Gibraltar Medallion of Honour – 2009 Awards
The Government proposes that the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour in 2009 be bestowed on
the following persons: -
(1) Joseph (Jose) Netto, for services to trade unionism and workers;
(2) Joseph (Joe) Gaggero, for services to aviation, shipping, business and commerce;
(3) Adolfo Canepa, for public service and services to politics;
(4) Maurice Xiberras, for public service and services to politics.”
The Chief Minister will bring a motion in Parliament to bestow the Medallion of Honour on
the above persons.
It will be recalled that the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour is bestowed by Parliament on
“living or deceased Gibraltarians and others who the Parliament considers have served
and contributed to the interests of Gibraltar and its people in an exceptional manner that is
particularly worthy of special recognition by the House on behalf of the people of
Gibraltar.”

The Government’s Civil Contingency Committee will keep the outbreak of Swine Influenza under close review, will monitor developments, and will take measures as and when necessary to minimise the impact on Gibraltar.

The Gibraltar Health Authority, and other public health authorities are well placed to deal with the matter, which, at this stage requires only precautionary measures. There is currently no cause for alarm or concern in Gibraltar.

Attached to this press release is an information and advisory statement issued today by Dr Vijay Kumar, Director of Public Health. Any person that has recently visited Mexico, or come into contact with anyone who has, and experiences flu-like symptoms should report the matter to his GP or the GHA, as advised by Dr Kumar in his statement.

STATEMENT BY DR VIJAY KUMAR
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
OUTBREAK OF SWINE INFLUENZA IN THE AMERICAS

Background
Since 18th March, health authorities in Mexico and the United States have reported an outbreak of Influenza-like illness caused by a virus, belonging to the Swine Influenza family but considered novel, not having been previously detected in either pigs or humans.

Influenza is common amongst pigs, who are often routinely vaccinated against it by breeders. Swine influenza is also previously known to infect humans and the disease is usually mild. However, in this novel outbreak about 6% of the cases have been associated with deaths. At this stage, it is not clear whether the deaths were due to the virus itself or because of complications caused by other pre-existing disease and bacterial infection.

The majority of these cases have occurred in young adults. Most of the cases have had mild illness lasting less than a week, with the usual symptoms of mild flu. All cases have been transmitted from humans to humans. There is no vaccine against the virus, but it is sensitive to antiviral drugs if taken within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.

The disease is not transmitted through food and consumption of properly cooked pork is not a risk. At present travel to and from the area is probably the most significant risk factor.

After due consideration, the WHO yesterday decided not to escalate to the Pandemic alert (therefore it is not a “pandemic”) and also not to issue any restrictive travel or trade advisories (this means that travel to Mexico and the USA remain unrestricted). However, because there are confirmed outbreaks in two countries and because of the human-animal link, the WHO declared this outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This means that health authorities have to report any respiratory illness in a traveller from the affected area, even if the disease is unconfirmed.

In order to comply with this PHEIC reporting requirement the GHA has today put in place a procedure, under which doctors have to report as “suspect” persons returning from the affected areas and having certain relevant symptoms. Similarly countries all over the world including Spain, France, Britain, New Zealand, Canada etc. have reported suspected cases as yet unconfirmed.



St Bernard’s Hospital
Harbour Views Road
Gibraltar


Advice to the Public

   1. If you have a respiratory illness and you have recently returned from an affected area you should inform your doctor of this fact.
   2. Most cases are said to be mild and your treatment may not be different to that of the common flu and flu-like illnesses.
   3. You may be asked to observe “voluntary isolation”. This means staying at home for seven days, to minimise the risk of spread to other people. Of course, if you need to go to Hospital or the Primary Care Centre you can do so.
   4. The most important thing you can do to prevent spread to others and your family is to practise Respiratory Hygiene and Hand Hygiene.
      Respiratory and Hand Hygiene means that you should

• cough or sneeze into a tissue;
• if a tissue is not handy, never cough or sneeze into your hands as this practice facilitates the spreading of viruses (although this habit has been taught to children for generations), but cough or sneeze into your Upper Sleeve or some such washable garment.
• after coughing or sneezing, dispose of the soiled tissue carefully and WASH YOUR HANDS.

Dr. Vijay Kumar
Director of Public Health 27 April 2009

A great day for the Royal Gibraltar Regiment 70th Anniversary on Saturday 25th 2009. A parade in Casemates Square followed by a march up Main Street and military salute taken by Mayor Solomon (Momy) Levy. Congratulations to the regiment and a big thanks to all regiment members past and present for their service. Lots more photos (65) in our RGR photo gallery. You can register and upload your own photos too. Also send the photos as e-cards to friends and families.

