Carracao living in the dark ages

Dear Sir,

A very interesting interview, the one carried out by Mr Eade with Sr Carracao, who appears to be one of the few who wishes good relations with Gibraltar.

In the first instance Sr Carracao considers that our hard fought preamble is a shame, for whom, if he as a so called Spanish democrat cannot accept that the people of a territory have a say in their affairs then he is living in the dark ages.

First and foremost the UN Doctrine on colonial peoples gives us the right to so decide our future and destiny, next if Spain, his country insist that we are a colony and therefore have to be decolonized where is the maxim that Gibraltar although listed as a colony cannot and must not be allowed to decolonise unless it reverts to Spain.

Sr Carracao please read and re-read the Treaty of Utrecht and then with your hand on your heart interpret Article ii and honestly state that Spain is and had complied with its contents, because it states clearly by Spanish Royal Decree, appended to the said treaty, that the House of Savoy shall be the lawful heirs and successors to the Spanish Throne (1713), follow this up with Article vi, the one that states that His Catholic Majesty does hereby enter into solemn undertaking that he shall henceforth never commit any act of hostility against Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain nor any of Her line who do succeed her.

Now if your thinking is that this does not apply then forget the rest, mind you there would be a logical and legal thinking and here goes, since at the time of the Treaty of Versailles 1783, Spain 'en contraprestacion' accepted the whole of Florida and Minorca for Gibraltar the I suggest you ask your Government that at the next Tri-partite meeting all of the above be placed on the table.

Finally and typical of your Country's sheer hypocrisy, rather than attempt to pretend that your friends of both the Arabs and Jews, inform both countries that you are still in the 21st century still claiming a territory under Article x which in his wording, mind you at Spain's request, that no leave shall be given under any pretence whatsoever, either to Jews or Moors to reside or have their dwellings in the said town of Gibraltar.

Your comments to Mr Eade, quote 'shame about the preamble', there you have the great difference between belonging to a great democracy and rejecting a pseudo one.

Yours faithfully,
W.L.Chamberland.

Stop the waste

Gibraltar land of great talents, proved by our youth in different fields, but when we talk about culture, especially in music, and I'm not referring to pop, heavy metal or rock, I am referring to classical music, we have nothing.

Gibraltar used to be proud of our orchestra that existed early in the 50s, 60s and 70s, an orchestra which was composed of over thirty musicians who where capable of playing opera, violin, piano, concerts, symphonies etc, but unfortunately through the years this orchestra has disappeared, and today we have nothing, why?

The reason is that the government does not seem to be concerned, there are children who are learning instruments with a lot of effort put in by their tutors.

But, beyond that there is nothing for them, for example. I have personally been approaching the government for eleven years and have dealt with the Chief Minister, Bernard Linares, Fabian Vinent and lastly with Edwin Reyes, all ministers for culture.

Trying to establish a music academy for our children, so that they would be able not just learn music, but have a place were they could get together play in Trios, Quartets, to even start a youth orchestra and raise them up once again to become Gibraltar Symphony Orchestra, without any this any child learning an instrument will loose interest and when they reach the age of fourteen and see that there is nothing for them to continue, or they start on superior studies they stop learning.

We must have a place were this wasted talent flourish where they will eat, sleep and live music on a daily basis and develop to be professionals, but the government does not listen, all I have received is broken promises, false hopes, smiles, set backs and impediments without thinking of our youth.

I have tried to start teaching in the schools, have organised concerts, presented the government with ideas but all in vain. Jimena de la Frontera has their own youth orchestra, La Linea and Algeciras and we should hear them play.

The La Linea Youth orchestra has already played in Vienna and Italy, we give our youth nothing. All this talent wasted, all I have to say is that if it weren't for the effort of some, our children would not even be learning music, but that it is not all we need to encourage, up build them, and also give them a future.

Being a minister is not just appearing in shows, media,, sports, giving out trophies, diplomas, opening ceremonies, opening exhibitions and using what's already there for their glory, but establishing and doing things that will be better for the future of our community. Its about time that our government starts thinking more about Gibraltar and our culture once and for all, and fulfil what they promise, and fulfil the potential there is in Gibraltar

Charles Reyes

Disheartening

Dear Sir,

It is indeed very disheartening to find that only a very few of the thousands of Spanish workers in Gibraltar have deemed it necessary to show their displeasure at Mr. Sanchez by demonstrating only on a couple of occasions, once with the Union Unite, and defending the ‘hand’ that feeds them and their families.

It is obvious that our neighbours, through Mr. Sanchez and his PP colleagues are determined to destroy our economy by stopping visitors to Gibraltar at present with queues of up to two hours and by also installing a toll in the near future – it doesn’t take much to notice that work for this IS going ahead. Perhaps the time has come for us, the Gibraltarians to act in the same manner and suspend, without pay, all the Spanish workers in Gibraltar until such time as conditions improve at the frontier.

I am sure there are plenty of retired and still capable people here in Gibraltar who would be willing to undertake jobs to man the cashier’s boxes and serve clients as assistants with the benefit that we are all bi-lingual! Construction workers could easily be found from the UK, Morocco or Portugal. We have done it before and could do it again!

