Jun 01 - GSD: "Chief Minister Is Clutching At Straws In Rejecting Calls For A Public Accounts Committee"

The GSD says the Chief Minister’s arguments are becoming increasingly irrational and he is merely clutching at straws in rejecting calls for a Public Accounts Committee.

The GSD’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Public Finance, Roy Clinton stated: “The Chief Minister has an unfortunate habit of painting himself and Gibraltar into corners.

"Instead of looking at the merits of the argument and being open to discussing the creation of a Public Accounts Committee he has instead chosen to burn bridges with our friends in the CPA at a time when we can ill afford to do so.

"For the Chief Minister to suggest that having a Public Accounts Committee would grind Gibraltar to a halt thus playing into the hands of Gibraltar’s enemies is utter nonsense as is the suggestion that his Government is more transparent than ever.

"His Government refuses to answer questions in Parliament regardless of supplementaries and refuses to give information on Government owned companies such as Credit Finance Company Limited.

"Meanwhile he trumpets his so called £300 million ‘war chest’ obtained by mortgaging Government Housing Estates through another Government owned company Gibraltar Capital Assets Limited while declaring with a straight face that Government debt is going down. The forthcoming budget debate will be one for the people of Gibraltar to watch as something doesn’t quite add up.”

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