Canarian Weekly newspaper - distributed across Tenerife to 1000's of residents & tourists every week

News in brief - 26.06.2009
News in Brief Tourist chief remains hopeful, despite another drop in figures TENERIFE’S tourist total dropped by 16.2% last month, compared with the May 2008 figures. It reflects the monthly tone since the start of the year. But Tourism Minister José Manuel Bermúdez hopes the huge efforts made to promote the island as a holiday centre will come good in the summer months. A total of 346,425 tourists, in the hotel sector and other areas, were accommodated last month, according to provisional statistics prepared by the Government. And Bermudez remains optimistic that Tenerife will turn the corner following the worldwide recession. “May is one of the worst months of the year – a situation which has been further aggravated by the economic crisis,” he said. “We know the situation is very complicated and that all destinations are competing for the same tourists. “But I hope that the coming months will bear fruit following the large promotional effort we are making in the domestic market.” The May period showed there were 112,757 British tourists, a drop of 15.6% over 2008, while the number of Germans accommodated dropped by 26.5% to 35,495. In relation to the tourist areas, the South accommodated a total of 267,400 tourists, which signalled a 13.2% drop from May 2008, while the North recorded 67,733 visitors, down by 25.7%. The throwaway mobile! BIC has long been famous for its throwaway pens and lighters. Now, believe it or not, the company has come up with the first disposable mobile phone! The French firm launched the mobile last August in France, where more than 100,000 units have since been sold, and the Bic Phone has now arrived in Spain. It will be available from July in tobacconists, newsagents, petrol stations and other points of sale for 29 euros, which includes 12 euros of pre-paid calls. The phone, manufactured by a sub-contractor of Alcatel, comes fitted with a charged battery. It provides the basic functions of making calls, SMS, FM radio and calculator. The network is Orange, which also distributes the phone and receives all the income. But it also pays Bic a licensing fee in return for using its brand name. King Juan has a nose for news! THE King and Queen of Spain were greeted with a traditional Maori welcome in Wellington last Tuesday – after the red carpet had been rolled out for them. King Juan Carlos rubbed noses with senior Maori Kura Moeahu as Queen Sofia watched on during their first visit to New Zealand in 21years. They flew on to Australia the following day. The royal couple arrived in the New Zealand capital on the Monday night, and attended a ceremony at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier the next morning. They then moved on to Parliament for an official state salute, where they were greeted by a Royal Guard of Honour and the Maori welcoming ceremony. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and King Juan witnessed the signing of a working holiday agreement between the two countries. It was a significant moment because 200 young Spaniards and the same number of New Zealanders will now be able to live and work in each other’s country for up to six months a year. The Spanish monarch also spoke at a state luncheon held in his honour of many possibilities for co-operation in trade and economy between the two nations. He placed particular emphasis on renewable energy, infrastructure and telecommunications. CCS build platform for success IF you’re looking for a long-established company to handle your construction needs, then look no further than Combined Construction Services. True, the name says it all, but it doesn’t even begin to describe the quality tradesmen this Tenerife building company have at their fingertips. Paul Sharples and Kevin Capper, both from Leyland in Lancashire, founded CCS and have built up a well-organised team of building workers. They take pride in their craftsmanship and are one of the few building companies in Tenerife willing to provide evidence of their legal status, including personal and company liabilities and references. The partners have been established for more than 11 years here and provide a complete package for customers – bricklayers, plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, carpentry, joinery and much more. Their motto, “On time and on budget” is a credit to the company, which is why they have so many word-of-mouth recommendations. The thought of having your own dream house built for you exactly to order, or having your existing home remodelled, seems a daunting proposition, but it is far from that with CCS. Paul and Kevin offer innovative solutions for cost-effective services, and they are fully prepared to take on any task, from fitting a kitchen sink to refurbishing an apartment block. They actually specialise in total refurbishments and maintenance, in addition to carrying out repairs and extensions to residential and commercial buildings. They pride themselves in using only the best quality materials, and all their work is fully guaranteed. No wonder, then, that the CCS team have built a reputation for all-round quality and service. Their systematic approach guarantees satisfaction and insures that all their clients receive the same high standards, no matter how small or large the project. From tiling and flooring, to designing and installing kitchens and repairing bathrooms, the same expertise is employed throughout. The CCS know-how allows them to anticipate and avoid potential problems, providing customers with the feedback needed to plan the perfect project, whether commercial or private. Paul and Kevin have established a versatile team to bring your entire project to life, and they provide free advice and estimates. One major plus, perhaps, is that they are well-staffed, so CCS can handle more than one job at a time, which automatically cuts down the waiting time. In addition, there is full communication and co-operation with clients from start to finish, so forget about unanswered phone calls, or messages not returned should a problem arise. Need a job done, large or small? Then call CCS on 600 841 507 or 680 322 206, or contact the office on 922 764 348. Never a dull moment at Wingate THIS time of year in schools is traditionally hectic, and in Wingate’s Infant department, it is no exception. First there was the Infant trip, this year to a finca near Guimar called El Carreton, and what a fabulous day we had. The children and staff were involved in a day’s workshop, learning about the animals and feeding them, looking at different kinds of energy sources, and even planting some seeds. It was action-packed from start to finish, so no wonder there was more sleeping than singing on the bus journey home. Next came Sports day and all the infants, from Nursery to Year 2, were involved – as were many parents. Lynne Pearson, Head of Infants, said: “I have to admit, my favourite has always been watching Nursery do their egg-and-spoon race. “But this year, the dads’ jumping race with a ball between their legs came a close second! “Everyone gave 100%, and there was great team spirit and sportsmanship, as well as plenty of winning stickers.” She added: “Lastly, our music morning, called “Wingate School Days”, involved the infants singing some of their favourites to mums and dads. “All the songs and dances were based on the school timetable theme, so there was also an opportunity to recite some times tables, show science work and even have Neil Armstrong walking on the moon! “So, with the traditional end-of-term party (including bouncy castle), the school year drew to a close. “The children and staff must be commended for their hard work throughout the year. “Finally, the staff would like to wish all children and parents a happy, and relaxing, holiday and we’ll see you in September.” Subway sale goes down a storm! SUBWAY’S buy one, get one free “sale” to celebrate their first anniversary at Puerto Colon was a resounding success. Residents and tourists turned up last Saturday to take advantage of the offer, and store manager Katie would like to thank all who attended – and those who have visited the store in its first year. Manager Stuart added: “It’s been hard work, but a lot of fun, and a big thank-you to everybody who has supported us. “It’s been a great year and although things have not always gone smoothly, we have a great team here and we always come out smiling.” We can certainly vouch for that as we visited on Saturday to take advantage of the offer, and the staff were as friendly as ever – especially the large ‘sandwich’ which was giving out balloons to children! You can see more of Subman on their Facebook site – facebook.com/subwaytenerife We got there quite early as it was just starting to get busy, but all the staff were on and the line moved quickly. We opted for two different sandwiches and it was great watching them being built from scratch. The unique thing about Subway restaurants is the fact that they bake their own very tasty bread in store every few hours, so every sandwich is on beautifully-soft, submarine rolls. They have four varieties: Italian, Wheat, Parmesan and Honey Oat. How cool is that? Apart from that, every sandwich is made beautifully. The bread is cut perfectly and the ingredients are layered to make your sandwich look even tastier. When we went to Subway we were spoilt for choice. Even the fussiest eaters will find something they will love. We went for Steak and Cheese on Parmesan bread (Hmmm I can still taste the melted cheese – absolutely amazing!) and the vegetarian option – Veggie Patty on Honey Oat bread. Both sandwiches were completely different but both tasted gorgeous. The Steak and Cheese Sub was toasted and served with our choice of salad (and they have absolutely everything) and finished off with amazing spicy southwest sauce. This is another great part of the Subway offering – the sauces. Every single one is different, but all of them taste great and go beautifully with all the subs. They have light options for all those watching their weight, spicy for those who like a bit of adventure and sweet ones for those who like something different – Sweet Chilli chicken would certainly be one I’d try in the future! The second sandwich (Veggie Patty) was definitely different. Although none of us is a vegetarian, this was recommended by Cherie, who has worked there since the opening day, so we decided to try it. I’m glad we took her advice! It is a long, rectangular shape and made from tightly-packed Soya and vegetables - a world away from the usual predictable vegetarian options. This went really well toasted, on Honey Oat bread, with melted cheese and all the healthy salad. It was finished off with low-calorie, sweet onion sauce. Once again it was absolutely delicious and the presentation of both sandwiches was 10/10. We admire the staff for putting so much effort into each sandwich, the result being a tidy and appetising sub every time. Don’t forget, apart from sandwiches they also sell wraps, salads, coffees and soft drinks, together with their famous cookies. You can view the complete menu at www.subwaytenerife.com and then if you are feeling hungry, why not use their new delivery service on 922-712924 and have it delivered direct to your door – see the advert on page 7 Or pop down to the store and use the exclusive voucher printed below. The Subway Team would also like to welcome on board Norfolk Imports SLU. Based here in Las Chafiras, just a stone’s throw from the Canarian Weekly offices, they have recently signed an agreement to become the sole food supplier for Subway Stores in the Canary Islands. This includes not only Subway Puerto Colon, but also the store in Los Cristianos and two others in Gran Canaria. This will make a tremendous difference for the stores, resulting in streamlined operations and improved product availability. It is also a massive boost to the stores as they will benefit from Norfolk’s proven high-quality, punctual service. Norfolk Owner Stephen Sessions said: “We are really excited to be working with Subway. “I know we can help them to build on their existing popularity, and in their quest to open more stores in the Canaries, through solid, reliable deliveries of produce as soon as they need it.” We congratulate Subway and Norfolk on their agreement and wish them all the best for the summer and the rest of 2009.