The Voice of Gibraltar makes sense. I, for one, would like Mr. Sanchez to know that as far as I am concerned he can keep his town, his supermarkets, shops and restaurants where he can enjoy them best as I have no intention of spending any of my Euros there nor for that matter anywhere where I have to pass through ’his’ land unless it were a matter of life or death, until such time that matters are solved.

I love to have someone explain HOW the Spaniards seem to use the EU Regulations as best suit themselves – wipe their hands with and throw away to put it delicately! (And why no one does anything about it and let them always get away with whatever they want!) I would also love to be enlightened as to what Madrid does for the Gibraltarians that the PP complain so much about.

Many thanks
Ana L Armstrong

Ignore the Alcalde

Dear Sir

The mayor of La Linea, el Sr Sanchez, wants to dominate Gibraltar by his name appearing frequently on the headlines of the local press. We are playing his game. He should be ignored. Recently he said that he does want a good relationship with Gibraltar. Why? Let him give his reasons.

La Linea and the Campo area have always depended on Gibraltar for its economic stability. A very long time ago a Spanish custom officer friend told me" Leave me that little cow there which yields a lot of milk". Over the years the cow has grown to full proportions and is now yielding enormous gallons of milk.

Unemployment in La Linea and the Campo area is at a low ebb and even those in employment are not being paid. In Gibraltar a few thousand Spaniards who are in employment are being paid regularly. Gibraltarians spend a lot of money in Spain which is detrimental to Gibraltar's businesses. Hundreds of thousands of Euros are spent by supermarkets on products from Spain and Spanish construction companies make millions of pounds in Gibraltar. Although Spaniards spend some money in Gibraltar, it is little in proportion.

Sr Sanchez may insist on a toll at the frontier but this is illegal.

Your sincerely
John Sciacaluga

An eye for an eye

Dear Editor,

I would like to share through your newspaper my personal feelings regarding the proposed frontier toll.

It seems the mayor of La Linea does not remember what the campo area was like before the opening of the frontier and is therefore not able to compare just how much it has improved since then.

In my view it takes a strong government with a Chief Minister such as Joe Bossano, to react against such an unjustifiable act and to find a way to protect the interests of Gibraltar. This may be in the form of an entrance toll for the twelve thousand or so workers coming in daily.

Our neighbours only appear to understand the old rule of an eye for an eye.

Thanking you for your attention,
Anthony Lia.

Elastic paper

Sir,

Reference to an article published in your paper on 23.8.10 "Police versus public".

I would like to say thatsomeone once said when a law is enacted it is written on elastic paper and in this case it is quite true.

J L Soiza

Pavement problem

Dear Editor,

It would be very interesting to know who was the genius architect that has designed the so-called Latino’s Beach restaurant and take-away.

At the same time it would be very helpful to know who in the Government drawing office had examined the drawings and issued the pertinent licence to proceed with this unfriendly construction.

As anyone can see by the photographs attached there are no facilities for wheel chairs, to enter in the restaurant which I believe, is against the

law, on the other hand there are two sets of steps obstructing the pavement making it very difficult for wheel chair users, prams and push-chairs etc.

to pass, forcing them to step down into the road with the added dangers for the individuals and the traffic alike.

I am sure that many officials have passed this area, but unfortunately they haven’t noticed the pedestrian problem, so it will be, very much appreciated

that someone looked into the right direction and gave a solution to this pavement full of unnecessary obstacles and the access to wheel chair users as soon as possible.

M.Pereira

Should we press for devolved integration?

Dear Sir,

We went in as a Colony and came out as a Modern One, whatever that may mean to some, but if we care to trace our history it makes wonderful reading.

1704-- Capture of Gibraltar i.e British by Conquest'

1713-- Treaty of Utrecht i.e British Territory by treaty.

1830-- Crown Colony.

1981-- Gibraltar becomes a British Dependent Territory.

2002-- Gibraltar becomes an Oversees Territory.

2006-- We become a Modern Colony.

Therefore in the space of 306 years we have had 5 designations and at the end of it all we are still listed by the UN as a Colony, how come that the UK has not thought it fit to advise the De-Colonisation Committee of our various status because frankly speaking the penultimate status made us a territory of 'outre mer', but still with no Westminster representation.

In view of the obvious, would it not now be the time to press for devolved integration, we have all the characteristics, our own Parliament just as Scotland and Wales, our own Chief Minister with similar connotations in the above mentioned and since the FCO still seem to be playing, erroneously the Spanish Dimension card, well let us call into play the wording of Article x, quote ' to be held and enjoyed absolutely with all manner of right for ever.(in perpetuity) and thus defeat two of Spain's arguments, one that of a colony and two that we could become independent, in UN jargon integration is one of their listed solutions.

How about it, are we too scared to attempt the ultimate challenge and let us stop once and for all the granting, gratuitously of any talk of a negotiated settlement and go fully for what the 17,900 and the 12,138 voted or are we going to be held to ransome by the 187/44.

Yours faithfully,
W.L.Chamberland.

When in office and when out of office

Dear Sir,

Mr. Keith Azzopardi's recent press communiqué "A new Politics for Gibraltar", included the following : “This includes looking thoroughly at the way we are governed, to improve it, so that we have better participation of the citizen, so that we have more accountability of ministers and the government, so that we have a better way of influencing the way day to day decisions are taken."

