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Month: December 2019

Public transport to be streamlined

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

Monaco is teaming up with transport operators in the Alpes Maritimes to provide a new multi-pass for passengers. It’s hoped the initiative will encourage more people to choose public transport over cars and thereby reduce their environmental impact.

The ‘Pass Transport Sud Azur’ was launched on Monday 16th December by President of the Côte d’Azur Metropolis Christian Estrosi and a host of dignitaries, alongside Monaco’s Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning Marie-Pierre Gramaglia.

Marie-Pierre Gramaglia at the Pass Transport Sud Azur launch © DR

The pass will be available to the public from 1st January 2020 and is designed to be an attractive alternative to the use of cars, giving people unlimited travel on all public transport networks – bus, train and tram. By offering the pass on a monthly subscription basis, it will be cheaper than the sum of the various subscriptions.

From 1st September 2020, the pass will also include Monaco’s bus network.

“The Principality is aiming to reduce traffic by around 20% by 2030,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia during the presentation. “As a result, it encourages multimodal transport options and trains. We are committed, alongside the Alpes-Maritimes region, to participating in the financing of the TER through an annual contribution of €8 million, corresponding to approximately 50% of the total contribution intended for the 13,000 beneficiaries of TER tariff reductions for travel to or from Monaco.”

Ms. Gramaglia also encouraged the use of the CARF bus lines and the regional 100 bus connecting Nice to Menton via Monaco. “These are important regular lines that we support through a financial contribution,” she said. “The Pass Transport Sud Azur is an additional opportunity that invites everyone to use all modes of public transport with greater ease.”

 

 

AMADE and MonacoTech join forces

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

AMADE and MonacoTech have launched a mobile app that will help protect children on the African continent and provide them with access to education and health services.

Called ‘Tech 4 Child’, the digital platform will be used to promote partnerships among financial institutions, philanthropists, NGO’s and the like, to develop mobile applications for children.

Through its Energy of Hope program, AMADE promotes access to energy as a lever for development, notably through digital inclusion. As part of this program, it is supporting the development of a range of mobile apps capable of responding to the challenges faced by children, particularly in Africa. These include literacy, the fight against maternal and infant mortality, birth registration and the fight against sexual violence.

According to the Monaco government, the initiative has seen some encouraging early results, particularly in terms of sustainability and impact.

AMADE was founded in 1963 on the initiative of Princess Grace of Monaco and is based on the idea that “all children, whatever their social, religious or cultural origins, should live in dignity, in security, and in respect of their fundamental rights, and every child has the opportunity to fully express their potential.”

MonacoTech, the government’s incubation and acceleration program, selects innovative companies with high potential (15 companies to date) with the objective of establishing them in the Principality in a sustainable manner while having a strong international ambition.

 

 

Living La Dolce Vita at the Bal de Noël

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

Classic Italian glamour was the theme of this year’s Bal de Noël on Saturday night, and privileged guests certainly embraced the concept with all the beauty and class that has come to be expected at this highly-anticipated Christmas party.

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The bubbles flowed as soon as guests stepped into the stunning Empire Room of the Hôtel de Paris, their glasses filled with Victoria Silvstedt’s very own Prosecco – Victoria La Dolce Vita.

Victoria Silvstedt and her branded prosecco at the Bal de Noël

It was a sign of things to come for the “lucky few” who graced the invitation-only ball, which itself was themed ‘La Dolce Vita’ – inspired by the famous Italian film and the great actors and actresses of that era.

Featuring throughout the beautiful, gilded Belle Epoque hall of the Hôtel de Paris were portraits of Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg, Claudia Cardinale and Marcello Mastroianni.

Bal de Noël founder Sandrine Knoell Garbagnati

Victoria Silvstedt and Sandrine Knoell Garbagnati, founder of the event, looked stunning in their Ali Karoui dresses.

Victoria Silvstedt

Held under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco and in the presence of Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, the ball was also set against a backdrop of fine jewellery created by Akillis.

Gareth Wittstock and his wife Roisin Galvin

Among the personalities present were HRH Princess Camilla of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies, Lady Monika del Campo Bacardi of Bayfield Hall, Marquise Roberta Gilardi Sestito, Inna Maier, Donatella Campioni, Elizabeth Wessel and Celina Lafuente of Lavotha as well as German fashion designer Philipp Plein and Christian Moore, president of the Monaco Ambassadors Club.

Lady Monika del Campo Bacardi of Bayfield Hall
Mark Daeche and Christian Moore

A raffle by Sotheby’s raised more than 65,000€ for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, while its ‘International Committee for Action’ was honoured for efforts to save lives by preventing drowning and for promoting the values ​​of sport among children.

Alessandra and Francesco Sparaco
H.R.H. Princess Camilla and H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies with their daughters

As always, DJ Andrea T Mendoza ignited the dance floor and ended the evening on an electric high.

