All are well known Winston Churchill phrases from the 1940s. Phrases, that have today become cliches. Demonstrating how Churchill was a master of what we know today as sound bites! Today, modern, Churchill style sound bites are inserted in text to make an impact on speeches. Churchill, was also well known for his Oratory, basically meaning, his great public speaking methods, characterised by the use of stock phrases that mainly appealed to the emotions of people!

This opening paragraph referencing Winston Churchill will quickly be understood by readers!

Chief Minister and Regular Daily Briefing Wingman - Begin Unlocking the Rock

Hearing Monday’s Covid update from the Chief Minister and Dr. Bhatti and reflecting on the implications of the news announced. I was surprised, not so much on the crisis-related information, but how more domestic politics, is now being played out ‘Under-cover of the Covid Pandemic’!!!

When Fabian Picardo appeared, with his now regular briefing wing-man Dr. Bhatti. So soon after their last appearance of a few days ago. It was obvious, that an important announcement was on the cards.

After going through the usual daily statistics that had not changed. Mr Picardo, said:

“We must understand that we cannot go back to what we used to call normal”. This, most people generally now agree with.

No one, or very few people in any country, will by now, have come to understand, accept and I dare say expect, that life as we knew it (or to give a time-marker) as it was last Christmas, will never return! So, the Chief Minster was correct and only echoed what other world leaders are telling their own people in their respective countries. Except, Donald Trump may be, its election year in the states.

CM in Churchillian Style… Sock it’s to Gibraltar

With many thousands, viewing and listening from home. The Chief Minister then switched to the ‘Churchillian style mode’ (bar the cigar uniform or coat) this Mr Picardo, should take as a compliment. I think he does it quite well, the Oratory style I mean, particularly, when he wants to impress home some key point or come out with important information to effectively address and get the right message across to the nation, he said:

“The changes in our world and in the way we work will not all be bad. We have to be brave in the way that we shape the future”. We will be!

CM Begins Unlocking the Gibraltar Post Covid Normality

The Chief Minister, then went on to explain the initial part of the governments ‘Unlock the Rock’ plan, which is set out in six phases before it gets to the ‘Rock Unlocked’ phase or ‘Normal’ stage.

An end point, where I think, even the CM himself believes and knows, Gibraltar will ever return to what we all knew as normal… before last Christmas?

Mr Picardo, then went on to further explain what the start of going back normal really meant.

Rock Unlocked - Phase One - Unlocking Artery Roads

The Chief Minister, announced that Line Wall Road, Chatham Counterguard and Europort Avenue are to be closed to traffic as part of a pilot scheme to reduce traffic in Gibraltar, with the exception of public service vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists who will be allowed access, as well as those for residential or school purposes.

He said, that government, “would close Line Wall Road as from the 1st of June.

The closure will be from the area of Orange Bastion, past the entrance to the ICC car park, which will be able to continue in operation as a public car park. The closure will continue up to Duke of Kent House’. Line Wall Road will then be open only to taxis, buses and other public service vehicles, for deliveries and to residents who have vehicle registered in their name for an address in the areas accessible only through Line Wall Road. The government will also close Chatham Counterguard’ to enable restaurants there to expand their terraces as we change how we attend restaurants.

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06-05-2020 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR