Gibraltar News
Five years imprisonment for Cocaine possession and supply and money laundering -(27th May 2009)
Picardo notes Deposit Guarantee Scheme amendment called for last year -(27th May 2009)
Faces Fun Day! -(21st May 2009)
Liberal Democrats raise concerns over diverted flights with European Commission -(19th May 2009)
Court Proceedings on Territorial Waters -(18th May 2009)
Gibraltar Senior Citizens Association -(27th May 2009)
Two arrested on Possession with Intent to Supply -(27th May 2009)
GIBRALTARIANS HAVE THE ?ABSOLUTE RIGHT? TO DECIDE SAYS LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER -(27th May 2009)
?Fundraising for Teen Tales? -(27th May 2009)
GIBRALTAR PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER -(27th May 2009)
REGIMENT SINK THE NAVY ? BUT ONLY JUST! -(27th May 2009)
GONHS steps up macaque initiative - Latest research backs up Society?s position -(27th May 2009)
Five years imprisonment for Cocaine possession and supply and money laundering
Operation ?Meribel? was a RGP Drug Squad Operation focused on the suspected illicit activities of Andrew FERREL dob 21 2 67 in London, resident in La Linea but with connections to Gibraltar.
On the evening of 6th June 2008, FERREL was intercepted by Drug Squad Officers in the area of Maida Vale and upon being searched 12 wrappers of Cocaine were found in his car. A search of the vicinity were officers had observed FERREL to be rummaging was searched and this revealed a further 24 wrappers of Cocaine. The total weight of the Cocaine was 14.39grams. Officers searching the area in detail also recovered 0.70g of MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy). FERREL was charged with the possession and possession with intent to supply these drugs. He was also subject of a financial investigation where police claimed that FERREL had concealed or transferred the proceeds of Drug Trafficking. Approximately ?70,000 were identified by financial investigators as proceeds that FERREL had laundered within a period of 30 months. He was further charged with 9 counts of money laundering.
FERREL pleaded not guilty to all the charges and a long committal hearing was held at the Magistrates Court in February 2009 where the Magistrate found the prosecution had a case to put before a jury. Consequently, FERREL was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. After over a week long hearing, on 22 5 09 the jury found FERREL guilty of all charges with the exception of the possession of the 0.7g of MDMA.
He was sentenced by Judge Pitto to 5 years imprisonment for the Cociane charges and 18 months on each of the 9 charges of money laundering to run concurrent ? the money laundering sentence to run consecutive to the Cocaine sentence meaning that FERREL would serve a total of 6? years in prison. In sentencing, the judge commented that he found FERREL to have benefited to sum of ?65,000 from the proceeds of drugs.
Charles Salter and Ray Pilley appeared for FERREL. The Crown was represented by Kevin Colombo assisted by Karina Khubchand.
Picardo notes Deposit Guarantee Scheme amendment called for last year
The Opposition has welcomed the publication by the Government of the Bill to increase the amounts recoverable by depositors when a bank fails under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. This is what the Opposition called for last year.
The Bill implements the changes to the Directive that have been agreed at an EU level and will bring Gibraltar law into line with that of all other Member States.
Commenting on the publication of the Bill, Mr Picardo said: "When the directive was first adopted in the EU - during the recent banking crisis - I told the Government that we would have agreed to take this as an urgent Bill (that did not have to be published for 6 weeks before being debated) in order to assure depositor confidence. I subsequently spoke private to Mr Caruana about this at his invitation, during questions in Parliament, and understood the Government's position on timing. As a result we did not press further for the legislation to be accelerated. We now look forward to the fact that the Parliament will be moving to legislate on this issue, which will serve to re-assure depositors in a manner that will, equally importantly, not create an impossible burden on any participants of the Deposit Guarantee Scheme."
Faces Fun Day!
