MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Prince Edward will inaugurate Gibraltar’s new air terminal; no decision on the name

The visit of the Earl of Wessex was revealed during a parliamentary debate (Photo by Jim Watt)

The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, will formally inaugurate and name Gibraltar’s new air terminal during his forthcoming visit to the Rock. The plan was revealed during a debate in the Gibraltar parliament after Opposition leader Peter Caruana suggested the British Royal should carry out the task.“It’s already on his agenda,” replied Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

The news was welcomed by the GSD leader, who in the past had been promised by Mr Picardo that he would be given the task of inaugurating the terminal himself.

“This is the only option for which I will forgive him for sacking me from being the opener of the terminal” Mr Caruana said, to laughter from both side of Parliament.

“I’m delighted, I forgive him and I welcome my being pushed aside.”

Mr Picardo said that he would make sure that Mr Caruana was invited to the ceremony and that the Earl and Countess of Wessex know that the air terminal was a GSD project.

“I will make sure that they know that this is his idea of an airport and not ours,” Mr Picardo said.

During the debate, Mr Caruana also suggested that the terminal be called the Gibraltar International Jubilee Terminal, “or something like that.”

The Chief Minister said there were “several names in the mix” but would not be drawn on them in public.