Police action not political but Trade Union pressure, says SUP

F Oliva reports

Frontier work-to-rule could end today * Union calls for construction of new frontier complex

The Policia Nacional has not attempted to interfere or harm the negotiations of the Tripartite Forum or the talks between the Gibraltar Government and Spain, Juan Manuel Sanchez, spokesman for the La Linea branch of the Sindicato Unificado de Policia (SUP), said to the Chronicle yesterday.

(Ed's note: The start of this paragraph is missing from the Chronicle's online news report!)... frontier which led to lengthy delays in crossing, their intention had been to apply pressure on the Spanish Government “to deliver on its word” following the signing of the annual police pay review.

It appears that Madrid has finally given the go-ahead for the implementation of the agreement as from the beginning of the week.

And barring a last minute surprise, a general assembly of SUP members at the Comisaria later today should back the formal lifting of all industrial action measures at the border and a return to normality.

“At present we are working normally and this should be confirmed by the assembly today,” he said.

Meanwhile Sr Sanchez has also called for the construction of a new frontier complex with modern facilities and an effective lay-out for the flow of vehicles and pedestrians.

He describes the current frontier as “third-world.”

“There should be two entry points into Gibraltar and two exit points, plus a channel for tourist coaches.

The frontier has to be renovated to get rid of the queues, and if this requires an agreement with the Gibraltar Government, so be it,”.

The Pay Dispute

The pay review had been agreed with the Minister for the Interior on April 5th 2005.

It has been the delay in the implementation of the deal and the payment of arrears that sparked off the work-to-rule action that was initially intended to have effect on a national scale.

The claim was divided in three segments – an increase of 30 euros a month in the basic salary, the consolidation of half the productivity allowance, in effect an extra 55 euros a month, and for the increases to be applied retrospectively to January.

Sr Sanchez accepts that it has been the La Linea-Gibraltar border where the police action has been most noticeable, although was quick to point out that the SUP had instructed its members to apply the work to rule throughout Spain.

He said action in the Algeciras Port had also been taken but there had been intervention by the Spanish Government to reduce its effect.

“There was clear interference to stop our action in the port since this would have created a huge crisis with Morocco.”

Sr Sanchez also argues that the choice of month for the action right in the middle of the summer had had far greater repercussions at the frontier than if this had been done in any other month.

He said that after a four month delay in the implementation of the pay review, the disgruntled policemen had not been willing to wait any longer.

“There are always queues in August because it is always a busier time,” he declared.

Historical Grievances

Meanwhile Sr Sanchez has also drawn attention to the long list of historical grievances that the Policia Nacional have suffered in La Linea over the past decade.

For example the official minimum complement for a city the size of La Linea should be 208 officers. Over the past few years transfers have vastly exceeded arrivals to the extent that today manpower stands at around only 140 policemen on duty.

“There has been a steady decline in numbers since the 1980’s when there were over 200 policemen.

Now with an open frontier and with the expansion of La Linea into the suburbs and the building of new districts, which means greater policing demands, we have a shortage of manpower.”

The SUP hope to fill at least 25 of those long-standing vacancies with the promotion of young recruits just out of the police academy, before the end of the year.

La Linea is also served by two other law-enforcement organisations, the Policia Local/Municipal that is controlled by the Ayuntamiento, and the Guardia Civil.

The general state of dilapidation of the Policia Nacional headquarters in La Linea which is badly in need of reinvestment and modernisation, is another of the pending claims that the police unions are constantly raising with the Ministerio del Interior.

Another irritant that provoked the Policia Nacional into action at the frontier, is that while they were engaged in difficult and lengthy negotiations to extract a 30 euros increase from the central Government for its members, the Ayuntamiento San Roque, that is also controlled by the PSOE, implemented a pay rise of 180 euros for the local police force [policia municipal] over the same period.

“The gulf in the salary of a local policeman, a regional policeman in the Basque Country of Catalonia and a Policia Nacional can reach between 60,000 to 70,000 pesetas, depending on the region. This just rubs salt in wounds, undermines morale and leads to a lack of motivation,” said Sr Sanchez.

As regards last week’s meeting with Salvador de la Encina (PSOE), Sr Sanchez said that the Campo socialist MP was acting as an envoy who affords them a measure of access to the Madrid Government in the formulation of their grievances.

Inter Union Rivalries

Police unions also have rivalries of their own. While the Sindicato Unificado de Policia has traditionally been the majority and dominant union in Spain, other unions have also emerged. The UFP followed suit while more recently the CEP [Confederacion Espanola de Policia] that resulted from the coalition of smaller unions, have now come forward and are attempting to establish a presence in La Linea.

There is some tension in relations between the SUP and the CEP. Sr Sanchez denies CEP claims that the delays at the border were caused not by the work to rule industrial action but by the application of counter-terrorism measures.

The CEP went as far as publicly stating that there was no industrial action at all. Sr Sanchez further describes the CEP as “incoherent.”

Ayuntamiento writes to Central Government

Meanwhile the La Linea councillor for security Francisco Muñiz has written to the Madrid Government supporting the call made from several quarters – including the SUP – for the Policia Nacional to be given the extra material and human resources it requires to continue doing its job “with the same degree of effectiveness and professionalism, despite the shortage of means and officers.”

A similar letter has also been written to Salvador de la Encina reminding him of “the promises made regarding the need for more policemen to be assigned to the La Linea Policia Nacional to fill existing vacancies.”

Sr Muñiz adds that La Linea’s peculiar policing situation is derived from several factors that would require additional resources for the Policia Nacional.

“Its status as a frontier town with the colony of Gibraltar, its long stretch of 12 kilometres of coastline and the geographical proximity with the African continent, result in a significant increase in population during the summer months. Contrary to what happens in other cities there is no reinforcement of the Policia Nacional complement,” he said.

This is the fifth letter on the subject addressed to the Minister for the Interior José Antonio Alonso.

