Even before National Day had got going yesterday, and without knowing what would be said or not said, the Spanish Government was again on the attack, threatening to create a special area of conservation of over 26,000 hectares around Gibraltar including our British territorial waters - to prohibit what they termed as environmentally dangerous practices like bunkering, which happens to be a major business for Gibraltar's port.
No need to ask the Governor what he thinks, because The Convent is engulfed in Foreign Office policies of appeasement, asking Gibraltar to show restraint as the Spanish continue increasing the tempo of their hostile and aggressive policies against Gibraltar and its people.
As the rally got going, there were seven empty chairs on the stage, representing the boycott by the GSD opposition.
SDGG chairman Denis Matthews said National Day should be a day of unity, while chief minister Fabian Picardo said thet the GSD decision was a matter for them, 'the people of Gibraltar are all here, united.'
SNP member Angus MacNeil said the banner proclaiming the right to self-determination was 'fantastic,'
Lord Reagan from the Ulster Unionist Party said it was a 'marvellous occasion', and pledged their support. He said there was great affinity between Northern Ireland and the Gibraltarian people. Long live Gibraltar, he added, and the crowd roared in applause.
Loud cheers and applause punctuated all the speeches.
DUP member Ian Paisley had fraternal greetings from the people of Ulster.
Celebrating National Day on Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee - what an honour and privilege to be here.
He spoke of the family of British people that embrace you and love you - we share our common bond. God bless Gibraltar - and never surrender.
Liberal Democrat's Lord Chidgey took the line that the people of Gibraltar should have the right to determine their own future. The UK government had no right to attempt to make deals of sovereignty with Spain or anyone else behind our backs.
Our promise to you as Parliamentarians, he added, is that the UK government will not be allowed to forget their pledge to Gibraltar. The sovereignty of Gibraltar extends from the frontier to Europa Point, and the seas around your shores remain with the people of Gibraltar.
Conservative Andrew Rosindell said that the British people stood four square behind the people of Gibraltar. "We come with a clear message to the government in Madrid: Gibraltar is British and remains so forever." Any government in London that ever tried to betray the people of Gibraltar deserves to be thrown out of office.
"And I say to the British government: the next time a Spanish vessel enters Gibraltar waters that vessel should be apprehended and the crew arrested," he said. "We must never give Spain an inch for they will take a mile."
For the chairman of the all-party Gibraltar group in Parliament Jim Dobbin, Britain is important to Gibraltar and Gibraltar is important to Britain.
What a great day this is, he added, saying that there were a number of issues they needed to discuss wih the British government.
For chief minister Fabian Picardo ' this is our land, our home, our Rock.' He added: We are here to assert that we have the right to self-determination. No 300 year old treaty or threats will ever intimidate us.
"We will never concede one grain of sand, one breath of air or one drop of our waters," he reiterated. "Gibraltar will never be Spanish." He then hailed Joe Bossano as having declared the first National Day 20 years ago - and the two men embraced each other emotionally on stage.
The mayor Tony Lima was about to release the 30,000 balloons, amid the fireworks and the confetti. It was a great, memorable occasion.
11-09-12
