09/07/2020 - 09:05
by DILIP DAYARAM TIRATHDAS
Public Services Ombudsman
*This is from the Public Services Ombudsman’s 20th Annual Report.
It is his final report before stepping down as Public Services Ombudsman at the end of his term of office on 26 June 2020.
As I mentioned in my previous Annual Reports, the Ombudsman’s work has developed significantly over the years and the Ombudsman’s Office is now firmly established as an institution in Gibraltar that provides an important check on Government departments and other providers of public services. Read more
09/07/2020 - 09:01
As a result of an ongoing operation into money laundering and cross border Transnational drug trafficking, a locally registered 11.5m vessel ‘Sunrays’ has been seize by Officers from the Money Laundering Investigation Unit and RGP Marine Section from a berth at Ocean Village, says RGP statement. Read more
08/07/2020 - 11:18
Wednesday 8th July 2020
Total tests done: 15,252
Test results pending: 12
Test results received: 15,240
Confirmed cases: 179 Read more
08/07/2020 - 08:56
The European Commission has approved an approximately EUR 110 million (GBP 100 million) “umbrella” scheme to support enterprises of all sizes in Gibraltar. The scheme was approved under the Temporary Framework. The measure aims to provide liquidity to undertakings operating in Gibraltar affected by the coronavirus outbreak, facilitate their access to external finance, and support the development of coronavirus relevant activities.
Under the scheme Gibraltar authorities can grant public support in the form of: (i) limited amounts of aid (in the form of direct grants, repayable advances and tax advantages) of up to €800,000 per company;
(ii) guarantees on loans; (iii) interest rate subsidies for loans; (iv) aid for coronavirus relevant research and development (R&D); (v) investment aid for the construction or upgrading of testing and upscaling infrastructures that contribute to develop coronavirus relevant products; and (vi) investment aid for production of products necessary to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. The measure is open to companies active in all sectors except the financial, agriculture and fishery and aquaculture sectors.
Aid is granted under the measure either directly or, as concerns aid in form of guarantees and subsidised interest rates for loans, through credit institutions and other financial institutions as financial intermediaries.
The Commission says it found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. Read more
08/07/2020 - 08:54
The Cruise Liner “Explorer of the Seas” visited Gibraltar yesterday to undertake a technical call alongside. The Cruise Liner ‘Jewel of the Seas’ will be arriving today at around 7am to carry out a technical call, also alongside. Read more
08/07/2020 - 08:54
This week marks one year since the hosting of the XVIII Natwest International Island Games 2019. The Opening Ceremony was held on the 6th July which marked the start of what was to become the most memorable week in Gibraltar’s sporting history. Over 2500 athletes, officials and media from 22 of the member Islands descended on Gibraltar to take part in 7 days of intense competition. Read more
08/07/2020 - 08:54
Yesterday in my report titled ‘Government Projects Provokes New Wave of Political Interest’, I highlighted how during the past six weeks or so local political engagement and discourse had been generated, not only by Panorama, but also on social media in general. It reached a point, that after many years a public demonstration was organised, specifically revolving round the political decisions taken which created the present controversial social setting. Read more
08/07/2020 - 08:53
Nothing comes free in life; not really!
A sign of how a pandemic is good for business. Designer face masks are being launched together with perfumed sanitising gels. Also you must have heard the phrase often enough “if it’s free it’s for me.” Read more
07/07/2020 - 11:22
Total tests done: 14,934
Test results pending: 31
Test results received: 14,903 Read more
07/07/2020 - 10:27
Spain has given priority to cooperation over sovereignty, as negotiations take place for a post-Brexit Gibraltar.
However, a degree of confusion has arisen as there are two sets of talks taking place, one is the withdrawal from the EU (with the four sets of Memoranda of Understanding) and the other talks on the future relationship which took place in Malaga on 9 June. Read more