More Delays?

Meanwhile, there have been unconfirmed reports that following the capture in La Linea of a vehicle that had smuggled a notable quantity of tobacco from Gibraltar, the Guardia Civil officers on duty had been reprimanded by their superiors. As a result this could lead to the Guardia Civil implementing tighter customs controls over the next few days.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Articles and Links:

21 August 2005 - PSOE MP to mediate as Frontier action set to continue

09 August 2005 - Work to rule by Policia Nacional creates bottleneck at frontier

08 August 2005 - Noisy frontier protest as car queues worsen

02 August 2005 - Go-Slow does not affect frontier flow

30 July 2005 - Spanish Police declare go-slow at Frontier

Policia Nacional

Spanish Police Trade Unions:

SUP - Sindicato Unificado de Policia
UFP - Union Federal Policia
CEP - Confederacion Espanola de Policia

RGP Officer's private car vandalised

Revenge attack

Not for the first time Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) officers have been the victims of intimidation.

The RGP last night reported that a person or persons unknown vandalised a private motorcar owned by an officer when it was parked at Drinkwater Road within Laguna Estate.

The police strongly suspect that the culprits targeted the vehicle knowing the owner to be an RGP officer.

Two tyres were slashed, both front and rear windscreens smashed together with the front right passenger window which had its bodywork scratched. Personal property was also stolen from the car.

No other reports of vehicles vandalised in the area have been received and the incident is currently being investigated.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Moroccans dismayed by Ferry delays

At first glance, the queues in the ferry terminal seem far from unusual.

But the photo of this queue (not available online!) was taken last Friday at midnight, several hours after the ferry to Tangier was meant to have set sail.

Scores of passengers were left with little option but to stand around waiting for the ship to turn up, in what regular users said was just the latest in a long history of delays involving the Tangier ferry operated by Ferrys Rápidos del Sur (FRS).

In any other port, dissatisfied customers would simply switch ferry operator. In Gibraltar, however, there is only FRS and its £35 round-trip ticket across the Strait.

On Friday, the Tangier ferry should have left at 9.15pm. In the event, it sailed at just after 1am on Saturday morning.

Passengers who had arrived before 8pm to board the ship were left waiting for about five hours, much of that time in the dark and without toilet facilities. The queues, including vehicles, stretched from inside the ferry terminal all the way to the nearby petrol station.

There were men, women and children of all ages there, most of them Moroccans but also including some locals and tourists heading off for the weekend.

Many of those waiting to board the ship said they faced long journeys after arriving in Tangier, with some of them travelling as far inland as Fez, Meknes or Rabat.

The delay in Gibraltar would only add to their journey.

“We’re sick of suffering,” said one Moroccan man. “All we want is for the ferry company to meet their commitments.”

“Why does no one do anything?” another man asked.

Gibraltar Port Authority officials on the scene on Friday said they would look into the continued delays but, in reality, their options for action are limited.

Part of the problem is that the FRS ferry operates several itineraries that include stops in Tangier, Tarifa and Algeciras, as well as Gibraltar. The company makes money by running its vessels on as many itineraries as possible, with each of ship operating five or six round trips across the Strait of Gibraltar daily.

But delays at any of the ports naturally have a knock-on effect on subsequent calls, particularly during this time of the year when hundreds of thousands of migrant north African workers are heading back to jobs in Europe after the summer holidays.

The numbers are truly staggering. According to Spanish authorities, during the outbound phase of the Operación Paso del Estrecho, 1.4 million passengers and 342,357 vehicles caught ferries from Europe to Morocco, most of them from Algeciras.

As of last weekend, 792,884 passengers and 185,166 vehicles had already made the trip back to Europe since mid-July, most of them boarding ships in Tangier.

With nine companies operating services across the Strait of Gibraltar from both Spain and France, congestion in the Moroccan port is a major issue.

“There is a physical reality to contend with because there are only a limited number of berths in Tangier,” said Luis Mora, FRS managing director.

Weather conditions can also have an impact on timetables, not least because the vessel operating the service from Gibraltar to Tangier is a fast ferry, a type of ship whose performance is particularly susceptible to the state of the sea. In simple terms, it has to slow down in rough weather.

“FRS does everything it can to minimise these delays,” Mr Mora said.

“A delay in Gibraltar or any other port will filter through to the subsequent itineraries and cause us problems.”

For the Moroccan community here, which has no other way of getting home but by sea, such excuses and explanations, however plausible, offer little comfort. With no other option but the FRS ferry to Tangier, they can do little more than endure the delays as gracefully as possible and hope for the best.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Spain wants to have its own police in Gibraltar's airport

The Spanish Government wants to have its own police in Gibraltar's airport as part of an airport deal - and this is the main difficulty facing the negotiations in the tripartite meetings.

Spanish socialist Jose Carracao, who has a special brief for Gibraltar, has confirmed this, saying that the Gibraltar authorities want to control exclusively passengers arriving at the airport.

Since there will be only one terminal, the question is how to handle arrival of non-EU passengers, which Spain thinks is her responsibility due to Schengen. (The Schengen Convention.

Since no reference is made to EU passengers, it would appear that a deal has already been struck in this respect.

Sr Carracao recalls the warning from Sr Jose Pons, the Spanish director for Europe, who is involved in the negotiations with Chief Minister Peter Caruana and the Foreign Office official Dominick Chilcott.

Sr Pons said on 4 August that we cannot expect the Spanish government to help in Gibraltar's development by agreeing to an airport deal and at the same time deny access to Spaniards for the management of the airport.

Spain might even be prepared to accept recognition of the 350 telephone code if Gibraltar accepts having Spanish police in its airport. Sr Carracao sees this as the kind of counter-offer Spain could make.

Pensions

Meanwhile, Sr Carracao takes the line PANORAMA has been disclosing in that the British side would expect Spain to contribute to the Spanish pensions settlement. This is seen as a possible breakthrough, as PANORAMA has been suggesting.