This statement clearly demonstrates what politicians out of office tell us most of the time and soon forget when in government. They always offer participation, but, we never get it.

In Gibraltar we have now more than ever an electoral system that favours political parties, because a culture of party voting was imbued in our people by the AACR since the early days of our legislature.

Only once, since Gibraltar gained virtual autonomy, have we had anything other than a single political party in government with its leader holding absolute power and the Opposition unable to do little more than talk to try and influence policy. On that one occasion, a coalition Government obtained for us our greatest achievement - the Preamble to the Constitution, our safeguard against a take-over by Spain.

Participatory democracy is the only real democracy and at the present time we can only participate at election time. We have a system that provides each voter with ten valid votes to elect a Government of nine. In a small town with such an imbued culture of party politics this is an insult to the politically aware elector.

“One Man One Vote” should be the cry of an enlightened electorate to achieve a measure of participatory democracy. There are a number of ways in which a “One Man One Vote” could be introduced.

As things stand at the moment a single vote per person would really show the true value put on each candidate by the electorate. I have little doubt that certain candidates now in Government would not get more than a few hundred votes!

Single parties would find it extremely difficult to field the nine most popularly electable candidates and single party governments would be virtually impossible to achieve. Laws could only be enacted by consensus. Dictatorial-like mandates and punitive Draconian laws would be a thing of the past. There are other electoral methods like dividing Gibraltar into wards or some type of proportional representation like the single transferable vote previously used in Gibraltar, but nothing will be a more effective and incentive spur on a candidate than a single vote for each elector under the present system of choice from all standing candidates.

Each candidate would be in the certain knowledge that any re-election would be subject to his personal achievement first time round, whereas as things stand now an ignoramus could get elected at the tail of the string of candidates presented by whichever is the popular party. I would urge the young people of Gibraltar, not to shun politics but to take part in the necessary movements to organize campaigns to change the electoral system in Gibraltar. The sooner the better. “El diablo sabe más por viejo que por diablo”, and I am eighty+.

Emilio Peire

Little Brains?

Dear Sir

I was astonished to read Mr Hewitt's article on the budget published in the Gibraltar Chronicle a week ago. I will not waist any time discussing what Mr Hewitt said, as most of it did not make much sense. But what I think is important for any trade unionist is the fact that until now I thought that due to the decline in union members in Gibraltar and the UK one of the most important thing for unions was to recruit new members. Either the leadership of Unite was not aware of Mr Hewitt's article or there is very little brains behind the leadership.

I would like to end by asking Mr Sisarello and Mr Ochello the following question "who on his right mind would want to join your union, when members of your district committee are so bluntly pro Government?

Yours truly,
Mr N Sanchez

Getting it wrong

Dear Sir,

I am rendered speechless to hear Alejandro Sanchez ideas to introduce a toll at the frontier no matter what the consequences are..

Apparently no one wants him in La Linea de la Concepcion and are asking for his resignation. Here we have Mr. Caruana who is worse than Alejandro Sanchez, at least he is trying to solve La Linea's problem, to the contrary of Mr. Caruana who is ruining Gibraltar.

Everything Mr. Caruana is doing goes wrong in Gibraltar; this man has 80% of the population against him just as Alejandro Sanchez in La Linea. Not much difference from Mr. Caruana, the sooner Mr. Caruana is out of government, the better for everybody may be it is already too late., and now to make things worse, he is trying to push our young generation to Spain, because he has introduced a new licence, which states you can't have loud music after eleven o'clock. The majority of the young Gibraltarians are not finding jobs in the local market, do we also have to sacrifice our children for the sake of one mans crazy ideas I am sure that the rest of his ministers do not agree with him, in the way the chief minister is managing Gibraltar.

L Edwards

Still talking about it

Dear Sir,

It would appear that the deputy Chief Minister Mr Holliday has nothing better to do than go to Europa Point for a publicity stunt to make a fuss about nothing, that the refurbishment project there is on target!

This project was 'promised' BEFORE the last general election, so, if anything, he should be ashamed that they are still talking about it.

Yours sincerely,
L. Robinson

Outrageous!

Dear Sir,

I must say that while freedom of the media is to be applauded it is sad to see it misused when GBC news is used to champion R.Norton ignorant and highly illogical correspondence to the Gibraltar Chronicle.

It is deplorable that GBC who is paid by the taxpayers refused to grant time and space to the leader of the opposition Joe Bossano to explain on his recent visit to the United Nations to defend the Gibraltarians before the committee of 24.

This when public interest demands the maintenance of political impartiality by GBC- But lost no time to air the ridiculous views of someone who left Gibraltar to escape from the Spanish restrictions and represents no one.

The argument that we the Gibraltarians should willingly pay an illegal toll to drive into Spain to help economically the Mayor of La Linea is as dangerously and as outrageous as we were to praise Spain for violating our human rights.

What the Mayor of La Linea wants to do is a perfect demonstration to his fellow neighbours of his mindless hatred and unfair discrimination to the people of Gibraltar.

