Gibraltar News Online

F Oliva reports

GSD resignations trouble

Former deputy Chief Minister and GSD (Gibraltar Social Democrats) stalwart Keith Azopardi resigned from the party yesterday over the merger with Daniel Feetham’s Labour Party.

He said the unification was a mistake that was not supported by the membership, and questions that any ‘common ground’ exists with the Labour Party at all.

“All evidence points to thinly veiled political expedience behind this,” he remarked.

“Labour have been the strongest critics of the Government on many issues, from their support for integration, their rejection of the House of Assembly constitutional reform proposals and major differences on taxation policy,” he told the Chronicle yesterday minutes after announcing his decision.

Mr Azopardi argued that at best, the merger had been divisive for the GSD and argued that there was more common ground with Dr Garcia’s Gibraltar Liberal Party than with Labour.

The move that had been widely anticipated for months, confirms the serious political fracture in the ruling party, with the resignation of two significant members of the executive committee in the space of one month – the other being lawyer Nick Cruz who also voiced strong opposition to the merger.

Meanwhile asked about his relationship with the Chief Minister, Mr Azopardi said that beyond political differences there was now “a different slant on their general approach to people” that separated them.

Changed GSD

Mr Azopardi anticipates a fundamental change in political direction of the ‘new’ GSD/Labour formation.

He said that in addition to the newcomers, some veteran colleagues of the executive were close to retirement and would be replaced by hand-picked substitutes to the detriment of the party’s original philosophy and values established over the years.

Executive committee members and party activists were aware his departure was on the cards, and Mr Azopardi predicts that his exit could trigger off a further trickle of high-profile resignations in the immediate future.

He ruled out joining any of the existing or newly created political groupings in Gibraltar, but in reply to questions said he wanted to continue playing a part in local politics, and noted his great political affinity with Nick Cruz who also recently resigned from the GSD executive.

Mr Azopardi said the decision to leave had been a difficult one because he had worked very hard during his years as a government minister, and felt a great sense of bond with many people in the GSD and the political ideas it had represented.

Asked whether his resignation would affect his membership of the Constitutional Reform committee, Mr Azopardi said he did not expect this to be a problem, in the same way as Daniel Feetham’s inclusion had not been affected when he joined the GSD.
However he said that if either the Chief Minister or the Leader of the Opposition thought differently he would leave the committee.

Reform of the House of Assembly

On domestic issues Mr Azopardi says the emphasis has been on securing financial accountability but this had meant not enough progress had been made on democratic accountability in Gibraltar.

Debates of the House of Assembly, he continued, need to be more contemporaneous and other reforms to working practices – such as the enlargement of the number of seats to ensure that the executive cannot ‘steamroll’ its programme – have to be considered.

“There have to be checks and balances on the power of any government as is the case in every other parliament where the government as such is a parliamentary minority.”

Mr Azopardi also pointed to style of government issues and favours more decentralisation, delegation, and where possible consultation and the inclusion of the opposition in legislative initiatives that are not controversial in party political terms.

“We should give the opposition more advanced notice on legislation and discuss issues like for example, EU directives related to traffic.”

More consensus between the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on visits to the UN that would allow both to go as one team should also be possible, he says.

Mr Azopardi also calls for a “lowering of the tone of acrimony” that dominates political exchanges on the Rock. He believes fundamental differences are good in democracy to ensure there are true and genuine alternatives, but dislikes unnecessary animosity.

“This undermines any effort to present a united front, even on domestic issues such as health, education and internal economic affairs to maximise the efficiency of public administration.”

He would also like to see a more “radical approach” to the reform of public services.

“We need a global, structural view of objectives to ensure efficiency rather than a piecemeal approach where an increase of allowances in one sector then has a knock on effect on another which has to be addressed.”

Mr Azopardi would also like to see a more vigorous pace to the continuing constitutional reform discussions with Britain.

Related Articles:

16 September 2005 - Constitutional talks at Caleta get under way

16 September 2005 - Cruz quits party and ponders his political future

05 August 2005 - Feetham joins ruling Social Democrat Party

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

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The tripartite talks are fast becoming a joke, given the number of times that pre-meetings have been organised ostensibly “to prepare for the full ministerial meeting.”

