20 April
The Chief Minister highlighted how Gibraltar has always sought a positive, progressive and mutually-beneficial relationship with the European Union and how, along with the Deputy Chief Minister, he pays regular visits to Brussels and maintain strong links with many MEPs and EU officials. The Government has invested heavily in the legal infrastructure of its European Union and International Department, with the Gibraltar Office in Brussels due to open later this year under the auspices of Sir Graham Watson, former MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar.Gibraltar's full compliance with all EU Commission recommendations regarding the border were outlined by the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, during his January 2015 visit to the Commission. Indeed, the right of EU nationals to freedom of movement through an internal border of the European Union is of paramount importance, and the Government will continue to stress this message in Gibraltar's relations with Europe until the aim of a free-flowing frontier between two EU neighbours is achieved.
The Deputy Chief Minister strongly emphasised that Spain cannot be allowed to hold the whole of Europe to ransom in pursuit of her narrow political interests as it has done regarding the Single Sky II+ legislation, a sentiment echoed by MEPs Ashley Fox, Clare Moody and Julie Girling.
Dr Garcia reminds the Magazine's readers, including MEPs and European Parliamentary staff from across the European Union, that it would be totally unacceptable to bow to Spanish pressure and create a civil aviation regime that accords fewer rights and benefits to EU nationals flying to and from Gibraltar Airport than other EU airports. The Special Report, however, captures the optimistic outlook of its authors for Gibraltar's continued presence and enhanced position in Europe, and offers hope for improved future relations with Spain. Josep-Maria Terricabras, a Member of the Parliament's constitutional affairs committee, notes that the attitude of the Spanish government towards Gibraltar is 'uncharacteristic of a European ally in the 21st century'. However, Iskra Mihaylova, a Chair of the Parliament's regional development committee, notes that the opportunities offered by European territorial cooperation programmes for countries like Gibraltar and Spain to look outwards, work together and coordinate activities as partners.
HM Government of Gibraltar is dedicated to a positive approach to the European Union and is wholly committed to full transparency with all EU partners. Gibraltar is a fully-compliant, innovative and progressive member of the EU, and deserves to be treated as such in our relationship with EU partners and institutions. Whilst many in the UK look away from Europe, HM Government of Gibraltar looks towards Europe as long as Gibraltar's position in it is fully respected and upheld. Simultaneously, Gibraltar's legal and Treaty rights cannot be any less important simply because of its small size.
21-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Storm brewing as Chronicle editor takes on Govt job
As Dominique Searle leaves the Chronicle to take up a Government job, a storm appears to be brewing. Already there are claims that he will receive a six-figure salary plus expenses and other perks. What has made him abandon his beloved paper?
The vacancy for a Special Representative of the Chief Minister in the UK was not announced. Although in informed circles there were rumours for some time that he would be leaving his post and Gibraltar, the public at large got to know yesterday. But with nothing about the new post coming out from the Government, we thought we would ask a question to No.6.
The answer was this: "We will make public his salary when we have taken legal advice on his tax position as he will be spending more than 90 days per year in UK. This affects the tax position in UK."
So, Mr Picardo will give his Special Representative a remuneration package dependent on what his tax position will be. It would thus appear that a net figure has been agreed, the gross figure being determined by the tax situation.
With public comment already rife, the sooner the facts are spelt out the better for everyone.Already people are linking the departure from the Chronicle of their former news editor Paco Oliva, who also landed a Government job, and now his one-time editor moves in the same direction.
Said a comment in social media: "The present administration offered and appointed Paco Oliva, (who was the only reporter at the Gibraltar Chronicle that used to hit constructively at the GSLP), a job he couldn't refuse, as the personal press release writer for Neil Costa. Now the Chief Minister has appointed the Editor of the Chronicle, Dominic Searle and given him a position he couldn't refuse."
Someone else quotes the new Chronicle editor, Brian Reyes, as saying that "The Chronicle plays an important role in the community thanks to its hallmark of accurate, balanced, independent reporting." And then the social media writer goes on to add: The latter statement cannot be further from the truth, imo the Chronicle under Mr Searle was anything but. I hope this 'hypocritical' comment is not presage of things to come and the 'national' newspaper ultimately becomes all it should have been under this new editor ; a truly objective and independent daily. As for Searle being appointed overseas I hope he does a better job defending Gibraltar in the UK than he did on the Spanish TV programme panel, where, imho he did the paper of the bear."
Another comment: Quite frankly, Mr Searle's appointment has been like a jug of cold water being thrown over me! I do not envisage he is going to be much of an asset in UK, given his very poor track record of not standing up for Gibraltar abroad when he has had the chance to.
Sorry to say, but think this appointment sucks!
And other harsh words were being uttered as we went to press, but we will leave it at that.
News of the development came in the paper itself yesterday morning when it said: "Dominique Searle, Editor of this newspaper since 1996, has stood down from that post and has been engaged by the Gibraltar Government as the Chief Minister's Special Representative. The post is effective as from May 1 and he will be based between Gibraltar and London."
No 6 said that Mr Searle's appointment "comes at a time when the Government will seek to respond to both the commercial and political implications of our developing EU membership and to a broader front of ongoing issues that are important to HMGoG and Gibraltar and the need to reposition as global events unfold."
