Marlene Hassan Nahon Budget Speech
Here’s the full text of Marlene Hassan Nahon’s Budget speech delivered yesterday afternoon:
Mr. Speaker, the last four years have afforded me the great privilege of serving the people of this community and help them with their issues and concerns. The nature of my political views and the platforms me and my team have created throughout this legislature have allowed me to develop a very close rapport with a growing electorate, one that is profoundly dissatisfied with the direction this community is taking and the trappings of a stagnant, ineffective political ecosystem. In this time, I have tried to be a fierce advocate for their views in this Parliament, providing ideas and alternatives in the field of general policy, but also highlighting the systemic flaws that plague our young democracy. This is what I bring to you today: the voices of many Gibraltarians who have overcome their fear to stand up to the status quo, who are crying out against problems ranging from the general mismanagement of everyday affairs to the pressing need for systemic reforms that have become painfully evident.
This voice is strong, clear and irrepressible, and is, once again, acquiring the power and historical significance it has had many times in the past. As a community, when confronted with every significant challenge and defining crossroads, we have had the audacity to put our differences aside and raise our demands with a single, clear voice. We have had political leaders with vision, and a commitment to the people that those that lead us today clearly lack.
At every one of these junctures we have told the world, both inside and outside of Gibraltar, that there is only one political agenda that binds and unites us all and that nothing will break this resolve. This agenda is the survival and prosperity of the Gibraltarian community, and its values of autonomy, national identity and self-determination. I am here to tell this Government, on behalf of Together Gibraltar and all those we represent, that it is clear to us that this covenant has been broken. Measures are being taken that do not represent the best interests of the Gibraltarians, but the agenda of an economic elite. We are no longer one, united Gibraltar, but two. The Gibraltar that benefits from luxury developments and tax avoidance schemes, and the Gibraltar that toils in dust, pollution and ever worsening living conditions. Our cityscape is being transformed for the sake of an economic growth that many in this community are simply not partaking in, in a way that is impacting negatively on the quality of life of almost everybody in our community. Amidst the rubble of building sites, deafening traffic congestion, toxic air and growing political and economic instability, many Gibraltarians are asking themselves; What on earth is all this for? How is this making our lives any better? What will be left of our way of life, and most importantly, our QUALITY of life, once this vision has materialised? Who is benefitting from this? Who is accountable for the blatant duplicity? Where is the new dawn of accountability and transparency we were promised?
The people of Gibraltar do not want to go down this path Mr. Speaker, and they are telling us loud and clear. Unfortunately, the Opposition to my right represents exactly these same interests, and will provide their own brand of a similar vision for the future of this community. We need a return to the times in which Gibraltarians spoke with one voice and with a single agenda. The survival of our identity and the well-being of our people, y punto.
ECONOMY
Mr Speaker, in my path towards becoming a better public servant I have had to dig deep, study, and investigate, in order to arrive to an understanding of the issues that would allow me to make the right choices for the people of Gibraltar. These decisions and policy suggestions have always occurred within a framework of constant dialogue and communication with my constituents, as I believe it is a fundamental duty for every politician to be accessible and listen closely to the concerns of those we serve and whose interests we must look after.
Unfortunately, the line of communication with this Government -particularly on economic matters - has not been quite as smooth. This Government had not published its accounts since 2015 till earlier this month, May 2019. I received a copy of the latest accounts for 2016 two weeks ago. The date on the Principal Auditor’s report was 29th January 2019. Can this even be true? I have personally checked the website on a regular basis and it is only in the last few weeks that these accounts have been available to the public. This Government has not disclosed any reason for the fact that these accounts were not published earlier. Today I am compelled to ask our Chief Minister, as our Minister responsible for Finance, if he can explain to the people of Gibraltar why the publishing of these accounts has been delayed.
Just to clarify further.
Sec. 52.(1) of the Public Finance (Control and Audit) Act 1977 states that "The Accountant General shall within a period of nine months (or such longer period as the Minister responsible for finance shall allow) after the close of each financial year sign and transmit to the Principal Auditor accounts showing fully the financial position of the Government of Gibraltar at the end of such financial year."
And can the Chief Minister confirm that the accounts showing fully the financial position of the Government of Gibraltar have been transmitted to the Principal Auditor for the last two years ie. 2017 and 2018? And if not, Mr Speaker, may I ask why not?
Is it for lack of resources? Or is it for the convenience of keeping the people of Gibraltar in the dark? Based on the expenditures seen in this year’s budget books it is not due to lack of resources Mr. Speaker. The first step towards transparency and accountability, -things this Government fervently promised- is to publish forthcoming and timely public accounts, and the absence of such will surely raise doubts about the management of our public funds. I understand that Brexit has brought uncertainty, but not having a clear picture of where this community’s public finances stand has surely added to this uncertainty.
Further, it is interesting how the Honourable Minister Sir Joe Bossano, appears to be trying to fend off future criticism without actually addressing the issue. What is more troubling is that this has now become an ‘annual affair’. We would expect the economy minister to oversee a sustainable economy. Where the economy is at risk, I would expect him to act by curtailing spending, rather than merely continue to highlight the issue, only so he can tell us at a later date, “I told you so” He sounds like he is in Opposition Mr. Speaker. Perhaps he is preparing..
AREAS OF CONCERN
Mr Speaker, the Budget debate is always fertile ground to take stock of economic affairs. It is a chance to discuss the direction we are taking and whether enough is being done to successfully manage our economy and help our businesses plan for the future. A future that is now all the more difficult to ascertain due to the impending Brexit. It is also a time to review our priorities and ask ourselves whether we have got these right.
To follow are areas of concern that need to be addressed by this House, given its role as guardians of the people’s interests!
TRANSPARENCY
It now appears clearer than ever that our system of Govt lacks appropriate checks and balances when it comes to our Public Finances. This Government’s promise of a new dawn of transparency and accountability, after two legislatures and almost a decade in power, has clearly not been delivered.
There is great anxiety within our business community that due to this lack of transparency it is possible that our public finances are not being managed responsibly.
One of my main concerns relates to GOVT OWNED COMPANIES.
I ask the Chief Minister to explain the following:
Mr Speaker. After careful investigation it has come to my attention that the number of Govt owned companies has been growing in the last few years. On average a sum of £25m has been appropriated for Govt. Owned companies. I also understand that these Govt owned companies have not published, and perhaps do not have to publish, their financial accounts. Some of these companies have not filed abridged accounts since the days of the GSD being in administration.
The filing of abridged accounts is well known to be a statutory requirement for limited companies. Is it possible that companies that are Govt owned should be treated differently to companies that are privately owned? Is there a special dispensation for this? And if so where is the legislation that allows for this dispensation? As far as my constituents are concerned, many of whom are company owners, there are obligations for a limited company to file annual abridged accounts. Is this not the case for wholly Govt owned companies?
Mr Speaker I refer to the list of 34 such companies that are listed in the Draft Revenue and Expenditure Book. What is the justification for all of these Government Owned Companies? Is each company carrying out a different role? It appears that a number of them are property holding companies. Is it not possible to have just one company that holds all properties?
Indeed, can anyone in this House explain the need for the growing number of Govt owned companies that no information is published on? Who has overall responsibility for these companies and who signs the accounts of these companies, if anyone does?
Mr Speaker, this is all the more concerning when a number of these companies are now big players and doing business in the private sector. Some of these Government owned companies are estimated to be turning over millions in revenue and expenditure. We, the public, have a right to know, given that the companies are owned by the people of Gibraltar.
And carrying on the theme of Govt Owned companies. I understand that there is a mortgage or charge over the main Govt. owned company called Gibraltar Investments Holdings Ltd of an unlimited amount. This charge has been in place since 7th April 2016. Would the Chief Minister please explain why the charge has to be unlimited and does this mean that in effect all companies owned by this main holding company are also covered by this mortgage? Would it be possible to know whether this charge is related to the mortgaging of Gibraltar’s housing estates? And if so, how much has been borrowed by Govt in place of this mortgage?
