9 December
I wonder why. Could it be that the shock of the hellection defeat by the blabber mouths lingers on?
It could well be, although with the ceremonial opening of Parliament today, it should be interesting to see if the Hopposition have learnt any lessons.
And lessons they need to learn, because they got the hellection campaign so badly wrong that, in any other democracy, heads would have rolled.
It could well be that Gibraltar is not a real democracy, as Vasquez might have said.
Well, it is nothing to do with the system but rather the people operating it, even if people like someone called Jacob likes to defend the indefensible.
Jacob cream crackers? Because that's the only thing I know about the name Jacob, but you must know more than I do.
I could take a gamble but let's get no more powder on my face, my dear, porque enough is enough, now everyone is waiting to see what GBC and the Broadcasting Regulator are going to do to get right what is so wrong.
Thing is that some people will never get it right.
My darling Juan says he could bank on it that those paid to do something about it will do nothing about it, and my dear husband es un seneca.
I know that, so let's wait and see.
For now, the big do is the upheaval that erupted at the football match. I wonder who is right and who is wrong, do you think Denis Not the Menace will come up with something or other.
Well, they say he is going to investigate what went on, so we shall see, blancaflor.
Oh well, we shall see. In the meantime, let's get working on the new stadium which is what Gibraltar needs.
I quite agree with you there, my dear. Let's play our home games at home. Ciao.
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Are British (Gibraltarian) Citizens poised to be discriminated against in EU referendum?
December 09, 2015
by Contributor
The franchise arrangements for the Brexit Referendum, announced last May by the British Prime Minister discriminate against British (Gibraltarian) Citizens who live overseas, including those in another EU Member state.
The Brexit enfranchisement arrangements provide for UK nationals, who have lived overseas for less than 15 years, to exercise their right to vote. However, this arrangement does not extend to British (Gibraltarian) Citizens who for EU purposes also classed as UK nationals and who have lived abroad for less than 15 years. For this reason, the arrangements promoted by the Prime Minister simply fail to provide a level playing field.
Any argument that British (Gibraltarian) Citizens are not UK nationals is easily challenged as the term "United Kingdom national" is not defined in the nationality law of the United Kingdom. Moreover, for EU purposes the original definition of a "United Kingdom national" provided by the UK when it signed the Treaty of Accession to the EC was replaced with effect 1 January 1983 by the current definition which provides for:
a. British citizens;
b. Persons who are British subjects by virtue of Part IV of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and are therefore exempt from United Kingdom immigration control;
c. British Dependent Territories citizens who acquire their citizenship from a connection with Gibraltar.
As the outcome of the referendum will affect all British Citizens alike it is only fair, right and proper the franchise is extended to British (Gibraltarian) Citizens residing overseas, on the same terms as British (UK) Citizens. Anything other than that would be discriminatory and undemocratic on the part of the British Government.
Some months ago, a disenfranchised British (Gibraltarian) Citizen wrote to the Prime Minister seeking the franchise arrangements regarding British Citizens residing abroad be extended to Gibraltar. Regrettably, it appears the matter has been totally ignored by No.10 Downing Street as other than a brief acknowledgement of receipt, advising the letter had been forwarded to the appropriate Government Department, no other communication has been received, to date.
Whilst the Referendum has been called by the United Kingdom, and the Gibraltar Government has played no part in preparing the terms of the franchise arrangements set by the British Government, is it right and proper that the blatant discrimination against British (Gibraltarian) Citizens be left unchallenged by Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar?
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Classic cars display
December 09, 2015
Saturday morning saw a number of events taking place all along Main Street with various stalls and charity fundraisers, however Casemates square was graced by a number of beautiful classic cars in a Classic Vehicle Static Display organized by the Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association.
This is the third static display organized by the association within the past few months, proving popular with the general public and attracting interest from tourists visiting Gibraltar. On display there were a number of cars, all of which are considered to be classics ranging from different time periods.
