29 May
The Port Authority has carried out a safety and navigation risk assessment for all commercial and recreational users of the inner harbour and concluded that 5 knots is a safe speed for all vessels. This speed limit has now been incorporated in the Port Act and any vessel which exceeds this may be liable to prosecution.
CEO and Captain of the Port, Commodore Bob Sanguinetti, said "All harbour users are reminded of the requirement to, at all times, proceed at a safe speed and not to produce wake or wash that could cause a nuisance to other users.
The inner harbour is used by rowing boats, tenders and dinghies, many of which have a low freeboard and could easily be swamped, and vessels moored alongside could be damaged. All users of this busy patch of water should therefore navigate withdue consideration to others to minimise the risk of injury or damage."
Minister for the Port, Paul Balban, said: "The Government is committed to ensuring that the safety of all users of the Port is maintained to the highest standard and we see this new speed restriction as a positive move towards achieving this."
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
£150,000 drugs haul in sea chase
May 29, 2015
The RGP's Marine Section detected two Jet Skis heading into the Bay of Gibraltar on Tuesday afternoon, said the RGP yesterday. Information provided to the officers suggested that both vessels had travelled from the Moroccan coastline.
The RGP crew proceeded to intercept both Jet Skis as they entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The two Jet Skis were crewed by a rider and pillion and each was seen to be loaded with two bales of Cannabis Resin.
Whilst the riders of both vessels failed to stop and evaded detention, they were chased out of BGTW and were seen heading to Puente Mayorga, in Spain.
One of the two vessels jettisoned its cargo and the two bales of Cannabis Resin were seized by the RGP officers. Each bale weighs approximately 30kg and with a street value which could reach £150,000.
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Barclays closes its retail banking in Gibraltar
May 29, 2015
After 126 years offering local retail banking services in Gibraltar, Barclays Bank will close the doors to its Main Street branch for the last time today.
Keith Bailey, Chief Country Officer, Barclays Gibraltar commented;
"Barclays has been part of the history of the Rock for 126 years and I would like to thank our many loyal customers and all our employees both past and present, for their dedication and support and for being a part of that history.
"This is an emotional moment for our existing employees and we wish them well for the future, alongside those many colleagues who have already left Barclays to commence new careers and pursue other opportunities.
"I also appreciate that this is an emotional moment for many of our loyal customers and clients whose businesses and families have banked with Barclays for many generations.
"While this is a sad day, do let's remember that Barclays will continue to be part of the banking community in Gibraltar as our Corporate and Intermediaries team continues its work at our refurbished offices in Regal House."
After May 29th, customers with queries can call our Client Service Centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 200 67519, they said.
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
EU referendum: Yes or No
May 29, 2015
As Panorama confirmed this week Prime Minister David Cameron has enfranchised Gibraltar with the UK in the EU Referendum.
The confirmation was is in keeping with the assurances the Chief Minister had previously been given by the Minister for Europe, David Lidington last year.
Its fair to say special interest in the EU referendum has now been generated in Gibraltar now that our electoral participation has confirmed!
It is important Gibraltar keeps up to date with every aspect of the referendum, including the on-going high-level EU talks by David Cameron and other senior UK politicians in efforts, to strike a deal allowing for a referendum date to be set.
No doubt the Gibraltar Government will at every stage be kept in the loop by the UK Government who are well aware the importance the Rock attaches to this matter. Not only on the EU referendum itself, but especially, that our wish as a nation, is to remain in the European Union!
Simple Question For Such an Important Issue!
The wording of the European Union Referendum Bill has been chosen - but which way will the UK Electorate be voting, this is the question?
From a local perspective, as I have mentioned above, there is little doubt Gibraltar for obvious reasons, has firmly pitched its tent in the 'Yes' camp. The question that will be asked of voters, appears a very simple and non-scientific one, it actually begs two possible outcomes a 'yes or a no' the question voters will be asked is the following:
"Should the United Kingdom Remain a Member of the European Union?"
There can be little criticism it is a 'catch question' or one that will confuse or direct the mind of the voter to any particular side of the 'referendum campaign', this when it eventually gets under way in earnest!
The fact, that the referendum, which will be held by 2017, was announced as part of a 26-bill legislative programme when the Queen made in her speech on Wednesday would have surprised few.
The draft Bill was released by the Conservative party, it included the mentioned referendum question. The Bill also confirmed the time limit date for the referendum to take place.
