Gibraltar Today

The Chief Minister answered questions from the public on Direct Democracy.

Fabian Picardo joined Jonathan Scott in the Radio Gibraltar studio and answered questions on housing, the Principle Auditor's Report, the Treaty and the Europa Pool.

There is some strong language towards the end of this episode.

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Today’s episode of Gibraltar Today was recorded live from Europa Pool as part of our At the Beach series.

Europa Pool has been a major talking point lately with acts of vandalism the forcing the closure of the pool to ensure that the area is cleaned up, sanitised and safe for bathers. We spoke to Reagan Lima of the GSLA; he expressed his disappointment at these incidents and has confirmed that CCTV is being installed.

Kat Howes uses the pool pretty much every day of the week. She described it as a very peaceful place, and is well equipped for the disabled. However she did have some ideas of how to improve the space, such as a toddler pool.

During his time serving on the HMS Calpe, Malcolm Beanland was able to access Europa Pool, then known as Nuffield Pool, when it was run by the MOD. He remembers using the pool to teach his children how to swim.

Even though the pool was renamed Europa Pool some years back, even young people like Kian Borge calls it the Naafi pool. He enjoys coming here with his friends, and is happy to hear that CCTV is being installed so he can continue enjoying his summer there without interruption.

Debbie Borastero prefers coming to Europa Pool over the beach, and enjoys it so much that she queues outside before the pool is even open to secure a spot by the pool. She praised the facilities on offer there.

Theo Nunez regularly plays beach volleyball nearby and even has a dip in the pool after matches. He shared his appreciation for how beautiful the setting is. The beach volleyball community is relatively small, but Theo hopes that they will expand in the future.

Charles Fa is a regular at Europa Pool, echoed the good facilities there. However, there are some areas that are concerning to him, such as kids playing in the toilets and a lot of wasted space.

And Annabella Ferrary feels that the pool needs a full-time manager. She explained that there have been instances of verbal abuse and people not abiding by the rules. Despite the lifeguards and pool attendants trying to intervene, she feels that they shouldn’t have to be dealing with these problems.

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Have you been stuck in traffic in town recently? Government has acknowledged the current disruption, saying it’s unfortunate but unavoidable. Our reporter Kevin Ruiz has been speaking to the Transport Ministry’s Stuart Harrison. 

During the summer fire risks increase for a number of reasons: the dry conditions, increased electrical usage - especially to cool us down - and... BBQs. High temperatures and dry vegetation create ideal conditions for wildfires, which is a threat for much of Spain and Portugal, and also the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. We spoke to Liam Byrne - the GFRS's Station Officer for Fire Safety.

Christina Giuffre has written a Children's book, called: ‘Dear Little One: You’re Perfect, As You Are’. It’s illustrated by Otávio Valões who brings the adventures of Sunny and Sheepito beautifully to life. She's officially launching in Gibraltar in September and in Australia later in the year. We caught up with Christina in the studio.

And it'll be island vibes only at El Quari this Thursday evening. Camp Bay will host Reggae Jam! It’s the last event of the Summer Nights series, which included the SLOP at Eastern Beach and the 90's Boogie at Casemates. Jonathan Collado of Fresh Pro AVL and The Bandoleros told us what we can expect on Thursday.

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The Europa Pool will remain closed today following a serious act of vandalism discovered early this morning. Staff say they found faeces deliberately smeared across the toilet walls, with further contamination in the pool and surrounding areas. Although no structural damage was caused, the extent of the mess requires full sanitisation and three filtration cycles before reopening.

An academic paper by a Gibraltar lawyer and a Spanish lawyer focuses on the 2019 Gibraltar-Spain Tax Treaty. It’s a collaboration between Grahame Jackson of the law firm Hassans and Manuel Benitez Perez of the University of Cadiz. With a UK-EU future relationship treaty for Gibraltar being written up as a legal text at the moment, the paper suggests we need to have a conversation about how a treaty can be interpreted differently in Gibraltar and in Spain. Grahame Jackson told us more.

Today, marks the 321st anniversary of the capture of Gibraltar by Anglo-Dutch marines commanded by Admiral Rooke on 4 August 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession. This pivotal event forged an enduring bond between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom and marked the beginning of a distinct Gibraltarian identity, shaped by centuries of immigration and cultural blending. Who better to discuss this with, than local historian Richard Garcia?

We spoke to Louis Parral about the latest in local sports including the incredible achievement for Calpe rower Sophie Lines who won gold with team GB at the Coup de La Jeunesse in Linz Austria. He also looked ahead to the big Netball Youth Cup that’s just around the corner.

