LA LINEA CUSTOMS POST -- WAITING VEHICLES -- CAFE WHERE PEOPLE WAIT -- CATHEDRAL IN GIBRALTAR -- SOCCER MATCH -- GO-KART RACE.




Initials AK/V/JF/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SPANISH CUSTOMS OFFICERS ARE EXAMINING ALL CAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ACROSS THE FRONTIER AT LA LINEA. CARS HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE THEY ARE PERMITTED TO CROSS INTO SPAIN, OR BACK INTO GIBRALTAR.

PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, MAINLY OF SPANISH WORKERS CROSSING INTO SPAIN IS CLOSELY CHECKED NIGHT AND MORNING. ABOUT 10,000 SUCH WORKERS ENTER GIBRALTAR TO WORK IN THE DOCKS AND OTHER MANUAL JOBS. NOW, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE BACK ANY GIBRALTAR-BOUGHT ARTICLES.

"A STORM IN A GLASS OF WHISKY" WAS THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE SPANISH MINISTER OF INFORMATION ON SATURDAY TO BRITISH REACTION TO THE RECENTLY-IMPOSED FRONTIER MEASURES. HE SAID THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH SMUGGLING. THE WHOLE PROBLEM OF GIBRALTAR IS COMPLICATED BY THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE THAT THE BORDER RESTRICTIONS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A "LOCAL ISSUE".

TO THE 25,000 INHABITANTS OF GIBRALTAR, THE FRONTIER RESTRICTIONS ARE A THREAT TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE. IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE BEEN ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY DEPENDENT ON A FREE FRONTIER WITH SPAIN.

SPECIAL PRAYERS WERE SAID IN CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE COLONY YESTERDAY (SUNDAY). AT THE CATHEDRAL OF ST MARY A LARGE CONGREGATION GATHERED TO PRAY FOR GUIDANCE AND HELP.

TO PREVENT BOREDOM FOR THE GIBRALTARIANS WHO WOULD NORMALLY DRIVE INTO SPAIN OVER THE WEEKEND, SOCCER MATCHES AND EVEN A GO-KART RACE WERE ORGANISED. GIBRALTARIANS WHO CROSS THE BORDER INTO SPAIN ARE TOLD TO STAY FOR THE NIGHT AT LA LINEA. CONSEQUENTLY, THEIR NUMBERS ARE MUCH REDUCED. THE BRITISH PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SPAIN AND CROSS DAILY TO WORK IN GIBRALTAR HAVE NOW TO REGISTER FOR RESIDENCE PERMITS.

AMONG THE ECONOMIC RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE SUPPLY OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUIT INTO GIBRALTAR. THIS HAS BEEN MET IN PART BY CONSIGNMENTS FROM MOROCCO. HOWEVER, SPANISH CUSTOMS BOATS ARE NOW INTERCEPTING THESE SUPPLIES CARRIED BY FELUCCAS, KEEPING THEM IN CUSTODY FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILST SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE CONTRABAND IS CARRIED OUT.