Speaking in response to the ABONE legal action, Martínez said on Wednesday that the “competent authorities” will have to make a decision but that “it pains us to have to go through this situation”. On the Es Jardí season, which starts on Friday and runs until the end of August, he added: “We consider Es Jardí to be one of the most important cultural events in Mallorca. Every year we bring in more top-tier international and national artists.”
For him, the ABONE accusation of unfair competition is unfounded. Nightlife and the events he organises are aimed at different audiences and operate at different times: “It’s a family-friendly, cultural and musical event. We don’t understand why the nightlife sector, with which we complement each other because we operate at different times – our events end at midnight – sees it not as a complement but as competition. They are completely different products; ours is culture, family, and music.
“We tried to establish a line of communication with ABONE to explore synergies, but there was no response. We wanted to talk to them to try to collaborate, to see what kind of synergies could be found, or to have a more cordial relationship.” He points to the reasons behind the lawsuit: “I see it as private interests being pursued through an association. They’re attacking us because they know we do things well, and that doesn’t sit well with everyone.
“We are obviously going to defend ourselves, upholding culture as our guiding principle. It’s a shame that something so beautiful has to be in this situation. We are relaxed because we legally comply with everything necessary to obtain the licence, including the noise restrictions. It is a 100,000 square metre site, which is where we generate the activity. So there is no disturbance and we are strictly within the limits established by law.”
