No 959 Monday 20th - Sunday 26th February 2023
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Keeping people safe and informed for over 19 years - The Costa Blanca’s oldest ‘FREE’ English language newspaper
N ATIONAL POLICE CONTA I N A ORIHUELA FIRE BRIGADE PROTEST
round a hundred firefighters from six fire brigades across the Valencian Community gathered in Orihuela on Friday during the plenary session of the Consell, to protest against the creation of the new Valencian Emergency Unit (UVE). They had been gathering since early morning in front of the Marqués de Rafal Palace, wearing helmets and vests, while carrying red smoke flares, banners, drums, and loud whistles, against the backdrop of the shrill sound of fire tender sirens. The Valencian President Ximo Puig was protected by an umbrella as he attempted to enter the Palace under a hail of eggs, thrown at him by the protesters, although the vice president of the Consell, Aitana Mas, did stop to listen to their demands, as she too arrived outside the historic mansion in Oriole. Many other ministers, however, chose not to run the gauntlet of protesters, as they decided on discretion, by entering the building through a back door. The firefighters claim that the new body will be a waste of public money and will actually hinder coordination during emergencies. Josep Palacios, a sergeant with the Alicante Fire Consortium, said that the UVE "clashes with the functions of the consortium of firefighters. The decree does not have any technical criteria and a ‘duplicity’ will be created between the two bodies that will see an increase in discord”. “Neither” he added, “has the structure of the new organisation been agreed upon by any of the consortiums nor any of the councils that are also directly involved.”
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