GOVERNOR'S STAUNCH POSITION IN DEFENCE OF GIBRALTAR
The report prepared for Government will shortly be
published, alongside draft regulations dealing with the management of the
marine environment.
The evidence given by Dr Tydeman reflects the information available to him as a result of the work he has done for the HM Government of Gibraltar. The report he prepared for Govt will shortly be published, alongside draft regulations dealing with the management of the marine environment.
HM Government of Gibraltar does not take any issue with the scientific information given by Dr Tydeman. The Govt statement adds that the opinion of Dr Tydeman as to the role of His Excellency the Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, and the manner in which Sir Adrian has acted in relation to the issue of illegal fishing in Gibraltar waters and incursions by Spanish state vessels, however, is incorrect. The Governor has been as consistently clear and unequivocal in his work behind the scenes as he has been in public about the unacceptable nature of the incursions by Spanish state vessels. HM Government of Gibraltar feels that Gibraltar has been fully supported by its Governor and that his staunch position in defence of Gibraltar must be recognised.
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THE CHIEF MINISTER DEFENDS GOVERNOR’S ROLE AFTER COMMONS
FISHING ROW CRITICISM
The Gibraltar Government has robustly defended the Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, after he was criticised publicly for his response to Spanish incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters.
In a report published last November, the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum said the Governor had switched from looking after Gibraltar’s interests to not upsetting the Spain.
The criticism was all the more damning because the chairman of the UKOTCF, Dr Chris Tydeman, is the scientist appointed by the Gibraltar Government to write a report into the state of fisheries in Gibraltar waters.
But the Gibraltar Government moved to distance itself from the comments and said such criticism of the Governor was “incorrect.”
“The Governor has been as consistently clear and unequivocal in his work behind the scenes as he has been in public about the unacceptable nature of the incursions by Spanish state vessels,” the Gibraltar Government said in a statement.
“HM Government of Gibraltar feels that Gibraltar has been fully supported by its Governor and that his staunch position in defence of Gibraltar must be recognised.”
The Gibraltar Government was reacting to an article in the Chronicle on Saturday that reported on the UKOTCF report and on Dr Tydeman’s oral evidence last week to the Environmental Audit Committee.
Although he did not single out the Governor in that oral submission, Dr Tydeman claimed
the British Government was failing to enforce Gibraltar’s marine nature laws for fear of upsetting Spain.
SCIENCE
Although the Gibraltar Government disagreed with comments relating to the Governor, it “…does not take any issue with the scientific information given by Dr Tydeman.”
The Gibraltar Government said the evidence given by Dr Tydeman reflected the information available to him as a result of the work he had done for the Government of Gibraltar.
But a spokesman told the Chronicle that the Gibraltar Government was not aware that Dr Tydeman was due to give oral evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee last week or of what he intended to say.
“Dr Tydeman gave evidence in his capacity as Chairman of the UKOTCF and not in respect of any of the instructions given to him by HMGoG,” the spokesman said.
He added: “HMGoG was not aware of the content of the UKOTCF report of last November and had no role whatsoever in influencing its content in respect of the fisheries situation in Gibraltar.”
The report on fishing that he prepared for Government will shortly be published, alongside draft regulations dealing with the management of the marine environment.
CONVENT POSITION
The Convent itself also issued a statement at the weekend, in a rare step that indicated the Governor’s deep unease at the statements made by Dr Tydeman and the UKOTCF, and reported by the Chronicle on Saturday.
The Convent said neither the scientist nor the UKOTCF has accurately reflected either the Governor’s Constitutional role or his public position on sovereignty issues.
The statement recalled the UK Government’s position on the issue of Gibraltar waters as set out by Foreign Secretary William Hague in a statement to the House of Commons last December.
Mr Hague made clear that the UK did not recognise any Spanish nature site designated within the Gibraltar waters and that this had been made clear to Madrid.
Mr Hague further reaffirmed that the UK was confident of its sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and would take a grave view of any attempts by Spain to exert any authority or control within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters as part of implementation of a nature management plan or for any other reason.
“The Governor has at every opportunity ensured that the interests of Gibraltar have been properly represented to the UK and has repeatedly made clear that Gibraltar welcomes the UK’s unequivocal position on British sovereignty of Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters,” the Convent statement added.
The Gibraltar Government has robustly defended the Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, after he was criticised publicly for his response to Spanish incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters.
In a report published last November, the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum said the Governor had switched from looking after Gibraltar’s interests to not upsetting the Spain.
The criticism was all the more damning because the chairman of the UKOTCF, Dr Chris Tydeman, is the scientist appointed by the Gibraltar Government to write a report into the state of fisheries in Gibraltar waters.
But the Gibraltar Government moved to distance itself from the comments and said such criticism of the Governor was “incorrect.”
“The Governor has been as consistently clear and unequivocal in his work behind the scenes as he has been in public about the unacceptable nature of the incursions by Spanish state vessels,” the Gibraltar Government said in a statement.
“HM Government of Gibraltar feels that Gibraltar has been fully supported by its Governor and that his staunch position in defence of Gibraltar must be recognised.”
The Gibraltar Government was reacting to an article in the Chronicle on Saturday that reported on the UKOTCF report and on Dr Tydeman’s oral evidence last week to the Environmental Audit Committee.
Although he did not single out the Governor in that oral submission, Dr Tydeman claimed
the British Government was failing to enforce Gibraltar’s marine nature laws for fear of upsetting Spain.
