17 April
Commissioner of Police Eddie Yome will next week attend the European Association of Airport & Seaport Police (EAASP) which will be celebrating its Annual Conference in Greece. He is the President of the European Association and also President (Designate) of the International Association (IAASP).
The majority of Association members will be represented at the Conference, the theme of which is 'Countering Threats to Europe: Tackling Terrorism, People Smuggling & the Cyber Threat.'
This year's Conference will once again touch upon mutual issues of concern, such as International Terrorism and the Cyber Threat. There will be numerous speakers from the world of Counter Terrorism, each providing unique perspectives on issues affecting particular regions and how these impact on Aviation and Maritime security.
A full two-day programme has been prepared for the Conference which will also include a table-top exercise.
17-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Doctor Giraldi Home inquiry
April 17, 2015
Dear Sir,
While democratic freedom of speech in Parliament is to be applauded, it is a sad reflection on Parliamentary democracy and ethics that all too frequently the GSD opposition members are totally unable to see or accept the role of the social reformation brought about by the Socialists and Liberals.
At times this can bring no more than a mild argument, at others, it can result in negative responses and heated debate. This was the case with the controversial Dr Giraldi Home enquiry initiated by the government after the pledge that was given when in opposition.
This resulted in a motion brought to the House and tabled by the leader of the opposition that there was no cover up by the GSD when in government on the doctor Giraldi Home allegations. But the motion was defeated and amended entirely by a new one from the government and carried by a government majority.
There was a noteworthy intervention by the veteran socialist Joe Bossano who played a lively role and with great lucidity freely issued his critique of the chairman of the inquiry Sir Jonathan Parker for ignoring the evidence brought to light during his last years hearing and the reason why the chairman disliked him.
Also Joe Bossano I know with no economy of words criticised the GSD when in government for not conducting an independent enquiry into the allegations made about the Dr Giraldi home at the time and the unfair treatment and dismissal of Joanna Hernandez.
It was also made clear that the government of Socialists and Liberals will certainly lend no hand in letting the subject of the inquiry lie down when it had clearly brought to the surface evidence of mismanagement, misconduct and malpractice and therefore publish transcripts of the inquiry hearings.
Of course clearly the Socialists and Liberals have a duty to serve the public, to serve the underprivileged and to contribute towards improving the standards of the society in which we live.
Threat to Parliamentary democracy
Before all the anti-Bossano-flinging continues from Robert Vasquez for making democratic comments in parliament to which he is entitled, critical of Judge Sir Jonathan Parker as chairman of the Dr Giraldi Home enquiry and the speaker of Parliament Adolfo Canepa for not putting a break on Joe Bossano.
It is worth getting a few facts straight. There is no statutory law that binds any Member of Parliament to an arbitrary limit of what they can say in Parliament.
But it is on record as being in favour of responsible political debate in which both government and opposition believe in freedom of expression in parliament and citizens achieving the best political information on what goes on in Parliament.
The public interest demands that their representatives speak out, which is an essential part of the structure of Parliament in a democratic country. If we lose sight of this fact we become a dictatorship. It is well to remember the basis on which our democracy and Parliament is founded.
If we shackle comment by members of parliament we may soon have a move to restrain all newspapers from publishing the vigorous comments by ordinary citizens, politicians, and journalists about the things they don't like.
Finally, it is a pity that Robert Vasquez could not be as adamant in his beliefs or convictions when the people of Gibraltar, in a massive demonstration, and later in a referendum rejected the sovereignty deal with Spain democratically. Yet Robert Vasquez had the blatant audacity shortly after the referendum to argue in favour of negotiation with Spain on the sovereignty issue in a local business and financial magazine thus ignoring the democratic rights of the people of Gibraltar.
Yours sincerely,
Francis Gonzalez
It is the Opposition who need to do the explaining, says Govt
April 17, 2015
There are occasions when the Opposition surpass themselves - and their latest statement on the GFA stadium issue is one. The Government adds that in the Opposition's urge to say something - anything - they ask a question for which their Press Release actually provides the full answer.
In the GFA's Financial Statement for 2013/2014, Note 7 provides that the sum of £835,792 for Stadium Development Costs includes payments made by the Gibraltar Government.
The Opposition are now asking for the Chief Minister to explain the "apparent inconsistency" between the GFA's Final Financial Statement and an answer the Chief Minister provided to Parliament in which he said that only £104 had been "paid by the Government in respect of Stadium Development Costs."
However, the Opposition's release also quotes Note 8 in the report when it says that 'the entire sum in respect of Stadium Development Costs is money due from the GFA to the Government of Gibraltar.'
The Government adds: If the Opposition had done their homework a little more carefully they would have discovered that the sum of £835,000 was a loan to the GFA and therefore this money is owed 'from the GFA to the Government' - exactly as the Report makes clear. There is therefore no question of any inconsistency that the Chief Minister needs to explain.
There is, however, a question for the GSD to answer, namely: "who failed to understand the accounts of the GFA when they are so clear in the respect in particular?"
Earlier, the GSD said it had been provided with a Report and Consolidated Financial Statement for the Gibraltar Football Association for the year ending 31 May 2014 which includes Stadium Development Costs in the sum of £835,792. They went on to say that on 19 March this year the Leader of the Opposition asked the Chief Minister in Parliament "what money has been paid either directly or indirectly by the Government, a Government owned company, authority or agency in respect of the proposed Europa Point Stadium and/or Europa Stadium Limited". The response from the Chief Minister was that "the sum of £104 has been charged to Europa Point Limited to date". The Opposition went on to call on the Chief Minister "to explain the apparent inconsistency between the answer he provided to Parliament and the GFA Final Financial Statement", which is what the Government has now done.
17-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Mrs Ellul-Hammond avoids an unnecessary by-election being held by not resigning from Parliament now
April 17, 2015
The Gibraltar Health Authority have issued a statement on the offer of the post of Cancer Care Co-ordinator to Mrs Isobel Ellul-Hammond of the GSD following what it describes as the speculation that has followed the announcement about her successful application for the post of Cancer Care Co-ordinator.
The GHA does not usually comment on matters relating to employment within the Authority, but given press questions resulting from the announcement made by Mrs Ellul-Hammond, the GHA says it will clarify the position as follows:
1. The post of cancer Care Co-ordinator, as a part time appointment, was advertised internally in the GHA and externally in the press. There were three applicants who were interviewed by an independent, professional panel.
2. The post has been offered to Mrs Ellul-Hammond. Mrs Ellul-Hammond has accepted the appointment.
3. Given that Mrs Ellul-Hammond is presently an elected member of the Parliament, she is unable to commence her employment with the GHA immediately. The GHA and Mrs Ellul-Hammond have therefore agreed that her employment will commence only when she is no longer a member of the Parliament. Until that time, Mrs Ellul-Hammond will be Cancer Care Co-ordinator Designate. She will start the process of preparing to take up her appointment by liaising with the GHA so that she is best prepared to hit the ground running as soon as she is able to take her post.
Given an election is due this year, Mrs Ellul-Hammond has indicated to the Chairman of the Authority Dr John Cortes, that she does not wish to cause a by-election (which could cost the tax-payer many hundreds of thousands of pounds if contested) by resigning her seat as a Member of Parliament.
Dr Cortes said: "The GHA has offered the post of Cancer Care Co-ordinator to Isobel Ellul-Hammond because she was the best applicant for the job. She has accepted the post and rightly decided , after consulting with the Leader of the House and Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, that she does not want to put the taxpayer to the huge expense of a by-election that is unnecessary in an election year. She will therefore not take up her appointment at this stage. She will be the Cancer Care Co-ordinator Designate until then."
17-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Public set to reap rewards of massive overhaul of Customs
April 17, 2015 | By J C Culatto
Yesterday's launch of two new Customs launches was a symbolic statement of what could well be the biggest step for the Customs in Gibraltar in the government department's entire history. Along with new equipment the staff will now be increased by two thirds, giving the body a significant boost in fighting smuggling and fraud, and all this thanks to the ambition and foresight of the current GSLP/Liberal government to give Gibraltar the best it deserves. We caught up with the department head, Collector of Customs John Rodriguez, as he outlined how this change came about and what it would mean for the Customs officers on the ground.
"Basically we came up for a roadmap for the future," said Rodriguez. "The first thing it did was recognise the Customs as a law enforcement body within the GSLP/Liberal's manifesto for the elections in regards to the risks and duties they carry out. We hadn't had that tangible recognition before even though we had always been a revenue raising department with a lot of enforcement powers. Because of this all HEOs will now wear uniform which wasn't previously the norm and like this they will feel part of the team as well."
Balanced
The arrival of the new boats and recruits stems from a very comprehensive review undertaken between 2013 and 2014 when it was identified that a reform programme was necessary for the customs department in Gibraltar. Rodriguez found that the overhaul of the very roots and branches of this public service would have to be in coordination between the combined visions of the Government, the Customs hierarchy and the input of the union which represented the staff.
Apart from the law enforcement status, another area on the table for consideration was pay remuneration because of the Customs' powers of detention, rights of access, seizure, arrest and search powers. This resulted in the introduction of a new pay structure for Customs as a result of the collective review.
"We looked at the current structure which comprised of 101 officers and as we hadn't grown significantly for the last 20-odd years, the Government acknowledged it was high time we did expand our numbers," said the Collector of Customs, who worked his way up from the very bottom of the hierarchy. "In this light we have now recruited 66 new officers which represents a 66% growth.
"We went through the recruitment process and from 500 expressions of interest the figure was whittled down to a manageable 350-odd that came for selection. We interviewed 154 of which we selected certainly 66 for the new posts and an additional six or seven for people moving on or passing away."
The 12-week recruits programme was finalised on Maundy Thursday during which internal trainers were supplemented by other stakeholders from the Government and even drug-addicts that gave their side of the story. Meanwhile the second one will start on Monday and run in parallel with the third one. "Every three months there is a completion but every six weeks in parallel the second, third and fourth one are commencing, with the last programme starting in September after the August break," said Customs top man.
Full Interview In Our Printed Edition
17-04-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
