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.
Visiting the annual 2014 Tradewise Chess Festival yesterday at the Caleta hotel, His Excellency the Governor and Lady Dutton were met by tournament organiser Brian Callaghan, Tamara Stewart-Wilson and tournament director Stuart Conquest. Also there to greet him were sponsors James Humphreys from Tradewise and Denis Llafferty from Saccone & Speed and Coca Cola.
Lieutenant Commander (Retired), Geof Alexander retired from the MOD this week after 48 years service. He was presented with framed images of Gibraltar and HMS Capable, which Geof was captain of within his career.
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.