Mr. Speaker, another issue with transparency is the TENDER SYSTEM
I understand that a new procurement system has been set up for the purposes of obtaining quotations and having a more efficient tendering process. Many of my constituents feel that this system is not offering them any particular advantage. There are concerns in the community that many of the requests, and certainly the larger tenders, are being allocated to the “usual suspects” yet again. Just like the project at the Catalan Bay parking lot, where it happened that my party discovered that a developer was already pre-selling apartments even before the “Expression for Interest” advert was published in the Gibraltar Chronicle. This is just one of many examples of poor governance over the Tender System.
PUBLIC VS PRIVATE SECTOR DIVIDE
Last year, Mr Speaker, the Hon Sir Joe Bossano, minister for Economic Development, Telecommunications and the GSB, stated that the rate of public expenditure of his own Govt was not sustainable. In his words he said that “on average public sector earnings are 25% higher than the UK equivalents and 50% higher than the average earnings in Gibraltar’s private sector”. In the same week he said that there was no need to consider austerity in order to address this issue.
Mr Speaker, given that the Public Sector, both the Civil Service and the GDC, together now cost in the region of £25m a month, or £300m per annum in just salaries alone, and that there appears to be no intention to scale back the size of the public sector, many stakeholders in the private sector are asking questions as to the sustainability of this rate of expenditure. The Chamber of Commerce have alluded to it on a number of times and so have the GFSB.
One of the issues that many of my constituents complain about is the inability to compete with Government in getting trained and qualified staff. And when they do manage to get trained staff, many leave for a much more attractive govt. job. In fact, it is now believed that some business owners are now very keen to join the Civil Service. But seriously Mr Speaker, the average wage in the public sector is now 50% higher than that in the private sector. And the public sector have much better conditions of work to boot. The aspirations therefore for many of our youth are now to become government employees. This culture of expectation does not bode well for the entrepreneurial spirit that Gibraltar has always had.
And also, it will detract from a longer-term vision that is required for the prudent management of our economy, because inflating the public sector at the expense of the private sector will only create an economic dependency which in the long run is simply unsustainable.
This does not mean we need to apply strict austerity policies or downscale our civil service, rather that we should rationalise our spending and invest in those key sectors that will guarantee the functioning of our administration and the fulfilment of our economic plans. This means investing heavily in those sectors that provide real quality of life and opportunities for our community, such as the health sector, in which external recruitment agencies are offering short-term contracts and undercutting wages, diluting the workforce and shutting out the employees who are contracted centrally. Furthermore, this policy might undermine our ability to continue giving these quality public services in the medium to long term future, as privatisation and budget cuts are getting in the way of continuity and sensible succession planning.
In other strategic areas such as education, civil servants are complaining about stagnant wages and suboptimal working conditions - This is something I will elaborate in detail when addressing the education portfolio - We are offloading the care of our elderly to de facto subsidiary companies, whose employees suffer from low wages and poor working conditions. This back-door privatisation of the care service, together with a general policy of reducing costs by privatisation of key sectors of public service, is damaging the morale of workers. Across the board there are more positions taken by recruitment companies with workers on limited contracts, while the worker who has done their hours for several years may still be on temporary contracts, when they should be made permanent. To make matters worse, this privatisation process has been executed in a manner that is less than transparent -something that seems to be a constant in the dealings of this administration - which further raises concerns as to the motivation behind this dramatic policy turn by a socialist government in name.
Another element contributing to the lack of motivation within the civil service is the current Govt’s trend to hire retired public sector workers, who already enjoy hefty pensions and final salary payments, for top positions within the civil service. This seemingly arbitrary policy sends out the message to prospective talent that the top positions in the public sector are reserved to a caste and is therefore inaccessible to those from outside the establishment. Also, it is not surprising that those currently employed and working hard in the hope of a fair chance of promotion are reporting low motivation and low levels of job satisfaction.
