4 December
Both ships will utilise the Forward Mounting Base facilities in Gibraltar before continuing on their respective journeys.
NAVY'S FLAGSHIP
HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy's Flagship, is on her way back to the UK, this is her last port of call in the Royal Navy's annual 'Cougar' deployment.
The ship has had a busy autumn, operating alongside NATO and EU allies and partners in the Mediterranean in her traditional role of amphibious assault ship and also as the future Flagship for the naval element of the NATO Response Force for 2016. The flexibility of the ship has also been demonstrated by the ease with which she has been able to work with aircraft and personnel from across the alliance.
HMS Ocean sailed from the Plymouth at the end of September with 45 Commando Royal Marines embarked, together with Merlin Mk2 helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron, Wildcats from 847 Naval Air Squadron, Apache Helicopters from the Army Air Corps and Chinook from 18 Squadron RAF.
HMS Ocean worked alongside HMS Bulwark to deliver amphibious assaults with the French on Exercise Corsican Lion, was the command ship for over 50 NATO ships during Exercise Trident Juncture, while also delivering amphibious raids as part of the exercise and, finally, working with the US Marine Corps and their MV22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft during Exercise Blue Raptor. Seizing every opportunity to train before returning home, 814 Squadron will be working in the Western Mediterranean while the ship is alongside.
Captain Steve Moorhouse is the Commanding Officer of HMS Ocean. He said: 'It has been a really successful series of exercises. We have learned how to operate more closely with our allies, particularly the French and US Marine Corps and it rounds off with the pleasure of returning to Gibraltar. For those of us who have been here before it's like greeting an old friend, while the youngsters in my ship's company have the pleasure of encountering the Rock Race for the first time, as well as learning about what a pivotal role 'The Rock' has played in the Royal Navy's history. We're all looking forward to a chance to stretch our legs before turning for home and Christmas with our families.'
HELICOPTER OPERATIONS
Whilst in Gibraltar the Helicopter Carrier will conduct air operations with her onboard Merlin Mk2 helicopters.
Type 23 Frigate, HMS ST ALBANS is currently on her way to the Middle East for a nine-month deployment focusing on maritime security operations. ST ALBANS will continue the work that her sister ship HMS RICHMOND, who also recently called into Gibraltar, has been conducting as part of the Royal Navy's long-term presence in the region.
Her task is to police the seas and promote UK interests in the region by acting as a deterrent to illegal activity, safeguarding allied and merchant shipping and help ensure that global trade can proceed without a hitch.
The ship, nicknamed 'The Saint', is the first to deploy with the combined aviation technology of a Merlin Mk2 helicopter and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft.
04-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
GBC Get Powder Room Blast From Social Media
December 04, 2015
Our report on Wednesday regarding the 'Powder Room Election Special' -screened on GBC during the early hours- during the election night count has been harshly criticised by the social media community who have gone as so far as to demand for resignations at Broadcasting House.
As our report highlighted, whoever produced this unprofessional politically biased programme has a lot to answer for, which is exactly what the public is demanding, although viewers also want heads to roll!
One cannot imagine that a TV programme produced as an election special, specifically focused on politics should, content wise, have been aired in such a politically biased manner. Whether male or female members of GBC staff presented the programme, is neither here nor there. Although it was obvious that the presenters did only give personal opinions, with limited knowledge it seems, regarding the main subject matter and also lacking political discourse in the process.
This was no lighthearted look at politics or the election campaign, it was in fact nasty!
Where were the so-called senior staff and producers at GBC who should have done much more to advise, supervise and edit those parts of the programme, which blatantly crossed the biased political-line of legal acceptance? In fact, legal limitations imposed on GBC when broadcasting politically orientated programmes.
GBC are forever the subject of public criticism. They get things wrong, they miss the point, they don't broadcast what they should. In addition, all this is costing taxpayers a fortune, year in, year out, it's the same old story with nothing ever done about it!
GBC remains effectively a terrestrial broadcasting monopoly. That alone imposes on them special responsibilities to this community to consciously and professionally uphold due impartiality, fairness and balance. Which again is highly debatable.
I doubt if anyone will have lodged a complaint with GBC or the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA). A complaint is what the law prescribes before the GRA, the supposedly independent body that regulates local broadcasting gets off its backside to look into possible contraventions of the law. An important requirement, which GBC should strictly comply with but frequently do not!
PUBLIC CONCERN
These are some of the comments posted on Social Media:
*How on Earth has GBC been allowed to produce such politically biased comments and most especially such unfair comments of the civil service to the point of suggesting people be sacked. Where does the GGCA stand in this?
* What's new with GBC? And the worst thing is they get away with it. Que asco! I try not to tune in.
* The GGCA has not come out publicly against the quite blatant rubbishing of the Civil Servants who were all branded as lazy and inefficient.
The look of disgust on Justine Cartwright's face every time she mentioned the Government and whilst showing the various clips of footage which were ALL of the GSLP/LIBs on campaign was evident! No footage whatsoever of the GSD.
The producer and director of said programme has also aided and abetted this abuse of power within this programme. I felt very uncomfortable watching most of the programme as I thought it was in your face bias.
Think this programme should be axed by GBC, as it is not the first time this happens!
* True, I was watching it on the night and I couldn't believe how biased it was.
