Stick and carrot from MOD as Caruana homes in on Hoon

by our Political correspondent

It would appear that the MOD is playing a game of 'stick and carrot' over the contractorisation plans at Command British Forces. The MOD has come up with the worst possible scenario, adopting an unnecessary posture of intransigence, but will they drop to their fall back position?

This question has to be asked because the defence secretary Geoff Hoon was not himself opposed to the new arrangements at the Gibraltar Command being achieved in-house, which would be less damaging to the workforce, than the contractorisation scheme already announced.

When chief minister Peter Caruana meets Mr Hoon next week, it should become clearer if the MOD are in effect applying a policy of 'stick and carrot' in order to achieve movement from the status quo, which is what the MOD are really against.

As revealed in PANORAMA long before anything was formally announced, the MOD team seeking efficiencies spoke of both 'in house' and 'contractorisation', while ruling out the retention of the status quo.

An in-house policy would result in fewer job losses, as was confirmed by armed forces minister Mr Ingram when he spokes in parliament about 300 jobs being lost, plus more to come.

Of the more to come, pending the conclusion of the review team, he said that a reduction of about 70 to 90 posts is likely if an in-house option is secured. "If not, up to 300 posts could be contractorised," he added.

In fact, the unions had been involved with the CBF in negotiations on job cuts in an in-house scenario when the MOD suddenly announced the contractorisation policy unilaterally.

When he met the visiting Commander Joint Operations yesterday, Mr Caruana appealed for the MOD to restart new negotiations.

The hope is that the MOD will agree to move away from contractorisation and go for an in-house option.

However there is a growing realisation that there are to be job losses as the MOD seeks to reduce costs and improve efficiency, but that contractorisation would be the worst option - and that imposition of policy unilaterally is not the best way to retain good relations.

The MOD has so far said they are prepared to enter into negotiations, but not on the issues the unions want.

At what point will there be a shift in positions?

Unions accuse MOD of 'half truths'

The Trade Unions are once again undermined by the half-truths given to the media by the Ministry of Defence. The press release issued on Thursday reference the visit by Commander Joint Operations (CJO), Air Marshall Sir Glen Torpy, to Gibraltar, states that the Trade Unions were unable to accept an offer to meet him due to the TU’s withdrawal from the Whitley process.

"An offer from Command was extended to the Trade Unions to meet with CJO, but with the imposed condition that the invitation could only be accepted through the Whitley structure," said the union aliance.

They add: It is true to say that the TUs have formally withdrawn from the Whitley process due to the fact that the MoD itself had not used the recognised procedure, by not consulting with the TUs prior to the Armed Forces Minister’s announcement.

The TUs, however, did convey to Command that they were willing to meet with Air Marshall Glen Torpy as they had always left the door open for dialogue but could not do so through a Whitley that Command themselves had ignored.

The Ministry of Defence once again have closed the TUs open door to reasonable dialogue.

* The Whitley structure is a joint MoD trade Union forum for consultation through to negotiation and is used in the UK and Gibraltar as the formal process.

Spanish policy on the airport and what Estrella is saying differ enormously, says La Linea mayor

by PANORAMA reporter

The La Linea mayor Juan Carlos Juarez (above) has clashed with Rafael Estrella, who is the PSOE spokesman in the foreign affairs committee in the Spanish parliament.

Sr Juarez is surprised that what Sr Estrella is saying is not what the Spanish foreign ministry has been telling him.

Said Sr Juarez yesterday: If the Spanish government agrees to the joint use of the airport and in that agreement it is stated that control will be exclusively Anglo-Gibraltarian, that would be a different political position to what the ministry has been saying up to now.

He fears that such a situation would lead to the loss of the Spanish position over the isthmus.

It is well known that the Spanish Government takes the view that the land on which the airport stands is Spanish, quite apart from claiming the rest of Gibraltar.

Sr Juarez goes on to urge the Spanish government to look after La Linea's interests, in that both sides of the frontier should benefit.

At the Malaga meeting it was made clear that the question of the airport was not easy, but if to make it viable total concessions are required and we have to forget the 1987 airport agreement, then it is not a good deal, he says.

Sr Juarez adds that what Sr Estrella is saying is not what he was told by the Spanish foreign ministry.

Speaking on behalf of whom?

Sr Estrella (pictured) is the Spanish MP for Granada and is not part of the Spanish foreign ministry or the Spanish Government.

