This past year has seen the consolidation of environmental thinking in Government policy and action, cascading and percolating well into the private sector. On looking back and taking stock, Mr Speaker, I am at the same time embarrassed at the huge environmental deficit Gibraltar held to the rest of the world in 2011, as I am proud of the way that it has advanced since.
Coinciding with the visit of UK Europe Minister to Gibraltar, David Lidington, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has this week insisted that the British Government has ‘shown weakness in response to a concerted Spanish campaign directed at Gibraltar.’
The Defenders of Gibraltar met yesterday with the Minister for Europe David Lidington. ACSTEG, For A Humanitarian Border and VOGG were also present.The Defenders of Gibraltar expressed their concerns regarding the continued harassment and bullying of Gibraltarians and cross frontier workers by the Spanish Government. The group explained that not enough was being done from a UK perspective to rein in Spain, adding that the the effect of this “fence-sitting” was beginning to affect “our economy and way of life.”
The full text of the Deputy Chief Minister's Budget 2014 Speech is as follows:
Mr Speaker, this is my sixteenth contribution to a debate on the Appropriation Bill in this House, my third as a member of the Government.
PARLIAMENT
There have been many changes to this place over those sixteen years. Some have been physical changes to the building like the introduction of air conditioning and the refurbishment of the Chamber itself.
Other changes have been of substance, to the rules, the procedures and the practices of the House.
Personal Trainer Jake Wilde completed a grueling 2,500 mile charity cycle ride from Gibraltar to John O’Groats, Scotland in just 27 days.
Riding alone and unsupported Jake managed to raise £220 in cash donations both in Gibraltar and on route for Gibraltar Cancer Relief and £435 in online donations for the BFBS Big Salute Charity via his Just Giving page.
A group of Spanish activists have managed to remove a concrete block that formed part of the artificial reef that the Government of Gibraltar laid in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters off the runway in July last year in order to protect marine life.