MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Gibraltar reaction to Spanish environmentalists”

The Voice of Gibraltar Group notes the inflammatory, premature, rabble rousing by Sr Antonio Munoz regarding possible repairs to HMS Superb in Gibraltar.

He is of course free to parade and demonstrate as much as he likes around the Campo - however - we remind him that Gibraltar is not Spain. The Government of Gibraltar is on record as saying that it has no objection to non-nuclear repairs to HM vessels in Gibraltar. That view is shared by the majority of Gibraltarians. The VOGG and its supporters have on a number of occasions, when the suggestion of any hostile demonstration crossing the border has been made, have stated that this would have consequences. We consider it more likely that a repair will be effected in the UK, as the Ministry of Defence has run down its facilities on the Rock in a 'penny pinching' cost-cutting exercise to the level that they need to import generators to provide shore power for visiting ships. BUT should they decide to use the facilities in Gibraltar, which have served the fleet from the days of Nelson onward, they are again welcome. Verdemar-Ecologistas en Accion have not been granted the freedom of the city to parade freely, as have the Royal Navy. www.gibnet.comBy Julio Pons - Jim WATT Spokesmen for the Voice of Gibraltar Group