Dear Editor,
Many of your readers are interested in knowing when we will be reopening the new family restaurant with its huge Disney-style playground - the Kingdom of Alcazár. And we have made a sizable investment in the much awaited secret garden and events space, Edén, which brings something new, unique and world class to Mallorca and, of course, the theatre and the new show Exhibit, featuring several world-famous artists from Cirque du Soleil. Of course our events business for private and corporate events, conferences and conventions is ongoing.
We have been attempting to re-enter Palma for many weeks now. As you know we have been a major employer in Mallorca for almost 60 years, until this pandemic hit. We have been awarded for our service to tourism for our 50th anniversary in 2013. We have continued to invest heavily in Son Amar in an attempt to future-proof it against further disasters outside of our control.
Our first application was to attend an appointment with the immigration department in Palma and that was rejected.
Our next was to be able to get back to work at Son Amar. As you can imagine there is much to do and only so much can be achieved over Zoom calls!
We are told that the border force are demanding a letter of permission from the British Embassy and without this they will continue to reject our applications. This is a Spanish tightening of the existing rules and the British Embassy assures us that it is not within their power to intervene on these matters and it has nothing to do with them.
To be clear, from the UK's side, we have the right to leave the UK to attend our business in Mallorca. We should have the right to attend urgent essential business in Mallorca and the border force's reason for the rejection makes no sense to us at all.
I urge you to let your readers know that unlike some others, we are doing our very best to enter openly and legally and believe we most certainly have a duty, as well as a right, to do so.
Kindest regards
Margaret Whittaker OBE
House of Son Amar 2021
10 comments
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She doesnt mention if she has ever applied for residency and has an ID card that proves she is legally allowed to live there. If she wasn't in Spain on 31st January then Spain has every right to refuse her entry .. as do all EU countries who applied the same rules when Brexit kicked in.
Sounds to me like this is another rich, entitled person who feel that the rules of the Country should not apply to her, especially at a time when Covid cases are again rising. After all, she is losing money!!
Pathetic,but not surprised.The jobsworth politicians who control the island have got their jobs and salaries,why be concerned about all the local people who rely on this person particularly in these difficult times.
I bet the Reuben brothers team had no problem! It's a disgrace!
Not wishing to be disrespectful, Margaret opted to return the UK for a coronavirus injection rather than wait here, also is she a legal resident? I understand legal residents or those wishing to buy or sell properly are allowed subject to certain criteria. Many people who have property here have been disallowed despite having genuine reasons. I have to ask why should there be an exception made here purely on grounds of financial status.
The audacity... How dare they keep you, El Salvador, from entering Majorca. Even I, a regular peasant, can enter the country. Oh wait, I'm not British...
Is she a resident with a TIE?
I thought all travel is banned from the U.K to Spain at this moment in time unless you have residency here? If She's coming to check on her businesses,it can wait until May 17th when the decision is made if it's allowed too. Also she must have known of all the red tape involved.
There appears to have been a misunderstanding of the term "British Embassy" in regard to the "letter of permission" which has been requested from Mrs Whitakker. I suspect that what the "border force" mean to say is the "Spanish Embassy in Britain" which is where we first had to apply for permission to move to Spain way back before the UK was in the EU. Because Britain is no longer in the EU, it would make sense that this is now a requirement again, especially if Mrs Whitakker is not registered as resident in Spain.
Why is she being barred? Spanish border closures to the UK were ended last months weren't they? Or is it still residents only?