Further, many promises have been made to private sector pensioners but very few have been delivered. While it is important to welcome the progress made for those at the bottom of the income bracket, it is important that we don’t allow those who have contributed to the growth of our private sector - from which, let’s not forget, we fund most our public spending - to retire on what is effectively a subsistence wage, and expose to whom we owe an important part of our current prosperity to substandard living conditions.
It seems clear to me that the solution to these imbalances is not only the rationalisation of the private sector, but also the improvement of working conditions in the private sector.
Measures such as a more transparent and competitive relationship between the public and the private sector, coupled with meaningful consultation on real increases in minimum wage in line with local living costs - not of the symbolic kind as we have seen in the CM’s budget speech this year - and the introduction of frameworks to ensure better pensions for private sector workers would go a long way to make careers in the private sector more appealing and dynamic for our youth. This should be done in consultation with the business community and providing the necessary support to guarantee the survival and prosperity of our small business ecosystem.
This is an issue that I would like the Chief Minister to address and hear what his thoughts are.
POST OFFICE WORKERS AND MINISTER ISOLA
Mr. Speaker, following on from what Minister Isola said yesterday with reference the permanent contracts awarded to the Royal Gibraltar Post Office workers, many of who were on supply contracts for years, I represented this group of employees for the last 18 months in my capacity as a Member of this House.
I would therefore like to express my sincere gratitude to the Minister and the Chief Minister for receiving us in their offices on several occasions and listening to their concerns and their realities, culminating in the award of their permanent contracts. I am very grateful to Minister Isola and the Chief Minister’s time, attention and leadership on this matter Mr. Speaker and for both these gentlemen’s willingness to collaborate with a Member from across the House in a constructive and positive spirit for the ultimate benefit of a much deserving collective.
PENSIONS
Mr. Speaker, hand in hand with the public sector issue goes the pensions issue. We are aware that current demographic trends dictate that pensions expenditure can only go up, but we have a serious imbalance in our system that needs to be addressed. The other day I met with a constituent who has to survive on £145 a month. That is the extent of her pension. Mr Speaker even you have to agree that it is near on impossible to survive on such a measly pension.
My understanding is that the pension system, and the general welfare system that we have in Gibraltar, is there to serve all citizens and take care of them fairly, as well as providing a safety net that prevents those more vulnerable from living in undignified conditions.
Only recently did members of the Private Sector Workers and Pensioners Association take to the streets of Gibraltar to demonstrate in response to the broken campaign commitments of this administration over their last two terms of office. These commitments were clearly defined in this Government’s manifesto and subsequent communications, and to this day continue to be nothing but empty promises.
We believe a more supportive stance is required in this area and certainly a much more consultative approach. The Private Sector Workers and Pensioners Association have lobbied and campaigned for over a decade, and I have always supported them in their demands for dignified living pensions. It is an absolute ethical necessity that the promises made to our elderly on this issue are honoured. This is a collective made up of old age pensioners - our parents and grandparents. They are people who have worked tirelessly to build our nation and our economy, who have contributed dutifully to the common pot and who now feel cast aside by their institutions.
COST OF LIVING
Mr Speaker, Gibraltar's economy we are told by the Honourable the Chief Minister is booming; that incomes are rising and our standard of living is on the up. But that is not what my constituents are telling me. They complain about stagnant wages, rising living expenses and more precarious working conditions. I am now more convinced than ever that this Government has lost any sense of priority, and is way out of touch with the average member of this community.
HOUSING
Mr. Speaker upon turning to the Housing portfolio, I must first take this opportunity to thank the Hon Minister Samantha Sacramento for making herself available to me whenever I have brought to her constituents with issues. However, Mr. Speaker, I have to bring to your attention that as an independent member of this House who shadows all portfolios and has seen hundreds of constituents in the last year alone, the bulk of the issues that land on my desk are those relating to the Housing portfolio.
As of this week, Mr. Speaker, according to the Action for Housing representatives we have spoken to, there are over 650 individuals or families on the waiting list for 1-bedroom homes. Some of the people who are on this list have been waiting for a Government rented home for over five years.
Despite calls by industry experts in Housing, there is a massive shortfall in the stock of affordable rental accommodation, and those in need of these affordable homes are finding themselves squeezed out of a housing market that is plagued with bad practices and is becoming severely bloated and ineffective.
Housing prices have made it impossible for people on low income or on a private sector pension to rent in the open market. A standard studio apartment today is fetching upwards of £900 per calendar month. A standard one-bedroom apartment commands in excess of £1500 per month. I will not tell you what a 3 bedroom apartment is being rented for Mr Speaker for I dare say even you on your salary will balk at the rate.
The point I make Mr Speaker is that due to a lack of investment by Government in the area of affordable rental accommodation, many of Gibraltar's hard working and deserving citizens are simply unable to rent or buy a decent home. Let us not forget, Housing is a recognised human right, as stated by the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Article 25. Gibraltar’s Housing issues may stem back from certain historical decisions and undeniably suffer structural challenges, but it is becoming increasingly clear to the people in our community that major reclamation projects, aimed mainly at a privileged class, are taking priority over the needs of our most vulnerable and needy.
There needs to be a balance Mr. Speaker, between the interests of real estate speculation and Cat 2 residents, and the needs of working class Gibraltarians who are being expelled from their own communities. More funding and focus needs to be given to this issue, and our people need to feel that they can actually afford the so called ‘affordable housing’ when new schemes are made available. At present, anyone who sees the price tags of “affordable housing” and believes they are in fact affordable, is way out of touch with the reality of working class Gibraltarians.
And Mr. Speaker, I would also take this opportunity to seek clarification from the Chief Minister on where in the Budget book he has factored in repairs to the faulty floors of Beach View Terraces given that residents of the Estate were told -a day before my party and I visited them- that their floors would be fixed, at an estimate of around £1million or so I am told.
HOUSING LOAN
Mr. Speaker, in his Budget address, the Chief Minister has made reference to a new deal which will see Government’s equity in co ownership estates sold to a new private company. I will not judge this deal either fair or foul until I have seen the details. It has become customary for the Chief Minister to announce details of this sort in his Budget address as he did with the £300million mortgage on the government estates two years ago, and indeed it may be appropriate for such monumental deals to be revealed for the first time in a budget debate. However, it would be remiss of me to welcome such an announcement before the finer details of it are laid bare before this Parliament and to the community in an open and transparent manner, as it would be remiss of me to shoot it down, again, without knowing the finer details, so I shall reserve judgment until I have had the opportunity to scrutinise it with my team as is my job to do.
EQUALITY
Mr. Speaker, on Equality, I was pleased to hear my Honourable friend the Minister for Equality this morning manifesting her commitment to explore measures to introduce paternity leave as part of her remit. As you may know, my party Together Gibraltar has similarly committed to introduce paternity leave and rights, should we come into office.
I don’t need to say how vital such a move would be. If we truly want to call ourselves a fair society, we have to legislate in this direction in order to be able to truly provide equal opportunities. Introducing paternity leave would, for a start, lead to a change of mindsets in our society, and would inevitably be a good first step towards closing the gender pay gap, among the many other documented positive effects, as we know from countries that have adopted such legislation. THAT is what I call REAL equality Mr. Speaker, and nothing less will do.
LACK OF ECONOMIC VISION
Mr Speaker, to sum up my observations on economic affairs, I would like to advocate for a bolder vision for our economy.
Most of our economy is sustained by a small number of key sectors, some of which have come under attack in recent years. It is therefore important that we make sure we are not excessively reliant on any of these pillars, and that we diversify our economy enough to be able to withstand sudden change.
The conditions of the recent Tax Treaty with Spain are extremely punitive, and the implications of this treaty are not yet being fully felt. If this a sign of things to come, our financial sector might have to start operating under more stringent conditions and our hard-earned status as a competitive, low tax jurisdiction might become jeopardised.
We have a Gaming industry which has recently suffered the loss of Bet365. That is despite assurances from both the company and HMGOG that they were staying. The loss of 500 jobs approximately is substantial. However, we are not aware of how many of those jobs were local Gibraltarians. Would the Chief Minister be able to confirm numbers on this? The Gaming industry has been a net provider to Gibraltar but we need to be sure that these companies are committed to Gibraltar for the longer term.
Mr. Speaker, everyone in Gibraltar knows that Tourism is the one industry that we can really grow in and one that is relatively free from external pressures. Unfortunately, not enough is being done in this area Mr. Speaker. A strategic plan is overdue – what kind of destination can we be and what can Gibraltar aspire to? These are questions that many have been asking in two terms of this current administration when they realise the true potential of our tourist product. I appreciate the Skywalk and the suspension bridge, but there is so much more that needs doing Mr. Speaker in order to lure tourists looking for more than the basic tourist product we have offered for many decades.
The Port of Gibraltar should also become a major sector of our economy and one that we can operate and manage freely and independently of extraneous threats. Although it has seen improvements in recent years, I believe more needs to be done to improve and maintain this business, thus creating new and more sustainable economic pillars that can guarantee our autonomy and increase our economic resilience.
HEALTH
Mr. Speaker, I now turn to the Health portfolio and its issues, but before I immerse myself in this most vital portfolio, I would like to thank my good friend the Honourable Neil Costa, Minister for Health, for always making himself available to me and my constituents so that I can help the people of this community. I appreciate the good work of the Honourable Minister opposite me, and that of his staff, from Evelyne Cervan to Martin Ullger, and Karl Tonna -on the Justice portfolio- who never fail me when it comes to assisting others. And I say this in particular because I find it crucial to highlight the excellent treatment on a human one-to-one level between a Minister and his officials towards a Member of this House and her constituents. However, Mr. Speaker, this welcome reality, sadly does not deter from the systemic issues that I am duty bound to highlight -issues that to my mind are the most salient and pressing from within the Health Authority.
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate to have to report that The Gibraltar Health Authority under a GSLP/Liberal Government has seen the worst morale of its employees in recent history. Audits have proven that spirits are at an all-time low with the exploitation of agency workers, and the incidence of protests and high-profile tribunals speak for themselves.
The GHA has increased and paid out a huge chunk of our budget to help develop services across the bay, with Quiron Salud taking a substantial sum of our referrals, in place of investing more in facilities on Gibraltarian soil. There are services which are hanging on by a thread Mr. Speaker – The urological service for example has no adequate cover on most nights and has not even had a full-time consultant post occupied since March. Instead of investing on building our own self-sufficiency, we are, Mr. Speaker, throwing away tax payers’ money across the border to replace our lack of foresight, and putting our short-staffed workforce under immense stress and suboptimal practices.
As an alternative to investing on its facilities, the GHA has increased exponentially its numbers of managerial posts to the point that some senior managers hold conflicting roles. This policy allocates a massive workload on a single person, but obviously a massive pay-cheque too. Again, substandard solutions at a cost to the public Mr. Speaker.
The administration of the affairs within the GHA reeks of short-termism, with quick, rash measures being implemented to cut on expenditure - but at what cost Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, in the 2015/16 budget speech, the GSLP/Liberal Government announced that its Doctors would be “validated by the greatly respected General Medical Council”; a 2015 Manifesto commitment. Shortly after then, I extensively quizzed the then Minister for Health, the Honourable John Cortes on how the GMC was going to work, with all the challenges it would present. I was assured all the mechanisms were firmly in place for a soon to be fully functioning GMC framework.
