There must be a level playing field

The Chronicle has again aired the serious financial problems that continue to confront it. The last time they did so was in May 2001. Then, and now, we make restrained comments on their problems, but only because they themselves have placed their difficulties in the public domain, otherwise we would not have considered the matter, even if we had known about it, as we did, before the Chronicle itself made it public.

What we said then holds good now. 

Other printers, including ourselves, have made the point in the past that the Chronicle is a commercial, profit-seeking venture, and if any measures were to be put in place which would not be ordinarily available from Government to others, then the same measures should be made available to the rest of the industry. There has to be equality of treatment and no discrimination. 

UNFAIR COMPETITION

There cannot be favouritism. What cannot happen is that a printing and publishing organisation, young or old, should be placed in a privileged position over others. This is wrong and immoral, and creates unfair competition which can be actionable under European law.

The question of state aid has loomed large in recent times. We should have learnt the lessons by now.

Only last week, the European Commission ordered that aid made available to some Spanish shipyards, in the form of capital injection, loans and a purchase price of properties above market value, is not in line with EU rules and must be returned.

The Commission said that it is aware that the consequences of this decision may be serious for the group, but noted that others had already suffered job losses as a result of the unfair aid given to the said companies in the first place.

Clearly, there has to be a level playing field. One sector of an industry cannot be helped in a special way if others are not. Unfair competition must not be created.

HIGH OVERHEADS

The difficulties being faced in the local economy generally is that, increasingly, there is competition from the other side which cannot be faced. Such competition is unfair because they can offer lower prices given the higher overheads and other factors in Gibraltar.

Generally speaking, there appears to be no loyalty when it comes to making purchases but loyalty to one's own pocket. Those who demand lower prices from the local printing industry, for instance, themselves offer goods and services at higher prices than in the immediate economic area.

The printing industry as such have urged protection from unfair competition and practices, but printing work for the Government and its agencies can end up being done outside Gibraltar and not through locally-established printers. Yet, printers like everyone else, have to pay higher charges in Gibraltar to the Government and to those who provide semi-official services, often in monopolistic circumstances, while the providers of those services do not reciprocate.

DIFFERENT WORLD 

Excessively high overheads, to allow some to enjoy a superior quality of life and/or to make profits at the expense of the rest of the community, leads to situations where something has got to give: Often it is not that people do not want to pay high rates, taxes etc but that they cannot pay. As Gibraltar moves increasingly into a different world, where barriers come down and others come in, there is an urgent need for a reappraisal of situations to allow local businesses to be able to compete fairly, otherwise there are those who could end up in foreign hands or closing down.

But as we said at the beginning, solutions cannot stem from policies that will place one segment of an industry in a privileged position over others. There has to be a level playing field. At all times.

Rosindell blasts Government over EU VOTE

By Matthew George
Parliamentary Correspondent,
in London

The UK Government is deliberately dragging its heels on the question of whether the people of Gibraltar will vote in a referendum on the new EU constitution, a senior MP has claimed.

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell says it is an absolute disgrace that the people of the Rock are in danger of being treated differently.

SURPRISE

The UK government made a surprise U-turn earlier this year and agreed that there should be a referendum on the controversial new constitution.

The vote is not expected to be held until after the General Election which UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will call in May or June next year.

Romford MP Mr Rosindell has been pressing UK Foreign and Commonwealth Ministers on the issue, and wants them to confirm that the electorate of Gibraltar will vote as part of the United Kingdom.

Foreign Office Minister of State Denis MacShane, in answer to Parliamentary Questions posed by the MP, has stated that his boss, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is "sympathetic" to "the inclusion of the Gibraltar electorate in the franchise for the referendum on the EU Constitutional treaty".

But Mr MacShane added: "As yet, however, the Government have not yet taken a decision and are continuing to consider the matter."

BAFFLED

And Mr Rosindell, who is the Chairman of Conservative Friends of Gibraltar, says he is baffled by this response, which he believes to be illogical, undemocratic and just plain wrong - and motivated by political considerations.

He said: "I do not understand why there is any delay on deciding, Gibraltar is as affected by the EU constitution as any other part of the UK.

"How in any logical assessment could it be the people of Gibraltar would not be given equal rights to the rest of British people on this very important issue?

"The Government will not admit it, but they do not want the people of Gibraltar to vote - they fear they are likely to vote against the constitution which is not going to help their campaign.

"If they can find a way they will use it - but they will not be able to find a way. They are dragging their heels.

"There is no reason why they cannot give a straight answer. Why not just say: 'Yes of course they will vote, like everyone else will vote."

"I think it is a disgraceful spectacle and yet again an example of how the Government is treating the people of Gibraltar differently.

"I will continue to raise this issue until we get straight answers."

Observer status for Gibraltar in EU Committee of the Regions "No longer possible", Garcia told

The Secretary General of the EU Committee of the Regions has told Liberal Party Leader Dr Joseph Garcia that Observer status for Gibraltar within this Committee is no longer possible. This reply follows representations made by Dr Garcia to the Committee as to the position of Gibraltar outside it.

The Liberal Leader has been told that Observer Status only existed temporarily in the Committee of the Regions in relation to the candidate countries for membership of the enlarged EU.

The Committee of the Regions was created by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 in order to give local and regional authorities an input into the decision making process of the European Union. The EU treaties oblige the Commission and the Council to consult the Committee whenever new proposals are made which may affect citizens at a local or regional level. Its role is purely advisory. In 1992 its input was required in five areas of policy, including health and education. This was extended by the Amsterdam Treaty to a further five areas which include employment policy, social policy and the environment.