Sr Carracao says Spain "may have to make a symbolic contribution".

While a final figure has not been worked out, it is estimated to be a multi-million euro settlement.

It was a Spanish government which withdrew the Spanish labour force in 1969 and created the problem in the first place, PANORAMA has been saying.

A technical meeting on the pensions is due in October, says the Spanish Foreign Ministry (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores MAE).

Spain might even be prepared to accept recognition of the 350 telephone code if Gibraltar accepts having Spanish police in its airport.

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

Pensions focus at next Tripartite, says Spanish press report

*Spain could accept ‘350’

Spanish press reports have said that an autumn meeting of the tripartite co-operation process – Gibraltar, Spain and UK – will focus on the Spanish pensions claim.

The reports, which cite Spanish diplomatic sources, come at a time when Jose Carracao, the PSOE senator close to the Spanish Foreign Ministry (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores MAE) and a former Campo Mancomunidad president has publicly stated that he believes that the Spanish Government should also contribute financially to meeting the aspirations of the former Spanish workforce.

Estimates suggest that the cost could be in the 30 million euro mark. Sr Carracao said that Spain should make a symbolic contribution.

Meanwhile Sr Carracao is quoted as saying that one of the problems that remains on airport discussions is the presence or not of Spanish security officials in the airport’s single terminal. He says the problem is the control of non-EU travellers as Spain has Schengen obligations.

Sr Carracao has meanwhile suggested that as part of the negotiations Spain could see its way to accepting the ‘350’ international code for Gibraltar.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

New Party lashes out at Government Tourism Policy

The Rock’s newest political party New Gibraltar Democracy that was formed just weeks ago, has criticised the GSD Government’s announcement of a £2m spending plan for the Upper Rock.

The party is led by well known local lawyer Charles Gomez.

In a statement issued yesterday Mr Gomez has accused the government of resorting to “hype” to “mask its shortcomings in tourism policy.”

And Mr Gomez has drawn attention to the fact that the nature reserve, which forms a major part of the tourist product, lacks toilet facilities.

Mr Gomez said:

“The GSD (Gibraltar Social Democrats) Government says that it has allocated £2m to improve the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. The “Reserve” is our main tourist attraction and includes St Michael’s Cave and several historical sights of which the Moorish Castle has been closed for nearly two years. 750,000 visitors pay several million pounds a year to Government in the form of entrance fees (possibly as much as £4m per year). Yet, shamefully, this major component of our economy lacks something as essential as proper toilet facilities.

After nine years of GSD administration the long delayed decision to provide public lavatories at some unspecified future date is presented amid the customary fanfare and ministerial self-satisfaction. According to the minister, this represents “the very best (his) Government can do.

The people of Gibraltar may think that the GSD’s “very best” is simply not good enough.

Responsibility for this situation lies fully with the elected Government and recurring suggestions by GSD apologists that the fault lies with civil servants is not acceptable.

Meanwhile, the Government must disclose to the people details of what the £2m is to be spent on, what timetable has been set for execution and completion of works, and what players in the industry it has consulted before allocating the £2m to the Upper Rock.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Article & Link:

30 August 2005 - £2M for Upper Rock 3 year programme gets underway

Charles A Gomez & Co Gibraltar Lawyer Website

Court stumped by Russian accent ‘I’m virgin’ claim

Gibraltar’s Magistrates Court officials were baffled yesterday by the case of a man with no documents who claimed to be from the “Virgin Islands” yet spoke with a marked Russian accent.

The man, who was detained by police after he failed to produce valid papers entitling him to be in Gibraltar, told the Magistrate’s Court that his name was Albert Virgin.

Asked where he was from, he replied “the Virgin Islands”, an apparent reference to the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.

But Stipendiary Magistrate Charles Pitto made clear he was unconvinced that Mr Virgin was indeed from the “Virgin Islands”.

“You look and sound incredibly Russian to me,” he told the man. “What language do you speak?”

“The English language,” Mr Virgin replied in a thick Russian accent.

Mr Pitto called in the court’s Russian interpreter, who stood beside the defendant and translated the court’s proceedings.

Mr Virgin, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of being found without a valid permit or certificate, stared straight ahead and barely flinched as the translator spoke.

“I speak only English language,” he told the court again.

The police will now make enquiries with the authorities in the British Virgin Islands to establish whether or not Mr Virgin is telling the truth about his origins. In the meantime, he has been remanded in custody for a week.

The case was adjourned for a hearing in October.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Air pistol man charged

A local man appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with possessing an air pistol and using it in a threatening manner.

Police were called to a disturbance in Flat Bastion Road on Monday and arrested Stephen Costa, who gave his address in court as 32/2 Prince Edward’s Road.

He had allegedly threatened to use the air pistol to shoot one of the people he had been arguing with.

Crown prosecutor Johan Fernandez told the court that Mr Costa had struggled violently as he was arrested and had head-butted one of the police officers in the chest.

Mr Costa faces charges of using threatening behaviour, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, along with possession of the air pistol and 116 pellets. He was also found in possession of a small amount of cannabis resin.

Mr Costa, who also faces a number of separate charges relating to previous incidents, was on bail at the time of his arrest on Monday.

The hearing was adjourned and he was remanded in custody.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Reform Party questions 'loaded dice' in new Waterport housing allocation scheme

The Reform Party today commented on the new 'affordable' housing project at Waterport Terraces.

In a statement issued this morning, the Party said:

"Of course we welcome the principle of this new housing scheme.

It is intended to provide homes for ordinary people rather than investments for
the rich.

We also agree with most of the detailed restrictions on who may apply.

However, the small print in the full eligibility conditions causes us serious concern.

For instance, it is stated that allocation preference may be given to those who contribute more than the minimum 50% of total price in this co-ownership deal. This obviously means that in practice better-off applicants have an advantage in their competition for flats with those on modest incomes.

