Carmen Gomez Diary

A truly admirable act of solidarity

It’s hard to assess the damage being done to the hopes and dreams of the younger generation in these times of pandemic and constant lockdowns. However, here our students are truly fortunate in having a government that helps financially to meet the costs of accommodation etc plus parents who can afford lap tops for their children.   Read more

Have we already paid a price?

“Schengen is a set of rules, procedures, and tools, including its database to which only Spain has access. Gibraltar and the United kingdom do not.” Spanish Foreign Minister Ms Arancha Gonzalez Layas.  Read more

A NEW HOPE

Governor Anderson in 1948, at a time when nearly one thousand Gibraltarian evacuees still had to be shipped back to the Rock, said “They are Europeans and the leaders are no fools.” Let’s hope that the EU picks up on this and gives us our place for who we are, and not who Spain would want us to be, or makes us out to be.   Read more

On the matter of vaccines

by CARMEN GOMEZ

There are elderly people locally whom I have spoken to, who do not want the vaccines. They are weary of them due to the mixed messages out there, on the lack of 100% confirmation on their efficacy; the possible side effects etc. so I thought I would let you know what is also being said about receiving the vaccine.   Read more

We must keep reminding a “democratic” Europe that there can be no other way

It’s too soon really to decipher anything concerning the situation we now find ourselves in, because much discussion still has to take place before any new implementation of rules which would cause a sudden change in our frontier, takes place. I know that in the New Year I was told by someone travelling into Gibraltar, that they had not seen such an amalgamation of Spanish police officers before. 

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It has started! Gibraltar should treat any deal with Spain with caution

Dear Sir,

In a previous letter, I said that the Gibraltar Govt. should treat ANY deal with Spain with caution & Spain has gone ahead with the SPANISH edict as to WHO decides WHO can cross the border within 48 hours of the 'deal' being signed!  Read more

THE PFIZER VACCINE EFFICIENCY

Dear Editor,

In yesterday’s Panorama is the Chief Minister’s explanation on Gibraltar’s STAY AT HOME LOCKDOWN.
To many of us, it is something we had been hoping for and it is very welcome, and despite its effects, think it should be kept until there is a marked improvement on the present situation.  Read more

Finance Centre Council welcomes in-principle agreement

Dear Sir,

The Gibraltar Finance Centre Council (“GFCC”) welcomes the announcement by the Chief Minister, the Hon. Fabian Picardo, QC, MP, that an agreement of principles has been reached between the UK, Spain and Gibraltar on the future relationship Gibraltar will have with the EU.  Read more

Solution to Frontex problem

Dear Editor,
Is it beyond the realms of possibility that the Frontex staffing problem could be solved by an agency agreement between Frontex and our BCA.  Read more

Why cannot we have the Andorra conditions?

Dear Editor,

Reading the Andorra conditions in relation to the EU I don’t know why we couldn’t have the same? So here is the Andorra Conditions, wish you published it for your readers.
Citizens of the Principality of Andorra are used to lfreely within the Schengen member nations of Europe just by presenting their valid passport for short trips under 90 days’ duration.  Read more

CALL FOR MILITARY COUP IN SPAIN

Anyone who has been reading my articles since 2012, will know by now that I have often voiced my opinion on matters related to fascism in Spain and my belief that Franco’s ghost still walks amongst us; or better said amongst an undisclosed number of Spaniards who, despite everything, hold his memory in awe.  Read more

Erect statue of Churchill on Winston Churchill Avenue but leave the Cross of Sacrifice where it is

Dear Sir,
Further to Panorama’s articles of interest of the 12/10/2020 titled:
In this 75th anniversary year - Why Gibraltar should honour the memory of Churchill and Eisenhower and followed by my response letter in your Panorama of the 15/10/2020 titled: I believe in Panorama’s good idea.
Which I do still continue to do.  Read more

Minister clears ‘the real situation’

Dear Sir,

Your article in Friday’s Panorama decries the apparent loss of trees in the area of Queensway adjacent to the new Park. I am of course not surprised at this reaction and in fact welcome this support for trees from Panorama, which Armando Lagrande’s article clearly demonstrates.  Read more

Trees? Get a grip on the infrastructure!

Dear Editor,

Further to the news of the 'killing' of the trees in Queensway to make room for another park, I would like to bring to the attention of this government that they need to focus on infrastructure. Like the 'airport tunnel' ( which is going to become a joke, if it's not already),  Read more

Proposal for Gibraltar to obtain TV channels via BFBS

*Letter sent to The Chief Executive of BFBS, copy sent to us:
Dear Mr Bucks,
I hope this finds you well, despite the dystopian ‘new normal’ in which we are now living.  Read more

GibSat and u-mee’s blackout

Dear Sir,
The action of Blacking out thousands of Television subscribers by GibSat and U-mee Satellite Tv providers on Wed 21st of October at 6pm was designed to frighten and gain support in a commercial dispute. All it did was cause anxiety among a community already in the grip of a Covid Pandemic, escalating infections and related deaths in parallel with the uncertainties, that Covid and Brexit hold I store for us.  Read more

Priority should be to bring our students home

Dear Sir,
CUSP has previously called on the Department of Education to allow students in receipt of... Obviously, the priority should be to bring our students home. After this stressful term, they will need time with their families, to be able to return to their families in Gibraltar with no penalty given the unprecedented times.  Read more

The Spain we now have to deal with beyond Brexit

Continued from previous edition

Then along came Tony Blair in 2002, who accused us of having a “schizophrenic” attitude to our status; here we go again with our status; when he tried to give Gibraltar to Spain to carry favour with EU. I’m sure that those in the EU could be forgiven for now saying the same about the British government and their attitude towards Brexit dealings. Not quite what we would have expected from politicians or ministers who surely must be aware that; unlike other overseas territories; we have long historical ties with the motherland that distinguishes us from the others, in addition to having a totally different culture and education to that of Spain. But the unfortunate thing is that they are not alone. Their conduct has prompted phrases carried in newspapers when talking about Gibraltar like “at present it is a British overseas territory.” Read more