Fredbargate

I'm Gibraltarian, therefore I am British.
The frontier is a little difficult at the moment, but at least I'm on the right side of it.

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Fredbargate

Might as well stick a bit of UKIP in just for fun

UKIP

The news prompted a statement from one of the Gibraltar UKIP MEPs Julia Reid.

“I am delighted with this decision. I just hope that Spain, having behaved so badly for so long, against all the principles of international law and fair play, listen. Your call Mr Rajoy. You have allowed your authorities to play fast and loose for months, your have condemned thousands of your own citizens to misery where they get caught in the queues you have created as they merely try to get to work. Gibraltar is proven to have acted correctly, both in the matter of the Reef, but also on the key industry of Bunkering. As we always knew it would,” she said.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Fredbargate

Margallo approach to Rock ‘harks back to Franco era’ says Moratinos

Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the former Spanish foreign minister who led the process that agreed the tripartite talks and Cordoba agreements yesterday broke his silence and lashed out at the current PP government accusing it of “harking back to the Franco era” in its handling of relations with the Rock. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo was prompt to respond. As soon as the remarks in an interview with the online newspaper The Diplomat emerged he Tweeted “Frank, clear and unequivocal message from Snr Moratinos. If only I had the luck to have him across the table!”

The remarks by the former PSOE minister come in the wake of the statement by three PSOE politicians who were prominent in supporting the trilateral process Pepe Carracao, Rafael Roman and Salvador de la Encina and who this week issued a petition calling for a return to dialogue.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Fredbargate

Hague court orders Russia to pay $50 billion in Yukos case

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague announced that Russia must pay the compensation to subsidiaries of Gibraltar-based Group Menatep, a company through which Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, controlled Yukos.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/ha...043137679.html

amideislas

Surely this can only be a conspiracy of the west to demonise Russia.

On the other hand, it does illustrate that operating out of a tax haven can not only be legal, but profitable too. Good job our governments are forced to to compete with tax havens. Otherwise we'd likely all be paying 40% VAT and 80% income tax. And any place with lower taxes would be regarded as nothing less than a dubious "tax haven".

Fredbargate

I do not consider it to be Ukraine related

The panel of judges, which has been reviewing the case since 2005, concluded that officials under President Vladimir Putin had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos.

Previously



There are sufficient posters on this forum with no knowledge of Gibraltar who like to DEMONISE the place without you trying ami

amideislas

Wow, you went to a lot of work to dig up all that dirt.

I'm truly honoured

But true, I don't know much about Gibraltar. Looks interesting, but perhaps a bit too "British" for me. Nonetheless, like the channel islands and every other so-called "tax haven" in the commonwealth, it's there for a perfectly good reason.

Fredbargate

Jersey is labeled a tax haven by Wikipedia

Gib is not even on the list of former tax havens

I believe the title of Offshore Financial Centre is more appropriate

It certainly had a Spanish flavour last night
GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

Fredbargate

Now I am quaking in my boots

'We're going to occupy Gibraltar': radical union

A Spanish trade union with a proven track record of land-grabs and close links to Spain's 'Robin Hood' have announced on Facebook their plans to occupy The Rock on August 29th.

The radical anti-capitalist Andalusian Workers Union (SAT), with over 20,000 members, says it want to “reclaim” Gibraltar not just for Spain, but for Andalusia.

'We're going to occupy Gibraltar': radical union - The Local

I think they could have chosen a better date but will not elaborate

The worst possible scenario will once again be the long suffering Spanish cross frontier workers being delayed at the frontier

Fredbargate

Spain wants to improve relations with Britain to secure support for their joining the UN Security Council

SPECIAL by Joe Garcia
The Spanish Government is eager to join the UN Security Council and is currently undertaking a lobbying campaign in countries whose vote might secure their membership. In this respect, they see the UK vote as crucially important, not only because the UK is one of five permanent members with veto powers but because it wields considerable influence on a wide front.

THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

The past could be a pointer to the future:

At the time of the Queen’s visit to Gibraltar in 1954, there were attempts by the UK to urge Spain to return to a semblance of normality after the measures she adopted flowing from the Royal visit. When Spain knocked on the door to become a member of the UN, she needed the Briish vote, which eventually was forthcoming. Spain joined the UN General Assmbly in 1955, and the problems with Gibraltar started to disappear.

But not for long. Because once in the UN she used her membership of that body to further her claim to Gibraltar, starting a campaign in 1963, which led to a major siege including the full closure of the fontier and other serious restrictions, as is well known.


In the 1980s, when Spain was then knocking on the European Community door, seeking membership in the wake of the passing away of the Franco dictatorship, she needed Bitish help. The frontier was fully reopened in 1985, and Spain joined Europe the following year.

Since then, she has been using her EU membership to try and further her claim to Gibraltar!



So, what would happen now if Britain acceded to supporting Spanish entry to the UN Security Council, without first closing any political door the Spaniards could try to use to again further their Gibraltar claim? It remains to be seen if the UK is to be taken for another diplomatic ride,

Full article
http://www.panorama.gi/localnews/hea...12191&offset=0

Fredbargate

BREAKING NEWS

CROSSBORDER WORKER CHANNEL TO OPEN AT SPANISH SIDE OF BORDER

Spanish Government has published state bulletin to allow cross-frontier workers of any nationality registered with Spanish border office to drive through the red channel. The move is for cars only and any cross-border worker in either direction eg Gibraltar resident working in Spain and vice versa. But they cannot carry any dutiable goods with them, Otherwise they must use normal channel. Unofficial labour will not be eligible.


Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

However the longest part of the queue is getting to the frontier to get into a red channel, so we will see

Fredbargate

Number Six discussing frontier pass with British Government

Date: 29 July 2014

The Government says it’s in close discussions with its legal advisors and with the British Government on the question of Spain issuing special passes to cross-frontier workers.

Number Six points out this practice will apply mainly to EU Nationals who live in Spain and work in Gibraltar, the bulk of whom are Spanish.

It says any proposed solution towards a free-flowing frontier must also encompass EU Nationals and others who are not workers, like tourists and residents on both sides, whose right to freedom of movement continues to be undermined by Spain.

The Government claims the reality is that the Spanish authorities make life difficult for people and vehicles crossing the border for political reasons and because they want to. It adds all that Madrid has to do is improve the flow rate of cars and persons and operate proper red and green channels.

A further statement is expected once the Government has analysed the matter in more detail.


GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

Fredbargate

When silence is not golden

Talking point
Had the EU upheld the Spanish contention that the blocks etc are illegal, can anyone imagine the fuss the Spanish Government would have made of it? They would have given 24 hours to remove the blocks - or else they would take action themselves on behalf of the EU!

But the Spanish view has been shown to have been badly concocted, and Spain has been shown how wrong they have been in defending their nonsense. So they have kept as silent as they can!

It shows how the Spanish Government behaves. We have seen them make a fuss about all kinds of situations, blowing their views all over the Spanish media, but when they lose, they shut up.

The result is that the Spanish people have not heard that the Spanish arguments were wrong. Hence, they will think that they are right and we are wrong!

Ít happens time and again on every issue. When the European court issues a ruling against them, they push it under the carpet. Since the public hears nothing, they do not know that Spain has lost. That is why some people tend to think that Spain always wins in Europe!

Because when they do win they make such a fuss about it that everyone gets to know - but not when they lose.

The Spaniards of course are so badly informed, they live in a world of make-believe, thinking that they always win and they never lose!

The problem is that some people in Gibraltar, fed by the Spanish media, often think like the uninformed Spaniards - because what is fed in Spain for domestic consumpion, ends reaching the ears of people here as well.

So, one should be careful not to believe the Spanish propaganda.

The question of the blocks etc is an emxample that puts matters in their right place. They have lost. But they tell no one!

But silence is not always golden!


http://www.panorama.gi/localnews/hea...12196&offset=0

Fredbargate

Forms available for Spanish frontier pass

Author: GBC

Date: 30 July 2014

With informational posters already up, cross-frontier workers can now apply for the new pass system.

According to Spanish press reports, the ruling Partido Popular has set aside over seven million Euro for the project, with works set to start in September. The PP’s Antonio Sanz says the investment will bring about an intelligent frontier, which will do away with the queues.

SPANISH CONTROLS COULD INCREASE FOR NON-WORKERS, SAYS GSD

However, echoing the Gibraltar government’s comments, the Opposition says it’s deeply concerned, claiming the system is simply a method to appease Spanish workers while maintaining, or even increasing controls at the frontier for non-workers and tourists.

According to the GSD, this would allow the Spanish authorities to continue to apply pressure on the Gibraltar economy.

LA LINEA MAYOR SAYS PASS SYSTEM WOULD BE DISCRIMINATORY

The La Linea Mayor has also described the pass sytem as "discriminatory". Gemma Araujo says the proposed measures will be insufficient to do away with the frequently long queues, while also punishing non-workers, including elderly citizens. She says it is a patch-up job for what is a very serious problem affecting many people.

GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

Maybe1day

If they come into Gibraltar in the red lane then they should be thoroughly checked by the Gib Customs...........