In Brief

Three men have been remanded in prison after being arrested during Operation 'Boxer', a police operation against drug traffickers.

The first arrest was on 6th February when National Police became suspicious of a vehicle disembarking from a ferry in Maó. A search of the vehicle revealed two packets of cocaine and led to the arrest of the driver, 63-year old A.R.G. from Madrid.

Later that day the identity of the receiver of the drugs was uncovered and a 39-year old resident from Alaior, P.O.L.S., was arrested. This was followed three days later by the detention of J.O.V.V., a 48-year old from Madrid, who had sent the drugs and then travelled to Menorca to complete the transaction.

Four accused of Maó robbery sent to Palma

The four men accused of a robbery in Maó during which three women were bound and gagged, had believed that a large sum of money was to be found in the house in Calle Sant Josep, but escaped with a small amount of money and their victims' jewellery.

The four South Americans, who are charged with robbery with violence, illegal detention and threats, were all living in Spain illegally and deportation orders are being prepared. They have now been transferred to the prison in Palma and it will be up to a judge to decide whether to proceed with the charges or whether to commute the possible sentence directly to deportation with a ban on re-entering the country within ten years.

Under Spanish law, prison sentences of less than six years imposed on foreigners residing illegally in Spain are exchanged for deportation from the country, except for those cases where a judge decides that the sentence must be served in a Spanish prison.

Protest march against pension reforms

The UGT and CCOO unions have called a demonstration for Wednesday 2nd March in protest against government proposals to increase the retirement age to 67 years and pension reforms. The march will start at the Plaza Explanada and end in the Plaza Miranda.

The unions consider that workers' rights will be cut back by the government plans which would not only increase the pensionable age but also the period over which pensions are calculated. Currently, the last 15 years of working life are taken into account but this is to be increased to 20 or 25 years which would result in a pensioner receiving between 20% and 30% less pension than if calculated under the present system.

Demand for flights increases by 10.6%

The demand for flights to the Balearic Islands this summer has increased by 10% and in Menorca's case by 10.6%.

This is largely due to increased interest in the islands from the German market, with a rise of 12%, and the Spanish, with 3.4%. However, the demand from the British market has dropped by 2%.

Maó declares war on dog excrement

Maó Council and the company contracted to keep the town clean, FCC, have declared war on the dog excrement which litters some areas of the town.

The Mayor of Maó, Vicenç Tur, announced last week that cleaning operations will be increased in the worst affected parts, such as calle Borja Moll and the areas around the Paseo Marítimo and the Hotel Mirador. There will also be increased police patrols with officers issuing fines to owners who allow their dogs to defecate and fail to clean up after them.

Citizen leaves estate to Es Mercadal Council
Antonio Torres Riquelme, originally from Es Mercadal but resident for much of his life in Maó, decided to leave his estate to the old people's home in his native town.

Torres died in June 2005 and the courts have now overruled the family's appeal, so the inheritance will go to Es Mercadal Council (as the home has no legal character).

The Torres legacy includes a ground floor flat in Calle Santa Teresa, Maó, 4,000 sq.m. of rustic land in Maó, and 30,000 sq.m. of land in Es Castell.

Valeriano Allès retain third place in league
The women's volleyball team remain in third position in the Superliga, in spite of an away win against Cala Finestrat, 2:3, on Saturday.

The league is headed by Jamper Aguere with 49 points, followed by Universidad de Burgos with 41 and Valeriano Allés on 37 points. This Saturday the team will be at home to sixth-placed Oxidoc Palma.

Convincing home win for ViveMenorca

The men's basketball team, ViveMenorca, had a good result this week when they beat Leche Río Breogan in a home fixture which finished 91:77 in the Menorcans' favour. The team remain in fourth place in the Adecco LEB Oro league, still four wins behind the leaders, CAI Zaragoza.

On Friday the players will face Càceres 2016 (currently 10th) in an away match.