YOUR LETTERS

THE local government is doing damage to its youth, tourism and the economy generally by insisting on Catalan / Mallorquin as the first ( and sometimes only ) language in schools, hospitals and administration. There are many visitors and residents who can get by in Castellano but refuse to learn more than a few words of Mallorquin until they are fluent in the more useful national language. By all means preserve the Mallorquin language and culture but not at the expense of future prosperity for its youth and the Island.

Best wishes
Geoff Williamson

Dear Sir,

Further to a letter by Mr Smith of Andratx stating that the local price of 80 Euros was too expensive for a round of golf I wondered what the prices were on the mainland so I asked an old friend who lives on the Costa del Sol.

He sent me the following:- Valderrama, 300 euros, buggy 60- Sotogrande 160 euros, buggy 37- San Roque 120 euros, buggy 49- Almenara 120 euros, buggy 30- La Reserva 160 euros, buggy 35.

Yours truly, John Rule, Sol de Mallorca

Dear Sir,

Jason Moore is back on his hobbyhorse bemoaning those shopkeepers who have enough consideration and love of their families to take a day off from labors. This is a well known custom sanctioned in the Bible and demanded by all union contracts. He, of course, could lead by example and convince the Bulletin's owners publish seven days per week. But this would reduce him to the servitude he wishes upon others. You can be sure Jason's howling could be heard as far as the Midlands if he were asked to do so. Yet he would gladly inflict such a regimen on others.

If the Chinese discount stores are in violation of any opening laws or labor laws as to hours, tougher enforcement is needed. If there are loopholes in the regulations, they should be closed. A free market is a level playing field. The rules should be the same for everyone. A free maketplace should not be an excuse to require all to adopt the habits and mindset of the greediest. The Chinese immigrants should have more respect for the country they have come to. They should learn the Western maxim, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” If they do not, they are welcome to leave Majorca and practice Chinese customs in China. Ditto, Mr. Jason Moore and the UK.

Roland Amaral, Inca