When he comes to Gibraltar he makes statements which some people take as being official Spanish policy.

But does not make clear if he is speaking for himself or for the Spanish government as such.

What people are asking is this: Who is Sr Estrella speaking for?

We now hear from the La Linea mayor that what Sr Estrella is saying and what the Spanish foreign ministry told him differ enormously.

So, what game is Sr Estrella and the Spanish foreign ministry playing? That is the question people are asking.

Documents sent to European Commission

The ESG says it wishes to announce that after a very busy last quarter in 2004, it has now sent more documents in evidence to support its complaint lodged with the European Commission.

The documents include:-

• a collection of press cuttings covering the anti-pollution demonstration, a first such demonstration at a grass roots level

• the complete Bay Bucket Brigade report

• a copy of the petition calling for cleaner industry and reduction in pollution ( now at over 2,500)

In the covering letter sent by the group’s legal advisors, Hassans International Law Firm, the enclosures are described as supporting evidence to what is an unacceptable level of pollution and serious illnesses in the zone and asks for:

• The need for an immediate inspection by the European Commission and/or European Environment Agency, who has also been sent a copy of these documents, to place pressure upon the relevant Spanish authorities to regulate these highly polluting industries to the highest and safest possible standards

• This to be followed by appropriate action by the EC to reduce pollution for the benefit of the citizens and environment of the Bay.

The ESG adds that it is confident that the information being sent accurately reflects the reality of pollution in the Bay and how this affects the quality of life for the many who reside here. It is expected that the EC will now take action.

Bossano to raise MOD cut-backs in the House

The Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano has given notice to the Speaker that he wishes to raise the question of the announced cut-backs by the Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar on the adjournment of the House.

A motion on the adjournment is a parliamentary device which allows for urgent debate on topical, important matters of great public interest. The debate is limited to 40 minutes and there is no vote.

"Even though the Government has no direct responsibility for defence, the motion will nonetheless allow the House of Assembly to express its view on the matter. Both sides of the House will have the opportunity to express their disapproval at what the Ministry of Defence plans to do," said Mr Bossano.

The House of Assembly meets at ten in the morning.

Governor back

The Governor, Sir Francis Richards, has now returned to Gibraltar following successful hip surgery and has resumed his duties. The Governor and Lady Richards returned to Gibraltar last weekend.

Deputy Governor David Blunt leaves Gibraltar today and will shortly take up his new assignment as Head of Post in Pristina, Kosovo.

His replacement, Philip Barton, was until recently the Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission in Cyprus. Mr Barton is accompanied by his wife Amanda and their two young children.

Electricity UP 12% and water UP 17%

Electricity and Water charges are going up sharply, he former by 12% and the latter by 17%.

The government justifies the increases in that Water and Electricity Tariffs have not risen in Gibraltar since 1986 and 1984 respectively.

The Government says that the average bill for a family of four will be by about £6.50 per month for each of water and electricity.

Electricity Tariffs will rise by 12%. The domestic unit rises from 6.5p to 7.4p a unit. The flexible cost adjustment rises from 2.81p to 3.26p a unit. The monthly standing charge rises from £2 to £4. There will be corresponding increases to commercial tariffs.

Water Tariffs will rise by 17% from 18p to 21p for primary units and from 45p to 52p for secondary units. The standing charge will increase from £1.50 to £3.00 per month.

Overall in respect of both water and electricity together, these increases, which will take effect from 1st April, represent about an extra £158 per annum or £3 per week to the bill of an average family of four. The Government will subsidise these increases in the case of elderly persons by paying a water and electricity grant of £50 per annum to all old age pensioner households. This will practically, if not totally, eliminate the cost of these increases in the case of old age pensioners.

Over a million for Loquat House

Loquat House has been bought for over a million pounds. It was put out to tender last December.

The tender has been awarded to Mr Christopher Pitaluga for £1,250,000. Six valid tenders were received, says the Government.

Loquat House, in South Pavilion Road, became famous because a former Royal governor kept his French mistress there.

It is a large, colonial style residence on two floors, with a very large garden area.

The ground floor includes a large living room and a large dining room, plus 4 additional spacious rooms. There is also a large kitchen, entrance hall and two toilets.

The first floor has four large bedrooms.

The property also has a garage.

The successful tenderer is required to pay a 10% deposit within 15 days of the award and to complete the purchase within 2 months.

