The
OLIVE PRESS
Schengenbound GIBRALTAR could have a ‘common travel area with Schengen’ and be part of the Customs Union if a deal is reached between the UK and the EU before December 31. The proposed ‘free-standing EU-UK treaty’, as the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo (pictured) called it, was explained in full to the House of Lords European Union Committee on November 24.
Agreement
Such an agreement would even see the airport being included as part of Schengen. “The arrangement we are looking at would solve the mobility conundrum and the ability of persons to move goods with them,” Picardo told the Lords. “It would permit the wholesale and commercial movement of goods into Gibraltar without Customs friction. “It would be a common travel area between Gibraltar and the Schengen travel area. “It may be that we have a different legal form in coming weeks which is more acceptable to the European Commission, UK, Gibraltar and Spain.” Picardo revealed it was unlikely to mean Gibraltar would have full membership of both Schengen and the Customs Union treaties. “Whether it is full or associated membership of Schengen or extension of Schengen or simply treating the entry points at Gibraltar, the port and airport as Schengen entry points, is the subject of our final considerations,” said Picardo. “We want to find a way that is agreeable to all the parties and doesn’t cross any of the sovereignty, jurisdiction and control red lines each of us bring to the table.”
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Vol. 5 Issue 136 www.theolivepress.es November 25th - December 8th 2020
EXCLUSIVE The hunt for the Brit killer of teen Ulrich
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Deadly turn Pandemic claims five victims in a fortnight on the Rock as Picardo warns of ‘vicious virus’
DEATHS: St Bernard’s has been battling coronavirus FIVE people have died from coronavirus on the Rock in the past two weeks, including a school friend of Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. Four of the deaths were directly caused by COVID-19 while another died from another condition while suffering with the virus. They are the first fatal victims connected to the disease in Gibraltar, which had until now avoided fatalities. The first two Gibraltar deaths occurred on the weekend of November 21-22 The first was a man over 65 who also suffered from underlying health conditions. “The patient died on November 22 from respiratory failure as a result of COVID-19 pneumonia,” confirmed a hospital spokesman. The second victim was a man under 50 who died as a result of multi-organ failure caused by COVID-19 pneumonia and sepsis. “I knew the deceased personally from our school days and more recently from my role in government,” revealed Chief Minister Picardo. “I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing, too
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He said Gibraltar would not take part in the single market despite this, He added that even if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, talks with Spain could continue after December 31. “I don’t think anybody will gain with a no deal,” said Picardo. “Life will be very different and we will lose a lot of the mobility and a lot of the other advantages. “The essentials we are providing for would only ensure that the essentials can continue to flow.”
FREE
GIBRALTAR
By John Culatto
young and too soon.” Two victims over 90-yearsold were the other casualties from the pandemic. “Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Picardo. “Three members of our community who we have
about our daily lives.” Since the outbreak, the homes run by Elderly Residential Services have been locked down to prevent any further infection of the most vulnerable in the community. The Chief Minister hinted that ‘a new protocol’ is being arranged to allow the public to visit their elderly family
OPINION
I
Shocking news for us all
N a tight-knit community where deaths and marriages are some of the most talked about subjects, the recent COVID-19 casualties have been a shock to the system. With five deaths reported in less than two weeks, it is no longer a question that the pandemic is lethal. Even if the latest wave of cynics will always cry wolf at the sign of anything that disturbs the norm, it is now no longer in question that COVID-19 kills. Often they are the most afraid, the ones who fear death so much they need to find ways to inoculate its danger with improbable conspiracy theories. While it is true that most of the victims were elderly or had underlying conditions, the fact that the virus has quickened their passing away can no longer be denied. The politics of a hidden agenSee page 7-10-12-16 da are always an escape from the reali-
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sadly lost to COVID-19 were of the generation who lived through the hardships of the Evacuation. “They endured the long years of a closed frontier, all the while keeping up the unshakable Gibraltarian spirit. “We should all remember their sacrifices now as we make vitally important changes to the way we go
ty of personal responsibility Gibraltarians now have to realise is in their hands, often literally. Though these might in fact be coping strategies to lighten the load on emotional stress, these deaths of real people must in fact be a wake-up call. The way that whole economies have indeed shut down to preserve the lives of the most vulnerable in the community shows the opposite is true. It has shown that the state is indeed caring for the people and that money is not the only priority. Countries that have put their economies have suffered the consequences, with grief engulfing them like a tidal wave. Just across the bay in the Gibraltar Campo around five deaths have been recorded every day, as people swear by their normality over solidarity. There is hope on the way, though. The vaccine programme will likely save lives through the power of science and the research that keeps humanity charging onwards. The detractors to this change are part of the problem too, and probably why humanity is more in crisis than ever before.
relatives in the future. “In just 11 short days, Gibraltar has sadly mourned the deaths of five members of our community to this vicious virus,” said Picardo. “Less than two weeks ago, we had lost nobody.” In contrast, the neighbouring Campo region is registering an average of five deaths per day, and increases of more than 100 new cases every 24 hours. Meanwhile, Gibraltarians entering Spain cannot travel outside of La Linea until at least December 10. It comes after the rules to fight COVID-19, which includes closing the perimeters of all municipalities in the region, were extended this week. As borders are still open, Gib residents have been allowed to pass through the frontier but can only remain in neighbouring La Linea. The only exception would be if people are registered as having their primary home in another town. These new restrictions on movement were explained more clearly by Picardo. “A resident of Gibraltar entering Spain is subject to exactly the same constraints as a resident of La Linea,” he explained to GBC. “They cannot then go beyond the municipal boundaries of La Linea unless their travel is in keeping with the Spanish rules or they are registered beyond it.”