We also note that within 15 months of allocation any new resident will have to have paid, in monthly instalments, a sum equivalent to more than a quarter of the total (100%) price for the unit.

That means a payment of at least £1700 every month for the cheapest unit and correspondingly more for larger ones. Can people who need this affordable housing really manage that sort of money, even by borrowing? These loans will presumably also incur higher interest rates and unlike mortgages will not qualify for the customary tax relief!

Another issue arises from the variable time-limits before resale restrictions are eased. Those who buy at 50% are constrained for 15 years while for the 100% people it's only three years.

Unless they're amended all these conditions will just tend to 'load the dice' in favour of those with more cash in the bank than people on ordinary working-class incomes.

From The Reform Party News and Information

Related Articles & Links:

30 August 2005 - Government publishes terms for Waterport Terraces

23 August 2005 - Government announces start of information and sales campaign for Waterport Terraces housing development

Update:

01 September 2005 - Reform Party Newsletter - 'Green Rock News' September issue has just been published. It's available by post (paper version) or Email (electronic version). Email info@reformpartygib.com or Phone Gibraltar (00350) 41073 for your copy in either of the formats.

Government lets down Gibraltar on drugs, says ex Police Superintendent

The usual laid-back attitude we have here in Gibraltar about most things, but in particular drugs and alcohol, two of the most dangerous freely available drugs, a substance that is threatening the future of our youth and Gibraltar’s social well being, says retired Police Superintendent Leo Olivero.

He adds:

This has frustrated me into expressing myself again, after I promised myself that I would never write about this matter again.

He goes on to say:

To come to the point, the Government have let Gibraltar down, big time on drugs and alcohol.

The Government’s drugs strategy is not only going to be a white elephant for them, it’s a circus already full of elephants of different colours.

Going Anywhere?

"Where is this drug strategy going, I don’t think anyone knows the answer, we hear the occasional squeak from the Governments Drug Co-ordinator, when he is prompted to say something when a drug storey hits the news. This drug strategy will be three years old soon; there has been absolutely no affect felt anywhere or by anyone in Gibraltar", says Mr Olivero.

"Alcohol and drug abuse has in fact seriously deteriorated and is far worse then it was three years ago. Speak to the young, visit places; monitor young people in particular, the situation will hit you in the face."

"The thinking behind, that this is part of modern day living, and if drugs and alcohol are on the streets or present up the coast, and that it is bound to get on to our streets and amongst our young here. These similar wise and shallow words we keep hearing from those directing this drugs programme for the Government, no wonder the whole drugs problem is out of control", he said. And added:

"The young are drinking younger, faster, longer, and much more cheaply then ever before. Illegal and legal drugs are being consumed like never before, yes here in Gibraltar, does it shock anyone, it should.
Concern alone not enough

The Government claimed some years back that it was concerned about the drugs problem, this when they launched their drug strategy. Their concern has not been prevalent in anything tangible concerning drugs or alcohol.

Things like changes in the alcohol and tobacco law, advertisement and raising the price of cigarettes, (another hot potato).

I think the Government would rather build Gibraltar’s first Lung Cancer Hospital, then raise the price of cigarettes", he said.

No one knows the real extent of how bad the drug and alcohol problem is, I have mentioned this before, we last had a survey to determine the extent of the drug and alcohol problem particularly amongst the young nearly fours years ago. It appears no one really wants to know this, how on earth can the drug strategy continue to exist with any purpose, how can the brain(s) leading this drugs strategy, plan the next move, if they are working on drug figures which are practically four years old.

This is the 21st century, and any important community social programme of this nature particularly one on drugs and alcohol, can only survive and be as good and effective as its last set of figures on the issue in hand. The drugs strategy can only be successful, if 21st century planning, organising and thinking is there or there about.

I am also surprised that the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) who have always lead on drugs misuse issues appear to be happy and convinced with the fact that this drugs strategy is moving in some kind of positive way? I say to my former colleagues “there’s something wrong here boys.

Although the RGP may have the occasional arrest on drugs, in the context of the general drug problem, it’s not even touching the tip of an ant hill, never mind a mountain. Drugs arrests have never been a positive or true indicator that any programme to combat drug abuse is succeeding; and if police arrest is being used as a kind of sympathetic barometer for this drugs programme, then we really are in trouble.

I say to the Government, these Tripartite talks my be immensely important, but before we open our doors even wider to the outside world, with the many implications that it is bound to have on us all in Gibraltar, lets do some serious work on a social issue which is a grave threat to future Gibraltarians.”

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

Palm tree rescued from demilition works

A five metre tall Date Palm has been rescued by the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens from the demolition of the old generating station.

In an exercise funded by the developer of the site, with the co-operation of the Environment Ministry, the large tree was transferred to its new location on Wednesday afternoon in an operation that involved heavy digging and lifting equipment and three hours work.

A spokesman for the gardens said:

“The palm tree had been growing in a planter next to a building in the courtyard of the generating station below Line Wall Road.

Its new location is near the Wellington Memorial in the Alameda Gardens, in a bed that is earmarked for further landscaping in the near future.

Provided it takes - and the chances are good - it should develop to its full potential and become a feature at the southern end of the Alameda’s Upper Walk.

This adds to the Botanic Garden’s increasing collection of palm trees of different species, and becomes the largest Date Palm in this collection.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

The Government of Gibraltar Lottery 30th August 2005

The latest Draw Numbers for the Government of Gibraltar's Lottery for the 30th August are now available online.


The Government of Gibraltar Lottery Draw Numbers for 16th August 2005 Results click here

Holliday announces Training opportunities in shipping sector

The Gibraltar Government has announced that two young Gibraltarians have been awarded scholarships which will enable them to attain qualifications as sea-going Deck Officer and sea-going Engineer Officer on merchant navy ships, Minister for Trade and Industry Joe Holliday has said.

The successful applicants are Joseph Louis Clinton, who will be training as a Deck Officer, and Craig Key, who will be training as an Engineer Officer.

