Having read the result of your poll regarding Britain's commitment to Gibraltar, it is really not a good sign. It is obvious that something is wrong somewhere. I would have no hesitation to blame the Foreign Office for the attitude Gibraltarians have adopted.
I have always openly said that the Foreign Office are our worst enemies, but really they cannot go over our heads. Gibraltar belongs to the Gibraltarians and nobody will ever dare give us up. We can do whatever we like within the law without them, being that we live in a
Democracy.Furthermore, the British Government knows that Gibraltar is an important base for them in spite of the Nuclear Age.
They must also realise that we Gibraltarians are a peaceful people but we have t he advantage of having the Latin temperament and at the same time that we are quiet people, we can also shout and rebel. Although 79 years old, like me, we Gibraltarians still have the strength to do so and more if we so wish.
So my advice to the British Government is to maintain the same position as they are doing now to avoid any unpleasantness and stop the Foreign Office putting their foot in it. They have enough problems without having to worry about us Gibraltrians.
Yours faithfully,
Solomon (Momy) Levy
15-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Gibraltar LNG Terminal will be Operational -in Mid-2017
December 15, 2015
Last month the Government officially reached an agreement with Shell for the storage and supply of Liquefied Natural Gas for the new power station, construction began almost straightaway.
The agreement followed a report by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) and an independent review by Lloyd's Register who were contracted to carry out a study of the project resulting in two safety reports showing that there was no risk to any residential area with Shell's proposal.
The Chief Minister at the time described the Gibraltar project as "small scale" for Shell, which has 10 similar-sized plants in Scandinavia alone, where the company has 70 thousand LNG transfers without a single incident recorded.
The Government also confirmed that LNG will be brought to Gibraltar in small tankers and transfers will be done just twice a month, at night, when port and airport activity is minimal. The fuel will be stored in five 1000cm LNG double-walled tanks and gradually transferred to vaporisers where it will be transformed to gas. Mr Picardo also confirmed that the stored LNG will be just for the power station and not bunkering.
Shell Organise LNG Public Relations Exhibition
Royal Dutch Shell have this week organised a two day public exhibition on the Gibraltar LNG power station project and as part of the commitment to local community where engagement and feedback will be factored into the Environmental Impact Assessment study.
Before the exhibition opened Chris Johnson, Shell's General Manager for LNG (Europe), said, "At Shell we take our commitment to being a good neighbour very seriously. We invite those who are interested to come along to our public exhibition, where you will be able to talk to members of our team, and hear more about the Gibraltar LNG project."
On the Gibraltar LNG terminal, Shell has reaffirmed once again that safe operation is their highest priority. Shell places stringent controls upon itself to make sure that all its safety processes will be implemented and followed effectively. Shell's safety standards are among the most stringent in the industry. Additionally, Shell is also governed by numerous UK and European regulations.
Members of the media yesterday were invited at an earlier time to the exhibition to meet Shell representatives and aske some questions.
Project Still in First of Four Phases!
Panorama spoke to Ian Jewitt health and safety manager with 'LNG Projects' and Mr Emanuele Gesu one of the overall Shell managers for the Gibraltar LNG project. They both confirmed that the project was still in the first of four phases. The most important aspect so far was having the concept design of the (project) area independently assessed by HSL who later developed a standard three zone safety map, without this, the project would not have gone ahead said Mr Gesu.
It was also confirmed and as announced by the Government that the five LNG tanks, which will form part of the LNG terminal, will not be used in any future commercial bunkering operation. This if it happens, will be conducted offshore ship to ship.
Mr Gesu said that that LNG carriers will replenish the Gibraltar power station tanks, using vessels that are 117 metres long with a capacity of only 7,500cm of LNG.
Commercial Bunkering Will Undergo Same Meticulous Safety Procedures
Mr Gesu reiterated, that should Shell decide to commercially conduct-bunkering operations from Gibraltar the whole project would also be meticulously assessed (by Lloyds and the HSL) in the same manner as the current LNG power station terminal.
