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to film live at this year’s ‘bigger’ music festival January 18th - January 31st 2017 The Rock’s original community newspaper
‘Great leap forward’ THE new ‘pioneering’ dementia day-care centre has been hailed as a ‘great leap forward’ by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. Picardo and Health Minister Neil Costa officially opened the Bella Vista Day Centre for people with mild to moderate symptoms on Monday. The 90-capacity centre, in the old Royal Navy Hospital, will care for around a third of Gibraltar’s dementia sufferers. An additional residential centre is also set to open within the next three months. “This is not a step forward, this is a huge leap forward in being able to care for these people,” said Picardo. “The consequences will be felt throughout our society.” The four-floor day-centre offers therapeutic and medical services to help stimulate sufferers’ memories so they don’t lose medium to long-term memory. Around 28 carers and eight to nine psychologists, physios and speech therapists staff will care for the patients. “This project is extremely important in having a communityoriented approach to dementia,” said Costa. “It is unfortunately one of those issues that is on the increase across Europe and the world.” See Dementia fightback page 6 Opinion Page 6
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Vol. 3 Issue 36 www.gibraltarolivepress.com Jan 18th - Jan 31st 2017
Sunset for Donana? THE Spanish government has sparked outrage from environmentalists after granting permission to store gas under the already fragile Doñana National park. The move to allow Gas Natural Fenosa to pipe and store gas in one of Europe’s key protected wetlands has been labelled an ‘atrocity’. Greenpeace, Ecologistas en Accion and WWF have been joined by the IU, Podemos and PSOE parties to appeal the decision, which could
Picardo jets to London for Brexit talks following key May speech By Joe Duggan
THERESA May has vowed Britain won’t accept a ‘half in, half out’ Brexit in a landmark speech that could have longlasting effects on Gibraltar and all expats in Spain. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo will today jet to London with Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Joseph Garcia for ´detailed´talks with the UK government. The Prime Minister issued a 12-point plan to take Britain out of the EU, with Downing Street looking to scrap EU single market and current customs union access. In the biggest speech of her sixmonth tenure, she said: “To be clear, what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” She added Britain would no longer give ‘huge sums’ to the EU, however she conceded that Parliament will have the final vote on the deal. Picardo described the announcement as having ‘positive routes’ through the areas of concern and insisted Gibraltar ‘is likely to continue to do well’ thanks to Brexit planning. Maintaining the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is also a priority during the Brexit negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May said However, she did not specifi-
lead to a major pollution spill. “It is shocking that public money is being used to destroy Donana,” said Podemos environment boss Mercedes Barranco. The famous park - which is a paradise for birds and wildlife, including the main refuge of the Iberian lynx - is already in danger of losing its UNESCO World Heritage Status due to issues over water use from surrounding farms.
May’s move
cally mention Gibraltar and the border with Spain. “We want to control our immigration from the EU,” said May.
“We also recognise the importance of the brightest and the best coming here. We recognise the contribution they have
made.” She added: “We are looking at the exact structures for immigration.”
How we see it Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister “There are many positive routes through the areas of concern which can arise from Brexit and it is clear that Gibraltar is likely to continue to do well in the future because we have understood those potential pitfalls and prepared for them. The work we have done is standing us in good stead as we prepare for the triggering of Article 50.”
Daniel Feetham, GSD leader “It is clear the U.K. will not sacrifice free movement of people in return for access to the Single Market. That has important implications for the border with Spain. In a hard Brexit situation, it makes it much easier for Spain to use the border as a significant pressure point. It’s imperative the U.K. does everything to ensure any Brexit deal includes an acceptable agreement with the EU in respect of the border.”
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Marlene Hassan Nahon, independent MP “All the Prime Minister’s statement has done is narrow down the wide range of options that were already under consideration. This clarifies the situation and tells us exactly what we are working towards. What is important now is for government to investigate how May’s plan will affect Gibraltar.”
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May is believed to favour a work-permit system as she looks to trigger Article 50 by March this year. It comes as the House of Lords published data showing a border closure with Spain would put 40% of jobs at risk in Gibraltar. The 32 page report, based on government evidence submitted by Picardo estimates 10,473 of the Rock’s 26,144 workers crossed the border daily as of October 2015. “The prospect of a closed or hard border is the most serious single issue” the Gibraltar government said. “A frontier which lacked the necessary fluidity would therefore put directly at risk the jobs of 40% of the Gibraltar workforce.” May’s speech was cheered by Leave campaigners, who are pushing for a ‘hard’ Brexit. The 12 objectives include taking control of Britain’s borders, preserving the UK union and signing major trade deals. “We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries” said May. “The British people voted for change. And it is the government’s job to deliver it.” She added: “It means taking the opportunity of this great moment of national change to step back and ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be.” In a December interview with the BBC, Picardo said he wanted Gibraltar to keep single market access and freedom of movement, even if the UK scrapped them. Opinion Page 6