22 April
Professor Ryszard Zelichowski yesterday visited Albert Poggio, UK Representative, at the Gibraltar Office in London to present his latest book, Gibraltar.
Gibraltar is the first Polish language academic book to be published on the political history of Gibraltar and includes extensive interviews with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, as well as other notable Gibraltarian politicians.
The book charts the history and political struggles of Gibraltar and aims to address the question of in which direction is Gibraltar heading.
Professor Zelichowski is Head of Doctoral Studies at the Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, in Warsaw, and specialises in research into Small States and Special Territories. It was this background in small states and a desire to highlight the struggles of small nations against the aggression of bigger countries, which led Professor Zelichowski to pen Gibraltar.
Professor Zelichowski spent much time in Gibraltar researching the book and interviewing its subjects.
22-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
International conference opens today
April 22, 2015
Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister, will this morning formally open the first international funds conference on the Rock promoted by Gibraltar Finance on the Sunborn Superyacht Hotel.
The conference, which has been organised in conjunction with Informa PLC*, will deal with the latest legal, regulatory and taxation environments and be attended by European regulators and associations, Funds & Fund Managers, Investors, European Industry Advisors, Prime Brokers, and Administrators in discussing the upcoming factors that will influence the market.
Speakers from the FSC (Gibraltar Financial Services Commission), Belgian FSMA (Financial Services and Markets Authority), efama (the European Fund and Asset Management Association), and AIMA (the Alternative Investment Management Association) will be participating along with leading financial services firms and service providers.
Albert Isola, Minister for Financial Services, who will close the conference at the end of the day's proceedings, commented: "this is the first time Gibraltar Finance has organised such an event and we are delighted to be hosting this international fund event on the Sunborn in Gibraltar. We have succeeded in bringing internationally recognised speakers and delegates to this conference and that can only be good for the Jurisdiction. This international conference will further serve to reinforce our reputation as a mature fund jurisdiction and increase our profile in this competitive market place.
* Informa Plc provides businesses, academics and individuals with unparalleled knowledge, up-to-the minute information and highly specialist skills and services in, amongst others, the format of conferences, exhibitions, newsletters and books, on-line and off-line. With around 8,000 employees working in some 150 offices in over 40 countries, their global reach and breadth of offer is unique. Informa has an unparalleled portfolio of brands.
22-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
PANORAMA poll to forecast who would win an election if held tomorrow
April 22, 2015 | By Joe Garcia
JOE GARCIA - who pioneered opinion polls in Gibraltar nearly 40 years ago
A PANORAMA Public Opinion Poll is currently being organised, with the public being asked if an election took place tomorrow who would they vote for - the GSD or the GSLP/Liberal Alliance.
The poll follows the same scientific methods that have produced such accurate results since our first poll almost 40 years ago.
Our only aim is to produce an accurate reflection of public opinion, with an election due this year.
The only two political groupings in Gibraltar today are the GSD and the GSLP/Liberals, so obviously the situation at present is a two horse race.
In the past, other parties have been included but at this point in time only the GSD and the GSLP/Liberals fill the political firmament.
Our election polls include all the individual candidates standing for election, once it is announced who will be standing - but at present it is not known even when the election is to take place - so obviously it would be absurd to include any names at this point in time.
TRACK RECORD
PANORAMA has always taken its polls very seriously which may be an indication why we have been so successful and why everybody looks forward to our polls because we have such a track record.
With our first poll in 1976, there was a strong body of opinion suggesting that the AACR, which had been in power for so long, might finally be ousted. Our poll however forecast that the AACR would win - and they did, even if some people had chosen not to believe our poll!
Over the years we have continued to forecast election results and other political trends and general events. Our polls are regarded as representing an accurate reflection of public opinion.
A PANORAMA Poll, held two years before the GSLP first gained all seats in the opposition, said that the party had become the second political force. This was at a time when a party called the DPBG had 6 seats in the opposition and the GSLP had only one.
Understandably, it was difficult for some people to accept the dramatic findings of our poll - but when the election came, the DPBG were indeed wiped out of the House and the GSLP gained all opposition seats.
Another of our polls predicted the downfall of the AACR before there was any inkling of it.
And two months before the 1988 general election we forecast a landslide win for the GSLP, actually ousting the AACR from power. Our poll forecast they would get 57% of the votes; they got 58%!
