Seven Days

Pollensa Church Shock

What is often called the summer "silly season" for news came to an abrupt end this week with a number of important and varied developments in local politics and society.

The biggest surprise was probably the sudden decision of the local Catholic authorities to withdraw a 27-year-old arrangement in Pollensa by which the Anglican community there has been able to use a Catholic church for its worship.

The news was announced by the island’s Anglican Chaplain, Revd David Waller, who said that although he was waiting for a confirmatory letter from the Bishop of Majorca he understood that the long-standing agreement would end in six weeks.

He also said that he hoped an explanation of the reason for this decision would be given. The Revd Waller said, "This is a challenging time for us as a Church. The future may seem uncertain but we are a congregation strong in faith. We may therefore continue to take comfort in the presence of God with each of us, and with us all, as we move forward." In a Viewpoint the editor of the Bulletin, Jason Moore, wrote: "The Anglican Church needs to find a new place of worship sooner rather than later and as a community I would urge everyone to try and help.

The Church in Pollensa does a fantastic job and deserves our support."

MPs For the Chop

Change of a different kind came with the Balearic government’s proposal to reduce the number of local members of parliament from 59 to 41.

The Balearic President, Jose Ramon Bauza, said the reduction would save twelve million euros during the four-year parliamentary session and claimed that "We can do the same with fewer MPs." Majorca will lose ten of its 33 MPs, Minorca four of its nine, and Ibiza four of its eight; Formentera will retain its single MP.

At the same time Bauza said these and other changes in remuneration would mean that "politics is no longer looked at as a full-time profession but as a period of public service.

We want to attract the best calibre of people to parliament.

People who have a professional career, who at the same time are willing to give up some of their time to be a politican or MP." This economy announcement was timely since the Balearic governemnt had just heard from Madrid that the central governemnt’s funding for 2014 is to be cut by 42 million euros to 1,984 million euros -- a drop of 2.11 percent. (It will come as a surprise to those of us with other political backgrounds to find that a Spanish local authority can reshape its electoral structure as Bauza proposes. Who will decide how the cuts should be applied to the different parties? And will everyone agree that part-time MPs with a professional career make the best MPs? R.F.)

Magalluf Again

"Ten falls and a hanging in one month" was the Bulletin’sstark headline over yet more reports of deaths and serious injuries from hotel balcony falls in Magalluf, most of them young British tourists.

"Something needs to be done about Magalluf" said editor Jason Moore in an angry Viewpoint -- but what?

Is the problem of fatal falls just carelessness brought on by the holiday spirit, or showing off, or excessive drinking encouraged by bar owners? And why all in Magalluf?

The Bulletin’s Frank Leavers checked what was being said about the problem on Facebook which showed an inclination to put the blame on the tourists themsleves; one posting pointed out that many young tourists are drunk even before they check-in to their hotels.

He ended his report in this way: "To try and put these recent deaths into some sort of context I checked the MOD website regarding British deaths and injuries in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

The results were quite startling. So far this year five British soldiers have been killed on "active duty" in that dangerous war-torn country; meanwhile in Magalluf alone and in little over a month there have been four "balcony" deaths and at least six other serious injuries. Sobering statistics indeed."

Yes, something does indeed need to be done.

Schools’ Strikes

Friday of this week saw "Vuelta al cole" -- the return to school after three months of summer holiday.

But unless something drastic happens over the weekend it is likely that the term will end on Monday, at least for the length of indefinite strikes called by all the main teachers unions.

The problem is the Balearic government’s insistence on introducing TIL -- tratamiento integrado de lenguas -- the three languages being Castellano, Catalan and English.

Earlier in the week the Balearic Presidnet, Jose Ramon Bauza, said he wanted all local school children to speak English along with Spanish and Catalan "because it is vital that future generations can speak all three languages". It is probable that most people will agreee with Bauza in principle but an informative article by Andrew Ede showed that difficulties leading to the anticipated strikes are mainly as about the way in which TIL is being introduced as well having a political edge over the place of Catalan.

Bulletin Honoured

Pere Serra, founder and chairman of the Majorca Daily Bulletin, was presented with the Gold Medal of the Council of Majorca to mark its 50th year of publication at a ceremony at the Teatre Principal.

In his appreciation of Don Pedro’s foresight and initiative in establishing the Bulletin in 1963 when Majorca was still an underdeveloped tourist resort, Andrew Ede said that the Bulletin had been more than simply a newspaper but also a chronicle of social history -- that of the relationship between Majorca and its English-speaking community and visitors.

In Brief

The UK’s Revenue & Customs called on expatriates with information or suspicions about tax fraud or tobacco smuggling by British citizens to call its Customs Hotline -- 900988992. "Information leading directly to an arrest could be considered for a small award."

The valuable Joan Miro painting reported "missing" from the Miro Foundation in Palma had been found in the vaults of an art transport company in Palma.

Police said the painting had probably been mislaid rather than stolen.

The director of the foundation has offered her resignation although it has not been accepted.