainers and shorts and t-shirt, plus bring water as it may be hot.

Big Band from the UK on Friday

SOTOGRANDE (via e-mail) This coming Friday, the 23rd March, we have the great pleasure of presenting to you a concert of the 'Big Band', made up of students of the famous King’s Bruton in Somerset, England, they have already gained a lot of fame and have performed in various places in Great Britain and abroad. The venue is at the Sotogrande Hípica Park, which you will find as you enter the Casa Club of La Reserva. We will start at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are €5 at the door, just a token amount to cover our costs as we are still out of funds!

Robbery incidents on the increase?

JIMENA We were told this morning that a lady who lives out in the campo had visitors earlier in the day. Apparently, they were in a white van and took something from her front yard. She was there but was unable to get the van's number plate down before they disappeared. This incident was not yet reported to the police (Guardia Civil 956 640 009; Policía Local 956 640 064), as we were able to ascertain a few minutes ago These kind of incidents are on the increase, if news reports are to be believed. As we have warned in the past, the good times are over: you can't leave your door unlocked any more, alas. But any such incidents needs to be reported, and not just for insurance purposes: the more such denuncias, the better policing we should expect.

Prosecutors charge Catholic nun in alleged stolen baby scheme at Madrid hospitals

(Illustration only)

MADRID (El País/Natalia Junquera) The Madrid public prosecutor has charged a Catholic nun in connection with an ongoing investigation into cases of stolen babies, which allegedly took place in hospitals from the 1950s up until the early 1980s. She is the first person to be indicted in the investigation, which has gained international attention. Sister María Gómez Valbuena was subpoenaed to testify before investigators recently but refused to answer questions, according to sources at the prosecutor’s office. Her name has surfaced in dozens of complaints filed by>>>

Happy Father's Day, José! ¡Viva la Pepa!

Friday was ... we forget what. Saturday was St. Patrick's, yesterday was Mothering Sunday (in the UK) and today is San José, which makes it Father's Day in Spain and, this year, the 200th anniversary of the 1812 Constitution signed in Cádiz (and about which more later on), known as La Pepa (Pepa is short for Josefa, the feminine version of José - don't ask). If you think we were going to spend all weekend writing about, or had time to do so before, you'd be wrong, so get over it. (We'll tell you what we were doing, though.)

Dancing to perfection

Received from our good friend Charlotte, who knows Prospero was brought up in Buenos Aires. The tango was born of different kinds of music that came in to that port city. And, being a port, it was not a place for a woman to be seen. Because of that, women did not dance the tango until the music came back to Buenos Aires from France, where it acquired a veneer of propriety. These two, the Hermanos Macana, here give a masterful performance of the tricky steps of a milonga, a dance that is not considered a tango by the purists, though it looks and sounds very alike. There is nothing 'gay' about the dance, and it is accepted very well in a very 'macho' society.

Number of smokers rises despite year-old smoking ban

Teenage smoking on the rise

Declaration of interest: Prospero gave up 20 months ago

SPAIN A year ago on January 2, 2011, a ban on smoking in public places went into effect. It was the most severe in Europe at the time. But it has not diminished the number of smokers -on the contrary, that figure has risen- and neither has it prevented teenagers taking up the habit. This according to the Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (Spanish Society of  Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, or Separ in the Spanish acronym), who presented the first extensive study on the subject since the law's inception. Thus, it calculates that 17.65 of the population smokes, 0.50% more than before the last report in 2007. The 3,300 people surveyed produced another "worrying" item: the trend among 13 to 16 year olds is on an upward curve. The only good news to come out of the report is that>>>

Local Police already fining foreign-registered vehicles

Two groups having a botellón
by the castle walls
(Photo: europasur.es)

