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6th July 2024

Changes to the Housing Allocations Scheme bring it in line with “the changes and progress of the society in which we live in today”, the Minister for Housing Pat Orfila told Parliament during a Budget speech on Thursday.  Ms Orfila’s address to Parliament covered her portfolio as the Minister for Housing, as well as her...

5th July 2024

Opposition MPs were “drowning in their own contradictions” in their criticism of the Budget, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said on Friday, as he acknowledged the Government had made mistakes this week but had the confidence to own up to them. In a closing Budget speech, Mr Picardo slated the Opposition for over four hours in...

5th July 2024

Labour’s landslide victory in the UK general election draws an “ideological line” from London through Madrid to Gibraltar that will open new opportunities at a critical time in the negotiation on a UK/EU treaty for the Rock, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said on Friday. Mr Picardo was speaking as results showed a Labour majority of...

4th July 2024

The root cause of healthcare shortcomings is due to the mismanagement of public finances, Shadow Minister for Health and Justice, Joelle Ladislaus has said in her budget address. Mrs Ladislaus hit out at the Government on Wednesday citing concerns over “countless instances of expenditure, lack of controls and an unwillingness or inability towards transparency”. In...

4th July 2024

Dad was very much "un manita". All repairs at home we're done by him, ya sea electrical, mechanical, paintwork, carpentry and one he loved very much, wallpapering. Ever since I was a child, I would remember my mother commenting: "Esto se lo tengo que decir a Pepe que lo arregle!" At the age of 80...

3rd July 2024

The University of Gibraltar has announced the appointment of Professor Jamie Trinidad KC as a Beacon Professor. Beacon Professors are unique to the University of Gibraltar and the title is symbolic of the role they undertake. “The image of the Europa Point lighthouse as a beacon is important to the University representing, as it does,...

2nd July 2024

The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, offered analysis this week of how the recent EU elections might impact the negotiations for UK/EU treaty on Gibraltar, signalling it could delay not just agreement of any deal but ratification too. Speaking during a Budget address in Parliament in which he explored too the potential impact of...

1st July 2024

By Gabriella Peralta and Nathan Barcio  A Budget measure to introduce a pollution tax for older vehicles was reversed within hours on Monday amid public outrage that culminated in a loud impromptu protest outside No.6 Convent Place in the evening.  The measure sought to introduce a £10 weekly levy on vehicles older than 10 years...

1st July 2024

The first of a series of events stemming from last year’s Aspire Conference on a Sustainable Built Environment was held on Monday, and was opened by Minister for Environment and Transport Dr John Cortes. The event was organised in collaboration with the Gibraltar Sustainable Buildings Group and sponsored by Bassadone Motors. Each event in the...

1st July 2024

Monsignor Paul Bear has marked 40 years since he was ordained as a priest in the Catholic Church, a vocation he has dedicated his life to. The local catholic community marked the special occasion with a solemn mass and gathering on the Feast of Saint Peter and Paul on Sunday. Fr Bear was ordained at...

29th June 2024

“Let's say the 23rd March then?” Carol looked from the doctor to the smiling nurse. The nurse stood by Dr. Patel's chair, tall, darkly beautiful. They always were; the male nurses equally so, and strong, with soothing voices. It was GHA policy: patients felt better with pretty people around them. “What's the problem?” The nurse's...

29th June 2024

It is generally a given that classical music appeals to an older audience – a recent survey world-wide revealed that whilst the majority of classical music fans were around 50 and over, a good 30% are under 30-35. Some four percent are in the 16 to 19 age group. Not surprised? No, I was not...

28th June 2024

Tom Smith with ‘Castle Steps’ The summer fun quickly forgotten. Back to school. No more Med Rowing Club for Tommy. No more tin-foiled roll with queso plato. No more ice-cold coke; the hiccup, the tingle in the back of the throat, the inevitable brain-freeze from drinking too fast. No more diving off the floating raft...

27th June 2024

Minor amendments to a planning application to create new and improved cable car stations were given the green light during Thursday’s meeting of the Development and Planning Commission. Ten members of the DPC voted in favour of the amendments and one, Janet Howitt from the ESG, voted against. The application on the amendments took the...

26th June 2024

There is this thing, this observable fact that are hands; long and slender or short and stubby, smooth or wrinkled, soft or calloused, pale or freckled, gentle or rough, able to hold firmly and kindly or dismissive and distracted. There is beauty to appreciate at both ends of the physical gamut, in the curiosity of...

