Fredbargate

Gibraltar granted second highest rating by OECD

Date: 29 October 2014 at 13:51

Gibraltar has been granted the second highest rating for transparency and exchange of information by the OECD at the Global Forum in Berlin. This puts the Rock in the same band as the UK and Germany.

Out of ten elements inspected by the OECD, Gibraltar is rated as ‘compliant’ in seven, and ‘largely compliant in three’. The overall rating was ‘largely compliant’.

This Phase Two report follows on from the Phase One report in 2011.

The Chief Minister, who is in Berlin for the Forum, has said this is a magnificent result for Gibraltar, and a vindication of Gibraltar’s position on International Cooperation.

For his part, Financial Services Minister Albert Isola said the months of hard work by officials had paid off handsomely.

GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

Fredbargate

Spain Should Know Better than to Invade Our Waters - Govt Condemns Recent Incursion

Wednesday, 29 October 2014 14:50

Spanish State research vessel Francisco de Paula Navarro’s most recent unlawful incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters during its attempt to conduct a survey inside British waters has this afternoon been condemned by the Government of Gibraltar.

A Government statement on the matter noted that the Spanish Government is intent ‘in undermining British sovereignty by attempting to exercise jurisdiction of its own in waters, which are not Spanish’

No.6 Convent Place added, ‘While this may have no legal effect, because sovereignty flows from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it is obvious that Madrid is trying to slowly build a case. There have been 106 occasions this month so far when Spanish state vessels have entered BGTW.

‘It is contradictory for the central Government in Spain to claim that they want to improve relations with Gibraltar through ad hoc talks, on the one hand, and then continue with these incursions at the same time, on the other. Indeed, given that Spain is set to join the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member, they should know better than to invade the waters of their small neighbour in this way.’

Oct 29 - Spain Should Know Better than to Invade Our Waters - Govt Condemns Recent Incursion

Fredbargate

The Spanish excuse for the present delays at the frontier started last year over FISHING.

Yesterday the Gibraltar government published the new Marine Protection and Tuna Preservation Regulations 2014

I see touble ahead

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/...ce_Booklet.pdf

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/...on_Booklet.pdf

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/...ation_Form.pdf

Fredbargate

Gold Royals

New £100 circulating coins called the Gibraltar Gold Royal are to be issued. The new coins shall bear an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II together with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background and they will bear the inscription “Queen of Gibraltar”.

The reverse will depict the Coat of Arms

The coins will be current and legal tender in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Fredbargate

No surprise

Spain seeks Brussels action over Gib tuna quota

by Dominique Searle

Spain has responded to the Gibraltar Government’s publication of regulations that control tuna fishing around the Rock by calling on Brussels to take legal action against the quota set out in the measures.

The Tuna Preservation Regulations 2014 sets out that after having consulted the local Nature Conservancy Council the Authority has declared the total allowable catch for Atlantic Bluefin tuna in the 2015 open season will be 10 tonnes. But Spain through its Fishing and Agriculture says that this is not a decision for Gibraltar but an international one.

Dr John Cortes , Minister with responsibility for the Environment, confirmed last night that the 10 tonne figure had been reached locally and is lower than the estimate of tuna being caught locally before the regulation was in place. He also said it would be reviewed on results.

The minister also said that Gibraltar BGTW are not in the scope of ICCAT, an international body based in Madrid, which sets quotas and monitors commercial fishing.

Spain is demanding an immediate reaction to the Gibraltar quota.

However Dr Cortes points out that the Gibraltar regulation is stricter han the ICCAT rules in that the lower limit for Bluefin is 40 kilos compared to ICCAT’s 30 kilos. Bluefin tuna often weigh as much as 250 kilos each.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Fredbargate

Chief Minister writes to Keith Vaz MP following negative comments in Parliament

Date: 04 November 2014 at 11:17

The Chief Minister has written to Keith Vaz MP following comments made by him in Parliament that profits from the drugs trade enter the financial system through areas such as Gibraltar. Fabian Picardo tells Mr Vaz that he is frankly outraged by his statements.

