SIT IN AT ARRIATE TOWN HALLBy David Eade – Costa del Sol News
Arriate has always been known as a communist community and its town hall is firmly in the hands of the far-left Izquierda Unida. Last Thursday around 100 residents of the town locked themselves in to the town hall in a protest at the cuts announced by the socialist government in Madrid to cut the nation’s deficit.
It wasn’t just the residents but also the majority of the IU administration along with the mayor Bernardino Gaona. They voiced their anger at the decision to freeze the salaries of public employees as well as payments to pensioners amongst other measures.
The lock-in started at mid-day on Thursday and continued to 12.00 on Friday. Leaders of the IU, Communist Party and Young Communists were prominent and went inside the building with flasks of coffee and sandwiches.
The deputy mayor, Salvador Cabrera, said he valued the participation of the local people as it showed that all Arriate was behind the protests against the government’s actions. Due to the cuts in public funding the small community of Arriate stands to loose 525,000 euros in 2010.
RONDA TO HAVE TOURISM POLICE
Ronda’s new councillor for tourism, Francisco Cañestro, has stated that a unit dedicated to looking after tourists is to be created amongst officers of the local police.
Their task will be to ensure the thousands of visitors who flock to Ronda each day to visit the Puente Nuevo over the Tajo gorge, the bull ring and the various sites in the old town have officers on hand who can answer their queries and ensure their security.
In addition a “brigade of tourist works” is to be formed with two municipal workers. They will be permanently employed on ensuring that the public infrastructure in the old town is in a good state of repair “so the town always has a good image, there are no broken pavements or damaged signs.”
FIFTH CHOICE
Ronda has its fifth councillor for tourism in the current administration. The new holder of the post is deputy mayor Francisco Cañestro. His appointment was announced at a breakfast for the tourist trade at the Parador hotel. All the other incumbents have resigned for various reasons often because of rows with mayor Antonio Marín who said government’s cuts would not affect tourism projects.
JOB PLAN
Fifty unemployed workers will benefit from a 110,000 euros scheme by Ronda town hall to give them temporary work as part of its fifth employment plan. Those to benefit will be plumbers, bricklayers, painters and gardeners who will work from June 10 for a month on municipal projects. There are currently 4,150 jobless in the town of the Tajo, the majority are women.
ENGLISH COUNCILLOR
Ronda has its first English councillor. She is 36 – year - old Charlotte Wilmot who hails from Swindon. She joined the PSOE role of councillors after Maribel Morales left office. She has lived in Spain for eight years of which she has been a member of PSOE for four. Her profession is in human resources and she will work in the delegation for foreigners.
BLUFF CALLED
Recently the owner of the land on which Ronda is building its sports complex went to court to halt any further work. She claimed that the town hall had not paid her for the land in a deal that was agreed in 2002. An emergency meeting of the council was held last week to agree the 212,000 euros should be promptly handed over.
HAM CUTTERS
Ronda’s Feria Real de Mayo welcomed ten of the best jamón cutters in Spain to the 8 th national competition organised by the Casa de Jamón. They came from Valencia, Cáceres, Huelva, Sevilla, Madrid, Cádiz and Málaga. The winner was Pérez Hernández from Salamanca. Also present was Nico Jiménez who holds the world record for cutting the longest strip of ham – nearly 14 metres.
CORK CRISIS
The cork industry is in crisis and its committee recently held a meeting in Benarrabá. The Serranía de Ronda has lost 12 million euros in the past two years. They called on the regional government to seek solutions to the lack of demand for their product – especially as many wine bottlers are replacing cork with plastic. They also want an Andalucía strategic plan.
PUBLIC APOLOGY
Diego Gil, the socialist deputy mayor in Cuevas del Becerro, who called sex lines on his town hall phone and allowed the municipality to pay the bill has made a public apology. He has already paid back the money and addressed residents at a council meeting which was televised locally. The majority of those present applauded after he made his emotional statement.
