Nov 20 - Northern Ireland Backs Gib George Cross Campaign
‘As the George Cross for Gibraltar Campaign gathers increasing momentum in Britain, Peter Robinson, First Minister of Northern Ireland, has given his full support to the Campaign and has expressed warm wishes for its success,’ Equality Rights Group Chairman Felix Alvarez stated in a press release today.
In his letter to the ERG Chairman and UK supporter Kevin Kelway, the Northern Ireland First Minister says that ‘As one who fought long and hard for special recognition of the heroism and fortitude shown by the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC I am pleased to support the campaign to award the George Cross to the territory and the people of Gibraltar. I am happy to associate myself with this campaign.’
Commenting on the letter, Alvarez noted, ‘not only is this significant backing from a key political player, it is highly symbolic coming, as it does, from the government of the country which was, in fact, the second recipient of a collective award of the George Cross in 1999,’ the statement continued.
‘A touching note is struck by Mr Robinson,’ Alvarez points out, ‘when he remembers the special role Northern Ireland played in Gibraltar’s history during the Second World War, recalling that ‘Ulster acted as a temporary staging post for some 3,000 Gibraltarians evacuated when the Rock was turned into an armed fortress. Indeed a few fell in love with Northern Ireland and chose to exchange the Mediterranean to stay.
Closing his statement, Alvarez explains that he has ‘warmly thanked the First Minister for his unambiguous and public support of the Campaign, and indeed acknowledged the ties of fondness and history which forever link both our countries,’ adding that ‘Gibraltar and Gibraltarians owe so much to the Evacuation Generation and experience in the development of our democratic history and identity, and the Campaign will continue to work to honour them and the People of Gibraltar by progressing resolutely towards a successful outcome on this matter,’ the statement ended.
