NO VOTE NO VOICE CAMPAIGN

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I am sure you are aware of my decision to resign as President of Help At Home Costa Blanca to return to politics in July. This was not an easy decision I can assure you. Naturally, I will as Founder of the Charity continue to support the charity in every way I can.

The decision to resign was due to the lack of respect from the Councillors who represent us from the city of Orihuela. A meeting took place at the Civic Centre in June.

Representatives from the RBL, Age Concern Sur and the Vice President and myself, then President of Help At Home Costa Blanca were invited by the Foreigners Representative at the Town Hall of Orihuela Costa who said she would translate for us. We were told it was a non political meeting, that if we started to bring politics into the discussions, she would walk out.

We arrived at the appointed time of 10am only to find several Councillors from Orihuela Town Hall present.

We were not introduced, we were not asked who we were or what we stood for. They totally ignored us, speaking only in Spanish, the translator whispered so low we could not hear her. I was shocked and asked for the meeting to be stopped immediately and asked who was taking Minutes of the Meeting and could they organise themselves to allow the translator to speak clearly so we could hear her.

This was just at the point when the Vice President of Help At Home CB arrived. She is Spanish, obviously understood everything that was being said. When she questioned them, she was asked who she was, she said the Vice President, she was told that they would NOT allow her speak, they would only speak to the President. They knew I would not understand everything that was being said, they also knew the RBL and Age Concern Representatives would not understand either.

The meeting was to discuss the Statutes of the Use of the Civic Centre. They were insisting to continue to use the Civic Centre as a centre for the Elderly. This is not what the Civic Centre was built for, it is a Centre for all ages, all nationalities, not just for the elderly. When questioned, the Director of Social Services said she did not wish to include children, they cause problems, she did not want to be bothered with them.

This is when the Vice President of Help At Home CB, backed by Bob Houliston, intervened and said she was out of order and reminded the Director of Social Services of her position. The RBL and Age Concern Representatives walked out, they did not wish to take part in a politic meeting.

Marivi and I did stay till the end, we wanted to know what was to be decided about the Civic Centre, our centre. The meeting did continue in an orderly manner, translation was carried out properly, but the damage had been done

The lack of respect for the people of the coast was evident.

This is the reason for my resignation, how serious it was that I felt there was no other choice. Paul Rodwell the Consul was right, doors were closed to me and why I asked the Vice President to take on the role of President, she agreed.

Marivi Cueli Nerva is Spanish, she will ensure your rights for after care and social welfare will be provided. She was brought up in the UK, having lived in England for 24 years, she knows how we think, what are our rights and what Spain should provide us as European Citizens.

But, have any of us read or heard the results of that meeting ?

Do you know that it was agreed to extend the opening hours of the Civic Centre to include weekends, yes open Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 2pm ? Is it ? And that a cafe will be open soon, is it ?

Do you know that the change of use for all ages and nationalities was agreed at that meeting, a centre not just for the elderly residents of Orihuela Costa but for everyone.

This is what Help At Home Costa Blanca and C.L.A.R.O achieved that day, not intentionally obviously but it happened all the same.

Did you know or read about this important achievement. NO of course not, they do not want you to know that the Civic Centre is a Valencian government building for all ages and nationalities, that Orihuela Town Hall must provide a centre for the youth, a centre for mothers to be, a day care centre.

Perhaps now you may understand why they did not want to be told they had not fulfilled their obligations to the residents of Orihuela Costa and that they must do so.

This is what they were told by the Vice President, they must provide the services we are due as our right, similar to the villages and towns surrounding Orihuela city who mainly have only 2000 residents, they get everything they ask for, ever wondered why?

It is obvious, they discriminate against the foreign residents, who do not know their rights, what they are entitled to and they make sure we do not know. There is no information centre, no information leaflets available.

A few days later, my husband Eric encouraged me to return to politics, to support the coast in the only way we both feel very strongly, to encourage residents to speak out, to demonstrate if necessary, for our rights, our human rights, our equal rights.

I have been an Executive Committee Member of C.L.A.R.O since the party was created 7 years ago and will continue to lobby for our rights.

There are more residents living on the coast, approx 3000 more than in 2011, registered with the Town Hall in Playa Flamenca. 34,000 residents registered on the Padron, but, there are many more living on the coast, possibly the same number again. Do we get our equal share of the budget, our money spent on us, NO. WHY NOT ?

Do the staff who deal with the registration of residents on the Padron ASK you when your register on the Padron, ask if you wish to exercise your right to VOTE, so you can qualify to receive your voting form when the time comes, NO, WHY NOT !!

They promised two years ago they would instruct the staff at the Town Hall to ask you, give you the opportunity to do so, they get paid a lump sum for each and every one of us that registers on the list of residents living here on the coast. Why would they not want the money they would be paid by central government. WHY NOT indeed ??

The answer may be very simple. Is it due to the fact, THEY DO NOT WANT US TO VOTE TO GAIN OUR RIGHTS. Remember the 2007 elections, 12,000 voters were denied their right to vote and again 12,000 voters were denied their right to vote in the 2011 elections.

We deserve respect, we deserve our rights. We can make changes to improve the coast, together, but only if you exercise your right to vote.

I will be supporting the CLARO No Vote No Voice Campaign which is so important to every resident in Orihuela Costa.

The future of Orihuela Costa depends on you, the citizens of the coast. Together we can make changes, my dream, what is yours ?

Norah Bond – C.L.A.R.O Executive Committee"

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/40901/

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