21 August

With just two weeks to go to the Gibraltar Music Festival, organisers have confirmed a dozen more artists for the Seaside Stage, with headline performances on Saturday 5th by Pink Floyd tribute act Gibfloyd and on Sunday 6th by reggae favourites Heritage.

Gib Floyd is the creation of Christopher Calderon and Jay Callejon and comprises some of Gibraltar's top musicians who boast three sold out shows in recent years.

A spokesperson said: "If you are into Pink Floyd then you will love Gib Floyd, whose show is complete with everything you would expect from a first-class tribute band: lasers, custom projections and animations".

Heritage are a locally based reggae band featuring: Paul (Lead Vocals), Damian (Drums), Jeremy (Lead Guitar), Alan (Bass Guitar), Nick (Saxo), Mark Anthony (Rhythm Guitar), Norman & Tyron (both on Percussions). They play classic, feel-good reggae by greats like Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh, and - of course -Third World, who will perform at the GMF on Saturday. "Expect plenty of smiles and joie-de-vie at the Seaside Stage when these guys perform their headline slot!"

Also confirmed for the Seaside Stage - the GMF's third music stage - are: youngsters Kristian Celecia and Midriff; Guns n Roses tribute act Another Day; reggae bands Leeroy One Stone and Coup D'État; Gibraltar Song Festival winner Mo Anton, and; rock bands Angelwings, Superwookie, Omnibus and Hechizo.

MORE!

With Kings of Leon, Duran Duran, Paloma Faith, Madness, Kaiser Chiefs, Estopa and many other international acts already confirmed, GMF organisers have said they will be adding several more international acts this Sunday.

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

A million passengers take it easy on the Gatwick route

August 21, 2015

easyJet, Europe's leading airline, yesterday celebrates flying 1 million passengers on its Gibraltar to London Gatwick route less than eight years after starting flights from the airport.

easyJet began operating flights between Gibraltar and London Gatwick in April 2008 and now carries 130,000 passengers annually. easyJet also flies to Bristol from Gibraltar.

Ali Gayward, Head of Gibraltar, commented: "We have seen an increased number of travellers looking to fly with easyJet on our Gibraltar routes due to our low cost fares and choice of destination so this is another great milestone for easyJet and Gibraltar.

"We remain fully committed to serving Gibraltar and supporting the growth of tourism and business through our easy and affordable fares."

Tourism minister Samantha Sacramento congratulated easyJet on their achievement, noting the contribution the airline makes to the

Gibraltar economy, both for tourism and business, as well as providing a link for the local community to London's second busiest airport.

"We look forward to celebrating another million passengers with easyJet on the Gibraltar - London Gatwick route, and continue to work with them in growing this popular and successful route even further.

"We also remain committed in working with easyJet in exploring new route opportunities, such as the recently introduced Gibraltar to Bristol link which was introduced in April of this year, and has proved to be an extremely successful route indeed".

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Airport Duty Free Shops

August 21, 2015

Dear Sir,

Why are there 'Duty Free' shops (or stores) at the Gibraltar International Airport? The first 'Duty Free' shop was established in 1947 at Ireland's Shannon Airport.

Customary 'Duty Free' shops are retail outlets, normally found at national borders (in international zones), which are exempt from the payment of certain domestic or national taxes and duties (customs duties and excise duties), provided that the products are sold to travelers who remove them from the country. The products normally found in 'Duty Free ' shops are liquors, cigarettes, cigars, perfumes, Eau de toilette products and sweets. The reason being that these products tend to be subject to very high excise duties, on top of which Value-added Tax (VAT) is levied.

Since Gibraltar does not levy any excise duty or VAT, why then are there 'Duty Free' shops at the airport? Aren't all products sold in Gibraltar, and for that matter the high street (Main Street), not already tax fee and duty free? If so, what would the incentive be to purchase products at the 'Duty Free' shops at the Gibraltar International Airport? Unless, the customs duty on the importation of these products by 'Duty Free' shops are exempted or 0%, but even then the question remains. Why?

Yours faithfully,

Riaan de Lange

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Former Deputy Governor named as MI6 spy

August 21, 2015

From the PANORAMA archives Gibraltar 10 years ago

SCORES of British spies fear their cover is blown after having been named by a US website. It listed alleged secret agents - including a former Gibraltar Deputy Governor.

Some are understood to be serving intelligence officers based around the world. The Foreign Office blasted the website as "extremely irresponsible". Sources said: "Naming officers in the field in places like Iraq could result in an intelligence failure." Lawyers are looking at ways of taking the list off the net, but so far have not succeeded.

