The Government says it notes, “with disappointment”, the European Parliament’s objection, today, to the entry into force of the European Commission’s decision to remove certain jurisdictions, including Gibraltar, from the EU’s list of ‘high-risk’ third-countries with strategic deficiencies as regards anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (“AML/CFT”).
The Environment Minister’s response to the statement issued by the Opposition raising the very real and serious concern that there is in relation to the macaques fails to address the immediacy of the problem. The party has raised specific examples of serious incidents where peoples’ safety is being put at risk. We have raised, particularly, the concern that there is for children’s safety, citing the example of the monkey which jumped into a baby’s pram in order to snatch food. The reports keep coming in, most recently in relation to Mount Alvernia, which we are told is being habitually visited and invaded by a pack of monkeys. This, as can be imagined, is causing considerable distress to the elderly residents and visitors alike. As recently as a few days ago a monkey was found on the bed of an elderly resident whilst the bed was occupied by her.
Consultation on the Licensing of 4G Mobile Services & Liberalisation of Mobile Bands in Gibraltar
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority’s (“GRA”) has issued a public consultation on proposals to licence the provision of 4G mobile communications services in Gibraltar.The introduction of 4G mobile is particularly suited to the provision of better mobile data services, faster speeds and improved quality of service, which means that, potentially, broadband delivered over mobile networks could be as good as or, in some circumstances, even better than broadband delivered over the fixed network.
A recent stream of official announcements by the Spanish Government of major planned expansion of fuel tank farms in Algeciras and Los Barrios is a significant blow to the Bay environment (see Boletin No. 285.pdf). The Algeciras project brings this polluting activity practically to the centre of the Bay. It will undoubtedly affect water movement and water quality, as flow will be restricted. Furthermore it raises the risk of a shipping accident as vessel pathways continue to narrow, while maritime activity rises. The second smaller but still sizeable tank farm is planned for Los Barrios. This will see industrialization take place on a major scale once again in the bay, eating up land area and impacting on marine ecosystems already under significant threat from existing chemical industries. Given the Spanish Government’s complaints to the EU over the environmental impact of the relatively small reclamations being carried out in Gibraltar it is inconceivable that it continues to industrialise, pollute and reclaim land for massive projects as currently planned.
This Press Release is issued in conformity with the Inquiry's previously stated intention to keep members of the public regularly informed as to the progress of its work.
Evidential hearing.
As previously notified, the Inquiry held the main evidential hearing during October this year. The Inquiry sat for 17 days during which it heard oral evidence from 63 witnesses. That oral evidence together with the testimony of other witnesses who filed statements with the Inquiry and the vast documentary information the Inquiry has received from the relevant authorities and agencies is of great value and assistance to the Inquiry in meeting its Terms of Reference.
The Environment Minister’s response to the statement issued by the Opposition raising the very real and serious concern that there is in relation to the macaques fails to address the immediacy of the problem. The party has raised specific examples of serious incidents where peoples’ safety is being put at risk. We have raised, particularly, the concern that there is for children’s safety, citing the example of the monkey which jumped into a baby’s pram in order to snatch food. The reports keep coming in, most recently in relation to Mount Alvernia, which we are told is being habitually visited and invaded by a pack of monkeys. This, as can be imagined, is causing considerable distress to the elderly residents and visitors alike. As recently as a few days ago a monkey was found on the bed of an elderly resident whilst the bed was occupied by her. 
Consultation on the Licensing of 4G Mobile Services & Liberalisation of Mobile Bands in Gibraltar
A recent stream of official announcements by the Spanish Government of major planned expansion of fuel tank farms in Algeciras and Los Barrios is a significant blow to the Bay environment (see 
This Press Release is issued in conformity with the Inquiry's previously stated intention to keep members of the public regularly informed as to the progress of its work.