More than $1 billion in assets from Bernard Madoff's businesses have been found, a lawyer for the trustee trying to recover money for jilted investors.

The Princess Royal flew into Gibraltar on an RAF flight.
She has a number of public and private engagements.

The Gibraltar cable car is getting new cables. Quite a tricky job I would guess, although there may be a cunning way of doing it. Most work seems to be undertaken at night. Let's hope that it doesn't rain and that the winds are calm.

Here's the Government Press Release.

In order to allow essential works to replace cables between the top and bottom stations of the Cable Car, the following traffic arrangements will be in place at certain times during the period 23 February 2009 to 2 April 2009.

An area of Grand Parade, in the vicinity of the bottom station of the Cable Car will be closed off to parking for safety purposes. This area will be enclosed by Heras Fencing or designated by adequate signage. A scaffolding gantry will be erected under the cables at Europa Road. Works to erect this gantry will take place on the evening of Tuesday 24 February 2009 from 10.00 p.m. until approximately midnight. Traffic diversions will be implemented during the period of the works.

Other scaffolding gantries will be erected at Signal Station Road and Charles V Road in the Upper Rock. Works to erect these gantries will take place on Wednesday 25 February 2009 after 10.00 p.m. and at Queen’s Road, where the works are scheduled to take place on Thursday 26th February after 10.00 p.m. when the Nature Reserve is closed.

Adequate signage for the guidance of drivers and pedestrians will be displayed in the areas where works are taking place.

The Government regrets any inconvenience that these works may cause.

By offering deep discounts and some itinerary changes to shorter, cheaper voyages, the cruise industry is keeping ships full.

GHA Press Release:

The GHA is experiencing very high rates of attendance both at the Primary Care Centre and in the A & E Department at St Bernard’s, as is the norm during this time of the year when there are many outbreaks of respiratory system illness in particular.
Some of the cases, particularly the very young and the elderly, have required hospital admission.

This year, however, reported cases of Influenza A, and other flu like illnesses have been twice as high in December and January to date, as have rates of mycoplasma pneumonia in adults. Rates of respiratory syncitial virus infection in very young children have also increased.

The situation is placing a great strain on the GHA’S Primary Care Services, A&E and St Bernard’s Hospital in general. Inpatient services has been more severe than usual and has precipitated a prolonged period of very high occupancy at St Bernard’s Hospital necessitating the provision of extra beds on the general wards and very high occupancy in the ITU.

The GHA is marshalling and adding to its resources where necessary to best meet the demand but needs the ongoing cooperation of the public in order to do so.

With regard to primary care, the GHA is asking the public to be considerate in its request for house calls and asks that house calls be requested only on behalf of the very sick and the elderly if possible. Use of the Emergency Clinic at the Primary Care Centre is advised rather than house calls as patients can be more completely assessed at the centre.
In order to accommodate the expected influx of patients into St Bernard’s, the GHA is taking all measures possible, in collaboration with the Nursing staff and their representatives, to relieve the additional work pressure resulting from this year’s seasonal problem.

The GHA asks for the full support of family members to accept their relative home from hospital as quickly as they are medically discharged by the attending doctor.
The GHA is also asking that all those who are caring for disabled elderly in the community ensure that they have their own influenza immunisation up to date and to ensure that the people they are caring for also have their pneumococcal and influenza vaccine up to date.

To celebrate the EU Court Ruling on Gibraltar´s Corporate Tax regime.

First Minister Peter Caruana has declared January 5th 2009 to be a National Holiday.

We say YES!

It´s Tax Party Time!

Of course the Chief Minister didn't exactly shout  ... "It´s Tax Party Time"!
Although if persistent rumours that he allegedly won the Xmas lottery are true, perhaps he did!
Being a politician his statement is a little bit longer ... Read it Here

Wonder if he buys a Spanish "El Gordo" Navidad Lotto Ticket?
Now that would be interesting ...

Gibraltar's tax regime must be considered as Gibraltar's only and not as a part of the U.K.'s, the Court of First Instance said.

The court ruling means Gibraltar won't have to match U.K. tax rates and it won't lose the fiscal independence that is key to its ability to attract businesses seeking favorable tax treatment within a sovereign British territory.

Gibraltar has become popular with many insurers and gambling operators registering their companies here. Spain has closely watched this case, even intervening in the hearing, out of concern for its special tax regimes in certain regions of the country.

The commission investigated the Gibraltar tax reforms after the U.K. notified it in 2002 of Gibraltar's plans. Gibraltar is seen as part of the U.K. for the purposes of E.U. membership.