Both cadets will commence their formal training at Warsash Maritime Centre in Southampton on September 5th 2005, and will be following a three year programme of studies which includes practical experience at sea. Upon successful completion of their training the Officer Cadets will attain an internationally recognised “Certificate of Competency as an Officer In-Charge of a Watch”.

Sponsorship of the Merchant Navy Cadets is being provided by the Department of Education and Training on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar in partnership with Aegean Bunkering (Gib) Ltd, Maritime Service Shipping (Gib) Limited, Gibunco Group and Vemaoil Company Ltd.

The Minister with responsibility for shipping Joe Holliday said:

“It has been our intention for some time to introduce a structured training programme for the maritime sector, to train young Gibraltarians as future senior Port Officers, Ship Surveyors and Pilots. This initiative is now commencing.

I wish to congratulate the two Merchant Navy Cadets on their selection. I wish them all the best in their forthcoming training.

I am also grateful to the four sponsoring companies who have teamed up with the Government in order to make this training opportunity possible.”

Further details with regard to the training programme which the two Cadets will follow may be obtained from the Training Unit at the Department of Education and Training or the Maritime Administrator at the Registry of Ships.

A further training opportunity for other young Gibraltarians wishing to pursue a maritime career as an officer on a merchant navy ship will be offered by the Government in partnership with the private sector sponsors, tenable as from autumn 2006.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

New entrants sustain Isola law firm tradition

Thursday was a memorable day for the firm of Isola & Isola in which it celebrated the call to the Gibraltar Bar of three young lawyers who have joined the firm.

At a drinks party at the Caleta Hotel the Partners of the Firm entertained family and guests of Joseph P Garcia, Adrian M Pilcher and Jamie Trinidad, two of whom were called to the Gibraltar Bar on Thursday and the third, a short time ago.

Jamie Trinidad, who is a member of Lincoln’s Inn, was called to the Bar in London in 2001. He was educated at Bayside School, Gibraltar, subsequently obtaining an Honours Degree in English and French Law at Exeter University, a Maîtrise in European Law at Rennes University and a Masters in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University.

Prior to taking up his appointment at Isola & Isola he was earlier this year visiting Professor of Law at Tsinghua University, Beijing and at the National Judicial College of China.

Adrian Pilcher was educated at Bayside School, Gibraltar and subsequently obtained an honours degree in English Literature at Kingston University. He then did a conversion to law, obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Law before completing his Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, London.

Joseph P. Garcia is the grandson of Peter J. Isola, the Senior Partner of the firm. For him and for the firm it is a unique occasion in that he is the first of the fifth generation of lawyers in the family. He was called to the Bar in England in 2004 and is a member of the Inner Temple. He was educated at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire following a family tradition that dates back to 1885. He obtained a joint Honours Degree in Philosophy and Spanish in Bristol University and then converted to law with a Post Graduate Diploma before completing his Bar Vocational Course at the BPP Law School.

The Call to the Bar in Gibraltar of Joseph Garcia represented the fifth generation of family lawyers in the firm.

Horace Parodi, the great-uncle of the present Senior Partner was called to the English Bar in 1891 and began to practise in Gibraltar in the following year. He practised on his own until he was joined by his nephew, Albert R. Isola the great-grandfather of Joseph Garcia in 1920.

Although the Bar in the first half of the 20th century was significantly smaller than it is today, it is clear from the account of the funeral of Horace Parodi reported in the Gibraltar Chronicle of the time that Mr Parody was very much a respected member of the Gibraltar community.

Following his funeral, a tribute was paid to him by the Members of the Bar and the Judiciary in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and the Chief Justice at the time, Sir Daniel D Tudor KC, associated himself with the remarks made from the Bar. He knew, he said, that he could also speak for his predecessor, Sir Bartlel Frere who had for many years maintained a warm friendship with Mr Parodi. The many tokens of sorrow shown at the funeral convinced him that the late Mr Parodi must have been a man respected by all and endeared to many.

“The firm of Isola & Isola is obviously proud of its long history but is now very much a firm of many lawyers, and specialities and geared to the challenges any progressive form must meet in the modern world.

Although the traditional family basis is important to all members of the firm it looks forward to a future based on its extended basis as a family of lawyers with many varied specialities and expertise” said Mr Isola.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Government publishes terms for Waterport Terraces

An advertisement in today’s Chronicle sets out the terms for purchasing a property at the Waterport Terraces development.

Applications have to be in by the end of September but very strict criteria is being applied on eligibility to purchase and on resale terms. Resale restrictions and method of allocation are also set out.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Article:

23 August 2005 - Government announces start of information and sales campaign for Waterport Terraces housing development

Prison for local man

A local man has been sentenced to four months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of burglary at the Magistrates Court.

An Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) spokesman said:

“During the early hours of February 1st 2005, a burglary was reported to the police at St Michael’s Cabin where damage had been caused to the entrance of the premises and once therein had stolen approximately £450 from the poker gaming machine.

Enquiries carried out by CID officers of the RGP culminated in the arrest of a number of persons.

On August 26th 2005 at the Magistrates Court, Christian Chipolina of 10 Rosia Steps pleaded guilty to burglary at the said premises, and was sentenced to four months imprisonment.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Niger appeal reaches £10,000

The Gibraltar Niger Appeal fund has reached £10,000.

The Gibraltar Red Cross which opened the account at Barclays Bank said it would only remain open for another week. Treasurer Charlie Montegriffo said the account would only remain open until next Friday.

‘The Gibraltar Red Cross Niger Appeal Fund’ is at Barclays Bank at 84-90 Main Street. The Account Number is: 1110777.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Planning Commission formally rejects Funicular Project

21st Century Rock Funicular Project * DPC says it would be “a permanent scar on the Rock”

The government has sent a damning refusal notice to 21st Century Rock, the developer behind the controversial funicular project, formally turning down its application for outline planning permission for the project.

