GIBRALTAR today Letters

No deal on our greatest asset

Dear Sir,

Gibraltar has made many mistakes over the last thirty years. First and foremost failing to re-elect Sir Bob Peliza as Chief Minister, which gave way for the Brussels Declaration and the Airport Agreement. I will name a few more.

1. Fill-in the destroyer pens for a cargo shed, they could now accommodate the world's largest yachts.

2. Maintain cargo and the cruise liner terminal at the same wharf to the detriment of tourism.

3. Fail to provide for large-scale transshipment of containers on sea routes. Algeciras is now the second largest container port in Spain.

4. Elect the GSD in May 2000, instead of the Alliance, for a second time, which resuscitated the Brussels Process and gave us the 50/50 Sovereignty Deal.

4. Ignore the Alliance and again elect the GSD, whose leader is now willing and able to do a deal on the Airport, which is the Trojan horse led by the local municipalities, but carrying inside the PSOE Government.

The one vital thing that Gibraltar does not posses is land. The airstrip is potentially our greatest asset. Not as an airport but as land for expansion. We have always lived face to the sea. The sea brings us the best tourism and trade.

The Campo de Gibraltar has all the land it needs, but so far they have accommodated no less than 19 petrochemical industries, including the Refinery. Now our Chief Minister has agreed with Los Barrios to build another polluting industry in the form of a paper factory.

With such industries the Campo cannot possibly be a potential tourist resort. If they think differently and want an airport, let them built one in Jimena de la Frontera. Our Chief Minister could help by pressing the British Government to provide the necessary funds and thus obtain RAF use of a safer Airport. We could then exploit the airstrip to our great advantage.

Yours sincerely,
Emilio Peire

What's happening at Camp Bay (El Quarry)?

* Should a boxing ring be erected so that the fittest can fight for a table?

Sir,

With the Government of the days very queer response to the Camp Bay problem, might I suggest that disgruntled voters that feel the Government should grow a back bone and do something, perhaps adopt the same policy in other areas of our life.

a) Perhaps we can start parking our cars in the frontier queue on a Friday night when its empty. Then at our leisure we can get into our car on a Saturday morning, nicely parked up near the passport control and drive through to Spain.

b) Maybe older residents in the main street area can put pillows or cushions on the benches along main street’s pedestrianised area, to ensure that should they be passing they can guarantee to find a seat.

c) As in (b) but in Casemates or John MacKintosh Square

d) How about getting your kids to queue in the checkout at Safeway while you are shopping to ensure you can go straight to the front when you are ready to pay.

e) Or leaving a bag on a seat of your regular bus to ensure you can always sit down when getting on the bus.

Bomb threat?!

Why don’t the Government enforce that the police remove all belongings left at the beach overnight (for the owners own safety, to ensure its not lost) and to ensure that it isn't an Al Queda bomb threat. That’s justification if they need it.. All property left, can be collected at the police station. The inconvenience of that will soon deter repeat offenders.

Any property chained to a bench should be cut free and removed. Surely it is an offence to affix private property to public property. In some way I am sure it amounts to theft. Are you not removing the publics right to use the object in question? If not, why cant we all park in disabled bays, or outside the Governors house, If it’s public property and free to all to earmark in this way. Why can’t I chain my bike outside the law courts or the police station or on a pavement. Surely parking on a pavement is not allowed as it stops other people being able to use the pavement. Doesn’t whatever law that covers that, allow to be interpreted to cover the bench situation at Camp Bay.

If not then surely we can all start laying out our sun beds in the lovely Law Court Gardens, that’s public Property also isn’t it, and surely then we can feed the apes whatever we want to, there ours as well. How about drag racing on the airstrip, or how about totally ignoring all the speed limits and laws in Gib, presumably they are our roads and we can drive on them as fast as we want.

I think the trick here is we all have to do it at the same time, then the Government can say, it is public custom and they wont intervene. Wasn’t smuggling tobacco a local custom also?

I think that when a single Mother with a young child who have got up early to ensure they can find a parking space within walking distance of Camp Bay, arrive to find the place nearly devoid of human life and yet unable to find a table, that is shameful. If they then have the temerity to remove someone’s belongings, they then have to face a barrage of insult, physical threat, damage to private vehicles and maybe one day, physical abuse and actual harm, then all I hope is that it happens to a relative of the Government ministers responsible for that laughable response to the issue.