Now, the chief minister Peter Caruana and the Spanish foreign office official Jose Pons will be having another meal - again in Malaga, with Spanish officials continuing to refuse to come to Gibraltar.

On this occasion the lunch meeting today is in preparation for the next trilateral talks next month at the level of officials, which Mr Caruana will also be attending.

The lunch is to prepare the trilateral meeting which is in preparation for the October meeting which, itself, is in preparation for the full ministerial meetings which has suffered a delay.

There was expectation that the full meeting, with Jack Straw and Miguel Angel Moratinos, would take place in October, but progress has not been what had earlier been expected.

With one meal and another, the process is being stretched beyond the timescale the officials were working to. Again, the UK official involved in the process, Dominick Chilcott, will not be attending the lunch.

From Panorama, Gibraltar’s Online Daily Newspaper

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The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) have confirmed the identity of the man found in a room at Ocean Heights last Monday.

He is Michael Edward FENTON, date of birth 22.7.65 in Gibraltar.

Mr FENTON, although born in Gibraltar, had spent most of his life in Australia and came back to Gibraltar towards the end of last year.

A Post Mortem was held yesterday morning at St Bernard’s Hospital by Home Office Pathologist Dr Peter Jarreat. The results of the PM at this stage are inconclusive and await further medical analysis in the United Kingdom.

Further investigations are in hand by the police which include an appeal to anybody that knew Mr FENTON, and anybody that saw him between Monday the 19th September and Monday the 26th September 2005.

Anybody that has information is asked to contact the incident room at New Mole House Police Station on 75465 or the Control room on 72500.

From Panorama, Gibraltar’s Online Daily Newspaper

· Aide tells of discovering body in swimming pool
· Investigation a ‘catatonic’ shock, says brother

by Owen Bowcott

The most senior British officer in Gibraltar was found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool 24 hours after being relieved of his command, an inquest heard yesterday.

Commodore David White, 50, head of UK forces in Gibraltar, had been told he was being sent back to Britain pending a Ministry of Defence police investigation into pornography downloaded from the internet

His body was discovered lying face down in the pool of his residence in Mount Barbary on January 8. The investigation was part of Operation Ore, the internationally coordinated inquiry into the sale online of pornographic images of young children.

Giving evidence at the inquest in Gibraltar, Mr White’s brother, Rupert, said yesterday:

“He would have been completely amazed that that decision had been made. He would have been stopped dead in his tracks. It was a catatonic shock from the time of that phone call to the time of his death. I think he was in complete despair.”

The body of Mr White - dressed in a jumper, shirt, trousers and sailing shoes - was found at the bottom of the pool by his military assistant, Squadron Leader Nigel Forshaw, at 4.15pm.

Only 90 minutes earlier, Mr White’s deputy, Colonel Tom Camp, had found the senior officer still in bed and described him as “weary and distracted”. But after talking to him for 10 minutes and checking that he was well, Col Camp left his colleague to get dressed before they discussed his imminent departure.

“I believed he was going to get up and make coffee, as we needed to talk,” the now former chief of staff said. But when Sqn Ldr Forshaw let himself into the property just after 4pm after getting no response on the telephone or knocking at the door, the death was discovered.

The Home Office pathologist, Peter Jerreat, said Mr White’s death was “clearly due to drowning”.

His toxicology report showed there were 61 milligrammes per 100 millitres of alcohol in his blood and 303 microgrammes per litre of the sedative zoplicon, which was described as “higher than normal for therapeutic use”.

Mr White also had deep bruising on his forehead and down the right side of his body. “The impact following a fall may have occurred when under the influence of alcohol and zoplicon,” said the doctor.

Mr White, educated at Eton and brought up in Kent, took over as head of the armed forces in Gibraltar in May last year.

The hearing continues.

Operation Ore Internet investigation

· Operation Ore was launched in 2002 after the FBI passed to British police the names of around 7,000 subscribers to a Texas-based internet child porn site, Landslide Inc.

· British customers paid up to £21 a month for “platinum” membership, which gave access to sexual images of children.

· As many as 33 Britons are believed to have committed suicide as a result of the inquiry. There have been 4,000 raids and around 3,700 arrests.