Sandrine Knoell and guests at the Bal de Noël 2019

The Bal de Noël is an invitation only event organised by Five Stars Events. Since its inauguration in 2006, the ball has raised 717,000€ for charity.

Photos: Claudia Alberqerque / Nico Timmermans for Monaco Life. All rights reserved. 

 

Read more:

Interview: Victoria Silvstedt

 

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Monaco’s kids enjoy annual Arbres de Noël Christmas

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/12/2019

Espace Léo Ferré has been converted into a veritable Christmas Town for the children of Monaco as part of the end of year celebrations hosted by the Mairie.

Over three days last week, Mayor Georges Marsan and several representatives from the Mairie welcomed children of the Principality to join them in this Social Action Service-organised event.

 

Wednesday 11th December was dedicated to the tiniest tots, Monaco’s nursery school children, who were delighted by the unveiling of the first of three Christmas trees. The second evening was for the benefit of the children of municipal employees, where they got to witness the second tree. The grand finale was on Friday, with the reveal of the 2019 Christmas Tree of the City, a much-loved and anticipated event every year in the Principality.

Like in previous years, the Social Action Service transformed the Espace Léo Ferré with glittering garland, cheerful decorations, an alley of fir trees and a vast selection of games for the kids, including such favourites as duck fishing, balloon sculptures, make-up workshops, and bouncy castles.

 

Popcorn and pancakes filled bellies and when all was said and done, over 40 litres of pancake batter was made.

By the end of the third day, over 800 children had visited the Christmas town and received a souvenir photo with Santa Claus.

 

Photos: copyright – Mairie de Monaco

 

 

Figures show electric taxis are a hit

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/12/2019
Electric taxi Monaco

Monaco’s electric taxis have been deemed a huge success and improvements are already being tabled for 2020, including a longer summer service.

The fleet of electric taxis was unveiled in July 2019 with the aim of providing a clean transport alternative while boosting taxi services during the busiest period of the year in the Principality.

The summer program concluded its annual service in October and Government Advisor for Finance and the Economy Jean Castellini recently released key figures.

© Direction de la Communication – Michael Alesi

During the four months of operation, 32,870 trips were accepted and recorded through the call center. Compared to the previous summer season, this is an increase of 13% – equivalent to 8,555 more trips.

Meanwhile, there has been a 73% decrease in the number of cancelations – which was a result of requests not being processed. This means that the waiting time has also decreased and now stands at less than five minutes.

The 100% electric vehicles allow travel throughout Monaco at the basic fixed price of 15€ and, like normal taxis, customers can hail the vehicle in the street. People are also able to download the ‘Taxis Monaco’ app for fast booking.

In addition to the positives of the electric taxi service, areas of improvement are also being addressed, including the need to increase the number of fast-charging stations; the number of vehicles; a modification of the texts concerning the use of electric vehicles, in particular as a replacement vehicle or as the 2nd main vehicle; and the need to extend the taxi’s period of operation in the summer of 2020 to start from the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in April.

Meanwhile, drivers of electric cars are being urged to avoid using charging stations for longer than necessary.

“The Prince’s Government would like to remind people that the charging stations are not parking spaces and that once the vehicle is recharged, it must be moved,” said the government in a statement. “The electric terminals reserved for taxis cannot be used by the general public.”

Read more:

New electric taxis for the summer

Charges dropped against Bouvier

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/12/2019

The ongoing criminal case between Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier and Russian collector and owner of the AS Monaco football club Dmitry Rybolovlev has been thrown out by Monaco’s court of appeals.

The case, which was filed in 2015, stemmed from an accusation made by Rybolovlev that the Swiss dealer defrauded him by swindling him out of nearly €1 billion by inflating the prices on 38 art deals, including Leonardo da Vinci’s now infamous Salvator Mundi.

The da Vinci made headlines in 2017 when Rybolovlev resold the painting to a member of the Saudi royal family for a jaw-dropping $450 million, making it the most expensive art sale in history. This sale prompted US investigators to drop fraud charges against Bouvier there, though the Monaco case and others remained open.

The court made no judgement on the case, they simply declared the entire criminal investigation invalid, though they have not publicly explained the decision of the ruling except to say that they accepted proof that the rights of the accused had been compromised due to personal connections with the plaintiff and his lawyer that may have hindered all the facts from becoming available.

Attorneys for the defendant maintain his innocence, saying he was charging market value prices for these rare works, and that the cut he took in procuring them was reasonable and usual for a middleman in these transactions.

If upheld, this decision could affect Rybolovlev’s other court cases, leaving Sotheby’s New York, who also had targets on their backs in this matter, cheering as the Monegasque court has forbidden any parties to use the acts declared null and void in this case in any other proceedings pertaining to this case.

Regardless, the Russian’s Paris-based lawyer, Hervé Temine, declared their intent to appeal. Legal actions are still being pursued against Bouvier in the US, Paris, Geneva and London.

Photo: Yves Bouvier