26th June 2024

Friday night saw multiple generations of Gibraltarians brought together to celebrate Melon Diesel’s 25th anniversary of the band’s album, La Cuesta de Mister Bond. For many, this was the first taste of seeing a Gibraltarian band make it big. La Cuesta de Mister Bond album went platinum and sold over 180,000 copies, the band going...

25th June 2024

Gibraltar celebrated Pride with a parade and day-long event held in Casemates Square. The event was organised by the LGBTQ+ Committee and formed part of Pride month. Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies came together on Saturday to celebrate Pride at Casemates Square. Throughout Casemates people could be seen wearing rainbow colours and waving...

24th June 2024

Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS) will be kicking off their annual summer programme for youngsters from July, with culture and the arts at the forefront of the initiative. The programme includes two art workshops, yoga, and a move to create workshop, all of which will take place at the GEMA Gallery in Montagu Bastion. The initiative...

22nd June 2024

“It’s an interesting place, but different.” Those are the words of Chief Inspector Alex Enriles, who has recently returned from a month’s stint as acting Commissioner of the Royal Montserrat Police Force. Not only did he have responsibility for the force’s 71 officers, but he was also the head of the Caribbean Island’s fire and...

20th June 2024

Theatre Review Three weeks ago, the GAMPA academy excelled at drama when they put on ’A Monster Calls’, for which I gave them a well-deserved good review in these columns. I can’t stress enough how much I enjoy going to see their productions. Last Wednesday, again, I went to see them in action when they...

15th June 2024

Even now as I look around Gibraltar it is alarming to see just how much has changed in my own lifetime. Looking back to my childhood, whilst taking a walk-in town, I can’t help thinking just how much Gibraltar has grown and progressed in some areas, whilst at the same time how much has been...

14th June 2024

The Government paid tribute to Jimmy Dalmedo, the former driver of five of Gibraltar’s Chief Ministers, who died earlier this week aged 71.  The flags at No.6 Convent Place flew at half-mast on Thursday morning until his funeral, with an empty G1 car escorting him to his resting place.  Before retiring in 2019, Mr Dalmedo...

13th June 2024

Financial specialists at the Council of Europe said Gibraltar has improved its measures for tackling money laundering and terrorist financing, re-rating the Rock from being ‘Partially Compliant’ to ‘Largely Compliant’. In a statement, the Council said its Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism [known as MONEYVAL]...

12th June 2024

Visibility, allyship, and acceptance were the focal point of a panel discussion which marked Pride Month on Monday.  Pride Month takes place every June and is celebrated in many countries across the world and aims to promote greater visibility and equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community.  Moderator David Revagliatte was joined in the panel...

12th June 2024

As the pre-season starts for clubs such as Bruno Magpies, with a view to their participation in the Conference League it was the changes at the top of the club structures which were one of the most prominent features. Brunos had already secured Nathan Rooney, their head coach to extend his contract. Bringing in too...

12th June 2024

Gibraltar figures just briefly in the Conservative manifesto for the July 4 general election, which was launched on Tuesday. The reference is included on a single line in a section headed “leadership in the world”, in which the party sets out its broad aims on the global stage if returned to government. “Our highest priority...

11th June 2024

Gibraltar Cultural Services, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, is opening the nomination process for this year’s Cultural Awards, which aim to celebrate the best of Gibraltar’s arts and culture. The GCS 2024 Cultural Awards will look at achievements ranging from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 with the public encouraged to nominate...

11th June 2024

About three years ago, a prominent creative person from Gibraltar told me they did not believe that Gibraltar had a culture. It was in response to a question I had asked about whether they thought Gibraltar culture influenced their work. Their passing response, before I could delve further into what exactly they meant, stayed on...

10th June 2024

When I first walked into a GHA Board meeting eight years ago, a few eyebrows were raised. This had been the first time a member of the public had attended in years and, with no prior warning, perhaps the Board had been caught off-guard. Back in those days, GHA board meetings were public, as was...

10th June 2024

Gibraltar’s Sea Scouts leader Eliott Cohen has been involved in 60 of the 110 years the unit has been in existence. This year, the Gibraltar Sea Scouts celebrates its 110 year anniversary and Mr Cohen could not be more proud of such an achievement, especially as the unit is still going strong with members joining...