The Gibraltar International Song Festival has this year received nearly 700 songs from the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malawi, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, UK, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Finalists:

Authors, composers and artists from the following countries will be featured at this year's Finals Gala: UK, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Germany, France, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Greece and Gibraltar.

Presenters are Andy Coumbe and Erica McGrail.

This year's international panel of judges:

TIM KNIGHT (UK)

Our judging panel chairman has worked with hundreds of stars of the music industry, from the Beach Boys, to Leo Sayer and Santana. He's been promotions manager, artists' manager and record producer, and has headed the Artists & Repertoire department of major record labels, such as Warner. Tim is also an executive TV producer, director and music advisor.

GUILLERMO ALBELO (SPAIN)

Guillermo is the president of the Association of European Music Festivals and the Vice-President of the World Association of Festivals and Artists. He also occupies top positions in other festival organisations. He is a songwriter and producer, with some 70 top international prizes to his name. Guillermo is also founder of the Canary Islands-based Tabaiba Records.

PANCHO CAMPO (CHILE)

Pancho is the president of Chrand Management, a company that specialises in the promotion of major musical, sporting and gastronomic events. Over the years, he has worked with artists of the stature of Sting, Tom Jones and Enrique Iglesias, organising tours of Europe, the Middle and Far East. Pancho is also an ex tennis player who has captained the Chilean Olympic tennis team.

PHILIP VALVERDE (GIB)

Philip is one of Gibraltar's best-known singer-songwriters. He has travelled widely, both as a solo artist, as well as in the company of his brothers. One of his albums, After Midnight, was released, and enjoyed success, in 22 countries. He has also participated as backing vocalist and guitarist with various well-known artists in the UK and USA, including one of the GISF's past chairs of the judging panel, Peter Sarstedt.

The 2015 GISF will be held on Saturday, 9 May at the Tercentenary Sports Hall, starting at 9.00pm.Tickets are on sale at the Gibraltar Tourist Office, Casemates Square. Price: £10

Live Transmissions:

The show will be live-streamed to Latin America by their partner in Peru: UJJINA, and to Russia and surrounding regions by Music Box.

They are also going out live on their own website: www.gibraltarsongfestival.com

29-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

The question must be posed about the Searle move

April 29, 2015

Dear Sir,

However blandly they put it the question must be posed, does the recruitment of the editor of the Gibraltar Chronicle, Dominique Searle to the post of special representative to the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, been a fair and just exercise?

Whilst I have no reason to doubt the chief ministers honourable intentions and possibly may have been necessary in the national interest, it should be a matter for enormous GSLP member concern, that once again, after the anti-GSLP former news editor of the Gibraltar Oracle, Paco Oliva was recruited to a top job in government, now it's editor should also be recruited.

When for far too long this daily so-called independent newspaper has been a soft touch, passive and unwilling to flex it's muscles, and as a result has lagged behind in defending in plain language Gibraltar and its people against the cruel neo-fascist tactics of the Spanish Partido Popular government as though this newspaper was living in a different world to the rest of us.

I also remember the hard written anti-GSLP articles and in particular against it's leader Joe Bossano and also the numerous anti-Gibraltarian but biased Spanish articles by Paco Oliva with its editor clearly unwilling to put a brake on.

Given such a balance it can be argued of course that there is a contact between this and the post that he has been given the privilege to

represent.Having a long-standing tradition of involving myself in matters that are of much concern to our community and in particular to the socialist cause prompts and justifies my involvement.

For freedom of speech is too precious for any form or degree of restriction in a democracy.

Your sincerely,

Francis Gonzalez

29-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

UK Privy Council Has No Secrets Any More!

April 29, 2015

Last week ended as it started as far as certain Government announcements were concerned. When on Friday another strange one came via the corridors of power at No 6 Convent Place.

