Richard Cartwright - page 2

Richard Cartwright has 16 articles published.

Youseff El Hana

in Features

With a population of around 30,000 living in a confined space of just two and a half square miles it’s important to maintain that which the Rock’s often praised for… `presenting a model of tolerance and acceptance’ within the community… not very evident elsewhere outside our borders!

We have Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, members of other religions or groupings, nonbelievers and whoever is in between, living in harmony on a very limited stretch of soil! Today, many other nationalities are resident on the Rock: individuals who also have a set of beliefs as a religion or other form of conviction. Youssef El Hana is pretty determined to progress on the free-thinking, open-minded, tolerant Gibraltar community even further with everyone’s indulgence.  `Understanding Gibraltar’ – a Think Tank – set up a few years ago supports efforts to bring the community closer together. Apart from the communities mentioned above, Baha’is, Humanists and Atheists have taken part in this positive endeavour and Youssef takes part in that consultative grouping too. Hence, keeping the peace and living in harmony is good enough reason to keep the status quo which needs to be nurtured and encouraged at every stage. It has to be said that by and large some of our sub-communities keep to themselves and that’s OK whilst respecting the customs and traditions of others, and that has been the way on the Rock always.

Moroccans began arriving on the Rock in considerable numbers in the late 60s and 70s during the closure of our land border when the Spanish workforce had to leave Gibraltar, but there were some who arrived much earlier in the early 60s. “That’s right. My family began to settle here then. I was born in Morocco and was brought over when I was three years old,” 25 year old Youssef tells me, “so I consider myself a Gibraltarian Muslim of Moroccan ethnicity.” Because Youssef’s family has made the Rock their home, he is of the strong belief more members of his and other communities should integrate more fully in the country they’ve chosen to make their home. That’s why Gibraltarian Youssef has been busy over a few years organising events aiming to bring all of our minority communities and Christians closer together. “At the end of every day during Ramadan we have IFTAR or the breaking of the fast, where Muslims have abstained from food and drink all through the day!” Whilst living in the UK, Youssef and other Muslim friends noticed Iftar being offered to the rest of the community – all and sundry Muslim or otherwise – and thought it a good idea to introduce it on the Rock so as to partake in food and beverages and enjoy a casual chat with the person next to them and learn more about each other’s way of life. Non-Muslims are also asked to take on the challenge and take part in a fast for a day `Unity Fast’ and offer a donation which would go to a worthy cause on the Just Giving charity website. “Gibraltarians and friends away from the Rock have taken part in the event offering videos and pictures of their efforts. “In 2017 we raised £500, £1,000 in 2018 and we’re hoping to reach our target of £1,500 this year. I have a number of young Muslims helping me to set up these special days and thanks also go to the Gibraltar Government and other commercial entities like Marble Arc, Saccone & Speed, GibMaroc and others for their support. On a larger scale I’ve helped to organise this Ramadan idea in Kingston University (where I studied) which brought many members of the much wider community together, a key to improving the world we live in.”

Youssef, who has his PGCE and teaches science in a Croydon school, clearly has a yearning and constant craving for research. He studied Bio-Medicine Science in Kingston, has a Masters in Cancer Biology, and is now going for a Masters in International Relations. But it doesn’t end there: he also aims to attain a PhD in Cancer Research, and he’ll probably go for more! So when not studying, Youssef says he’s an advocate for more integration. He’s happy with the way `come together’ events have gone so far at the Europa Mosque, the Boulevard and on Wellington Front, but claims he wants to see 110% more as regards integration. “I can only speak about my community and think many British Moroccans have been on the Rock for 30, 40 and more years and can hardly speak a word of English, but there are many others who have integrated fully.” Youssef says the majority of the early Moroccan settlers on the Rock were illiterate. They came to work and provide for their families. However, today, Gibraltarian Moroccans can be found in the medical field, accountancy and legal professions, the RGP and Prison Service, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment… and the list goes on. 

There are of course memories of how the Moroccan community was treated on the Rock by some in the past, hurtful memories and some of the younger elements of the community may hold a certain amount of resentment towards the authorities and others, memories which Youssef considers should not be forgotten but not used to hold back progress. “We should learn from the past and not dwell on it but learn from it and move on. Today the majority are like minded individuals who I work with in the Muslim Youth of Gibraltar group and we each do our bit. We are the in-roads towards achieving a better understanding of each other by having an informed opinion of each other’s background and in that way breaking the ignorance that in some instances still exists. Yes, we hear a lot about the living conditions of some Moroccans but the fact is, some of them prefer to pay a lower rent for an inferior dwelling so as to save up for their wives and kids in Morocco.” Clearly if those families were brought over they would invest in a place they’d call home. Some years ago Moroccans were offered inducements to return to North Africa at the end of their un-renewed contracts on the Rock… gently booted out, in other words! There have also been complications re access to Government housing, medical care and some other issues too. “It’s also true to say, many more Moroccans are being made British Citizens these days with many achieving better employment. There are currently about 1,700 in the Moroccan community living on the Rock. Personally, I have to thank former Minister for Health – the late Bernard Linares – and others for being instrumental in sending me to the UK for a serious eye operation. I was three years old and diagnosed with cancer. Not being Gibraltarian at the time, my mum and I used to visit my dad who worked, and still does, in Marble Arc on visas. So my family is eternally grateful and things have improved.” Youssef lives with his mum, dad and brothers in the Waterport area and are happy there.

Thus Youssef, the young Gibraltarian with a passion for research – he, who wants to speak out and showcase his community – is for now, a-political, whilst holding an interest from afar. Maybe one day he will go for it and become a politician building on inclusivity for all, but in the meantime he’ll concentrate on helping to build his homeland Gibraltar, an even better place for all and truly make the Rock unmatched… anywhere in the world! 

Three Kings – 2020

in Features

The night of the Epiphany is but a handful of weeks away. It’s one the community certainly looks forward to at the beginning of every year. The last trace of Christmas and the first celebration – with more to come – of 2020!

It’s called `The Feast of the Epiphany’ and every year on the 5th January we celebrate it with a cavalcade of floats, bands and the Three Kings – Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – slowly travelling along Main Street all the way up to John Mackintosh Hall. The pavements of our main thoroughfare packed with not just kids and their parents but with other adults and visitors too, eager to witness the spectacle and, as is the norm, comment on the quality of the floats rolling past in front of them in a tight fit between trailer and spectator! Whatever the view of those onlookers it must be said many hours of hard work goes into the construction of the floats, and the Cavalcade committee says whatever the contrasting standards of the decorated entries, the more the merrier. “We always aim to encourage as many firms, associations, essential services and even families and friends to get their thinking caps on as early in the year as possible and get working on an idea and how to go about it, culminating in the building of their float in the autumn or December and we’re always at hand to give advice and help where we can, including financially,” long standing President of the Cavalcade Committee, Eric Abudarham tells me. The boss-man informs me up to £1,000 can be granted to assist in the construction of floats, which is not a bad sum! Where to build your ideas has always been a headache, consequently limiting the amount of entries appearing on the night, but for the past two or three years Government has allowed the building of floats at the Midtown Coach Park which has turned out to be a fantastic space to build where quite a few trailers can be accommodated. “That’s been a great advantage. Also some firms and essential services have their own premises so that’s another great help, leaving more space for others. The issue that gives us a little bit of a headache is the lack of trailers and their `heads.’  There are some groups willing to participate who can’t acquire the required transport for their float. It would be good if there were more low trailers which would allow a 4×4 Land Rover type of vehicle to tow them along, but you know, we can’t complain. Thanks to donations coming from the GBC Open Day and others we were able to have custom built trailers for the Three Kings at a cost of £36,000!”

Work for the committee starts shortly after the Cavalcade celebration is over. A post mortem, if you like, is undertaken by those attending over a coffee, with the aim to iron out any difficulties experienced or issues that can be done better next time. The handing out of sweets has now, for the past few years, been done ahead of the parade and that has worked well. “Also,” Eric says, “visits to the hospital and two Cathedrals -including a pop-in-invite by the management of the Piccadilly Gardens Cafe for a quick beverage – are now carried out prior to the parade which helps to run things more smoothly with fewer stops and less waiting time for the crowds later in the evening. Thanks must also go to the two taxis provided to ferry our kings around.” So the next big meeting for the committee comes just after National Day when things go up a few notches as responsibilities for members are sorted and other matters are organised and ironed out, like who to approach for the all important judging that needs to take place at Casemates ahead of the word go.  “Another issue that always comes to the fore these days is Health and Safety which is so important. That’s one of the reasons why sweet throwing from the floats was put to a stop as children were running out in front of the floats to grab the sweets.” And here’s another extremely touchy issue which has been highlighted by the fact Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been reprimanded for wearing black paint on his face a couple of times many years ago – on one occasion in character as Aladdin! The Three Kings came instantly to mind so I had to ask Eric how that affected our 2020 event. “We’ve given it much thought and we have engaged a Gibraltarian lad of Moroccan ethnicity to represent `Wise Man of the East,’ Balthazar.” Phew!!! Good news. We already have enough concerns with the never ending Brexit saga!! 

THE `PRIZES: £1,000 goes towards the 1st prize floats in both the Senior and Junior sections with £500 for the 2nd prize senior float and £250 for the Junior runner-up entry. We’re just into November so there’s still time for you, a firm or association, a family or bunch of friends, to get started building your float for the next edition. 2018 and 2019 were a great improvement on events of the recent past with some excellent entries. You can ring President Eric for more info on 57586000 or at email, ericabudarham@gibtelecom.net  

Therefore, let’s make this one even better. In fact make it the best… So who’s in charge of the paint, brush, hammer and nails?

National Day Celebrations

in Culture Insight/Features

It’s true we have Christmas, Easter, Calentita and any number of communal celebrations we participate in and enjoy, but its National Day that brings the whole of the community together in a big, big way!

Red and white is the order of the day on the 10th of September. At Casemates and in Main Street it’s a sea of cherry, crimson or even scarlet (it’s all red) and white – whiter than the proverbial ghost we often refer to when someone’s had a fright. Yes, you’ve got it, RED and WHITE everywhere. Even at the beaches, you now have to get up close to see if there’s sand under the two-tone blanket. In a way, it could be described as Gibraltar’s continued emancipation as more and more red-and-white-castle-and-key flags appear!

It’s 1992 and Gibraltar’s Chief Minister at the time, Joe Bossano, popped along to the United Nations to argue for the right to self-determination. That got the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group going. That same year, the SDGG generated the support of the community by holding our first National Day at the Piazza (John Mackintosh Square) a few months later on the 10th September 1992: the date chosen commemorated Gibraltar’s first Sovereignty referendum of 1967. The populace overwhelmingly voted to `remain’ – quite the word these days – under British sovereignty and there has since been another unsuccessful attempt on co-sovereignty with Spain. The 10th of September also coincides with the Rock’s Legislative Council becoming representative and responsible for its internal affairs way back in 1964, and things have moved on since. Gibraltar had actually been calling for self-determination since 1963 at the UN.

So the 10th of September became a holiday and John Mackintosh Square proved to be far too small as the event became more and more popular. Next stop was Casemates Square and later, as it became even bigger, moved to the Naval Ground in 1999, where the Mid Town development now stands. Gibraltar meanwhile was pressing for de-colonisation as per the UN Charter to eradicate colonialism by the year 2000: to this day, we remain as is! Joint sovereignty with Spain was then proposed for the Rock and our sense of national identity deepened, reinforced and promoted annually at our ever popular September the 10th National Day.

As administrations change, as dictated by democratic wishes, formats for the event changed from one government to another. There have been sometimes more, or fewer, political rallies over time. They’ve been quieter in terms of political input in recent times having fewer invited UK politicians delivering shorter speeches. During the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD’s) reign, the political bits were done away with making it more of a civic celebration leaving politics for all the other days of the year during  which, you might say, we live and breath it! Celebrations then returned to John Mackintosh Square with the Mayor of Gibraltar running the main event as opposed to any politician. By this time the SDGG was not organising the special day as it was handed over to the incumbent GSD Government. The Self Determination for Gibraltar Group took umbrage and returned to Casemates Square organising a political rally inviting all opposition parties – GSLP, the Liberal Party and the Progressive Democratic Party – to give short speeches as well as that given by the leader of the SDGG who were the organisers. The affair lasted just 30 or 40 minutes and was not to overlap with the celebrations at John Mackintosh Square so as to allow everyone to attend and enjoy both. The rally was deemed a success. By then, in 2008, Britain had recognised Gibraltar’s right to self-determination as declared in our new constitution which is read by the Mayor, outside the City Hall on National Day. And we’ve also had the City of Gibraltar Flag flying over the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on September 10th.

Nowadays, the 30,000 balloons (representing Gib’s population), are no longer released in keeping with wild and marine life protection, but the celebrations continue in full swing with the children’s fancy dress outside the Gibraltar Parliament building, which is always well attended with many innovative ideas coming to the fore, starting the day. In John Mackintosh Square,  you’ll find food and drink stalls doing their bit to help along the celebrations and a Fun Day for the children with bouncy castles and other joy rides are set up, either there in the square or by then moving down to Casemates Square where things are revving-up, including the weather getting hotter and stuffier. Dance groups, and singers perform on either side of the political speeches which the attendees enjoy with all the pro Gibraltar references made by the visiting UK politicians, going down a bomb. The 35 minute rally ends with the Chief Minister giving his speech followed by the release of red and white confetti which apparently is harmless – for now, as we all sing the Gibraltar Anthem then, or at some other juncture. Meanwhile, a Rock concert usually follows in the evening after the 30 minute firework display from the Detached Mole and that’s the end… for some. No doubt celebrations continue somewhere on the Rock – at home or at some other venue, because fun and games, food and drink and happy times are not restricted to Casemates and Main Street. Apart from the beaches where much activity goes on and on till late in the evening, BBQs and other food combinations are prepared in many homes, patios and terraces everywhere. Governor’s Parade (by the O’Callaghan Hotel) comes to mind as another fun place to be. The Rock on the Rock Club tends to be rocking all evening round the back, at the end of Town Range. `Verbenas’ – food, drink and dancing at a more sedate pace – tend to be held for the not so young where you’re bound to hear `Llevame Donde Naci’ being sung by all present.

So whatever your plans are for this auspicious event, at the end of the day there’s no doubt you will have noted that on National Day, Gibraltar has celebrated a highly enjoyable occasion. At the time of writing you see, National Day has not quite arrived, it’s just shy of three weeks away, so if you read this by the time it’s over… I’m sure it’s been a good one!

Catalan Bay – `La Pompa’ & Other Places!

in Culture Insight/Features

Place names and labels are generally very welcome, and Catalan Bay’s caretakers, `The Village People’ are forever on the lookout for ways to improve the villagers’ – and those entering the neighbourhood – safety and comforts whilst preserving the hamlet’s long held traditions.

If there’s a wedding, communion celebration or other big event, I’m led to understand the whole of the village is invited! As a rule, that’s the closeness of the Catalan Bay community. The chain of command is headed by the Catalan Bay Social Club Committee for any formal changes that require seeing to and other community matters. Meanwhile, the Village People take on board smaller issues that concern the residents and improve the environment. Spokesman for the group and former `Foreigner’ – he’s not an indigenous `Caleteño’ – Johnny Walker, sat waiting for my arrival on `El banco de la’ shalaura’. “Well this is one of our improvements right here. We now have this covering or shelter to shield us from the hot sun and rain in winter as we sit and chat away `shalaura’ sometimes, and have a good view of the beach!” Johnny used to drive down to the village on his motorbike with a group of friends and that’s when he met his wife Marina, who is a true Caleteña! “As an outsider it took me quite a while to be accepted and integrated into the community and when you get your name in the `fat book’ and pay an annual subscription at the club, then you become an adopted Caleteño.” Johnny is also referred to as the `Mayor’ or `El Alcalde’ and has always taken an interest in helping to spruce up the nooks and crannies around the village and in approaching government departments to seek their help and advice. Johnny, along with Aida Yome and an English lady called Lizzy, make up the `Village People’ trio or, `Los Caseros’ (Caretakers) which is another name they come under. So whenever there’s a little problem as in faulty lighting in one of the estate’s stairwells for example, it’s quickly seen to by Johnny’s self-appointed Village People. In summer he liaises with the beach life guards to keep things under control. Whilst there, the `cake man’ arrived blowing his whistle to attract beachgoers to partake of his goodies and his whistle produces the same sound as the one life guards use to attract the attention of misbehaving swimmers. Johnny hopes to get the cake man to swop his, same-tune-as-the-lifeguards-whistle, for a different one! “Oh yes, and that’s another issue which we hope to remedy. During heavy levanter days the red flag is taken down at 7pm at the beach and we think it should stay up till much later and also raise it during the winter months when the `Levante’ kicks-in. It’s warm and sticky and the sea might look welcoming and not particularly rough but when it’s heavy levanter or easterly the under currents are strong and very dangerous so visitors especially need to be warned. We’re next to the Caleta Hotel and many guests come down to the beach in winter too.” There are many village issues the team has worked on and had implemented. The row of coloured lights all along above the beach wall are now allowed to stay lit all summer through to September after National Day. A wooden walkway was built at the instigation of `El Alcalde’ from the car park to the village entrance, allowing easier access for families and visitors to the beach. There’s Walkers Gym at the top of the hill and the latest job is giving street names to the little alleyways around the back of the estate’s blocks, bars and restaurants.

I’ve often wondered how postmen and other visitors have found their way to an address in the village! “Well those alleyways have never had street name plaques on the walls. They’ve always been known by some object, use or somebody’s name and everybody’s found their way to any address that way.” Johnny tells me that now, after approaching the elders of the committee who welcomed the idea, they’re having plaques made bearing those names by which they have always been known like, La Cochera, La Pompa (the water pump) – where you went in days gone by to rinse the sand off your feet – La Trocha, Conti, Patio del Pozo, La Cantina and there’s a `Conchita Street,’ named after a lady who with her handicraft efforts has mounted seashells on walls and plant pots along the alleyway! And there’ll be more names on rocks and walls too. At the far end of the beach we have, Lo Scheggi (of dubious origin) and plaques or signage for the famous, La Mamela and La Maseta, are still to be mounted… and then there’s a `Don’t Worry’ sign that needs to be read! Male club members don’t escape the trendy names either. They’ve been given nick-names also. We have El Commando, El Kuki, El Chacarin, El Aver, El Nene, El Take It, El Caleta and so on.

It’s clear the Village People have their work cut out especially during the busy summer months and Johnny was eager to rush off to see about another inquiry but not before we were attracted to a gentleman standing in the sea close to the shore making hand signals for the benefit of those Caleteños looking out to sea from their balconies wanting to know what the sea temperature was like. He apparently uses a thermometer and then passes on the information to potential village bathers by displaying, on this occasion, a full hand of five fingers four times meaning 20 then adding four individual fingers to his performance: Bingo 24%! Tony – a village regular albeit, a `foreigner’ – was communicating the message to the community’s populace… at that temperature, perfect for a lovely dip!

Yes Catalan Bay’s customs and conventions are pleasantly quirky. It’s the place which once again this summer has achieved `top spot’ for `ambiente’ (great atmosphere) and where it’s clearly evident, you come across the `in crowd’!  In the meantime and on the lookout to assist as always, you’ll find…The Village People!

John Mascarenhas – BAGPIPER

in Culture Insight/Features/History Insight

If it’s not sport or another hobby it could well be music. So guitar, piano, drums or even violin or cello, would be first choice… but bagpipes? Some say they sound like a cat in terrible pain! However, there are those who are fascinated by the bag producing a humming drone!

But in fact, it was a more conventional instrument that first attracted musician John to the world of music. “That’s right, I was six years old and I remember watching a scary series on television and then one evening, a piano that I had been bought began playing all on its own! That terrified me.” Eventually, the puzzling event was solved as John recalls the mystery piano player happened to be a mouse running around inside. The resident musician removed, he started teaching himself to play, but never learnt to read music. That was John’s introduction to his chosen hobby which happened in a strange way, to say the least. Like most youngsters, pop music was the genre to get into with friends, so forming or joining a group was an obvious next step. At 13 he joined a group, coming together with some friends (by then playing guitar), later switching to his keyboards performing with more established bands like Jade, The Mockingbirds, Los Peninsulares and of late, gigging with the New Shadows for a while, experiencing an assortment of styles which can only be useful for your own development.

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Miss Gibraltar 2019

in Culture Insight/Features

Celine took the crown with Janice and Jyza achieving second and third places. Two and a half hours earlier, no one could be sure who the winner would be! The clock struck nine and the Miss Gibraltar 2019 show got underway to a great start!

Top Miss Gibraltar producers Neish and Santos were always going to be hard acts to follow, so given the task to take on the social calendar’s hottest event of the year for 2019, must’ve given YDS directors plenty to think about, enough to get on with – including sleepless nights, no doubt – and deliver the goods on  the day! Yalta Pons and Darion Figueredo claimed they would produce a show `with a difference,’ a term that rolls off the tongue as the well worn cliché it is. Well, the production was different and rated a success, appreciated by the 400 plus audience at the newly installed venue close to Europa Point – The Special Olympics Sports Hall – and many more at home.

The opening was loud, vibrant and attention-grabbing as the eight contestants made their way to the front of the stage strutting their stuff in their punky/gothic attire. Original routines followed as they performed confidently throughout the show. The four months spent rehearsing, being coached and running through routines repeated again and again certainly show, when on the night, the contestants are assertive and confident as they go… the work clearly paid off and `coming out of their comfort zone’ didn’t seemed to be an issue for any of them. DJs played a prominent part in the show as they blared out the latest club mixes getting the mood going pre and during the show: DJ Basecake (Cheryl Jeffries), DJ Rawly (David Rawlinson) and DJ El Deni aka Denis Alvarez were right on the mark. Each contestant had their own music mix as they took their turn to swagger across the stage… good work with those well-edited mixes.

We’re accustomed to see the reigning Miss Gibraltar appearing on stage at the end of the show to crown the new `Queen.’ At this event 2018 winner Star Farrugia joined the aspirants, right at the beginning during the first parade, and that was different! Presenter on the night was Rock Radio’s Michelle Rugeroni who in passing drew attention to the fact there hadn’t been a female Miss Gibraltar presenter or show producer for 18 years: Yalta and Michelle broke the pattern successfully on this occasion. `The Rouge’ did a fine job keeping proceedings light and relaxed in-keeping with the atmosphere on the night. She descended into the audience and chatted to the judges who again, kept the atmosphere light and jolly as they later left the comfort of their seats and danced in the aisles during one of the guest artists’ invitation to do exactly that, `get up and dance.’ The overseas Judges selected for the show were author Janet Hoggarth, fashion designer Rafael Freitas (from Portugal), cruise director Joanne Boase, Miss England 2017 Stephanie Hill, and the chairman was actor Ben Humphrey.  During Michelle’s short interview with the former Miss England Stephanie Hill, her message for the girls was to keep true to themselves by not pretending to be something or someone they’re not. The message especially went to whoever won on the night emphasising the stay in Thailand to attend the Miss World Pageant would be for a whole month, ` too long a stretch not being yourself,’ she said. `Be natural and stay true’ was most important to bear in mind.  The invited entertainment on the night came from across the way. We had a hard rocker, Rafa Blas – Spain’s 2012 La Voz winner and mainstream singer Soraya (Arnelas) who took part in Operacion Triunfu in 2005. They were both very good and sang predominantly in English, which must’ve pleased many in the audience and others enjoying the show at home.

The Special Olympics Hall – venue on the night – experienced some snagging problems right up to the previous day just ahead of the show, but in the end technical and other issues were overcome and all was well for the event. It looked bright and quite elegant. The stage was simple, with plain, black and white screens and the now common feature at events like these, of a well programmed, video clips back screen. Pyrotechnics were also evident. The show was a modern affair put together by YDS and their hard working crew backstage plus all of those helping to put on a Miss Gibraltar Show long before the event hits the stage. And who else helped to make the show a great success? The clue lies in the fact 2009 was a decade ago and Miss Gibraltar became Miss World in that year! Yes, Kaiane Aldorino Lopez appeared on that back screen commemorating that great event and that was not all… Kaiane then walked on stage looking fabulous as usual to great applause. She gave us a few words cataloguing her experiences to the present day culminating in her time as Mayor and having her first child. That was a great touch adding to the night’s performances.

But it goes without saying the stars on the night were the eight, brave ladies vying for the coveted title: Jyza Balban, Janelle Busto, Soraya Garcia, Victoria Sanguinetti, Celine Bolanos, Janice Sampere, Deanna Palmer and Daniella Ambrose who gave of their best. There were three other awards presented at the show – Miss Gibraltar 2019 Celine Bolanos also took the Top Model and Best Interview prizes and Daniella Ambrose was awarded the Miss Friendship title. Many thanks must also go towards the Cultural Services and Ministry of Culture, the many businesses and other institutions for their contributions.

I think it’s true to say the biggest challenge over the past few months leading to putting on a prestigious event like the Miss Gibraltar Show – which just happens to be the most important event on the social calendar – must fall on the show’s producers. The task was taken on by YDS known for their many innovative presentations in the `dance genre.’ This one was a new experiment for them to confront and they did it well… very well. Hats off to Yalta Pons, Darion Figueredo and all the hard working individuals coming on board to prepare the run up to and present a fabulous show, and full marks to the `new Miss Gibraltar producers on the block’!

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