Local charity Faces will be holding a massive Fun Day on Sunday 7th June from 10 am to 2.30 pm at the Bayside Sports Complex. Faces helps children and young adults in Gibraltar with chronic and critical illnesses.
"There is everything from Bahia Park activities, Rey Misterio, Magicians, Clowns, Bouncy Castles, tombolas, lucky dip, duck fishing, face painting, mini makeovers, karaoke, trampolining, cannoning, wall climbing, tattoos for kids, balloon making?. The list goes on!" said a spokesperson. "Apart from that we have local dance groups and the GBC Road show. It's taken four months of planning so we can make this event special for everyone. There are lots of different food choices and everyone including the Fire Brigade, St Johns, the Scouts and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment are playing a part."
Liberal Democrats raise concerns over diverted flights with European Commission
The European Commission has told South West and Gibraltar Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson that passengers on diverted flights who transit through Spain with a Gibraltar visa should be able to apply for a transit visa when they land in Spain.
It will be recalled that earlier this year there were several cases of Gibraltar-bound flights that were diverted to Malaga airport due to bad weather conditions in Gibraltar. Incoming passengers were bussed to Gibraltar. However, persons who did not have a Schengen visa to enter Spain were made to wait in the aircraft and were sent back to London, even though they did have a visa for Gibraltar which was their final destination.
The people affected were generally non-EU nationals employed as seamen who were coming to Gibraltar as crew changes for merchant ships.
Mr Watson had asked the Commission whether it was aware of the difficulties and inconveniences that this situation posed for passengers and businesses and enquired whether some form of ?transit visa? exists between Schengen visa areas and those not currently participating especially with regard to flights which are diverted.
On behalf of the Commission, Mr Barrot has replied that this specific case has not been brought to the attention of the Commission. ?Member States? authorities responsible for checks on persons may exceptionally, by way of derogation from the general rule that visas shall be issued by diplomatic and consular authorities, issue visas at the borders, provided that the person applying for a transit visa at the border is in possession of the necessary visas, if applicable, for his/her onward journey. It would therefore seem that application of those provisions could be appropriate in the situation referred to by the Honourable Member.?
Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson would be very interested in receiving specific details from anyone who has been affected in order to forward these to the European Commission to ensure that in the future Spain issues these visas for transit between Malaga airport and Gibraltar instead of sending the affected persons back to London.
Court Proceedings on Territorial Waters
The Government has initiated further court proceedings, this time in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, in relation to the designation by Spain, and acceptance by the EU, of Sites of Community Interest within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The Gibraltar legal action seeks a judicial review of the lawfulness of the EU Commission?s decision.
A spokesman for No 6 Convent Place said:- ?This second action is precautionary in a procedural sense. We fully expect our direct action in the EU Court of First Instance to prosper procedurally. The Government does not rule out the possibility of further legal actions, in whatever jurisdictions it considers appropriate to uphold the indisputable British Sovereignty of Gibraltar waters under international law, in an EU context and generally, in the face of such obvious and serious challenge?.
Gibraltar Senior Citizens Association
Thanks.
The association?s sincere thanks to Royal Gibraltar Regiment Association for their kind donation to our general expenses fund.
Seniors? Entitlements.
The questions we seek answers to regarding Senior Citizens? entitlements have been put together and have already sent the completed questionnaire to the Media Director for respective answers as had previously been agreed. In the meantime, do you have any issue which you feel an answer or guidance should be provided? If so, let us have this at your earliest convenience so we may consider and include in any update in the future.
Grandparents?Day.
We are delighted that the Ministry for Family, Youth and Community Affairs has also come on board and together with the Ministries for Culture and Education, shall try and make Grandparents? Day a special day befitting Gibraltar?s grandparents.
Meetings with the Departments of Culture and Education have already taken place, both very positive and we are sure that all augurs well for this very special day.
Alerts and Warnings.
The number of alerts we receive practically via Internet daily is unbelievable, they range and vary from Bin Laden to dancing shoes.
