GSD Says GSLP Shows "Unwillingness on Conflicts"

The GSD has issued another statement on the proposed conflicts of interest legislation.

A statement continued: "Why are there no specific prohibitions governing the eligibility or award of high value contracts or jobs in the conflict of interests law? Or that prevent the so-called “revolving” door of conflicts where on retirement a Minister or public official can seamlessly pop up with a public services job or contract?

"It is incredible that the GSLP Government should tell the people of Gibraltar that their weak draft law on Conflicts of Interest covers the “same” ground as the Canadian Conflict of Interest Act but in a more enforceable way. This is a brazen manipulation of reality for their self-serving needs. It is no different to their falsehoods on “exoneration” and “vindication” after the Openshaw Report. All these are objectively untrue.

"Anyone making a comparison between the Canadian legislation and the Gibraltar Bill will realise that the Gibraltar draft goes nowhere close to prohibiting conduct which in Canada is specifically unlawful. That includes specific prohibitions on the award of contracts to persons related to or close to Ministers. By comparison the GSLP law on “conflicts” is a poor shadow. It is a toothless and utterly castrated device. This can only be a deliberate choice of the Government. People are entitled to wonder why."

Leader of the Opposition, Keith Azopardi said: “A failure to deal decisively with conflicts or put in place robust systems means that the system is at risk of trafficking of influence and abuse. This short-changes the tax-payer and weakens our democracy. The reality is that this law when passed will not properly prevent conflicts of interest. It will not prohibit most of the things that the Canadian law specifically prohibits and it will let some people carry on regardless unchecked and unregulated.

"This looks destined to go down in history like the much-heralded Anti-Corruption Authority Act which 3.5 years after being passed has still not even been commenced and is another failed piece of legislation. It was the inability to properly manage the conflicts of interests affecting the GSLP Chief Minister which led to the recommendation that a law regulating conflicts of interest should be passed. But the GSLP seem to have no intention to prohibit certain conduct even when that is obviously in the interests of the taxpayer and a curb on abuse.”