Sep 02 - GSD Claims Hassan-Nahon "Does Not Understand Self-Determination Or Devolved Integration"
The GSD says the unfortunate timing of Ms Hassan-Nahon’s mistaken statement on devolved integration demonstrates little understanding of the concept of devolved integration, the principle of self-determination or the purpose of the Select Committee.
In addition, the GSD says it strikes a note of discord when the Government and Opposition are striving to work together to determine the best way forward for Gibraltar as the UK negotiates Brexit.
A spokesman for the party said: "Devolved integration does not involve the loss of self-government achieved under the 2006 Constitution; she is wrong about this. That level of self-government would remain as does our ability to raise our own taxes and run our own economy. A UK act of Parliament would change the status of Gibraltar from Overseas Territory to integrated territory. We would have a similar status to Scotland or Wales but with today’s level of self-government.
"Ms Hassan-Nahon has not understood the right of self-determination. A referendum on whether we should or should not accept devolved integration would be an act of self-determination.
"Her position is undemocratic and clearly she has not thought it through. She is attempting to prevent the people of Gibraltar from exercising their right to self-determination in a referendum on this option, if it were offered by the UK, simply because she personally does not like the idea!
"We have suggested this option as a fallback position intended to avoid the possibility that Gibraltar is left out (by the EU) of a deal giving the UK access to the Single Market.
"The Chief Minister has described the denial of access to the Single Market as an existential threat to our current economic model. Integration would include Gibraltar as part of the UK in any deal negotiated for the UK. Ms Hassan-Nahon prefers to risk the loss of businesses leading to unemployment over allowing the people of Gibraltar to make a choice in a referendum that could prevent an economic downturn.
"Finally her statement fails to grasp the purpose of the Select Committee, which is to discuss all options available to our community, integration being one, before determining how to proceed and certainly not to have options ruled out before the committee is constituted."
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