Is former Jimena Mayor a close advisor to Fabian Picardo?

José Carracao
(Photo: europasur.es)

GIBRALTAR According to El Confidencial Digital (EDC), Former Jimena Mayor José Carracao has admitted that he is advising his fellow Socialist Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, and has been  for some time. Still according to  EDC, among Carracao's functions is advice about, and as an intermediary with, businesses in Andalucía and the political structure of Melilla and Ceuta, Carracao's home province (and where his son heads the PSOE party). However, a source very close to Picardo told us last night that this is not so, that there is no official appointment, although Carracao and the Chief Minister 'talk often'.>>>

Taxman plans action against cigarette smuggling - in Britain

Very expensive smugglers' boat, beached

BRITAIN / GIBRALTAR / SPAIN Yes, there is definitely a Spanish angle to all the hullabaloo raised by David Cameron when he spoke out loud recently about the damage to the UK's economy brought about by cigarette smuggling. Some of the headlines of the last couple of weeks: How cigarette smuggling fuels Africa's Islamist violence (Guardian); IRA's cigarette-smuggling millionaires: Former terrorists flooding the UK with potentially lethal fakes, cheating taxpayers of billions (MailOnline); Taxman's plan to curb tobacco smuggling in question after stinging report (Telegraph) Taxman’s plan to stop tobacco smuggling goes up in smoke (The Times) Third of cigarettes are illicit as smuggling is new ‘crime of choice’ (London Evening Standard). Not entirely dissimilar headlines have been around the Campo de Gibraltar area for years. More so with the unemployment crisis - permanent in La Línea and worse now. The fact is>>>

88.5% of lost jobs were Spanish workers'

Monument to Spanish frontier
workers, La Línea
(Photo: lalineadigital.es)

Picardo government often denied that stopped projects mainly impacted Spanish workers

GIBRALTAR Statistics issued by Government reveal that of the  total 998 jobs lost in the construction industry on the Rock between September 2011 and September 2012, 884 were held by Spanish nationals. Last year, there were 1,566 full time Spanish workers in the building trade, out of a total registered workers of 3,335. Of these, 1,121 were British. Twelve months later, the construction business had lost 998, for a total of 2,337 employed. While 884 Spaniards lost their jobs in that year, the number of British construction workers had risen by six to 1,127.  As local Spanish media says, Fabian Picardo's government has denied on several occasions that projects put on hold since the beginning of his mandate would mainly impact Spanish frontier workers.

Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's new Chief Minister

GIBRALTAR (Agencies) The largest voter turnout since 1980, the result of a heated campaign, finally saw Fabian Picardo, of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party, elected with over 50 % of the vote. The results puts an end to 16 years of Peter Caruana (Gibraltar Social Democrats, or GSD) in Government. Caruana has just congratulated Picardo, who appreciated "the example of democracy" given by Gibraltar and thanked the electorate for participating. He also thanked Gibraltarians for their support over the years, adding that "we make our own decisions", a reminder of the many advances in that direction made during his mandates. The former Chief Minister also told the new one that he is available to work for Gibraltar.

'Farewell to Pepe' says David Eade

On David Eade's Gibraltar Viewpoint blog, he bids good-bye to a man who has been part of local political life for some thirty years. Although David starts his article, "The Spanish General Election will soon be upon us (November 20) and one familiar name will be missing from the hustings for the Senate in Cádiz province. José Carracao, Pepe to his many friends both side of the border, has decided he will not be running to retain his seat for the sixth time for PSOE. As the socialists seem set for a drubbing it may be a wise move but his political career does stretch back over three decades and he is now of retirement age – perhaps you could call him the Joe Bossano of PSOE." - we were saying that although the article starts like that, David is unable to finish it off without promoting his own fave candidate in the Gibraltar election, Fabian Picardo. (See the whole article here.)

Opposition leader attacked at Marina Bay

Marina Bay, Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR (Agencies) Opposition Leader Fabian Picardo was assaulted on Friday night near Marina Bay, where he and a friend were walking through the marina car park when they were attacked by a man.  They were punched and kicked during the unprovoked assault. The incident, which is believed to be unconnected to his politics, ended when Mr Picardo managed to call the police and the attacker ran off. Both victims were taken to hospital in an ambulance and received medical attention. Mr Picardo sustained cuts and bruises to his face, while his friend suffered minor injuries to his head and leg. Police are investigating the assault.

Picardo in London meetings after trip to UN in New York

(Photo: vox.gi)

GIBRALTAR (Panorama) On his way back to Gibraltar from attending the UN in New York, the Leader of the Opposition, Fabian Picardo MP (photo), spent Tuesday afternoon at the House of Commons in London in a series of top level talks. The first meeting was with Wayne David MP, the Shadow Minister for Europe. Mr David had sent Mr Picardo his congratulations when he was elected GSLP leader and this was a first opportunity to meet and discuss Gibraltar matters, in particular the issue of designation of Gibraltar waters by Spain and the EU Court case, as well as the regular incursions by official Spanish vessels. They agreed to keep in regular contact in relation to matters affecting Gibraltar.>