We are however wary that some of these may be malicious on the part of the originators as they quote brand names and most uncomplimentary remarks so we cannot publish these as we have no wish to be involved in any libel case.
Our best advice is, if you receive an attachment from anyone unknown to you, do not open it, delete it and delete it again.
Wear something Yellow.
And we take this opportunity to remind you that on Saturday 30th a walk has been organised by Psychological Support Group, Tomorrow it Could be You and the Mental Welfare Society from Casemates Square at 11 am.
If you are not taking part but only watching the walk go by, remember to wear something yellow in solidarity and support.
Gib 5.
At the request of tenants residing on a rental basis at Gib 5, we have written to the Ministry for Housing asking for equal conditions to those of other Government tenants in other housing estates. We have already received a reply from the Ministry advising us that the matter has been taken up and now rest with GRP Investments.
We have written and asked the Principal Housing Officer if there have been any developments so we in turn can inform the affected tenants.
Two arrested on Possession with Intent to Supply
As a result of anti-drugs Operation ?Risk?, at 2040 hours, Saturday 23rd May 2009, RGP Drug Squad officers executed a Search Warrant under the Drugs (Misuse) Act at 33, Gavino?s Dwellings, the residence of A. O. (dob 18.10.65 in Gibraltar) and D. C. A. (dob 11.06.78 in La Linea, Spain). During the course of the search, which was conducted with the assistance of the Custom Dog Section, 9 Cocaine wrappers with a total approximate weight of 5.3 grams and 19 individually wrapped pieces of Cannabis Resin with a total approximate weight of 60 grams were seized, together with paraphernalia associated with the supplying of drugs. They were both arrested for the possession with intent to supply the said drugs. Both were conveyed to New Mole House, where they were interviewed and jointly charged with the following offences:
1. Possession of a Controlled Drug with intent to supply to another or others namely, approximately 5.3 grams of a preparation containing Cocaine.
2. Possession of a Controlled Drug namely, approximately 5.3 grams of a preparation containing Cocaine.
3. Possession of a Controlled Drug with intent to supply to another or others namely, approximately 60 grams of Cannabis Resin.
4. Possession of a Controlled Drug namely, approximately 60 grams of Cannabis Resin.
They were later bailed, each in the sum of ?1,200.00, to appear at the Magistrates? Court at 1000 hours, on Tuesday 26th May 2009. On their court appearance, they were granted Legal Aid and bailed, in the sum of ?1,200.00 till 1000 hours, Thursday 11th June 2009.
GIBRALTARIANS HAVE THE ?ABSOLUTE RIGHT? TO DECIDE SAYS LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg MP has said that the people of Gibraltar have ?the absolute right? to decide on their own future. These comments were made to the Leader of the Liberal Party in Gibraltar Dr Joseph Garcia.
Mr Clegg was elected leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2007, having previously been Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. Before that he was Liberal Democrat MEP for the East Midlands, where as Trade and Industry spokesman for the European Liberal Democrats (ALDE) he led the moves to open up the domestic telecoms markets.
The Liberal Democrat Leader has taken the opportunity to reaffirm his own personal commitment and that of his party to Gibraltar and its people. ?As a party, the Liberal Democrats have made our support for Gibraltar?s rights clear at UK, European and global levels and I can promise you that we will continue to do this,? he has told Dr Garcia.
Mr Clegg has declared that the Liberal Democrats wholeheartedly supported the right of Gibraltarians to vote in elections to the European Parliament and they were ?delighted? that Gibraltar was able to participate in 2004. ?Graham Watson has been the Liberal Democrat MEP for South West England and Gibraltar since then and I know that he has been an excellent MEP for Gibraltar,? Mr Clegg has said.
The Liberal Democrat Leader has pledged that the Liberal Democrat candidates in the coming European election will do all they can to fight for Gibraltar, before, during and after the elections of 4th June. ?I am determined to support your full rights in Europe?, he has told Dr Garcia, adding that ?Gibraltar may be a small part of the European Union, but it is also an important one.?