* I personally feel that after having read the article in the Panorama today and after having seen the programme, I think heads should roll. This should not have been allowed to occur and GBC is as much in shame as those of you who where on the programme as well.
* GBC is very much pro GSD...not surprised at all.
* He that laughs last laughs longest, and by Jove, these ladies might have had a laugh trying to bring down the Gslp/alliance but they must be still drying out their tears after the great wallop their loved GSD received from the community.
* So the GGCA condemn a doctored private recording by a GSLP minister but keep quiet on a public tv programme criticising their members? Have they really got the best interests of their members at heart or are they favouring a party.
*These people should be given the sack.
* It is clear enough we can see GBC's true colours their Directors should be dismissed and placed on the dole. Disgraceful.
* I think that the Government needs to rethink its position regarding GBC. It's a dismal TV station as sad as it is to say.
* I blame the present government, they are the one to put a stop to this and as they said if anybody is not suitable for the job send them to the DOLE.
* I saw the programme the night of the election. I was very furious at their comments they made a circus out of it the way they where laughing and commenting making laugh at Mr. Picardo. It seemed they where all GSD supporters. Shame on them.
* For the salaries they are getting they have npi on how to conduct a programme. They should be shown the door the same way as Jonathan Ross was on BBC but then again el plumero se ve de lejos en GBC
* Maybe it is time to change the Chief Executive Officer and other Senior Posts. Time for Change.
04-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
The 'No' comes from the Foreign Office, Gibraltar's worst enemy
December 04, 2015
Dear Sir,
As a proud Gibraltarian and a keen Royalist, in fact I am a Patron of the Constitutional Monarchy Association in England, I was delighted when I heard that a petition for Her Majesty the Queen to visit Gibraltar was drawn up and attracted so many signatures.
But unfortunately from the word go I knew that the answer would be no and this with the greatest of respect does not come from the Palace but it comes from the Foreign Office.
I would like to inform your readers what happened when I went this year to the Gibraltar day in October, held at the Guildhall.
I was standing alone when a gentleman approached me and asked me "whether I was Solomon Levy" to which I replied "yes" then he said "are you the gentleman who is always writing in the press saying that the Foreign Office were Gibraltars' worst enemy" and again I said "yes".
Then I asked him "are you a member of the Foreign Office" to this he replied "yes I am the desk officer of the Gibraltar team in the Foreign Office" and he gave me his card, so then I said to him "how delighted I am that I can tell you personally that the Foreign Office are Gibraltar's worst enemy and we are an embarrassment to you regarding Spain and you go out of your way to please them.
Also that for the past 61 years you have deprived our Majesty the Queen from visiting her loyal subjects in Gibraltar in a respectful manner I told him all this and more. He just remained silent.
Wow! did I enjoy myself I really felt on top of the world!.
Much as we Gibraltarians want Her Majesty to visit the Rock she will never come as the Foreign Office will never change their minds.
Recently Her Majesty the Queen visited Malta how easy it would have been on her way back to the UK, the plane could have deviated the route and visited us if only for a few hours when she could have toured the Rock and shown her gratitude and she would have loved it, but no the Foreign Office is there to ensure that this does not happen so not to antagonise the Spanish Government the so could allies of Nato and members of the EU.
But never mind whether she comes or not our affection for Her Majesty will never change and we pray to the Almighty she may reign for many years to come, Amen.
Yours faithfully,
Solomon (Momy) Levy
04-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Time for honouring
December 04, 2015
Dear Sir,
May I refer to equality rights group Felix Alvarez and say how well in my opinion he cited the case for Joe Bossano to be honoured for the very substantial contribution he has made to Gibraltar over for more than four decades, he said.
Certainly I would suggest that the time is ripe for Gibraltar and indeed the British Government to take a leaf out of the book of the political and trade Union movement life of Joe Bossano, when the Queen's Honours list is drawn.
Joe Bossano proved himself to be a very competent and conscientious trade unionist and Chief Minister who brought social justice and prosperity to the working class in this country and the community as a whole.
Before 1988 The Country's financial affairs were being precariously balanced not because of aspects of maladministration but to the economic decline due to the isolation of Gibraltar by the Spanish aggressive restrictions which included the closure of the frontier.
Consequently successive Governments had indulged for longer than anyone cares to remember in a series of financial juggling acts to maintain any balance at all.
But all this was to change during the years of socialist administration under Joe Bossano from 1988 to 1996 which proceeded to create jobs and prosperity to the community with the reclamation, the Europort project and others which put an end to the economic see-saw in this country.
It is also well to remember, now that the Community Care cheques are to be received by many in our community in time for Christmas that this was created by the socialist administration of Joe Bossano.
Affordable housing was also constructed for the working class families with low income who wanted to buy or rent a house and for the first time in the history of this country, home ownership became a reality with the creation of the 50-50 system.
And there can be few politicians who can equal Joe Bossano in his patriotic defence of our homeland against Spain and at the United Nations.
As a socialist I consider it an honour and a privilege to have had the opportunity of knowing such a sincere and dedicated member of the trade Union movement and politician. If anyone is qualified to be honoured locally and by the Queen in this country it is Joe Bossano.
Yours Sincerely,
Francis Gonzalez
04-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
