14 April
The Gibraltar International Dance Federation Dance Association (GIDA) will be presenting approximately 75 works that the association will be taking to Bellaria, Italy to the 13th International Dance Federation World Dance Championships from 28th - 31st May.
The I.D.F Team Gibraltar will be performing the pieces over the two evenings at the John Mackintosh Hall, 29th and 30th April and tickets are priced at £10 and can be bought from the Petshop Tropical Aquarium in the I.C.C. The association has provided a special price of £15 for both nights for dance lovers to treat themselves and enjoy both evenings.
GIDA feels the works are of an extremely high standard and should not be missed.
The IDF Gibraltar Team will be competing in the following sections of the IDF world dance championships:
Hip/Hop Battle, Hip/Hop Solo, Belly dance, Fantasy Dance, Dance Show and Freestyle categories.
The Team is made up of dancers aged 6 - 51. Dancers will perform in the Mini, youth, Junior and adult categories. Dancers will be competing in solo, duet, couple, groups, battle and formation sections.
WORLD EXPERIENCES
" G.I.D.A believes in stretching choreography and dancers and learning from these world experiences. The I.D.F provides just the perfect setting for these learning experiences. Three stages operate at once and offer dance competitions in a multitude of styles. Dancers have to be strong and focused because days are long, fast and fierce. Our supporters also have to be on their toes, at times divided following the dancers through the different stages to ensure full support when dancing at the same time," said G.I.D.A President Anne-Marie Gomez.
"The work exhibited in the John Macintosh Hall is the reflection of a well organised and experienced team. Both evening programmes have a mixture of dance styles and ages/group settings. Every Year we try to raise our dance standards in every way and I believe again we have doen so this year. Most choreographies in Dance Show and Fantasy Show have been produces by Zuleika Green (G.I.D.A Vice president) and myself and with varying input from the dancers.
"This year some youth dancers have been allowed to compete with their own work such as Gianella Ochello, Gabrielle McGlashan and Shannon Pozo in their categories. In several specialised areas were we have specialised people such as Suzan Soiza in Belly Dancing Section and Erica McGrail and Stephen Pardo teacing in the Hiphop section also.
"As IDF Gibraltar Team we can take 8 competitors in each section so the I.D.F gives us an ample chance to take a big team and nurture the development of individual dancers annually if they so wish. We are taking more than 30 dancers and in total more than 80 people from Gibraltar to what is now becoming a locally and very popular annual event. We invite local dancers and choreographies to come and see our work at John Macintosh Hall and hopefully be encouraged to compete in our Gibraltar IDF Team in the future.
"IDF Europeans will be held at the end of October 2015, and shortly our auditions will be held for that prestigious event.
"It is the 3rd year running that dancers from Gibraltar have danced in the I.D.F Worlds. This year will be the second as I.D.F Team Gibraltar which has been recognised by the Gibraltar Government.
"In Italy we expect fierce, passionate and stylish opposition nevertheless we are confident we will once again make Gibraltar proud. Personally I believe some truly outstanding work has been created by our 2015 team.
"The presentation at John Macintosh Hall is always specialy and eagerly anticipated by dancers, choreographers and the audience. It is here that G.I.D.A has always proven that although a young association the work produced is going from strength to strength," said Anne-Marie Gomez.
14-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Former Gibraltar priest met during Malta visit
April 14, 2015
During a groups visit to Malta during the Holy Week a visit was made to the island of Gozo where Rev Father Grima lives.
They met him in St George's church and after mass he had organised. A wonderful party for the group with tapas and cakes.
Louis Pereira presented Father Grima with. A plaque on behalf of the parishioners from St. Joseph's church for the kind attention shown towards the schools, the elderly and the prison which he visited frequently as a parish priest in St. Joseph's church in Gibraltar for 2 years.
14-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Margallo's Madrid going English
April 14, 2015 | By Joe Garcia
Just back from Madrid
It is ironic that having decided to close the Cervantes institute in Gibraltar, Margallo's Madrid is being put on a fast-track to learn English. Before long, even the Spanish foreign minister may benefit from having English as a second language.
It so happens that the PP's candidate for the upcoming election in the Madrid community, Cristina Cifuentes, has been highlighting the importance of everyone in Madrid learning English, and is making this an election issue.
This is not surprising as Spanish politicians from prime minister Rajoy down have found themselves in quite embarrassing situations when attending international meeting places, such as the EU. In the interlude before meetings, people like Rajoy have not known whether to smile or cry when meeting English-speaking ministers from other EU countries.
NO STRANGER
In taking the decision to close the Gibraltar-based Cervantes institute, which most people in Gibraltar appear to have welcomed, Margallo may have been influenced by the secretary-general of the Cervantes organisation, Rafael Rodriguez-Ponga, who is no stranger to the Rock, having visited us when he was climbing the diplomatic ladder in the Spanish foreign foreign ministry some years ago. I, like others, had an opportunity to meet him and it is obvious that he returned to Madrid with a clear understanding that there cannot be any deal on the British status of Gibraltar.
