Jan 12 - Picardo Plans Official Visit to Northern Ireland

Written by YGTV Team on 12 January 2015.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo is set to pay Northern Ireland an official visit. Although the Government has insisted that no dates have been confirmed, the UK Representative for the Gibraltar Government, Albert Poggio, is currently visiting his birth town of Ballymena in preparation for the Chief Minister’s trip.

The Lions clubs of Ballymena and Gibraltar are twinned following a ceremony carried out by former Mayor Tony Lima almost two years ago. As reported by the Ballymena newsletter, Mr. Poggio commented on the extensive history between Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, as many Gibraltarians were evacuated there during the Second World War.

He told the newsletter that the aim of the visit is to share Gibraltar’s struggle with Spain and their fight for self-determination.

During his time in Northern Ireland, Mr. Poggio will meet with the Royal British Legion, the mayor of Ballymena and visit the Bushmills distillery.