The United Kingdom has 24 seats on the Committee of the total of 350. The delegates hold local or regional elected office. In the case of the United Kingdom it includes the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, representation from Wales, Northern Ireland, and from County or District Councils. Spain, for example, has 21 seats including the Presidents of the Regional Government's of Andalucia, the Basque Country and Galicia among others.

POINT

The point made by Dr Garcia to the Committee was that although Gibraltar is not a region of the United Kingdom, it is a region of Europe nonetheless and as such could have a case to be represented as a region of our own on the Committee.

It will be recalled that under Article 299(4) of the Treaty Gibraltar's EU terms of entry are as "a European territory for whose external affairs a Member State is responsible." "Therefore we are in the EU by virtue of the United Kingdom being responsible for our external affair, and not as a part of the UK which we manifestly are not," he said.

COMPETENCE

The Liberal Leader has been told that it is the competence of the United Kingdom and of EU national governments to select and propose the full and alternate members of the Committee who represent the Member State in the Committee of the Regions. The Secretary General has added that he understands "that this would also include any representatives of British Overseas Territories."

A full study on the selection process in different countries has been sent to Dr Garcia.

"Further investigations will be made into this matter following the reply from the Committee of the Regions. The regional development of Europe is something which I have been following since 1991 and in which I have always taken a close personal interest. There must be a rightful place for Gibraltar in such a scenario," he added.

Agreement on release of nursing staff

The Gibraltar Health Authority and the Transport and General Workers Union have agreed arrangements for the release of staff to attend External Medical Enquiries.

Following a meeting John Langan, Joint Chief Executive said “I had a very constructive meeting with TGWU representatives. Clearly there had been misunderstandings over the release of one or two staff to meet members of the External Clinical Assessment Panel. I have undertaken to clarify arrangement for any future external enquiries so that similar problems do not arise next time. The panel’s Chairman Jonathan Asbridge, who is President of the UK’s Nurses and Midwives Council, said that he found the staff very positive about the process and keen to introduce changes which would improve clinical services to patients.

Charlie Cissarello, Branch Officer for the TGWU said he was satisfied with the assurances given by management that such a situation would not arise in the future and any staff needing to be seen by a review panel would be given time off. He acknowledged that in certain circumstances, such as an acute shortage of staff, it might not be possible to release staff from duty but as long as management had tried to accommodate all requests this would not present major problems.

He went on: “We have agreed sensible arrangements to cover such situations in future, the introduction of regular meetings between top management and Unions on GHA wide issues from September 1st 2002 will undoubtedly help to avoid such problems in arising in future.

• Gibraltar's "state of denial", says Joe Bishop

The UK Government is sending to every home in the UK an information booklet entitled 'Preparing for Emergencies - What you need to know'. The booklet gives practical common sense advice on what to do in an emergency - for example, a fire, terrorist attack or natural disaster.

They have also launched a national advertising campaign, advising the public to study the booklet. The first television advert was shown on Monday, 26 July. There will also be adverts on local, national radio and the news media in the UK.

The UK Government has carefully produced advice on what to do if caught in a terrorist attack amongst other advice on fire and other emergencies, and claims that the campaign is not in “response to a particular threat”. They further state, that research shows that people want more information about what to do in an emergency and want to know what the Government and the emergency services are doing to prepare for an emergency.

GIB? NOTHING!

Joe Bishop, Labour Party spokesperson has on numerous occasions since the Tireless saga, questioned and criticised the Government’s ‘state of denial’ on the information made available to the general public, on issues connected with emergency preparedness, whether from natural, technological or terrorist threats.

Mr Bishop adds: The Gibraltar Government has taken the dangerous route of treating the general public as innocent bystanders in an emergency, depriving them of quality and timely preparedness and response information, which will have a direct bearing on the number of casualties, speed of response and rehabilitation in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Of course, for all these to work, the community needs access to clear risk communications programmes, on what to do before, during and after such incidents. Agile, rapid, transparent and effective information is central to any public safety initiatives, where governments operating meaningful modern public safety programmes, treat the general public as equal stakeholders.

In a public statement made on the booklet distributed to every household in the UK, Debbie Spargo, Chief Executive of the Emergency Planning Society, UK, said “…..By being informed and prepared, you can significantly reduce the risk to life and property. This booklet will tell you how you can help yourself and your family in emergencies. A lot of this information is based on common sense advice and may seem obvious or familiar to you, but it has saved lives in the past.”

This and other similar statements on the booklet support Joe Bishop’s assertions and are in line with internationally adopted best practices in risk communication.

LEAFLET? WHAT LEAFLET?

The Gibraltar Government, through their Emergency Management Advisor promised during a Viewpoint TV programme on the 27 March 2003 (16 months ago) and yet again in an article published following the Madrid bombings, that “an information leaflet will shortly be issued, with the aim of providing a clear, consistent and coordinated message”. To date no such information in printed or other form has been forthcoming.

Not having produced or distributed a single document, message or information on public safety, the Government has demonstrated a total disregard for public safety and a blatant incapacity to manage simple risk communication programmes. This creates a major vacuum in credibility by those responsible for public safety in Gibraltar, Mr Bishop adds.

Government currently manages emergency preparedness and response in Gibraltar as a "clandestine operation", reminiscent of the Cold War era, without a ‘responsible care’ policy encompassing Government Departments and the general public. Statements like:- “public information is a complex matter; not simple; we mustn't confuse the public; must not frighten the public; cannot be done overnight; striking the right balance; legal aspects involved etc etc” made by the Government ‘s Emergency Management Advisor on television, do little to allay public concern and shows an unacceptable level of naivety on what is a very serious matter of public safety, he adds.

Now that the UK Government are distributing the 'Preparing for Emergencies’ booklet (albeit belated, other countries have now published second and third editions) "we hope that the Gibraltar Government, consistent with their reactive attitude to emergency management, do not just simply do an urgent ‘cut and paste’ job on this document, and distribute copies in Gibraltar," said a statement.

Spanish workers complain of 'low wages and high taxes' in Gibraltar

by PANORAMA reporter

Spanish workers in Gibraltar were meeting in La Linea last night to put forward the concerns they have about working in Gibraltar.

They speak of low pensions and high taxes. "Wages in Spain are higher than in Gibraltar," said one of the protestors.

Representatives of the workers want to have answers about the problems they claim, such as what will be the situation about their future pensions.

LOW WAGES

Salaries are on the low side when compared with the majority of Spanish companies, argued some of the representatives. "You earn more in Spain," they said.

The advantage in Gibraltar is that in some of the companies overtime can be worked, and they point at the shipyard, although the rates are laughable.

Another advantage is that in Spain it is difficult to find a job if you are 40 or 50 years old, which is not the case in Gibraltar where all workers, irrespective of age, are treated equally.

Gibraltar is not an option when looking for a job, they argue, but rather that they are forced to as there is a lack of employment in La Linea in particular.

EXCESSIVE TAXES

Income tax in Gibraltar is "excessively high", yet the majority of Spanish workers do not live or sleep on the Rock, and do not enjoy health, cultural and other services which can derive from such taxes.

They say that the majority do not declare their earnings for tax purposes in Spain as they already pay more than they should in Gibraltar and the returns are made to a separate Government.

There are doubts as to whether or not the workers have to declare their earnings in Spain, but if they do not, they fear heavy fines.

Some of the workers also want to interest a Campo MP so that negotiations can be started to reduce their income tax to make up for their low pensions in the future.

There are over 5,500 non-Gibraltarian workers in Gibraltar. The Spaniards claim that about 4,000 are Spanish.

Spectacular military parade as part of Freedom celebrations

On the 4th August the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar will be granted to the Royal Navy. Over 300 military personnel will be taking part in a colourful ceremony that promises to be one of the most spectacular military parades that Gibraltar has seen for a long time.

The celebrations get started on the 31st July at 11am with the arrival of the Type 23 frigate, HMS Grafton, which will enter the port, via the north entrance, firing a 21-gun salute, escorted by the United States Navy destroyer, USS McFaul, a shore battery detachment stationed at the Tower will reply to the salute.

HMS Grafton is returning from a successful six-month deployment in the Gulf, where she has been mainly employed on anti-terrorist operations with coalition forces.

The Governor Sir Francis Richards, Commander British Forces, Commodore David White and a small fleet of press boats will be there to meet them. There will also be two Royal Fleet Auxiliaries arriving for the celebrations, the support ship RFA Fort Austin, and the Landing Ship, RFA Sir Tristram, both veterans of the 1982 Falklands campaign.

CEMETERY PLAQUE

At 10am on the 2nd August the Commander British Forces will unveil the Trafalgar Cemetery plaque at the Trafalgar Cemetery and there will also be a 2-hour concert for the public in Casemates Square in the evening of the 2nd August starting at 7pm, featuring the band of the Royal Marines Scotland, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band and the Rooke Volunteer Band. During the interval the Royal Navy Physical Training Instructors, the Corps of Drums of the 1st/4th and the pipes of the Sea Scouts will provide entertainment, and there will also be a collection in aid of King George’s Fund for Sailors.

On the following day the Royal Marines, who in fact themselves received the Freedom of the City in October 1996, are scheduled to conduct a Ceremonial Guard Mount at the Convent at mid-day and also will conduct the “beating of the retreat” at the naval base in the evening from 6.30 to 8.30. HMS Grafton will be open to invited guests in the morning and there is also a demonstration by the locally based Gibraltar Squadron at 11am simulating an imaginary anti-terrorist threat. In the evening, starting at 7pm the Government of Gibraltar is sponsoring a street party, with a fireworks display at midnight and dancing throughout the night until 2 in the morning.

At mid-day on the 4th there will be a special session of the House of Assembly where a motion is going to be put forward for two further freedoms to be granted.

PARADE

The Freedom Parade takes place later in the day at the Alameda Grand Parade ground starting at 7pm, where the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, will accept the Freedom of the City. The ceremonial guard for the occasion consists of the port crew of the Faslane based submarine, HMS Vigilant, and the crew from the frigate HMS Grafton. In a break from normal protocol, the Queens Colour is going to be on parade, normally this is only used when a member of the Royal Family is present, but this event is considered to be of such importance, the Ministry of Defence believe it is that it is warranted. The Principle Roman Catholic Chaplain will also attend, as well as the specially invited guest, the Commandant General Royal Marines Major Tom Dutton .

There is scheduled to be a 15-minute gap between the end of the Freedom Parade and the start of the march to allow people time to get back to Main Street, John Mackintosh Square and the Naval Ground, it is estimated that the main march should begin about 8pm. Also taking part in the march are the Royal Marines Commando Logistics Regiment, members of Royal Navy Gibraltar, the Royal Navy Patrol Services Association with their National Standard on display, the Calpe Association and the Royal Navy Association of Gibraltar.

The morning of the 5th sees the Royal Naval Hospital celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the 1st Sea Lord, Commander British Forces, together with other local dignitaries and the Royal Marines band, will attend the re-dedication ceremony. HMS Grafton sails for her homeport of Portsmouth at about 11.30. - NEILL RUSH.

Liberal Democrats to launch Friends of Gibraltar group

The first Liberal Democrat Mayor of Southwark in London, Hilary Wines, has announced that a Liberal Democrat Friends of Gibraltar will be launched shortly.

Hilary Wines is in Gibraltar for a week to participate in the Tercentenary celebrations.

Hilary is no stranger to Gibraltar. She has a home here and is a regular visitor to the Rock since childhood. Hilary is a staunch supporter of Gibraltar and of the right to self-determination of the Gibraltarians.

During the 2002 Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton she delivered the closing speech in support of a policy motion which defended the rights of the Gibraltarians. That motion is now party policy.

Commenting on the planned launch of Liberal Democrat Friends of Gibraltar Hilary said:

"The idea behind the group is to spread information about Gibraltar within the Liberal Democrats in order to keep the Gibraltar issue alive given that not enough is said about what happens locally in the British media. There are many good friends of Gibraltar in the Liberal Democrats and this will provide a framework where everybody can get together."

Hilary Wines said that she hoped to launch the Friends of Gibraltar officially at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth in the autumn.

British P.R. decision welcomed by Reform Party

The Reform Party said today that they were pleased at the recent UK decision about adopting Proportional Representation for local elections in Scotland.

Last month the Scottish Parliament passed a Bill introducing PR for Scottish local elections.

The Scottish Parliament specifically proposes the 'Single Transferable Vote' method of PR for these elections. STV will make local councils much more representative than they are at present and therefore it has the potential to change the culture of local politics in Scotland. Electors will have more incentive to vote and most voters will have a local councillor for whom they have voted. STV will be used for Scottish local elections from 2007.

The Reform Party note that PR is now partially or wholly in force for all elections in Britain except Westminster or English local authorities. It is only a matter of time, the Party believes, before these too are converted.

In addition, the party believes that in due course this will help to influence our own legislature to return to PR. This existed in Gibraltar years ago but was abandoned in favour of the present system for HOA elections.

This they believe would be reinforced by Devolved Integration with Britain, which remains a central Reform Party policy.

Minister Beltran mooted to be Mayor

by PANORAMA reporter

Clive Beltran, the minister of so many things, may end up being Mayor as well. That is, if lawyer James Neish becomes Speaker.

Information circulating in informed circles say that Mr Neish is shying away from being Mayor, a post that has gone traditionally, though not always, to the person holding the Speakership.

Why Mr Neish would not wish to wear the gown and other paraphernalia appertaining to being Mayor of Gibraltar is not clear, but it is being said that he would wish to dedicate more time to his practise. Being Mayor takes up much time attending functions, receptions, handing out certificates and that kind of thing.

Judge John Alcantara has been Speaker and Mayor.

TRADITION

It could be that the chief minister, who is said to have a liking for Mr Neish, might wish to break with tradition in an effort to entice him to be Speaker.

It is not clear as yet if Mr Neish will be Speaker. He has been nominated by the Chief Minister but it remains to be seen if the Leader of the Opposition will welcome such an appointment, as Mr Neish is deemed to be too pro-GSD.

The Governor has been consulting with both sides of the House of Assembly, as is his constitutional duty, although he probably would not wish to 'interfere' in the appointment and would wish the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to reach consensus.

Normally, anyone who is approached to be Speaker would prefer it that both sides of the House agree with the appointment.

MEMBERS

The Mayor is selected from among the members of the House - he could be a member of the Government or of the Opposition, or indeed the Financial Secretary or the Attorney General. It is not known if the two unelected members have been asked about it, given that increasingly they have less to do in the House!

Mr Beltran is an affable person and seems to have a liking for publicity, so the role of Mayor might be up his street. We tried to contact him yesterday but to no avail.

PANORAMA campaign: Gibraltar is not for sale

People like Ken Robinson are politically daft

Ken Robinson, said to be an accountant, ought to stick to doing his sums, because he is clearly not suited for other tasks. His inept conclusions about matters affecting the GFSB can easily give them and Gibraltar a bad name.

Our boy Ken went berserk with Panorama at a Press Conference which had been called by him and Marilou Benson, to 'clarify' their position regarding the monstrosity of turning an event for the benefit of Gibraltar into one for the benefit of Coca-Cola.

Instead, he chose to become insulting.He was misleading, uttering untruths and innuendoes.If someone expresses an opinion he does not share, he goes berserk! What a way to defend the freedom of expression.

ROBINSON WAS WRONG

And it was he who was wrong, as everyone knows. Nothing has changed since the holding-hands event was first announced - so why does he now want his federation to stop taking a lead in the organisation? All that has happened is that Coca-Cola hats will not be worn. Why should he then not be leading the show, or does he think that wearing a Coca-Cola hat is more than important than saying that Gibraltar is not for sale?

The event was never a 'fun event' and it was always a political event. They themselves politicised it, as the facts show.

EXAMPLE ONE: Their very first press release on 23 January this year, which announced the holding-hands event, said: "The aim is to arrange for the people of Gibraltar to encircle their own territory in one massive hand-holding demonstration to bring everyone together and to show the world that the Rock and its people cannot be separated."

Clearly, that is a political statement. But dear Ken thinks it is a fun day!

EXAMPLE TWO: The poster used for the event carried the slogan: "We need you to encircle our nation." The poster included the GFSB logo.

How could that not be a political statement?

PANORAMA has always supported such sentiments and we have been thanked by the committee for being their flag bearer.

We expressed reservations about the charade that was being concocted when we got to know that the event was to be over-commercialised, with Coca-Cola hats, Coca-Cola shirts, Coca-Cola umbrellas...we asked if this would not detract from the central issue of holding-hands to encircle "our nation" as they themselves had been saying earlier.That is the thrust of what we said! Suddenly, the likes of Robinson started to say this was a fun event! That is NOt what they told people at the outset. The holding-hands is a political declaration - and everyone knows that.

RUNNING AWAY

So, why are they no longer leading the holding-hands event? Why are they running away from it? Why did they hastily say that they were pulling out? People think that they knew that enough support had not been forthcoming - and used this as an excuse to get out of it.

We are not going to say that they have sought out to damage and destroy this important event for Gibraltar and its people. But we will say that people like Ken Robinson are politically daft.

And the sooner they stop messing up our Gibraltar, the better for us all.

Alcaldes invite Caruana to integrate more in Campo*Offer of airport by Caruana

by PANORAMA reporter


Greater integration in the Campo - that's the message given to Chief Minister Peter Caruana when he took part in celebrations about the 300th anniversary - of Los Barrios.

All the alcaldes were there, except the mayor of La Linea.

This was a round table on "The future of the Campo", and Spanish reports note that Mr Caruana arrived late - thus breaking the British tradition of punctuality.

This was described in a Campo paper as drawing him closer to Spanish and to British custom.

They all want to work closely with Gibraltar to fulful their ambition of greater integration in what is known as the 'metropolitan' project.

Mr Caruana is reported as having said that he looked forward to working together with the seven Spanish municipalities.

He offered himself as the middle man, between Britain and Spain, to get them to think more about the day to day affairs of the area and not about the past.

Mr Caruana offered the possibility of 'sharing the airport'.

Gibraltar Commander writes book on Tibet

Commander British Forces, Commodore David White, has written a book on Tibet, which is for sale in Gibraltar.

Whenever he has been able to get a break from his military duties, David White has spent much of his time trekking in the Himalayas and has visited Tibet twice. "His book, Himalayan Tragedy, provides a readable account of Tibetan history and politics, particularly the involvement of the British there in the first half of the last century. It goes on to describe the plight of Tibetans following the invasion by China in 1950," said a spokesperson.

Signed hardback copies of the book are available for £12.95. All proceeds will go towards David White’s "Beehive Project" which is currently building a school for the children of nomads in Kham (Eastern Tibet).

Govt plans elimination of surgical waiting list

Government accepts third Medical Review Team Recommendation. This relates to the elimination of all surgical waiting list backlogs and the introduction of a Scheduling system for planned surgery.

The Government has already accepted, and is in the process of implementing, the Medical Review Team’s first and second recommendations, relating to management resources and complaints process, respectively.

The Government has now received and accepted the Review Team's third recommendation, which relates to the elimination of the backlog in waiting lists in all surgical specialities, and the subsequent introduction of a system known as Scheduling.

Scheduling surgery is based on the principle that the GHA and the patient "book" a time and date for surgery convenient to the patient. Once this is done, the GHA "books" the necessary hospital bed and all other medical and hospital services that that patient will require from the time of admission to discharge, and indeed post-discharge care, eg., bed, operating theatre, intensive care, diagnostic services, therapy, etc.

The new scheduling service for surgery will commence in Gynaecology in October 2004. It will be introduced in other surgical specialities, ie., ophthalmology, general surgery, urology, orthopaedics and ENT in early 2005, following the move into the new hospital, after the backlogs have been eliminated and the additional operating theatre capacity and beds of the new hospital have come on stream.

As part of this new system all waiting lists will be kept and managed centrally by the GHA and not, as in the past by the individual consultants.

Commenting on these developments, Health Minister Ernest Britto said:-

"We are now at the more exciting stage where visible, real improvements to the quality of our health care and services will become noticeable. The aim of the new surgery scheduling service is two-fold. Firstly, that it should be more patient friendly by taking into account the date convenience for the patient. Secondly, by the elimination of all backlogs of waiting lists and thereafter, operating system that will ensure that patients do not wait more than 4 weeks for an outpatient appointment with consultants and eight weeks for planned surgery. Emergency surgery will, of course, continue to be done immediately. When the system is fully up and running it will represent a massive improvement to the quality of service delivered by the GHA."

Gib career girls make friends with Moroccan counterparts

By Elena Scialtiel

Gibraltar Business Network chairwoman Maruchi Risso opened the series of interventions given by European delegations at the Association de Femmes chefs d’Entreprise du Maroc general conference held last Friday and Saturday in Laâyoune, Moroccan Western Sahara, with a 20-minute speech.

Purpose of the high-profile seminar was for business and professional women from Tangiers, Tetouan, Casablanca and Rabat to meet their Saharawi counterparts and officially found a local AFEM section – an high profile event attended by top dignitaries, including the Wali, who inaugurated andsealed the meetings.

It was a golden opportunity for Mrs. Risso, who has already made local history when she became the first woman in Gibraltar to be co-opted at the Rotary Club, to promote Gibraltar and its buoyant economy before this congre-gation of seventy-odd Moroccan crème de la crème career women: she chose to speak in Spanish, a language widely understood there, so her speech would have not been condensed by the Arabic interpreter and important concepts would have not gone lost in translation.

She drew a picture of Gibraltar’s economy, society and cultural diversity and she described how women are smashing shard by shard the glass ceiling in Gibraltar, analysing the negative impact and positive effects of this process onto the social tissue, the inevitable adjustments the familiar nucleuses have had to undergo and finally speculating on future scenarios.

She highlighted how significant is for Gibraltar having been given the opportunity to offer a contribute to the event and how paramount is to keep on reinforcing ties and weaving a network of connec-tions between businesswomen of both sides of the Strait.

She professed herself ‘feminine’ not ‘feminist’, meaning that she is not seeking supremacy of women on men, but social and cultural fairness and equality. After her speech, Maruchi was interviewed again for a radio programme.

Mr. Risso was personally invited to attend the important event, together with barrister Samantha Golt, translator Geirid Blunt, jeweller Rosana Olivares and myself as a special correspondent, by Malika Benslimane, president of AFEM in Tangiers, when she visited Gibraltar with a delegation of Moroccan businesswomen last May to attend the Gibraltar Business Network annual general meeting.

Spanish and French delegates also spoke at the opening of the conference.

The group of women were welcomed at Laâyoune airport on Thursday evening by representatives of the local authorities and by the delegation of Saharawi professional and businesswomen hosting the conference and Maruchi Risso was also interviewed on national Moroccan television prior to her intervention.

The symposium touched many hot issues of interest, tracing a history of the progress Moroccan women have made so far in terms of gaining their social and economic equality and trying to pinpoint what’s left to tackle yet – and it was an eye-opener that is bound to knock down petty prejudice and the vestiges of a narrow-minded paternalistic mentality.

Admiral confirms plan to sabotage British ships in Gibraltar

An Argentinian admiral has admitted that he conceived a plan to sabotage British warships at Gibraltar during the Falklands war. He sent a four-man team to the Campo area, to study the situation and to act as soon as the order was received.

The story was first published in The Sunday Times in 1983, causing worldwide repercussions. Now, a documentary about it is being shown in Spanish cinemas, with Admiral Jorge Anaya, who was at the time a member of the Argentinian junta, admitting that he ordered the operation.

TARGETS

The Argentinian saboteurs based themselves in the Campo area, surveilling possible targets for almost a month. At first, the plan was to blow up the Rock, later it was agreed that a British warship would be targeted.

"Our aim was to place the charges, allow them time to detonate, get the cars, drive to Barcelona and then cross into France and on to Italy, from where we would be flying back to Argentina," said Maximo Nicoletti, one of the saboteurs.

It was said at the time that the men had been flown out to Spain in separate aircraft to avoid suspicion. They visited La Linea to take a close look at Gibraltar and later purchased a fishing boat, and came close to Gibraltar to test British defences. Limpet mines and other ammunition had been supplied to them.

As negotiations were afoot between Britain and Argentina, through an American intermediary, to end the war, the attack on Gibraltar was delayed more than once.

However, the day the men were ordered to attack a British frigate at gibraltar, they had to renew their car hire.

PHONE TAP

British intelligence had been tapping telephone conversations between the Argentinian embassy in Madrid and Buenos Aires and were aware of the plan. Spanish police were informed and the men were arrested in the nick of time.

The Spanish police who arrested them had no idea what the men were planning under the codename of 'Operation Algeciras.'

The Argentinians were not interrogated nor did they appear in court. They were hurriedly taken to Madrid to catch a plane, but when all seats were booked, they made use of an aircraft regularly used by the then Spanish prime minister Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo.

Opposition response to GHA statement

The Gibraltar Health Authority's press release on the treatment of Mr Henry Mauro, is a political statement, for which the Chairman of the Authority who is none other than Mr Britto carries the political responsibility.

As the Opposition press release of July 22nd makes clear, it was issued AFTER Mr Mauro had started his hunger strike to draw attention to his plight and AFTER Mr Mauro's family failed to obain from Mr Britto the guarantee which they were seeking, and had not then been provided. This guarantee has now been given and put into effect.

If the Opposition's response to a patient's problem is considered by the Health Authority to be nonsense, it is little wonder that there is a long list of patients and their families seeking the help of the Opposition to draw public attention to their problems which regrettably seems to be the only way to get matters expedited,

The GHA statement criticises the Opposition and defends the Minister. One supposes that Mr Britto as Health Authority Chairman approves of himself as Minister for Health, it remains to be seen whether the users are as approving of him as he is of himself. The Opposition will take up the case of any user of the health service that feels that the problems they may be facing should be brought to the attention of the Minister and to the notice of the public and this is a service which the Opposition considers it has a duty to the electorate to discharge.

Cammell Laird and mountain of grit

The Environmental Safety Group says that in October 2003 they met with the Environmental Agency and conveyed to them the public concern over a large amount of grit, (some 5,000 tons), which, according to those living in the vicinity of Cammell Laird had remained within the yard for over two years.

The Agency confirmed that they had been in contact with the company urging them to dispose of this material, but that because of certain constraints and difficulties, the removal had not gone ahead.

HAZARDOUS

"Since our first letter to Cammell Laird on 5th December 2003, we have kept in contact with them and have urged the company to dispose of what we consider to be a large quantity of hazardous material, which has been, and continues to be exposed to the elements, and which can be dispersed into the air, and the sea," says the ESG.

They add: During the past eight months we have been assured by Cammell Laird that they are in contact with Government to arrange the removal of the grit, whilst we have continued to express our disquiet and concern at the time being taken to remove it.

Regrettably to date, and after our last meeting with the company on 7th July wherein we were told that they were doing all they could to remove the grit, this hazardous material remains in the yard.

NOT REMOVED

"Given that we have been in contact with Cammell Laird for the past eight months, and that as yet this material has not been removed, we have decided to go public, and ask that Cammell Laird, or whoever is responsible for this delay, to explain publicly why the grit has not yet been removed, and when this will happen. We feel this is a matter of public importance which warrants a public explanation," says their Press release.

Nurses take part in inquiry ‘under protest’

The Nursing Section regrets having informed the UK inquiry team looking at the circumstances leading to the death of Keith Rocca, “that our members are participating in this process under protest. It is a fact that our members are consistently having difficulties in obtaining time off from work to participate in inquiries, inquests and professional development.”

A union statement adds that Management is demanding that individual nurses must provide their own cover to risk not participating. Management is constantly failing to recognise that nurses are placed in a stressful position after having worked a 12 hour shift prior to discussion of very serious issues. Nurses are sometimes being forced not to participate in the process even if they would be willing to do so.

The Union says it believes that management’s unreasonableness is in fact a breach of workers’ health and safety provisions. Something that would not be allowed in UK hospitals.

The Union has therefore been placed in this situation by what appears to be management’s lack of commitment to external assistance with UK inquiry.

The Union calls upon management “to review its intransigence and abide by reasonable health and safety standards. Is this is not forthcoming in the future, we will be left with no opinion but to call upon the members not to participate with future external inquiry teams.”

 What's On and what's Off

While the 'encircling the Rock' committee keeps saying that the event is on, without making reference to Coca-Cola, the Coca-Cola representative says that the original idea is off, insofar as Coca-Cola sponsorship is concerned.

When saying that the event would take place on 4 August, the encircling committee did not mention Coca-Cola once in their latest Press release.

WITHDRAWN

In fact, both they and Mrs Guerrero have been reluctant to mention the fact that the Coco-Cola sponsorship, as originally conceived, had been withdrawn by the company as long as two Fridays ago.

Two Fridays ago Mrs Guerrero suddenly telephoned GBC to say she was withdrawing from the organisation of the event. She was asked why had she hastily decided to cancel -those were the words used in her GBC interview.

As we said at the time, Mrs Guerrero can go if she wants to, but this vitally important event for Gibraltar and its people must not be cancelled.

Last Monday Lionel Perez said on GBC radio that Mrs Guerrero had not consulted him or other members of the team when announcing that she would withdraw from the event.

Subsequently, he tried to play this down, but what he said he did say - and it is there recorded, so no one can dispute it. It has to be said that Mr Perez has at all times taken a positive posture about the event not being cancelled.

Only a few letters came forth in support of the original idea with Coca-Cola, and from people who are members of the organising committee or who have links with it. Thus, they have an axe to grind.

What some cannot get into their heads is that at no time has it been suggested by anyone that the encircling event as such should be cancelled.

The only person to have suggested this has been Mrs Guerrero herself.

Others have been expressing reservations about a single commercial sponsorship, be it Coca-Cola or anyone else, being given such a dominant role which could give the impression that the holding-hands event was a promotion for the benefit of Coca-Cola and not for Gibraltar.

We have taken the Coca-Cola issue to the highest level at Saccone St Speed where managing director Denis Lafferty also confirmed that the original idea had been called off by them two Fridays ago.

They would be meeting with the committee this week to see if there was any other way in which they could help.

Certainly, any company will want to derive maximum benefit from any sponsorship, and the company cannot be criticised for it. That is their role.

In the same way, the organising committee must ensure that it is Gibraltar that derives maximum benefit from any commercial sponsorship, in the absence of Government sponsorship.

'CLARIFY'

Mrs Guerreo and the GFSB are holding a press conference today to 'clarify' their position. Should they wish to return to the fold, that's fine, so long as they subscribe to the basic need of ensuring that this important political statement on behalf of the people of Gibraltar is in no way demeaned or debased by commercial sponsorship from Coca-Cola or anyone else.

The actual holding-hands event is a serious and important political manifestation about the 300th anniversary of British Gibraltar and the birthright of the Gibraltarians. What happens after the encircling event can be a fun day.

Meanwhile, the organising committee who recently took the upbeat view that they had close to 10,000 people willing to take part in the human-chain, now say that the figure is over 8,000. They also say they need a minimum of 14,000 to ensure success.

As the organisers recognise, PANORAMA has been fully supportive of the actual encircling campaign from the very beginning.

Will Bossano support Neish?

by Our Political Correspondent

Questions are being asked in political circles if the Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano will not oppose the possible appointment of lawyer James Neish as Speaker, given that Mr Neish is regarded as pro-GSD.

Grassroots members of Mr Bossano's own party are saying that any Speaker should be and be seen to be as politically impartial as possible.

While it does not necessarily follow that the incumbent of the post will not adopt a balanced approach, it is being said that it is the best policy to appoint someone who is deemed to be politically neutral.

After the recent spectacle concerning Judge John Alcantara, for other reasons, who ended up resigning, the House must be extra careful to ensure that they are not inviting more controversy as this could have the effect of a loss of respect for such an important institution as Gibraltar's parliament.

CANEPA: FIRST CHOICE

A number of names have been mentioned by way of replacing Mr Alcantara. It is believed that the first choice was former Chief Minister Adolfo Canepa, who would have received the unanimous support of the House without any misgivings, expressed or reserved.

Times have changed. To give the Speakership to a relatively young practising lawyer is not deemed to be the best policy, according to those who are expressing doubts.

PART-TIME

This is a part-time job that draws a full-time salary. It requires someone who has the time available, and the inclination, to devote more time to the post, by becoming more involved in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the House.

A GSLP supporter said: Mr Bossano must not be seen to be supporting someone who may be from the other side.

GHA view on patient treatment

Following the complaints received from Mr Henry Mauro by the Opposition, the GHA has issued a statement saying they have been treating him for some weeks.

The patient's wife, accompanied by Mr Eddie Baglietto, met health minister Ernest Britto and his clinical advisers last Monday to talk about Mr Mauro's treatment.

