Fighting social exclusion

JAVEA town hall is turning its attention to Javea Park.

More than 80 different nationalities are represented in Javea and 55 per cent of registered residents are not Spanish. 

Many immigrants as well as summer tourists live in Javea Park, behind the Arenal Beach, an area not without its problems, Social Services councillor Tere Bisquert admitted recently.

Drugs, school absenteeism and prostitution have been detected there, making life difficult for residents – the majority, Bisquert said – who are perfectly integrated.  These problems also hinder the area’s commerce, she added.

In a bid to avoid social exclusion Javea has been allocated a €67,500 grant by the Ministry of Labour’s Immigration and Emigration department.

This will be used for a programme aimed at eliminating marginalisation and assisting the integration of immigrants into the local community.

Both Bisquert and the mayor, Jose Chulvi, are excited about the project they said recently.  They were also grateful for financial help in tackling a situation which, although neither serious nor widespread, was nevertheless a worry, Chulvi added.