3 x 2 = ?
Ken
The Spanish pensions are in an advanced stage of being sorted. The Gib
pensions ARE sorted.
The 350 IDD code issue is sorted wef 10th Feb
The aviation issues are MOSTLY sorted. There are flights to Gib from Spain
(and we await commercial interest in flights to/from Gib from other than UK
and Spain). The terminal issues are sorted in as much as they can be, with
the project not being finalised for some years yet given the amount of new
building and road re-routing that has to occur. Here there have been
problems regarding associated issues - the non-clearance of the "military
zone" over Algeciras and the non-implementation of the Ceuta helicopter
flights. One trusts good sense will prevail and these will be sorted before
too long.
So, that was Tripartite One, before we lose momentum how about Tripartite
Two? What issues need to be solved here?
I would suggest the lifiting of all maritime restrictions. There once was a
Gib - Algeciras ferry. Why a ferry when you can go by road? Well the roads
are congested enough. Day trippers could go by ferry for a day out in either
direction without using their cars. A ferry, if operating at suitable times,
can open up employment opportunities for many in Algeciras to come to work
in Gib - I recall the many workers who used this means many years ago to
commute daily from Algeciras, and a bigger + faster + better vessel today
than was then would make this easier still. Cruise passengers arriving in
Gib could if they wished spend their time ashore in Algeciras, and vice
versa. A ferry could better enable those from Algeciras to use Gib airport -
with a little bit of planing and foresight it is not outwith the wit of man
to provide an express coach link between ferry port and airport, esp. given
the short distance between the two. Integrated transport links, now there's
a project ripe for EU investment, and no-one knows better than Sp how to get
their hands on someone else's money!
How about the lifting of all sporting restrictions? Why should someone born
in Gib, if good enough at whatever the sport, be denied cometing at
international level just because of the place of birth and because Spain
says so?
How about the lifting of the ban on cars hired in Gib from being taken into
Spain? Anti-competitive surely! Has the EU nothing to say on this? Do we
have to go to court AGAIN?
Once there - and it should not exercise the mind unduly - how about dropping
restrictions on dog show judges travelling?
If this seems all very one-sided, just ask yourself - what restrictions has
Gib ever imposed on Spain, and how might these be lifted?
K
Lynx
"Ken" <k...@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:empe4...@news3.newsguy.com...
> We've had the first round of tripartite talks come to their conclusion.
>
> The Spanish pensions are in an advanced stage of being sorted. The Gib
> pensions ARE sorted.
Goos way of running an economy. Wait till half the old folks are dead before
you sort out their pension. A round of applause, please!
Couldn't help myself.
Soto Grande's looking good.
Ken
"Lynx" <M...@Home.com> wrote in message
news:uVYjh.13305$HU....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
The Sp pension debacle was always an issue between the UK and Spain, as
messed up right and proper by the EU. Gib was a bystander, and managed to
sort out ITS pensioners while Spain did nothing about theirs.
At least it's over now, rather late for many I agree.
K
Lynx
There was no inference to Gibraltarians in my posting. All's well that ends
well.
Jim Watt
>Goos way of running an economy. Wait till half the old folks are dead before
>you sort out their pension.
Considering the small amount of contributions made, to the
extent that they were repaid in full with the first months
pension, the former Spanish workers in Gibraltar got a good
deal.
As their Government closed the frontier and denied them their
previous employment, it is that Government that should have
taken responsibility.
Also since then one assumes they were either employed in Spain
paying social insurance -or- unemployed and eligible for a credit
so they should have been getting something from the Spanish state.
But it seems the poor old British taxpayer has had to pay for
something that was not their problem.
Howe? Why !
--
Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com
Lynx
"Jim Watt" <jim...@aol.no_way> wrote in message
news:91u1p2lbrq162arno...@4ax.com...
I wasn't referring to the Spanish workers' pensions. I was referring to
Gibbos' pensions. Is Gibbos' pensions indexed?
True, the poor British taxpayer ends up paying for the screw-ups of the
British Gov they elected. The poor British taxpayer can also go for a walk
around the globe riding on the back of an excessively overvalued pound note
which is not worth a cracker back home.
Ken
"Lynx" <M...@Home.com> wrote in message
The issue is complex.
When the border reopened mid 80s, many Sp workers came across to collect
their pensions. They found them kept warm for them. The GoG had maintained
records and kept their funds secure, according to contributions made. This
they maintained was no good enough and eventually the EU ruled that as the
pensioners had been involuntarily withdrawn from their work, they should
receive pensions AS IF they had made ful contributions. Furthermore, despite
it was Sp govt which had prevented these Sp folk from working they deemed it
was their employer that was liable to pay their pensions IN FULL.
Fair enough said Gib - they were employed in HM Dockyard, so HMG can foot
the bill. HMG which initially backed the Sp pensioners' cause (when they did
not have to pay) did a volte face when they DID have to pay, and here ensued
the disagreement which has only now been resolved.
In order to insulate Gib's finances, pensions in Gib were frozen at 1987
levels. Instead of paying pensions from then on, a Community Care Payment
was set up whereby all those who had retired, had worked in Gib AND WERE
RESIDENT IN GIB REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY could receive payments. As
payments were not based on nationality, they were non-discriminatory and all
was well within the law.
Now that the UK has agreed to pay the Sp pensions, these withdraw from the
Gib pension scheme. Relieved of the burder, Gib re-establishes pensions and
plays catch-up, applying compunded inflation to the levels frozen at 1987
rates and as ofApril 2007 will see a 65% rise over the prior levels of
payment.
Because Gib can afford it, Community Care will remain IN ADDITON to the
pension, so basically a married couple of retirement age will see a rise in
income of £2400 pa.
K
Jim Watt
>I wasn't referring to the Spanish workers' pensions. I was referring to
>Gibbos' pensions. Is Gibbos' pensions indexed?
The locals have been carefully looked after.
>True, the poor British taxpayer ends up paying for the screw-ups of the
>British Gov they elected. The poor British taxpayer can also go for a walk
>around the globe riding on the back of an excessively overvalued pound note
>which is not worth a cracker back home.
Have you seen the US dollar against the pound recently ?
Lynx
Most informative. Looks like its all good news for our fellow Gib
pensioners.
Lynx
"Jim Watt" <jim...@aol.no_way> wrote in message
> On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 13:02:31 GMT, "Lynx" <M...@Home.com> wrote:
>
>>I wasn't referring to the Spanish workers' pensions. I was referring to
>>Gibbos' pensions. Is Gibbos' pensions indexed?
>
> The locals have been carefully looked after.
Just read K's "report". Am happy for Gibraltarians pensioners.
>>True, the poor British taxpayer ends up paying for the screw-ups of the
>>British Gov they elected. The poor British taxpayer can also go for a walk
>>around the globe riding on the back of an excessively overvalued pound
>>note
>>which is not worth a cracker back home.
>
> Have you seen the US dollar against the pound recently ?
My main concern is the GBP and the EUR.
Ken
"Lynx" <M...@Home.com> wrote in message
Sometimes replies need to be long ;)
K
Lynx
>
> Sometimes replies need to be long ;)
Yes, sometimes,depending on the topic. The Belonger topic has gone all very
quiet, I see.
Jim Watt
Theres not a lot that can be said, its a term that exists
that you don't like. Until such time as Gibraltar can upgrade
belongers to citizens it will have to do.
Lynx
"Jim Watt" <jim...@aol.no_way> wrote in message
Yes, I suppose it's just spiffo to have a controlled number of plebs,
turning out at every referendum, reaffirming 'the will of the people', and
justify a colonial holding.