The statement adds: The minister told them of the arrangements made for Mr Mauro to see Mr Etherington, a specialist consultant visiting from the UK during the first week of August. He also made clear that the alternative of referring Mr Mauro again to the neurosurgeon in Cadiz could be pursued if this offered an earlier means of obtaining the appropriate treatment for him.

Given the above "it is nonsense for the GSLP to issue a statement several days later asking for the minister to take a personal interest and asking the GHA to expedite Mr Mauro's medical treatment which was already in hand."

The GHA says that arrangement have now been made for Mr Mauro to have the further diagnostic tests requested by the doctors in Cadiz following which Mr Mauro will be transferred there for treatment this week. In the meantime he continues to be looked after in St Bernard's Hospital in accordance with his medical needs.

The GHA says it is concerned that Mr Mauro, in his desire to obtain rapid treatment through pursuing his protest, may weaken his physical condition and thus make his treatment more difficult.

The GHA add in their statement that it wishes to make it quite clear "that decisions as to the treatment of patients are taken only on medical grounds and will never be influenced by any drastic measures taken by patients unilaterally."

Summer of discontent

Government contract with Security & Immigration has expired

The Government says it takes note of the threat of industrial action by the staff of Security & Immigration Limited which provides security and immigration services at entry points to Gibraltar.

Security & Immigration Limited is not a Government Company and its staff are not directly or indirectly Government employees. The shareholders of Security & Immigration are its senior management.

The Company provides services to the Government as a private contractor. Indeed that contract has expired.

The staff of Security & Immigration Limited say that their pay claim has been approved by Senior Management but that the Chief Minister is “sitting on it”. This statement demonstrates a lack of understanding of the facts described above.

The “senior management” of the Company, who are also its shareholders, are free to pay their staff whatever they want, out of company or shareholders funds. The staff is not employed by the Government.

The Company has asked Government whether Government would agree to fund pay rises for its staff of 33% for Senior Security and Immigration Officers and 25% for Security & Immigration Officers. This is unacceptable to the Government and the Company has been so informed. "If the Government’s private contractor ceases to provide all the services to Government that it is contractually bound to provide, the Government will make such alternative arrangements as the public interest may require," said a Government statement.

Customs – threat of Industrial Action

The Government says it regrets the now customary outbreak of wholly unreasonable industrial unrest during the summer vacation period.

The statements made on behalf of the Customs staff represent a complete misrepresentation and distortion of the facts. The facts, according to the Government, are as follows: -

Historically the customs grades have always been analogued for pay purposes to the civil service grades (AO, EO, HEO etc). This was the case until the 2000 pay year. In 2001 the Customs grade sought and obtained from the Government a break in pay linkage to civil service grades. They chose instead to be analogued to UK Customs grades who were paid more than Gibraltar Civil Service Grades. This represented a substantial pay increase at the time. But the Customs grades were worried that civil service pay might rise and that they might be better off in future if they stayed linked to Civil Service pay. To protect them from this, and even though the move to UK customs pay rate was entirely their choice, Government agreed to give them the chance to change their minds and revert to a local civil service pay link after 3 years, i.e. in 2004 (now).

As a result of that pay agreement Customs grades earned more than local Civil Service grades in 2001 and 2002.

In respect of 2003 and 2004, local Civil Service Grades pay has progressively overtaken UK (and therefore Gibraltar) Customs pay scales. Customs staff have therefore exercised their right to revert, permanently, to having their pay linked to local civil service grade with effect from June 2004. They exercised this choice by letter dated 7th June 2004 addressed to the Chief Secretary. Since then there has been discussion relating to the details of the implementation.

It is therefore incomprehensible that the staff representative should say that they got a rough deal (when it delivered higher pay to them); that Government is not honouring the Agreement to let them return to Civil Service analogue (which is wholly untrue) or that they have been waiting patiently and responsibly for three years (when in fact they have given formal notice to revert to Civil Service pay only about 6 weeks ago).

CONTENTION

There are currently two areas of contention, in which the Government believes that the Customs grades are being unreasonable and not honouring their agreement with Government. One relates to the so-called rummage allowance. As part of the 2001 pay deal to analogue Customs officers to UK Customs, Government agreed to pay all customs officers the rummage allowance. Now that they have chosen to revert to Civil Service pay link, Customs wish to retain this rummage allowance for all officers. This in unacceptable to Government, since it amounts to cherry picking from both deals, keeping the best of both.

Furthermore, the Customs grades specifically agreed in 2001 that if they reverted to Civil Service pay in 2004 (which they have now opted to do) the rummage allowance system would revert to what it had been in the civil service pay structure before the 2001 pay deal.

The other issue of contention relates to how customs officers now slot back into the civil service pay scales. As far as the Government is concerned this can only fairly occur by placing them where they would now be in those scales had they been in those scales during 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Far from getting a raw deal, Customs grades have been allowed to benefit from changing to UK pay when it suited them, and to come back to local pay scales when circumstances changed to make that beneficial to them.

Despite these facts, the Government has offered to meet Customs to discuss these issues, with all customs grades, to ensure that the interests of all grades are taken into account. The meeting has been offered for the first week in September immediately after the Chief Minister’s summer vacation. Despite these facts, and despite the fact that they have made their decision only as recently as 7th June, and that discussions are continuing at officials level, Custom grades have chosen to adopt a stance of immediate militancy.

In the Government’s view this represents wholly unreasonable behaviour, which the Government is unwilling to accommodate or play along with. If Customs grades decide to take industrial action in these circumstances the Government will react accordingly, says a Government statement.

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