Gui-Gui
Part of the Natural reserve at Güi-Güi on Gran Canaria finds the government strapped for cash. The current owner is asking 40 million euros, an amount the government believes unreasonable. They are asking for a valuation and offering 20 million euros.  The largest part of this quiet baron area of 12 million meters is owned by one landowner, who would earn 48million euros if he sold it for a mere 4 euros per meter!  He says he has left the door open for discussion.

Water in Firgas
Angry residents have been left without water in Firgas as the water reserves have been contaminated with manganese and the authorities failed to inform them of the situation immediately.  Levels of contamination are eight times higher than permitted at 0.40milligrammes per litre of water.  The authorities tried to decontaminate the supply as quickly as possible but they say it is no small task.  Residents have suffered similar problems before.  They now have water available for bathing and laundry but not for drinking or cooking.

Gay Pride Day
Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, the cChurch of Sacred Heart, La Garita, in Telde, made a gesture in recognition of World Gay Pride Day by flying the rainbow flag.  The curate Paco Bello, not averse to controversy, also flew the Canarian flag with seven green stars; symbolic of independence.

Population
Provisional data from the National Institute of Statistics shows the Canaries as being the eighth most populated by foreign nationals in all of Spain, as of 1st January 2008.  The foreign population residence in Spain stands at 5.2 million, a 1.5% increase on 2007.

Shooting
A 51 year old man from Fataga has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, a ban on fire arms for 4 ½ years and prohibited from coming close to his wife for 8 years, after shooting her with his homemade gun.  The incident, which happened in October 2006 in the kitchen of their home, where he shot her in the buttock, caused an injury which resulted in her needing a colostomy.  He drove his wife to the medical centre, saying that she had fallen on the gun but then retracted his story and admitted the crime.

Reckless Homicide
A man who was four times over the legal alcohol limit has been given a 3 year 9 month prison sentence, and has had his driving license confiscated for 5 ½ years.  The man was arrested and charged with ‘reckless homicide' after speeding whilst under the influence of alcohol and killing an elderly woman on a pedestrian crossing on the 1st December, 2007.

Brawl
A 26 year old was injured and needed medical assistance after a brawl at 6.00am in the city.  A basic life support ambulance arrived on the scene with the police and transferred the injured person who was suffering with stab wounds, to hospital.

Family Abuse
A young woman was left fighting for her life after her 29 year old brother alledgedly threw her out of their third floor apartment onto the street at Calle Pintor Fello Monzòn, in the capital. The incident happened at 7.00am and police arrested the man for interrogation on suspicion of family abuse.

Urchins
A clean up operation by the Council of Agüimes and Club Magüe saw the removal of Lima urchins as many volunteers helped experts in their attempt to minimize the damage of these mass grazers. The urchins have been killing algae and causing an imbalance in the water, impeding the productivity of other sea creatures.  The removal of the plague of urchins took place at Arinaga beach and it is hoped that recovery of sea life will return the stoney, rocky seabed to a thriving environment again.

Death
More than 2,000 people participated in the ‘bajada de la rama' at Agaete in the north last weekend, at the fiesta for San Pedro.  The event was tinged with sadness, after the death of a 21 year old who had gone to the mountain, to collect a branch to take to the church. Authorities had an emergency meeting to discuss the possibility of cancelling the fiesta after the tragedy. The family of the youth agreed that the tradition should continue and a minutes silence was observed by grieving villagers.

Sahara Dust
The island was in the grip of a Calima last weekend and early in the week, as warm air and dust blew over from the Sahara.  Government agencies put the island on a yellow alert because of the heat, up to 37oC in the shade.  Precautionary measures were quickly put into operation against forest fire and a ban on fires was imposed in many areas.  Key woodland areas were closed to the public.  Some islanders commented that they felt high temperature alerts were excessive, as it is normal for this time of year.