No votes of confidence as Antich draws up public spending law

The Kooks and Lowe to open Magalluf Rock Hotel

Palma City Council sets up Commission to monitor buildings at structural risk

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MORE than 235'000 people declared between 6'000 and 21'000 euros to the Inland Revenue in the Balearics in 2007, said the Tax Office yesterday after publishing reports which were finalised in 2009.

The figures represent contribution to the state paid by income earning society, whether it be through salaries, running a business or renting properties. To this would have to be added the amount of capital that people have in the form of savings, stocks and shares and other property deals. Data shows on a lower income scale that nearly 14'500 people declared their economic activity earned them less than 1'500 euros for the year, 3.25 percent of the total.

The spots in question are the Plaça Mallorca in Cala Millor and the games and sports area in Calle Formentor in Son Servera. Apart from being a deterrent to criminals, the cameras will also help stop a repetition of recent acts of vandalism. “The aim is not to intimidate anyone but we do need to keep an eye on whoever is destroying public property,” Servera explained, adding that constant repair work was proving a drain on Council resources.

The idea to have the cameras installed was mooted as far back as 2008. Thanks to a Central Government aid package, “Plan E,” the security measure will now become a reality at a cost of nearly 46'000 euros.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
The 7 permanent CCTV cameras will use digital technology and will be linked through a connection network to the Local Police control hub.
Four of the cameras will be installed in Plaça Mallorca situated at the entrance to Cala Millor. The square had undergone reform work last year at considerable expense to the local Council and had become a feature very much in the tourist eye.

Works included a sports area and playground for children with various games on a platform especially designed with child safety in mind.
The development has nevertheless been subject to vandalism since the completion of the installations and it is hoped that the cameras will act as a deterrent, said the Mayor. The other three cameras will be put up in the children’s play area in Calle Formentor which were also rebuilt in 2009.

Apart from keeping an eye on whether there is any wrongdoing at the play area, the Police will be able to check on the tidiness and upkeep of the ground, a landmark which would be noted by visitors from other parts of the island and tourists.

THE current registered population of Palma is 426'526 of which 109'452 are immigrants, reported the City Council yesterday, adding that both levels of local people and foreigners rose very little in 2009 in comparison with preceding years.

Last year, the number of people in Palma increased by 4'139 inhabitants, the lowest increase in the last 10 years. If 1'321 were Spaniards coming from other regions of the country, it has to be assumed that the remaining 2'810 were foreigners. The majority of them were from African countries.

It is believed that there are as many as 35'000 Africans on Majorca but some of them are not registered with the local Town Council so exact figures are impossible to calculate.

Tomas Lladó, Population Services director at Palma City Council, said that the foreign population is represented by no less than 161 countries. He confirmed that over the past year, those territories which have seen increased immigration to Palma have been Senegal (324), Nigeria (268) and China (236).

However, the Senegalese Association in Palma said that it is unlikely that that number of immigrants came to Palma from their country last year, and what was more probably the case was that those who were already here had made their presence on Majorca official.

Some of the centres will be for day-time use only whilst others will provide overnight accommodation as well. The project will provide 44 places principally for those people who are unable to look after themselves.

Minister Fina Santiago explained yesterday that the centres will be ready by the end of the year, and once complete will be handed over to the respective local town councils for administration.

MORE than 20 people from the world of science, politics and films, including Michael Douglas, Elle MacPherson and Spanish singer Miguel Bosé, are backing moves to globally stop the fishing of blue fin tuna, and have it added to the list of species under threat of extinction.

PALMA
THE chief executive of the Balearic Socialist Party met yesterday to discuss the current political situation while the six people arrested this week, including the former Minister for Tourism Miguel Nadal and the ex-leader of the Majorcan Unionist Party Miguel Angel Flaquer, appeared in a Palma court to answer questions about alleged corruption in the Inestur Balearic Institute for Tourism Strategy.

Late last night, at the end of the day’s preliminary hearings, bail was set for the former Minister for Tourism and the accountant for the Majorcan Unionist Party, Alvaro Llompart, at 100'000 euros.

President Francesc Antich and his left-wing coalition government are now in a minority in the government, on the Council of Majorca and Palma City Council but the party made it clear yesterday that, while it knows it is going to be difficult to govern in a minority, it is confident that the Majorcan Unionist Party will continue to act as part of the coalition and vote with the government.

EXPELLED
The leader of the UM, Josep Melia, responded to the party’s government ministers and councillors being expelled on Friday following the arrests of the former Minister for Tourism, Miguel Nadal, by claiming that Antich had all but broken the coalition pact.

However, the Socialists are confident that while the UM may have lost some of its confidence in the coalition, it will continue to form part of the government and support it. The Socialists also believe that, for the good of the Balearics, political stability and the credibility of the government, agreements can and will be reached with the opposition Partido Popular. One thing the chief executive clearly ruled out yesterday was a snap election.

LAST RESORT “That is the last resort,” said Rosa Maria Alberdi, the Secretary of the Balearic Socialist Party.
Alberdi also said that the future of the Speaker of the Balearic Parliament and honorary President of the UM, Maria Antonia Munar, is for Parliament to decide.

Nevertheless, she did state that Munar, who is also implicated in one of the alleged corruption scandals being investigated, should do the honourable thing and comply with the recently introduced political code of ethics.