· Among those investigated have been police officers, a judge, magistrates, teachers, and hospital consultants. One man, who was jailed for five years, was found to have almost 500,00 indecent images.

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Gibraltar chief was in despair over porn inquiry, inquest told

Related Articles and Links:

Operation Ore

The Children’s Society

Internet Watch Foundation

28 September 2005 - Police appeal for information on ’suspicious’ death

21 June 2005 - Jury finds neglect in Nunez Inquest

11 January 2005 - Military Chief expresses shock and grief

14 January 2005 - Post Mortem in Commander British Forces Case - Commodore White drowned

Pre Trilateral Meeting

In a statement today, the Office of the Chief Minister, announced that there will be a preparatory meeting prior to the talks themselves.

As in the previous round of the Trilateral Forum talks, once again, the Chief Minister Peter Caruana accompanied by Chief Secretary, Ernest Montado, will meet the Spanish Government’s Director General for Foreign Affairs, Jose Pons for lunch on Friday in Malaga.

The statement added:

“This meeting as on previous occasions will be in preparation for the next round of trilateral talks which will be taking place in mid-October.”

Gibraltar Government Press Release - 05 September 2005 - No: 225/2005

King’s Bastion Leisure Centre

The Gibraltar Government today announced the demolition of the modern buildings inside the King’s Bastion has now been completed.

In the statement, a Ministry of Heritage, Culture, Youth & Sport spokesperson said that “all structures of historical significance, as advised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, have been retained”. The statement added:

“Demolition works will now move to the Generating Station building and the top added floor of the barrack block facing Line Wall Road. This will commence on Monday 10th October and end on Friday 2nd December.

Prior to commencement of the demolition the surrounding area will be isolated, and a new temporary road will be provided through the Naval Ground No 1 to access Reclamation Road from Queensway.

During the demolition works temporary traffic arrangements will, from time to time, be required. These will be separately announced in the press.

The total cost of the demolition is about £1 million. In the meantime, design work of the leisure centre is at an advanced stage and it is expected that construction will commence in the New Year.

Details about the Leisure Centre itself will be announced later this Autumn.

Gibraltar Government - Ministry of Heritage, Culture, Youth & Sport Press Release - 29 September 2005 - No: 226/2005

Telephone: (350) 41687; Fax: (350) 52589; E-mail: minculture@gibnynex.gi

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ESG and Bucket Brigade sees Junta declaration as ‘Big Step Forward’ but asks what is being done about Benzene?

The Environmental Safety Group (ESG) and Bucket Brigade congratulated the Junta de Andalucia today, for the recent announcements made in the Spanish press of its demands for all industries in the Bay to make immediate operational changes to dramatically reduce emissions.

The Consejería de Medio Ambiente in an order dated the 15th September, launched a plan which gives the green light to a strengthening of controls and forces industry to use fuels which have less negative impact on the atmosphere.

The ‘Consejeria’ has now established measures to reduce, with immediate effect, the levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) being put out by industry to fall within levels stipulated by the EU Directives.

For Power Stations it has outlawed the use of fuels with sulphur content greater than 1% by weight. This measure alone should see a considerable reduction in the levels of sulphur dioxide in the air. If SO2 levels continue to be exceeded the relevant Environment Agency will have powers to reduce these which could include the forced reduction of electricity production by the offending power station. Under these new laws, industry is asked to reduce excessive pollution incidences associated with upsets in production, or on start up and stop needs, by adopting cleaner fuels and better operating controls with particular emphasis on particulates and sulphur dioxide.

For the Cepsa refinery, the Consejeria stipulates that preference should be given to the consumption of natural gas as fuel and it prohibits the use of any other gaseous fuel with sulphur content greater than 0.24%.

Furthermore, all emissions will come under close supervision with the installation of web cams to survey the use of flaring and real time monitors to feed data directly back to La Junta.

All these measures are expected to be in place as from the beginning of October when medical tests will also start on selected sectors of the populations living close to the industrial complex.

The ESG stated said:

“These are the steps that many, including the Bucket Brigade have been calling for, for some time now.

To see the Junta enforce these regulations must be seen as a huge and positive step forward in fighting the disgraceful and harmful levels of pollution to have existed in this zone for so long.

It shows that increased pressure from the population on both sides is working but must be maintained.

