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Issue 27
March 2019
Know what this is? It’s just helped an architect win the world’s most prestigious prize
March 13th - March 26th 2019
13
See Legacy on page VI
Spanish maestro celebrated for five decades in the business, see STARchitect page XII
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RITISH buyers in Spain have beaten pre-Brexit referendum records despite the doom and gloom, new figures have revealed. Shrugging off the UK’s imminent departure from the EU, the sale of homes to plucky Brits rose 12% in 2018 to 10,178 - beating the 2016 record of 10,156. While UK buyers declined significantly in the quarters after the referendum in June 2016, and by a massive 28% in the last quarter of 2016, they started recovering to increase by double-digits
The Brits have not stopped investing in Spanish property with a 12% rise in purchases last year
last year. It means the UK’s share of the foreign market has been steadily increasing from a low of 14% in the first quarter of 2017 to 17% at the end of 2018. Although this is not yet back to the levels prior to the referendum
due to other nationalities flooding the market, it is expected to rise again this year. According to property expert Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property Insight, the weakness of Sterling against the Euro was the leading cause of the drop in demand. “Once the Pound stabilised at a lower level British demand also stabilised and then began to grow again,” he explained. Continues on Page III
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Vol. 4 Issue 92 www.gibraltarolivepress.com March 13th - March 26th 2019
Bring on the women!
There is a ‘gender imbalance’ when it comes to running Gibraltar, claim female politicians GIBRALTAR’S echelons of power have been compared to those in Iran due to its lack of female representation. It comes after the Rock ranked 154th out of 191 countries in a study on women in power by the International Parliamentary Union. “The study says we are only slightly better than countries like Qatar, Congo and Iran,” said Together Gibraltar leader Marlene Hassan Nahon. “We look back over the last 50 years and there is only a handful of women that have graced Parliament with their presence. “As a result there is a void of female role models as we haven’t been there to add our perspective.” Speaking on International Women’s Day, Nahon also re-
By John Culatto
vealed she was once advised to ‘find a man’ to lead her new party. “For them, the visual is that a man has to lead,” she added during a debate at City Hall. “It’s all about awareness and changing these visuals.” Rival GSLP MP Samantha Sacramento agreed, saying there was ‘obviously’ a ‘gender imbalance’ on the Rock. “Overnight, I became minister for equality and I remember quite a hostile reaction when we first started celebrating International Women’s Day,” she said. “I had to explain that the reason we are raising awareness is not to give a particular advantage to women.
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FABIAN Picardo has suggested revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU after MPs rejected Theresa May's deal for a second time. It comes after MPs roundly defeated the Prime Minister’s deal by 149 votes despite May’s pleas to ‘get the deal done’. Immediately after the vote, May announced Parliament will get a vote today (March 13) on whether to leave the EU without a deal. “This result makes the possibility of our staying the European Union more likely than it has been since the Article 50 notice was given,” said Chief Minister Picardo. “What will happen is still not clear, but I believe it is likely Parliament will tomorrow take a 'no deal' exit off the table.”
Humiliating
BEHIND: Study said Gibraltar only ranked alongside Iran “Instead, we want to show that it is because of these barriers and biased that women are at a disadvantage already.”
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Mayor Kaiane Aldorino Lopez, a former Miss World winner, believed however, that gender roles had begun to change.
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In one of her last public speeches before she is due to step down from her position, she said: “Children should understand that women are not made only to handle household chores or take responsibility of home and family. “Instead, both men and women are responsible of home and family as well as the working world. “Women should identify their strengths and abilities and move toward a world of empowerment.”
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay had told MPs the deal would deliver the protections they had asked for, including on the status of Gibraltar. In his closing remarks, Barclay said: “The PM has been clear that the government stands behind sovereignty for Gibraltar, and that will never change.” If MPs reject the no-deal option, there will be a further vote on a potential extension of Article 50 on Thursday. A total of 75 Conservative MPs rebelled against the deal whereas three Labour MPs rebelled against their leader by voting in favour. In a statement the EU’s Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier said: “The impasse can only be solved in the UK. Our “no-deal” preparations are now more important than ever before.”
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