Deputy Chief Minister & leader of Liberal Party releases National Day message

The Deputy Chief Minister and leader of the Liberal Party has released his National Day message, highlighting Gibraltar's growing sense of nationhood and the need to complete the process of decolonisation through removal from the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

This National Day also marks the first since the UK-EU treaty was signed.

Dr. Garcia adds the treaty is proof that preserving British sovereignty and remaining closely connected with Europe are not mutually exclusive.

In his message Dr.Garcia says frontier arrangement have changed. The movement of people and goods has become more fluid, and a new relationship with Gibraltar's neighbours and the European Union has begun, however, through all this, Gibraltar's British sovereignty remains intact, and the flag flying at the top of the Rock remains unchanged always. 

Dr.Garcia goes on to say that self-determination means that the future of Gibraltar can only be freely and democratically decided by the people of Gibraltar themselves and that principle is not weakened by the Treaty nor diluted by closer cooperation with European neighbours and is not diminished by the continuing work with the European Union to improve the lives of citizens. 

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed that the days of when Gibraltar's future could be discussed behind its back are long gone and the next steps must therefore be to address the unfinished business of decolonisation.

He finishes his message by acknowledging that although its not unusual to passionately disagree on many things, there are certain fundamentals which will always unite every Gibraltarian:

 - Identity

 - Britishness 

 - And the right to self determination.