21 August
On Saturday 24th October our charity will be launching the 2016 Bosom Buddies Calendar at the Piazza. We celebrate beauty and strength and create awareness in our major fund-raising event this year. Part proceeds from the Calendar will go to the GBC Open Day.
The Gibraltar Classic Car Association are supporting us in this venture, as are our photographers Mabel Imossi, Simon Ede, Warren Vassallo and Joey Martinez who volunteered to the Calendar photos.
We hope this Calendar will serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. It proves that there is life after cancer for many more people nowadays fighting this disease!
This year's Bosom Buddies Annual Fashion Show, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, is sponsored by GIBUNCO> The Show is on Friday 16th October at The Rock Hotel Khaima at 7.30 pm with a host of local singers, dancers and our very own Buddies (cancer survivors) taking to the catwalk again for this cause…always a night to remember! Anyone interested in further information about the charity check our NEW webpage designed and donated to the charity by Elitech Lab… http://www.bosombuddiesgib.com
Tickets for the show are on sale at Heart's Boutique 250 Main Street and Rock Photos (Ground floor ICC) - £15 including Pink Champagne and cakes.
Sonia Golt
20-07-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Can you believe it?
August 20, 2015
Dear Sir,
Alberto Portuondo, Administrator of Albisa Inversiones SA an alleged fantom company, has been arrested at Madrid's Barajas Airport as he attempted to leave Spain for Mexico.
He is accused of fronting €2million of commissions through the Association's accounts on behalf of Rodrigo Rato, (ex-Vice President during the last Partido Popular Government 1996-2004) while he was Chief of the IMF.
Señor Portuondo has been placed in preventative custody (jail) until he appears before the Courts this Thursday.
Meanwhile Sñr Rato's fortunes are turning against him despite, most well informed media sources in Spain's views, that the PP Government and their party appointees in the Judicial system's are attempting to white-wash Sñr Rato's charges of corruption and tax evasion.
The worrying scenario here is that while the PP parliamentarians, senators and mayors sink deeper and deeper into the corruption and tax evasion mire, the quicker their rankings in Spanish polls rise.
The Judge in the personal court case where Sñr Rato was claiming €380 damages against a commercial establishment for misplacing a pair of cushions he had left with them for repairs has rejected his claim on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
With a €2million commission one can afford to pilfer a few thousand claiming €380 of damages on cushions.
Wonder if the €2million were inside the cushions for safe keeping.
Can you believe it?
Amazed,
Joe Brugada.
20-07-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Freedom of speech
August 20, 2015
Dear Sir,
Terence Monroe is being extremely presumptuous if he expects those who disagree with him not to air their views-your issue of 17th Aug, refer. Let us turn however to his emotion ridden argument that my remarks have been too personal. Well, let's face it-it was inevitable if his intention was to get involved.
Certainly we still live in a democracy and on the question of homosexual same sex marriage and in any other issue that effect our society in an unacceptable fashion citizens need to formulate opinion and argument whatever their religious beliefs. Freedom of speech is too precious for us to consider any form or degree of restriction.
One wonders, however, why he found it necessary to bring into the issue the question of religion in particular the Catholic Church which I strongly detect he hates and which is largely irrelevant. But it is useless becoming paranoiac about it. It only causes inner unhappiness and distress.
Perhaps he has another point to make, if not, he is quite entitled to make it. But he should not forget that despite his anti religion views. Throughout the world people have been persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and executed merely because of their religious beliefs- the majority having been Catholics!
Yours sincerely,
Francis Gonzalez
20-07-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
The waters are ours - and we are entitled to 12 nautical miles
August 20, 2015
Here's a selection of comments in 'Llanito Politics' following the publication of PANORAMA'S article on the 12-mile limit (Names have been deleted):
o The problem here lies with the British Government's commitment to adequately defend BGTW; at this moment in time they are failing to defend these either through physical or diplomatic means...
o It will be the perfect moment to test and prove British legality over the Rock's territorial waters. Once its accepted by the UN Convention of The Seas, there's nothing Spain can do other than keep on harassing and continue with their illegal incursions. In addition, I stand to be corrected, but I wonder if the GoG can do this on their own. I believe It would be filed by the UK Gov for legal reasons......
o What's the point of 12miles when we can't protect the paddle we have? I understand that the FCO is committed in not supporting us... but, can we protect ourselves?...
o That's the point exactly the FCO does not want to do what they are tasked and get paid to do that includes arrest of criminal suspects in BGTW. We the Gibraltarians get blamed for harbouring criminal suspects due to the lack of commitment of the FCO.
o Beginning of solution: UK>UN = verify status of Gibraltar Waters and clarify hot pursuit. Once cleared, denounce Spain in all forums. As to the demarcation of the waters, IMO 6 miles is more than enough to patrol and police - anything more and we go over...
o I disagree with verifying status of our Waters as this might indicate that we are in doubt as to whose waters they are. If Spain does not acknowledge them as ours, that is its problem, not ours. According to Unclos, since 1982 ALL territories have 12 nautical miles from the baseline, which is respected by the majority of countries.
