GibViews

'The Civil Service is between a rock and a hard place,' says WENDY CUMMING, President of the GGCA

You are not new to trade unionism, but of late you seem to have propelled yourself to a higher plane. What exactly is your background?

I have a legal background, as I was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2001. I started my career in private practice, but joined the civil service at the Crown Council grade in 2005. I became President of the GGCA in 2012 and continue in this role to date.  Read more

The due process of law is not being upheld

I have said on more than one occasion, how fortunate we are in Gibraltar to have amongst us, those who through their expertise in law have been able to fight our corner successfully in the past, as happened on a couple of occasions. The truth is that recently I read someone had rightly made a complaint on social media, re matters to do with Spain and the committee of 24, adding that “Gibraltar has never won a case against Spain. I would like to say that he has room for optimism, because as it happens we did, back in 2016.  Read more

Give me the essence of days gone by

In the same way that my parents tried to assimilate and accept the fast evolvement of the world around them which was so different from theirs; I now find myself, not doing the same thing, but certainly being sorely tested by habits and attitudes which are so far removed from those I knew and grew up with; and I am sure I am not alone in this.  Read more

Does Britain really want to be relieved of the stigma of Empire Days?

What will Brexit mean for Britain’s fourteen overseas territories; the home of 250,000 Britons? They are seen as remnants of the British Empire that have not been granted independence or have voted to remain British. One thing that comes across very clearly, which takes first place before any other necessity, is the issue of EU funding and the dependence of most of the Overseas Territories on it.  Read more

The aspirations and struggles of a people

Leafing through one of our excellent local glossy magazines, I noted that the author of an article; written around a young, experienced entrepreneur who has done the rounds in London; had suggested to him that he might like to come to Gibraltar and inspire us with his ideas.  Read more

No Postcode Envy

by KEN WESTMORELAND

There’s a line in the song ‘Royals’ by Lorde, which goes: ‘And I’m not proud of my address, in a torn up town, no postcode envy.’ Despite sounding American, she’s from New Zealand, which has ‘postcodes’, not ‘zip codes’ as in the US. ‘ZIP’ was an acronym for ‘Zone Improvement Plan’, or as Elvis once sang: ‘Return to sender, address unknown, no such number, no such zone’.  Read more

The country we have to deal with

When a Spanish Politician is pushed into a corner, he resorts to accusations and verbal abuse. His arrogance and the lack of plasticity of his beliefs, will not allow him to engage with someone who has different views to his i.e. those of the country he represents. To him this might appear as sacrilegious. Sr Borell in a TV interview not only accused his interviewer of being an ignoramus, but told him that next time, he was to ask him the right questions! The man is not after an interview, but a monologue.  Read more

Belize: A Vote for Russian Roulette?

by KEN WESTMORELAND

Years ago, I remarked to a Gibraltarian, ‘Spain lays claim to Gibraltar, Argentina the Falkland Islands, Guatemala Belize, what is it with Spanish-speaking countries?’ to which he replied, ‘I think you mean: “What is it with fascists?”’ I wouldn’t brand them as ‘fascists’, but rather as ‘Hispano-irredentists’, all hankering after long lost territory, if it were theirs to lose.  Read more