So, what's the point of spending time and money in having an institute in Gibraltar when, as he says, there are many other cities which, according to him, are more important than Gibraltar in the context of spreading the Spanish language - and more.
And, let there be no delusion, that opening an institute in Gibraltar was shrouded in politics. Sr Ponga himself admits this when he says: The Gibraltar institute was opened by a foreign policy decision and its closure is a foreign policy decision taken by the Council of Ministers.
However, just how important is such an institute in a general Spanish context? When you take a bus tour of Madrid and go down the Calle Alcala, the guide makes no mention of the Instituto Cervantes when you go past it, although there is mention of the main Spanish army barracks adjacent to it and of other places in the surroundings, like the Bank of Spain or the fountain known as Cibeles where Real Madrid footballers get wet when they celebrate having won some important trophy.
The last time I visited Madrid, I noted, rather surprisingly, that the Spanish flag atop the institute's emblematic building was quite dirty, so I was curious to see if the same flag was still flying! But no, it had been changed by a spotlessly clean flag.
THE MOOD OF THE COUNTRY
A reflection of the mood of the country are the endless demonstrations that take place along the Gran Via, just up the road from the Cervantes. You have to be there to fully realise the upheaval that such demonstrations cause in the very centre of busy Madrid, the traffic chaos that ensue and the important police presence.
Alhough there has always been a strong police presence in central Madrid, no doubt given the potential threat to law and order, this has now been heightened. In the Puerta del Sol, the well-known square where new years are welcomed when the clock strikes twelve, the police presence now includes police carrying machine guns.
Police vans keep appearing from every street that leads into this square, with alarms sounding and lights flashing being a regular feature. And not only there; you might be in the Retiro park and suddenly a police van does the rounds. Or elsewhere you see armed police on their horsebacks making their presence felt.
You get the distinct feeling that Gibraltar is not a real foreign affairs issue. When the coach guide asks from which country you come from, on hearing 'Gibraltar' she screams with joy: I have been there, she says, and gives expression to the fond memories she has of Gibraltar.
But away from the tourist areas, there is another world all of its own which increasingly seems to give shelter to people who appear to be from another world indeed. From the Spanish foreign ministry recently, MEPs were ordered to come up with a barrage of questions against Gibraltar to be aired at the European Parliament, even if the questions have been aired before and Spain has been given the answers they do not want to hear. It is not about eliciting information, but about spreading anti-Gibraltar propaganda because some of those inside the Palacio de Santa Cruz cannot cannot come to terms with the real world, that Gibraltar was ceded to Britain for ever.
But there are other issues that keep Spanish foreign policy busier than Gibraltar in real terms, right now the serious deterioration of relations with Morocco or the increasing feuds with some of their former colonies in South America, to mention just two areas of discord.
But when you visit the Aranjuez palace and witness the grandeur of times past or call at a nearby maritime museum where a painting hangs of the Battle of Trafalgar but without any indication of how things fared, you can see why the loss of Gibraltar has meant so much for our proud neighbours.
SO CLOSE AND SO FAR
To an extent, it explains why Margallo, in his best Spanish, recently picked up the phone and prohibited that our Chief Minister should give a talk in a prominent forum in Madrid. It was an occasion that went on to show that Gibraltarians can also be proud of their history and their rights, oganising a substitute event in a plush Madrid venue, the Palace Hotel, which is so close to the Spanish parliament that Margallo could have heard Picardo speak...
14-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Spain to install new controversial Schengen style frontier controls
April 14, 2015
Privacy Concerns a Big Issue
FRONTIER SPECIAL REPORT
There is no doubt; the Spanish Government has taken its time to get its act together regarding the 'EU Commission Frontier Recommendations'. However, detailed information is emerging that Madrid intends to finally implement these 2013 official EU proposals. But don't get to excited until you've read this report!
From the information reaching Panorama and which is already in the public domain the Gibraltar-La Linea Frontier it seems, will be converted for frontier crossing purposes, into an '(Unofficial) Schengen Style Crossing Point' with the installation of machine-readable card system controversially known as the in EU circles as the "Smart Border Package". A system initially shelved by the EU, but now looks to be on its way to being introduced or something very similar, at the Gib/Spanish Frontier.
The Smart Border Package consist of a Registered Traveller Programme (RTP) and an Entry/Exit System (EES), which is designed to simplify the entry and exit of frequent travellers, primarily within Schengen area states. But strangely enough, or may be not? And as stated, a similar system looks to be on the cards on the Spanish side of the frontier in both entry and exit points!
Already - it is a Controversial Automated Border Control Management System!