Botellón is forbidden, fines of €300

TARIFA (Agencies) Local Police have already denounced about ten vehicles that are known to be owned by local foreign residents, in accordance with the new regulations that are now in force. The newly reformed Law of Special Taxes (Ley de Impuestos Especiales, Law 39/2010 of December 22, Article 82 of the General Budget) says that foreigners resident in Spain must have their vehicles registered in this country, and pay taxes accordingly. There are numerous foreign-registered cars circulating daily in the municipality so the Local Police have not taken long to apply  the law, although they had previously offered plenty of information and warnings on the subject. On another matter, the local authority has forbidden the botellón (when and where people gather in public places to drink),>>>

Electricity to go up on April 1

José Manuel Soria,
Minister Industry, Energy and Tourism

SPAIN (Agencies) Spain's April Fool is in December, so this is not a joke. The Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, announced on Thursday that our electricity bills will be going up on April 1 to meet recent decrees from the Supreme Court. The decrees revert to the last two price 'freezes' and oblige the suppliers to re-bill almost 29 million consumers from October last year in order to obtain real costs and thus avoid what is called a 'tariff deficit'. The Minister did not have an exact percentage or tariff scale for the price rise he announced. He did say, however, that anyone thinking that the costs of carrying out the Supreme Court's decrees would 'fall on the backs of consumers, would be very mistaken'. The Government, he said, is preparing 'several measures' to cut the costs of the system and therefore to 'smooth' the price increases.

Football clubs owe €752 million in taxes

Illustration only

The BBVA Liga clubs alone owe €485m

SPAIN (Agencies) The Government says that the professional football clubs owe the taxman some €752 million, which has gone up by €150m over the last four years. The debts of the First Division clubs amount to a total of €489,930,880.80, Second Division, €184,180,499.29. The rest total €78,185,978.49 - all up to January 1, 2012, according to the answer to questions in Parliament by IU spokesperson on sports, Caridad García. The figures here do not include what the clubs owe to Social Security, which the IU parliamentary group has tried to obtain in the past but which come under Data Protection legislation and are therefore not obtainable. Also, says García, the Administration has made it difficult to obtain details as to each club's debts. 

Government announces smoke-free environment plans

Dr. John Cortes,
Minister for Health and the Environment 

GIBRALTAR (Press release) The Minister for Health and the Environment Dr John Cortes is pleased to announce that in keeping with the Government's manifesto commitment, and in line with modern practice, a Bill for a Smoke-free Environment Act will be introduced shortly so that legislation will become effective as from 1 October 2012. This will allow establishments a lead-in period to  accommodate the requirements of the law, including the provision of no smoking signs, etc. It will coincide with a reduction in rates to bars, restaurants and social clubs, on a sliding scale, which will revert to the standard position over a period of three years. A command paper setting out the proposed provisions of the Smoke Free Environment Bill will be published within a month. At the same time the Gibraltar Health Authority is stepping up its anti-smoking campaign, which will include the launch of a series of locally produced TV advertisements and will be promoting its stop smoking service which now includes the newly implemented provision of nicotine replacement therapy. No-smoking day is a significant date in the calendar and many people choose to quit smoking on this day. The GHA will be marking this event with the manning of a stand at the north end of Main Street outside the lobby of the ICC between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 14th March, offering information and advice to people who wish to quit or learn about quitting.

Elections? What elections?

Plastered everywhere

ANDALUCÍA Yes, two autonomous regions, Asturias and Andalucía,  are holding elections on Sunday, March 25. to elect who will run the Junta de Andalucía. Favourite so far is the Partido Popular, by quite a margin. This is the seventh try for PP Secretary General for Andalucía, Javier Arenas, whose tenacity may be rewarded at last. The PSOE has governed Andalucía since the advent of post-Franco democracy and has always considered this region its bailiwick, but it is enmeshed in a series of corruption cases -especially those involving the ERE scandal of misuse of redundancy notice monies- as well as its lack of cohesion during the party's recent internal elections. But, you ask, are EuroExPats (there's a new noun being born!) allowed to vote, like in municipal or local elections? Short answer: No - which is why we haven't been covering the subject a lot (at all).

