Nov 01 - Chief Minister Holds "Constructive" Meetings In London

The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo today hosted meetings for trade union and private sector representatives with Minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union, Robin Walker MP.

The first meeting was attended by representatives of Unite the Union led by District Officer Victor Ochello together with Christian Duo and Frederick Martin. The meeting allowed the Unite representatives to explain directly to Minister Walker the concerns that their membership have in relation to the social and industrial issues that Brexit can cause for Gibraltar. The Unite team also raised with the Minister concerns related to the recent announcements by the Ministry of Defence to seek voluntary redundancies in permanent establishment of Locally Employed Civilians employed in the operation of the Gibraltar Forward Mounting Base.

The second meeting was with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Gibraltar Finance Centre Council and the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association. The delegation from the private sector included George Desoiza and Peter Isola for the Chamber of Commerce, Stephen Reyes, Peter Montegriffo and James Lasry for the GFCC and Peter Howitt and Michael Leadbeater for the GBGA. A submission was received from the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses, who were invited but were unable to attend.

This meeting allowed the Chamber, the GFCC and the GBGA to make the case directly to Minister Walker about the essential requirements which Gibraltar is looking for from the United Kingdom's negotiation of Brexit. The issues raised included references to access to the single market, fluidity at the frontier and other concerns which Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has already pursued with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union but which the Chief Minister thought should also be put directly by the affected stakeholders who represent industry sectors.

The Chief Minister said: "These meetings have been a hugely important opportunity for stakeholders to put their concerns directly to Minister Walker and to highlight the nuances which are most important to them. The meetings were constructive and friendly and I think they have impressed on Robin Walker the things that matter to working people and to business and commerce in Gibraltar as we move towards the triggering of Article 50 negotiations for the United Kingdom and Gibraltar to leave the European Union. In the past forty eight hours we have made great progress in the statements we have had from Secretary of State Liam Fox and in the approach from Minister Walker. Gibraltar is being fully involved in the preparation for the Brexit negotiations which we did not choose but which we are determined to make a success of for Gibraltar."

Whilst in London the Chief Minister also met with Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond, the former Foreign Secretary and a long term friend of Gibraltar, who is taking a keen interest on how Brexit is likely to affect our Community.

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