Gibraltar’s representation at the Labour Party Conference continued yesterday evening with the Gibraltar Reception hosted by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and featuring a keynote speech by the UK Minister for Europe and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty MP.
Speaking at this morning’s 2013 Budget speech, held in Parliament, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo congratulated and thanked those involved in the televising and live streaming of parliament proceedings for their hard work. The initiative, which was a Government manifesto commitment, was launched during today’s meeting. The stream can be seen on Yourgibraltartv.com.
Announcing the figures for this financial year, the Chief Minister explained that Gibraltar’s Gross Domestic Product had risen from £1.05 billion in 2010 – 2011, to £1.137 billion in 2011-2012, this year’s GDP has come in at £1.5 billion, surpassing the Government’s expectation of £1.2 billion.
I am delighted to announce that in its meeting last Friday in Brussels, which ended in the very early hours of Saturday morning, the European Council of Economic and Finance Ministers of the 27 EU Member States (ECOFIN) endorsed Gibraltar’s Income Tax Act, as amended earlier this month, as now being compliant with the EU Code of Conduct for Business Taxation.
Minister for Sports, Culture, Heritage & Youth, Steven Linares together with the Minister for Equality, Social Services & the Elderly, Samantha Sacramento have sent the following message to the Gibraltar Special Olympics in advance of the Summer Games which commence tomorrow.
The first two new initiatives by the GHA to improve surgical services started on Friday, with the second following in a week's time.
For the first time since the move to the new St Bernard's site, operating theatre slots on Friday afternoons that were left empty and unused every week will be taken up with minor surgery and orthopaedics. This will allow prompt treatment of trauma and increased turnover of patients.