David Cameron will now start a tour of European capitals in an attempt to persuade the Dutch, French, German and Polish leaders to back his changes to the UK's EU membership.
Cameron has hinted a few times the UK could vote to leave the EU if his requests to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the union are not granted.
He wants changes to EU migrants' welfare entitlement, while other Conservative MPs have called for British law to take priority over EU legislation.
Downing Street said yesterday "the decision for voters "should not be on the basis of the status quo but on a reformed relationship with the EU that the PM is determined to leave".
However, many political observers believe, that putting the aspect of convincing 27 other EU member states to play ball with UK demands will not be easy. The Cameron Government also faces a tough task at home.
Many are convinced British demands for a renegotiation of their European Union membership terms and conditions will run into the domestic problems and pressures of every other member nation.
UK Could Face a Constitutional Crisis
The Queen in her speech said on Wednesday that Cameron's government would hold a referendum by the end of 2017, but the UK PM knows he faces significant hurdles even to get the legislative providing for the referendum passed in the House of Lords where the Conservatives are under-represented.
The Tory's do not enjoy a majority in the House of Lords, which explains why so many Conservatives have warned that the UK faces a constitutional crisis if the peers try to block or interfere with the will of the executive (the Government).
Liberal Democrats Lord Jim Wallace, who leads one of the largest group in the upper (Lords) house, yesterday issued his own EU warning, making it clear that the House of Lords retains the "the right to say No".
Add to this that the Labour and the Scottish National Party want 16- and 17- year-olds to be able to vote, as they did in such numbers and so successfully in the Scottish independence referendum last September, makes for some interesting times ahead.
Amendments
Equally, the SNP will press for amendments demanding a veto for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, arguing that none of them should be dragged out of the EU because the English had so decided. The latter, an important point I am sure the Gibraltar Government will be keeping serious tabs on.
It is thought the UK Parliament could start debating the bill as early as sometime in June.
According to UK media reports, who say the swiftness of the Bill's publication and the start of its early progress through Westminster could signal the Prime Minister is now intent on fast-tracking the in/out referendum to enable it to take place next year and not in 2017 as originally planned. The Bill could even be on the UK Statute Book by Christmas, which is fast going for the UK system.
Downing Street sources, which appear to be many this week, are coming out with all manner of quotes, one reported comment yesterday from Cameron's home said:
"The mood now is definitely to accelerate the process and give us the option of holding the referendum in 2016. We had always said 2017 was a deadline rather than a fixed date."
Last week, Philip Hammond, the oddly positioned Eurosceptic Foreign Secretary, has now pledged to campaign for a reformed EU, emphasising how even EU leaders want a "fast" settlement of Britain's reform agenda. Adding that a prolonged process of treaty change was not a UK Government goal, which obviously raised the prospect of a referendum during the course of 2016!
Vitally Important Issue Important For Gibraltar
This is vitally important news for Gibraltar, because, after nearly three years Gibraltar up until this week, had not yet secured voting rights to take part in the referendum.
Politically it was highlighted on the Rock, that the prospect of Gibraltar's economy being destroyed by the UK's withdrawal from the EU, via a referendum in which Gibraltarians as British and European Citizens had no say would be disastrous for Gibraltar and disastrous for our concept of democracy!
This prompted James Wharton, the Tory MP for Stockton South who in January 2013 brought forward a private members bill to amend and include Gibraltar in the referendum after the mistake was spotted when the Bill was at committee stage.
The Bill was unanimously passed and sailed through the UK Parliament.
However, the House of Lords later stopped the Bill in its tracks when opposition peers objected.
Another attempt was made in October 2014 by the Conservative party to force the EU Referendum in 2017 onto the statute books. The bill passed a second reading stage in the House of Commons, but again there were problems getting the bill through the Commons.
Just to be clear, the following are the UK's key demands to remain in the EU and the basis of what promises to be an intense period of negotiations and political tension, not only across the EU but most certainly in the United Kingdom.
From a Gibraltar perspective, I'm sure most will follow events with great interest, as it is an issue that potentially, seriously affect Gibraltar as a whole. Unlike the UK who is largely divided with one-half hoping Mr Cameron's efforts across Europe will be a complete flop!