Since the implementation of the MEDICAL AND HEALTH (LICENCE TO PRACTISE AND REVALIDATION) RULES 2014, Government has failed to deliver a robust GMC structure locally. Not only have they failed, but they have created loophole after loophole and increased the transition provisions period for Doctors who COULD NOT meet the requirements set out in the UK. Actually, this transitional provision for these doctors was changed three times in 2016, again in 2017, two more times in 2018 and again this March 2019, a total of Seven changes and extensions to this rule. In almost FIVE years they have not been able to ensure that all of our doctors - inside and outside - of the hospital meet the standard!
Moreover, we are paying out for a responsible officer who forms part of the Clinical Governance with a generous salary when the doctors and surgeons who we refer to in Quiron Salud, for example, do not have to meet these GMC standards. -Mr. Speaker, who concocts these fantastic ideas? Some of the staff in these hospitals can’t be guaranteed to speak English to our patients. And in the end who pays for any negligence or GMC unregulated practices in Spain? Our people Mr. Speaker.
The problem here is mis-distributed increases in personnel, too many captains, with questionable demeanours, trying to run a hospital to the ground by exploitative staffing levels, zero-hour contracts via agency workers who’s bosses are massively enriching themselves, and relying more and more on our neighbours instead of investing on our health service.
On the bright side Mr. Speaker, after extensive and careful discussion with the Health Minister on the topic of alopecia and its sufferers, an issue which I brought to him during the course of this year, I am proud to report that alopecia sufferers are now seeing the start of a policy which will support sufferers through psychological support via counsellors recommended by the GHA dermatologist on diagnosis of the condition, as well as financial support for wigs, which is a crucial need for sufferers
to maintain their dignity and high spirits in what is a life changing condition.
Further, Mr. Speaker, while I do appreciate the good work carried out by the Honourable the Minister for Health on the portfolio of the elderly and dementia care, I have to highlight that we can do more Mr. Speaker. I take this opportunity to congratulate Daphne Alcantara and the wonderful work she does with GADS. But Mr. Speaker, we need our Government to do so much more. Dementia is a world-wide epidemic, people are living longer, and the elderly are needing more care, more support, and if we do not have a long-term plan for them, we will be failing our most vulnerable.
We owe it to our elders to ensure we have a sustainable plan going forward which will secure their well-being and minimise their loneliness. And this includes assisted living, which will allow people living with dementia to live at home for longer and have staff available to assist them 24 hours a day. And let’s not forget Mr. Speaker, that most of the residents at Mount Alvernia have dementia. The place is old, in great need of repair, new beds, new facilities. Mount Alvernia needs upgrading and maintenance; it needs to be Dementia friendly; the same as the purposely built Hillsides and John Mac Home. When will this happen?
My vision for people living with dementia includes dining halls and social activities where residents can gather if they wish, to eat their meals and stimulate their minds. Our elderly deserve NO LESS Mr. Speaker, and as we know, budgets are always priority led.
And where some administrations prioritise development, construction, and capital projects, my party Together Gibraltar commits to a cohesive, long-term care plan that will combine housing, support services and healthcare in in one’s own home or apartment, as a matter of EXTREME priority and urgency, and we shall be rolling out our policies to that effect in our upcoming electoral manifesto.
On the topic of abortion Mr. Speaker, I shall not elaborate today on this issue given that an amendment to the Crimes Act Bill will be presented to the House imminently and we will have time to debate it then, but I feel I must say during the course of this address that I commend Government for bringing the Bill to this House, albeit decades late. I hope we can continue to treat WOMEN’s sexual health as a WOMEN´s healthcare issue, where we will eventually learn as a society that not having pro-choice legislation does not actually stop abortions, but only stops safe abortions, and stigmatises those who want to exercise this thoroughly recognised human right.
Despite the welcome advances brought forward by this legislation, I observed with grave concern that on the 30th of January this year, 4 MALE members from across this House, presented an anti-choice petition aimed at stifling the realisation of this long overdue legislative change.
The petition was presented by the Hon. Dr John Cortes MP on behalf of the Hon. Mr Albert Isola MP, with the support of the Hon. Mr. Daniel Feetham Q.C MP and the Hon. Mr Edwin Reyes MP. Yet again we find ourselves in the presence of men trying to legislate on women’s bodily autonomy, in a chamber in which women are already grossly underrepresented. I’m sure most women in this community will appreciate that this is a shameful state of affairs.
