The Government reminds both the leadership of Unite the Union and its members in the GFRS that the GSLP Liberal Government has no objection to their exercising their democratic and Constitutional right to protest and demonstration for as often and as long as they wish to.

The Government defends, without exception or caveat, the right of Fire Fighters and all workers and groups in Gibraltar to exercise that fundamental, democratic and Constitutional right.

The Government’s objection is only to the blatantly improper use, during the course of the said demonstration, of taxpayer-funded equipment, in this case essential PPE, for the purpose of giving extra visibility to the demonstration.

It is obvious that the PPE in question is funded by the taxpayer for the professional purpose for which it is designed, intended and acquired.

Any demonstration must be held without the use of equipment purchased for professional purposes by the taxpayer.

That is what the Government has addressed in a lenient manner in the warning communications it has addressed to the Fire Fighters who have misused the equipment.

It is surprising that Unite preferred that the Government should have issued warning letters even to Fire Fighters that have not misused PPE – something that the Government was not prepared to do as it would have been plainly unjust and improper.

The Government is proud of and supports the work of the GFRS, as demonstrated by its ongoing investment in its resources and personnel, but the claim for a 7.5% pay rise for ‘night shifts’ over and above their already fair remuneration will not be entertained.

Finally, the Government notes that the weekly ‘Thursday Demo’ has changed this week as a result of a number of those intending to protest being away from Gibraltar and will therefore now go ahead tomorrow instead.