Local classic car enthusiasts who wanted to share with the public their love and appreciation for classic cars and the lifestyle and challenges that are associated with restoring and maintaining classic vehicles established the Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association in 2001. They have around 90 members and around 145 cars most of which belong to the members themselves.
Throughout the year the association organizes various static vehicle displays as well as monthly meets as a way of promoting their association to the general public, encouraging anyone who has an interest in classic cars to join.
Every year the association organize and partake in The Gibraltar International Classic and Vintage Car Rally, taking place in Casemates offering a wide range of classic and vintage vehicles entered by locals and others from abroad. The event usually includes a most popular car competition, in which the winners are chosen by the public, followed by a rally through Main Street and a tour around the Rock.
The association will be holding its 15th Gibraltar International Classic and Vintage Car Rally next year on the 21st May.
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
easyJet announces flights to Manchester
December 09, 2015
easyJet, Europe's leading airline, is to start a new service from Gibraltar to Manchester on 3 July 2016.
The new route, which operates twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays, is a year round service and will be operated using a 180 seater A320.
easyJet expects the new route to attract around 30,000 visitors during the first 12 months of operation. Fares start from £35.49 one way.
easyJet already operates services to Bristol and London Gatwick from Gibraltar.
Ali Gayward, easyJet's Head of Gibraltar, said: "We're delighted to have added this new route to our network from Gibraltar.
"We continue to see an increased number of travellers looking to fly with easyJet on our Gibraltar routes and with affordable fares and flight time of just over two and a half hours, we're confident that this new service will prove popular with both business and leisure travellers.
"We remain fully committed to serving Gibraltar and supporting the growth of tourism and business through our easy and affordable fares."
Samantha Sacramento, Minister for Tourism said:"This is excellent news from easyJet so soon after their announcement of an increase in flights from London Gatwick for next year. Demand from Manchester to
Gibraltar has seen a steady increase and we are happy to welcome a second carrier on this route.
"Our tourism and hospitality partners are always calling for more capacity on air services from the UK and I am delighted to see this commitment from the airline to Gibraltar. Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar, the Gibraltar Tourist Board and Gibraltar International Airport work tirelessly to encourage further growth in air services delivering important business to the Rock. We look forward to yet another busy year in 2016, welcoming even more visitors from the north of England."
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
EU money-go-round
December 09, 2015
Dear Sir,
In a recent Gibraltar daily newspaper I read with great interest and a degree of scepticism, Madrid based British journalist/author William Chislett's praises, with a host of statistics, of "the great Spanish miracle since the death of the dictator".
The praises centred on the incredible growth of GDP, Export of goods and services, foreign investment (he forgot labour), tourism and creation of employment. And it is fair to say he also recognises that not all the changes, that took place throughout the transition, were positive.
He highlights how President JL Zapatero lived to regret Spain's 'promotion to the Champions League' and claims that their 'economic model was an international model of solvency and efficiency'.
Spain's economic crash, though not exclusively of their making, led to the biggest recession known to present generation Spaniards. "Las vacas gordas" were now condemned to the slaughter.
The false economy fuelled by the debt-laden construction and property sectors coupled with a massive private debt, in turn fuelled by massive unsecured loans to Uncle Tom, Dick and Harry, led to yet another unemployment rate which at one point peaked at circa 26% nationally, though much higher in Andalucia and other regions.
We all know the construction frenzy was not limited to house building, there were excesses in spending the EU's monopoly handouts on ghost airports (Castellon €1 billion), the pharaonic complex on the outskirts of Madrid, (Baldebebas near Barajas airport €150 million), ironically called "City of Justice"- don't laugh it's really not funny especially when you read on.
Now no one is disputing the great ingenuity and gusto with which Spain and its host of MEPS and Commissioners in umpteen EU institutions have steered EU funds into their national mega infrastructures 'fraud anonymous' kitty. All the funding received for infrastructure projects such as Road, Rail and Airports as well as for refurbishment of their Fishing fleets, Airlines, Power generation and other industries has attracted huge EU Aid and Development Funds, and of course huge commissions for 'the boys', this is common knowledge in Spain.
