Opinion: ¿Social or Private Interest?

The Andratx Council and the Mallorcan Council of the time first declared the rustic property, Son Lluis in Sa Coma Calenta of Andratx, as of social interest to be able to develop part of the property. Thanks to that declaration, we can see the last part of the construction in the property, originally classed as Rural Area of Scenic Interest (ARIP) by the Law of Natural Areas (LEN), of a singular building that has nothing to do with the project that was presented by the promotor to the media 10 years ago.

This building, promoted by the Danish gallery owner, Jacob Asbaek, and the social interest it is based on, are an obvious fraud of the law. The social interest has only served, in this case, and yet again, private interest. It has served to permit the construction of a grand block of apartments that breaks the balance of the area, offering a tasty added value to a foreign investor, disguised as a cultural promoter, who is doing in Mallorca what he could not do in his own country, where law and order are beside social interest and not private interest.

Although the project is old in respect to its presentation, the construction of the building has been carried out this past year and surprisingly no political group, nor the press, has shown any interest in the topic. Perhaps we can find the explanation to the situation in the fact that, in one way or another, all the political parties have participated in the approval of this social interest, whether in its request and posterior support from the Andratx Council, or in the definite approval given by the Mallorcan Council, or from the silence and permissiveness of the new Progress Pact Government.

The silence of the press in view of this new urban and social barbarity is not justifiable from any point of view and more bearing in mind the articles dedicated to the project and its promoter at the beginning. As examples we have found by searching the newspaper archives the following information:

In the edition of January 11, 1990, the Diario de Mallorca published the first report promoting the initiative. "A Danish marchant invests 800 million pesetas to create a European cultural foundation in Andraitx" was the title of the information in which textually one could read "his idea is to build 12 workshops where the artists can work in peace, in harmony with nature and the extension of the place."

Ultima Hora, on January 13, 1990, published an article on the topic headed "The mayor in favour of the creation of a European cultural centre in Son Lluis". Within this article we can read: "Answering the question if the project could be a hidden urban development, Maties Terrades stated that the Town Council would stop such an extreme, but that the characteristics of the project make this impossible. It must be stressed that the Queen of Denmark is extremely interested in this Danish project in Andratx."

Finally, Ultima Hora on July 6, 1991 dedicated the centre pages to a report on the topic headed: "The friend of the Danish Foreign Minister constructs a cultural centre in Andratx". The report started by saying textually "Jacob Asbaek, friend of the Danish foreign minister, Ufe Ellemann-Jensen, is building a colony for artists in a property in Andratx. Asbaek thinks that the lack of permits for the work will be resolved by the influence of the politician who is spending a few days' rest on the island."

As an opinion group, we expect, or better said, we demand serious laws that return the dignity to our town. And we demand that our governors should place themselves beside society and not powerful speculators. Democracy is the government of the people at the people's service. Dictatorship is the government of minorities at the service of minorities. We have two well defined paths to take. We have chosen our option. Now it is necessary for everyone to state their position. The administration, businesses, workers, communication media and the whole civil society should make a stand and opt for the path of democracy, liberty and social responsibility. It is necessary to return the dignity to our town and the administration should back this economic, social and cultural renaissance that assures our survival. Now or never!

Grup d'opinió Terra Nostra

Date of publication: 10/09/2000

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