Caped crusader

I think this is a wonderful opportunity for a caped crusader to swoop down on Camp Bay in the small hours of the night, removing all offending objects and hurling them into the sea. How many umbrellas or towels can any individual afford to lose before they realise they are being selfish, low-lives who are ruining the quality of life for many through their actions.. Come on, are you that caped crusader?

On a more serious note in offering a solution. Why don’t the Government employ a ticket salesperson who can charge £1 per day per table. They start at 8am in the morning. Any tables unoccupied but with belongings left on, can then officially be removed as the owners aren’t present to pay the amount due. This of course assumes that they don’t leave the £1 coin on the table the night before.

Maybe a £5.00 deposit that is not returnable unless the table is cleared of belongings. It may help the situation and the money raised can go towards providing more concrete tables for next season.

Coca-Cola as sponsors...

Alternatively, we could fix up a boxing ring where the current playground is and families can be expected to provide their fittest member to fight for a table. This could be a government approved fight and tickets could be sold. If successful, it could be a daily event. At the end of each days bathing fights could take place to see who has the tables the next day. It would be sure to draw in the tourists. Maybe even Coca Cola could sponsor it!! Or provide free drinks for the combatants. It might even spawn a whole new generation of video games. Gibraltar Beach Wars. With that well known war cry, “Give me my bench you son of a beach”

Come on Gibraltar, get with the programme. The Government is avoiding the issue in much the same way as we as individuals are avoiding the issue. If you are down in Camp Bay and have witnessed one of these oft-reported scenes of confrontation, what have you done. If all the people at Camp Bay that are offended by this behaviour stood up as one and publicly humiliated the offenders, en mass, it would soon stop. If the on site police chose to stand by the innocent and not let them be verbally threatened or bullied, so much the better. If the average Gibraltarian in true Kennedy style asked of themselves what they could do, rather than what the Government should do, a speedier resolution might be found.

Alternatively, just don’t go to Camp Bay. Go to eastern beach or one of the lovely beaches up the Costa. Leave the fighting to those Gibraltarians that have no self pride or community feeling. Let camp bay be the place that all the low lives go to and let them have it and good riddance to them. If we turn Camp Bay into a no go zone, then something will be done, if not by the Government, then at least The Heritage Society will get involved. Forget the local community but god forbid that we tarnish Parsons Lodge and its environs.

Maybe we should get the Heritage Society to put a protection order on the concrete benches themselves that prohibits the use of chains to secure objects to them. That might work.

This is all getting rather ridiculous but I guess the whole issue is ridiculous, so tough.

Personally. I love the Palm and Cactus rockery on the lawn inside the loop of the frontier queue. I think I am going to pitch my umbrella there and maybe sell cold drinks to the tourists in the queue who had to leave because they couldn’t find a place to sit on our beaches. Mind you, am I allowed to sit there?

El Duque De El Peñon

Reality check

Dear Sir,

The VOGG is a group which is focussed on defending Gibraltar against external threats, by peaceful, albeit noisy, means. Much to the dissapointment of some, there is no dispute within the group. Any views expressed here are, however, mine and do not reflect those of any organisation.

Government states it has no objection to commercial sponsorship of cultural and sporting events. The encirclment is neither, it is a political statement. If the event is to be reduced to a drink commercial all those participating must be aware of that, and sign a release.

There are those abroad who see the fuss as yet another chance to further their 'anti' agenda, but it is simply the expression of different views within a democratic community. The publicity should assist the organisers in mobilising the people necessary for the exercise.

I live in Gibraltar, pay rates here, and am not deterred by inaccurate and ill-informed criticism.

Similar, larger, events have been held in Taiwan and Israel without the need for sponsorship, and although nobody objects to any local promotion of Coca-Cola, the possible misuse of the event for cheap publicity internationally is objectionable.

A clear statement by the organisers would remove any doubt and controversy. This would be more valuable than personal attacks.

Jim Watt

Holding hands: Demonstration of Gibraltarians’ identity and resolve

Dear Sir,

'Encircling the Rock' could yet prove to be one of the most graphic demonstrations of the Gibraltarians' identity and resolve. Disagreements have been expressed. Now it is time to make the event an outstanding success, which will be graphically displayed across the world. That we believe should be our common and enthusiastic purpose.

We urge and encourage all representative organisations of whatever kind to come out publicly supporting the event as such, as some already have done.

This is an ambitious event. It will require the active participation of Gibraltarians in their thousands; of all Gibraltarians young and old. It could also be an historic one.

We urge the steering committee make its advice public repeatedly so that everyone what needs to be done. Be there on Tuesday the 4th August 2004 - for the sake of our Gibraltar!