However, Mr Gesu said, that any possible future commercial operations from Gibraltar will depend on EU directives regarding emissions and how cruise companies, who will also have to implement LNG conversion as the 'Carnival Cruise' company has done with the announcement of the construction of a number of LNG driven cruise liners.
Experts Believe Gibraltar Has an `Important Role to Play in LNG Bunkering
The high level Shell representatives at the exhibition made clear, that in the event of a commercial decision regarding LNG commercial operations from Gibraltar, it will be conducted from ship-to-ship, in fact, as is the practice now. All safety procedures and requirements as is the case with the current power station terminal project at Waterport will follow.
Shell experts are of the opinion that Gibraltar has an important role as a future LNG bunkering hub. This if expected, LNG takes off globally as the preferred fuel energy, which appears to be the case with the emissions issue favouring LNG energy and if last weeks 'Global Climate Change' conference in Paris is anything to go by.
The Gibraltar LNG power station terminal will be operational in mid 2017!
15-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Ocean Village fail to deliver what they originally promised
December 15, 2015
The leisure and entertainment industry locally has changed in terms of quality, customers and opportunities, according to a local businessman.
Orlando Yeats, who works out of the Ocean Village area, spoke to the Panorama about how the small business dynamic for bars and restaurants has moulded to the clientele through the years along with our attitudes.
"Back in my day there were a lot less areas to go out to socialise, with it just being around town centre back in the 90's, while now we have Casemates, the Sunborn and Ocean Village so the people are much more spoilt for choice," said Yeats. "The business has also changed in the last 20 years, when we had up to six Royal Navy boats in port which was great for the bar trade. That always filled up our drinking institutions but although that has died down the restaurant industry has risen in quality which now gets frequented more often by locals and visitors alike."
Speaking about the area he works in, he states, "Although Ocean Village raised the bar slightly it has failed in my opinion to deliver what they originally promised investors and fellow entrepreneurs, a luxury resort comparable to that of Puerto Banus or even Monaco.
"You only have to see the amount of businesses that have closed since its inception ten years ago, that numbers around 20, to realise how hard it is to run an establishment there with the overheads that are involved. If you take a look around now you will see empty units with Ocean Village themselves taking over failed spaces.
"Management will argue that rents are similar to Main St and Europort which is laughable considering the difference in footfall, which in my opinion they again failed to deliver. If investors would have been given a fair crack at the area with reasonable rents it would have been thriving, which is a shame for all of Gibraltar."
"You also hear of many people complaining about hospitality staff not speaking English properly, but I'm afraid its due to the calibre of people walking in through the door applying for a job."
Freedom
Yeats said that since the internet explosion in the mid nineties and arrival of satellite television attitudes of people have changed and a culture of expecting to be entertained by TV, Internet and game consoles has replaced the now old-fashioned going out to play with your friends on the estate patio.
"There's been an increase in the number of students going to UK which to me forms a very important part of the process of growing up to be able to be independent in another country such as England. In places like London or Leeds they've learnt to fend for themselves and met with people from lots of different countries.
"When I went to the UK capital I had friends from Australia, South Africa and all over the place so I learnt how to open myself to their cultures and how they live their lives, giving me a platform to understand my own identity."
He is aware that these factors, along with our global travel, that has increased to the point that gap years are far more common and we all do our Asian or South American trips, means Gibraltarians are far more independent in their choices, especially as we no longer have to live with our parents.
"There was a boom in Government housing schemes now while when I was young there was more of a housing shortage," said Yeats. "It wasn't uncommon to go to see a friend of mine who has six or seven extended members of the family living with them. "Although there are benefits in living with one's grandparents, I think the attitude of most younger people is that this was not their choice at the time and they want to have their own space to start their family independently."
