How Gibraltar voted and ·not voted·

by mucous Fri Nov 28, 2003 15:27

The Spanish Press have not treated much upon the Gibraltar Elections preferring to focus on the Northern Ireland Assembly elections instead, "El Periodico" noted that yesterday the Beckham couple, posh spice and david, who are recent immigrants to Madrid in España, attended Buckingham Palace to receive British Empire medals from the English Queen. It is thought they costitute a sort of therapeutic return to gentility and traditional values after the strenous challenge to hospitality posed by Bush 2 who yesterday brought Turkeys (unclean animals) to Iraq for two hours.

by reader of the colonial press Fri Nov 28, 2003 16:55

Why does that name ring a bell?
from afar things are crystal clear.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/northern_ireland/map/html/default.stm

by the way Fri Nov 28, 2003 18:31

who are being counted in to the assembly in northern ireland at the moment, only one is an independent.

Elected on a health platform Dr Kieran Deeny has been elected in the west Tyrone constituency with 6158 first preference votes.
His performance is interesting, and might signal a attitude amongst voters in the midland area of the island. May we muse a health platform doctor will be contesting the Monaghan elections.

some background:
www.ulsternet-ni.co.uk/tcon2103/conpages/CMAIN.htm

by magician - turning dross to gold - streetfighters to diplomats. Fri Nov 28, 2003 20:52

was in Cardiff to tinker with the British Irish council which everyone will remember is the very well written "strand three" of the Belfast Agreement which neither party just elected like to talk about @ all @ all @ all.
& he has assured the Irish Times and like "the family" that the GFA is not "dead and buried". Coz you can't bury it, Ian. And therein a great little secret.

I thought indymedia readers, being on average better informed, would like to look back at an interesting little speech made in Cardiff years ago, one which indeed Mr Ahern (little rascal that he is- hi Bertie!) and mr Blair (boo! boo! your son hadn't been caught drinking then eh?) listened to the then President of the European Parliament Mr José María Gil-Robles, address the European Council on a variety of thingys Monday, 15 June 1998.
One of which was the status of the Belfast agreement as an international ratified and honoured legal document.

So... we may reflect that it shall prove very difficult to change that.

go on, get the upper hand in conversation:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/summits/car-pres_en.htm

by update. Sun Nov 30, 2003 15:20

the politicians who have lost their seats have now issued little statements:
from today's Gibraltar Chronicle:
http://www.chronicle.gi/

2003 Election
SIDELINED CANDIDATES TO SOLDIER ON
Jonathan Sacramento reports
Candidates who failed to win a seat at the General Election vowed on the night to continue fighting for a place in the House of Assembly.
Labour party leader Daniel Feetham, who received double the number of votes than the average in his party, said Labour would continue to present itself as an alternative to the governing and opposition parties. Mr Feetham said he was satisfied with what his party had achieved in such little time, and was confident Labour could challenge in a future election.
“We may be defeated at this election, but we remain very much unbowed. Our commitment to the people of Gibraltar is that we will be here in four years’ time and work harder than we’ve worked this time round. We will present a good programme for Government as we have done this time round and I believe we stand an excellent chance.”
“I don’t think it’s a question of bringing anything new to the party, but a question of time to persuade the electorate that we are the only real alternative. You have to bear in mind that we are a party which formed on 23 May 2002, less than a year and a half ago. For a party that has been there such little time to get 8% of the vote is an outstanding achievement, and a higher poll than any third party has achieved over the last thirteen years. Now is not the time to be conducting a post mortem, we shall do that within the next few weeks.”
For his part, Maurice Xiberras said his party’s election loss was not a defeat for the devolved integration argument. “I think the integration argument can be reinvigorated- there are plenty of people willing to do it. The domestic issues have taken
over this election, but there is still strength in the logic of integration. A lot will depend on what happens to the constitution proposals when they are taken to London.” Mr Xiberras expressed that he would continue to work with the Labour party in the near future.
Meanwhile, Reform party leader Lyana Armstrong-Emery also affirmed her determination to carry on in local politics. “It think in terms of percentage increase, with the amount of people who came out to vote, my total has increased somewhat. It’s very difficult in Gibraltar because of the block-voting habit. I would imagine I will contest the next election. The party was only launched in 2000 and it takes time to get established. You also have to understand that our policies and ideas are not yet mainstream so all these things take time to have an effect. It will take longer for us to achieve what we want to achieve, but it will come.”
Asked to comment on his ‘trap-door exit’ being the eighth GSLP/Liberal candidate on the list, Steven Marin said; “I feel I’ve done my best, but the people have spoken,” he said.
***********************
Meanwhile European Union Observer, Paul Morris, attending the General Elections throughout Thursday night and Friday morning, has praised the people of Gibraltar for their ‘commitment to democracy’.

He muses in the Chronicle, that he often sees turn-out of only 20%! so is very happy to see the plucky Gibraltarans acheiving a very credible 80% turn-out, though warns "“There are many similarities with the system in the UK, but there are also some changes and alterations that need to be made as well."

indeed.

by ipsi Wed Aug 04, 2004 17:51

You might have noticed thousands of plucky brits holding hands around the rocky outcrop measuring 5.8 sq km (2.25 sq miles) at the tip of the Iberian peninsula.

The "Rock". Oh yes the home of the British navy, leaking submarines and fish and chips.
It sort of seems like Portadown in the Sun.


for the record -

Tercentenary Message
A PROUD PAST AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE
From the Chief Minister Peter Caruana

Tomorrow is the focal point of the year long celebration of the Tercentenary of British Sovereignty of Gibraltar. It is thus an important day in our collective journey as a people, not just because we celebrate our history, but because we look forward to a future of respect for our collective rights and aspirations as a people.


Our 300 year history has an important military element, not just because of the part that successive generations of the British military has played in the defence of Gibraltar, but also because of the very close ties that have existed (and continue to exist) between Gibraltar and almost every branch of the British Armed Forces. Indeed, in defence activities lay the foundations upon which we have been able to build our civilian community and economy.
The relationship between Britain and Gibraltar has thus been beneficial to both in manner that we form an important part of each other’s heritage. It is no coincidence that, to this day, the Royal Marines cite just one battle honour on their colours, the single word “Gibraltar”. Nor is it a coincidence that the Royal Engineers were born in Gibraltar. For the Royal Navy, for the army and (more recently) for the Royal Airforce, Gibraltar has been a “home from home” base for centuries, resulting in the building of the famous dockyards and airfield, and miles upon miles of ramparts, bastions and tunnels, all of which now form such an important part of our heritage.
Indeed, throughout history, Gibraltar has played an important part in almost all British military endeavours in the Western hemisphere. For example, it was the only territory in continental Europe that remained in Allied hands throughout World War 2, making possible the relief of Malta, the allied landings in North Africa and many other vital operations. It remains to this day an important, strategic military asset for British defence and other interests.
For our part the relationship with Britain has given us everything that we value – the opportunity to establish a prosperous economy and thus a successful and viable society; our democratic values and freedoms; our system of politics and government; our educational and judicial systems; our legal system and so on. These are the fruits of our relationship with Britain and they are well worth commemorating and celebrating. They form the building blocks of who we are as a people, collectively and individually, and they have shaped our aspirations and determination as a people. Our aspirations and determination as a people have also been forged by the suffering, sacrifices, courage and determination of our previous generations of Gibraltarians who have established Gibraltar as our homeland, and without whose steadfast commitment and resolve we would not have what we enjoy today, nor be what we are today.
And so, during this our Tercentenary, we remember with gratitude our forefathers, not least the war time generation – the evacuees without whose love for Gibraltar and determination to return to their homeland none of what followed would have happened – and the resolute determination of the “closed frontier” generation. Both of these events and experiences were instrumental in reinforcing the sense of identity and unity today of the Gibraltarian people and our resoluteness in the face of adversity.
We have much to celebrate as a people. We are a resilient, close-knit, family orientated, tolerant community. The diversity of our origins over the centuries has made Gibraltar a hugely warm, welcoming and hospitable community, where people of different ethnic origins and religions live side by side in genuine peace and harmony – something which larger countries could learn from us, to their advantage.
It is deeply regrettable that some of our neighbours (but by no means all) appear to resent our celebration of our history. We must not allow ourselves to be thereby distracted from the enjoyment of our celebration of this momentous anniversary for our community and our homeland. No-one can be denied their history nor its implications for their future.
And so, during this our Tercentenary year, we look forward as well into the future. As we celebrate our 300th birthday – which most countries in the world have not yet done – we also renew our collective determination as a people to prevail in the defence of our political rights and aspirations, principally the right to freely and democratically decide our own future. We are not, as some would constantly focus the issue, a sovereignty problem waiting to be resolved. We are a 21st Century, democratic, European people waiting to have our rights respected. Nobody has the right to negotiate or decide our future other than at our request and with our consent.
And so we look to the future with courage and confidence in the knowledge that our cause is just and right.
I hope that we will spend two hugely enjoyable days doing what we do best, celebrating together in friendship, family and community.

by Jim Watt - gibnews.net Sat Nov 06, 2004 09:33

who wrote this rubbish?

"urns. Or "urnos" as the almost 50% spanish ethnic dwellers of the "Rock" call them."

? ? ? ? ?

The population of Gibraltar is not 50% Spanish, indeed very few Spanish people chose to live here and I've never heard the word 'urnos' in my life and I've been attending election counts in Gibraltar since 1980.

Gibraltarians may speak Spanish, indeed most Irish people speak English and many would be as insulted as the Gibraltarians if you assumed that determined their nationality.

Lets get real.

by Jim Watt - gibnews.net Sat Nov 06, 2004 09:42 Gibraltar

"the politicians who have lost their seats have now issued little statements:"

No politicians in the Gibraltar election LOST
their seats. All those who had one, retained it. Some new people acquired seats in the parliament because others had retired.

Some candidates who had never been elected before were not elected again.

Lets get real !

by :-) Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:57

for breakfast this morning in Kent.
Statements will be made later.

Now Mr Blair meets Mr Ahern to discuss
the resulting mandate of the other election celebrated all those months ago, that of Paisley and "hardline" orange-ism (as you know from the Ukraine, orange means _seccesion_) and SF who represent the people who used to have loads of illegal weapons till they got decommissioned who attempted to terrorise the seccesionists into not leaving the Irish republic.

At 14h30 pictures of happy people in northern ireland will be broadcast from all tv stations, and air dropped from specially chartered aircraft.

This pictures shall include old people no longer worrying about waiting lists, happy immigrants learning how to integrate to a society of engrained hatred and mistrust, and children forbidden from wearing the colours green or orange to school ever ever again. There will also be photographic evidence of shopkeepers handling hard foreign currencies like the €, $ and swiss franc.

by neither manicures nor biting. Sat Dec 18, 2004 12:55

Gib, UK and España met to discuss the political fate of the rock "el peñon", which is home to loads of jingoist "britons" who most people think are more than vaguely ridiculous.

The result was a "forum". (We live in the time of fora) [though I like the idea of fora, and I do see lots of my mates ideas get a bash at fora, I rarely can afford the entrance fee and generally join the "anti-fora" team just like that's the sort of players we are, and clean players too, enjoy the game, have a drink after, swap jerseys, go home happy, send your posters abroad sort of style]

Mr Rajoy the leader of the PP, is increasingly rising to the challenges of leading "his tribes" and has spoken of the "humiliation" of spaniards by the presence of the Gib government crew at this meeting.

Mr Zapatero for his part has asked of the PP-
"patience - prudence and sense of state".
He has made it clear that Spain is not going to renounce it's claim to sovreignty on el peñon.

The Gibs for their part are getting on with it, laundering dirty money, mending broken nuclear submarines, frying up chips, sending their boys in the forces christmas cards, they are being particularly nice to the apes, who as everyone knows are God's way of reminding everyone of something important. Nor have they may we say moved on from their position of being one of the "laughing stocks of Europe", coz to be honest they are- aren't they?
in español-
http://www.lavanguardia.es/web/20041218/51172160846.html
in british english-
(C/P from gib chronicle)
PP PLANS LEGAL CHALLENGE TO TRIPARTITE TALKS
* Spain humiliated, says Rajoy
PP President Mariano Rajoy yesterday upped the pressure on the PSOE Government over the formalising of ‘open agenda, tripartite talks’ involving Gibraltar. Following Thursday’s official announcement Sr Rajoy has described the agreement as “humiliating for Spain and for all Spaniards.”


And he announced that the PP intend to examine the agreement with a view to testing its legality arguing that it could put Spain’s juridical standing at risk.
Sr Rajoy told a press conference that the agreement makes Spain the laughing stock of Europe and that the politics of Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos had placed Spain in a delicate global position.
The PP leader said the ingenuous gesture had been ceded “in exchange for nothing.”
Apart from calling for an urgent appearance in the parliament by the Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero the PP said that Sr Moratinos was taking “crazy decisions” and Sr Zapatero “was not even appraised of them”.
“Zapatero’s position in this is as shocking if he gave it the OK as if he did not know about it. It would never have happened to Gonzalez,” said Rajoy. He went on to say that Gibraltar was being given the same status as Spain and Britain adding that this was a contravention of the Treaty of Utrecht and of the UN position.
Meanwhile PSOE deputy leader Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega told reporters that Spain will never give up its sovereignty claim over Gibraltar but viewed as positive the creation of a tripartite forum that can look at all the issues that concern Gibraltar. “Time will put things in their place.”

