Do as I did when I was young, says Chief Minister

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he went on: I have been young and I have enjoyed barbeques on the beach. I want our young people to be able to enjoy our beaches and our bathing areas. I want them to be able to enjoy barbeques. At this stage in keeping with the rules that there cannot be more than 12 of you. But do you really need not to clear up after yourselves?

This is not an issue about being young or enjoying yourselves this is an issue about being hygienic and not being a pig and leaving all your waste behind for others to clear up. This is not about having fun. Of course, we want you to have fun but think of others and don’t assume that there is always going to be somebody there to pick up after you.

If you are meeting less than 12 people then your activity is absolutely fine and in keeping up with the rules.

YOU SHOULD CLEAR UP

But you really, really should clear up after yourselves. It is just unacceptable for you not to.

As usual in so many instances, the idiots will spoil it for the rest of us.

Government is looking at rules now to impose fees for barbeque permits to be issued, for barbeques in public places to require a more stringent control, perhaps even a refundable deposit.

Should we have cameras? Frankly, I don’t know whether we should have cameras everywhere. I don’t think that is the sort of society in which we want to live but we have to deal with this remarkable irresponsibility.

What we are seeing at our beaches in this type of event is an example of the worst of Gibraltar. Enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate it.

So I will be discussing this matter with my colleagues in Cabinet this week.

We will take action to address this issue. We consider that, regrettably, that will lead to enhanced controls in respect of the organisation of barbeques and other events at our beaches and public areas and bathing pavilions.

The cost associated with cleaning up after those with no civic duty, those possessed with the notion that somebody will come and clear up after them, should now be recovered from organisers.

BLESSED LIFE

It is perhaps an unfortunate consequence of the blessed life we lead here that some people no longer have any sense that all of the services we enjoy, the cleaning services included, are paid for by the rest of the community.

There may be no cost at the point of consumption of these public services, but there IS a cost, a cost to the taxpayer, that is to say each and every one of us. A cost to the Gibraltarian and to the residents of Gibraltar, a cost to the whole community.

Beyond the financial cost, of course is the issue of the public health matters that arise.

And I don’t mean just COVID and whether there is 12 or less of us.

I mean attracting rodents and insects to places where children will be playing the next day.

02-06-2020 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR