CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING
The Department of the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change and Heritage has indicated that it would like to remind people of the recycling programme for real Christmas trees.
The species generally used for Christmas trees, even if rooted, will not survive in Gibraltar’s climate. Recycling trees by turning them into mulch for use in planted areas helps to protect soils around Gibraltar and minimises the amount of waste going to landfill.
Members of the public are encouraged to recycle any real Christmas trees by removing all decorations and depositing them at the Civic Amenities Facility on Europa Advance Road. The facility is open seven days a week from 8am to 8 pm Monday – Friday and 9 am to 5pm at weekends. The trees will then be shredded for mulch by staff from the Department of the Environment and Climate Change and used in planted areas around Gibraltar.
Michael Danino Award Announced
The Gibraltar Live Music Society (GLMS) has announced the winner of this year’s Michael Danino Award.
The Award launched in 2017 is the brainchild of the GLMS Committee and is awarded to the musician whom they feel has had the most energy, passion and drive on and off the stage as well as acknowledging their accomplishments. Previous winners include James Montegriffo, Adrian Pisarello, Mark Muscat and Robin Fitzpatrick. Due to the world pandemic, no recipient was awarded the accolade in 2020.
A spokesperson for the GLMS said, “This year has been quite a challenge for musicians across the Gibraltar Music Scene but despite that, they have worked hard behind the scenes to work on new projects and this year’s recipient has definitely done just that. This musician has flown the Gibraltar flag everywhere with a lot of grace and we can’t wait to see where their career goes from here.”
The GLMS is therefore pleased to announce that this year’s recipient is Hollie Buhagiar.
Hollie is a multi award-winning Gibraltarian composer based in London, who specialises in crafting bespoke scores for film, TV and Theatre. She has worked on a plethora of projects including shorts, feature length films and series alongside Grammy and Academy Award winning engineers in the finest studios across London.
Graduating from Leeds College of Music with first-class honours in Music production, Hollie continued on to complete a Masters at the National Film and Television School.
Throughout her career she has been hailed for her unique and varied sonic palette as well as her ability to create fascinating scores that approach traditional composition from a new and exciting perspective.
On being awarded this year’s Michael Danino Award, Hollie said, “It means a great deal to have been presented with this award. I’ve missed home so much, over these last couple of years most especially. You’re all always in my thoughts and it’s so wonderful to know I’m there in yours too. Thank you to everyone involved in choosing me for this wonderful honour, I am so excited for what’s to come, I’ll be flying our flag as high as I possibly can!”
Well done Hollie from everyone in Gibraltar and all your friends at Insight.
NEW YEAR HONOURS
Her Majesty The Queen has granted the following National Honours:
Ms Hazel Cumbo to be a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Justice in Gibraltar.
Mr Lewis Stagnetto to be awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the Marine Environment in Gibraltar.
On behalf of the Gibraltar Honours Board, His Excellency the Governor, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE DL, has granted the Gibraltar Award to:
Msgr Charles Azzopardi for services to the pastoral care of the community in Gibraltar.
Mrs Paulette Finlayson-Napoli for services to the promotion and teaching of dance in Gibraltar.
Calpe House for services to the people of Gibraltar.
EXTENSION OF BRIDGING MEASURES
On 31 December 2020, the Transition Period under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement came to an end. This brought an end to what used to be the position prior to 1 January 2021 whereby Gibraltar, its citizens and its businesses, enjoyed EU rights. The end of the Transition Period brought about important changes.
However, certain provisions have been made to rollover the existing measures into the New Year.
Persons with a right of access to public healthcare in Gibraltar will continue to be able to access public healthcare in Spain, up to 30 June 2022, on terms equivalent to those which existed under EU law prior to 31 December 2020. This arrangement will therefore allow for persons entitled to healthcare provided by the GHA to be able to continue to access medically necessary, state- provided healthcare in Spain during a temporary stay in Spain. It will also allow for persons resident in Spain but covered by Gibraltar social security legislation (including frontier workers) to continue to access public healthcare in Spain.
The Gibraltar Government will provide reciprocal treatment, in Gibraltar, for visitors to Gibraltar or persons resident in Gibraltar, under the same terms.
The period which allows for persons legally resident in Spain to continue to have their Gibraltar driving licences recognised in Spain has been extended again up to 28 February 2022. For the avoidance of doubt, the public should note that this information is relevant only to holders of Gibraltar driving licences who are legally resident in Spain.
With respect to the recognition of Gibraltar driving licences for persons visiting Spain, the position remains as set out in the Government’s Technical Notice of 15 June 2021. Gibraltar driving licence holders who are not legally resident in Spain do not require an International Driving Permit when driving in Spain.
Again, the Gibraltar Government continues to provide reciprocal treatment, in Gibraltar, for visitors to Gibraltar or persons resident in Gibraltar, under the same terms.
