May 13 – Government – Opposition Spat Over Minister Isola’s Declaration Of Interests
The Government and Opposition were yesterday evening engaged in a heated exchange over Minister Albert Isola’s declaration of interests.
The spat kicked off when the GSD sent a press release alleging that the Minister for Financial Services, Mr. Albert Isola, had failed to file his Declaration of Members’ Interest. The party said that this delay meant that the declaration would be “woefully late.”
The purpose of the Register is to provide information of any pecuniary interests or other material benefit which a MP may receive which might be thought to affect his/her conduct as an MP or influence his actions, speeches or vote in Parliament.
The party then went on to say that Mr Isola’s name appears listed in the “Panama Papers”. The Minister is named as a beneficial owner of a Bahamian Company called “Artnell Associates Ltd” incorporated on 3 January 2001. The GSD said that this company did not appear in Mr. Isola’s previous declaration dated 18 July 2014 in which ownership of a beneficial interest of 1 % or greater needs to be listed.
The party ended by saying that it was “important that Ministers are seen to lead by example at a time when transparency is required by all.”
The press release drew a rapid and strongly worded response from the Government condemning what it described as the GSD’s “outrageous statement.”
“HM Government of Gibraltar condemns the GSD’s irresponsible suggestion of impropriety by the Minister for Financial Services which is absolutely untrue and outrageous. The Minister is a highly respected and experienced professional lawyer who worked in the private sector for some 30 years.”
Number Six went on to explain that the reference to him in the “Panama Papers” was a “professional appointment in a company that purely provided Director services to clients.”
The Government added that the statement by the GSD served to “maliciously link” a delayed declaration of interests with the Panama Papers and was a “disgraceful attempt to discredit” the Minister and this Government, which would delight the Rock’s detractors.
“[This] is yet another example of the GSD putting their political interests before those of Gibraltar,” said a spokesperson.
Minister Isola commented: “I have been working in London on Financial Services matters this week and received a call from the Clerk to Parliament reminding me that I had not filed my new declaration of interests. I apologized and promised to file them this Friday 13th May. The declaration will be identical with one minor change. The suggestion by the GSD is horrible and I am frankly shocked that they would steep so low for cheap political theatrics, even if that damages Gibraltar in the process. If they were interested in the truth all they had to do was call me! The leader of the Opposition should know better.”
Speaking from London where he was attending the Anti Corruption Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Cameron, the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “Albert enjoys my full confidence. He has acted professionally for people and is mentioned in documents as a lawyer. He has nothing to hide. I am not however surprised by the GSD stooping this low. I have got used to them never putting Gibraltar first. Snr Margallo will be delighted with their careless allegation. It appears that this was deliberately released to coincide with the anti-corruption. Summit or just carelessly handled - I don't know which is worse.”
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