And, need school uniforms for the new term? Later this month, local charity 'Generous Hearts' will host a couple of uniform giveaway evenings! its popularity testament to the struggles of some parents in Gibraltar. Daphne McGrail-Trico and Kelly Trico of the charity spoke to us in the studio.

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GBC's outgoing CEO has highlighted the importance of proper funding for the Public Service Broadcaster. In an opinion piece, James Neish says the call for de-funding, when there's something people don't like, is extremely dangerous. He quotes the Public Media Alliance which emphasises that public service media is crucial for a functioning democracy. James Neish leaves GBC today as his three year contract comes to an end.

We talk about an incredible story from Wednesday evening when a local Abdul jumped into the rough sea at La Caleta to save tourists who were being dragged out. Abdul's girlfriend Jee-han explained exactly what happened and the terror she felt and she couldn't see any of them and feared the worst - then Abdul came out of the water having helped 2 of them, with a 3rd making his own way out.

Shared Reading sessions have been introduced for patients at Ocean Views, St Bernard's Hospital, Cancer Relief and Clubhouse. The purpose of these sessions is to support mental health an well being in our community. Medical librarian Shirley Sardeña has been delivering these sessions, and explained to us what shared reading entails.

Our sports reporter Jose Mari Ruiz filled us in on the latest in local sports including the results of the Conference League qualifiers, the start of the European Cricket Series, and an exciting opportunity for Sophie Lines as she becomes Gibraltar’s first ever woman to represent team Great Britain.

And, the Global Dance Open in Birmingham featured 2,700 dancers from 37 nations. Bringing home a hoard of medals are Danza Academy, with success in solos, group pieces, duos, and a variety of dance styles throughout the competition. Anne Marie Gomez is no doubt very proud of the Academy members, from the minis to the older dancers and choreographers. We spoke to Anna and some of the dancers, 6 year old Layre Bolaños and Sofia Duarte Costa who are both 6 years old, and 9 year old Olivia McKinnon.

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The Government has dismissed claims by the GSD linking recent elective surgery cancellations at St Bernard’s Hospital to wider systemic issues, saying the disruption was due to an isolated staffing problem. The Health Minister has apologised to affected patients saying this was an isolated and highly unusual incident. Gemma Arias Vasquez has been speaking to our reporter Iain Triay Clarence.

Politics, history, monarchy, crime, sports, music and memoirs are just some of the genres that will feature in the 2025 Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival. Gibraltar Cultural Services has confirmed a further eight authors, including another headliner: Conservative MP and former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, Sir Jeremy Hunt! The festival is the brainchild of Chief Culture Officer Seamus Byrne.

Are you considering a step towards a new career? The Ministry of Employment and the Gibraltar Insurance Institute are hoping to help people who want to enter work in insurance. It’s a programme that has run for the past four years. This is year five. It is directed at young people and giving them skills and helping them to be job ready. We spoke to the President of the Gibraltar Insurance Institute, Nicholas Pecino.

A lovely moment last week for Francis Avellano who was formally recognised for his dedicated service and outstanding contributions as a member of the Assisted Travel Team at Gibraltar International Airport. He’s been described by airport manager Terrence Lopez as someone who is “clearly a natural at what he does, has a permanent smile on his face, and is always eager to help." We invited Francis and Terrence to the studio, alongside Annie Risso of Special Olympics Gibraltar.

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Today’s episode of Gibraltar Today was recorded live from Camp Bay, known as the Quarri, as part of our “At the Beach” series.

Beach Supervisor Lee Coombes spoke to us about the recent incidents of vandalism and cleanliness of the pools. Despite the frustration that these matters can cause, he explained the protocols that are in place to keep the pools safe for bathers.

We spoke to two Beach Head Lifeguards James Rovegno and Sasha Gravette. They told us what it’s like training and working throughout the summer, and how being a lifeguard has helped become more connected to the weather.

Paul Tunbridge has been a regular for over 25 years, but has been coming to the Quarri well before that. Despite the wind picking up at times, he agreed with the term “Quarribean”, and spoke about how it’s a slice of paradise compared to the levante in town.

Camp Bay is a popular spot for divers and has an abundance of marine life. We spoke to Bianca Daniell: she’s part of the Gibraltar Sub Aqua Club, which was established over 50 years ago.

Maruchi Golt has been coming to the Quarri since 1950 and shared some of her memories, including how even accessing the bay was completely different! She remembers going down a long flight of stairs starting from around Rosia Dale, as the small tunnels just off Parson’s Lodge didn’t exist yet!

