Fabian Picardo releases last National Day message as Chief Minister

In his National Day message Fabian Picardo says everything he’s done as Chief Minister has been in service of the decision taken by our forefathers in the 1967 referendum.

A decision, he says, taken by ordinary Gibraltarians who had far less and defended it far more bravely than we have ever been asked to. 

He says every negotiation he’s sat through, every long night in Brussels, Madrid, London and New York, has been to honour how they stuck to principle in the face of threats.

Fabian Picardo says he’s not finding it easy to say this will be his last National Day address as Chief. 

He feels he’s proudly led the nation for fifteen years and points out he re-instated the Casemates events and stood on the stage in good years and in very hard ones.

In every one of those years, he says, the same thing happened: He looked out at a square full of red and white and remembered why representing Gibraltar was never a burden.

The Chief Minister says Brexit was not our decision, but became our problem- a problem that consumed a decade of his Government's time.

He reiterates the Treaty delivers fluidity at the frontier and offers legal certainty for the economy without a single concession on exclusively British sovereignty.

Spain and Gibraltar, together with the European Union and the United Kingdom all sat down at a table together, and against all odds, managed to negotiate a Treaty that works for everyone.

Mr Picardo believes our forefathers would be very proud of a Gibraltar representing itself at the highest table of international diplomacy and delivering the objectives it had set out to achieve.

Giving thanks to all those who contributed along the way- he also thanks the community saying it’s conducted itself through years that would have fractured a less serious one.

Fabian Picardo believes there is still much to do and next month he will again lobby for Gibraltar’s de-listing at the UN.

Wishing everyone a happy National day he asks they wear the red and white with pride, to take their children to Casemates and tell them what happened in 1967 and to sing the anthem loud and proud- as he will till his dying breath.