"It has been a very difficult decision for me, an emotional one too given my long ties with the title and its history. I feel that I have brought the project to a safe haven and leave it with a solid economic platform from which a fresh but safe pair of hands can tackle the many challenges ahead," said Mr Searle.
As he mentiond elsewhere the financial position of the paper was in a sorry state, with £1 million being owed to the Government. That, it is said, is being repaid over a number of years - but it remains to be seen what the economic climate will be over the full repayment period. The Chronicle was bankrupt, said Searle.
As colleagues we wish them well, but initial reaction from the public is raising the kind of questions the Chronicle might wish to keep off its headlines.
Last Friday, Mr Searle caled on our editor Joe Garcia to shake hands and to say: "I am leaving." We already had the news. But it was a courtesy call that we appreciate.
21-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
LETTERS
'Trade Unions and Restructures'
Dear Sir,
In respect to the GBC Viewpoint TV programme held on Thursday 16th April 2015 that discussed the particulars of Trade Unionism and Restructures, Unite the Union's Government Convenor, Albert Hewitt, would like to address certain inaccuracies of arguments used by the GGCA President Ms Wendy Cumming.
In the first instance, allusions were made towards the fact that academic entry requirements within the Civil Service for entry level AA posts were more stringent than those of the GDC. This is factually incorrect given that Civil Servant AA posts require applicants to be in the possession of 2 GCSEs of which one must be English in contrast to those of the GDC whereby applicants required having in their possession 3 GCSEs of which one also had to be English. In fact, when AO posts had been identified as the entry level position for certain departments, the academic criteria set for both the Civil Service and the GDC have been of equal standing; that being of 5 GCSE (inclusive of English).
Secondly, Ms Cumming stated that GDC employees were eligible to apply to promotions up to two grades up the hierarchy which is also incorrect; GDC employees can only apply one grade up at a time as is the norm within the Civil Service. Furthermore, on obtaining a promotion, the incumbent would then have to wait a further 2 years prior to applying to any other promotion. This is also the current norm within the Civil Service.
Historically, for over 20 years, GDC employees have felt discriminated for a variety of reasons when compared to their Civil Service counterparts and colleagues. It was not unheard of for a GDC employee working side by side with a Civil Service colleague doing exactly the same work within for example the Housing Department, Finance Department or ETB environment to earn less and to have inferior terms and conditions to their counterpart as a consequence of the nature of their employment relationship. This was further compounded by the fact that Civil Servants also enjoyed membership of the Final Salary Pension whilst their GDC counterparts had to pay towards their occupational pension.
As a consequence of the dissolution of the Final Salary Pension, no further barriers were imposed on GDC employees in becoming fully fledged Civil Servants. In these respects, elements of remuneration, terms and conditions were normalised but at the insistence of the GGCA union to the then previous administration, a caveat was introduced whereby the integrated staff were to become ring fenced Civil Servants in their respective departments and posts.
Unite the Union will continue to campaign for the full integration of these 155 ring-fenced Civil Servant and remaining GDC employees in order to eliminate the last vestiges of discrimination and segregation amongst these two sets of workers in the same manner that Unite stopped the discrimination of local employees within the MOD in the 1970s, whereby even toilets were segregated according to status.
Albert Hewitt
Unite the Union
Cook Islands?
Dear Sir,
In response to W L Chamberland's letter regarding the Cook Islands, free association with an independent state is one of the three options for decolonisation which has been rejected by the UK (not the UN) in respect of Gibraltar, because it includes the right to disassociate from the state and seek full independence.
Several Caribbean islands did enjoy such a relationship with the UK under the 1967 Associated Statehood Act, but they later became independent states. While the experience was less problematic for the UK than when integration was attempted in Malta, there appears little appetite for it in Whitehall or even demand for it in Overseas Territories.
Yours
Ken Westmoreland
Flashmob!
The Gibraltar National Dance Organisation and Santos Productions have Recorded a Flashmob at Casemates Square in the presence of the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.
The Flashmob, under the artistic direction of Christian Santos is part of the organisers marketing strategy to encourage as many dancers and spectators to come to Gibraltar in October for the 2015 IDO European Show Dance Championships.
The Flashmob saw over 300 Gibraltarians taking part from CCC Sequence Dance, DSA Sequence Dance, Gibraltar Academy of Dance, Mediterranean Dance School, Show Dance Company, Stylos Dance Studios, Transitions Dance Academy and Urban Dance. The recording was the third promotional video for the European competition, professionally produced by Jordan Lopez and Gib Media.
GNDO President Seamus Byrne said:
'It has being an emotional and historic occasion to see the majority of Gibraltar's dance community, young and the young at heart, coming together to support us in such numbers. We are very grateful to the clubs, their members and the press for the support, especially when we tried to keep it as confidential as possible.
Seeing the video post with over 38,000 views and 1,600 likes in social media, we are certain that the Flashmob will once again contribute to the promotion of Gibraltar nationally and internationally through Dance!
The IDO European Championships is fully supported by the Government and will be held at the Tercentenary Sports Hall from the 1st to 4th October 2015. Local dancers will be given the opportunity to qualify for the competition, via a National Championship that is been organised at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre from the 7th to 9th May 2015.
21-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