Kim Karnani, Gib Labour Party

Our national flag

Dear Sir,

Our beloved national flag should be changed on the 4th August. Someone was inspired in superimposing the white, red and castle of our flag on the Union Jack. What an excellent idea to adopt this version of our national standard on the 4th August next the tercentenary as our link as British citizens by birth and as our wholehearted aspiration either for self-determination or integration with the mother country.

Sincerely,
John Sciacaluga

Not a member of VOGG

Dear Sir,

Referring to Ms. Lyana Armstrong - Emery’s letter which appeared in your daily on Thursday 22nd this month, let me make a few points. I wrote the letter as an individual and not a member of the VOGG, as I am not one.

Secondly, why does she not look at the event as Coca-Cola promoting Gibraltar and not Gibraltar promoting Coca-Cola.

It is true that Coca-Cola never dictated any preconditions for the event, but any individual with marketing knowledge must know that every corporate companies, especially fast moving consumable goods, do print their advertising materials well before hand. The fact that Gibraltar may be printed at a later day, shows the regard for an event that may be had. All in all, it is primarily a ‘fun-event’.

Yours Sincerely
John Carreras

Our Gibraltar

Dear Sir,

The Gibraltar Photographic Society will be organising once again, its now traditional photographic competitive exhibition on the theme "Our Gibraltar" during the national week celebrations.

This competition is open to the general public and anyone wishing to take part may collect details of the conditions of entry from the Ministry of Culture at 310 Main Street, from the reception at John Mackintosh Hall, shops dealing in photographic equipment, or from any photo-processing laboratory around town.

Those wishing to take part are reminded that photographs must not be larger than 30 cm; that all photographs must carry name, address and telephone number; and that the closing dates are:

Friday 20 August at John Mackintosh Hall reception

Monday 23rd August at the Photographic Society's premises at Wellington Front, between 7.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m.

There will be trophies and cash prizes of £300, £200 and £100 for the photographs judged 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.

This year being our tercentenary celebration, there will be a special trophy to be presented to the photograph which best depicts an aspect of 300 years of British Gibraltar. This may be an old or a recent photograph, the only condition being that the person entering the photograph must have taken it.

The photographs will be exhibited at the John Mackintosh Hall from the 1st September to 9th September.

L Linares,

Secretary

Help the Bucket!

Dear Sir,

The ESG wishes to thank recent contributors to the Bay Bucket Brigade fund which is helping them continue in their work in monitoring air pollution. The generous donations of £500 from the GBC and £250 from Interbuild will pay for two more samples and will help raise the chances of obtaining the key data to be used in pollution reduction campaigns.

The ESG invites all those with concerns over the quality of the air we breathe to support the Bucket Brigade and reminds the public that a fund has been set up at Nat West, with account number : 47517131. Donors are advised to mention both the ESG and the Bucket Brigade when making a donation.

Samples are now being taken and the group awaits results which it will be making public in due course.

Thank you,

ESG

VOGG must get its story straight

Dear Editor,

This is in response to the letter from Mr. Paul Tunbridge of the Voice of Gibraltar Group.

At the risk of repeating myself yet again about the 4th of August event neither me or my Party has ever opposed the 'Round the Rock' hand holding demonstration as such nor have we ever said that commercial sponsorship per se is not acceptable. What is important in our view is the nature, features and subsequent presentation of the sponsored event. Mr Tunbridge and the VOGG are staunch supporters of the 'overt' nature of the Coca-Cola sponsorship for the 'Round-the-Rock' event. They see nothing at all wrong with this inescapably political demonstration of Gibraltar solidarity featuring the wearing of Company headgear and clothing, the display of company umbrellas and so on.

In all this they are of course not alone. But the organising committee which includes VOGG representation really must get its story straight. Mr. Tunbridge stated in his letter " At no time did Coca-Cola dictate any conditions for their support" Yet only on Tuesday, his fellow event organiser John Carreras made clear in another letter that companies always expect something in return for sponsorship and in this case Coca-Cola expects that the filming and photos of the demo will be used for advertising the product. So which gentleman is being frank here?

As regards the 'politicising' of the event, a seasoned campaigner like Mr. Tunbridge is surely aware that such a demonstration of national solidarity on such a day is already inherently political. I see that he also expresses contempt for my party and refers to its lack of popular percentage support. Oh, I see. Whether something is essentially right or wrong is always a result, is it of, to how socially popular or unpopular it is ? An odd thing for VOGG to say. After all, they themselves have often gone ahead with principled public protests and initiatives, irrespective of conventional popularity.

