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PDP wants cooperation with Spain on health study
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Almost a year ago the Government announced and the PDP welcomed the commissioning of a public health study which would assess the possible correlation between bay-generated pollution and cancer cases in Gibraltar.
It had the potential to be a step forward in the analysis of how bay activities might impact on our health. It could assist in understanding the risks faced by Gibraltar's population as a result of polluting entities around the bay. It could also be used to analyse other health concerns that can be attributed to pollution in and around the bay of Gibraltar.
Obviously any study cannot be meaningful without access to full information, data and statistics from the regional government in Spain, they add. Indeed their cooperation is essential.
The statement by the European Commission during the debate at the European Parliament yesterday that the Junta de Andalucia is refusing to carry out a study is worthy of condemnation.
There are justified concerns from residents in Gibraltar and Spain because of the pollution of the bay. It is imperative that the Governments of Gibraltar and the Junta de Andalucia or the central Government in Madrid cooperate to investigate these risks and address any issues that arise as a result of such a study.
"This is a practical issue of cooperation where obvious direct benefit would be seen by residents on both sides of the frontier. The PDP call on Government to raise this issue with the Spanish Government at tripartite talks. We will not tire of saying that the credibility of the tripartite talks is at stake if practical benefits to residents are not delivered in areas such as frontier queues and if Spain still feel free to challenge the sovereignty of our waters in an aggressive manner. Cooperation on a comprehensive and decisive independent epidemiological study provides an opportunity to show that the trilateral process can provide a real breakthrough that matters to many people and directly affects the health of our population" said PDP Environment spokesman Gavin Gafan.
29-04-10
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