As One Brexit Marathon Ends Another One Begins

The latter point was always going to be difficult when the government was marking the day with the theme of ‘Solemnity and Sadness’ carried out throughout all official proceedings on the day.

The Chief Minister was quoted in one newspaper as saying that “the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union “will forever live in history as a very sad day” There’s no doubt that for some people, Friday was a sad day, a tear-jerking emotional roller-coaster day. Although one, which I thought was rather overdone!

The Spanish media were also in Gibraltar in-force on Brexit Day-Friday. Augmented by the fact, that a Spanish regional politician was invited to Gibraltar, who brought her own posse of press from over the border, who obviously captured the moments of maximum reporting interest to them.

I do have some news for some people. Not everyone on Friday was sad or wanted to be solemn or have a miserable day imposed on them, particularly, about Gibraltar leaving the EU.

Similarly, politicians should stop suggesting that the 96% EU referendum result was some historical benchmark moment of Gibraltar’s love of the EU, because this is misleading. The truth of the matter is that 96% who voted in June 2016 is not a true representation on how the people of Gibraltar really felt and still feel about the European Union. Because most voted for Gibraltar, not for Brussels, Spain, the UK or anyone else. They voted what they thought was best for their nation

Gibraltar Took Brexit Day In Its Stride

Generally, Gibraltar took Brexit Day-Friday in its stride, there were no real highlights. After all, we as a small nation, are seasoned campaigners at change and adapting quickly and getting on with things. Admittedly, we do like a moan, but who doesn’t? But considering there’s never been a Brexit Day for anyone to deal with, we didn’t do too badly. And probable why on Friday, there should have been a more protracted up-beat tone to the day, at least for local consumption, instead of the continues gloomy statements about leaving the EU. Friday, actually petered out into a whimper, after the EU flag at the frontier was removed for a brand-new Commonwealth flag that was hoisted to the top of the poll. It now proudly flutters alongside the Union Jack and our own National Flag.

But to be fair, there was some positiveness in the Chief Minister address to the nation on Friday night. When Mr Picardo said: ‘that Gibraltar’s safest course is with Britain. And that we are more secure in partnership with the British systems and the Rule of Law that we know, trust and understand. Adding, that, we know that we will be able to reach strong agreements for the future in all key areas. These will be mutually beneficial also for Europe and Spain if they are able to be modern, generous and cooperative in their approach’.

Though in the same address, the Chief Minister, once again, ‘assured’ cross frontier workers that Gibraltar will never wish to put any obstacles in the way of their entry to the Rock’. I literally cannot think that the Spanish Government at any point in this transition period, would publicly give similar assurances to the people of Gibraltar. On the contrary I’d say!

The word ‘Prosperity’ was also mentioned in the CM’s address and during-the-course of day to the Spanish media. Prosperity is a big word in Spain, it is a word that ‘means different things to different people’, and especially to those people who do not have much of it, as opposed to others who have plenty to go around and want more. And why I am interested to know, what the official definition of Prosperity’ really is, in the context of Gibraltar and Spain and the proposed future relationship with our neighbour going forward?

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03-02-2020 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR