Minister Responsible for Financial Services, Mr. Gilbert Licudi signed a further Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. J. Bhagwati. Following the signing, Minister Licudi discussed a wide variety of policy areas, with the High Commissioner. This Tax Agreement with India is particularly significant due to the country’s status as a G20 member.
As part of HM Government of Gibraltar’s plans for urban renewal and regeneration in the Upper Town, tenders have today been invited for the redevelopment of various pre-war properties in the area.
This initiative is consistent with the government’s wish to attract more people to live in the Upper Town and it follows other similar tender proposals including one for the old Police Barracks.
The PDP notes with regret, that despite strongly worded protest from the Government and the Governor which translate into foreign office diplomatic protests, incursions into our sovereign waters persist and are escalating.
More alarming, matters have now escalated to a level that commercial activity has now been the subject of interruption in yesterday’s incursion. The PDP urges the Government not to underestimate the significance of this development. It marks a threat to one of Gibraltar’s economic pillars, namely port activity, bunkering and other related sea going business.
In a recent Viewpoint programme in which the PDP leader Nick Cruz, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and GSD leader Peter Caruana took part, Mr Cruz predicted that if the issue was not nipped in the bud by the Government this development was likely to follow. All three leaders agreed that under our constitution the Governor was responsible for defence and the RGP for policing British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
Gilbert Licudi QC, Minister with responsibility for Financial Services has signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) with the Republic of Poland. The signing took place in London at the Polish Embassy and the Republic of Poland was represented by Mr Witold Sobkow, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland in the United Kingdom. Mr Sobkow was, inter alia, previously Poland’s Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland.
Following the signing, Gilbert Licudi and the Ambassador took the opportunity of discussing economic and commercial matters of mutual interest. Mr Licudi also took the opportunity to comment that “The timing of the signature coincided this year with the 70th anniversary of General Sikorski’s untimely death in Gibraltar.”
His Excellency The Governor is aware of the recent unlawful incursions, including this morning, by Spanish Guardia Civil vessel Rio Cedena. The Guardia Civil today attempted to exercise jurisdiction over a working vessel inside BGTW. This follows Tuesday’s unlawful attempt by the Guardia Civil to exercise jurisdiction over a pleasure boat in BGTW.
The Governor said:
‘These continuing actions by Spain are a matter of deep concern. The recent increased level of unlawful incursions into BGTW by the Guardia Civil is an unwelcome and unacceptable escalation of what is already a difficult situation. The recent petition I received was a potent reflection of the depth of feeling in Gibraltar.