Commander Joint Operations on the Rock

Commander Joint Operations, Air Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, is visiting Gibraltar for the first time and will make a number of office calls during Thursday morning.

He was due to make his initial visit to the Rock in January but the visit was postponed as a result of the death of Commodore David White.

During his programme he will spend time with HE the Governor, the Chief Minister, Commander British Forces and other members of British Forces Gibraltar.

He invited the Trades Unions to meet with him during his visit but they have currently withdrawn from the Whitley process and therefore felt unable to accept the offer.

His visit does not herald further announcements on privatisation plans or on any other issue, said an MOD spokesperson.

UK/Spain 'complicity' over external borders

Questions by Gibraltar's LibDem MEP Graham Watson have now received a reply from the European Council

Given that Gibraltar forms pan of Europe's external frontiers, can the Council explain why Gibraltar has been excluded, against its will and with the complicity of the Governments of the United Kingdom and Spain, from the European External Frontiers Agency?

Does the Council accept that the decision to exclude Gibraltar from the External Frontiers Agency not only legitimises an untenable Spanish claim that Europe ends at La Linea but that it sets a worrying precedent by effectively ghettoising the European citizens of Gibraltar outside the external borders of the European Union and depriving them of influence over the management of a frontier of which they are an integral part?

Answer

As the Honourable Member of the European Parliament knows, the Council Regulation establishing the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union, constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 20001. The United Kingdom is therefore not bound by it nor subject to its application.

Tripartite visit to Geneva airport

Officials taking part in the tripartite talks over the airport will be visiting Geneva airport terminal as part of the ongoing talks. This was agreed at the meeting of the trilateral forum held in Malaga on Friday 11 February. The aim is to find out the modalities of the airport terminal which is situated between Switzerland and France to establish whether there are features of the operational arrangements there which could be considered for application at the Gibraltar Air Terminal.

The Gibraltar delegation left Gibraltar and is composed of Mr Richard Garcia; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Telecommunications and Mr Terence Lopez; Terminal Management Ltd.

War against gulls

The Gull Control Unit’s activities continue under contract to the Government of Gibraltar. The graphs show the number of gulls culled since the programme began in 1997, with a total of over 25000 removed up to the end of July 2004. In addition, a total of 2166 gulls have been removed between 1999 and 2004 by the Raptor Unit using falconry.

A nesting gull survey carried out by the Royal Air Force Ornithological Society (RAFOS) in 2002 came up with an estimate of 3653 breeding pairs or 7306 adult birds.

Estimates of non-breeding birds suggested that there is about one non-breeding bird for every breeding pair, making a total of about 11,000 birds present in Gibraltar in the spring. If all the 3653 breeding pairs were to successfully rear two young each to fledging, the total number of birds present in Gibraltar at the end of the nesting period, would be:

If we assume these figures were similar in 2003, and we deduct the total number of eggs, chicks and juveniles culled (1648) from the “fledged young” total, we arrive at an estimate of 16,617. Previous estimates of gull numbers at Gibraltar have been based on less extensive surveys, but have placed the post-nesting population in Gibraltar at around 30,000.

Based on these figures, the yellow-legged gull population in Gibraltar is now at about 55% of the 1996 figure.

Clearly, 16,000 gulls still create a lot of disturbance, but numbers are certainly down.

Unfortunately the most efficient culling method employed, shooting with air rifles, is not allowed within built-up areas and so an increase in nesting success in these areas may be predicted.

Ironically, while the gull population is expected to continue to drop, they may in fact become slightly more noticeable in the City and residential estates. In order to counter this, the importance of reporting nests on buildings early will be stressed, so that the Gull Unit is able to tackle as many of these that are accessible as possible.

These can be reported to the GONHS office number (72639).

Phoney peace, says Chamber

The new year heralds prospects for a better understanding between the Government of Gibraltar and their counterparts in Spain at all levels - national, regional and local. However, the sea change in Spanish political intentions, which has given rise to the promise of a new detente, has not stirred commensurate enthusiasm in Gibraltar. But neither has it raised any widespread vociferous objection among an electorate traditionally quick to react when a Spanish overture is seen as threatening.

It is seen locally as a 'phoney' peace, not because there are serious doubts about the sincerity of either the Spanish Prime Minister or his Foreign Secretary, but because it remains to be seen whether or not Messrs Zapatero and Moratinos have the determination to push through their fledgling policy in the teeth of opposition from the Madrid establishment. In particular, the PSOE initiative will have to be resilient to weather the effect of growing media hostility engendered by the Partido Popular and the resistance of a Foreign Office corps which has pursued the opposite tack for as long as one can remember.

