In Brief

After a meeting lasting nearly three hours the executive committee of USCA (the air traffic controllers' union) decided unanimously not to go ahead with the proposed strike at the end of August, as a gesture of responsibility, on the understanding that the Government would put pressure on AENA to return to the negotiating table.

A spokesman for the union said that the decision had been made as a result of the concern expressed by the tourist sector and numerous passengers.

Workers in tourism sector drop by 4.7%

A year on year comparison shows that the number of workers in the Balearic tourist sector dropped by 4.7% in the second quarter of the year.

The regional decrease is the second largest in the country, only Valencia exceeding the figure with 5.6% fewer jobs in tourism.

Balearics owe 162 million to the State

The Balearic Islands have to pay the State a total of 162 million euros, in respect of the final settlement of the region's financial accounts for 2008. Between them, all the autonomous regions (apart from País Vasco and Navarra) will have to give the State 5,502 million euros.

Long queues to refuel boats in port of Maó

Boat owners have been complaining about the amount of time they have to wait in August to refuel their vessels at the only possible point in the port of Maó, the Club Marítimo, some having queued for several hours. The Sunday before last there was further outrage when the fuelling point had run out of gasóleo A (diesel) by midday.

The President of the Club Marítimo, Fernando Rita, explained that the fuelling point only had two 20,000 litre tanks to store diesel and petrol and that the Club had been waiting over a year for the Port Authority's permission to increase the storage capacity. Regarding the lack of diesel on the Sunday, Rita said that two large vessels had filled their tanks in the morning leaving the Club without any diesel. The Club has applied to increase the storage capacity (by installing two new 50,000 litre tanks)and extend the dock by 30% but is still awaiting a reply.

Caritas appeal for aid for Pakistan

Following the worst floods in the last eighty years in Pakistan, where the death toll is increasing daily and the number of people affected still rising, Caritas de Menorca are urgently calling for donations to help deal with the tragedy in the south Punjab region.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the emergency programme being undertaken by Caritas Pakistan can do so through the Caritas Menorca offices or by paying in directly to one of the following bank accounts: Caixa Colonya: 2056.0012.23.4218000482; Sa Nostra: 2051.0035.61.1008196820; or the Caixa: 2100.0055.51.0103680278.

Age Concern Car Boot Sale in Cala Blanca

Following the success of the first Age Concern Car Boot Sale to be held at the Ciutadella end of the island, the experience is to be repeated in early September.

As before, the venue will be the small car park just before the Maribel Apartments' swimming pool on the Avinguda de sa Platja, in Cala Blanca. The sale will run from 1000-1300 hrs. with sellers setting up their stores an hour earlier.

Pitches, priced at 10 euros, can be reserved through the charity's Vice President, Tom Eslick, by phone on 630 202 791 or 971 382 322 or via email on tom.eslick@gmail.com

Craft Centre to close for two months

Es Mercadal Craft Centre is to close for approximately two months from 6th September for reforms. At a cost of 1.2 million euros, improvements will be made to the ground floor of the complex and a start made on the second floor which will house a Craft Museum.

Automatic switchboard at diario "Menorca"

The Grup Editorial Menorca, which publishes the "Menorca" island newspaper, has recently installed an automatic switchboard which could confuse any callers who do not understand Spanish or Catalan.

The "English Pages" can be contacted on Saturdays, Sundays or Mondays by dialling the newspaper's switchboard, 971 351 600, and, once the automatic message starts, dial extension 146. Alternatively, messages can be sent directly via email to the englishpages@menorca.info.