GIBRALTAR today Letters

The Police stole my car...

Dear Gibraltarians, (by that I mean everyone living in Gibraltar – regardless of race colour or creed),

I wrote to you a few years ago when I was living in the UK because I wanted to share my admiration to how you were united in your fight for freedom. In your fight for what was rightfully yours, your homeland. In my letter I mentioned how you should let your government know what you wanted so that they could act accordingly. You did and eventually they acted … the referendum was held and both Britain and Spain realised they could not act as if you did not exist.

I write to you all now as a local having lived here for a number of years with my wife and son. My feelings have changed now and I find myself questioning whether we even need the UK by our side, especially as of late they never seem to be on our side. One thing however has not changed in my mind the way that we must continuously keep the government, our government, in the know. We, all of us, must complain when it is necessary and applaud when it is necessary. THE GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR DOES HAVE AN EMPLOYER, IT IS YOU AND I, WE OWN IT! ALL OF US! We all have the vote so we all have the power.

With all this in mind I would like to comment on a few things:

Health:-

I have had to visit the new hospital and I have to say that I was impressed in the way the staff went about their business, the place looked clean and new. I would like to thank the government for this new establishment and I look forward to it being used by as few people as possible. (This would mean we are all well)

Housing:-

We all know about the problems we have here, not enough apartments to meet demand. The thing is that there are enough but no one can afford them. We need to build about 2,000 apartments that cost less than £30,000.00 for a 2 bed by the next election in my opinion.

This government does not realise that most of our population does not earn enough to buy a 1 bedroom apartment in today’s market, if they did they would have acted by now. The only way locals can afford to buy is to get family to help them obtain a mortgage. Why has the government not built any houses? Because all those people who can’t afford to live here will leave, these would be the people who would not vote for the government anyway. I believe we need to increase the number of people who live in this wonderful place. The more Gibraltarians who live here the better the place would be. We should not be sending our own to another country.

Parking:-

If you don’t own a garage then you must have been fined by now, if not, you have obviously learned how to navigate the boarded signs that tell people when they can’t park due to cleaning. You can’t leave your car parked for more than one day without checking it because a sign could be placed by it and before you know it, it’s been towed away, you then need to worry about the fee to redeem your car.

Today my car was towed away from the commonwealth parade. I parked at the Kings Bastion end the day before and there were signs up telling me it had to be moved by Friday 15th July. Well as I said it was towed away today Thursday 14th July because someone had made a mistake. I went down and spoke to the police man there and he informed me that they had to clear the area as a part of the bastion needed to be demolished. I was told that machinery was being brought in early and because of this they had brought the day forward. I was also told that I would not be charged for the tow.

I was furious I had been careful and yet my car had still been towed away. It was LEGALLY PARKED and yet it had been towed away … In my opinion this is nothing short of theft… The police have actually stolen my car. In my mind they had no right to take it away. It was their mistake, their bad planning and yet it is now my problem. I have to take time from my day, I have to lose money and customers because of a governmental error. The bottom line is that someone somewhere has taken the decision that affecting the lives of people living in the area is more cost effective than correcting the mistake and delaying the machinery that is on it’s way. The only reason cars were taken from the Parade today was because it was CHEAPER than to put off the machinery for an extra day.

Bottom line … This government thinks it can treat its locals as though they are not important. Well we are important, change your attitude or we will change our government.

Gibraltar is a great place,

Gibraltar is a Rock,

Gibraltar is the world for me,

but most of all Gibraltar is the people.

We own it, it is ours, and we want to keep it. You don’t barter a deal with someone just so they stop intimidating you. You tell them to stop.

What I believe we need now more than ever is a government who will put Gibraltar first … GIBRALTAR THE PEOPLE ... NOT GIBRALTAR THE PLACE.

Remember we all hold the vote.

Kind regards to you all
MR Louis C Bruzon
Tel :54004018
14 July 2005

Cancer Research Dinner Dance

Dear Sir,

On Friday 24th June 2005, a gala Dinner Dance was held at the International Casino in aid of Cancer Research. Together with a grand raffle, over £3,500-was raised. The winning tickets were as follows.