Wealth has also changed the way we treat our kids, he told Panorama: "Back in my youth the bicycle was the top present you could get but now its all about computers and game consoles. This contrast showed how our toys were more sociable as they were used to play outside while nowadays they're stuck at home, which is a bit of a shame."
15-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Scale model of Gibraltar Volunteer Corps
December 15, 2015
Thursday night saw the presentation of a scale model of the Gibraltar Volunteer Corps (GVC) to the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. The model is the product of 14 months of research and work by Joe Martinez and Andrew Rowbottom who have painstakingly been carving, casting, assembling and painting the models as they have assembled the diorama to show the first intake of the GVC in 1915. The pair were inspired by a photograph in the 2014 Gibraltar Heritage Calendar which showed the first intake of the GVC on parade in John Mackintosh Square.
The Gibraltar Volunteer Corps Ordinance was approved in May 1915. The idea was initiated in the Calpe Rowing Club where there was a strong feeling that local men should be contributing to the war effort. The strength of feeling soon spread throughout the community. Enrolment started on the 3rd July and by the 31st July 357 had enlisted, this number swelling to 441 by the 27th September that same year.
During the project period Mr Martinez and Mr Rowbottom have carried out further research into the activities of the GVC. They discovered for instance that Alameda Grand Parade was fitted and illuminated with electric lighting by the Sanitary Commission so that the GVC could carry out their evening drill. Members of the GVC were required to carry out a minimum of 5 drills per month but in actual fact it seems most attended 3 or 4 drills per week showing the commitment there was to serve. Uniforms were issued on the 2nd Sept 1915 with Enfield converted rifles being allotted on 6th December 1915. Interestingly the rifles in the photograph were actually stage props from the Rialto and were used for rifle drill.
In his research, Mr Martinez came across Regimental Order 212 issued by Major Cooper that read "During the winter months, Officers, W.O.s, N.C.O.s and men may wear plain clothes at parades". There was obviously a shortage of winter issue uniforms at this time. During the War the GVC provided substantial reinforcement to assist in the defence of the Rock. The GVC was disbanded on 1st February 1920 sometime after the end of hostilities.
In presenting the diorama to the Trust, Mr Martinez said 'I hope that the Trust enjoy safekeeping this diorama. It is just one example of what could be done with military museum miniatures'.
The Model will be on display in the ground floor exhibition area of the Main Guard until early in the new year.
15-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Winter Party in Town
December 15, 2015
The 'Winter Party in Town' event is to take place this coming Saturday as part of the 'Christmas late night shopping experience.'
Events will be hosted at Casemates Square, John Mackintosh Square and Chatham Counterguard throughout the day.
The main event at Casemates Square will start at 1.00pm and is scheduled to finish at approximately 9.00pm. An all-weather stage will be set up for the occasion. The event has been carefully designed to make it a family-day event for all to enjoy.
This year's headline act will be the internationally-renowned band REMEMBER QUEEN as part of their World Tour 2015. Vocalist Piero Venery is acclaimed as the world's best double to the legendary Freddie Mercury. An amazing 2 hour musical tribute to one of the best bands in the world, the show includes a fantastic production with constant videos of QUEEN via a gigantic LED Screen. Local band FRONTIERS (formerly This Side Up) will be performing as main supporting act.
The main event will kick-off with local DJ Johnny Harper. The Valerga Brothers, international funky jazz band The Hula Hula, Danza Academy and the Gibraltar Academy of Dance will also form part of this year's line-up.
An innovation on stage this year is that of a Star Wars animation spectacular featuring appearances by Darth Vader, the Storm Troopers and Princess Leia. They will be joined on stage by special guest the Iron Man.
Various children's activities will also be on offer from 10.00am, including Santa's Grotto from 14.30 until 16.00 and a Santa Pull organised by the Gibraltar Round Table.
The event is organised by the Ministry for Culture and is supported by the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB), the Chamber of Commerce and a number of local businesses.
15-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR