By Humphrey Carter
CALVIA Councillor for Foreign residents, Jacqueline Moss, categorically denied yesterday that there is any ill-feeling towards foreign residents in the Town Hall and that there has been any deliberate attempts made to block or delay the process of EU residents wishing to enrol on the electoral list. Moss said that events over the past few days have been fuelled by the Partido Popular for political reasons and refutes claims that EU residents have been encountering problems. I simply don't believe it, especially as we have received no complaints, she said, adding if any one does have a complaint or a problem, they should contact myself at the Town Hall or any of our bilingual staff at reception. What has not been mentioned is that the council employees dealing with the public wishing to enrol to vote are civil servants and civil servants who know their jobs and do their job correctly. Moss and her departments have helped over 2.000 foreign residents in Calvia over the past year and is convinced that had there been any real grounds for complaint, they would have been directed at her. It's a shame these false declarations have forced the issue all the way to the European Parliament, she said. Moss also pointed out that foreign residents with any kinds of problems will be helped at the Town Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays and at the Social Services office in Magalluf on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Even if the problem is nothing to do with the council, we do everything we can to help, she said. Meanwhile, in the European Parliament yesterday, the issue of the alleged Calvia foreign-vote blocking, was raised by socialist MEP Manuel Medina Ortega, who said that any apparent delay in enrolling to vote is due to Spanish legislation and called on the Spanish government to take the necessary measures to speed up the process for European Union residents in Spain. Ortega suggested that the process should be made easier, adding that municipal councils can not be held responsible for any apparent confusion and problems being encountered by EU residents.