Daily Bulletin points of interest.

[Flyer]

An apology?

Bearing in mind the quote .....

THE head of the Majorcan Tourist Board, Pedro Iriondo, yesterday criticised low cost airlines easyJet and Ryanair “for never bringing quality tourists” to the island and for never carrying business clients.

is it time that visitors to PP objected or do you think you are not quality tourists?

 

[Belladonna]

And here's the apology!

Tourist board chief apologises but calls grow for him to resign
By Humphrey Carter

PALMA


THE President of the Majorcan Tourist Board, Pedro Iriondo, was heavily criticised yesterday by all sectors of the tourist industry, both in Majorca and overseas, for the comments he made on Wednesday that easyJet and Ryanair “don’t bring quality or business passengers” to the island and that “immigrant” workers in Majorca’s service sector “can not sell the island.” Iriondo did issue an apology, claiming that he had not intended to offend any one, but from the President of the Balearic government, to the unions and even the UK travel industry, the over all opinion was that Iriondo is no longer fit for the job of President of the Majorcan Tourist Board.

President Antich said Iriondo is not the “most suitable person” to head the tourist board and described his comments as “unfortunate.” “Apresident of a tourist board can not make such statements especially when so many immigrants are working extremely hard in the tourist industry. “He should be supporting the tourist industry,” Antich proclaimed.
Palma City Council demanded an apology. City Hall sources slammed the comments as “irresponsible, considering that 40 percent of the population in Majorca was born outside of the Balearics “and what Iriondo is saying is that 40 percent should not be working in the tourist industry” the council claimed.

The Council also warned that, unless Iriondo issued a public apology, it would break off all relations with the tourist board.
The unions demanded that Iriondo immediately resigns because of his “xenophobic and racist” statements.
And the unions went a step further saying that Iriondo’s criticism of low cost airlines eastJet and Ryanair and Internet bookings shows just how out of touch he is with the modern world of tourism and therefore, is not fit to be President of the tourist board.

But, Iriondo’s statements also caused indignation overseas on the eve of the start of the tourist season.
Hugh Morgan, the Managing Director of Tour Operators for the Monarch Group said Iriondo’s comments were “disgraceful” and said he should resign. “I can’t believe some one in a position like that would make such comments,” he added.
However, while Iriondo did publicly apologise yesterday, he had made it clear that he will not stand down unless the rest of the board at the tourist board ask him to do so.

In a statement he denied he was “the bad guy” and defended his long career in the tourist industry, during which time he claims to have made many friends all over the world and been key in the staging of main events in Majorca such as the ABTA conventions.

He also underlined the fact he does not get paid to be President.
But, will it be enough to save his job?

 

[Belladonna]

Weather tower

Well, thank goodness we have our very own Weather Girl!


OTHER NEWS
Spain’s tallest weather tower gone from Alcudia
STAFF REPORTER

ALCUDIA
WHAT was once Spain’s tallest weather tower has gone from the Majorcan skyline after its removal from the Albufera nature reserve in Alcudia, its owners - power supply company Endesa - confirmed yesterday.

The 120-metre high tower was built in 1977 alongside a weather station as a means of maximising scientists’ understanding of meteorological conditions. It was apparently an indispensable feature for the construction of what is now Alcudia’s central electricity generating station in terms of emissions monitoring and control.


STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY
At the time when Endesa first erected the tower, it was considered state-of-the-art technology but it had become obsolete over the decades with the introduction of newer, more advanced and more efficient equipment.

Endesa said yesterday that they are shortly going to start operating a new air quality control station using highly advanced technology. Similar equipment is already in use at Palma airport.

Apart from the tower that has been removed from the Albufera wetlands, there are four other weather stations and towers in the north of the island.

Including the much viewed daily input of Pollensa Forum! ()

 

[Belladonna]

Diet? What Diet?!

EASTER TRADITION HITS BACK AT ECONOMIC CRISIS
STAFF REPORTER

HAND-made sweets, chocolate eggs and other regional delights are coming out in the shops prior to Easter, clear evidence that the economic crisis has not eaten into Spain’s determination to celebrate it traditionally, patisserie industry sources confirmed yesterday.