UK Key Demands For Remaining in Europe
For Workers From The EU
· No in-work benefits until they have been in Britain for four years
· No social housing for four years
· No child benefit or tax credits paid for children living outside the UK
For Unemployed EU Migrants
· No support from the UK taxpayer
· Deportation if they do not get a job for six months
Other measures include:
· Impose restrictions on EU migrants bringing in family members from outside the EU
· Longer bans on rough sleepers, beggars and fraudsters returning to the UK
· Tougher rules on deporting foreign criminals
· Refusing to allow other countries to join the EU without imposing controls on the movement of their workers until their economies have reached UK levels.
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Feetham and his party's 'schoolyard bully boy attacks on me while I am ill'
May 29, 2015
Dear Sirs,
Once again Daniel Feetham and his party have waited until I was in hospital in London before launching another one of their schoolyard bully boy attacks on me while I am ill.
It is obvious to everyone that Daniel is not really attacking me but is trying to attack the GSLP through me. I often wonder why Daniel thinks I am so important, although people have often said that he seems to be obsessed with me.
Daniel has sickeningly and repeatedly tried to portray my situation (where I am apparently accused of such things as swearing in the office) with the serious physical and sexual abuse of disabled people that occurred under his watch when he was in Government. He should be ashamed of himself.
The complaints I am facing were made under Civil Service Procedures and that is where and how they should be dealt with. Daniel has repeatedly and unashamedly tried to portray these matters as something sinister, when he knows that nothing could be further from the truth.
There is one thing that Daniel could help me with. Although this 'investigation' into me has been going on for 15 months I have still not been shown a single signed letter or statement from a person who has allegedly complained about me. I have repeatedly asked Human Resources to show me any signed document raising a complaint against me, and they have flatly refused to do so. The only thing that Human Resources will tell me is that a very large number of those who are supposed to have complained about me did not do so at all or, when requested to confirm that they wish to complain about me, refused to agree to make complaints against me.
Perhaps you could help me with this Daniel. You are supposed to be a lawyer. Can you urge Human Resources to show me any signed complaint that they has been made against me, so that I can finally know what it is I am supposed to have done and finally have the chance to defend myself.
Otherwise Daniel, if you have nothing intelligent to say, please pipe down and let me recover in hospital.
Joanna Hernandez
C/of Calpe House
London
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Gibraltar's million euro office in Brussels
May 29, 2015
The Gibraltar Government office in Brussels was officially opened by the Chief Minister in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia and Attorney General Michael Llamas. The Chief Minister was introduced by Sir Graham Watson.
The five storey building, which cost 1.3 million euros, is a typical Brussels house in a central square of the EU capital which is close to the European Commission and to the United Kingdom representation UKREP. It comprises three floors of office space and two floors of residential space. One of the flats in the building is occupied by Legal Officer Daniel D'Amato who has been seconded to Brussels by the Government's European Union and International Department (EUID).
The Government considers that the purchase represents excellent value for money and a great investment in bricks and mortar terms alone.
The opening of Gibraltar House in Brussels was attended by a wide cross-section of EU political society. This included several Ambassadors of EU countries to the European Union as well as the heads of regional offices of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Catalan Governments. There were also a large number of Members of the European Parliament present from across the political spectrum and from different countries. This included Conservative, Labour, Liberal, Green and UKIP MEPs. There were many Brussels-based journalists present and representatives of important think-tanks.
The high-powered attendance reflects the lobbying work which has been carried out by the Government in the EU capital ever since it came into office in December 2011 and indeed even before then. This point was made by the Chief Minister in his address when he referred to his first visit to Brussels with Dr Garcia some twenty years ago one as a young law student and the other as historian who had just written the modern political history of Gibraltar. They had now returned to Brussels to open an office there together with Attorney General Michael Llamas.
The activities of Gibraltar House in Brussels will be directed and guided by Sir Graham Watson who has been instrumental in everything that has happened so far. It will be manned by four members of staff.
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Relationships with Spain
May 29, 2015
Dear Sir,
I believe that in your recent article on relationships with Spain, you should have gone on to make a statement such as "But of course, Gibraltar welcomes any advancement of good relations both sides of the border" Archie Macaulay (Ex RN and sometime Guard Boat Commander)
Archie Macaulay
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Send a psychiatrist...
May 29, 2015
Dear Sir,
And who can blame the Governor for his early departure after being sent to Gibraltar, particularly as a witness to the childish, inane, unprofessional lager loutish behaviour of the Guardia Civil in British waters making an absolute mockery of the Royal Navy, with hands tied (like all previous governors) by the pen pushers at the FCO?