A Body of Previous and Present Politicians & Above Politics… is That Possible? The Chief Minister announced his intention to create a body the 'Gibraltar Consultative Council', (GCC) which according to Mr Picardo 'would be above politics' is that possible in todays dog-eat-dog local political arena? Even with old political dogs (metaphorically speaking) thrown in!

The CM at the same time published a 'Command Paper' confirming the proposal for the creation of the said body. Mr Picardo informed the public the GCC would be similar, to the Privy Council in UK, adding "When a nation such as ours finds that there are issues that affect the national Interest, there needs to be a body above party politics that can provide an opportunity for consideration of those issues"

The Best Local (Secret) Brains?

The public were told the GCC would consist of present/past Chief Ministers and and Deputies, the leader of the opposition and Minister for Justice and Ad Hoc Members

The Chief Minister, adding, 'this is a seminal piece of legislation, I think it is important that there should be a permanent forum created which allows for the best brains in Gibraltar to work together on issues that can affect all of our community regardless of party political allegiance'. The CM confirming the UK Privy Council model is a good one for Gibraltar to follow in establishing such a body.

GCC Less Like the UK Privy Council and More Like a Secret Council!

Mr Picardo said he was keen to see the Bill on the statute book as an Act which makes provision for Gibraltar to have the proper forum for confidential discussion between our Nation's leaders on matters they cannot afford to quarrel and bicker.

Why Confidential and why in Secret? If the proposed GCC is going to be similar to the 'Privy Council in the UK' there should be very few secrets surrounding it. The UK Privy Council is certainly not shrouded in secrecy any more'. In fact it's quite the opposite, as readers will realise later!

The 'Command Paper' makes for an interesting read. Although law wise, it looks more like an out-dated piece of legislation, considering the times we now live in. The GCC Command Paper appears to give its main empathises on the secretive nature of the GCC, instead, of a modern day politically motivated and generally open cross-party consultative group, even if there are one or two secrets to be had!

Reading the command paper makes one think what type of a body is being created? Especially, with (an 'Official Secret Act' type) legislation as if the protection of this secret committee was a Gibraltar, modern day clandestine version of the ancient order of the 'Nights Templar'

What's All The Secret About Anyway?

The proposed legislation contained in the command paper proposes that the GCC will advise the Government, specifically the Chief Minister, on any issue on which advice is requested by him via the structures and mechanisms laid out in this Act in respect of

· The governance of Gibraltar

· The public interest of Gibraltar

· The conduct of or performance of public policy

· The international obligations of Gibraltar

· Any matter touching upon the public affairs, peace, order and good government of Gibraltar

On paper, there is nothing, regarding any of these subjects in terms of potentially secret issues, that justify the new proposed GCC laws which threatens to hand out very harsh penalties and prison sentences even on indictment, for anyone publishing any part of the contents of any document, communication or information whatsoever.

Just what is all the secret about? It's as if Gibraltar was planning some military offensive, or seeks independence or is forming its own national intelligence service, we've probably made a start on the latter already?

One point I want to highlight is regarding the proposed offences mentioned and "if they refer solely to GSS members or to everyone else'?

Admittedly, similar laws do exist in the UK regarding the secret nature of the Privy Council. However, they are not applied in the modern day UK political scenario, which has substantially changed in Britain. Today's political mind and UK set-up ignores and leaves to one side these harsh and archaic Privy Council Laws of the past even if they still in the legal books!

Democracy Behind Closed Doors But on Very Rare Occasions

Although I totally agree, there may be rare occasions when the GCC for instance, would have a necessary right to keep some information secret in the name of legitimate national security concerns. But given the vast potential for political utility associated with what looks like, a strict secret classification system. The necessity is also there for effective checks on the power of the proposed GCC to keep secrets to a bear minimum!

General politics today, cannot be a secret or one or hidden behind closed doors, because anything involving the people must be shared with the people. That is why I am totally against the proposal by the Chief Minister and aspects of the Command Paper, which effectively, creates a secret political body!

In Contrast the UK Privy Council is Not Secret or Similar to the Proposed GCC

The International Monarchist League (IML) an authority on this issue in general, is an organisation dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the monarchical system of government. The League is based in the United Kingdom.

The IML Describe the Privy Council as Follows:

"The Queen is Head of the Privy Council. This is the oldest form of legislative assembly still functioning in the UK, responsible for a number of executive responsibilities. Its origins date from the court of the Norman kings, which met in private - hence the description 'privy'. Until the seventeenth century, the king and his Council were the Government, with Parliament's role limited to voting funds. Today, in a system of constitutional monarchy, the Privy Council retains some limited, formal functions. For example, the Privy Council is concerned with the affairs of Chartered Bodies, the 400 or so institutions, charities and companies who are incorporated by Royal Charter.

The Privy Council also has an important part to play regarding certain UK statutory regulatory bodies covering a number of professions (mainly in the healthcare field) and in the world of higher education.

The Privy Council is also involved in the arrangements for the appointment of the High Sheriffs of England and Wales, except for the Duchy of Lancaster and Cornwall, and for many Crown and Privy Council appointments to governing bodies.

The Privy Council also has certain judicial functions. It is the court of final appeal for UK overseas territories including Gibraltar and Crown dependencies, and for those Commonwealth countries that have retained the appeal to Her Majesty in Council, including Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Tuvalu.

Nothing Secret About UK Privy Council Meetings Say UK Body!

The Privy Council meets on average once a month, at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, or, occasionally at Balmoral. Councils are held by The Queen and are attended by Ministers and the Clerk of the Council. At each meeting the Council will obtain The Queen's formal approval to a number of Orders, which have already been discussed and approved by Ministers, many Acts of Parliament become law through the giving of the Royal Assent after having been debated in Parliament. In addition, the Queen approves Proclamations through the Privy Council. These are formal notices, which cover issues such as the dissolution of Parliament, coinage and the dates of certain Bank Holidays.

Privy Council meetings are reported in the Court Circular, along with the names of Ministers attending (usually four in number). The Orders made at each Council are in the public domain, and each bears the date and place of the Council at which it was made.

The IML say there is nothing at all 'secret' about Privy Council meetings today. There are 400 Privy Counsellors. They consist of all members of the Cabinet, a number of middle-ranking government Ministers, leaders of the opposition parties, senior judges and some appointments from the Commonwealth

Note…The Court Circular is the official record of the previous day's Royal engagements and is printed in UK newspapers.

Even the official website of the British Monarchy, confirms, that 'Privy Council meetings are reported in the Court Circular, along with the names of Ministers attending. The Orders made at each Council are soon after in the public domain, and each bears the date and place of the Council at which it was made. There is therefore nothing at all 'secret' about Privy Council meetings today in the 21-century.

Right To Keep Information Secret Only in Name of Legitimate National Security

As mentioned earlier, there's no argument that the Government has a necessary right to keep some information secret in the name of legitimate national security concerns. But given the vast potential for political utility associated with the classification of secretes, even on benign issues and its sometimes-suspect operational norms…there is a necessity for effective checks on the power of any public body to keep secrets!

Concern For 'Freedom of the Press'

A point that will have to be clarified as mentioned earlier, is the proposed legislation contained in the 'Command Paper which is not clear. Potentially it seems, there could be concerns regarding the 'freedom of the press' and the apparent inchoate liability for newsgathering. Which is even more disturbing with the secret function of the proposed GCC body. This if consideration is given to the number of relevant issues of potentially, for whatever reason, secretly classed information, documents or discussions envisaged, and the likelihood of a journalist soliciting such information without even being aware of doing so.

It goes without saying, that such a possibility could, and most likely does have a chilling effect on journalistic efforts to educate the public on issues that could be of a major national interest to them. When chances are, the majority of times, the GCC topics will not necessarily be a national secret, and especially under the full (secret) blanket definition in the Government Command Paper!

