The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, today raised Gibraltar issues with Members of the Foreign Affairs, a Committee of the House of Commons. This was organised for Overseas Territories leaders as part of the agenda for the Joint Ministerial Council between the UK and OT Governments.
The GSD says it is not surprised by the significant public interest shown in the Chief Minister’s part ownership of a sunglasses shop on Main Street and his decision in this year’s budget to reduce import duty on sunglasses to zero. The Opposition says the public should be entitled to know whenever a Government changes laws, taxes or any other benefits which may directly, or indirectly, be of benefit to a member of that Government. This is all the more crucial, argues the GSD, when it is the Chief Minister who, as Minister for Finance and the person with ultimate responsibility for the budget, is directly involved.
The Chief and Deputy Chief Ministers yesterday met with the UK’s Minister for Europe, David Lidington, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The men discussed a number of ‘relevant and topical issues’ including frontier delays, the Spanish frontier works, and the continuing incursions into BGTW by Spanish state vessels.
Yesterday the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia left for London to attend the annual Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) which brings together political leaders from the Overseas Territories and UK Ministers. The JMC will be hosted by the FCO’s Minister for the Overseas Territories James Duddridge.
The GSD notes that yet again there has been a health and safety incident at the site of Charles Bruzon House affecting Governor's Meadow School.
