Panorama Gibraltar 06-03-12
by LEO OLIVERO
There is a quote that goes “those with a
one-track mind are easily predictable” - it was simple to relate that
line to our Spanish friends and the resurgence again of heavy traffic
queues at the frontier.
It was amazing how easy it was to predict Spain’s next move when
analysing their shallow minds regarding Gibraltar. Most were able to
forecast the squeeze at the frontier and the resulting chaos and
congestion it created throughout Gibraltar.
In fact not many people have been surprised with the new spanish
frontier antics, annoyed yes, but not surprised at all. Not even taking
into account today’s vibrant world democracy enjoyed by most people the
European Union or any other modern day internationally socially accepted
norms and respected advancement’ would have made any difference…
Because causing mayhem at the frontier is the Spanish Governments
Favourite Gibraltar Calling Card!
But if you think about it has ‘frontier traffic ever really been what
you would consider normal’ even taking into account the Cordoba
Agreement, the Tripartite Forum all the Handshakes and Back Slapping we
all witnessed over the last 7 or 8 year. No matter which Spanish
Political Party warm their bums on the plush seats in La Moncloa Palace
one thing is true and clear…Nothing Ever Changes Much!
You would have to be a very ‘Naive Gibraltarian’ or someone with little
knowledge of the Gibraltar/Spanish historical situation to believe that
the Popular Party in Madrid, would embark on anything else but attempt
to increase the-anti where Gibraltar is concerned, and at the same time
do their best to tro to destabilise and upset our daily lives on the
Rock!
Spain and their Age-Old Trusted Frontier Policy!
But no sooner had the British Government re-affirmed its position to the
Spanish Government regarding Gibraltar, which they did in various
European fronts and official forums, than the master-minds at the
Spanish foreign office went about implementing once again their trusted
frontier policy document. A situation which is true-to-life and
epitomises the very fragile relationship (if you can call it that)
Gibraltar has with Spain.
This is precisely why Spain is so predictable when it comes to
Gibraltar, and why we can never trust them or believe whatever they say,
never mind ‘God Forbid’ ever contemplate ourselves becoming part
of the Spanish Mainland!
The Guardia Civil, who are robotically controlled from Madrid, may want
to call their latest initiative at the frontier as a crack down on
tobacco smuggling. Although this is a lame excuse or justification for
what is going on. It is old hog-wash and not believable, how can it be,
when we were all expecting the frontier card to be in imminent use. This
time it is the turn of motor-cycles who have been targeted. Has the
Spanish Authorities suddenly realised what has been going on everyday
with tobacco that they have to introduce across the board blanket
controls that are un-European, un-democratic and violate and abuse
people’s rights at a frontier. This without taking into consideration
that not everyone crosses into Spain in possession of tobacco or
cigarettes!
You could possibly point a finger also at the previous GSD
administration for allowing the tobacco situation to get out of control.
Even worse than it has ever been in Gibraltar. But again this has not
been sudden and has been getting progressively worse over recent years!
Local Drivers Targeted by Guardia Civil Over the Weekend!
However more concerning were reports over the weekend that a number of
local drivers in locally registered vehicles were being targeted by the
Guardia Civil and were reported for traffic offences from speeding to
other (some say dubious) traffic infringements. Some reports suggest
that Spanish officers even failed to inform local motorist who were
reported for speeding at what speed they had allegedly committed the
so-called traffic offence, all this creating heated moments between
parties!
And over the weekend there were little signs of any let-up by the
Spanish Authorities who continued to provoke long queues of not only
motor-cycles but also cars, from early morning stretching back along the
runway and beyond.
Keep the Traffic Flowing Diversion Implemented!
The authorities on this side in an attempt to counter the latest bout of
‘Spanish Frontier Tantrums’ have implemented a ‘Keep the Traffic
Flowing Diversion’. Yet there is no doubt that the pressure
applied at the frontier by the Spanish authorities has a tremendous
effect on our roads, as traffic slowly starts to build up back
throughout the local road network. All this creating frustration and in
some cases maximum tension with many people, who see themselves having
to wait for hours after a long hard day at work and many with children
in-tow!
Scenes at the frontier itself have also been tense particularly where
Spanish workers and the authorities over the border are concerned.
Locally a strong sense of indignation!
What can be done?
