Another batch of COVID-19 vaccines (the third) has just arrived in Gibraltar, courtesy of the logistical expertise of the Ministry of Defence.
When the first consignment arrived, it was all-hands-on-deck with rapid and exemplary co-ordination between all members of crucial frontline staff, both here in Gibraltar and in the UK.
Speaking at the time of the first inbound shipment, the Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP said, “The arrival of this vaccine is a demonstration of our work with the FCDO and MoD as part of the British family of nations, a stunning example of the power of science and a chance for each of us to get inoculated against deadly COVID-19.”
When the latest shipment was about to land, the CM took to Twitter to show his delight.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been given to 21 frontline workers from the Princess Royal Medical Centre on Devil’s Tower Camp.
This followed on from the first delivery of the vaccine into Gibraltar by the Royal Air Force and British Forces Gibraltar personnel and was a combined programme supported by the Gibraltar Health Authority and HQBF Medical staff.
GDDP Training Completed
The latest Gibraltar Defence Police recruits recently completed 18 weeks of training alongside their Royal Gibraltar Police colleagues.
The intense course, delivered by the RGP, provided recruits with a strong legal foundation, knowledge into specialist areas such as drugs and substance abuse, safeguarding children, mental health and personal safety techniques.
A virtual COVID-compliant passing out parade was held for all the recruits including the GDP’s newest officers PC33 Gary Robinson, PC79 Robbie Blakemore, PC146 Stefan Cabezutto and PC48 Ernest de Torres.
PC Gary Robinson received the ‘Best Academic Recruit’ award.
Congratulations to all.
Commodore Creighton Honoured
Rear Admiral Sir Kenelm Creighton KBE CVO will be awarded the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour posthumously as recognition of the part he played during the Second World War.
He had been put in the seemingly impossible position of looking after the welfare of Gibraltarian evacuees who had found themselves having to flee French Morocco once France itself had fallen to Axis powers.
He managed to galvanise the effort to remove civilians from the area after the Vichy Admiral refused to prepare evacuation vessels. With this in mind, he set sail – but defied London and went to Gibraltar instead of the River Thames. The ships were then free to be made more adequate in Gibraltar.
Speaking of this historically significant event, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia said, “The Government is delighted to honour the memory of Rear Admiral Creighton. His vivid description of the incident with Gibraltarian evacuees in Casablanca can be read in his autobiography “Convoy Commodore”.
He stood up for and sympathised with the plight of the people of Gibraltar to the degree that he had to be threatened with arrest by the French and he had no hesitation in defying orders when he judged that following them would have put our people at risk.
It takes a brave man to stand up to authority in this way and there is no better time to mark his courageous actions for the benefit of our people. The original intention had been to place the plaque at the evacuation monument last year, on the 80tth anniversary of the year in which the events took place. Sadly, this was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other matters so I will present the commemorative plaque shortly. The Government is confident that the placing of the plaque and the posthumous award of a Medallion of Honour will provide Sir Kenelm Creighton with the recognition that his actions deserve.”
Gibraltar House has managed to contact some of his surviving family members in Australia, who will – naturally – be kept informed as matters progress.
