News from Minorca

MADRID will dedicate around 60 million euros to improve Minorca's roads in its 2006 budget, if negotiations between central government and the island's authorities are finalised.

President of Minorca's Island Council, Joana Barcelo, explained that by negotiating directly with Madrid, Minorca will obtain close to 11 percent of the 568 million euros dedicated to the island's road network.

By law, Minorca is entitled to 12 percent of this investment, but in the past, Barcelo notes the island ended up with around 5 percent of this figure. The 60 million euros have already been allocated to two major projects: 35 million will go towards improving the main road that runs through the centre of the island, and 25 million will be put towards funding the Ferreries bypass.

The latter is a very expensive project, as it involves the creation of a tunnel in the hillside surrounding the town. Further funding will be required for the project, with Minorcan politicians currently in the process of producing a detailed cost outline of the bypass.

The dilemma now facing the island council is to make a decision over the future of the main road on the island. The current road has just one lane in each direction, with a handful of third lane sections for heavy and slow traffic at long hills. There are two options for the road, doubling the lanes in each direction to make it into a dual carriageway, or inserting a third lane, stretching the length of the road, for overtaking.

Both are problematic given the number of small, private tracks that lead off the main road to houses and farms.
Transport councillor, Damia Borras announced that within the next few months, a group would be set up, formed by stakeholders in the project, to debate over the future of the main road.

Minorcan shoe industry fares well

despite Asian competition

THE growing presence of Chinese-imported shoes is a concern for Spain's manufacturers. New figures show that in 2004, 198 million pairs of shoes that were made in China were imported into Spain, with the industry suspecting there is as many as 40 million extra pairs in storage in the country, ready to enter the market.

In January 2005, 15.1 million pairs of shoes were imported from China, a figure that is twice as high as the same month in 2004, and is a cause for concern for the industry. “Total shoe production on the island was worth 80 million euros in 2004.” Recent figures indicate, however, that while the rest of Spain has seen considerable drops in production, Minorca's manufacturers have weathered the storm.

While the average decline in shoe companies across the country is 18 percent, Minorca has fared well, with just a 6 percent decline in production. And even better is the news that exports of Minorcan shoes remained stable, valued at around 22 million euros.

Total production on the island was worth 80 million euros in 2004. Minorca's shoe manufacturing industry celebrated its annual meeting last week to discuss these issues.

With 1'200 jobs on the island directly related to shoe production, Asian competition is a serious threat to their livelihoods.
Minorcan firms have kept their shoe business buoyant by turning to new international markets.
Minorcan shoe companies attended 34 trade fairs in 11 different countries over the past year, as well as working to open up sales in countries as far afield as Hong Kong, Australia and Japan.

France continues to be the most important export market for Minorcan-made shoes, with Germany another key destination.
Sweden and Denmark have been highlighted as possible new markets for Minorcan shoes.
The industry has prepared a PR strategy for Minorcan shoes, entitled “Plan Menorca”.
Presented to Balearic politicians earlier in the year, the industry has yet to receive a positive reply and news if the regional government is willing to fund part of the initiative.

Police patrols for Ciutadella's beaches

CIUTADELLA is to set up a special police unit, dedicated to patrolling the beaches within the town's municipal boundary.
As the largest municipality on the island, Ciutadella is home to several isolated beaches, many of which are accessed only by foot or from the sea.
During the height of the summer, groups often camp illegally on these beaches, sometimes these groups sell goods to visitors to the beaches, and sometimes they bring dogs to the beach or light fires.

Both the presence of dogs and building camp fires are not allowed on any of Minorca's beaches during the summer season for health and safety reasons.
Ciutadella is the first town hall to take action against illegal campers.
In pairs, police will patrol the beaches from May until the end of October.
The police will be dressed in different uniforms to those in the town centre, and will inspect beaches five days a week, rotating their free days so inspections fall on weekends.

The town hall explained that, because of a lack of staff dedicated to the beach areas, no charges were made against any of the illegal campers on the town's beaches last summer.

The new police unit will have the powers to file charges if necessary.

Island's mayors meet at El Toro

MINORCA'S mayors met at Monte Toro last week to discuss common issues and to present questions to two representatives from the island council.
The local politicians produced a joint declaration over the key points of the meeting and proposed changes that could be made. These included calls by mayors for a greater representation as changes to the laws governing local administrations are prepared across the Balearics, the mayors want to ensure their opinions are heard.

Financial issues were mentioned, as were calls for greater powers over land management, the town halls want the ability to use public land within their municipalities to meet local demands.

The town halls called for greater support, expressing their desire for increased control over infant education and for extra help with services such as day centres and homes for the elderly.

Both the mayors and representatives from the island council were pleased with the outcome of the meeting, both expressed their commitment to hold similar discussions on a regular basis.