In Aid of Philippines!

[Alfred Balban]

MarocAtlasGib4x4 got involved with the Dolphin Bar,Mana Care & the Philippines Gibraltar community in Aid of the Philippines appeal,we started by delivering 2 cars full of clothing and camping beds to be sent to the Philippines,later we got more involved and this is what we provided to the Family Fun day at Camp Bay for 2 days!

[Louis Balban]

Friday 20th we loaded the lorry with all the donated food water clothes etc. We would like to thank all those who have helped us out. Redwood for their effort and assistance, Saccone & Speed and Restsso, Cisarego & Son Victory Enterprises and Anglo Hispano Nestle and government. We also have to thank the Highways Enforcement Officers who assisted us in driving the lorry wrong way through the tunnel. Also Stanley Olivero for having let us use the Dolphins Bar as storage and as a base for all the donations.

[Alfred Balban]

Complete post!

Spain accused of blocking Gibraltar aid to Philippines

Spain has been accused of acting in a “hateful fashion” as it banned emergency food from Gibraltar destined for the typhoon-hit Philippines

The container was bound for the Philippines to help victims of the typhoon Photo: DONDI TAWATAO/GETTY IMAGES

By Fergal MacErlean, Malaga

7:26PM GMT 21 Dec 2013

Spain's customs officials prohibited food donated in a charity drive on the Rock from entering Spain where it was due to be shipped from the port of Algeciras to the Red Cross in Manila, citing problems over issuing certificates.

The departure of the 20-foot container packed with food, blankets, vitamins and drinking water will be delayed until after Christmas.

MPs viewed the delay as being politically motivated in the tense dispute over Gibraltar's sovereignty.

The container will now be collected directly from Gibraltar on December 29 at greater expense to the Maroc Atlas Gibraltar 4x4 group which organised the relief shipment, worth just over £600, as part of its charitable works.

The Head of the Spanish Customs Authorities in the border town of La Linea told freight company Redwood that only clothing, water and canned tomatoes would be allowed across the frontier because health certificates could not be issued due to the lack of facilities.

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Fabian Valerga, warehouse manager with Redwood, said: “It’s crazy. We do not know at present if these instructions have been given by Madrid, or the Customs administrator is abiding strictly with the law, which I am sure with some goodwill a special permit could have been obtained for such a cause for a one off occasion.

“It’s about time such facilities were installed, like in any other normal border throughout Europe.”

Andrew Rosindell MP said: “The Spanish are behaving in a hateful fashion and it is totally inexcusable.

“Relations between Britain and Spain are at an all time low over their continuing bullying of Gibraltar.

“We are fast reaching a point where Britain will have no choice but to show Madrid – in a drastic way – that their behavior will not be tolerated.

“It is disgusting that the poor people of the Philippines should now be made to suffer due to this Spanish obsession.”

Luis Gonzalez the chief spokesman for Madrid’s Customs and Excise department said that food was denied access into La Linea as the office there "is not enabled by European legislation for the importation of products intended for human or animal consumption".

Mr Gonzalez added that the banned foods could be imported through Algerciras.

But from Gibraltar that would require an expensive passage by sea.

Graham Watson MP and MEP for south-west England and Gibraltar said the decision to block the relief food was “absolutely appalling”.

Speaking from Brussels on Friday Sir Watson said he intended to raise the matter immediately with Cecilia Malmström the EU Home Affairs Commissioner.

The latest tension at the Gibraltar border comes after a string of incidents since the overseas territory created an artificial reef in the summer to Spain’s chagrin.

Last month a diplomatic bag was searched by at the Gibraltar border by a Spanish official in an unprecedented breach by an EU partner and Nato ally of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

[Alfred Balban]

Telegraph Post of the events!http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/gibraltar/10532905...

[Alfred Balban]

Post report of what happened by Redwood International,Fabian Valerga Just a quick note to explain today's unfortunate turn of events.After our Spanish agents spend 2 days deliberating with top Spanish Customs administrator at the border,he concluded that unfortunately,according to the law,he couldn't allow foodstuffs to be exported from Gib.La Linea border hasn't got Sanitary or Health facilities installed in order to issue appropiate Health certificates or transit document,hence the reason why food,alcohol,medicaments,etc..has never been permitted to be exported from Gib.Still don't know if he was abiding strictly to the rules or was following direct orders from Madrid.He later confirmed that only bottled water and tinned tomatoes could be admitted,but not the sugar,rice,vitamins,and tinned tuna which the organisers had ready to load,all donated by local companies.Our Spanish agents both in La Linea and Algeciras preparing the paperwork,thought that a detailed invoice with description of goods and value,as provided by organisers,together with a goodwill gesture from Spanish Customs or special permission granted in these cases from Madrid,would be enough,but it wasn't to be.Urgent alterations had to be made,and container will now be loaded next week and will depart from vessel reporting at Gibraltar's North Mole on the 29th December.Container will be sea freighted directly from Gib to Rotterdam port en route to the Phillipines.No need whatsoever to stop at Algeciras.

[Marocatlasgib4x4 Club]

Last news is that we won't be able to pass through the border with the container so our local firm have arranged to ship it to Algeciras from our port on Monday.
So today at 4:00 pm we will need some help to load up a big lorry Redwood is providing us so we can get all out of the Dolphin Bar as we have committed we will do to the management,so please come and give us a hand this afternoon!

[Marocatlasgib4x4 Club]

We are in need of help to be able to get this container in the name of the Gibraltar Community to be shipped from Gibraltar,if any one out there can help out would be much appreciated!

[Marocatlasgib4x4 Club]

We are sorry to announce that the filling of the container tomorrow has been cancelled because the Guardia civil have informed the freight company that they will not allow the container to go through the border with food which is going to help many in this appeal We are trying to get the container shipped straight from Gibraltar,more info will be posted soon!

[Alfred Balban]

After all the had work done we now are ready to fill up the second container to be freight out in the name of the Gibraltar Community,the container will be at Rosia Bay on Friday the 20th of Dec as from 9:00 am till 1:00 pm so if you have any summer clothings to donate you can put it yourself in the container,thank you all for your support!!

[Alfred Balban]

The Club also provided the music entertainment thanks to Fresh Dj's El Deni and live singing by Sista Dee.

Both did this gig for the Charity cause,thank you so much!

[Alfred Balban]

The Club provided the Jumping Castle thanks to the collaboration of our member John Fortunato who put it on without any fee and all funds went for the Appeal!