And 5 months before the 1996 election was held, a PANORAMA poll showed that the GSD had overtaken the GSLP. When the election came,we were proved right again.
NECK AND NECK
In more recent times, our polls indicated that the GSD - over their long stretch in power - were actually in a slow downtrend, and from the 2007 election onwards the two political formations were forecast to be neck and neck.
Over this period of time they were so close that a small swing one way or the other was enough to determine who would win and who would lose an election.
For the last elecion, our poll predicted that the GSLP/Liberals would win by a small margin.
Now, with our latest poll, we are out to find out where the GSD and the GSLP/Liberals stand if an election were held tomorrow.
As always, we are grateful to all those who take part in our polls, which are always held using the same scientific methods that have proved so successful over so many years. Our thanks to everybody for their participation in our polls.
22-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Party wants to know about ETB bullying allegations - but forgets RGP bullying claims
April 22, 2015
The GSD once again calls on Government to make public the results of any investigation that has been conducted regarding the allegations of bullying made by the 35 trainees at the ETB; failing this, the GSD says it wants to know what stage the investigation has reached, considering that these allegations date back to the early part of last year.
The Opposition adds that it will not remain silent on a matter of such public interest. Those affected in this case and their families have a right to know the outcome of this investigation. Subsequent to these allegations being made directly to the Chief Minister, the Government passed its anti-bullying legislation through Parliament and made itself appear as the 'champion of the oppressed' and yet, the first time it is put to the test in a most serious way, the Government has failed to act. Does the Government only champion this cause when it is politically expedient to do so?
They go on to say: Unfortunately the people of Gibraltar have once again been let down by this GSLP/Liberal Administration. It seems whether on matters of public finance, secret companies or indeed protecting the vulnerable, in this case a group who had the courage to come forward, presumably on the basis of the Chief Minister's rhetoric against bullying, the people of Gibraltar do not have a right to know. This is the transparency promised by this false dawn Government.
Results of ETB Bullying Investigation expected next month
The Govenment says it can confirm that the internal investigation into allegations of bullying at the ETB is in its final stages and the results are expected to be available to it by mid-May 2015.
It takes this opportunity to remind the Opposition that this is an independent inquiry, commissioned by the Chief Minister, to be conducted by the Civil Service. As such, there has been no Ministerial or political involvement in this inquiry whatsoever, and the Opposition's allegations against the Government in their latest press release reveal a severe misunderstanding on their part of how such investigations are undertaken. As a result, any criticism levelled by the Opposition is of the civil servants who are pursuing their work on this matter with all due diligence and expedition.
The Government reminds the Opposition that, however public the issue has been made by others, this is an internal investigation that is personal to a Civil Servant and any measures to be taken as a result are to be taken outside the public domain, as stipulated by established procedures.
The GSD may be concerned for political reasons, many will suspect, about the allegations of bullying made by the 35 trainees at the ETB. But they have completely ignored the allegations of bullying within the RGP which potentially are at least just of an equal serious nature, where nothing has been heared after 6 months of investigation by the Gibraltar Police Authority! When will the results of this investigation be made public?
22-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
RGP million-pound assets remain moored whilst RN fends off Spanish State incursions!
Yesterday morning Spanish state research vessel 'Francisco de Paula Navarro' accompanied by the presence of the Guardia Civil patrol vessel 'Rio Pas' where involved in another serious stand-off with the Royal Navy HMS Sabre and RN Rhibs who were also nearby.
The incident occurred at about 1130am directly opposite the Detached Mole and although some distance from the mole both Spanish vessels came into BGTW waters, attempting to perform environmental survey activity, where the RN vessel instructed these vessels to leave local waters.
Stand Off in BGTW With Spanish Vessels and RN: RGP Nowhere!
A stand off then ensued between HMS Sabre and the two Spanish state vessels, which lasted for sometime. The research vessel was in fact hampered and was unable to conduct their planned activity in local waters by the RN who remained in the area the whole time.
Eyewitnesses who observed the incident told Panorama that both Spanish state vessels had on a few occasions entered BGTW waters; this was verified by Panorama on the AIS ship tracker.
On October 27 last year the research vessel 'Francisco de Paula Navarro' was involved in a similar incident where it again attempted to conduct survey work in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Again prompting a response at sea from the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron, although on that occasion there was also a response from local law enforcement agencies like the RGP, this time there was none!