From the document it is clear that officials fear the funicular’s top station will spoil the Rock’s emblematic profile and that the project, which generated significant public opposition, will have an unacceptable adverse impact on wildlife and heritage sites in the area.

In a five-page letter dated July 28th, the Development and Planning Commission set out the 12 reasons on which it was basing its decision to turn down the application to build a rail running from the northern side of Casemates to the top of the Rock.

The DPC’s objections ranged from environmental and heritage issues to technical concerns about safety during the construction phase. But taken as a whole, they left little doubt that the commission – or at least the vast majority of its members – was fundamentally opposed to the scheme.

The DPC said the project was not compatible with nature laws protecting the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, adding that it contravened planning policies set out in government development plans dating back to 1991 and 1993.

The funicular would have “an unacceptable detrimental effect on the appearance, setting and integrity of numerous heritage sites” and was not in line with Gibraltar’s application to UNESCO for World Heritage Status.

It would also disturb archaeological deposits in the area, which the government plans to excavate as part of a long-term research programme.

The striking design for the funicular’s top station, perhaps the most publicly criticised aspect of the plan, also came under flack.

“The proposed siting and design of the upper terminal would have a significant adverse effect on the cultural heritage value of the Rock’s profile that has historically served to establish the Rock of Gibraltar as an important landmark, both geographically and metaphorically,” the DPC’s refusal notice said.

“The proposed development would seriously prejudice the government’s plans to carry out environmental improvements to the Northern Defence’s and to open the area up for public access as a tourist attraction,” it added.

The refusal notice said the funicular’s rail would amount to an “unacceptable and conspicuous man-made linear feature” in an otherwise mostly natural landscape, adding that even after mitigation measures and replanting took place, the funicular would represent “a permanent scar” on the Rock.

The DPC noted that the forecast 750,000 tourists who, according to the developer, will use the funicular every year would have a “devastating” effect on the ecology of the area in question. The commission also remained unconvinced by the company’s argument that most of those visitors would arrive on foot and highlighted the potential for traffic chaos in the area around the bottom station, close to Casemates.

The DPC also voiced concerns that the 21st Century Rock had provided “insufficient evidence” that the blasting techniques to be used in the tunnelling phase of the construction could be done safely and without risk to nearby residents. In a related point, it added:

“The risk of rock fall arising as a result of construction works and rock stabilisation is significant and it has not been adequately demonstrated that the risk can be reduced to acceptable levels.”

The company had 28 days from receipt of the letter to appeal the DPC’s decision, though the Chronicle understands that it has asked for an extension on this time period and will be granted one to the end of September.

The DPC’s decision is available for viewing by the public at the town planning office in Europort.

Related Articles:

29 July 2005 - DPC to inform Developer of the reasons for refusal

11 May 2005 - Anti-Funicular Groups welcome DPC decision

05 May 2005 - Funicular Proposal fails at first stage

27 March 2005 - Gibraltar News Online Poll gives a resounding 'No' to proposed Funicular Project

Funicular Project Photomontage

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

£2M for Upper Rock 3 year programme gets underway

By Alice Mascarenhas

Around £2 million will be spent by the Government over the next three years to improve the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

The Gibraltar Tourist Board (GTB) has put into motion the three-year programme announced during the Budget Session of the House of Assembly by Tourism Minister Joe Holliday which will upgrade both the present sites and see the introduction of new attractions.

Joe Holliday yesterday morning toured the various sites looking to see how some of the proposals are going to be integrated into the new visitor experience of this major tourist attraction which attracts some 750,000 visitors a year.

The main works will begin after the summer. Mr Holliday was keen to point out that this was just phase one of the project for which £650,000 had already been allocated for major improvements in this area in this financial year.

In its initial stages the project will enhance some of the already popular sites.

The Minister toured St Michael’s Cave, the Apes Den, Princess Caroline’s Battery, the new Rock and Fortress experience. He was presented with a general view of all the sites to see how the project was coming along and what would develop.

Mr Holliday confirmed that the much needed enhancements of both Royal Anglian Way and Mediterranean Steps would be a part of this project. However, neither of these will be tackled in the first year.

Signage, railings and much needed toilet facilities will be included in this first phase.

A new apes den site will also be developed. Situated at Trovey Battery half way between the current apes den and Princess Caroline’s Battery. The aim is to relocate some of the ape packs to this area to enhance their quality of life.

Mr Holiday said this would change the concept of how we view the apes today with less interaction with the visitor in this area. One of the main reasons for doing this is because visitors continue feed the apes despite the warnings.

“That is where the future lies, we cannot continue to allow visitors to integrate with these animals at the levels they always have because it is not good for the animals.”

Mr Holliday said GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society) would continue to be involved with the apes project and given its own advise and had its own input on how to create a new and better experience all round and at the same time improve the quality of life of the animals.

“The improvements are for the well being of the apes which is paramount. And to also ensure the visitor enjoys the experience more,” assured Mr Holliday who also insisted the three year investment programme of this area was to ensure Gibraltar kept on upgrading this area, and also bringing it into line with visitor expectation.

“It is our main tourist attraction and we have to do the very best we can,” he added.

“The feedback we get from the visitors generally is very favourable. People enjoy the experience as it is now and it is one they look forward to,” he said.

The investment has been possible following the increase in the entrance ticket to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve as from April 12 this year.

“This will allow us more flexibility and to be able to invest in the product further,” he added.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Link:

Some images reproduced by kind permission of David Parody's Interactive Map of Gibraltar @ Dotcom.gi

Gibraltar's own soldiers and RAF in exercise in Morocco

by PANORAMA reporter

The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is to take part in an extra-special exercise in Morocco next month.

This major exercise will involve 500 troops and a large contingent of RAF equipment and personnel.

What is particularly unusual is that the whole regiment is to take part, which shows that this is an out-of-the ordinary exercise. A number of RAF squadrons are taking part as well, including Puma and Chinook helicopters.