Assuming that the push for a new 'detente' is successful and that the next stage is to agree a format enabling the parties to commence dialogue, what will any reasonable agenda deliver?

Gibraltar's Leader of the Opposition set out an uncompromising stall in his New Year message. His position is clearly meant to leave the Chief Minister no room for manoeuvre and render him ineffective as a party in the "two flags three voices" process. If either Sr Moratinos or Mr Straw share this perception the process could be stillborn. However, it may be that (regardless of the constraints put on the Chief Minister by his political opponent) the parties resolve to continue rather than concede defeat before giving dialogue a chance.

The first hurdle for the Chief Minister will be the emotive issue of the name given to the process. All indicators point to the process having a new format. We trust that it will be both Sovereignty sensitive and realistic in its aspirations - but the first concession may be one of "branding". It may be that the tag "Brussels Process" is retained. If so this should not deter Gibraltar - provided the format is amended.

What should concern us all, however, are the subjects for discussion.

Currently, if Sovereignty is excluded, three topics appear to dominate Spanish media interest:

• Spanish Pensions

• Airport

• Taxation (Finance Centre)

SPANISH PENSIONS

The complex history of the Pensions issue lends itself to confusion, but public opinion is not fragmented. In Gibraltar the universal view is that, whatever the Spanish pensioners may be entitled to, this cost should not be borne by Gibraltar. Public opinion is firm that we have no outstanding moral duty to the Spanish pensioners and that any claim they may have should be dealt with bilaterally between London and Madrid.

Pensioners trapped in Gibraltar

Some forty pensioners of Moroccan nationality were escorted yesterday to a Spanish port to catch their ferry to Tangiers after having found themselves stranded in Gibraltar over the weekend, because last Friday's ferry from Gibraltar failed to sail off, allegedly because of poor weather conditions.

The pensioners, who had come to Gibraltar to collect their dues last week, were set off to return to their homes last weekend, but they found themselves 'trapped' in Gibraltar as no alternative boat service was implemented over the weekend.

With the view of having to spend another week in Gibraltar with nowhere to stay, they were getting upset, but eventually a solution was found before unrest escalated and amongst strict passport controls, they were all accommodated in mini buses and shuttled to the nearest port on their way home.

“NO HOMES FOR HOMOS”
as Government discriminates against same-sex couples

Reacting to the evident refusal of the Chief Minister to comment on a GBC interview last night regarding the fact that same-sex couples are deliberately not included in plans for couples wishing to buy into Government Housing, Human and Equality Rights group GGR commented that “It is unacceptable not only that Government’s housing policies and provisions should discriminate against same-sex couples in this day and age, but also that when faced with a specific question on the matter by a GBC journalist the Chief Minister should do his waffling utmost to beat about the bush and not answer!

The GGR adds: We can only speculate as to why Mr Caruana felt so clearly nervous and unable to answer such a direct question by Stephen Neish, and can only come to the conclusion that Government realises such evident inequality and discrimination are really no longer something which the Public in Gibraltar find reasonable or can identify with,” the group stated.

“Five years ago, before GGR started, Government might have been able to plead ignorance on matters of this sort.

“Today there really is no excuse at all for treating one sort of Gibraltarian differently to another. Especially when they pay the same taxes, the same social insurance, have the same responsibility to uphold the law and they exercise exactly the same vote!

“GGR once more calls on all right-thinking citizens to take note of Government policies and attitudes in this regard and to remember what they have learned when the time of the next General Elections comes.

“There really is no excuse any more for politicians of any sort to treat people in such a clearly unjust way,” they said.

Britto admits that hospital problems were true, says Montegriffo

The Opposition says it totally rejects the accusations made by Mr Britto, with reference to the valid criticisms made by Mari Montegriffo, Opposition Spokesperson on Health, relating to the problems within the Hospital at Europort.

In fact, all that the Minister for Health, Mr Britto, has said is to admit that all of the problems identified within the Hospital, were actually true, she says.

A statement adds: It is obvious that the workmanship, resulting from the conversion of office blocks into a hospital, has been the cause of these problems, since the Government confirmed in their Press Release that the water ingress is, “as a consequence of some poor workmanship, faulty seals, joints, etc.”, and they then they go on to list all of the problems and areas affected.