Mediterranean cruise donated by Calypso Travel - Mr H Gomez

2 Flights to the UK donated by Monarch Airlines - Mr P Cruz

Weekend for 2 donated by Gib Sun Club - Mrs F Dellipiani

DVD Player donated by Kaycee - Mrs T Wink

Mobile Phone donated by A & J Phones - L Gilbert

Dinner for 2 at International Casino - Mr T Bell

£50 Voucher donated by Marks & Spencer - Mrs C Piri

Cosmetics hamper donated by SM Seruya - Mr Truman Davies

A night at a four star hotel donated by Elite Travel was also raffled on the night. This was won by Mrs Petfield. We would like to thank all of the above for the wonderful prizes as well as Gibtelecom who gave us Reload cards for all the prize winners. A word of thanks also to Gibflora, Lewis Stangnetto Ltd, and Karina of the Interational Casino for all her help.

Last but not least all of our family and friends who have again supposted this worthy cause by selling so many tickets and joining us on the night.

Many thanks
Jennie and Gillane
Cancer Research UK
Gibraltar branch

No Joint Use on Our Airport

Dear Sir,

Regarding the joint use of the airport, Caruana you are wrong, you should have never agreed to that.

The airport is British and used by the English and Commonwealth planes, and Spain has nothing to do with it. Caruana, that is what you have to tell Spain once and for all and finish the argument. Our airport should be called 'Gibraltar & Commonwealth Airport'

Yours Sincerly
B. Avellano


Dear Sir,

To the Chief Minister, I say:

What are you trying to hide, Mr Caruana? Why didn't you want the 'Voice of Gibraltar' to be in attendance at the Tripatite talks?

Remember that we demand a referendum before you accept any agreement. We don't trust Spain.

Yours Sincerely

 Evans

This annex is 28-storeys high!

Dear Sir,

The Eliott hotel is applying for permission to erect an annex on the existing car park in Cannon Lane.

The word annex is a misnomer as the proposed construction is Twenty Eight storeys high. Indeed is any consruction justified as the hotel industry is constantly complaining about low occupancy rates?

Notwithstanding the lack of infrastructure, the possible environmental effect, loss of views etc. do we really need this monstrosity to be erected in the centre of the city?

It is to be hoped that the planning authorities will reject this application out of hand.

Yours faithfully
C.M. Eggleton

Inadequate housing

Dear Sir,

In view of recent letters to the editor, as well as comments from Action for Housing, I would like to add my plight to that of fellow Gibraltarians who are suffering the effect of an inadequate government policy in relation to housing. In relation to families on the Social A or Medical lists, why are these people made to wait for over a year to be allocated a dwelling, when there are many vacant flats all over Gibraltar? If these cases have been awarded this category it means that it’s a crucial matter and should be dealt with immediately.

In many cases flats have been handed back to Government and are still uninhabited after many months, even years. Government say that these flats are in need of repair. Do we know whether any one is looking at these properties or making any arrangements to have them repaired? We believe not. We also know of cases where in our “utopian” society people report themselves as homeless and are sleeping in their cars. Yet Government don’t look for a solution, they just say you have to be patient and wait, this is totally unacceptable, specially knowing that there are vacant flats all around Gibraltar! Yet, in cases like Rosia Court, Government has the audacity to keep people waiting for months before making the tender results public, all of this whilst young people are suffering the hardship of not having a home, the people of Gibraltar are being treated with disrespect by their own government.

We now hear of a new Housing points system that is to be introduced. This at first hand might seem commendable, but the reality is that they might as well give everyone 1,000,000 extra points. If there are no houses available now there won’t be any under a new points scheme. It is just a gimmick (smokescreen) to make us believe that something is being done.

Thanks to the hard efforts of one woman, we in Gibraltar are fortunate to have a halfway house for women in need of shelter (domestic violence). Nonetheless, Government takes the attitude of saying that at least these people have a roof over their heads and can wait a bit longer. The house is at times full to capacity with women and their children, who despite their hardships are not afforded any dignity from the part of Government.

Government needs to change its attitude towards its citizens, who they are treating with contempt. The current system does not work for the public, its staff or even the Government’s reputation.

Giovanca Menez
Half Way House
Women In Need

No. 4 route is "too long"

Dear Sir,

The route of the No. 4 bus is too long. The No. 3 bus has a direct route. This is the bus which should cover the two bus stops at the Alameda Estate (Humphreys).

