Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - 10:21 Leo Olivero

SPECIAL REPORT

The definition of the ‘Rule of Law’ directs that ‘individuals, persons and governments shall submit to, obey and be regulated by law, and not arbitrary action by an individual or a group of individuals’.

The definition additionally explains the importance of adhering to the rule of law as this is what guides us in our everyday social and legal interactions, as it prevents anarchy, and holds us together as a people, but significantly the fact that we are all equal in the eyes of the law’.

How Our Application of the Rule of Law Plays Into Madrid’s Hands

Never has the effective application of the ‘Rule of Law’ been so fundamentally important as it is today. Particularly when Gibraltar is in the midst of a full frontal political onslaught, not only from the Spanish Government but all political parties in Madrid including the many hundreds of EU Political actors in Brussels.

Over many years I have heard politicians both in Gibraltar and our so-called political friends in the United Kingdom speak about doing what is best for the Rock, little realising that their own naïve shallow political actions were and are still doing more damage to Gibraltar than they can possibly imagine.

For years the correct application of the rule of law has not been adhered to on massively important national issues like ‘illegal incursions and fishing in BGTW’ in fact, it has and still continues to weaken Gibraltar’s hand, creating an on-going dangerous situation that without any doubt has played into the hands of successive Spanish Governments.

The forecast is simple, yet gloomy; we are seeing it happen before our very eyes. Simply put, if those in authority in Gibraltar and back in London do not wake up to the reality or fact and continue to ineffectively protect what is ours, specifically on something as profoundly important as our ‘Sovereignty’ the door will continue to open for Spain and others to use it to their advantage. Something they effectively achieved last week on the EU ‘Gibraltar is a British Colony’ (status) vote!

Having penned dozens of reports over many years on both illegal incursions and fishing in BGTW I have a quite defined reporting line on the issue, which is not about to change any time soon. Particularly, when the situation has changed little, if at all, as we continue to see on most days Spanish state vessels together with their national fishing buddies from across the way openly breaking international and local fishing laws and nothing is ever done with any vigour and soul to stop it.

Illegal Incursions and Fishing And all the Rubbish Diplomatic Talk

The problem with Illegal incursions by Spanish state vessels is down to successive UK governments who have miserably let Gibraltar down and continue to do so today. The British Government and FCO have conducted a rigidly applied and totally hopeless Gibraltar-Spanish policy to an important sovereignty related issue. This said, notwithstanding the amount of times the FCO or from the Convent in Gibraltar who have repeated ad nauseam the now boring and naive mantra that ‘incursions are a violation of sovereignty, not a threat to it’ which is utterly rubbish talk. Proven now, when it’s easier to understand why last week Gibraltar lost the ‘Colony Vote’ in Brussels and also why the UK and Gibraltar are in deep Brexit crap!

Last weekend there were another two illegal incursions by Spanish state vessels, all was duly recorded as the Spanish warships decided to conduct their own ‘sovereignty patrol’ in local waters. Because this is exactly what they were doing as they always do!