GUEVARA

I note that in a recent demonstration in Gibraltar the VOGG proudly displayed a poster of communist revolutionary Dr. Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. I understand this was not unanimously approved by the group but as far as I know Mr.Tunbridge was not one of those who objected. Well, I'm not a marxist or communist myself but it might be interesting for Mr. Tunbridge to reflect on political consistency in general and in particular the opinion of Dr.Guevara about international corporations and their place in western society. He might like to refresh his memory by reading or re-reading Che's book 'The Art of Guerilla Warfare'.

Finally, Mr. Tunbridge compares me to Moratinos and Co in the depths of the disservice my colleagues and I are doing to Gibraltar. Well, which side of this argument is serving or not serving The Rock's interests is a matter of opinion. However, I do find it interesting that Mr.Tunbridge concludes in this way ( so we're not just a bunch of fringe nobodies, Paul?).

Mr. Tunbridge used a Spanish word. Here are some more (from Che): "Que siempre viva la verdad!"

Yours sincerely,

Lyana Armstrong-Emery

Leader, Reform Party
 

Decocacolanisation...

Dear Sir,

It seems that this year's burning issue isn't decolonisation - it's deCocaColanisation

Brian McCann

Small businesses

Dear Sirs,

Out of the rumpus over the Cola-Cola involvement in the political holding-hands event, it has come to light that the GFSB chairwoman Mrs Marilou Guerrero telephoned GBC from Heathrow Airport and that she is now in Nigeria.

May I ask if the concerns of small businesses is best served by their chairwoman travelling round the world, unless she has chosen to go on holiday to Nigeria at her expense.

Thank you for publishing my views.

Yours sincerely,
L. Robinson

The sponsorship

Dear Editor,

Allow me to express my views on the Coca Cola sponsorship of the 'encircling the nation' event on 4th August.

It is indeed not cheapening our sacred right to our land if Coca Cola underwrites such an event. The Government should have sponsored such an event instead of splashing out in parties for various events.

Initially, the event was to be red, white and blue. As blue is a blind colour from 30,000 feet up and the white would look as a gap, the option of red as a vivid colour for photographic purposes is obvious. I wonder who would have donated 20,000 caps and t-shirts as well as umbrellas, inflatable bottles and the rest.

As everybody should know, when someone offers to sponsor you, you have to give something back. The only thing they asked for was that they wanted to use this advert as a Coca- Cola commercial. Anybody who understands marketing powers will know that this is a brand that reaches every corner in the world. This is not National Day where everything that occurs is internal for Gibraltar to Gibraltar. This one life-time event however, is also for the outside world to make a political point that Gibraltar is ours.

When Ellen Macarthur sailed across the world, she had her sponsors printed on her sails and yacht. Surely, the feat was no less because it was 'commercialised'.

It sounds to me that all this talk about the event has been stirred by some person or persons who has not even attended any of the meetings which were called and certainly has no idea of the logistical implications of the event.

I, for one, thank Coca-Cola for funding the event and welcome future 'commercialisation' of events as a means to an end.

With two weeks to go, anybody trying to organise a second celebratory event must think that this has been planned since February and any jealousy should be regarded for what it is.

Yours sincerely,

John Carreras

Organisers to re-think

Sir,

We urge them to re-think. It would be a real shame if an event that has captured people’s imagination, not just in Gibraltar but internationally, were to be cancelled or become a display of public disunity, rather than the crowning representation of our patriotic unity it was always intended to be.

In the little time that is left the efforts of all concerned should be directed at finding a solution, rather than in splitting the community further through organising an alternative event or cancelling this one.

Whether we believe that Lionel Perez and Marilou Guerrero, whose brilliant idea the whole thing was, have made a mistake in assigning to Coca Cola such a prominent role, the event should go on. We do not believe it should be cancelled or replaced by a rival event. Neither would be successful in showing our unity, solidarity and resolve, and Gibraltar would be the loser.

This is clearly a matter for Mrs Guerrero, the Government Coordinator, to do her utmost to resolve. A shortage of funds, which have been liberally expended on other Tercentenary celebrations should not prevent this one from going ahead. We call on the Government to step in to fund this project and prevent the whole situation from descending into the kind of rivalry and recrimination of which we are all too often capable.

Kim Karnani,

Gib Labour Party

Disenchantment

Sir,

It is true to say that due to the way successive British Governments both Labour And Tory have treated the Gibraltarians over many years, has led to a degree of disenchantment. On the other hand anti Hispanic feelings are very much prevalent amongst Gibraltarians having suffered the most recent siege under Spain's dictator Franco, which was in place for around 13 years. To date even with an open border, and a "democratic" Spain, the harassment continues in many other forms. Nothing much has changed.