Consequently, they cannot be attributable to the original building.

PATCH UP

"It is nonsense that the Government should refer to these problems as minor and part of the usual snagging period.

What they are now trying to do is to patch up the enormous error of judgement on their part for having taken the decision to house a hospital in a building which was purposely built as offices and not as a hospital," says the Opposition.

The Opposition adds that it predicted that the conversion was bound to produce all sorts of problems, and just a few weeks after its official opening our warnings have been vindicated.

As regards the services which have already been highlighted as lacking in the Europort Buildings, it is laughable for the Government to say, that already there is more parking “near the hospital” than the old site.

The truth is that Government have been forced to pay a considerable amount of money to the Developers of Europlaza for car parking spaces, because they have failed to provide them in the refurbishment of the Europort Hospital.

Moreover, they have now confirmed that visitors will need to wait for a year before they are available.

Additionally, the problems being faced today by the users of our Health Services are made worse by the fact that in most areas of the Hospital, not only all sorts of problems exist, but resources are also lacking within a number of departments, and these have nothing to do with the structure of the building.

Foreign Office refuses to give details of sovereignty deal, says VOGG

As previously stated VOGG members have been active asking questions under the new UK Freedom of Information Act.

Not surprisingly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office seems reluctant to disclose the details behind the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw's statement to Parliament in which he said: "After 12 months of negotiation, we and Spain are in broad agreement on many of the principles that should underpin a lasting settlement.

They include the principles that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar."

The FCO reply notes: "On 8 February 2005 you requested access under the Freedom of Information Act to the 'principles' that underpinned the Foreign Secretary's 12 July 2002 statement to Parliament.

I am writing to advise you that the information you requested falls under the exemption in Section 27(1)(a) and (3) of the Freedom of Information Act - International Relations.

In applying this exemption we balanced the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing it. "

VOGG adds: This does not diminish the 'interest' in Gibraltar of knowing what the proposed settlement that The Labour Government intended to impose colonial style on the Gibraltarians, without either consent or consultation.

Neither should it stop other groups asking the question and demonstrating local interest in our future.

Although the 'dirty deal' has been put on hold by the massive 2002 referendum result, Mr Straw's statement remains official Government policy.

Given the way UK Government policy is made by spin doctors, given the nod by ministers and passed on to minnows to implement it is hardly surprising that nobody has any confidence or trust in 'perfidious Albion' and its secretive, self-serving vision of our future, say Paul TUNBRIDGE and Jim WATT, (spokesmen) of THE VOICE OF GIBRALTAR GROUP.

Drugs get into our schools - official

by PANORAMA reporter

It has been officially accepted that drugs get into our schools.

"It has to be acknowledged that drug markets do sometimes find their way into some schools," said drugs strategy coordinator John Montegriffo.

He adds: Schools are a microcosm of society and thus reflect any social trends that occur outside of the school gates, for better or worse.

He says that schools should be offered guidance on how to deal effectively and consistently with drug-related incidents on their premises. Already a comprehensive drug policy for all educational establishments has been circulated to all schools, after extensive consultation. "This will equip teachers with the knowledge and support to deal with drug related incidents, if or when these occur in schools," he said.

POLICE AND CUSTOMS

Where a teacher is made aware of possible criminal activity outside of the school premises, it is expected that the police will be informed in the interests of safeguarding the health and safety of young persons in the area, adds Mr Montegriffo. This should not only include information about the supply of illegal drugs but also evidence that shops in the area have been selling alcohol or tobacco to pupils in contravention of the law.

Individual schools may feel that they need to adopt further measures such as involving the dog section of the Customs department.

All roads lead to Brighton

The Gibraltar Tourist Board ("GTB") will be hosting an exhibition and showcase at Brighton's Metropole Hotel today. Over one hundred and fifty travel agents and representatives from the UK media will be invited to meet members of Gibraltar's travel and tourism industry, including hoteliers and ground-handlers, and also UK operators who offer Gibraltar programmes. The event will provide an opportunity to generate increased awareness of Gibraltar as a tourist destination, and to update the UK travel industry on the latest developments which impact on tourism in Gibraltar, said a GTB spokesman.

The evening will also provide an opportunity for UK tour operators to promote their range of Gibraltar products. GB Airways, a British Airways franchise carrier, will also be able to promote the air routes it operates to Gibraltar from London Gatwick and London Heathrow and Monarch Airlines will be able to promote its services out of London Luton and Manchester airports.