SCIENCE
Although the Gibraltar Government disagreed with comments relating to the Governor, it “…does not take any issue with the scientific information given by Dr Tydeman.”
The Gibraltar Government said the evidence given by Dr Tydeman reflected the information available to him as a result of the work he had done for the Government of Gibraltar.
But a spokesman told the Chronicle that the Gibraltar Government was not aware that Dr Tydeman was due to give oral evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee last week or of what he intended to say.
“Dr Tydeman gave evidence in his capacity as Chairman of the UKOTCF and not in respect of any of the instructions given to him by HMGoG,” the spokesman said.
He added: “HMGoG was not aware of the content of the UKOTCF report of last November and had no role whatsoever in influencing its content in respect of the fisheries situation in Gibraltar.”
The report on fishing that he prepared for Government will shortly be published, alongside draft regulations dealing with the management of the marine environment.
CONVENT POSITION
The Convent itself also issued a statement at the weekend, in a rare step that indicated the Governor’s deep unease at the statements made by Dr Tydeman and the UKOTCF, and reported by the Chronicle on Saturday.
The Convent said neither the scientist nor the UKOTCF has accurately reflected either the Governor’s Constitutional role or his public position on sovereignty issues.
The statement recalled the UK Government’s position on the issue of Gibraltar waters as set out by Foreign Secretary William Hague in a statement to the House of Commons last December.
Mr Hague made clear that the UK did not recognise any Spanish nature site designated within the Gibraltar waters and that this had been made clear to Madrid.
Mr Hague further reaffirmed that the UK was confident of its sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and would take a grave view of any attempts by Spain to exert any authority or control within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters as part of implementation of a nature management plan or for any other reason.
“The Governor has at every opportunity ensured that the interests of Gibraltar have been properly represented to the UK and has repeatedly made clear that Gibraltar welcomes the UK’s unequivocal position on British sovereignty of Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters,” the Convent statement added.
PDP EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER LACK OF ROYAL NAVY SUPPORT FOR OUR
POLICE
PDP POINTS FINGER AT BRITISH GOVT FOR NON INTERFERENCE IN BGTW ISSUE
PDP POINTS FINGER AT BRITISH GOVT FOR NON INTERFERENCE IN BGTW ISSUE
The PDP are concerned at the clear suggestion made by environmental expert Dr Tydeman to the British Parliamentary Committee last week that the Royal Navy appear unwilling to answer requests by our Commissioner of Police to patrol British Gibraltar Territorial Waters for fear of upsetting the Spanish Government.
The Party point out that Dr Tydeman is the environmental expert who is the author of the report the Government have commissioned on Fishing and he has been working on his report since June last year and therefore is in possession of all the relevant facts. It is disturbing to hear that Dr Tydeman has openly contradicted the Minister for Europe Mr David Lidington’s assertion that the Royal Navy are called in to assist the RGP and do so, suggesting in fact that this has only happened on a couple of occasions.
What should be clear to all in Gibraltar is that the British Government is miserably failing to carry out its constitutional role to defend our waters and thereby allow our RGP to enforce our laws by carrying out arrests. It should be a source of embarrassment to the British Government that our Commissioner of Police should feel unsupported in his role if the evidence given by Mr Tydeman to a parliamentary committee last Wednesday is correct. Dr Tydeman explained that when the issue was raised by him with the Commissioner the latter asked the question, “why should I send my guys out in white shorts, with not even truncheons, against Guardia Civil boats with automatic weapons who are helping Spanish boats break the law, and the Navy is not called in”.
Monday’s statement from the Convent dismissing Dr Tydeman’s evidence and suggesting it is inaccurate in its interpretations of the Governor’s role cannot alter the simple fact that our Commissioner of Police is not being given adequate support by the Royal Navy. No one doubts the efforts and commitment of Sir Adrian John’s efforts at communicating the Gibraltar position. Sir Adrian and his family have been wonderful at supporting Gibraltar and when they leave in a few months’ time they will be sorely missed. The Government are right to recognise the great efforts of Sir Adrian Johns in defending Gibraltar on this issue and others and the PDP join them in echoing that general sentiment. However this is not personal to the Governor but rather his Office a distinct point the Government have overlooked. It is entirely wrong for any Governor not to be given the tools he needs to carry out his constitutional obligations and equally it is2unfair to put the Commissioner of Police in this invidious position. Moreover it was the British Government Dr Tydeman was criticising not the Governor.
The PDP has repeatedly criticised the GSLP/Liberal Government handling of this dispute right from the outset but now we are where we are, we must have complete support from the British Government to enable us assert our sovereignty jurisdiction and control. Furthermore as this expert to both the British Parliament and Gibraltar Governments has pointed out; this requires a Royal Navy that supports our own police force whenever required. The PDP are of the view that we cannot afford the luxury of allowing the British Government to pick and choose their responsibilities depending on Spanish sensitivities whether on land or at sea.
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As everyone plays the pass the parcel or buck game - we the people of Gibraltar are suffering the lack of action by all concerned.
Gibraltar has to ensure the waters are protected and the UK Government has an obligation to the protection of our waters!
Let us not fall into the trap of trying to blame our Governor, etc The blame is on UK GOVERNMENT as it is their responsiblity!
Yes all authorities - the navy, the police etc have a part to play but until UK Government stands up and allows these authorities to do their job they cannot do it!
WAKE UP BRITAIN! WAKE UP WILLIAM HAGUE, DAVID CAMERON, DAVID LIDDINGTON!
You have an obligation to defend our waters!
Anne-Marie Struggles
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