The frontier management system Spain intends to install is known as the 'ABC Automated Border Control Management System'. The system incorporates 'facial recognition and fingerprint booths'. The system will not only verify the person's documentation and check his or her identity. But will also analyse a person's fingerprints and facial features, which it will record and store in its data banks.
The beauty of system from a Spanish perspective, is that it will also be hooked onto other official national computer systems belonging to the national police, guardia civil (on traffic issues and other GC departments) including Spanish intelligence agencies, and also, but in particular, the Spanish tax agency!
According to information Panorama has received, including what has already been released, the Madrid Government have had their frontier plans approved by Brussels or the EU Commission!
What Awaits Cross-Frontier Pedestrians in Particular?
So what will await people, when they cross the frontier from either direction when the Spanish government eventually unveils its Smart Border Management Model?
Firstly, there will be 12 of these frontier-crossing terminals, some of which will be manned, the majority so we understand, will be stand-alone.
Most of our personal data is contained in today's modern biometric style traveling documents. The first time you venture across the frontier, the new systems will itself obtain/capture and store you're facial and fingerprints features and then store them. That is, if you want a hassle free entry and exit experience through the frontier to and from Spain?
How it Will Work?
The terminal on the introduction of the travelling document will read the passport or identity card. As stated, the system will capture fingerprints and facial images, which it then stores. It is a modern biometric identification system that identifies people passing through it by using physical patterns of identification. However, the system will only allow access when it correctly identifies that person passing through it!
Biometrics What?
In recent years face, voice and fingerprint identification software has moved from sci-fi films into real-life affordable devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
Biometrics is the science and technology of uniquely identifying human subjects by means of measuring and analysing one or more intrinsic physical or behavioural traits. These human body characteristics may include fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements. Biometric systems include applications making use of biometric technologies and which allow the automatic identification, verification or authentication of a natural person.
In principle … the Spanish Government is reported as having said, 'will improve and speed up the process of identifying each person and in theory, make for a quicker and stress free frontier crossing'…but we all know on this side of the frontier the total lack of 'Spanish principles' especially, when it comes to anything to do with Gibraltar?
One point that is not clear, is how the new frontier management system on the other side is going to operate when it comes to vehicular traffic and people crossing in cars? One suspects, there will be a similar set up put in place. Although here, there must be doubts, if holding up traffic so that travel documents can be introduced into a machine will improve frontier flow or compound the problem. The EU in fact, funded the whole Spanish frontier project at a cost of some 2.4 million euros. The frontier project is expected to be complete by the end of May or even before!
System Thought Highly Controversial by Some EU Countries
Recently the EU commission said that the setting up of a virtual like frontier for all visiting non-EU nationals will help create a more "welcoming" Europe, adding that fingerprints and or full facial captures may await future visitors to the EU when the commission proposed a revised version of its controversial 2013 'smart borders' package.
EU migration affairs commissioner Greek Dimitris Avramopoulos said a few weeks ago that the digital dragnet would help make Europe a more attractive destination by cutting down border crossing times and cracking down on others who "do not respect the conditions of their rights to stay".
Concern For All Says Top EU Border Negotiator!
But not everyone is convinced by the plans. Criticism and concern came from one of the EU parliament's lead negotiators on the issue, Slovenian centre-left Tanja Fajon, said that the "indiscriminate mass collection of data without a specific just cause must be a concern for all of us".
He also added, 'the initial idea proposed creating a two-tiered system of biometric scans of visiting non-EU nationals, the registered travellers programme (RTP) and the entry-exit system (EES) Both systems rely on collecting, storing, and processing biometric data and are designed for visitors, like US travellers, who do not need a visa to enter the EU in the first place. While people under EES would have their biometric checks at arrival, the RTP pre-vets frequent travellers in advance who can then pass through the control points with a special card
Many in Brussels believe, that the system, which appears to be very similar or the same as the one being planned for the local frontier with Spain, has many negative outstanding issues, like costs, access to and by law enforcement agencies, estimated border crossing times, and the amount of data to be collected which remains as one of the main concerns!
However, the increase in the deployment of biometric systems at workplaces, mainly for attendance and access control purposes, has raised privacy concerns especially at a European level and has also been the subject of intense discussions in Brussels. In principle, the processing of personal data involving the use of a biometric system is considered by privacy experts to be justified only in places demanding a high level of security and strict identification procedure!!!
Surely the Gibraltar Frontier with Spain, cannot not possible be considered a frontier, demanding of such a high level of security and what also appears to be new
strict identification practices. What does Madrid think La Linea is bordering with, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan or Nigeria, instead of Sunny, Peaceful, Law Abiding and fellow EU member and NATO ally which Gibraltar is?
From a Gibraltar Government and FCO perspective, do they know what the Spanish Government has in store for the future management of the frontier?
Or will this to be explained to the public, by the Spanish national police officer when the public first cross the frontier after the new system is up and running?
14-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