When the ESG and GONHS first launched its complaint to the European Commission nearly three years ago, it was against a backdrop of denial by industry and Spanish authorities. This important development now needs to be supported by appropriate actions taken by the industries and this time there will be even more people watching to ensure that it does.”

Benzene excluded?
The statement goes on to question the exclusion of Benzene from the Junta de Andalucia’s order.

“Pleased with these developments, the Bucket Brigade, remain concerned that benzene emissions appear not to have been specifically targeted as have sulphur dioxide and particulates.

Benzene is among the worst pollutant present wherever oil or fuel is stored, handled or processed and tighter regulation of this deadly toxin must also be prioritised.

This will therefore be the target of the ESG and Bucket Brigade action plan for the autumn which will aim to look at the impacts of our own bunkering emissions as well as the massive levels of benzene known to exist outside the Refinery.”

From an Environmental Safety Group (ESG) Press Release - 29 September 2005 15:14

Related Links and Articles:

Junta de Andalucia - Consejería de Medio Ambiente Orden de 15 de septiembre de 2005, por la que se aprueba el Plan de Acción Medioambiental para el Campo de Gibraltar.

Global Community Monitor

Gibraltar Government Air Quality Monitoring

28 September 2005 - CEPSA expands operations in the Campo

07 July 2005 - ESG encouraged by meeting with EU Commission

24 June 2005 - Denny Larson returns to the Bay announce ESG

17 June 2005 - Bay Bucket Brigade visit the Andalucian Ombudsman

27 May 2005 - Junta intensifies efforts to combat Campo Pollution

25 May 2005 - CEPSA emissions within the Law - Confirmed

18 May 2005 - IU express concern in Andalusian Parliament

13 May 2005 - CSIC report confirms high levels of pollutants in the Bay of Gibraltar

Finance centre fears * by Peter Schirmer

Gibraltar’s finance sector continued to strengthen, expand and deepen, but we remain vulnerable to external factors over which we have no control and it would be foolish to express “mindless optimism” about the future, Financial Services Commissioner Marcus Killick warned yesterday.

He told the third annual conference of the Gibraltar Bankers’ Association that “whatever the strength of our finance centre itself - and it is strong - we are vulnerable to the actions of others.”

“Few would have predicted two years ago oil at above $60 a barrel,” he said. “We forget the power of Mother Nature at our peril. The success of Gibraltar is entwined with the world economy. Therefore whilst we can take pride in what has been achieved, we must redouble our efforts for the future.” And he added that the FSC would continue “to support and supplement such efforts rather than inhibit them”.

Killick has long been an advocate of efficient and effective regulation at all levels rather than heavy doses of unwieldy regulation accompanied by the inevitable bureaucratic red tape which accompanies heavy-handed implementation.

In a wide-ranging address Killick told the conference – whose theme was “Working in Partnership” - that too much red tape, the burdens of excessive EU directives and the growth of bureaucracy and greater regulation could stifle growth and initiative.

“Some including myself consider that the pendulum has swung too far,” he said.

“Those involved in banking - indeed in any senior corporate positions - have never been under greater scrutiny and, some might argue, greater threat… Nor does one have to physically be in the USA to come under its gaze. The use of the new UK Extradition Act on alleged white collar criminals demonstrates this.”

While fines of firms in Britain and America continued, the question remained of whether corporate fraudsters deserved sentences longer than rapists, however larger the amount they were alleged to have defrauded from investors.

“I would like to see, not more regulation but better regulation, regulation that is needed and fit for purpose,” he continued, pointing out that over the past two decades the financial community has moved from self regulation – “described by some as the ‘regulation of financial markets by the practitioners for the practitioners’” - to volume upon volume of detailed proscriptive requirements. There had to be a better way, he argued.

“Unfortunately the plethora of EU Directives… means that we do not have room for manoeuvre, in the way I would like.

Hopefully the change in tone in Brussels regarding regulation may mean the growth will stop and maybe even go into reverse. I would prefer fewer regulations, for in my view people generally know when they are doing best by their client. One can generally sense test by one simple question:

“Would I be happy if I was being treated in the way I am treating this customer?