Exercise Jebel Sahara aims to enhance the Gibraltar regiment's operational capability and develop individual operational awareness and infantry knowledge.

The troops will deploy into the desert and will carry out live firing, including a realistic dawn attack.

The exercise will consist of a number of phases, with realistic training potential.

The annual Moroccan exercise has now been taking place for six years, during which period a special relationship has developed with the Moroccan army.

It is recalled that in April Moroccan soldiers deployed to Gibraltar. They were from the 2 Brigade d'Infanterie Parachutiste and carried out weapon training on British systems, later moving on for live firing with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment in Scotland.

Welsh Guards

While the regiment is away, the Welsh Guards will be in Gibraltar.

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

Gibraltar Scholars 2005

A total of ten students have this year achieved a minimum of three grade As at ‘A’ level in one sitting.

The Minister for Education, Dr Bernard Linares will celebrate the achievements of these Gibraltar Scholars at a ceremony next week.

Each student will receive a certificate along with a cheque for £100. The ceremony will take place at Bleak House.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Articles & Links:

26 August 2005 - GCSE Gibraltar Students also reach high standards

19 August 2005 - Another record number of passes at ‘A’ Level

GCE ‘A’ Level Results 2005 - Download
AS Level results / A Level results

Gibraltar Government Official Statement: GCSE Exam Results

Gibraltar Government Education & Training Pages

Gibraltar College of Further Education

Bayside Comprehensive School

Westside Comprehensive School

Gib men continue to be detained in Madrid

Drug money laundering ring

The two Gibraltarians detained in Madrid in connection with an alleged drugs and money-laundering organisation were arrested last weekend, even though the news only emerged on Thursday.

Spanish Police identified the men by their initials C.D. and L.C.D., adding only that they were British nationals resident in Gibraltar. But informed sources have confirmed that the men, father and son, are local.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has so far been unable to confirm whether or not the men have been visited and assisted by consular officials in Madrid.

Separately, a spokesman for the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) said there had been no formal notification of the arrests from Spain and that police there had so far made no requests for information from Gibraltar.

In two separate swoops as part of Operation 'Hench', Spanish police detained six men, including the two locals, and seized 17 kilos of pure heroin with a street value of 2.85 million Euros, 500,000 Euros in cash and three vehicles.

The Gibraltarians, along with a Pakistani national, are alleged to have been involved in laundering the proceeds of the drugs through an ancient banking system that originated in Asia and is known as ‘hawala’.

The other three are alleged to have handled the illicit trafficking of the heroin.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Articles:

26 August 2005 - Two local men arrested in Madrid drug money laundering operation

Fraudster imprisoned

A Spanish national Jose Maria Orozco Bueno, 22, has been sentenced to four months prison on several counts of obtaining property by deception.

On Wednesday a Financial Crime Unit investigation into the unauthorised use of a stolen cheque book in the period April 19 to May 3 of this year ended with Orozco’s arrest.

He was also convicted of being in possession of a small amount of cannabis resin.

The charges were evading liability by deception, theft and five counts of obtaining property by deception.

He was also ordered to pay £964.43 in compensation.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Postman helps to restore famous heritage site

A postman serving in the Territorial Army (TA) has helped restore two cannons at one of Gibraltar's most famous heritage sites.

Corporal Robert Walker, 47, joined fellow members of the 168 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in restoring the cannon and plinth at Parson's Lodge battery.

The cannons look over Rosia Bay where Nelson's body was brought ashore after the Battle of Trafalgar.

Mr Walker, who lives and works in Letchworth GC, said:

"I have really enjoyed this experience in Gibraltar especially the sunshine and the adventure training."

The father of four joined the TA 26 years ago and has served in Germany, Iraq and Cyprus.

As well as restoring Parson's Lodge, Mr Walker and his team were able to practice tunnel fighting within the Jurassic limestone rock which is Gibraltar's best known feature. He said:

"This kind of opportunity is quite rare as there are few places that soldiers can practice tunnel fighting. Trying to hunt an enemy down in a complex such as The Rock is very difficult."

From Herts24 - Local News for Hertfordshire

Queensway Island Project progresses impressively

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the first floating concrete caissons being used in the construction of The Island at Queensway Quay, which arrived in Gibraltar from Spain at that time, have been positioned this week.

By kind permission of David Parody, who has just launched a great Gibraltar Pics Photo Blog, I am able to reproduce these impressive shots he took of the Island project just off Queensway Quay.

This week has seen massive progress as a major part of the island’s profile is completed with cement caissons which have been dropped into place.

The construction itself is slightly controversial in Gibraltar with houses going for around £1.8M each!

Works on the reclamation itself should be completed in the next couple of months.

Images reproduced by kind permission of
David Parody's Gibraltar Pics Photo Blog

Related Article:

Floating concrete for Queensway Island

VOGG comment on Caruana's Marbella meeting with de Leon

The Voice of Gibraltar Group (VOGG) issued a statement yesterday commenting on last week's meeting between the Chief Minister Peter Caruana and the Spanish secretary of state Bernardino de Leon

The statement reads:

Another ‘tertulia’ between ‘him & them’ in the fleshpots of the Costa del Sol, all very ‘buddy-buddy’, restrictions, exclusions and court cases apart, but the Gibraltarians are still ‘a dos velas’.

The post-meeting statements, from both sides, were again shrouded in the now customary legal jargon and/or Dickensean/Cervantine prose. Hands up all those who believe that Spanish politicians only show optimism when they feel they are getting their way!

As it did, after the Malaga and Albufiera rounds, The VOGG offers an opinion, expresses its concerns and asks pertinent questions, with the sole intention of creating the necessary public debate that is so lacking, be it because of the Government’s reluctance to provide details on the progress of ‘The Talks’, or the Opposition’s recalcitrance in engaging the Administration on the issue.