Maritime links and air restrictions, implemented by the dictatorship are still in force today, we also have the ban on our 00350 code, the blocking of roaming facility in Spain, non acceptance or our new E.U. approved I.D. cards, and most recently the cruise liner ban crisis. All of these would end if Gibraltar were to choose to stand up and fight to change our colonial status for one of devolved integration with Britain, because even though the European Union would not want to, they would nevertheless have to tell Spain to discontinue indefinitely all their illegal actions against us. Since their sovereignty claim would become null and void.

To date Gibraltar has been left out of several European treaties, i.e. Schengen, air liberalization, and the single skies treaty, which would at least have placed Gibraltar in a stronger position, compensating Spain's unrelenting aggression.

The fact is that we have always had to unite and fight for our rights i.e. full British citizenship, and the right to vote in the

E.U. elections, even having to take Britain to the E.U. Courts of Justice.

It should be noted that every time we demand our rights, as if by a natural process we draw nearer to integration with Britain.


To succeed in our decolonisation, we must unite and perservere in our rights.

Since we now have the right to representation in the E.U., shouldn't we also be pushing for the right to representation in the British Parliament?

Since integration is one of the three options for our decolonisation, available to us through the United Nations, shouldn't it logically follow that we should be uniting as a people, and fighting for this most worthwhile option, which will in fact put an end to Spain's illegal claim once and for all, since according to the treaty of Utrecht which she uses against us,

Spain gave Britain, Gibraltar in perpetuity, and by our integration this would be a fait accomplet.

Under the present status quo all we are doing is receiving the negative side of being linked with Britain, when we could, in the long run be reaping all the benefits and enjoying the security and stability that integration, as our final status, would bring to our people.

Today because of our colonial status and present loose ties with the UK we are forced to implement E.U. directives whether they damage our existence or not, and since we are not an integral part of the member state, we are excluded from all the available treaties that all other European countries benefit from we are also making it very easy for the British Government to continue to use, and accuse us of being the spanner in the works of an otherwise good relations with Spain.

The foreign office, and others, as we all know have always made sure that Gibraltar remains divided, and in a colonial limbo, and have always been able to find the right individuals to carry through their negative plans for Gibraltar. Divide and conquer is their motto their latest plan being to ensure the joint sovereignty agreement signed between Britain and Spain. Over our heads, which for the first time broke and discarded the pre-amble to our constitution. After this dictatorial move, we must surely now see that we can no longer feel safe as a colony. The foreign office and others have said that we should not rush into any decisions concerning our future and that time is on our side. We don't believe this, we feel very strongly that time in fact is against us and that we need to take our future into our hands, now, by deciding on one of the three United Nations options.

We believe that the only option which will truly fulfill our aspirations and ensure Gibraltar continues to thrive, is devolved integration with Britain and therefore we call on all concerned to seriously consider this and to have the courage to fight and to put Gibraltar and its British future first:

We repeat.

PS. Remember that even at present whenever we demand our rights, we seem to draw closer to integration with Britain.

The IWBM Executive would like to congratulate Gibraltar all its British people on our tricentenary celebrations.

E. Reyes (Secretary)

Hands off the Rock!

Sir,

I have found it annoying that a holding-hands exercise around the Rock should be demeaned by allowing it to become a promotion for Coca-Cola.

How can anyone expect Rock supporters outside the Rock to take you seriously in your efforts to gain recognition as a people when you let yourselves down?

Hands off the Rock, Coke!
Yours sincerely,

C.A. (Charlie) Robson

Don't commercialise the birth of your proud nation

Sirs,

Re your headline: "It's NOT the real thing: Encircling the nation - wearing Coca-Cola hats!"

Well Said. This tremendous event, celebrating the birth of a proud Nation should not be commercialised in any way. Supported - Yes, but that is where it should end.

Sadly, my wife Terry and I will not be in Gibraltar on 4th Aug to celebrate your Birthright with you all. We will, however, be there in September and are looking forward to, once again, joining with our many Gibraltarian Friends on your National Day.

Derek & Terry Booth.

Commerce with the hinterland

Dear Sir,

Nearly two-hundred years ago, after his failure to raise a rebellion in Cadiz, the arrival of the fugitive Spanish liberal Jose Maria Torrijos at Gibraltar, was of great concern to the local business community. Threats from Madrid made them fear disruptions to their commerce with the hinterland. No doubt the visit of H.M.S. Tireless has caused an equal but silent consternation amongst those in our community, who daily commute to their villas or apartments in the Costa del Sol.