What GBC has failed to point out is that in spite of the Chief Minister and his GSD government giving contracts worth millions of Pounds to Spanish constructors and preferential employment to Spaniards to help economically the hinterland at the expense of the Gibraltarians- the people of Gibraltar’s human rights are still being tampered by Spain

Yours Sincerely
Francis Gonzalez

In EU for what Spain wants?

Dear Sir,

Every day without fail you read letters and hear comments, some unprintable, on the way forward towards the latest Spanish threat, this time from the Mayor of the euroless municipality.

In the first instance our Government should exploit the much heralded hot line sold as part of Cordoba, next advise the Spanish Trade Unions that if they still want work in Gibraltar they better use their collective voice and lastly the most scatter brain idea of them all, shut them out, I am certain that a flurry of well intended locals will say, you cannot do this as it goes against EU Laws, the question, are we in the EU for what Spain wants or are we not entitled to be forcible defended.

Incidentally, Mr Norton's comments and suggestions have been answered by others, I would only add, if the shoe was on the other foot, would Spain help us out or would it be conditional to an advancement in their sovereignty claim?

Yours faithfully,
W. L. Chamberland.

From summer nights to silent nights

Dear Editor,

It has taken this government nine years of sleepless nights to make another 'U' turn from their mistakes. The next step is for the Government to supply sleeping pills and ear plugs to everyone in Gibraltar to sleep better before the next general election, instead of really tackling the source of the problem correctly. Which would be proper consultation with the affected parties, including the Police and reach a balanced agreement.

However, my advice to the Government, is to go back to sleep.

Yours Sincerely,
M Garcia

Not surprised if Cameron does not visit Gib

Dear Sir,

I see David Eade who I believe is an expat living in Spain is pontificating about Gibraltar and the Conservative party. This makes a change from him writing in the Spanish media that he 'feels uneasy' about the RAF flying around the Rock.

No doubt he was away in Spain when the Princess Royal visited recently and walked down Main Street, accounting for his inaccurate nonsense about royal visits. He must have also been away when the Conservative MPs and MEPs raised concern about the joint sovereignty proposals and helped quash it.

David Cameron has a big job on in the UK sorting out the mess made by Labour and is entitled to take his holiday wherever he wants and as a resident of Gibraltar and a Conservative I wish him well but am not surprised if he does not visit us.

Jim Watt

We are not a zoo!

Dear Sir,

We should not let the clown mayor go ahead with the toll. We are not a zoo that people visit, we are a great nation with pride, guts, and proud Gibraltarians.

If the Gib Govt don't do anything then we should blockage the frontier with cars and people and don't let anyone in or out of Gibraltar.

Stop the Spaniard take a penny across the border and we the Gibraltarians should stop going to La Linea, and in two or three weeks we will have a new La Linea mayor. Where is the good relation with Spain and the Campo? All is a lie.

Thank you
Albert Macias Snr

Does he know what he is talking about?

Dear Sir,

I was amazed to read Mr. Reggie Norton's letter in a local daily on Monday 16th August. He states that 'he can't help feeling sympathy for Sr. Alejandro Sanchez and all the financial problems his Ayuntamiento faces and that we should voluntarily and in the spirit of Christian neighbourliness offer to pay 3 Euros for a return trip in and out of Spain in our cars until the Mayor and the La Linea people's problems are solved at a higher level.'

Does Mr. Norton know and appreciate realistically what he is talking about?

We all know that Mr. Norton held a very high job in Gibraltar as Town Clerk during the 1960's, and that he has devoted his time to working for Oxfam in U.K. and various other Charitable and worthy causes but his comments and advice proceed from someone who has been away from Gibraltar too long. Mr. Norton's good intentions and Christian beliefs are not in question here but his total misunderstanding of a political situation that has been artificially created by the La Linea Mayor to extract money somehow or other, legally or illegally, from all and sundry, no matter what.

If we were to follow Mr. Norton's advice and voluntarily pay a 3 Euros toll each time we went to La Linea, in view of the chameleon-like strategies and character of the local alcalde who says one thing one day and the opposite the next, what would stop him from upping the stakes in the future each time he needed money? Wouldn't we be succumbing to a form of BLACKMAIL?

Secondly, this problem of a cash-strapped and broke Ayuntamiento has not been created by Gibraltar who employs 6000 Spaniards but by the Partido Popular Party, headed by Sr. Juan Carlos Juarez Ariolla, who initially proceeded from the Gil Party, and who took the town of La Linea by storm in the 1999 Elections.

At present Sr. Juarez is being processed by the Juzgado Mixto Numero Uno de La Linea for his part in the 'ROSEWORLD Case. He is being asked to pay 762,666 euros in bail money. Apart from this case, he has

many cases pending like the now-famous former Alcalde of Marbella Sr. Julian Muñoz and his mentor Sr. Antonio Rocca who is at present in prison. Both are still to be judged for many other purported crimes in the near future and long prison sentences are asked by the relevant judges. Gibraltarians should not have to pay for the excesses, corruption, and maladministration of Spanish mayors.

