Studio plans

ARTISTS could soon have their very own space to create freely 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under government plans.

Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS) is calling for anyone who is interested in renting low-cost studio spaces from the government.

The Ministry of Culture proposal will include ceramics and printmaking facilities available to everyone. The project was inspired by a visit by Minister for Culture John Cortes to The Art Hub in Woolwich, London.

“Letters confirming interest should be sent to CEO, Gibraltar Cultural Services, 308 Main Street by Friday February 17, 2023,” the Ministry of Culture said.

952 147 834 from her home in Kent this week. “She was my best friend, I miss her so much.” Last month, another friend, Alan Quieros, a former expat who grew up in Marbella, even insisted he was prepared to come over and dig it up himself.

“It’s not like you would be disturbing any businesses, or homes, it’s a disused racetrack and we’ve been told exactly which stable she is allegedly under.”

SPACE: Studio available to all

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

Voted top expat paper in Spain OPINION

Respecting customs

THE Rock is still reeling from the latest incursion by Spanish customs at Eastern Beach recently.

While it is understandable that the customs officers were severely outnumbered and probably had to fire the warning shots as rocks rained down on them, the way it unfolded has shocked many.

Tobacco smuggling has always been a problem in the area. Spain tenaciously chases these smugglers on the ride from Gibraltar to La Linea, often in broad daylight.

But this incident was different.

The customs officers took a small dinghy from their larger launch to recover some of the tobacco.

But they must have misjudged the stormy conditions this time.

Their boat lost power and they were stranded on the shoreline, trying always to stay in the waters Spain asserts are theirs.

That very fact puts Spanish law enforcement in the stickiest situation.

They must patrol the waters Gibraltar claims as its own, therefore constantly clashing with the Rock’s own security forces.

Spain does not recognise the UN Law of the Sea that gives the British overseas territory control over its own waters. It is an illogical argument by Spain based on the 18th century terms of the Treaty of Utrecht.

If Gibraltar accepted those terms, it would mean criminals would just have to jump into the sea to avoid arrest.

But, surrounded by smugglers pelting them with stones, they started firing after getting seriously injured.

Although it is not totally clear, it seems that by the time the local police and customs arrived, the incident was effectively over.

The Spanish rowed back out to sea and found a way to leave the scene.

Coming in the midst of talks between Spain, UK and the EU, the incident serves to highlight the problems the region faces in coming years.

Will forces of law and order finally find a way to work together?

Will Gibraltar be forced to lower the price of tobacco to achieve an EU treaty and get rid of smuggling forever?

Only time will tell, and precious little time too.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Anthony Piovesan anthony@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es