The same sources said that with people tightening their belts economically and spending more on essentials rather than luxuries, day-to-day patisserie businesses have noticed how their income has gone down. “But the penny-pinching,” said Salvador Santos Campano, the President of the Spanish Confectioners Confederation “has not extended to seasonal celebrations such as Easter.” This means, he furthered, that people will be buying delicacies after the end of Lent, but confectioners have been forced to keep their prices at the same level as last year.

Santos also suggested that because the date of Easter has fallen later in the year, with the weather starting to get warmer and dryer - people are spending more time outside, window shopping. They are therefore more likely to be attracted by the tempting displays of hand-crafted chocolate eggs and what are known as “monas de Pascua” - an endless selection of elaborately decorated figurines made out of sponge and covered in chocolate, along with another Spanish favourite - torrijas - crunchy, fried cakes subtly flavoured with anís, a liquorice flavoured liqueur.

Santos said that this year, the Confectioners’ Confederation is expecting to sell 10 million “monas de Pascua” throughout the country and between 38 and 39 million torrijas.

In the Balearic Islands, the later Easter dates this year have proved very encouraging to the regional Bakers and Patisserie Makers’ Association. Its Director, Josema Granel said that there will be more tourism around this time and that the momentum of sales could see a sharp rise in the number of products which are typical of the Balearics, such as rubiols (pasties filled with sweet glacéd pumpkin) and crespiels (hand-made biscuits cut into different shapes.) However, not everyone agrees - some mainland industry sources said yesterday that the fine weather will prompt people to go straight to the beach, ignoring the Easter delicacies.


Looks like a win win situation to me - two more days to starve myself!

 

[BonysLad]

New look Bulletin launched today ( tabloid size and in full colour ).

Very impressive IMO , Ok today's probably is a One off cos many pictures of the Royal Nuptials ( better than the UK press ) and also quite a spread on the launch. Forty pages in total.

Looks like a great improvement and useful for the English speaking community here.

BonysLad

 

[Sparky]

Some great publicity for the Port as well BL, did you see the photos of Can Balache's Bev and Tony, Hardley's Anna and Gary and our Lollipop?.

 

[lollipop]

Oh no,not again,you weren't supposed to notice.!! At least this time I was dressed normally.

 

[Sparky]

Lol!! sounds like you had a good time Lollipop .

 

[BonysLad]

Some great publicity for the Port as well BL, did you see the photos of Can Balache's Bev and Tony, Hardley's Anna and Gary and our Lollipop?.

I did indeed Sparky, and I'm gonna save it cos overtime it might be a collectors item.

Don't be so modest , Lollipop !!

BonysLad

 

[favie]

Street vendors attack police again
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Palma.— There is growing unrest within Palma’s Local Police Force after an officer was attacked by a street vendor for the second time in 24 hours yesterday. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]The incident happened at 1.30pm in the Plaza Mayor.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]The Local Police Force has this year mounted a special operation to crackdown on the growing number of street vendors, many of which are apparently illegal and yesterday, when two female Tourist Police officers approached the suspect in the square popular with tourists, the street vendor apparently reacted violently when asked to identify himself. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]A scuffle broke out and one of the officers was apparently pushed to the ground before fleeing the scene.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Search operation[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]The officer suffered broken finger was treated in a local hospital while the Local Police mounted a massive search operation to locate and arrest the aggressor. But, the Local Police are fighting a battle against illegal street vendors on two fronts. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Special units have been set up in Palma and along the Playa de Palma where police are having to deal with a serious problem.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]On Wednesday afternoon, a gang of street vendors apparently assaulted a Local Police officer while he was on patrol and keeping an eye on the activities of the street vendors. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]According to various eye witnesses, at about 1.30pm, the Police Officer stopped a street vendor and asked him for his identification.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]However, the suspect refused to cooperate with the authorities and an argument broke out, during which the street vendor apparently punched the Police Officer, knocking him to the floor. Local shopkeepers and residents rushed to the officer’s aid and called the police and an ambulance.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Scores of Local and National Police rushed to the scene and the injured officers was taken to a Palma hospital suffering minor bruising.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]However, a number of local traders told the police that tensions have been rising lately and that many of them have been threatened by the street vendors and they want more police.[/FONT]

 

[Nick]

This is bad news.......I've mentioned/warned readers before about buying from these people. Obviously they're not all bad but when you buy their rubbish you'll know it's either counterfeit or not up to any sort of EU standards.