Spanish savings banks were bailed out with a €41 billion Eurozone programme in 2014. And €millions have be fraudulently extracted from the tax payer via public contracts commissions and party donations and found their way into Swiss bank accounts.
Since Spain joined the European Union in 1986 to 2013 it has received from the European Union EUR 91,463 million "over what it has contributed", (Money-go-round.eu).
Spanish savings banks were bailed out with a €41 billion Eurozone programme in 2014.
And this is what is acclaimed 'a 21st Century miracle'? And yet they are the EU's blue-eyed boys in Brussels, the city of hugs and kisses, some miracle!
An interesting anecdote to all this is that (as you may have heard) towards the end of October this year, the European Parliament voted to prevent EU agricultural subsidies being used to support bullfighting in Spain. In 2013, a report entitled "Toros and taxes", compiled by Spanish MEPs, established that agricultural payments worth more than €143 million "a year" were being given to Spanish farmers using their pastures to rear fighting bulls' a cruel national pastime, which can hardly be considered "agriculture". Ingenuity at its best or a national trait.
But to many here in Gibraltar, where we survived our own transition during the 16 years of the closed land frontier imposed by Spain, it always amazes us how "the grass generally looks greener from the other side".
Sincerely,
Joe Brugada.
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
'Junk Mail'
December 09, 2015
Dear Sir,
Once again Christmas is here and we are being inundated with junk mail in many Government estates despite signs stating 'THESE LETTER BOXES ARE FOR THE SOLE USE OF PERSONAL LETTERS.'
Some Tenants Associations and individual tenants have placed wooden boxes next to the letter boxes so that all these stacks of propaganda literature and pamphlets can be placed inside them, but the problem is that few people pay any attention to these boxes and quite often the letter boxes are so full of propaganda material that it is impossible for the postmen/women to introduce letters into the letter boxes, or worse still, the postmen/women may introduce a letter between the pages of a pamphlet and because it is of no interest to the person concerned it is thrown away or placed on top of the letter boxes where they get lost stolen or tossed around by the wind.
Despite notices also placed on top of these letter boxes stating quite clearly in English and Spanish that these letter boxes are for the sole use of personal letters the problem of 'junk mail' continues unabated.
Some Spanish companies also put stacks of their propaganda material on top of the letter boxes which quite frequently gets blown by the wind creating a mess at the entrance to all these blocks so it is not surprising that some tenants have taken it upon themselves to rid these blocks of this problem by throwing all these pamphlets down the chutes the moment they are delivered.
I wonder if throwing away unwanted propaganda and unsolicited material is against the law, or perhaps it is against the law and against the wishes of most tenants to have their letter boxes inundated with unwanted paper material? Perhaps the Government can do something about this problem so that tenants know their rights.
Yours faithfully,
Tito Valerga
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Thanks to the staff of Mount Alvernia
December 09, 2015
Dear Sir,
Where do you find a word big enough to thank those caring people up at Mount Alvernia.
The Admin personnel who constantly look after the needs of the residents. The Carers on the different floors, who day in day out look after them with love and patience.
The cooks who make sure they have a hot meal every day and cook extra dishes should they not want what is on the menu.
The Activity team who constantly are coming up with novative ideas to keep the residents entertained, with arts and crafts, films and baking.
The Friends of Mount Alvernia, a group of volunteers who keep not only the residents of Mount Alvernia entertained, with weekly Bingo sessions, excursions and making sure they have volunteer dancing and singing groups going to give a show to the residents, but also they cater for those residents in the other care agency depts, ie Calpe Ward, Cochrane Ward and Mackintosh Wing.
How does one thank all these wonderful people. I have been witness to their great work for the past 36 months. My mother passed away at the age of 97 but was treated with love and respect at all times. They went out of their way to make her comfortable and made her feel special at all times.
