European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, together with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo, met in Brussels earlier today.
With effect from 21 March, six personnel from the City Fire Brigade have been promoted in the Operations Department arising from vacancies in the posts.
Sub Officer Brian Mañasco has been promoted to the rank of Station Officer and as such will now lead the White Watch as their watch commander. Station Officer Mañasco joined the service in January 1986; he was promoted to Leading Firefighter in June 2000 and to Sub Officer in August of 2007. He is also a Graduate of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
The Easter Activity Programme leaflet giving information on sport and leisure activities available for children and young people over the Easter holiday Period is now available and is being distributed into schools.
As part of his familiarisation programme, His Excellency the Governor, Sir James Dutton and Lady Dutton visited Mount Alvernia recently. They were accompanied by Samantha Sacramento, Minister for Equality, Social Services and the Elderly, together with Albert Bruzon, CEO of the Care Agency, Susan Vallejo, Elderly Residential Services Nursing Co-ordinator and members of the nursing management.
Presenting their application for a Category 4 UEFA grade football stadium at Europa Point, to a packed DPC meeting this morning, the GFA and chief Architect for the project, Mark Fenwick insisted that following studies on a number of sites around Gibraltar, Europa Point has proven to be the only feasible option. Mr. Fenwick explained that converting the Victoria Stadium would encroach on sport facilities currently used by a huge number of people.
The applicants were adamant that FIFA regulations insist on a North – South pitch orientation, deeming Victoria Stadium’s current pitch unusable if the Association is to be accepted into FIFA. Commenting on the other possible sites suggested to the Association by the public during an extended public consultation period, Mr. Fenwick said that Devil’s Tower Camp is MOD owned and was met with access issues. Lathbury Barracks has significant access issues and has been deemed a Special Area of Conservation. The Eastside reclamation has too much commercial value. He added that the traffic study carried out by the applicants had validated Europa Point as a feasible option for the stadium, with three available access roads leading to it.