More on Triguera Negra, or poisonous grass, the animal killer

Normal grass on left
(Photo: Paula Creaghan-Smith)

There seems to be a measure of panic, or disease of the week syndrome, about Triguera Negra, the poisonous grass that has apparently killed several (18?) horses in the area; if your horses have been affected, panic is naturally understandable. As a result we have consulted expert horse people (who wish to remain anonymous) and are told that this is nothing new. They attribute the panic created to the fact that the grass itself, which is indistinguishable from most normal grasses to the naked eye, is rare further downhill than La Hoya; most previous cases, such as those in the early 1990s have been during droughts. We are also told that danger arises when it rains because the horse pulls out the roots, which contain cyanide, an instant killer in sufficient dosage.  But it hasn't rained! we hear you say. True, but>>>

'Orgasms are the same for men and women,' say experts (and they should know!)

(Source: Alegraluz Tantra International) This item is not tongue in cheek, we promise. It comes from e-mails we receive from an organization that put us on their list some time ago - and from which we have never asked to be removed, for some reason. It is an interesting thought for those of us who are willing to talk openly about these things - however, you are warned that if you read beyond this sentence, your mental health could be in danger. Studies on psychological gender differences concludes that in the great majority of respects, the sexes are fundamentally alike. According to research carried out by Janet Shibley Hyde, Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the similarities between men and women are far greater than their differences. (Now you're on your own>>>)

One's man's muck is another man's brass

(Photo: E.S./europasur.es)

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR Suddenly, the screen goes black, just as the film is reaching its climax. It's not THE END of a rubbish film, it's your telly's turned to rubbish. What now? Aside from having to buy a new one, what do you do with the old one? You take it to your nearest Punto Limpio recycling centre (ask for yours at the Ayuntamiento), of course. But what happens to it there? Technically, your old friend has become an RAEE (an acronym for Residuo de Aparatos Eléctricos y Electrónicos, or Electric and Electronic Waste Product). It is at the very end of its useful life - but is it?>>>

Interruption to electricity service

GIBRALTAR (Press release) To enable essential work to be carried out by the MOD the electricity supply to  Edinburgh Estate in its entirety will be cut off on Tuesday 13th March 2012 from 0830 to 1230 hrs. (For more info: Telephone No.20075957 Website : www.gibelec.gi)

Multiple vehicle accident causes delays on A-7

Algeciras, bottom right

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) The Eastern end of the port tunnel, towards Málaga, was jammed yesterday at about 1pm, when six cars slammed into each other at the tunnel exit. Fortunately there were no serious victims, although one man had to be taken to hospital after the emergency services arrived shortly after the incident. The Guardia Civil had to redirect traffic away from the area, which caused tailbacks through the whole tunnel until the wreckage were cleared. The cause of the accident was being investigated.

Gang arrested for armed robberies on shops and homes owned by Chinese

Material found at gang's homes
(Photo: Policía Nacional)

Allegedly also perpetrated robberies in Gibraltar

LA LÍNEA (Press release) Earlier this week the National Police arrested seven people allegedly belonging to a gang specializing in armed robberies on shops owned by members of the Chinese community. The gang, six men and one woman, was based in La Línea, and all the arrested members are residents there. The arrests came after the police had received complaints from Chinese residents last year, most of them during the summer. So far, the police have been able to clear 19 such assaults. All the members, except the woman, who is the partner of the gang boss, have police records and, although not all members took part in all the robberies, who did what where and when has been established, according to Inspector Ana Jiménez, who heads the police's Group One and lead the investigation. Their modus operandi was similar in all cases:>>>

