GSD Responds To Government Over Residency Policy

The GSD has responded to the Government’s recent comments on its concerns over the Residency Policy.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

Red herrings and personalization will not deflect from the fact that aspects of the residency policy are anti-British in  effect and will push jobs to Spain. It is also a disincentive to British inward investment and unpopular among the  business sector and financial services operators. 

For Ms Arias-Vasquez to personalize by calling into question the motive and interests of GSD Executive Member Nick  Cruz or the GSD in simply having a legitimate different point of view is cheap politics but no surprise. Nothing changes.  Equally her deflection as to why this GSD press release is fronted by Mr Cruz is just that a hollow deflection and  somewhat rich given that Ms Arias-Vasquez recently side-lined the Housing Minister and made housing  announcements herself. The GSD will choose who fronts individual Party communications – in this case on what is  essentially immigration policy that impacts on business (but not just business). 

The GFSB on the 2 July described the Governments policy now regrettably law on the following terms: “the policy  could make recruitment and retention harder for employers, discourage entrepreneurship and have negative effects  on business in Gibraltar”. The Chamber and GFCC have expressed similar concerns, repeated in a Viewpoint program  only last week. The GSD would remind the Government that this is what happens when you no longer listen and  properly consult. Notification of a forthcoming law is not consultation; it is a shallow pretence to enable Minister Arias Vasquez who has led on this policy to be able to pretend consultation has taken place. It has not and that is why there  is widespread concern about this policy. 

Craig Sacarello said: ““A Government cannot credibly claim that Gibraltar is ‘open for business’ while introducing  barriers that make it harder to recruit, establish a business and invest here. Presenting businesses with a settled policy  is not meaningful consultation. Genuine consultation means listening before decisions are made and being prepared  to change course when legitimate concerns are raised.” 

Nick Cruz said: “Politics should be about policy, and it is unhelpful and inelegant of this GSLP Government to  personalize its response to talk about me personally and question my interests which are only the betterment of  Gibraltar and all its stakeholders. If they do not like the message, they should deal with it and not try and attack the  messenger”. 

The reality of this new policy and law is that it affects certain sectors more than others. In certain lower paid sectors it  will plainly push job creation to Spain and instead of more British jobs there will be more Spanish jobs in the economy.  In other areas of business or financial services it is creating unnecessary hurdles on recruitment, British  entrepreneurship, inward investment, job creation or residence that discourage British economic investment while  pushing investment or jobs to Spain. It is agist and works against anyone over 55 which often are senior management  and or owners of businesses and startups.  

It is not a “pro-Gibraltar” policy to have put in place rules that will be counter-productive to inward investment, job  creation or growth and push labour to Spain. Waving the flag of protectionism of social services is unnecessarily  alarmist when other measures can be taken to insulate our social services from new entrants and ensure lasting  financial contributions by residents. If we really want a pro-Gibraltar policy it would be balanced and protect all sectors  of our economy. This policy does not.

We reiterate that a GSD Government would seek to reverse those aspects of the Residency policy introduced by the  GSLP/Libs that operate in an anti-British and anti-Business way that has never been in Gibraltar’s interests. That can  be done while also protecting public services from undue strain by a series of targeted residency and contribution  obligations for new entrants where appropriate.