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The
OLIVE PRESS
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GIBRALTAR
The Rock’s ONLY free local paper
Vol. 8 Issue 211 www.theolivepress.es November 15th - November 28th 2023 FLANDERS: D’Amato in Belgium
NEVER FORGOTTEN GIBRALTAR’S Chief Minister Fabian Picardo described Remembrance Sunday as ‘moving’ as he lined up with local community leaders to pay homage to the war dead. Picardo quoted Laurence Binyon on an X social media post ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.’ He met with military veterans and their relatives from Gibraltar gathered at the British War Memorial for the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony on Line Wall Road on November 12. The Ceremony of Remembrance included an interdenominational service and a reading of the Bidding from the Governor Sir David Steel. A soldier fired a saluting gun and a military band played the Last Post that marked a two minute silence. A band then played the Reveille and dignitaries laid wreaths at the foot of the war memorial.
Judging politics LEADING judge Karen Ramagge Prescott became the first woman Speaker in history of Gibraltar’s Parliament after taking over the post from Melvyn Farrell. Ramagge took her place at the opening of parliament after getting the nod from the Chief Minister and the Opposition leader. “We need to have the opportunity and when that opportunity presents itself, we need to take the momentum and grab it with both hands,” she said in her opening speech. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo thanked the ‘selfless’ Farrell for being ‘an exemplary servant of the people of Gibraltar’ after the former Speaker decided to step down from the post. He added that Ramagge Prescott had ‘demonstrated her ability to deal with complex legal and factual issues’ as a Supreme Court judge for 14 years.
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On a wet, autumn day the director of Gibraltar House in Brussels Daniel D’Amato laid a wreath at a Cross of Sacrifice at the Royal Legion event in Flanders, which started the poppy tradition. He had travelled to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Heverlee, Belgium where nearly 1,000 casualties from both world wars are buried. The Act of Remembrance represented Gibraltar with representatives from the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, US and Belgium itself.
SOLEMN: Remembering the dead “It was a privilege to lay down a wreath on behalf of the people of Gibraltar at this poignant ceremony, during which the world came together to commemorate and remember the sacrifice of so many,” D’Amato said.
CAMERON’S TREATY HOPE
As new government on verge of being formed in Spain, UK Foreign Secretary appointment welcomed by all sides AN unlikely combination of the return of David Cameron to the world stage as Foreign Secretary and the Catalan support of Pedro Sanchez could boost EU treaty talks. Both Gibraltar and Spain have welcomed former UK PM Cameron as he took over the post of Foreign Secretary.
By John Culatto
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle put Cameron’s predecessor James Cleverly into the role of Home Secretary. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo wrote to the pair of UK politicians to congratulate them on their new appointments. And Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed Cameron too, adding that he would like to see Gibraltar’s EU treaty sewn up as soon as possible.
Talks
FOREIGN: Cameron meets Garcia
Jose Albares said he hopes to work with Cameron ‘to improve relations between Spain and the UK and to achieve an area of shared prosperity that benefits Gibraltar
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LEADERS: Cameron hosted chiefs of Britain’s overseas territories in London
and the Campo’. EU treaty talks could start again as soon as Pedro Sanchez returns as president of Spain. The Catalan separatist parties that are needed to bring him to office have vowed to push for Gibraltar’s right to self-determination in return for their support. In 2016, Cameron was the first Prime Minister to visit Gibraltar since 1967 and he has always strived to protect its British sovereignty. “David Cameron’s support for Gibraltar during his time as Prime Minister was unwavering,” Picardo said. “I look forward to enjoying the continuance of that strong relationship as he returns to frontline politics as Foreign Secretary,” he added.
Cameron made sure that Gibraltar was involved in the negotiating process soon after the Brexit referendum as Prime Minister. He also made sure sovereignty would never be on the table as he understood the Rock’s politics, economy, people and culture, the Gibraltar Government said.
Staunch
Picardo also reflected on Cleverly’s time as Foreign Secretary, ‘during which he stood shoulder to shoulder in defending and promoting Gibraltar’s interests’, he said. The government called Cleverly ‘a staunch defender of Gibraltar’s right to self-determination’ in its statement. Opinion Page 6