In his letter, the Chief Minister says members of Parliament, the press, television viewers and readers of Hansard have, without any factual basis, been given the erroneous impression that Gibraltar is a gateway for sums, possibly colossal amounts, since he’d referred to 380 billion, of illegal proceeds into the world’s financial system. Fabian Picardo tells Keith Vaz that it’s the first time he’s ever heard such an ill-informed suggestion, let alone in Parliament in the United Kingdom. He adds the potential impact of the statement is compounded by the fact that Mr Vaz once, briefly, had Ministerial responsibility for Gibraltar and people may be led to believe that he may have been privy or official information or briefings that led him to say what he did. Mr Picardo asks that the record be corrected and the damage rectified. In fact, he points out to Keith Vaz, that he was Minister for Europe at the time that Robin Cook was Foreign Secretary and when Mr Cook was quoted as saying that Gibraltar was the benchmark jurisdiction in terms of legislative and regulatory standards in the fight against money-laundering.

Providing what Mr Picardo terms ‘proper facts’, in his letter the Chief Minister says Mr Vaz cannot imagine the distress his throwaway remarks have caused him, the Government of Gibraltar, and the fiercely loyal people of Gibraltar. The jurisdiction, he adds, has bent over backwards to prove that it does not tolerate any abuse of its financial system. And, because of its size any slur on Gibraltar’s reputation is magnified and can have a devastating, negative effect, despite the fact that there is no substance to the allegations or innuendo. But, Mr Picardo concludes, that should Mr Vaz have any evidence to support his statement, he should submit such evidence to the Royal Gibraltar Police immediately so that proper and appropriate action can be taken.

GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation


The Chief Ministers letter in full:-
http://www.gbc.gi/upload/pdf/Picardo...%204.11.14.pdf

Fredbargate

Spain gets thumbs -down on illegal tuna fishing complaint

Spanish representations to the European Commission, alleging illegal tuna fishing by Gibraltar, has not made progress. In the first place, the questioner has been reminded that the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU does not apply to Gibraltar, and furthermore that the allegations might be related to a dispute over territorial waters, which is not the business of the Commission.

But the Spanish are reminded that under the 1972 Act of Accession of the United Kingdom certain parts of the Treaties, including the Customs Union and the Agricultural Policy, and thus by extension the Common Fisheries Policy, do not to apply to Gibraltar.

Moreover, the Spanish are reminded that "the allegations may well be related to issues of access to territorial waters or to a dispute over the jurisdictional nature of the said waters. As the Honourable Member is no doubt aware of, such issues are outside the European Union's competence

http://www.panorama.gi/localnews/hea...12565&offset=0

EMR

So its OK the Gibratarians and the Spanish for that matter can continue to deplete the oceans of one of the rarest fish that swims to satisfy the Japanese sushi trade.
Any restaurant that serves Blue fin should be boycotted and encouraged to remove from their menu.

Surely if Gibraltar really wants to take the moral high ground it should stop all fishing for Blue fin Tuna in who ever claims ownership of the waters in question.

Fredbargate

Gibraltar has no commercial fishing vessels.

EMR

But it can ban fishing for Blue fin tuna in what it claims are its water.
Having it own boats or not does not matter.

Fredbargate

There is the crux of the problem

Spain does not recognise Gibraltar's waters.

Where have you been for the last 18 months?

Gibraltar banned commercial fishing in 1991.

EMR

If Gib banned commercial fishing why does t have a quota for blue fin tuna ??

Is this just typcal Gib double speak.

amideislas

Actually, the popular Japanese Shashimi is yellowfin tuna.

And you know all this "for sure" because ... in addition to all the other expertise' of yours, you are also a Gibraltar expert?

Wow! I know another person who knows everything about everything, "for sure". Shall I introduce you?

Fredbargate

Do you actually read what is posted on this thread?

including the links?

Because if you did you would not need to ask ridiculous questions.

EMR

Blue fin Tuna sells for tens thousands of dollars in Japan please re check your information.
80% of the world catch is consumed in Japan, in 2013 1 fish sold for over $1m dollars.
The atlantic blue fin tuna is an endagered species .
Given Gibraltars environmental reason for its actions there is no excuse for it to have a quota for Blue fin tuna in the waters around the rock.