She was buried on the 6th December, and I still get calls from individual staff members asking how I feel and that I shall always be regarded as part of the team.
On behalf of my late mother Mercedes and myself, May God Bless you all.
Love
Tere McNeice
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
With Global Conference on Climate Change in Session: "Until Climate World Sorts Itself Out We're Not Doing Too Badly"
December 09, 2015
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 is being held in Le Bourget, Paris, from November 30 to December 11. More about that later.
Climate change has assumed unprecedented importance over recent years. In the light that we, human beings, have been having an increasing negative effect on the climate for these last 250 years or so, one asks: Why is it that climate change and the environment is now on everyone's lips whereas just over a decade ago it was almost unheard of? Why are politicians and decision-makers only now giving it its due importance? Why should we even consider looking into such a subject, which after all, has been neglected for years?
We all Have a Part to Play
Experts say that after decades of unsustainable use of fossil fuels, deforestation and wasting, the centrality of human health in the climate change issue is finally rising to the surface. We are told that what we need to realise is that, no matter how well we manage to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the climate will keep on changing in the coming years. This means that extreme weather events like heat waves will become more intense and more frequent. Temperatures will also continue rising. Above-normal ultraviolet radiation (UV index) will be prolonged for a longer time period because of climate change, leading to an increase in incidence of sun strokes, sun burn and skin cancer. Rainfall will become scarcer, affecting our water resources and the way we manage them.
The message that keeps coming across when it comes to climate change is that 'we all have a part to play' especially regarding the local environment in particular!
In fact, the environment and related matters was a highly controversial issue during the recent election campaign, particularly where it concerned the new LNG power station at Waterport. Climate change and the environment are not only high on the national agenda, but are also hugely important from an international perspective as we are seeing in Paris this week.
Road Map
Undoubtedly, the main challenge on climate change is the mustering of the right dose of political will that systematically enables the much-needed shift towards a low-carbon economy that relies as minimally as possible on conventional fossil fuel and we have had good news from that
perspective!The Gibraltar Government before and during the election campaign said that during the last 4 years they had judged every related decision through the prism of its potential effect on the environment. Also ensuring, that all Government Departments and other Authorities and Agencies in the public service work within the highest standards of environmental governance and sustainability, guided by the 'Environmental Action and Management Plan'.
The Governments way forward in this regard is already clear. This if consideration is given to its energy roadmap and the good news I mentioned which is the new LNG power station which brings with it much less carbon emissions, equalling cleaner air for all!
There is also Government commitment for a much stronger drive on renewable energy, particularly given Gibraltar's EU commitments of its 20 per cent target by 2019. The energy sector is also about transport: more sustained efforts should lead to more sustainable transport modes, which would definitely do no harm.
There was the Prospect of a Back in Time Fossil-Fuel Power Scenario
However, none of this would have been possible if the election result had been different. In fact, if the election result had gone the other way, Gibraltar could have been placed in a precarious position regarding its EU commitments and national expectations.
The other generating station was the GSD alternative, a back in time to fossil fuel power scenario. A situation, which would have put Gibraltar into polluted smog like environment for countless years to come. Precisely, with the type of power generation the rest of the world wants to get rid of… for good!
Brussels aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions across the EU to the extent of somewhere between 80 and 95 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2050. Gibraltar cannot stay out of the loop and indifference to such a scenario is certainly not an option.
COP 21 (on-going) Climate Change Conference in Paris
As mentioned earlier, the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 is being held in Le Bourget, Paris, from November 30 to December 11. Gibraltar is represented at the conference, by Dr Liesl Mesilio-Torres Department of the Environment and Climate Change and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Gibraltar Professor Daniella Tilbury.
The main objective of the annual Conference of Parties (COP) is to review the Convention's implementation. The first COP took place in Berlin in 1995 and significant meetings since then have included COP3 where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, COP11 where the Montreal Action Plan was produced, COP15 in Copenhagen where an agreement to success Kyoto Protocol was unfortunately not realised and COP17 in Durban where the Green Climate Fund was created.
