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.
HM Customs seized a total of 28,000 cigarettes outside a retail premises in Fish Market Road on Wednesday afternoon. A 22 year old from La Linea had been spotted with 8,000 cigarettes (40 cartons) and a search of the surrounding area resulted in the detection of a further 20,000 cigarettes (100 cartons) in a locally registered vehicle.
The government is publishing a Bill for an Act to amend the Tobacco Act 1997. The bill has come about as a response to gap in current law for people concealing cigarettes in the bodywork, and other parts, of motor vehicles in connection with illegal tobacco activity, especially when the amount concealed is less than a commercial quantity.
On Sunday, HMS Diamond will arrive in Gibraltar for a week long visit before she sets out on a six month operational deployment to the Gulf. During her visit to Gibraltar, and as part of a number of training exercises, she will anchor in the bay at night.
HMS Diamond is the third of six Type 45 air defence destroyers, making her one of the most sophisticated warships in the world. The primary function is to protect a task group of friendly ships from aircraft and missile attack, but she is also capable of other war fighting roles, maritime security roles and can be used to help in humanitarian efforts.
Commander Andy Ingham, HMS Diamond's Commanding Officer said:
“Whilst it has undoubtedly been difficult for us to say goodbye to our loved ones, myself and my crew are looking forward to the task in hand and doing what the Royal Navy does best – providing a resilient and adaptable UK military presence ensuring security and stability wherever the UK has an interest.”
HMS Diamond was launched in November 2007 by her sponsor Lady Johns. The ship arrived in Portsmouth in 2010 and was commissioned in spring 2011.
In a press release today, the GSD have shown their support for the Government's latest Macaque plan, the exportation of the "naughty" ones. The GSD Opposition has publicly supported the exportation and notes that this will not be the first time.