THORN

The site, which we are not naming, has long been a thorn in the side of the intelligence community for publishing secrets.

The Foreign Office said: "By naming people, including people who are not Secret Intelligence Service staff, it puts their functions and safety very much at risk. It is extremely irresponsible. Quite a few people on that list are Foreign Office staff and nothing else."

Over 300 alleged spies are now on a list which has been published in three goes. No doubt there may be more to come.

SPOTTED

PANORAMA has scrutinised the long list of alleged MI6 agents and we have already spotted a former Deputy Governor.

However, given the concerns expressed by the Foreign Office we have decided not to publish the name.

The person running the website says he "welcomes" secret documents for publication and recently said there was a "need to name as many intelligence officers and agents as possible. It is disinformation that naming them places their life in jeopardy. Not identifying them places far more lives in jeopardy from their vile secret operations and plots."

Intelligence and counter-intelligence operations have been rife on the Rock particularly since the Second World War. Our recently published booklet "Secrets of Espionage in Gibraltar", based on real-life stuff, provides a good indication of what has been going on in Gibraltar.

As an important fortress and base, Gibraltar was a sure posting for intelligence personnel, at one time housed in the building in Irish Town where the police sub-station is currently sited.

BIGGEST

During the Second World War, Gibraltar was the biggest overseas operation of MI5.

More recently there was a Deputy Governor who was affectionately known as 'the MI6 spy' due to his adventurous antics.

For the benefit of spy-followers, we will advance that this person is not the Deputy Governor we have seen named in the leaked list.

Other less suspecting officials can often hide a double life!

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Offer of face to face discussion

August 21, 2015

Dear Sir,

Once again I am obliged to put (virtual) pen to paper in light of a recent letter from Francis Gonzalez (Panorama 20th August, and I have to say Panorama have been very generous in publishing letters from both sides in this debate)

As Mr Gonzalez seems to feel I am over emotional, illogical and ignorant, he clearly confuses amusement and sarcasm with emotion…I shall skip this point as much as I shall skip him getting my name wrong too.

I will however have to accept his contention that I am an atheist, an atheist I might add who also believes in democracy, freedom of speech and non-interference in the lives of others (believers or not) where it causes no harm to others.

I accept to some point his suggestion that Catholics have suffered '..persecution, imprisonment, torture and death …" throughout history…but feel I ought to point out that much of this was perpetrated by the Catholic church itself on it's own believers, particularly during the centuries of the inquisition and more recently in places like Rwanda (where incidentally priests have been tried for crimes against humanity)

Back to the original issue, same sex marriage, I feel I have stated my position, as indeed has Mr Gonzalez in this very column. I now feel the debate has reached a stalemate in the letters page. To this end I offer Mr Gonzalez a face to face discussion on these matters, ideally in the presence of an independent Panorama journalist, by means of which we might explore the issues of same sex marriage, religion and genuine equality (presupposing The Panorama will lend their good offices to such a conversation)

I await a response with some interest.

Terence Mustoe

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Spanish vessel forfeited and occupants fined

August 21, 2015

The two Spanish occupants of a Spanish vessel who faced charges of jettisoning cargo were fined in court yesterday.

HM Customs had seized the Spanish registered vessel within our territorial waters in an operation conducted by HM Customs Marine Unit.

Officers of the Marine Unit approached the vessel as it maneuvered suspiciously within our waters, but this immediately made an evasive move and attempted to escape to Spanish waters.

The vessel was kept under control but the occupants, two Spanish nationals aged 25 and 48 respectively, managed to dispose of four bundles resembling cannabis bales before the Officers managed to board the vessel, said Customs.

The two detainees faced serious charges of jettisoning cargo and were remanded in cells until yesterday morning when they appeared in court and pleaded guilty.

The stipendiary Magistrate, Mr CharlesPitto highlighted the seriousness of the offence and imposed fines of £1500 and £2500 respectively and forfeited their vessel.

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR

Statue to become a reality

August 21, 2015

Dear Sir,

As a great believer in giving credit where it is due, I salute and congratulate Mr. John Walker, the promoter of the statue to be erected of Sir Joshua Hassan and thank him for his constant efforts for the statue of my Uncle, Salvador Hassan to become a reality.

I specifically mention the name Salvador because that is how he wanted to be known. Despite the fact he received three knighthoods and other honours from Her Majesty the Queen, he was always a very unassuming and a very down to earth person and I dare say he was 'The Salvador of Gibraltar'.

Yours faithfully,

Solomon (Momy) Levy

21-08-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR