However for us, our fate amidst this super organism is destined to lose momentum, the moment that the UK leaves the EU. Our fate similar to the tragic end of the stump; cut off from the EU and thus, although at present supposedly still part of the organism, nevertheless soon ceasing to be a participant.

In the meantime however, it has taken two Liberal Democrat MEP‘s for South west England to highlight the fact, that when others failed to react to a highly volatile situation which we were faced with in our waters, our Government remained nerveless and audacious in the face of said challenge. A challenge that even the EU member state Spain run away from, after the Spanish-Argentine politician Minister Josep Borrell, now EU foreign policy chief, mumbled something about Spanish waters and was never heard from after. It’s typical of Spain to hide its head in the sand like the ostrich until the storm passes by, when it comes to commitment.

NOT COMPLYING

They may commit themselves to signing agreements and treaties, but this does not mean they intend to comply at the required moment. I ask; might this encourage a change of opinion in the EU towards us thus enabling certain links to be maintained with them after Brexit? I am sure this is what the Government of Gibraltar has referred to as being of interest to them. If this is not to be the case, like the stump that loses part of the nutrients which feeds it; we nevertheless continue to remain part of the British family, albeit with the small matter of the possibility of the UK being somewhat hampered when it comes to defending our interests.

Looking then to Spain in search of cooperation in reciprocal altruism, we might find them less than inclined to favour mutual cooperation. There really is so much to digest; so many unanswered questions, amidst the mounting intrigue, muddle and uncertainty. We are looking at a country right now which has become a kind of politician’s paradise; for while EU Spanish nationals working and living in Britain are worried for their immediate futures, Spanish politicians appear to be only interested in getting bums on seats in the different regional constituencies; plus we find much of the population in a strange submissive tone. They have turned into a people who appear to have lost their fizz; that which Podemos ignited in them some time back. They seem incapable of thinking for themselves; of expressing an opinion, or making any decisions on their future.

It is a fact that the public’s vote in most cases is the result of the indoctrination and propaganda they receive, based on lies and gossip. Subsequently at the end of the day they are used for the politicians own interests, who do not honestly represent the voice of the people. The only debate to be found is on their TV screens.

DESIGN

On the bus recently I engaged in conversation with a Spanish woman. She could not help but admire during the bus ride, the design of the new schools, and the expanse of the steps leading up to the buildings. She was in awe and admiration of what she considered to be Gibraltar’s progress; more so when comparing it with the total lack of infrastructure etc in La Linea. “We have nothing” she said; at which time I told her that La Linea could be as thriving a place as we were, if those in Government had the political will to stop hounding us both by sea and by land and decide to cooperate for the good of their people.

She said people no longer mattered to those in power and spoke of prevailing attitudes at the border. She could not understand the behaviour of the border guards towards its own people. She explained how after a hard days work and on her way home, she would feel outrage at the rough manner in which the frontier guard would thrust his hands into her carrier bag; which only carried her day’s sweaty change of clothes; making her feel like a criminal.

TRIBULATIONS

I felt sorry for her as I recalled the tribulations of Candelaria; whom I have written about in my memoirs; when she was trying to make a living with her paltry contraband of coffee beans and squashed tobacco. But in al honesty, I felt sorrier for ourselves. Nothing has changed for us since I was a young girl; the persecution continues and so does their backward and stale mentality. The political situation that we face in Spain today is not a stable one, plus most of its politicians are not of the caliber we have been used to dealing with. With the UK getting very nervous at present and creating havoc within Westminster, debilitating the Prime Minister’s plans to convince the EU to offer a deal of sorts, everything seems to be up in the air yet again. Still, there’s always Autumn to look forward to.

30-08-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR