Are the politicians aware of the feelings of the residents in the Port?

Editor note's: Yesterday we sought an interview with the Mayor of Pollensa regarding all the complaints we are receiving. So watch this space for the “official version of events.”

The efficiency of the Local Police

Dear Sir,
I would like to add my testament to Richard Parker's (Saturday's Bulletin) implied comment on the efficiency of the Local Police in Pt. Pollensa.
Cases 1 & 2:
Two elderly residents, one a recent widow, and the other with memory problems, fall for the same regular scam. In the major supermarket car park, someone comes up and (with a guttural accent) protests their car has scratched his. While they are being confused, an accomplice takes their handbags from the unattended car with all their major documents and money. The police recover one bag, with documents, but no money, and no thieves. Score : Police 1/2 point)

Case 3:
A well-known bar/restaurant in Pt. Pollensa, taken over by an enthusiastic new couple, is burgled overnight, very selectively. Only cash takings and high value liquor are taken. Entry via a safe back door on a different level, into a low–ceilinged mezzanine, and directly down (in darkness) to where everything worthwhile is, implies very familiar, and experienced, local knowledge. No result. Score: Police 0 points.

Case 4:
A “Music Bar” bar is open (from about 10pm to whenever) in a residential street. The bar itself is no problem, but is situated at the start of one of the few open straight roads in Pt. Pollensa. At closing time, in the early hours of the morning, young drunks shout at each other, play their stereos at full blast through open car windows, rev their motors and then screech down the straight. By that time, I imagine, the Local Police are tucked up safely in bed, sleeping soundly. (But not in that street). Score: Police - 0 points

Case 5:
A young Englishman sells jewellery (and good stuff, quite unique) most evenings on the Paseo. This year he has had his goods confiscated and been summarily fined twice. Now he scouts out the police patrols before he sets up shop and then waits nervously for them to pounce. His sales success and the small crowd he attracts when he has a chance shows that he gives good value. About twenty others (painters, cartoonists, “statues”, guitarists, braiders, tattooists, sand sculptors, coin cutters, fire eaters, and even a vendor of garden gnomes) who once entertained visitors on Pt. Pollensa's Paseo (for free, although tourists can pay if they like) have been reduced to the same subterfuges. Now the half-lit Paseo looks like a Russian thieves' market, with furtive, scared vendors. Only the tough-minded (and tough-looking) survive. Which is nice for all your visiting kiddies and grannies, isn't it? Still, now they can look at the sculptures and the politicians' signs instead. Score : Police - 2 points!

Apart from nabbing, red-handed, a dangerous and notorious street vendor, and tripping over an abandoned stolen handbag, the police don't seem to be performing too well, do they? But they do pay for themselves from motorists (both local and visiting) confused by blue lines, yellow lines, garage entrances, NO PARKING signs in Catalan only, which don't mention NO PARKING, and the traffic light in the main street which is placed directly behind a tree.

The appalling state of Pollensa

Dear Sir,
I have been coming to the port for twenty-two years, and my grandparents have had a holiday home in here for fifty.
This afternoon I popped round to visit a friend who is resident and had Tuesday's edition of the Bulletin thrust at me raising my awareness to the ongoing dialogue regarding the appalling state of Puerto Pollensa. So, I would like to put across my outrage in support of the campaign.

I arrived in the port last week and to my dismay found myself passing a Burger King.
I didn't think too much of this until an informant assured me that Cassinets, an institution of mine and many friend's childhood memories, had been sold to MacDonalds.

I am not against MacDonalds, KFC and Burger King per se. I am not a socialist and do not intend to come across holier than thou by pretending that on occasions I do not support these Capitalist giants, I am just utterly distraught that my once pretty, romantic port is being turned into a junk food haven - just another corner of the world that is being taken over by American corporations in their elitist bid to homogenise the globe with their power and “offers that cannot be refused”.

They don't give a hoot that this port has a special place in so many hearts and will soon be over run by people to whom Paella is some gross foreign stuff that you get from the frozen food counter and makes you feel sick! Not only that but even local burger joints and pizzarias will have to eventually give in to such fierce competition.

The destruction of indigenous cultures is one thing in a third world country trying to fight its way out of debt and starvation but Puerto Pollensa is far from this, if anything, jobs will be lost and non-English speakers will be ousted, there will be a higher turn over of tourists - and they wont be eating and drinking in Majorcan owned restaurants but feasting on low quality c'*p.

Puerto Pollensa relies on its tourism and residents from over seas to keep the economy ticking. I hope my speaking out has outlined the foreseeable future as you, other readers, are looking at it and if we all pull together, perhaps the hegemonic struggle can be stopped - at least in our little paradise.

Loyalty and betrayal

Dear Sir,
I read with interest your comments about the loyal British Holidaymaker. As one of them, I thought your readers might be interested in a clause which is being enacted by a well known holiday company which may ultimately lead to the anger and frustration of many British holidaymakers. I will explain, we booked a late holiday on the teletext, as we often do, a 4* hotel 7nights H/B from 3rd to 10th July 02. On arrival at said hotel the checking in slip had us down for 7 nights from the 2nd to the 9th. We left the UK (Manchester) at 1.45am on the 3rd and arrived at the Hotel at 6am. At the welcome meeting I asked the rep. to explain the apparent mix up of dates, she couldn't, her local office suppervisor provided the answer, a clause at the back of a brochure that we had not been aware of, as we booked from teletext, that stated, I quote (For night flights departing between 0001 and 0400 hours, the day of departure is deemed to be the previous day.) So we had been paying for our 4*room from midday on the 2nd, 14hrs before we left the UK. And then the coup de grâce, we were told that we would have to vacate our room at 11am on the 9th, 19hrs before our return flight with the possibility of keeping our room until 6pm, still 12hrs before our flight, for 23euros, which we did. This clause apparently applied to the whole flight and is still on-going, so perhaps your readers might wish to pass this on to any friends/family who may be coming to visit. For us, it's still our favourite holiday venue and we will be back.

Yours.