The fact of the matter is that Sr. Juarez came to La Linea broke and has gone away a very rich man. He is presumed to have properties in Soto-Grande, Madrid and Asturias where he originally came from. Due to the fact that the processes of law are so slow in Spain many of these alcaldes have been able to flout the law on numerous occasions almost with impunity. We all hope that eventually the slow machinery of the Spanish law system will eventually catch up with them. Unfortunately Sr. Alejandro Sanchez, who spent the last 10 years in an office in Brussels, costing the Ayuntamiento 10,000 Euros per month, was selected as mayor after his former colleague and Mayor of La Linea was disqualified from office because Sr. Sanchez is one of the few who have no purported criminal cases pending of all the 'consejales' in La Linea, and this may be the reason why this over-grown schoolboy with a degree in Political Science, but quite green and inexperienced, politically-speaking, has taken the mantle of a bankrupt Ayuntamiento. It is not money that we should be giving these people but ideas on how to run their Ayuntamiento honestly, accountably and effectively, as they keep comparing themselves with us, when we are a very different jurisdiction, with an effective, transparent and highly-skilled Government, a buoyant economy, a sound Finance Centre, A good Tourist Product, successful Bunkering businesses, a Dockyard and many other assets that makes Gibraltar a very desirable place to visit, to live and to start a business.

Millions of Euros have already been given to the Ayuntamiento in the past by the Central Government and The Junta de Andalucia, but it just disappears into a bottomless well. This is why the Central Government when Sr. Aznar was President withdrew the subsidy to La Linea called the Carta Economica Especial in 2004, so they can't blame the P.S.O.E. La Linea offers nothing, except a few bunkers from the Second World War. Sr. Sanchez should learn from us and concentrate on putting his house in order and make his town a viable centre so that they can attract businesses, factories and tourists instead of looking in our direction with envy, jealousy and anger as if we were their enemies when we are truly their benefactors despite their ingratitude, bully tactics, incursions into our territorial waters, prohibition of our sportsmen and athletes from participating in many European events, games and competitions and using our common frontier as a bottleneck to throttle our economy.

Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely
Tito Valerga

Double your money for top civil servants

Dear Sir

Salaries for the top civil service jobs have approximately doubled in the past decade to decade and a half or so. A cursory glance at recently-published figures reveals that seven civil servants now earn the grand sum of £102,460: the Chief Technical Officer, Financial Secretary, Principal Auditor, Commissioner of Police, Attorney General and the two Puisne Judges (eight, actually, because the Accountant General's salary has in past years been on a par that of the other seven but is curiously missed out of the Government's published figures with no explanation provided).

The Estimates of Revenue & Expenditure, which can be purchased from the Publications Office at a bargain price of £5, also reveal the following handsome salaries: Chief Justice £114,755; Chief Secretary £107,009; Director of Education & Training £86,004; Director of Civil Aviation £84,810; Chief Fire Officer £76,253; Senior Education Adviser £67,312; Senior Officers (at least one in each department) up to £66,861; Director of Media & Communications £65,499; CEO Buildings & Works £62,839 etc.

However, the Estimates do not reveal the whole picture because in addition to the many highly-paid civil servants that form part of the 'establishment' there are a number of others in the public or quasi-public sector earning well into six figures and paying very little tax for years due to their special tax status. Gibraltar surely still needs them but, having been here for so long, shouldn't they now be paying full tax like everyone else?

There is a further anomaly in that there are yet other top executives at Government agencies and statutory bodies such as the Gibraltar Electricity Authority and the Sports & Leisure Authority whose salaries are also omitted from the Estimates, despite the fact that the accounts of the bodies are included in the publication. And what about top European lawyer Michael Llamas who heads the new EU and International Department? He must be costing us a pretty penny and is no doubt worth it - but are taxpayers not entitled to know how much?

In the interest of transparency shouldn't the Government publish all public-sector top salaries including those at Government agencies and statutory bodies, not just those of civil servants? Ministers' salaries (inclusive of Parliamentary allowance) should also be made readily accessible to the public, particularly in light of the hefty increases during the current administration's tenure.

To the cost of the above-cited top salaries we need to add the cost of civil servants' generous non-contributory final-salary pensions when they retire, with the exception of 'contract' civil servants such as Gareth Flower and Clive Golt, both of whom were hired directly from outside Government. It is known that Gareth and Clive get 25% of their salary as a tax-free gratuity each year, bringing their total annual remuneration to £65,000 and £80,000 respectively. Not bad if you can get it - and Clive certainly deserves a break - but shouldn't the posts have been advertised and proper civil service recruitment procedures followed? Why have the Public Service Commission, the unions and, strangely, the Opposition remained silent?

Quite apart from the questions marks hanging over the propriety of recent recruitment procedures, the questions inevitably arise: Are public-sector wages spiralling out of control? Can a small town of only 29,000 people sustain this level of wage inflation in the long term? Will the top salaries double again in the next decade to decade and a half? True, the economy is strong at the moment but should Gibraltar not exercise salary increase restraint at a time when so many other countries in Europe are having to freeze and in some cases even cut public-sector, including Ministerial, salaries in some cases?

I thought my ears were deceiving me when I heard the Sales Manager of Gedime Motors tell GBC Newswatch on 13 August 2010, at the launch of the Mercedes SLS AMG at which the Chief Minister was present, that the Mercedes dealership in Gibraltar was performing well because of its "very solid client base of... civil servants who are doing very well". I thought he was going to say "millionaires living up the coast" - not "civil servants"!

