FSC CANCELS MARRACHE LICENCES, COURT DECIDES FUTURE OF PRACTICE

Today - by Dominique Searle

The immediate future of Marrache & Co, a prominent Gibraltar law firm, will today be considered by the Supreme Court where the Chief Justice Anthony Dudley will decide if the firm can continue to practice or if one or more members of the firm might be suspended.
The Financial Services Commission, the FSC, has cancelled nine of the law firms licences and said it believes that there have been “serious and persistent breaches of Gibraltar’s financial services legislation”.
 

LABOUR SUSPENDS FRAUD CHARGE MPs

Today

The three Labour MPs facing criminal charges over their expenses claims were suspended from the party yestreday.
David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine are being prosecuted on several counts of false accounting.
 

SALUTE

Today

The Royal Gun Salute was fired by Headquarter Company (Thomson’s Battery) of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment to celebrate the Accession of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Reviewing Officer at the Salute was Olga Zammitt the Mayor of Gibraltar who is seen here inspecting the Guard of Honour.
 

SVA CHASES LAUNCH INTO PORT, MAN ARRESTED, DRUGS SEIZED

Today - by Brian Reyes

A Spanish customs launch chased a suspected drug smuggler deep into Gibraltar territorial waters on Saturday.
The Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera [SVA] followed the small boat as it sped over from Morocco into waters close to the Rock.
 

MINISTRY FOR CULTURE PONDERS CHANGES TO STRUCTURE

Today

Gibraltar Government is considering proposals for possible changes to the structure of the Ministry for Culture along the lines of the Sports Authority. However contacted by the Chronicle a well informed source said it is early days yet and no firm decision has been taken by the administration.

TRIBUNAL JUDGE ONE OF TWO APPEAL COURT JUDGES APPOINTED

Today

Two UK judges have been appointed to sit as Justices of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of Gibraltar, bringing the total number to five.
One of the new appointments is Sir Jonathan Parker, who together with two other UK judges conducted the 2008 disciplinary tribunal into the behaviour of former Chief Justice Derek Schofield.
 

ENTERPRISE BOLDLY CHARTS THE BAY

Yesterday, 8th February 2010

A specialist Royal Navy vessel has spent the past month updating the nautical chart for British waters in the Bay of Gibraltar.
The crew on HMS Enterprise, one of the navy’s two survey vessels, has worked to map the seabed and the coastline from Camp Bay to the runway.
While key parts of the chart had been updated fairly regularly, others had not been surveyed since the 1950s.
 

Sanchez backs cross-border dialogue

PP WOULD NOT ABANDON TRIPARTITE TALKS

• says Mayor of La Linea

Yesterday, 8th February 2010 - by F Oliva

Partido Popular would not abandon the Tripartite Forum in the event of winning the next general elections in Spain, Mayor of La Linea Alejandro Sanchez has declared in an interview with the Chronicle. Sr Sanchez said that what a PP Government would do is to seek La Linea’s inclusion when domestic issues and cross-border relations were up for discussion.
Sr Sanchez said he wanted the Forum to continue its work to consolidate benefits and solve the problems that affect both communities.
 

Interview

F OLIVA INTERVIEWS LA LINEA MAYOR ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ (PARTIDO POPULAR)

Yesterday, 8th February 2010

Can you explain the reasons behind the financial crisis in La Linea?
In general terms, all ayuntamientos in Spain are immersed in a crippling economic crisis. The reason for this is that the Government in Madrid makes monthly payments to the municipalities so they can function properly, but this funding has not been revised for years and is now wholly insufficient. Recently an agreement has been reached for the financing of autonomous governments and regions, but nothing has been done in respect of ayuntamientos. This is a matter that the Government still has pending.
 

CATHOLIC CHURCH CONFIRMS UK PAPAL VISIT

Yesterday, 8th February 2010

Pope Benedict XVI is to include Scotland in a visit to the UK later this year, the Catholic Church has confirmed.
The announcement was made during a visit to the Vatican by Scotland’s Catholic bishops.