Anyone for personal and professional reasons would be eager to get as far away as possible, from the mind boggling antics the fruitcake brigade in Madrid dishes out, and which we daily have to suffer because of the mishandling of the situation by the FCO.
The best thing the FCO should do in future is send a psychiatrist as Governor.
Yours faithfully.
Isabella Caruana-(Montegriffo)
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Sir Joshua was used by the Foreign Office, says Canepa
May 29, 2015 | By J C Culatto
It's been just over a year since Adolfo Canepa was appointed as Mayor of Gibraltar for the second time in his life. As current Speaker of Parliament he has had a long and successful political life in which he has continued to serve his people in one role or another including two decades as an elected representative in the then House of Assembly.
We caught up with the man himself in what has become his second home at the recently refurbished parliamentary building overlooking the Piazza and asked if it was a challenge to balance his two roles and if his vision had changed this time around.
"The mayor is a very busy individual even though people don't realise he doesn't receive a penny in remuneration," said Canepa. "I'm not saying he should but sometimes there seems to be those who think he does get paid.
"What he does get provided with is a certain amount for events like lunches with the mayors that came for the evacuation ceremony recently. I'm not that busy that I cannot cope. I do cope but it is surprisingly honorous."
Responsibility
Canepa was first mayor between 1976 and 1978 during his time as Minister of Labour and Social Security for Sir Joshua Hassan's AACR Government. He recalled that in those days there was a greater military presence on the Rock, and the mayor was a go-between between the Government and the MoD.
"With Sir Joshua Hassan being very much in the driving seat and him having been mayor under the city council from 1955-69, the parameters were well laid down about how I should do the job," he said.
Foreign Office
As a leading member of the AACR, he first stood for elections in 1972 before becoming Deputy Chief Minister and leading the party for two years as CM and a term as Leader of the Opposition.
He admitted to Panorama that even Sir Joshua Hassan said he had possibly not put a strong enough front to London: "Shortly before he died he did tell Francis Cantos that the only regret he had was that perhaps he should have quarrelled more often with the Foreign Office.
"In my book I say that from thinking that we used to take the Foreign Office along with us we got so involved with the Brussels Process that they were carrying us along. We should have disassociated ourselves from them because when we did it was too late. By then we had been seriously compromised."
An example of this was the Humbert Hernandez and his fight against conscription recently released in book form.
"We learnt from secret documents that the then Foreign Office seemed to think they could tell the Governor and he in turn could tell Gibraltarian politicians who could form part of the select committee that was going to look into conscription, what their terms of reference should be and what they should come up with.
"Four years earlier we had a constitution in 1969 and I thought this was the beginning of the end of colonialism and there behind the scenes were these characters from the Foreign Office."
He said the same problems have arisen in this day and age as the appointment of the Attorney-General has shown, with the governor meddling in an area which is not strictly considered to be part of his foreign affairs, defence and internal security mandate.
INTERVIEW IN FULL IN PANORAMA PAPER EDITION
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
The GSD are the ones who created the fishing problem in the first place, says Govt
May 29, 2015
The hypocrisy of the GSD is clearly boundless, says the Government. After allowing uncontrolled fishing by Spanish commercial fishermen since their illegal 1999 Agreement, and openly saying they will allow fishing again if ever they came to power, they are calling for the Government to stop it! Political honesty would require that if they intend to allow it, they should be consistent and try to convince the government of the day to do the same.
A statement adds: "The GSD are consistent in one thing, their failure to either listen, or understand what they are told. It is not correct that there is more fishing with nets now than ever. It was much worse during their tenure, at a time when they took not one step to enhance fish populations or to control any type of fishing, repeatedly ignoring calls to do so by the GFSA and others.
"The GSD should congratulate the Minister for the Environment for his vision and determination in the many measures to improve marine conservation, many covered at last week's session of Parliament, but which they conveniently fail to recall.
They should also congratulate the Government, and the Minister, for this year's Marine Protection Regulations which have resulted in many of the problems facing the resident angling community, such as congestion at fishing points along the shore being resolved.
"That the GSD should suggest that they take fishing seriously is a joke that all will easily see through. That is what is comical. They simply do not care one bit. They are the ones who created the problem in the first place.
It is the Government's determination in tackling these issues patiently but with determination that will realise what is its ultimate aim, the improvement in the community of marine life, enhanced by the creation of reef and seagrass habitat. The GSD did absolutely nothing to this end in all its years in power and ignored those who campaigned for this."
29-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