The Government proclaims that the pillars of the economy are financial services, port and shipping, and tourism, whereas Joe Bossano maintains that the real drivers of Government revenue are petrol, tobacco, gambling and construction. Whichever sectors are really driving the economy, we never know when they may experience a downturn in the future so would it not be prudent to be prepared by curbing the spiral in public-sector salary inflation now?

But before the private sector rush to chastise the public sector they should put their own house in order. Successive annual reports by the Principal Auditor reveal alleged widespread underpayment of tax by way of suspected serial under-declaration of earnings by certain senior professionals and assorted others. If everyone paid their full taxes instead of seeking to exploit every possible loophole the burden of taxation would be reduced all round - and Government would not be forced to impose the draconian anti-avoidance measures contained in its new tax legislation. Chamber and GFSB take note.

Yours faithfully
M J Ashbey

N0 cherry picking...

Dear Sir,

We all unfortunately know only too well Spain's continued reference to Article x of Utrecht in a bid to retake Gibraltar, in other word our homeland and their pathetic argument all along being the wording, quote 'And in case it shall hereafter seem meet to the Crown of Great Britain to grant, sell, or by any other means to alienate there from the propriety of the said town of Gibraltar that the preference of having the same shall always be given to the Crown of Spain before any others.'

If the above is their only comfort, then why should Jose Maria Castiella in May 1966 make a formal proposal to UK for the cancellation of the Treaty of Utrecht and the subsequent return of Gibraltar to Spain, if as they said and continue to falsely state that Utrecht is the be all and pardon the pun ' the mother of all treaties.'

A very important piece of perfidy, if in the same article, at Spain's insistence there appear the wording, ' that no leave shall be given under any pretence whatsoever, either to Jews or Moors, to reside or have their dwellings in the said town of Gibraltar.' Something which thank God, Britain never adhered to, then if Britain broke this part of article x with impunity, never challenged by Spain, then by the same token Spain went even further when the Spanish Foreign Minister, Marcelino Oreja Aquirre shook the late Sir Joshua's hand and recognised two things his religion and his roots in Gibraltar, as well as his being the Chief Minister and therefore 'de facto' head of the Government of a territory which in their mind cannot legally exist, more so being a colony.

We had a similar instance recently when another prominent member of the Jewish Community was honoured by the Spanish Government with a medal, presented by the current Foreign Minister, on behalf of their Monarch (which one ), this presents a problem since Article ii of Utrecht specifically states that my Heirs and Successors shall be the House of Savoy. Things, since Cordoba have not got better, but in fact worse than even in Castiella's and Franco's days, i.e invading our waters with impunity, our air space and why, simply because appeasement has never worked and too many kisses and handshakes in front of the cameras is all that it is, theatrics and playing to the gallery and boy have we got a champion in this field.

If Cordoba was and is still being sold as a panacea, then the main points, the pensions, airport, telephones and frontier crossing should all have seen the light of day at the same time and not piece meal and we were told no cherry picking, except the caveat was to us Gibraltarians, we never learn all in the name of moving forward, I have said it in the past and will repeat, I am prepared to move forward when our Quixotic neighbours retreat from 1713.

Yours faithfully,
W.L.Chamberland,

We are on your side

Dear Editor

I hope you can find your way to publish this as I would like the people of Gibraltar to know that at least some

British people are also watching and we are on your side.

You should be aware that the people of Gibraltar are not alone in facing Latin interference and harassment.

7000 miles to your south, the Falkland Islands are facing much the same thing from Spain's descendants

in Argentina. Perhaps that may be where Snr Sanchez got his crazy idea.

Incidentally, I have been to Gibraltar, twice, and hope to return at some stage.

But I would like to pose some questions that I hope someone will be kind enough to answer.

1. Rather than a protest at the border, would it be effective to sack all residents of La Linea from jobs in Gibraltar?

2. As far as the information printed in British newspapers is concerned, there was an incident of Spanish incursion into territorial waters where the Guardia Civil officers were arrested. What is wrong, in future, not only with arresting them but also impounding their vessel(s)? Permanently. Spain gets its officers back, but Gibraltar keeps their vessel to help in equipping the RGP.

3. If Snr Sanchez goes ahead with his illegal plans, could Gibraltar import building materials from North Africa?

4. There appear to be conflicting reports as to whether there is a ferry between Gibraltar and Algeciras. On the one hand, it is suggested that the only route is via Tangier. On the other, that the company Transcoma does actually operate a ferry over the Gibraltar-Algeciras route. Which is true? And if the ferry does operate, does it take cars?

Yours faithfully
Brian Riches
brian.riches@ntlworld.com

Put a brake on Paco

Kaelan Victor Joyce correspondence in your issue of 3rd August underlines the question that we patriotic Gibraltarians must protest in the strongest terms possible- because we still live in a democracy- at the continuation of pro-Spanish biased articles or to be more precise “Anti-Gibraltarian” by Paco Oliva in the Gibraltar Chronicle.

The situation has now reached new heights and it is obviously time that its Editor puts a brake on the whole situation which is deeply disturbing and provocative to the people of Gibraltar.

