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.
The GSD says it is disappointed by the response from Minister Sacramento to Opposition statements relating to the staffing and management crisis the Care Agency is presently going through, despite the “negative impact” this is having on the most vulnerable in the community. The party says that Mrs Sacramento has shown “little concern” that 74 Care Agency staff have resigned so far during her tenure.
Former Mayor Tony Lombard who was, until last week, expected to take over from current Mayor Tony Lima at the end of this month, has issued a public statement about Fabian Picardo’s reasons for reversing a decision made in 2012. Mr Lombard says the explanations offered by the Chief Minister are “simply not credible.”
During their time in the US, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Garcia have met with UK Ambassador to the Unite Nations, Sir Mark Lyall Grant. During the meeting a gamut of matters were discussed, including the Chief Minster’s coming intervention in June, before the Committee of 24.
Sitting before the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee this week, Foreign Secretary William Hague was quizzed on the Committee’s recent visit to Gibraltar. Chairman Sir Richard Ottaway commented on the behaviour of frontier officials at the Gibraltar/ Spain border and its affects on Gibraltar’s economy. He noted that trade was down by 12% and asked Mr. Hague if it was time to review the UK’s policy on the situation ‘and see to what extent we can persuade Spain to adopt a more user-friendly approach towards Gibraltar?’