However, the most important thing to consider is that the vast majority of end profit from these purchases goes into the drugs/underworld/terrorist business, believe me.

I'll warn people again, DO NOT BUY FROM THESE VENDORS.

Immigration is out of control in our country and do we really want the same in Mallorca.....I think not.

 

[Belladonna]

Totally agree nick. Have done research on this and it is horrendous when you realise where the money actually does end up. Its so tempting to give in if the children pester you, but please be strong and just ignore them.

 

[Nick]

Thanks for the support Bella.......you've just got to educate people. It's only when you realise where the money goes that it really hits home.

 

[Sparky]

I honestly have never understood why people buy the junk they sell. You can buy most of it in the Chinese shops for sometimes less than half the price they charge.

 

[Belladonna]

You couldn't make it up!

Hoteliers join beach battle 2
Pollensa.—Yesterday, the Port of Pollensa Neighbourhood Association which has had the beach management contract since 1973, were working to remove the last of their sunshades, sunbeds and other installations to make way for equipment supplied by the new managers recently appointed by Pollensa town council, F&A Beach management.
Tourists watching the operation unfold before their eyes were astonished at the sight of a tractor ploughing up and down the beach helping move the last of the Association’s facilities. The tourists were speechless when they were deprived of the last available sunshade.

The Association has had to remove every single one of its items because not to do so would run the risk of being fined by Central Government’s Coastal department which controls shoreline activity right around the country.

F&A Beach management have a week within which to put up its own sunbeds and sunshades but meanwhile the beach stands to lose its European Union seal of quality, the blue flag. “We’re giving an appalling image to tourists,” Pedro Garau, President of Port of Pollensa hoteliers’ association said yesterday. “We can’t allow this situation (of beach facilities not being ready for the summer season) to continue for another year.” And that is the reason, he confirmed, why the hoteliers’ association is considering taking the management of the beach into its own hands next year.

Disgruntled Port of Pollensa Neighbourhood Association has been complaining about the fact that none of their members - including those who were paid beach operatives - had received official notice of termination of contract. They claim F&ABeach company has “no experience.”

Right - well that makes it all clear then!? Thank goodness they have come to their senses and put them all back again!

 

[Belladonna]

And so it continues.

New player in beach tussle
Pollensa.—The Majorcan Socialists (PSM)in Pollensa are demanding a solution “once and for all” to the bickering over just who should manage the sunshade and sunbed business on the Port’s beaches in the tourist season.
The PSM are suggesting that the contract should go to Pollensa’s Municipal Services Company thereby avoiding conflict between the Port of Pollensa residents’ association who have been managers for decades and a new firm, F&ABeach whom Pollensa council want to appoint. PSMspokesman, Bartomeu Cifre, said that the delay in reaching agreement has been particularly ill-tempered this year due to the loss of jobs the change of contract will mean. In the interim, tourists are still waiting for the services.

 

[cherylbb]

I'm confused now, I thought it was up & running. The beds are on the beach aren't they?

 

[Sparky]

Yes Cheryl, the new company has worked very hard over the last 4 days and as Lollipop reported on the "Beaches" thread the prices are the same as last year .
It's typical of the DB to be a bit late in reporting the news .

 

[Belladonna]

As we know, the DB is printed on line a day behind anyway, and you do have to read between the lines sometimes and pick out fact from fiction! Its best used as a guide line rather than what is actually happening I feel.
The beds seem to be up at the moment according to those who are there - but who knows what tomorrow will bring!

 

[Smiddy]

Perhaps we can arrange a mass "lie-in" as opposed to "sit-in". We all chose a individual bed and refuse to move. Now that seems like a good idea