This event forms part of the GTB marketing strategy for the UK market, they add. The exhibition and showcase will be hosted by GTB Chief Executive, Mr Peter Canessa, in the presence of the Minister for Tourism, Joe Holliday. Also present will be the Director of the Gibraltar Office in London, Mr Albert Poggio.

After the exhibition, selected guests will be hosted to a dinner given by Mr Holliday where a wide-ranging tourism sales and marketing presentation will be given by Nicky Guerrero, Sales & Marketing Manager, assisted by Ian Leyde, who is responsible for tourism sales and marketing in the Gibraltar Government Office in London.

The evening will continue with the presentation by the Minister of the Ed Lacy Tourism Award.

"I am particularly pleased with the response from travel agents and media from the Brighton area to this event," said Joe Holliday. "The south east of England has always been an important generator of tourists to Gibraltar. The new route from London Heathrow to Gibraltar has helped to increase capacity from this region, which can only be positive. I greatly welcome the way in which Gibraltar players in the field of tourism are teaming up with UK tour operators and airlines, in order to promote all aspects of Gibraltar tourism."

Liberal defence spokesman on Gibraltar fact-finding visit

Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Spokesman Paul Keetch MP flies to Gibraltar next week on a fact-finding visit following the announcement of planned cutbacks and contractorisation in the Ministry of Defence establishment locally.

The visit, which is at the invitation of the Liberal Party of Gibraltar, follows contact between Mr Keetch and Gibraltar Liberal Party Leader Dr Joseph Garcia.

SENIOR

Paul Keetch is a senior member of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet and a strong supporter of Gibraltar and has been here in the past for National Day. He is also a member of the All-Party Gibraltar Group in Parliament. In the House of Commons last year Mr Keetch questioned the British Government on the issue of cuts to the Gibraltar Regiment which were widely feared at the time.

BRIEFED

Mr Keetch has been regularly briefed on Gibraltar matters by the Gibraltar Liberals over the years, both through briefing papers and in face to face meetings at Liberal Democrat Party Conferences in the United Kingdom.

During his visit Mr Keetch hopes to be briefed by affected parties. The agenda for the visit is being prepared by Dr Garcia who said that it was very useful that Mr Keetch was willing to come to Gibraltar and see for himself.

Ingram makes clear that getting rid of 300 is only the start of the process

The information provided by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram, in answer to questions from the Chairman of the Gibraltar Group Lindsay Hoyle in the House of Commons, "clearly demonstrates that the current attempt by the MOD to get rid of 300 directly employed local workers and replace their jobs by bringing in a contractor from outside Gibraltar is only the start of the process," says the Opposition.

The statement makes clear that as well as these 300 jobs, there are another 300 jobs likely to follow where discussion was previously held with the Unions in what was then termed an in-house bid.

The answers provided by the Minister clearly further identifies other functions done by the balance of 400 workers which are already earmarked for contracting out.

The Opposition says it roundly condemns this policy of the Ministry of Defence which is transparently an attempt to keep a toe-hold in Gibraltar with minimal commitment to resident Gibraltarian workers and with minimum responsibilities so that at any future date they would be able to pull out virtually overnight.

The statements made by the Minister in the House of Commons do nothing to reassure the MOD workforce or the people of Gibraltar and, if anything, shows the true intention of the MOD.

The Opposition therefore wants the Ministry of Defence to understand that they simply will not be permitted by the people of Gibraltar to carry our their plan.

"Moreover, the MOD will not be able to operate in Gibraltar if it does not have the support of the community, of its workforce and the political support which it has enjoyed up to now and taken for granted," they say.

And add that the Opposition want "to send a message to the MOD workforce of encourage-ment in their courageous stand against Mr Ingram and of confidence that this is a battle that we can and will win."

Call for investigation

The situation affecting the Security and Immigration company is unclear. It started with action being taken at entry points, and later it being described as working to rule.

But this whole issue does not only need to be cleared but it has to be placed in a proper, permanent footing given the sensitive issues affected. What many people are saying is that there is a need for an investigation.

TWO COMPANIES

Security and Immigration Ltd carries out security and immigration duties. And there is another company called Terminal Management Ltd which is contracted to manage the air terminal.

In the current financial year, the Government is paying £1,150,000 to Security and Immigration and a further £860,000 to Terminal Management as part of their contractual obligations. A total of £2 million.

