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.
This Friday the GGR will celebrate the annual International Day Against Homophobia. The event, which is set to be carried out in the Piazza from 12 – 1 pm and will feature the Chief Minister, the Opposition, His Worship the Mayor, the PDP, Unite the Union, the GGCA and the Gibraltar Teacher’s Association.
The GSD Opposition has welcomed the announcement that refurbishment works at three housing estates, namely: Glacis, Laguna and Moorish Castle Estates is commencing. The GSD Opposition, however, notes that with the exception of the unfortunate plans to build extra floors, there is considerable overlap between what has been announced this week and what the Government announced last year in relation to these estates. “People want less photo opportunities, less spin and less electioneering by attacking the GSD Government’s record in office. Perhaps if they did that we would see more results," said a Spokesman.
The Opposition also welcomes the period of consultation with residents of each estate, which we hope will ensure that the end product is what tenants’ desire rather than what the Government thinks they would like. The consultative exercise before announcing the initiative should at least avoid last year’s embarrassing fiasco where, to great fanfare (including the use of architects’ plans and drawings as on this occasion), the Government announced it was to build extra floors on these estates, only to abandon the plans following widespread complaints from tenants.