The incident in October resulted in a protest from London to Madrid!
However, the question that many people are asking 'Just were are the RGP vessels these days'?
Whilst HMS Sabre was actively involved fending off the Spanish vessels out on BGTW - the whole of the multi-million pound RGP Marine assets were all safely in port at their new marine base, doing nothing it seems to at least come out in support of the Royal Navy.
As our photo clearly depicts, which was taken exactly the same time as the incident in question, all RGP vessels were tightly moored on home ground!
The whole problem regarding the policing and enforcement of BGTW is now an issue that needs to be tackled at the highest level, there is no doubt about that!
Who has full confidence in the RGP 'enforcement policy'?
But I repeat what I said recently in a similar piece I penned, when I reported that one person who is up to date and has full confidence in the current RGP 'Operational Deployment' and 'Enforcement Policy' regarding illegal fishing in BGTW is the Governor!
Which I thought was a negative statement from the Convent considering the amount of public criticism leveled at the RGP regarding a national issue of huge public interest. And importantly, when public confidence in the police is at an all time low!
Like me, thousands of people are still wondering just what is happening with the normal policing and enforcement of illegal fishing, and what are the RGP's Plans in this respect, if they have any?
Now it seems, they are not even coming out to support the Royal Navy when incursion incidents involving Spanish state vessels occur!
The Governor may be happy and have the full confidence in the RGP marine activity; he may even have his own reasons for doing so, but the rest of us are not!
Millions of Tax Payers Money Spent -Time For Government to Ask Questions!
The Gibraltar Government who has funded many millions of taxpayer's money to provide the RGP with state of the art marine assets in order that they can effectively and safely perform their primary policing roles in BGTW cannot be happy. Because this is not happening at all, the police are providing 'zero value for money' in this respect!
In fact members of the public who monitor shipping movement, as well as marine enthusiasts, have informed Panorama, that for instance, the newest RGP vessel the 'Sir Adrian Jones' has been permanently moored for over two weeks. The other large RGP vessel the 'Sir William Jackson' has also been static, last seen out on water over a week ago.
Yesterday during an on going live incident in BGTW and with Spanish State vessels involved all RGP vessels were tied up doing nothing!
In my opinion, and notwithstanding how happy the Governor may or may not be with the RGP's BGTW policing efforts, it is now up to the Government, to demand from the Gibraltar Police Authority and Commissioner of Police why these expensive assets are mostly tied up at the RGP marine base and not used for the purpose they were purchased. This is something the Government are legally competent in exercising under the constitution and police act on behalf of the local taxpayer.
Is it not time someone got to the bottom of this issue and gave the public a straight answer?
22-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Superyachts going nowhere?
April 22, 2015
Dear Sir,
I note some controversy about the importance or not of superyachts.
Although on a slightly different context, I remember when the then owners of the shipyard, Cammell Laird, made a song and dance about what they told us was the immense value to Gibraltar of attracting the numerous superyachts crossing the Strait, to the extent they even modified one of the docks as if superyachts would be calling here in large numbers.
But there was no queue! Will this new idea of superyachts at Ocean Village follow the same fate?
Yours sincerely,
C. A. Broughton
THE GSD NOW CARES!
April 22, 2015
Dear Sir,
In a sudden and rather hypocritical move, the GSD has now adopted the slogan "We Care". GSD members have been spreading their newly adopted caring message around the Glacis Estate knocking on people's doors asking them about the ongoing works and renovation works. For a party that left this Estate as well as Laguna Estate, and Moorish Castle neglected for 16 years they have arrived a bit too late (unless of course they were checking out for broken light bulbs in order to perhaps create another theatrical performance as the one we had with this issue some time back).
The electorate is, however, more intelligent than that. Personally I feel that this is an insult to the intelligence of the electorate, but yet again I can understand that the GSD is scraping the bottom of the barrel to try and get some votes here and there.
Voters can see the huge transformation Gibraltar is undergoing thanks to this administration, and also note that the GSLP/LIBS are ticking off hundreds of commitments from their manifesto once they have come to fruition, a manifesto that was voted by the electors. It was described as a wish list by the GSD at the last election, they said the programme was unachievable, now that it has been achieved they say the Government should not have spent so much, which only goes to demonstrate that if they had been elected, they would not have done any of this. So much for "we care"!
Derek.J.Desoiza
