Peter Caruana Faces Hectic Schedule In Run-Up To Referendum

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

24 September 2002

A recent statement released by the Gibraltar government has revealed the extent of Chief Minister, Peter Caruana's campaigning in the run-up to the November 7 referendum on the sovereignty of the Rock.

The Chief Minister left Gibraltar for the UK on Sunday, the report revealed, and will spend the first part of this week shuttling between the Liberal Party Conference in Brighton and the Commonwealth Finance Minister's Meeting in London.

According to the statement: 'Whilst at the Liberal Party Conference the Chief Minister will meet with party leaders, host a reception, attend the main conference Gibraltar debate and address a Gibraltar-related fringe meeting.'

'On Thursday and Friday the Chief Minister is attending the Overseas Territories Council, an annual gathering of all Overseas Territory Chief Ministers and UK Government Ministers and officials from several Whitehall Departments.'

Mr Caruana will then return to Gibraltar briefly on Friday before jetting off to the UK again to attend the Labour Party conference, and will then fly to New York next Wednesday to speak to the Fouth Committee of the United Nations.

Commenting on his prolonged absence, during which period Deputy Chief Minister, Keith Azopardi will assume control of the government, Mr Caruana explained last week that:

'All of these events are, this year, an important part of the Gibraltar government's lobby effort in the UK and internationally. It is unfortunate that they are so bunched, requiring my absence for two weeks, but this lobby is the government's top priority right now.'

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