4
OLIVE PRESS
The FREE A DISPLAY by the Red Arrows over Menorca has been cancelled at the last minute after Spanish authorities allegedly blocked the team from performing in Gibraltar. The tit-for-tat decision, by UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, came as the RAF crews were gearing up and the planes were being fuelled on the runway in Sant Lluís. The Spanish government had earlier objected to a planned performance over Gibraltar, labelling it an ‘act of provocation’ as it would entail RAF Hawk jets entering Spanish airspace. It obviously caused outrage at the Ministry of Defence, in London, given the team were obviously due to perform later in Spanish airspace over the Balearics. MoD sources told the UK media the authorities were being ‘dicks’ about the Gibraltar show. They revealed that Spain had actually threatened to ban inbound civilian flights to Gibraltar from using Malaga as their designated diversion airport during the airshow if it went ahead. The decision would have seen flights
ELECTION SPECIAL
GIBRALTAR
Vol. 8 Issue 208
www.theolivepress.es
The Rock’s ONLY free local paper
October 4th - October 17th 2023
AIRING GRIEVANCES to the Rock needing to take on more fuel in order to reach a more distant emergency airport, such as Jerez or Sevilla. In turn, this would have hit airlines with increased costs, potentially reducing flights to Gibraltar and hurting the peninsula’s economy. Gibraltar officials, facing an upcoming
election, took the threat seriously and requested the Ministry of Defence to cancel the show. The spat prompted Shapps to make the decision to cancel last week’s show in Menorca. The Red Arrows have managed to perform in Gibraltar just twice in the last 30 years, the last time in 2009.
Sickening! Expat slammed with €23,000 UK hospital bill after bowel explodes during visit A BRITISH expat has been slapped with a £20,000 (€23,000) hospital bill after her bowel exploded during a trip to the UK. Helen Winslade, 55, who lives in Almeria, was visiting home in early July when she had to undergo life saving surgery, losing a part of her small intestine. The procedure went well, but amazingly, within
nal ter natio In & K All U ms TV syste Sound CCTV - n & Visio ter net & 4G In c ti p O Fiber
952 763 840 635 400 099 info@theskydoctor.com www.theskydoctor.com
CHRISTIAN SANTOS Created the successful Gibraltar Academy of Music and the Performing Arts. Mayor of Gibraltar from 2021 to 2023. Preferred post: Health and care GEMMA ARIAS-VASQUEZ Former president of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB). Led the successful Remain campaign locally. Lawyer. Preferred Post: Equality and Youth, Culture NIGEL FEETHAM Top insurance and financial services lawyer. Advised the government at no expense to the taxpayer. Preferred Post: Financial Services, Training and Employment PATRICIA ORFILA Former teacher and GSLP executive member for over a decade. Preferred Post: Housing, Development and Planning LESLIE BRUZON Medical technician at the ambulance service. Former Unite convenor and accountant. Preferred Post: Traffic and Transport
JOELLE LADILSAUS Lawyer. “I will continue to embrace values I hold dear in all my relationships: integrity, trust and sincerity,” Preferred Post: Health and care
LIFE SAVED: But at a hefty cost to Helen and hubbie Carlos
The impact of Covid 19 ‘wiped out’ their business, leaving the couple to live ‘on a very small pension’. The case is a warning to any expats considering visiting home without medical insurance or failing to travel with the correct forms in case of an unexpected health scare. Under current laws, if you
Tel: 952 147 834
See page 13
TM
THE main parties contesting the 2023 election have now released their manifestos. The bitter political rivals for the last 30 years will now try to convince the people of Gibraltar to stand with them in the next elections on October 12. On the one hand, the GSLP/Liberal coalition has the slogan ‘Keep Gibraltar Safe’ while the GSD went for ‘Make the change for a Bright Future’. While the GSLP/Liberals are allied to the UK Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, the GSD has been allied to the Conservatives since 2004. They have rung the changes in their respective slates, with the GSLP/Liberals bringing in five new faces and the GSD bringing in six of their own.
CRAIG SACARELLO Family business owner with marketing experience. Former Vice Chairman of GFSB and Together Gibraltar candidate. Preferred Post: Tourism, Business, Port
By Yzabelle Bostyn
weeks the retired Brit was faced with a whopping bill from the NHS, despite her British citizenship. The Welsh native was diagnosed with a rare form of bowel cancer known as GIST tumours. According to her brother, Karl Winslade, Helen was not expecting to stay in the UK for an extended period and their ‘small pension’ could not fund Helen’s accommodation, food and travel costs. Karl launched a fundraising campaign to get Helen back to Spain, where he said ‘her prognosis would be better’ due to shorter waiting times. She finally returned in late September after a months-long ordeal. Her husband, Carlos, had been left holding the fort in Seron, while she was stuck in the UK short of funds.
Meet the new candidates
are not a UK resident, you must produce relevant documentation to receive free NHS treatment - including an EHIC (a European health card) or GHIC card, or a so-called S1 or S2 form.
Grateful
Alternatively, you can request a Provisional Replacement Certificate, which will cover healthcare in the UK for the length of your trip. Since a Go Fund Me page was launched at the start of August, only €210 of the couple’s €5,000 target has been raised. Karl says he is ‘eternally grateful’ for any contribution.
YOUSSEF EL HANA Studied Biomedical Science with Masters in Cancer Biology and MSc International Relations. Former Student Union activist. Qualified Teacher. Preferred Post: Housing, Care, Social Security ATRISH SANCHEZ Senior Compliance officer. Masters degree in Criminology. Social policy advocate. Preferred Post: Education and Skills and Training DANIELLA TILBURY Academic. Former Vice Chancellor of Gibraltar University. Social policy advocate with the UN and EU. Worked internationally at various universities. Preferred Post: Environment, Development and Planning GIOVANNI ORIGO Lawyer. Interest in new technology. Advocates protecting individual rights. Preferred Post: Climate Change, Transport