And, Maryam Senouni was on the programme a couple of weeks back to discuss the facilities available in local beaches for her daughter with disabilities. She came back to explain how the chairs available for her daughter are not suitable for her needs.

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Louis Baldachino was diagnosed with stage four Pancreatic cancer in 2015. He was told he had a maximum of six months to live. 10 years later, against the odds, Louis is well and has spent much of his time advocating for regular health checks. We invited Louis to the studio to congratulate him on such a huge milestone.

Just over a month to go until a live music festival in aid of Cancer Relief! On Saturday 31st of August, the Arena in Ocean Village is the place to be. We spoke to Danny Peach who's organised the event, alongside Beth Sosa and Bianca Yeo of Cancer Relief.

How well is the LGBTQ+ community represented in GIbraltar's schools? Paul Perez is heading the research - exploring inclusion, identity and experience in secondary education is the main purpose of the study. Paul told us more about the survey and emphasised that everyone's perspective is invaluable - LGBTQ+ or not.

And, the rise in use of electric vehicles and devices using lithium-ion batteries has a direct impact on safety. These batteries store a lot of energy in a small space, which can sometimes lead to overheating and release of flammable and toxic gases. Leading Firefighters from the Airport Fire & Rescue Service, Mitch Mifsud and Lee Muscat, have recently completed specialist training in the UK, focused on the safe and effective management of lithium battery incidents across various environments.

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The Cardboard Boat Race returns very soon: on Saturday 16th August. It's become one of the liveliest and exciting charity events of the year - here to tell us what we have to look forward to is Darren Olivero of the organising committee, alongside William Bowman and Amy Pretty.

A collaboration between Theatre Makers and Cultural Services will offer musical theatre workshops, delivered by not just anyone, but professional performer Emma Caffrey! She has a wealth of musical experience, including "Babette" in Beauty and the Beast , "Anytime Annie" in 42nd Street and "Bubbles" in Funny Girl. Erica McGrail from Theatre Makers told us what the workshops will entail.

In sports Jose Mari Ruiz brought us up to speed as  both Lincoln Red Imps and St Josephs gear up for their away legs of the Champions League qualifiers. Jose also told us told us how the Gibraltar basketball squad got on at the FIBA Euro Basketball Competitions, and how Zamara Espinosa will be officiating the Euro Hockey Senior Championship in Turkey.

World Drowning Prevention Day is a reminder to all of us about the precautions we can take for ourselves, our families and friends in order to be able to continue enjoying our swims. Thankfully, this is not a big issue in Gibraltar – but it is something to keep aware of. We do generally have a few instances each summer where lifeguards need to get involved, usually involving youngsters or tourists. So whether for others or ourselves, it’s important to be aware of the basics. As Norbert Sene of the Royal Lifesaving Society explained,

And, Edd Valatka is becoming a very familiar face on the Rock; he’s now 7 months into his year-long initiative, taking on different challenges every month as he generates awareness and donations for different causes. From 50km runs around the Rock, to biking to Cordoba and back; the challenges seem to be getting more and more creative. This month, he’s taken on an insane fitness challenge in the name of homelessness awareness.

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Action for Housing says it has serious concerns following the Principal Auditor’s report and its findings that the Chief Minister was personally involved in the allocation of government housing. For his part, Fabian Picardo has said he can't go into the details of the case but that they are harrowing, adding he believed those on the housing list would have agreed with the need to intervene. Henry Pinna from Action For Housing was in the studio.

You may recall we recently spoke to HM Customs Gibraltar about a new software, a new system for clearing goods at the frontier. It's a new automated system for customs data - ASYCUDA. Senior Customs Officer Nigel Lia told Gibraltar Today the system is already up and running, with scope for amendments if required as and when the UK-EU Treaty is ratified. But it's experienced problems, as our reporter Jonathan Sacramento told us.

Our sports reporter Jose Mari Ruiz was at the second of this week’s Conference League qualifiers yesterday evening, which saw St Joseph's lose to Republic of Ireland's Shamrock Rovers 4-0 at the Europa Sports Complex. He also brought us up to speed with what’s happening in local basketball.

Less than two months to go until the start of the Netball Youth World Cup... 57 days, to be precise. It's the pinnacle of netball competition for emerging players under the age of 21... so how is Gibraltar preparing to host such a major event? We spoke to Moira Gomez and Geraldine Rodriguez of the management team.

And, the Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 and quickly became a global phenomenon. Now, celebrating 50 years of the Rubik's Cube, we look ahead to the 2025 Gibraltar Open this weekend! It brings together the Spanish and UK Rubik's cube communities. Father and son, Javi and Javi Garcia Mata joined us.

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