29-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Word spreads about options for Trident nuclear submarines

April 29, 2015

GIBRALTAR has been earmarked as a possible base for Britain's Vanguard nuclear submarines if the SNP succeeds in ridding Scotland of Trident.

That's what the Sunday Express said.

In the wake of the Scottish threat, it should not be surprising that the MOD have carried out a study about what is the alternative scenario - and that Gibraltar may have featured in it.

Ministry of Defence officials who assessed its suitability, estimate that relocation would cost Britain about £3billion and take up to 10 years to complete.

And as a senior academic told the paper the MoD was clearly "reading the writing on the wall" about the possibility of another Scottish referendum.

SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie has threatened to hold Westminster to ransom over Trident if it gains enough seats after May to hold the balance of power.

A senior military source said: "A party was sent to Gibraltar in January to determine whether the option could work. One can only assume it's part of broader contingency planning."

The Express should not take any stick from armchair warriors in Gibraltar. The paper did say that "A party was sent to Gibraltar in January to determine whether the option could work. One can only assume it's part of broader contingency planning."

It is also correct to say that Gibraltar's deep Mediterranean waters would allow easy access, in contrast to Devonport, which has only a single deep water channel large enough which would be vulnerable to sabotage.

What's wrong with such a statement?

Someone in the Washington DC-based Heritage Foundation think-tank said: Gibraltar is already a first strike target. so moving Trident there would not increase concerns.

That is something that does not make easy reading. Who wants to be a first strike in a war?

Already it had been reported that Britain planned to temporarily relocate Trident to the US naval submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia, in the event of victory by Scottish nationalists.

Again, another option.

And this Sunday, the paper did quote the MoD as saying: "We are fully committed to retaining the deterrent on the Clyde and indeed we are basing all our submarines there from 2020."

What that means is that the MOD would like to keep Clyde for its nuclear fleet - but if that is under threat, it is only right and proper that they should consider other possible options.

It does not mean that Gibraltar is the preferred choice, so why all this fuss in some sectors of the social media? Let's see what happens at the UK election, and what follows from that.

REPORTS SPREAD

However, the Express report has led to others spreading the informed speculation. The Daily Mail made use of what was already known, spreading the word.

It went on to add that the likelihood of any move is likely to be increased by a strong performance by the SNP in the election.

The SNP want to eject Trident from Scotland, but both the Conservatives and Labour have committed to retaining the base on the Clyde.

Ed Milliband told Andrew Marr on BBC: 'No coalition, no tie-ins, I have said no deals - I have been clear about that. I am not doing deals with the Scottish Nationalist Party.'

The Conservatives have made the prospect of a Labour administration that's reliant on SNP votes one of the central planks of their election campaign in the last fortnight.

Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith said at a hustings event on Wednesday: 'We view the world as being a very dangerous and volatile place at the moment. So our policy is that we will retain Trident, we will maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent.'

But he added: 'So we will pursue an independent perspective, the next Labour government, but on the issue of Trident: would but we could get rid of it but I fear that we can't.'

PRESSURE GROWING

Another report said: Scrap Trident Coalition spokesman Brian Larkin had said: "If we can send enough anti-Trident MPs to Westminster then the debate is not going to be about where they might locate Trident, the debate will be about whether they replace it at all."

Said another report: With growing pressure from the SNP, and the general election looming, the MoD is said to have considered a number of alternative locations for the much-maligned and vastly expensive Cold War era weapon system.

Another option floated was Falmouth in the south of England, but the political fallout of putting nukes on the Cornish coast may prove too much for Britain's increasingly isolated pro-nuclear parties.

In the search for a new home for Trident, levels of nationalist ardour may prove to be the decisive factor according to some commentators, and in few places does a love of the nation appear stronger than among those who live outside it.

Last week the nuclear deterrent was branded "irrelevant" by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), which said the weapon system no longer fulfills the needs of Britain's security forces and faces a marked fall in public support.

In a combined report by the STUC and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the authors ruled that Trident no longer served its initial function, under the Cold War-era policy of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

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