Given the high level of public subsidy, and the nature of the duties carried out, what happens in these two companies are matters of public concern.

In trying to defend what happens there, managing director John Gonçalves has been revealing the salary structure and the other payments received by staff.

This has been described by the union as "unethical".

Mr Gonçalves, as presumably the highest paid person, has not revealed what he himself draws from these two companies.

People with inside knowledge say that he receives payments from both companies.

In the first place, what needs to be investigated is if these two companies should not, in effect, be one, and in this way streamline their expenditure.

For its part, the Government has made clear that Security and Immigration is not a Government company and its staff are not, in any way, Government employees.

The company provides services to the Government as a private contractor - that contract has long expired.

In these and other companies with heavy Government subventions, there is a culture that, in any pay dispute, 'the Government pays'. But it is clear that the Government wants to erase such a notion.

In the case in point, "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, "says the Government.

And it warns that if the 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 pubic interest may require."

Says Mr Gonçalves: The company has on many occasions advised the officers that if they fail to carry out their duties as directed by management, the company is failing to meet its contractual obligations and may be held in breach of contract with all resulting consequences.

SECURITY OF GIBRALTAR

The union, for its part points out that security and immigration officers are a uniformed body and are very limited in what kind of industrial action they can take. "It is not a question of breach of contract, as this can be applied to all strike actions. It is an issue of the security of Gibraltar and immigration," they say.

And they add: "As such, if the officers were to withdraw their labour action, the police would be called in to perform these duties."

The whole issue affecting these two companies on contract to the Government is far from clear - and in need of investigation to put this vital issue of security and immigration on a proper footing and in the best interest of Gibraltar, whatever that interest is concluded to be.

Spanish minister attacks Gibraltar -
'Illicit activities,' he claims.

A Spanish minister has launched an attack against Gibraltar, with the Rock again accused of illegal practices.

And the allegations come from none other than a senior minister, the justice minister Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar.

The minister said that Gibraltar is "an emporium of illicit activities."

For a justice minister of all people to say this without first producing some evidence is extraordinary to put it mildly.

He even went on to say that, because of these illicit activities, there was a need for close cooperation between Spain and the UK, and for a fluid relationship within the EU.

It is as if he sees the tripartite talks as being between London and Madrid only, and secondly as if such talks are aimed at ridding the Rock of what he terms' illicit activities.'

People in Gibraltar will ask what is the Spanish foreign minister Sr Moratinos, his deputy Sr Leon and the senior official Sr Pons going to do to ask their justice minister to stop making accusations?

But this matter is even worse when it is considered that Spanish authorities are blaming Gibraltar for the Costa del Sol being a haven for the mafia! Is there anything else they will blame Gibraltar for?

The minister was backing remarks by the president of the provincial court in Malaga, Francisco Javier Arroyo, that to tackle the mafia problem in Spain it was necessary to end with the money laundering which Gibraltar largely lives off.

Latest on Frontier case

• The Spanish National Police union says it disagrees with the version given by the chief minister Peter Caruana about the frontier incident last week. This controversy has been raging over the weekend.

It was Mr Caruana who first disclosed on Thursday that there had been an incident when he and his party were to cross into Spain for the recording by him of a television programme in Algeciras.

He said this incident involved the Spanish police on passport control which resulted in Mr Caruana declining to cross the frontier. He later drew the attention of the Spanish foreign ministry to what had happened and the ministry, in turn, offered their apologies and said they would carry out an investigation.

Subsequently, Mr Caruana issued a statement reported in the Campo saying that it had been a premeditated act by the Spanish police: It was precisely because they had recognised me that they acted the way they did.

The Spanish foreign ministry told Spanish papers that it was a minor incident.

And the Spanish National Police union has now said that Mr Caruana was not in his official car - known because its number plate is G1 - but in a black Volkswagen Passat with tinted black windows.

Mr Caruana was in the back seat with another person, while the front seats were occupied by his driver and a police guard.

The Spanish claim that they did not know who were in the car when it reached passport control they asked for the passports. The passports were given to another officer to put them through what is popularly known as the 'toaster.'

But when it was noted that Mr Caruana was travelling in the car it was ordered that the passports be returned, claims the Spanish police. And it was also ordered that they be given preferential treatment in the queue. But Sr Caruana ordered his driver to return to the Rock, say Spanish police who add that it is a courtesy, and not an obligation, to provide Mr Caruana with special treatment.

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