The Christmas crackers in your Olive Press stocking this issue...
The local Spanish chefs with new ‘green’ stars
The ‘Super Santa’ doc making a difference on the Rock
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OLIVE PRESS Breathe easy!
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Vol. 5 Issue 138 www.theolivepress.es December 21st - January 12th 2021
Government ‘pleased’ as air quality ‘best since records began’
IT will come as a massive breath of fresh air for Gibraltarians in this COVID-hit Christmas. While the pandemic is forcing festive plans to change, there has at least been some good news about the environment. The latest figures from the Gibraltar Government show that air quality is at the best level since records began. Data provided by the Environmental Agency alongside UK firm Ricardo’s shows that the two types of dangerous particulate matter, PM10 and the more dangerous PM2.5, decreased in 2019. This particle matter and levels of nitrogen oxide can cause chronic lung disease, reduce plant growth and even discolour furniture. The findings have been published in the Government’s Department of the Environment annual statistical report… and pollution is expected to have dropped considerably more this year.
Contaminants
Air quality is now at EU-recommended levels for the second year running and closer to stricter World Health Organisation standards. Other pollutants like benzene were also down after the construction of a much cleaner liquid natural gas LNG power station at the North Mole. While air quality is afflicted by the nearby Campo de Gibraltar oil refinery and chemical factory, bosses have tried to do what they can to reduce contaminants. Meanwhile, temporary diesel power generators in the south district
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Festive check before revelry begins See page 15
Christmas plans sent into disarray
HOW IT WAS: Murky air envelopes the Rock in years gone by the GSLP/Liberal election victory. By John Culatto “We were up against high levels of pollution and fanning the possibility which cause a lot of the pollution of high level fines from the EU. are being removed and the old pow- “We have successfully dealt with all er station has now been decommis- of that and attained recorded levels that we must be very pleased with. sioned. As a result air monitors will now “Air pollution from power generabe moved to the north district to tion has now been dealt with almost analyse and tackle pollution there. entirely.” It could be affected by aeroplane Both the LNG power station and moves towards more renewable enexhaust. The next challenge the authorities ergy have been made to satisfy the are trying to tackle is pollution from protocols of the Paris Agreement and COP25 as they try to tackle clitraffic and shipping in the bay. The first moves have already been mate change. made with electric buses and post- Minister Cortes even runs a Climate al delivery vehicles being examined Change portfolio within the government, the first time so much energy for their possible extended use. “In 2011 we set has been dedicated to saving the out to tackle planet. the different “I am of course, still not happy with strands af- our air quality,” said Cortes, a forfecting our air mer environmental campaigner See page 16 quality,” said himself. Minister for “Traffic and, on occasions, shipping, the Environ- are now the main contributors, and ment John we must all work together to tackle Cortes about these and improve further.”
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So was it worth €1.2 billion?
ALL of the Rock’s restaurants, cafes, bars and gyms have been closed from December 22 until January 10 as the amount of active COVID cases reached unprecedented levels. A ‘major incident’ has now been declared and the authorities are set to reopen the Nightingale Field Hospital, as the enclave reached an alarming 209 active cases. In new rulings, masks are to be worn in all public areas as the Gibraltar Government took action to avoid having to order a full lockdown. A maximum of three households will be allowed to mix over Christmas, while all religious worship has been stopped. Elderly people have been strongly advised to stay at home. Companies are being asked to get staff to work remotely, while it is thought unlikely that schools will reopen early in January. It comes as the number of
infected persons has gone up five times since the 37 active cases recorded on December 13 and is many more than the previous record of 129. While planes can continue to land, all visitors must have a negative certificate or take a test on arrival.
Border
Visitors from Spain will not face restrictions, however, it is understood Spain is set to bring in new tougher restrictions on those crossing from the Rock. The country announced yesterday that it was banning all tourists from coming in from the UK after a new strain spread rapidly around the South East. The government blamed the rapid spread on a particularly busy Black Friday. An angry protest from the Gibraltar Catering Association outside No.6 Convent Place on December 18 led to fines for organisers and participants.