Oct 20 – Picardo Announces Major Cabinet Reshuffle
- Cortes loses Health but moves to Education
- Licudi gains Employment and Tourism
- Costa takes on Health and Justice
- Balban will head a new department: Infrastructure and Planning
The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced a major Cabinet reshuffle this morning, in order to “refresh and reboot” his Government.
Mr Picardo highlighted the excellent work done by his ministers over the past five years and made today’s announcement in light of the Brexit vote at the EU Referendum.
“The work that the ministers have done and the departments they have been responsible for since the 9th of December 2011 and then in the year building up to the year of the election was magnificent work and I want to thank them for it specifically, by reflecting on the fact that the 68% vote we garnered in the last general election is of course a fruit of that work,” he said.
He added: “I am the luckiest Chief Minister in Gibraltar in terms of the talent available to me and their ability to deliver it.”
The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, has gained the ministerial role for Minister for Exiting the European Union. Mr Picardo said he makes the announcement to create the ministerial responsibility for leaving the European Union with a “heavy heart”.
Mr Picardo highlighted the work done by Dr Garcia for Gibraltar, including lobbying for Gibraltar in Brussels and the UK.
Dr Garcia retains his other portfolios including Civil Aviation, Lands and Government Projects, Information and Democratic and Civic Reform and for the Promotion of Self-Determination.
Dr John Cortes leaves his role as Minister for Health, and instead gains the ministerial roles for Education, Heritage and Urban Renewal. He will continue in his role as Minister for the Environment and the Upper Rock, and Climate Change and will take on responsibility of the maintenance and administration of tourist sites and beaches.
As the new Minister for Education, he is being asked to build five new schools for Gibraltar.
Mr Picardo said Dr Cortes had done an excellent job of repatriating a lot of health services to Gibraltar, and leaves the post with the satisfaction of a huge number of projects he has completed.
Gilbert Licudi gains responsibility for Employment, Tourism, Commercial Aviation, All Entry Points into Gibraltar, and the Port, as well as Maritime and Shipping Services and Industrial Tribunals.
He will retain his existing portfolios for coordination of International Exchange of Information, Civil Contingencies, Fire and Rescue Service and the airport Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr Licudi was praised for building two new schools and the University of Gibraltar, as well as the small boats marina - Mr Picardo said he is the right person to look into the areas where the Government needs to explore more possibilities in a post-Brexit world.
Albert Isola takes over a new Ministry for Commerce which will consolidate what the Government does for the financial services industry, the gaming industry and the e-commerce industry. He will also gain Postal Services, Business and Commercial Affairs.
Mr Picardo says Mr Isola is “a very safe pair of hands” who understands business in Gibraltar.
Neil Costa was praised for the excellent job he did as Minister for Employment, and gains the role for Minister for Health and Care and Justice.
Health services, care for the elderly residential services and social services will fall under the umbrella term of Ministry for Health and Care. Mr Picardo highlighted that Mr Costa served as the Shadow Minister for Health when the GSLP-Liberals were in opposition.
As Minister for Justice, Mr Costa will focus on the legal system, probation services, tribunals, community order schemes, access to justice and legal aid, and law drafting.
Samantha Sacramento continues with her work as Minister for Housing and Equality.
Described by the Chief Minister as the Government’s unsung hero, Ms Sacramento will have to focus on building 1,500 new affordable homes for people in Gibraltar and will be part of a new Ministry of Housing and Affordable Housing.
She also gains the portfolio for Civic Rights, Citizen’s Advice, the Ombudsman, Consumer Affairs Protection, Data Protection and Health and Safety and Control of Drugs Misuse including substance abuse, rehabilitation and responsibility of Bruce’s Farm.
Steven Linares will continue as the Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport, but gains the responsibility for Broadcasting and the Media from the Chief Minister.
Mr Picardo said Mr Linares has done an excellent job for sports and has done a lot for events-led tourism for Gibraltar.
Paul Balban will head a new department, that of Infrastructure and Planning.
It will bring together all the areas of technical services, town planning and transport and public service vehicles and transport, and the implementation of the Sustainable Traffic and Transport Plan.
Joe Bossano will remain as Minister for Economic Development and Inward Investment, and will gain the role for Public Sector Efficiency.
The Chief Minister said his government does not believe in cuts or austerity, but will focus on efficiency to make sure Government departments are running in the best way possible for Gibraltar.
The Chief Minister retains the responsibility for economy and finance, immigration, international treaties, elections, industrial relations, civil service and HM Customs.
He has relinquished a number of roles including that of broadcasting and the media and control of drugs misuse as he will be required to travel and put Gibraltar’s case forward.
{fcomment}