Frontier Delays:

The Spaniards are apologetic and worried ‘The Talks’ may be prejudiced. The Chief Minister asks everyone not to look for ‘ulterior motives’ in what is ‘only’ an industrial dispute. With such ‘a cordial’ relationship between them, it’s all soft-talk. What they can all be sure of (que el demonio lo jure) is that ‘confidence-building’ amongst the Gibraltarians takes a substantial step backwards.

Pensions:

It is somewhat surprising that this issue was discussed at ‘Frutos’ without a UK representative present, now that most Spaniards accept that the solution lies with London. Gibraltar’s position is clear-cut, thus out of the equation. However, if a compromise is at hand, i.e. Spain meeting some of the costs, so be it. At least it will do away with one antagonism that poisons relations with the neighbours. The VOGG is glad to hear that Sñr. Garcia Bado of ALPEG is more hopeful of the latest prospect. Perhaps he can now forget his threats of blocking the frontier.

Telephones:

Many fine words, but the truth of the matter is that Spain is nowhere nearer recognising The Rock’s 350 international code. The working-group of experts, technicians, phone companies and regulatory bodies may well conjure up a practical solution which, no doubt, will be duly accepted, with or without reservations, by some or most in the business community, but that will be a concession, whichever way it is looked at.

All other countries in the world seem to have solved this ‘problem’ without any fuss.

Airport:

The VOGG holds the Chief Minister to his word that any agreement will not infringe on sovereignty, in whatever shape or form, and that it will not be rushed into because of any political expediency. However, The VOGG finds it difficult to reconcile the optimism been shown when Gibraltar’s and Spain’s positions on the isthmus are incompatible. Furthermore, everyone remembers what Sñr. Pons said in his exposé on 4th August.

All things considered, The VOGG has some questions for the Chief Minister, who appears to be as keen as the Spaniards to strike a deal by the autumn:

- Is it merely an initial act of magnanimity towards the Spaniards to avoid the collapse of the Forum?

- Is it because of the state of the economy, which the Government insists is in fine fettle, but which others question?

- Has the UK Government warned the local Administration that the airfield is next in line for cutback, perhaps saving some jobs at the MOD, if an EU-funded joint-use/control airport takes its place?

- In the event of a deal ‘acceptable to the Government of Gibraltar’ is reached but is not acceptable to the majority of Gibraltarians, does he expect the natives to just ‘agachar los cuernos’ or to ‘revolt’?

In the absence of any specific details on ‘progress’ from the local Government, The VOGG will closely monitor the Spanish media for news, comment and statements from Spanish politicians, whose respect for the ‘protocols’ of the Tripartite Forum are non-existent. If and when the need arises, it will express a view. In the meantime, it will suffice to advise The Chief Minister that ‘remakes’ do not get great reviews in Hollywood nowadays. Similarly, Gibraltar does not look forward to a re-run of ‘The Curse of Sir Joshua Hassan’.

‘SAFE & REASONABLE’, on the understanding that it is so FOR ALL, must be the over-riding maxim, now more than ever. If the whole process of dialogue is an exercise in ‘intelligent futility’, so be it. That is surely preferable to giving the Spaniards an opportunity to put their feet in the door

From GibNews.Net - VOGG (Voice of Gibraltar Group) Press Release 26 August 2005

Related Article:

24 August 2005 - Confirmed: Talks with Spain "to iron out differences"

24 August 2005 - VOGG criticise latest diplomatic moves warning "we are sleeping on a volcano"!

AA European Route Planner issue update

Today, I can report a little movement on the story we carried last week about the Automobile Association's European Route Planner!

In the story of the 23 August 2005 - AA tells you how to drive to Gibraltar in Spain!! - I posted the item covered by Panorama, about how the AA's new European Route Planner! reckons Gibraltar is in Spain!

Naturally this absurdity has ruffled a lot of feathers, including yours truly's!

Along with many others, I contacted the AA, pointing out the error of their ways and asking them to correct this nonsense. I mentioned that they might wish to comment on my story item, using the 'Comment' facility if they wished, and also suggested that an apology might not go amiss.

Well, I am pleased to report at least some progress! No comment, correction or apology yet, but at least they have acknowledged my communciation!

I received an email last night, from Lee an Advisor at the AA's Customer Service! Pretty standard clinical reply:

Thank you for your email.

I can confirm i have forwarded your correspondence onto our routeplanner department for there attention.

Please expect a direct reply within 5 working days.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Well, polite but as I say, pretty diplomatic standard 'customer service' speech!

Encouraging? Possibly... at least there's life there! An acknowledgement is at least a sign that our complaint is being looked at! Whether we will have what we would like, is yet to be seen! Slowly but surely... 'catchee monkey' or Barbary Macaque in our case!

Watch this space!

Saludos!

Another major International organisation confused about Gibraltar's whereabouts!

Yet another major International organisation seems to be terribly confused about Gibraltar's whereabouts!

On the back of the story about the Automobile Association's European Route Planner earlier this week, who don't seem to know that Gibraltar is NOT in Spain, today we have the World Boxing Council also completely at 'sixes and sevens' about where they will be holding their Annual Convention this year.

As reported in the Belfast Telegraph Boxing story on Wayne McCullough today, quoting a statement from the WBC:

"In view that Wayne McCullough has been not only one of the most courageous fighters honoring his Irish blood - but also an extraordinary example in his private life, the World Boxing Council has decided to appoint him World Ambassador for Peace and Good will in Sports, at the WBC's upcoming world annual convention to be held in Gibraltar, Spain, from October 2 through October 8, 2005, where the organisation will discuss a program of exemplary conduct within boxing and international sports".

Now, if that wasn't bad enough, let's take a look at the World Boxing Council's own Press Release which reveals their confirmation of somewhat befuddled geography.

"... the World Boxing Council has decided to appoint him (Wayne McCullough) World Ambassador for Peace and Good will in Sports, at the WBC’s upcoming