*****************
Meanwhile a A US Congressional Delegation, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Speaker J Dennis Hastert visited Gibraltar yesterday. The visit is part of a fact-finding tour of US facilities and bases in Europe which provide military support to US forces and the purpose of their visit here was to acquaint themselves with the military facilities available in Gibraltar.
*******************
(and not to feed the barbary apes.)
********************
What can I say? Well, I don't have a lot of grá for the Gibs, and wouldn't recommend anyone visit them or open up cultural ties or anything, or show them how to make a good poster, & indeed I have got mightily pissed off on several occassions when I was slipped one of their pound coins in change, which though at first glance appear exactly like a stg pound coin you'd find in the UK or up north, weigh differently and as a consequence the cigarette machines don't accept them.

****************(other previous comments updating) ****************

the leader of the Orange Global revolution was poisoned with an ingredient of Agent Orange, an illegal chemical weapon popularised by the Athens Georgia group REM who sang about it's rumoured use on 3,000,000 citizens of Vietnam during a protracted struggle which helped them embrace democracy in the 1920s. (exact date not available when going to press).

by nailbiting - isn't it? Mon Jan 10, 2005 13:13

The Ministry of War, London has confirmed that the body of David White, the officer in charge of military installations & facilities in el peñon, was found without life in the swimming pool of his house this last weekend. The OiC had borne responsibility for allowing various marine vessels in unsound condition travel through international waters against the clear wishes of the people of Morocco, Spain and Portugal who expressed their mandate through trans-national protest movements and non Governmental Organisations.

In an unusually jesuitical statement, the MOD have confirmed natural causes were not an issue and have ruled out foul play.

His obituary may appear soon in the quality broadsheets.

Meanwhile, in an update of the other election celebrated that day, (the one which elected the Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr. Paisley to the office of First Minister of the Northern Ireland) is yet to see the democratic will of the peoples of the north of Ireland and Northern Ireland implemented, and the Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr. Paisley is thought to be calling for the re-implementation of direct rule (from London) [not Dublin]. But both Messrs Blair and Ahern have confirmed that despite the recent shenigans the door is not yet closed on progress to full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

**********other comment update*********
the Athens Georgia group REM will start
their European tour 2005 soon in the Mediterranean community city of Barcelona.

"We are young despite the years
We are concern
We are hope despite the times"

by mayday mayday Fri Feb 04, 2005 14:17

has docked in Gibraltar
She arrived in el Peñon
last night and will stay for several days.

HMG UK has said the submarine has docked for a water cooling fault in the electrical system to be repaired and there was not other option but to dock Sceptre at the peninsula.

HMG España has protested the presence of a nuclear submarine at el peñon, and the fleet of Spain has supervised the route from the surface into her temporary dock as they will supervise her requested hasty departure and return to active duty out there under the waves of the open oceanic brine wherever she goes...

by - Sat Feb 05, 2005 15:44

Peter Caruana Chief Minister of Gibraltar
has complained bitterly to anyone who listens to him
that he and his government were sidelined over the HMS Sceptre docking.
Apparantly the route to dock was supervised by the Spanish "armada" (navy) amidst official diplomatic protest, and Madrid was given a complete inform dossier on why HMS Sceptre has docked and amid much clucking has assured that the submarine will leave on Feb. 9
Mr Caruana, has said that his community "los peñonitos" are happy to cook fish n chips, fix nuke subs, and launder dirty money, but it really pisses them off when both governments of Madrid and London go over their heads.

by Jim Watt - diss Sat May 20, 2006 21:03

It would really be nice to see something factual about Gibraltar instead of repeated nonsense about 'money laundering' and 'fish and chips'

The Spanish still winge on about 'reclaiming' the rock, which they lost three hundred years ago. In order to do that they block out phones and want to con money out of the British Government for full pensions for the 'workers' who could not work here because Franco closed the frontier and who paid 3/6d in contributions.

by prodolic Sun May 21, 2006 11:38

that Bibraltar is British and will remain so for the forseeable future, even if it loses its dependency status it would push for an EU seat so Madrid have only two hopes of getting GIB back, no hope and bob hope.