GIBRALTAR today Letters

Caruana's Govt 'an anachronism'

Dear sir,

Equality Rights group GGR welcomes the passing of new Spanish legislation which allows for gay and lesbian people to marry. Whilst GGR is not so insistent on the actual word “marriage”, we are no less so with regards to the need for Gibraltar to give full equality to Gibraltarians of diverse sexuality in all the fields that matter in citizenship. There can be no justice while discrimination continues to be enshrined in our laws and politics and GGR will continue to highlight this fact.

Mr Caruana’s evident insistence on doing absolutely nothing to advance the rights of sexual minorities puts him in a position similar to that of Spanish ex-President Aznar, who himself held exactly the same view: that is, say nothing, do nothing. This tactic aims to hold back progress in this area but all it achieves is to undermine the social and political credibility of the Government and its Party. Members of the GSD should realise this is the case from the fact that, as an NGO, GGR has, after almost 5 years of patience, been forced into open confrontation and opposition with this present Government, a position we will continue to develop in the run-up to the next Elections. We therefore sincerely look forward to the day when the anachronism of Government by Mr Caruana is replaced by a Gibraltar Government that finally listens to people and is less ruled by Chief Ministerial dogmas than by a sense of social justice!

Yours sincerely,
GGR

Pool Presentation & Finals Night

Dear Sir,

The Gibraltar Pool Association will be holding its presentation and finals night at the Cormorant Boat Owner's Club this evening (Friday).

This year's winners were:

Division 1 Winners : Cantina Owls

Division 1 Runners-Up : Duck & Firkin

Division 2 Winners : Red Devils

Division 2 Runners-Up : Catalan Bay

Division 2 Play-Off Winners : St Theresa's

Division 3 Winners : FEC Stars

Division 3 Runners-Up : Red Beavers

Division 3 Play-Off Winners : Astoria

Men's Ranking Winner : Julian McGrail

Ladies' Ranking Winner : Val Trotter

Best player (Men's Team) : Kevin Dalli

Best player (Ladies' Team) : Louise Galliano

The Gibraltar Doubles Final and Singles Final and will be played as follows-

Doubles (starting at 7.00pm) Sean Galligan & Les Moore vs Nick O'Hanlon & Craig Finch. Singles Final (starting at 8.00pm) Roger Morello vs Nick O'Hanlon . All GPA members are invited to attend the end of season presentation night, good food and music will be provided.

Jimmy Bruzon
GPA Secretary

Not a single brick in ten years

Dear Sir,

I saw the interview with Mr Caruana on GBC's Viewpoint, and seeing as I was unable to ask him any questions I would like to express the following. Perhaps Mr Caruana may even take the time to reply.

Housing is a fundamental social and moral right, yet Government has not placed a single brick for the benefit of local housing in the last 10 years.

With Rosia Court we have been waiting for the tender results since 29th March 2005. On the other hand, some Upper Town properties have a problem in that mortgages are not available for them due to the decrepit state that they are in.

With the Sands, government assured us that these would be in the public domain by Feb 05, yet again, to date we have nothing. There will be some 550 flats at the Sands 150 of which will be for the elderly, so 400 will be for first time buyers. Between the housing waiting list and the pre housing waiting list there are some 2,000 people, this means that we need five housing projects equivalent to the sands merely to fulfil our current housing needs.

Between the dire housing situation and the rising costs of services such as electricity & water young people are being forced to live in Spain, something that is outrageous and disgraceful.

Previously Government has stated that they had been delayed in building new houses because they had more important issues to attend to, I ask you what more important issues does the minister for housing have, other than housing?

On Viewpoint I was shocked to hear the Chief Minister state that they had delayed the construction of new houses to benefit existing homeowners in allowing the value of their properties to increase. I am appalled and offended that young married couples (and others) have nowhere to live merely so that people who purchased flats for £40,000 (and less) can now sell these for £180,000 (or more), this is an insult and scandalous.

Mr Caruana also stated that much money had been spent on the refurbishment of government housing and lift installations. Seeing as I have not been afforded my right as a Gibraltarian to having a house for the benefit of profits for Gib V and Westside residents, as well as lifts for government tenants, I ask Mr Caruana for an undertaking that if my wife and I take up sleeping in one of these brand new lifts we will not be arrested for squatting! Not much of an ambition or privacy, but at least a place of our own, one for which we have had to endure much sacrifice simply for the benefit of a few!

Mr Caruana we hear many promises but we see nothing. What is government's plan and how do they intend to repair the damage they have caused and build some 2,000 flats within a somehow tolerable period of time, ironically to alleviate a problem that has been intolerable for the last 8 years.

Thank you
Leslie M P Bruzon

Demonstration

Dear Sir,

The mass demonstration organised by the Unions, must be fully supported by all sectors of Gibraltar, as it affects not only jobs and conditions of MOD workers, but also has a social and economic dimension.

We must all fight together to reverse the MOD contractorisation plans.

TGWU/ACTS and Prospect shop stewards are actively involved in the collection of signatures for the petition that will be handed to the Governor at the Convent by the Unions on Wednesday 29th June at the end of the demonstration. The petition will indicate our objection to the MOD's bulldozing of their contractorisation plans, which will result in nearly 300 loyal employees of the British Crown, being turned into cheap labour and the loss of their hard won rights, arising from the Parity Agreement with the MOD. This unequivocal message will be sent to the British Government and will leave no doubt about the Gibraltar position, regarding the Privatisation policy.

Further, the Unions are not only fighting this battle locally, the TGWU/ACTS and Prospect in UK are also fully supporting. This was made clear last week when the District Officer Luis Montiel and the Branch Officer Charles Sisarello, attended a meeting with the TGWU/ACTS Deputy General Secretary Bro. Jack Dromey and National Officer Peter Allenson.

We must also state that this demonstration has no linkage whatsoever with the legal case now in motion. The judge must be free from any pressure when he arrives at a decision. The independence of the legal system must be maintained at all times.

Finally, we once again call for the support of everyone for the mass demonstration and the petition.

Charles Sisarello
TGWU/ACTS

Humiliation

Dear Sir,

The Reform Party notes "with cynicism" the news of the location of the next round of talks under the Trilateral Dialogue Forum. The talks in July are to be hosted by Gibraltar, whose turn it is. However, bexause of objections from Spain the discussions can not actually be held here. Our Government has therefore felt obliged to make arrangements for this round to be held in Faro, Portugal.

This is a humiliation for Gibraltar. Not only that, but it exposes quite clearly the true lack of goodwill by the Spanish Government. In reality, they obviously care nothing about the high-flown principles they claimed when entering the talks process in the first place.

Yours sincerely.
Reform Party

Not Official

Dear Editor,

I refer to the Hon S Linares letter appearing in your edition on 23 June 2005. Whatever form he may be referring to I can reassure him that it is not an official form. I can only re-iterate what I have already said, which is that Charities do not have to pay anything to set up stalls of any type.

If the Hon S Linares still does not accept what I am saying as the official responsible for the Fair, I am afraid I simply cannot do anything else except state that events will speak for themselves.

Yours Sincerely

AR Finlayson
Principal Secretary

 

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