One of Costa del Sol Spain’s Wealthiest Communities Faces Problem with 600 Squatters during Lockdown

Antonio Martin calling for help Credit: Guardia Civil

THE town (or as residents like to style it, the village) of Benahavis has its own council but still has a relationship with Marbella and has a problem with squatters.

It is believed that although it is probably the richest community on the Costa del Sol based on average incomes, there are 200 families (around 600 adults and children) all from the gypsy community squatting in properties that were seized from Juan Antonio Roca during the ‘Malaya Corruption Case.’

Having been left abandoned for several years, an increasing number of squatters moved in and prior to the State of Alarm appeared to be coping reasonably well although not necessarily welcomed by residents in the area.

The lockdown following the outbreak of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic however has seen their incomes dry up and has left many of them in need of food and basic supplies but as they are not registered as residents, the Benahavis Council considers that it is unable to help them.

Guardia Civil officer Antonio Martín who is a spokesperson for the National Platform for the Gypsy Progress (PNPG) says that he has approached the council to discuss their plight but he asserts that the Mayor, José Antonio Mena would not see him but that he did explain the problem to the Councillor for Social Welfare María Esperanza González Pazos without any positive result.

It’s certainly a wealthy area with a large number of expatriate residents which may run the risk of serious unrest from possibly volatile gypsies if they are not given some form of assistance.

Written by

John Smith

Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

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