o The waters are ours.....we are entitled to 12 nautical miles but unfortunately only chose to have 3........according to UNCLOS.....there can be no dry shores which entitles all territories to have their sovereign waters. They know this but want to use it to gaib ground and UK is allowing them to!
o Would it not be the same as taking the status of the waters to the ICJ? You would have to start somewhere to develop your case so that it can be ruled on. In very simplistic terms, you would tell the ICJ that you have 3 miles and Spain would refute that...
o I agree in taking the EU to court for designating part of our waters to Spain on the "environmental" premise. This needs challenging by UK and Gib as a matter of urgency otherwise this might be giving Spain ammunition in thinking that part of these waters belong to her.
o Indeed, the designation of the Spanish area within ours has given it more "right" - in her eyes) to claim the waters. Just see what the Spanish FO rep has replied to Minister Liddington, who in turn has only got the standard answer to re-reply. Just imagine for a second if the EU had come back on bunkering, reclamation, reefy etc against us.......
o Perhaps there is another tack that can be explored: take the UN to court for allowing Spain to make "unlawful - Liddington's words - by continuously breaching UNCLOS 82....sounds silly, but we are fighting for our survival....
o As a Nation, Spain has nothing to lose with her continuation harassment and invasions of our waters. So if this situation keeps on going unchallenged, there will be a time when the ICJ and the UN will side with Spain's claim/position.
o Take your point, but I don't think bigger boats will be the or even a solution. We have a whole country alongside us that can muster vessels very quickly and in numbers, something that we cannot. It has to be done the legal way...
o I might be very cynical in thinking, what if already, behind closed doors, some arrangement has been struck with Spain and UK which our Govt is not privy to, ie in "turning a blind eye" to the incursions?
o I agree with your comment, however, what's the point of seeking more territorial waters when these cannot be protected. The FCO will never seek an extension of waters to not upset their Spanish brothers... secondly, the UK would never agree to having our BGTW patrolled by our law enforcement agencies as again, this would prove a ball breaking issue from their beloved love of the south...
20-07-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
University is big leap for Gibraltar
August 20, 2015
Street Talk
With the new University of Gibraltar set to open at Europa Point in September, it is clear that higher education will be transformed forever, giving our students the possibility of staying here instead of going to UK.
Offering a variety of undergraduate courses based around finance, accountancy and business, research diplomas and postgraduate programmes, the university is already shaping up to be one of the biggest things out there to guarantee our growth as a nation. But what is the word on the street about the project? We got out there and found out.
"It's a great idea because not all students are cut out for the life in UK and this gives them an opportunity to study without being away from home," said Paula. "If the quality of education is good just the sun could make it more appealing for British, Portuguese or even Spanish students.
"It is obvious that locally accounting, teaching and law are the top courses at the moment so that should be on the priority list of courses to cover."
The undergraduate courses on offer in the 2015/16 academic year are limited to BSc Accounting and Finance, BSc Banking and Finance, BSc Business and Management and BSc (Hons) Nursing.
Think big
An anonymous recent graduate said these were early days but in the years to follow it would expand more: "I would like to see courses on advertising or marketing so even more students get the choice to study here rather than to Spain or UK.
"Foreign students could bring more culture to the Rock as well as helping the economy grow keeping the money here. Having more people come over will mean there will be more people to meet and talk to, putting Gibraltar on the map nationally and internationally in the student perception."
"It's a great leap for the city bringing students in," said Shalom Nimran. "I like the idea we are continuing to think even bigger, the university being a prime example of how far we can go, technology and computing being on my wishlist for courses I can take."
"The university should have been started years ago," said Joe Evans. "My two grandchildren may even stay here and attend it, as it makes the cost of university living a much less than it would be in UK."
Jason Walker said it was a good investment, not only for students who don't want to leave but also for those who are older: "It will help mature students with families and create new horizons in the future but we need to adapt it to the needs of Gib. There might be too many people studying to be lawyers but we may have a shortage of city engineers.
"The government should approach prospective students and ask them to take a certain career path if they are to pay for their studies. Courses should be provided for posts we need to fill in Gibraltar for now and the future, be it at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
"For example, apparently there's a lack of social workers and a few foreigners doing this job in Gibraltar so if we could train locals for this reason it would be great as we could be the ones taking these jobs."
Public input
"I think it's good because it means people don't have to go abroad to study at higher education level," said Karensa Palao, who is leaving to UK next year. "Personally, I would like to go abroad to get an experience apart from Gib, and the course I've chosen, Music, is not covered here.
"There's not much music education here so it would be useful to introduce a course like this covering a wide selection of topics but if you look at the openings, accounting, business and economics are the priorities. The PhD Research is good because we could use people from here rather than those from abroad to study historical subjects."
Adam Triviño, who is already studying a course available here in the UK, said he may consider taking it to the next level locally: "It could even work for people from Britain to come over here especially if there was enough activities for young people. However, the general public and even private sector should participate more in deciding what courses are run."
"It's about time we had a university in Gibraltar," said another individual. "Why go abroad when we can do it at home so if it's good for our future we are open to it on the Rock. Tourism, marketing and banking all form a part of our economy while engineering and construction are strongholds of our economy."
20-07-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