What one would not expect is a journalist in a privilege position in the Editorial staff of the Gibraltar Chronicle to write articles of an anti-Gibraltarian nature in the context of the Spanish campaign against Gibraltar and surprisingly without being questioned by its Editor.

In this age of “politics before people” when obviously it becomes increasingly difficult to make the ordinary individual voice heard no matter how sincere the belief is or how strong the motivation and when correspondence to the Editor in protest do not see the light of day. It is not time then that we are as a people put an end to this extreme pro-Spanish biased articles.

It is exactly for this reason what we can certainly do is bring pressure to bear on the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Yours Sincerely
Francis Gonzalez

New noise laws? SOUNDPROOFING and AIR-CONDITIONING. Simple!

Dear Sir,

I am a resident of Crutchett's Ramp (Just behind Casemates House - The old barracks) I can see the entrances of 2 of the Casemates clubs, and believe me I can hear everything that goes on! I've been complaining about the levels of loud music and the punters aftermath in the early morning for 9 years since Casemates was made a "leisure area" Not just me - but hundreds of families from Main Street, Casemates and Crutchett’s Ramp going right up to Moorish Castle Estate and even into Laguna Estate and the upper rock on occasion.

I've had the environmental Health Department taking noise level measurements in my bedroom at 1.30am, these were found to be highly excessive! And the levels on my balcony were off the scale!

Problem:

Winter:

Fridays – venues have music from 11 / 12 at night into 6am the following morning

Saturdays - start 11/12 at night go on until around 3 / 4 / 5 am.

Sundays - start around 10pm and go on to 2/3 am.

EXTRA :

New Years Eve: We all know the times – 5 / 6 pm to 6am next day. This between band or DJ sound checks for the live bit and then after the event the venues take over until the early hours.

The Cavalcade: Fromaround 2pm on the day to around 10pm.

Summer:

Daily – performers playing live music and singing outside the venues to the diners at one or more venues.

Wednesdays – Student nights, 11pm to 4/5 am next day

Fridays – 11/12 pm to 6am next day

Saturdays – 11/12 pm to 4/5 am next day

Sundays – 10pm to around 3 / 4am next day

EXTRA:

Summer Nights, Tuesdays and Thursdays from around 9pm to midnight.

National Day : A variety of different activities means we have noise from the 9am start soundchecks to around 5/6 am next morning by the time the clubs have shut.

Oh and that’s not mentioning the myriad of bike days, fund raising events etc that also go on at Casemates.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that we live in a Mediterranean culture with a lot of activities going on, but when you get thrust to living in the centre of it all and there’s so much of it going on, when exactly are we supposed to take a rest, sleep properly? I’m sure most of you who do not live in these areas can sleep through most nights, maybe with an odd incident of cars with music or bikes. Yes – It’s annoying isn’t it – well we have it ALL THE TIME!!!

We have elderly residents, shift workers, families with small kids and school kids, nurses who need to be sharp at work next day! All sorts of normal people and for the most part we are Government tenants affected by this - hundreds of us. Do we get a change of law or a move to a quieter area if we complain? NO.

Have any of us been given a solution? Double glazing in some cases (maybe 16 families out of more than 500 affected) but this still leaves much to be desired when that just covers tiny portion of the people affected and even then, those who did get the windows need to keep them shut when the noise starts, which in summer, the time of year when there's most activity at Casemates need to be kept closed from around 6pm when there are singers and groups playing outside premises. These windows are not 100% effective mind you, they do not soundproof totally – and if the windows are shut and you’ve had the sun hitting your house until 10pm on average, temperatures in the house are high all evening and well into the next morning. Not comfortable at all.

Present residents options?

A: Keep the windows shut, switch on a fan in every room to circulate hot air and put up your TV volume so its above what noise is coming in, have regular cold showers and mostly just melt!

B: Open the windows switch on the fans to circulate somewhat cooler air and put your TV volume up so high that you run out of volume and can still hear the noise!

We are happy about the new law, we have peace and quiet at last!! But not the way it’s’ been done.

What we, the residents WANT is:

A: That venues are made to get soundproofed – Properly - to UK standard, not the botched jobs some of them have done in the past and insist that they work!

B: That there is a department ensuring that venues are properly soundproof - IE: not hearing a peep of what’s going on in the venue from outside it! This to be ongoing to ensure levels are kept this way in case they change sound systems etc.

C: No diner entertainment outside the venues directly near housing. IE, if anyone lives 10metres or nearer as is the case at present!!!

D: That we can complain to Police if there is any venue opening doors, having music outdoors etc or other activity outdoors which cancels out their soundproofing and that the Police is able to take action. This from 6pm to 11am daily

E: That venues are also made to get properly air-conditioned to enable this and make it comfortable for patrons.

F: That summer nights, National Day, The Cavalcade and New Years Eve remain as they are with a thought for the neighbours please when fixing volumes.

What everyone needs – To go out when they choose to and have fun without disturbing anyone!!

WHY THIS? So the music and the partying can continue at whatever time – yes even after 11pm! We are getting a very rough time living near these venues but we also understand everyone needs to have fun and even we want to have fun – when we want it mind, not when It’s rammed into our houses at all hours!

Our youth will not need to go to Spain at night, diners can get live music entertainment all in air –conditioned bliss and all the affected residents will finally be able to enjoy some rest.