In 2015 COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.
France is playing a leading international role in hosting this seminal conference, and COP21 will be one of the largest international conferences ever held in the country.
Will Global Agreement be Reached
With the Paris climate summit now in full swing, the million-dollar question is whether a global agreement will be reached. Will all United Nations member states commit themselves to a binding agreement, which can help safeguard present and future generations from the projected negative impacts of climate change?
The COP21 summit is in itself a complex web of ideologies, interests, organisational set-ups and civil society interaction. When a similar summit was held in Copenhagen six years ago, it transpired that lack of political will and poor organisation ultimately resulted in non-binding rhetoric, to the disappointment of many who were optimistic.
As was the case in Copenhagen, different ideologies are this week characterising COP21. They are not dogmatic monoliths, but rather entangled in a range of discourses within the climate policy sphere. In this context, some believe that technology can provide the most practical solutions, while others believe in markets.
Others emphasise that sustainability should reconcile economic, social and environmental factors through win-win policies. Some believe in stronger state regulation, others prioritise political ecology.
National Interests Play a Key Role
COP21 is also characterised by a plurality of interests. Some big business interests, particularly of fossil fuel producers, do their utmost to minimise the climate change problem. Others, like climate scientists, do the opposite, based on their research and projections.
National interests play a key role, too. For example, it is unclear what role Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela will ultimately play during COP21, in view of the fossil-fuel energy they produce and their current geo-political interests.
The US and China, the two largest polluters, which, paradoxically, are committing themselves to tackle climate change for example through increased usage of renewable energy, are probably giving concessions and commitments to each other to maintain some form of global truce.
Various countries also combine their national interests with their affiliations making it all difficult to forecast an outcome.
During the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in in Malta over a week ago the 53 Commonwealth members reached their own common stance on climate change policy.
The Paris talks are essentially a do-over of the much-hyped 2009 summit meeting in Copenhagen. Bringing together delegates from almost 200 countries is a massive task, especially when each country has its own ideologies, interests and affiliations and I'm sure agenda's.
Do World Leaders Have the Political Courage to act Collectively
In a global sense, a great deal hinges on the Paris climate conference. The EU says it has a clear commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80/85 per cent by 2050 from 1990 levels. Experts hope that world leaders will have the political courage to act collectively, making Paris a turning point in the global transition towards low-emission, climate-resilient societies worldwide.
Gibraltar's greenhouse gas emissions are obviously an insignificant fraction of the EU and global totals. In practice, as far as the Rock is concerned, it is more reliable to argue in terms of what is expected at the level of the Mediterranean region, rather than resolving to the relatively minute scale of the local terrain.
Experts predict that the Mediterranean is expected to become significantly hotter and drier in the next few decades and at this point in time there seems to be a lot of uncertainty about how our this part of the world could be impacted as a result of the dynamics of mean sea level fluctuations in the region.
Who Says We Don't Have Plans - The World Should Sort Itself Out!
Of Note, is the Gibraltar Government who in this sense have produced 'climate change' plans and a commitment for the next 4 years, explained in their manifesto. Will these plans need change, updated or modified depending on the decisions taken from a European and International perspective remains to be seen.
At least Gibraltar has plans compared to other places, in the form of a 'Climate Change Strategy' with on going efforts to reduce the Rocks 'Carbon Footprint'. The Government also intends to make 'Energy Efficiency' a top priority and additionally, work to produce 20% of 'Renewable Energy' with the prospect of other related initiatives.
I am of the opinion, there is enough there to be going on with. Certainly sufficient until the rest of the world sorts itself out provides precise information and importantly, gives direction that makes sense and is viable.
Nations around the world have consistently been all 'climate talk' and little in way of 'climate change action'.
In this sense, Gibraltar is not doing too badly!
09-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