In the case of Torrijos, the Spanish consul in Gibraltar was made to believe that the refugee politician and rebel general would be expelled to Malta in the frigate Actaeon. In fact the man who boarded the Actaeon was a devoted follower of Torrijos, who resembled him. The ruse succeeded and communications with Spain, which had been temporarily cut off, were soon restored. In 1831 Torrijos after repeated attempts at rebellion was eventually captured and faced a firing squad.

In the present case, it is expected that the good relations existing between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain as allies in NATO and partners in the European Union will avoid any real upheavals to local business. The captain of H.M.S. Tireless can be assured of a very different reception to that of the ill-fated Torrijos, if he ever lands in Spain.

Yours sincerely,
EMILIO PEIRE
 

Speaker Incident

Dear Sir,

Only those who do not care for our thirty four year old House of Assembly and the way we conduct our democratic business can view with equanimity the deterioration of the proceedings in the House, and the public disrepute into which it is in danger of falling.

It is unprecedented and a matter of considerable concern that the Speaker should resign from his office, following a vote of censure perhaps injudiciously put by himself and carried by a Government majority. It is also unprecedented that the Speaker should find it necessary to ‘name’ the Chief Minister and Leader of the House, and previously unimaginable that he should not accept the Speaker’s ruling.

Gibraltar is not facing a constitutional crisis as a result of recent events, but it would be a mistake to regard these events as mere parliamentary spats in the heat of debate. The House of Assembly is under severe strain and tension. We believe these incidents are symptoms of a deeper malaise. They are rooted in a political culture that is getting more macho by the minute, in which the more cutting and personal the insult and the more excessive the retaliation the better. In this one has to condemn both the Government and certain members of the Opposition ranks.

We cannot legislate for the individual temperament of our legislators but we can urge greater respect for the constitutional offices they hold, for the institution in which they sit, and the people they represent. Additionally, we can propose changes which, in our view, would assist in civilising the democratic process. One of those is televising House of Assembly debates so that people can see for themselves the way those who are elected to represent us conduct themselves. Another is ensuring that the majority of one, which is fundamental weakness in our electoral system, is done away with. A greater Government majority would allow voices of reason to emerge from the Government’s own ranks without risk to its Parliamentary majority.

Finally, if the reports are correct that the Speaker of the House has tendered his resignation, the Labour Party wishes to state publicly that it is a sad day for democracy and we wish to thank Judge Alcantara for outstanding way in which he has served the community as Speaker of the House these past years.

Daniel Feetham,

Gibraltar Labour Party leader

New law welcomed

Sir,

I welcome the

publication by the government in the Gazette of 1st July 2004 of Bill

15/04 - The Employment Ordinance (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 providing

finally for the introduction of the principle of constructive dismissal

into statute, in keeping with the calls for this from the Opposition at

the last meeting of the House when the Equal Opportunities Ordinance was

introduced.

This Bill is in essentially identical terms to the

amendment proposed by me to the earlier Employment (Amendment) Ordinance

(Bill No 3/04), I am therefore happy to confirm that the Opposition

will be supporting this Bill which mirrors that which I had drafted and

introduced."

We believe that the amendments to the principal Ordinance should be

made as a matter of urgency, in order to ensure that any employees who

may be presently suffering from the inability to avail themselves of the

protection afforded by the principles of constructive dismissal should

be in a position to enjoy that protection as soon as possible. In this

we have been running a campaign for the introduction of this law and as

an Opposition we have consulted with both employers bodies and trade

unions. The trade unions were all very supportive of the introduction

of the law and we committed ourselves to pursing the same in the House

and had a manifesto commitment to that effect at the last election,

which the government did not. We see this as the successful culmination

of that campaign.

I note that the Bill was published on the 1st July 2004 but that it has

not been added to the agenda of Bills for first and second reading set

out in the Revised Agenda of 5th July 2004 for the adjourned sitting of

the afternoon of Thursday 8th July 2004. For that reason, I have written

to the Speaker and to the Minister for Employment to confirm that we

would also be prepared to agree to waive any relevant period of notice

in order to allow the Bill to go through all its stages as soon as

possible and we have since been contacted by the House of Assembly to be

informed that Bill would be added to the agenda for Thursday.

Fabian Picardo,

Opposition spokesman on Employment

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