I think it's shameful of ALL the political parties to be honest, the implementers for doing it all wrong for the 3rd time round and the others for also failing to do their research to try and find what the actual problems were and try to help out effectively by finding and suggesting good solutions.

I have set up a facebook page " Don't stop the music at 11pm!! Get the venues soundproofed!!" where anyone concerned can join and is encouraged to leave their opinions on this, youth, residents, diners and venues! We have 200 members within 3 days of setting it up.

While we’re at it I’d also like to remind everyone that there is a silent hours law which encompasses everyone and all locations from11pm to 11am so please try to keep all noise of any kind down at those times for all your neighbours everywhere – including yourself!

Thanks for your time,

A very fed up Crutchetts Ramp resident who is too well aware of the noise but also likes to party every so often!

Iris Guilliano

Exchange of correspondence between Albert Buhagiar and Chronicle editor Dominique Searle:

'Chronicle failed to publish my letters'

*From: Albert

Sent: 09 August 2010 14:21

To: letters@chronicle.gi

Subject: RE: Spain mixing politics with sport

Hi Dominic,

I trust you will publish this letter.

Regards

Bubi

*From: letters@chronicle.gi

Sent: 10 August 2010 15:53

To: 'Albert'

I think you closed correspondence on this issue elsewhere.

Dominique

*From: Albert

Sent: 11 August 2010 09:31

To: letters@chronicle.gi

Dear Dominic,

The correspondence was sent to Panorama because you fail to publish my letters, having said this there are many other letters that are published in both newspapers. I hope you do not curtail my democratic right in asking you to publish my letter.

I would formally like to know what is the reason for not publishing my previous letter in reply to Paco’s opinion piece which continues monologue of his pro Spanish ideas.

Un cordial saludo
Bubi

*From: letters@chronicle.gi]

Sent: 11 August 2010 16:50

To: 'Albert'

Dear Albert,

There is no democratic right for a correspondent to have a letter published in any newspaper. An Editor has the right to publish, refuse to publish or edit (so long as this reflects a letters general arguments) letters sent to it. We have published many letters from you, occasionally some were edited but only after discussion with you.

We state clearly in our letters page that we do not knowingly publish circulars or letters sent to other newspapers but there is no constant monitoring of that.

That other newspapers wish to publish letters we do not accept is a matter from them, but I will not accept that leverage. Nor do I think bullying people is a democratic right, although people get away with it all the time.

I suspect you know full well why your letter was not going to be published in its entirety and anticipated the decision you got. My recollection is you want to insist on publication in full. That is not a notion acceptable to any newspaper. In relation to Paco’s Opinion piece as published your response included a personal attack which is not acceptable and should not be acceptable to people who claim to raise the democracy flag.

In all events that exchange is as far as I am concerned closed.

Dominique

*From: Albert

Sent: 13 August 2010 11:16

To: letters@chronicle.gi

Dear Dominique,

With respect, you appear to be confusing two letters, either accidentally or intentionally.

My most recent letter on the subject of Spanish political interference in sport (with reference to Dominic Carroll in Barcelona) was also circulated to Panorama, and I suppose I will have to accept that given it has already been published by that newspaper, you are unwilling to do the same in yours even though as previously stated in my last email you have published many letters that have been published in Panorama as well. In my opinion the Panorama is now the truly independent newspaper, with democratic journalists and editor.

However, my first letter was a reply to Paco Oliva’s opinion piece and was exclusively sent to your newspaper for publication. After several days without publication, the reasons for which were never communicated to me, I opted to send it to Panorama who promptly published it. At no stage did you contact me to voice a concern about a part or the whole of the letter, or ask me to edit or amend parts of it. Even now, I am totally unaware of which parts of the letter appear to have caused such concern or offence.

What is more, I do not accept that my first letter includes a “personal attack” on Paco Oliva at all, and would ask you where, in your editorial opinion, that “personal attack” appears. As I recall, in the letter I challenge Oliva’s ideas and his depiction of Gibraltarians as uneducated and backward, which I, together with many of your readers, find offensive and insulting. I invited him to leave Gibraltar if he finds us so unappealing. There are no threats in my letter and there are no insults. Although I do question Oliva’s motives in presenting what are, in my opinion, one-sided versions of events in his opinion pieces. That is not a personal attack, it is an assessment of his journalistic bias which as a reader in a democracy I am free to make.

In any case, it is Paco himself whom you have indulged and continue to indulge in personal attacks on Gibraltarians now and in the past, most notably on a close personal friend, the former GFA President Joey Nunez, on whom Oliva carried out a character assassination bordering on the libellous at the time of the UEFA case. I did not recall seeing any attempt by you to curtail him, so your new-found concern for avoiding “personal attacks” in the columns of your newspaper comes as something of a surprise. Perhaps that concern extends only to the protection of your journalists, or at least of one of them in particular.

Your reference to “bullying” is likewise not accepted, and I would sincerely hope your insinuation is not that I have “bullied” either you or Oliva, now or in the past. If so, I would like an explanation of such an accusation.

Regards
Albert Buhagiar

*This exchange of correspondence has been made public by Mr Albert Buhagiar

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