Notes from the October Meeting

From The Entertainer Online: 'The recent meeting of Mojácar's premier political party, Ciudadanos Europeos (the only party in Mojácar that bothers to have meetings) began with the news that some residents of Arboleas are so upset with their ruling PSOE (and dismayed by the prospect of the previous mayor's bid to return as 'PSA'), that they have decided to start their own independent branch of Ciudadanos Europeos de Arboleas. The provincial paper, La Voz de Almería, gets some of the detail wrong, but the basic point is made: the European foreigners are sick of the local greed and corruption of 'clan politics''.

The Voz article in fact suggests that we are in contact with some other groups from other towns with similar concerns.

The meeting on Saturday also had more pedestrian subjects to deal with - which is right for a local party concerned with local affairs. The first subject raised by Angel Medina was the confirmation that three Mojácar builder's cranes have now been retired, including the one that disfigured the picture-postcard approach to the pueblo for so long, and that a further two will be gone by Christmas. Perhaps the biggest news was that the famous ring-road (meant to have sped through La Paratá to 'take pressure off the beach avenida' - but in fact to allow heavy lorries from Carboneras easier access to the Murcia motorway) has now been finally discarded and the expropriated land involved has been returned to previous owners. The Town Hall is studying the proposal to widen the existing road that runs (well, 'walks' anyway) behind the gasolinera and hotels.
Some of Mojácar's larger infrastructure, built and financed by the Junta de Andalucía, remains closed. The sports centre and swimming pool for example, would need too much funding to run as a municipal project and tenders are out for private companies to take on the management. The town's long-awaited art museum will however be open by Christmas.
A new project, Mojácar Ciclista, starts this autumn. Based at the Oasis Tropical Hotel, and promoted by Thomas Cook, this is a plan to bring cyclists to Mojácar and offer them a series of interesting routes, together with a workshop and full support at the hotel. The project starts just in Belgium, and has received favourable interest. This type of tourism, Angel Medina told us, is far better than the late-night young boozers from Vera-and-beyond tourism which generates so much mess, noise and potential tragedy. His department would continue to support quality tourism, but without encouraging the 'any-and-all' proposed by previous tourist departments (and currently, some of our other parties).
In culture, our monthly art exhibitions and regular concerts will continue as always. In transport, Angel is trying to open bus routes from Mojácar to Turre, the Huercal Overa hospital and the Almería airport.

Lenox Napier gave a talk about the importance of belonging to Mojácar by saying that one must integrate and become part of our community. Try and practice saying: 'Yo Soy Mojaquero'. Lenox says he will be outside the Town Hall each Tuesday at 12.00am to help with padrón, voting registration and other concerns.

Crispin Welby from Arboleas gave a talk (in perfect Spanish), ably translated by Virginia, about the concerns in his town and why he intends to start the new independent party there. The sound and technical support came, as always, from Alan Sykes. Our thanks to them all.