Joe Caruana is the latest addition to the Gibunco International Literary Festival. Joe recently published ‘The Life and Times of Sir Robert Peliza’ a biography of the former Chief Minister.

Sir Robert led the Integration With Britain Party (IWBP) to election victory in 1969, during a brief interlude in Sir Joshua’s domination of local politics, restored in 1972. Joe, a lifelong political associate of Sir Robert’s, was a Minister in the Peliza administration.

Moroccan writer Driss Alaoui Mdaghri will be providing the notes of exoticism as a voice from North Africa and his involvement in campaigns for peace and tolerance, while researcher Warren Dockter poses the intriguing question ‘Did Churchill Consider Converting to Islam?’

Other confirmed speakers will be composer and choirmaster Andrew Gant, with the lecture ‘A History of English Church Music’, writer and broadcaster Anthony Sattin uncovering less well known aspects of TE Lawrence’s intense life, art expert Caroline Campbell taking a close look at the Italian Renaissance, writer Edward Lucas bringing audiences up to date with cybercrime and identity theft on the internet, and the world renowned scientist Frank Close investigating the true story of Harwell nuclear physicist Bruno Pontecorvo, who defected to the Soviet Union in 1950.

There will also be a panel discussion on the Arab Spring chaired by Charles Powell, featuring James Harkin and the aforementioned Anthony Sattin.

Minister for Tourism Samantha Sacramento said she looked forward to the culture packed weekend at the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival.

Minister Sacramento said: “The literary festival has gone from strength to strength in each of its successive editions. This year will be a bigger and better festival yet. The range of topics and lectures is extraordinary, and the local component is quite inspiring. It is also quite fitting that we should be paying tribute to a great Gibraltarian like Sir Bob Peliza through an event highlighting Joe Caruana’s biography of the former Chief Minister.” 

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