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| Have your say. Send your letters by email to office@coastrider.net, by fax to 966 701 037 or by post to CoastRider S.L., C/Joaquin Chapaprieta 59 (Local 7), Torrevieja 03181 (Alicante). Remember, all letters should include full name, address and telephone number (Please note: addresses and other contact details are for our records, not for publication unless specified by the sender). The views expressed in the CoastRider’s letters page are the views of our readers and are not necessarily the opinion of the CoastRider. We reserve the right to edit letters where necessary. |
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Dear Ed, I am hoping that your readers might be able to help me trace the artist Ricardo, who two years agho was working in the shop formerly known as 'Artes Torrevieja', at 24 Bajo, C/Orihuela, Torrevieja (front Iberdrola). I had been unable to elicit a response to the email address on the business card he had given to me, so when I visited Torrevieja again last October I decided to call in personally with a view to arranging a pastel portrait, only to find that the premises has since become a boutique. I'd be grateful for any further information as to whether this artist is still working and if, so where I might be able to contact him. Miss Hayley James If anyone has information or a contact number for Ricardo, please email Hayley directly on: shewhomustbeobeyed99@yahoo.co.uk Press Release - PSOE, Torrevieja. The PSOE in Torrevieja is listening. According to official figures the British account for about 30% of the non Spanish European community living here with the entitlement to vote in the May elections. In fact there are 11,888, so British participation is of crucial importance. Over recent years Torrevieja has experienced demographic changes. As a result, the majority of residents now live in the surrounding urbanisations. We live in a multi-cultural community and international residents who go to the polls on the 27th May will in effect be casting their vote in favour of integration and improving the surroundings. International residents need to be represented in the town hall with people who speak their languages and understand their problems. At the present the PSOE is in the process of drawing up its election programme and therefore anxious to hear from international residents with problems or hopefully ideas which can be incorporated into the manifesto. Somebody from the PSOE will be available at the Casa del Pueblo on Calle La Paz number 115, second floor, every evening from 5 to 8 pm and they will do their best to answer any questions you may have or deal with suggestions for improving our community. We are centrally situated in Torrevieja, just behind Todo Todo. If you are unable to visit, then you can contact us by e-mail psoetorrevieja@hotmail.com, call or send a sms: 692 471 607. An English speaker should be available to deal with your enquiry. The PSOE is listening and waiting to hear from you. Dear Editor, Benefit Thefts The British Government make it clear through expensive television and Press advertisements, that there will be "NO IFS" "NO BUTS" when it comes to Benefit Theft - THEY (Allegedly) WILL PROSECUTE BENEFIT THIEVES. Why then is it the apparent norm here in Spain (and I no doubt feel sure in many other countries also) that there is an abundance of "Benefit Thieves"? I am aware of many, many people here in the Torrevieja and surrounding area, who are openly defying the authorities both here and in the UK by claiming Benefits, such as Invalidity Benefit; Disability Living Allowance and Housing Benefits (for property they have in the UK and let out to tenants). Yet these people openly work here under the auspices of builders; painters; plumbers; cleaners; airport taxi drivers, house maintenance/cleaning contractors, etc., etc., etc., working regularly in total defiance of the law both here and in the UK? They more often than not work for "cash in hand" and PAY NO TAXES to the Spanish authorities/local Social Security, etc. they have no legal right (in a majority of the cases) to be working here in Spain let alone do so whilst claiming UK Benefits. It is little surprise the Spanish have such a poor regard of these individuals who are, in effect, depriving them of work and taxes, etc. These individuals are often seen driving around in their English registered cars (often with illegally obtained documentation) in apparent abandon of the authorities who appear quite willing to allow them to proceed unhindered. Some of these cars have been here for many years again in defiance of the law. Why do the authorities in the UK therefore, even when matters are reported to them, appear to take no action and allow the thieves to continue? They (the authorities) seem quite content to sit in their nice ivory towers, at great expense to the UK tax payers, allowing hundreds of thousands of pounds to be claimed by these thieves. They say to do so would cost too much money and resources which, allegedly, the authorities seem to feel they cannot justify from the public purse. The thieves are, of course well aware of this and blatantly take advantage of the system. I would venture to suggest these thieves (here in the Torrevieja area, and probably in a great deal many more EU Countries) are cheating the UK tax payer, out of hundreds of thousands of pounds annually. WHY ON EARTH DO WE PUT UP WITH IT? Report the lot of them and ultimately save yourselves and the UK tax payer money. If we all sat up and let ourselves be counted, the UK authorities may well take heed and make enquires with a view to getting these cheats/thieves off Benefits and back to work legally where they rightly belong, contributing to society instead of fleecing us all, after all they are working now with no visible signs of any disabilities, etc., so why not get them to do so legally? You can do something about it by doing what the advertisement says, and don't let them get away with it - IT IS YOUR MONEY WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE - STOP THIS SCANDALOUS WASTE OF MONEY TO DONW AND OUT THIEVES. Sincere apologies to those genuine disabled people who are quite rightly entitled to those Benefits. Name and address supplied. Hello, I read with disgust the letter in today's Coastrider complaining about the man wearing his hat at Jane Cronin's Spanish lessons. Has P of Torrevieja (the letter writer) nothing better to do? Do we not have a bad enough reputation without P of Torrevieja airing his petty moans in public? Would it not be more constructive to say how wonderful the course is? How everyone is enjoying it so much and learning so quickly because of Jane's teaching techniques and the visual graphics used in the course and fore coming DVD. A 12 week course, twice a week, that only cost 20€ total. I for one won't let a fantastic course be ruined by someones stupid quibble about a hat. Has P of Torrevieja even bothered to look into this 'hat' matter? I have asked several Spanish friends and they have never heard about it being rude to wear a hat in a public building. Nor is it 'disrespectful or impolite'. One Spanish friend even said "Why do the English cry over the little things"? Remember, this is Spain - NOT the UK. Brian, Torrevieja. PS I might even start wearing my deerstalker to lessons. Dear Editor, After reading Vecinos Cooperandos Mr. Herbert letter on your last edition, against a Torrevieja PSOE politician and political party, I would like to say a few things: 1) Vecinos Colaborando, does not belong or follow any political party. We follow and obey the Local Police and Guardia Civil security guidance to try to improve the residents safety and community spirit. 2) Because we act within the 1978 Spanish Constitution, we are not concerned about what any politician or political party has to say, but we have to listen and try to respect their opinions; after all we are all working or trying to work in the new and young Spanish democracy, plus the fact that we are in Spain 3) Mr. Herbert, your ideas are not our ideas, and maybe you are doing a good job for or with the Cooperando's, but we will appreciate if you stop using our Colaborando's name when having a go at somebody or group. Leave us out of it, because these days we speak to anyone of any race, religion or social background and they speak to us. Jose Rivero Santana, Asociacion Vecinos Colaborando, Crime Watch Espana President |