There is already a strong strength of feeling and indignation gathering
momentum in Gibraltar, created by these constant long delays at the
frontier, resentment that is growing by the day!
The question that most people would like answered is “What can be done?
Can Spain be Stopped Curtailing that all Important EU Concept of Free
Movement Across its Borders? A Question that is a Debatable Theory at
the Moment!"
Frankly I believe Spain can curtail whatever it wants! Because after so
many years of Spanish frontier antics with possible more to come, their
use of immature political democracy appears to have no bounds. You would
have thought that someone, would have come up with or highlighted a
clause, a section, part of treaty or convention, looked at an accord or
cited a simple line from any ruling or directive that demonstrated to
the world that ‘Spain is Violating Something Somewhere and Has to Stop.’
Gibraltar has been to the EU in the past on this same issue…AND WHAT! We
will probably have the Governor at the Convent monitoring the situation
at the frontier and reporting back to London. Convent Place will also
be making all sorts of representations again to London and call on our
Gibraltar friends in Parliament to raise the issue…it’s the same old
song again!
We can also expect little from those other two political power-houses in
Brussels and New York. The EU has never really been enthusiastic or
much interested when Gibraltar has presented similar complaints in the
past. And as far as the UN Committee of 24, 34 or 156 is concerned,
forget it; don’t hold your breath for long because you’ll die, for sure!
Gibraltar Action Contemplated!
Many locals over the weekend, in social networks on the internet and
elsewhere, have been suggesting different views and ideas that could be
implemented by way of registering our annoyance and disgust and also
exposing and internationally shaming the Spanish Government.
A total ban on purchasing anything from or in Spain and attempting to
persuade people not to go over to do their shopping appears to be a
popular measure. Although such a call to ban the purchase of Spanish
goods as part of a Gibraltar led protest would have a lot more
kick-to-it and receive maximum publicity if it was led by the Gibraltar
Government, who could also ban purchasing whatever government procures
over in Spain!
But many people over the last few days strongly believe that Gibraltar
should act and try to at least highlight and inform the world about the
Spanish Government’s latest political moves to further their claim over
Gibraltar. These are some of the ideas people have come up with:
• Closing Down the Cervantes Institute, until Normal Relations are Restored
• Webcam at the Frontier as was the case before - Transmitting events
• A Peaceful Demonstration at the Frontier
• Organising a Petition to Brussels and London
Locally we can either do nothing or take everything thrown at us full on
the face…or politically and diplomatically we can talk ‘till the cows
come home’ and in the mean time continue at the whim of Rajoy and Co!
Close the Cervantes Until Matters Normalise!
I must admit my favoured action at the moment that would send out a
strong message over to Madrid is the ‘Temporary Closure of the Cervantes
Institute in Gibraltar’. The Cervantes was welcomed in Gibraltar with
open arms by the previous administration under a so called different
political policy by the Spanish Government regarding Gibraltar. That
policy as good or as bad as it was, has now been ripped apart by the new
PP Party, not only that, but the Spanish Government have returned to
the old ways that are reminiscent of the Franco days!
Why should Gibraltar continue to make the Cervantes Institute (Cultural
Centre or Not) welcomed on the Rock? When after all, the Institute is no
more than a branch of the Spanish Foreign Ministry in Madrid! As far as
I am concerned the institute is sitting pretty right in the middle of
our city… Whilst Gibraltarians and others get harassed and have their
rights abused daily in their own homeland!
My opinion is a Temporary Closure of the Cervantes Institute until matters are normalised to our satisfaction!
The alternative is to Do Nothing or turn the other cheek, which in my view has mostly been the case over the years!
Frankly we owe it to ourselves to at least signal to the world that this
is the 21 century. Gibraltar should do its upmost to expose the Spanish
Government for what they are regarding the Gibraltar question.
And precisely we should also communicate this is why Gibraltarians Want to remain firmly attached to their British Roots!
The
garden has been established for over 150 years and was created
by Amalia Heredia Livermore, granddaughter of the British consul,
and her husband, the successful businessman, Jorge Loring Oyarzabal,
Marquis of Casa Loring, in 1850. These keen plant collectors travelled
the world, bringing back bamboos from China, eucalyptus from Australia,
and palms from South America and the Pacific. In all there are
over three thousand separate species represented in these gardens.
The
ornamental pools are home to numerous water lillies as well as various
turtles, frogs and toads.