“The same question could be put in management in relation to your staff and your colleagues,” he told the bankers. If the answer is ‘no’, you have to then consider whether what you are doing is the right thing, and, if so, you are doing it in the right way.

“Yet we do have some opportunity to set our regulatory stall out in a different way.

Firstly by accepting you can be pro business and pro consumer.

Secondly that the relationship between regulator and regulated can be based on trust rather than hostility.

The key issue is one of culture. Good ethics means more than just ticking boxes. We all want a safe, transparent and efficient financial sector in Gibraltar which protects both consumers and the integrity of the market.

This can be achieved by cooperation and understanding between the finance industry, the regulator and the Government.”

Referring obliquely to the relationship between the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Government, Killick said that the word “independence” was rapidly turning into a mantra, to be chanted by some regulators at every available opportunity.

“Of course regulators must be operationally independent, as indeed we are. Of course there is always room for improvement. Of course that independence must be codified and protected. Yet independence, like the Fellowship of the Ring, does not sit by itself, it is part of a trilogy. It comes with scrutiny and accountability. These siblings do not restrict independence; they make sure independence is used effectively, efficiently and appropriately. Like Tolkein’s books they work best as a set.”

Killick added that the FSC would continue to implement and enhance its risk based approach.

“We are aware that inefficiency in one partner impacts the others to the detriment of Gibraltar as a whole. We will also continue to build the strength of an already, internationally recognised regulatory team at the Commission through our participation in the pilot Investors in People programme.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Exercise Jebel Sahara * from Alice Mascarenhas in Jebel Sahara, Marrakech

In extreme climatic conditions and severe bone-dry arid terrain The Royal Gibraltar Regiment has just completed the largest scale battalion exercise ever in its history in the High Atlas Mountains and in the outskirts of Marrakech in Exercise Jebel Sahara.

A conduct challenging and realistic exercise, this is as close as it gets to a real war scenario, and has tested the regiment at an individual level from the Commanding Officer to every regular soldier through to the TA which has been in Morocco for the first time, and just as importantly has tested how the battalion as a whole works under pressure in acute desert conditions.

This joint exercise has seen support from throughout the British army and the RAF deploying Chinook and Puma helicopters which has proven paramount in the movement of troops, supplies and ammunition, over the past few weeks, and has also had the full co-operation of the Moroccan Army with their BIP parachute troops forming a large part of the exercise. Also here are the medics, the chefs, range team, shovel unit and entire logistics unit.

Commanding Officer Mark Randall said the exercise had been orchestrated to meet mandated standards whilst at the same time developing unit cohesion, enhancing procedures as well as efficiency.

Its architect has been Major John Perez the next CO of the regiment and has included several exercises such as Tarik Warrior, Mountain Viper and Desert Strike, all held in very different locations testing every aspect of the soldier in such an operation. In all the exercise has seen some 500 people involved with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment being 250 strong.

Now in its sixth year Jebal Sahara has evolved into a very large scale exercise within the British Army. The theme for this year was offensive operation which is part of the new mission of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. The weeks of training and sheer determination on the part of many, has lead to its success with the regiment, meeting its objectives as a battalion in a modern British Army.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

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The next round of Tripartite Talks will be held on October 10th and 11th at an as yet undisclosed location in Spain, official sources have confirmed.

Gibraltar’s delegation will be led by Chief Minister Peter Caruana while Britain and Spain will be represented by Director for Europe Dominick Chilcott and his Spanish counterpart Jose Pons.

It had been speculated that this meeting would be a fully blown three-way ministerial meeting and that an airport agreement would be announced. However there are still issues to be resolved that require further discussion and no British or Spanish minister will be attending. A breakthrough on the airport at this point is therefore unlikely. A full ministerial meeting is on the cards for some time in November.

For its part in a brief statement the Gibraltar Government said that “the formal announcement of venue and other details for the next meeting of the trilateral forum envisaged for mid October will be made by the Spanish Government, as hosts.” However it did confirm that a meeting of the Pensions Technical Group between delegations of the UK, Spanish and Gibraltar Governments will take place in the UK today.

“This Technical Working Group, is established between the three governments under the Trilateral Forum. The Gibraltar delegation comprises of Chief Secretary Ernest Montado, and Director of Social Security, Mario Gomila.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801