For his part the Leader of the Liberal Party Dr Joseph Garcia has said that this solid commitment to Gibraltar is very significant at it comes straight from the top of the Liberal Democrats. Dr Garcia added that this was reflected further in their decision to include a Gibraltarian candidate, Jonathan Stagnetto, in the party list for the South West and Gibraltar Region. Mr Stagnetto is the only Gibraltarian who is standing for election.
?Fundraising for Teen Tales?
The participants from the ?Teen Tales? project with the help of Youth Service staff and Santos Productions set up a cake stall and hamper raffle at the ICC on Tuesday 12th May to raise funds for a book to be published soon.
The participants have been working jointly on a creative writing programme. We have been since November 2008 to produce a book of a compilation of their work. Weekly workshops have been held at the Youth Centre and local guest speakers have contributed to the programme by delivering workshops on their field of writing. The publication and printing of this book will be a very important part of the process of the work that has been done throughout the programme. The overall aims of the programme has been to provide a forum for young people to express themselves by using writing as a tool. To help them achieve this we have offered a range of different genres they can learn from such as lyric writing, poetry, descriptive story telling and script writing.
The book will consist of a series of works, chosen and presented by young people taking part in the project, compiled over the last nine month.
The young people contributed with cakes, some of which they baked themselves and those donated by parents and friends. They were involved running the stall throughout the day selling cakes and raffle tickets until the draw was held at the end. Gibmaroc kindly donated a fruit and vegetable hamper that helped to attract people to the stall and was raffled on the day.
The hamper was won by Mr Robles with ticket number 171-AB2SkD4Z.
The young people and those working with them on this project would like to thank everyone who supported this event. The funds raised will go towards the costs of printing a book that will be ready this summer.
More events will be held in connection with this project in the forthcoming weeks.
GIBRALTAR'S FIRST BREAST CANCER HUGE SUCCESS, VISITING DELEGATES IMPRESSED WITH ST BERNARD'S HOSPITAL
Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar hosted, together with the Gibraltar Health Authority, Gibraltar's first Breast Cancer Conference on Friday 22nd May at the O'Callaghan Eliott Hotel. The conference was very well attended with over 100 delegates, and these health professionals from the GHA, PRMC and Private Practice, plus interested members of the public, were given an overview of the medical journey of breast cancer, 'from diagnosis to targeted treatment.
Health professionals present said they found the conference excellent and well organised, with very good speakers who gave lots of interesting and important information. Delegates were especially impressed with how much Gibraltar already had on offer in terms of breast cancer care services and professional skills; and these covered Radiology, Pathology, Public Health and Breast Care Nursing.
Isobel Ellul-Hammond, Chairman of Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar was extremely pleased with the success of the Conference and hopes the charity will continue to work closely with the GHA in order to support local health professionals and to improve and increase breast cancer care services on the Rock:
"This Conference has been the icing on the cake of the already successful 'One-Stop Breast Clinic', which sees women presenting with symptoms immediately and offers excellent and efficient services like no other in Europe. Diagnosis is quick, there is support from our own new Breast Care Nurse and surgery and treatment is given locally so women are able to stay close to family and friends."
The conference had three guest speakers from the UK: Mr Dimitri Hadjiminas, Consultant Breast & Endocrine Surgeon and Director of St Mary's Breast Unit, London; and Dr Emma Pennery & Jackie Harris from Breast Cancer Care UK: and five speakers from the GHA. While on a tour of St Bernard's Hospital, both Dr Pennery and Mr Hadjiminas were so impressed with the hospital's space, layout, equipment, staff and theatres, that Mr Hadjiminas said it was far superior in every way to many UK hospitals and that we had nothing to envy the UK and added:
"When I get ill I will come to Gibraltar!"