Oct 03 GSD Deeply Regrets Barclays’ Decision
The Gibraltar Social Democrats has said that it deeply regrets and is very seriously concerned at Barclays’ decision to close its local banking services, which will include the closure of the Main Street Branch and therefore the loss of its frontline, high street presence in Gibraltar next year.
“The party’s immediate concern is the impact that this decision will have on the employees who will be losing their jobs, in excess, it understands, of some 90 people. This will prove a huge financial blow to them individually and their families,” said Damon Bossino, the GSD’s employment spokesman.
Quite apart from the very worrying impact on jobs, Barclays is a well-recognised, international banking brand name. The fact that it is closing down its local banking presence and, from what appears from the press report, maintaining only nominal services, will be a hard pill to swallow for Gibraltar as a whole.
As the new football season approaches, the Gibraltar Football Association have announced a selection of friendly matches and competitive fixtures for Gibraltar’s teams. The first of which will take place the Victoria Stadium on 5th March 2014, against the Estonian national team. A further friendly with the team will he held in Tallinn, Estonia on 26th May. A GFA statement today claims that ‘negotiations are also on-going regarding the possibility of two international friendly fixtures in Gibraltar in November 2013 and March 2014 against two fellow UEFA national associations. Further information on this will be issued soon’.
The Government has said that it is “saddened” to learn of Barclays’ decision to reduce the size of its footprint on the Rock as it reviews its business worldwide. In particular, the Government is disappointed that the bank’s Main Street branch will close next year, resulting in the loss of a number of jobs and of Barclays’ local banking services.
