Gibraltar celebrates Commonwealth Day with flag raising and closer ties to former British countries

GIBRALTAR celebrated Commonwealth Day on Monday to mark a year in which it reached out to the community of former British nations after it left the European Union.

The Commonwealth flag flew proudly from a new 8-metre pole in the Commonwealth Park of the same name as the British Overseas Territory marked the occasion.

The main deputy minister, Joseph García, said that the Rock “has invested time and resources in the development of commercial and social relations with other member states.”

The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day is “Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future”.

Although Gibraltar is only a member of the Commonwealth by being part of the United Kingdom, it has managed to get its views across on key issues.

“Gibraltar continues to have a say in discussing the prevailing issues of climate change, growth, youth issues, peace and prosperity with the entire Commonwealth Family of Nations,” Garcia said.

It follows a year in which Equality Minister Samantha Sacramento hosted the Commonwealth Conference of Women Parliamentarians with over 20 delegates from the British Isles and the Mediterranean region.

Gibraltar also worked to expand its business ties with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).

It also sent youth representatives to the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Rwanda and the Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago.

Most recently, he ran an essay contest on the importance of Commonwealth membership among all levels of school pupils and university students.

More than 2.6 million people celebrated Commonwealth Day around the world.

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