Sincerely,
John Sciacaluga.

Pensioners say Thank You

Dear Sir,

2005 Budget

On behalf of the pensioners of the Gibraltar Pensioners Association I congratulate and thank the Chief Minister and Government for the following measures which were introduced in connection with the Budget and which will go a long way towards assisting our senior citizens.

(a) The increase of the Senior Citizens tax allowances (personal and wife) to £10,000 irrespective of level of income (men aged 65 or over and women aged 60 or over).

(b) Increase the Disability Allowance

(c) Free medical tests for driving licences for those over the age of 70

(d) Free T.V. licences for the registered tenant or owner of a property or the spose thereof, if over 65 years of age

(e) No Social Insurance Contributions by those who work and are over the age of 65 or over for men and 60 or over for women.

(f) The increase of the Elderly Persons minimun Income, which is increased for both men and women

We now look foward to Government giving consideration to other measures, which have raised. These include Free Bus service for Senior Citizens: The re- introduction of the Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme for those who opted out of the scheme 50% reduction for motor vehicle licences for those over the age of 70: and abolishment of means testing for elderly sponsored patients undergoing treatment outside Gibraltar.

Yours faithfully
Henry J Smart
Secretary

RESHUFFLE: New face on a tired government, says GGR

Dear Sir,

Whilst the Chief Minister may attempt to put a new face on a tired Government, the only thing he is achieving is highlighting how out of touch he is withthe facts as they are lived by ordinary Gibraltarians.

Whilst Mr Caruana aims to paint a prettier picture of his Government, we feel sorry for Bernard Linares who has now been landed with yet one more wet attempt at political cosmetic surgery so as to help his boss look pleasant to minorities.

The so-called “Minorities Portfolio” is doomed from the start because where there is no political will to really bring in the changes in legislation, policies and procedures no amount of continuing cheap spin will succeed in hiding the facts.

As Chairman of an Equality NGO, it is my responsibility to tell it like it is. Time will tell, but all that Bernard Linares will likely be doing with this is telling us eventually that the important project of setting up the Equal Opportunities Commission required by the Equal Opportunities Ordinance will in reality just be a desk and a chair somewhere in the back of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or the Ombudsman’s Office. Meanwhile issues of equality which can only be tackled by new laws will continue to be totally ignored! And it will be business as usual for discrimination, marginalisation and injustice!

Evidence of the cosmetic nature of this latest attempt to pull the wool over the public’s eyes is the actual location of the Minorities portfolio: in Education and Training. Neither the disabled, nor gay people nor any other disadvantaged citizens in Gibraltar need to be part of an education or training Ministry: what they need is an end to discrimination in the provision of goods and services, an end to discrimination in Government housing, an end to not being able to enter into officially-recognised partnerships, an end, in effect, to all inequalities as citizens.

Any serious and informed Chief Minister or Government would know this and realise that such work should be undertaken not as some entertaining little portfolio in a minor Ministry but as a core part of a Social Affairs Minister’s work. And that is where the evidence of this Government’s being totally out of touch with realities comes in: it is not good enough today to shunt social justice issues of this sort into “minorities” sidelines, however convenient it may be for an unenthusiastic Government.

In modern European democracies, the rights of citizens are in the mainstream of social policy! Once more, Government is attempting to solve its deficiencies with spin and more spin – but this time providing real evidence of just how out of touch it is with the needs of citizens and with modern political and social practice.

Yours sincerely,
Feliz Alvarez,
Chairman, GGR

Excellent Reaction

Dear sir,

Once again we would like to applaud the improvement of the Buildings and Works Department. They are to be commended for their attitude, approach, effort and spiritness to work.

We reported and complained to Mr Barea Project Manager the fact that an elderly citizen of more than seventy years of age, having difficulties in coming up and down the stairs within the landing of the block, for which she suffered an accident. The reaction of Mr Barea has been excellent, for which this means that after one week four verandas have been installed within the common staircase for the tenant, to enable her to hold herself.

If the Buildings and Works Department continue with their present spirit we have no doubt that things will get even better. This goes to show that there has been improvement across the board from management right down to the workforce.

Yours Faithfully
Chairman Julio Pons
Member of the committee Jessica Collado

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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