General strike called for March 29

Union special magazine, this morning

Labour reforms 'suicidal, say unions

SPAIN (Agencies) The two major unions, Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) yesterday announced they are calling a General Strike on March 29. The date coincides with nationalist unions in the Basque Country and Navarre, as well as being the day before the Budget. The strike is called in protest against the severe labour reform the PP Government has approved unilaterally thanks to its absolute majority in Parliament. The unions call them "the most regressive" since the first elections in democracy, in 1977. They accuse the government of destroying the "social architecture", adding that no government has done so much to break down the rights of workers in such a short time. Far from "correcting the failures of the previous PSOE government," says a joint communiqué, the labour reforms "are suicidal" and might well be unconstitutional. This is the sixth general strike to be held in the democracy that came after the Franco era. It is as well to remember, too, that the last one was called last September but was widely seen a a failure. Also, the unions are heavily subsidised by the government, which has caused much controversy inside and outside of their structure - there have been many complaints about the large salaries paid to many union leaders.

Paper is dead, long live the network

This is an ad for The Guardian. It shows the story of the Three Little Pigs as it might be treated in a newspaper and online. The ending is a surprise, so watch on. There's been quite a lot of discussion on the social networks...

This film was written in Jimena

Dead Man Running, a cult hit in the UK directed and written (with John Luton) by Alex De Rakoff, and starring Danny Dyer, the rapper 50 Cent and Tamer Hassan, was written in Jimena, we discovered the other day. Alex, who lives in Los Angeles and is the son of a well known resident of the village, also wrote and directed Need for Speed (The Run), the 18th in the Need for Speed car racing game franchise, one of the most popular in the world (He didn't write this one in Jimena, though). We wonder if anyone noticed this guy at the corner bar or at Bar España a good couple of years ago, concentrating on his laptop while Spanish noise surrounded him. Amazing feat, though we're told he could concentrate because he had very little Spanish, so there was no language impingement. Here is what Hello and Company says about him:>>>

Amphetamines and derivatives closely linked to Parkinson's

They have all kinds of names in Spain, depending on the location, the manner and the urban tribes that use them: anfetas, pirulas, pastis, cristal, speed ... but whatever they're called here or anywhere, amphetamines, methamphetamine and other related substances are used the world over as recreational drugs, despite the proven health damage they cause. One of the most serious effects, according to a study carried out in California, is the way in which they multiply the risk of Parkinson's Disease in their users. Parkinson's is a degenerative disease in which are involved the very same kind of neurons that are attacked by these drugs. The research's authors say that, in any case, the results they have obtained relate only to the illegal use of the substances and not to those cases that are medically prescribed.>>>

New Saturday market opening tomorrow

Inside Mar y Sol

Opens every other Saturday

SAN ROQUE / Sotogrande Tanya Ward (a.k.a. known by us variously as The Hurricane or The Enterpriser) has organized a market at the Mar y Sol shopping centre (See map below). It will be open every OTHER Saturday starting tomorrow, March 10. She is looking for stallholders selling homemade items and produce such as crafts, jams, bread, cheese, and so on (this is on private ground, so less trouble re papers, etc.). Stalls are €10 for second hand items and €15 for new things. Set up time is from 9am and open to the public from 10 to 3. For more information, call Tanya on 666 157 917.

Sotogrande announces loss of €31.6m for 2011

Total of 59 jobs to go, says San Roque

SAN ROQUE  Sotogrande, the real estate arm of the NH Hotels group and registered in San Roque, announced recently that it had lost €31.6million in 2011. This a 50% increase over the company's reported €21.1m loss for 2010. Among other items in its report to the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV, Spain's National Securities Market Commission) is that the company's financial income in 2011 amounted to €624,000, whereas its costs were €4.7m. Also, its net assets decreased by 17.2% to €165.1m. Sotogrande S.A., which is 97% owned by the hotel chain, also announced that these results would obviously have an effect on  the company's work force. A little while ago, the unions had set up the alarm, saying that 20 jobs would be lost in the real estate division, a fact confirmed by the presentation of redundancy papers (Expediente de Regulación de Empleo, or ERE). This week, however, San Roque Council advised that the total number of jobs to go would be 59, in all three of the company's divisions: real estate, golf and hotels.