Mr. Speaker, on the matter of drug addiction, I turn to the Minister of Health, who is at the same time, the Minister of Justice, something which is of convenience when addressing this particular issue. Mr. Speaker, in the interests of social justice, and also the advancement of our community, and the improvement of our social standards, I am on record for stating that small amounts of some drugs caught on individuals should be decriminalised. Mr. Speaker this policy idea is currently at working group stage within my party, with members comprising of law enforcement workers, drugs strategy workers and mental health professionals.
Nevertheless, we have endured scathing remarks from the Honourable member Lawrence Llamas of the GSD to my right, going as far as to ask me publicly to retract my party’s policy - thus manifesting some worrying authoritarian tendencies - only to watch him applaud a retired drug strategist advocating for decriminalisation weeks later. It was also only two weeks ago when I had a heated debate with the Chief Minister himself, who described my policy as dangerous. This is what I have to say to both their remarks:
What is dangerous Mr. Speaker, is the lack of counsellors, while the Chief Minister announces two new positions, when all Government is doing is replacing two lost positions.
What is dangerous is the broken procedure into Bruce’s Farm; both for detox and admissions.
What is dangerous is this Government and GSD Opposition’s assertion that it prefers to punish addicts than to rehabilitate them.
What is dangerous is our juveniles in Prison and our supposed state-of-the-art “cycle of change” programme which needs to cycle itself out of prison as fast as it can and be replaced.
What is dangerous is children with criminal records that then preclude them from ever redeeming themselves and becoming upstanding citizens and job holders in later life.
What is dangerous is having just one drug addiction doctor for our entire community.
What is dangerous is having a place like Ocean Views used for detoxification purposes. What we need is a designated centre for detox open 24/7 instead of having to rely either on Ocean Views or A&E which cannot cope with the patients and often have to turn them away. I know this because I have lived this over and over with constituents who, after bravely trying to put an end to a lifetime of drug abuse are left alone and lost, with the door being literally slammed in their faces and the ghost of temptation waiting round the corner.
What is dangerous is that the City Hall be used as an outpatient centre. What is the message we are sending out Mr. Speaker?
What is dangerous is that after 3.30pm one cannot find a drug outreach worker, let alone on weekends.
What is dangerous is that this Government’s drug strategy dates from 8 years ago, and in practice amounts to very little.
Mr. Speaker, where are the experts and strategists? Are these people getting paid for their services? What experience do they have? Who are these consultants and why don’t they show their faces?
What is dangerous is the lack of funds directed at the drugs rehabilitation portfolio, while we build properties for the wealthy and allow the underprivileged to get thrown in jail and stigmatised for life.
What is dangerous is Minister Costa saying one thing on decriminalisation and Mr. Picardo saying another.
What is dangerous is the non-existent drug and alcohol workers who should be working alongside the police within the police custody suites. There is no arrest and referral Mr. Speaker, just a jail sentence, the viscious circle of petty crime, and nothing more.
What is dangerous is the lack of drug and alcohol workers working within the care agency and the court services.
What is dangerous is having long lists into Bruce’s Farm as well as no overall patient supervision post Ocean Views, leading people to literally throw themselves out of their windows. -Mr. Speaker, only yesterday, a painful video, was doing the rounds via whatsapp of one of our citizens BEGGING Government to be accepted into Bruce’s Farm after being turned away, warning anyone who cared to watch it that he was on the verge of suicide. If that is not a testament to a failed drug strategy and failed mental health services Mr. Speaker, then I honestly don’t know what is.
What is dangerous, is Government boasting that this budget is for the people, while our most vulnerable are denied elements of basic care and essential social support.
Mr. Speaker, general mental health services and support are also sadly lacking. We are still failing on delivering a robust policy and framework that is there to embrace the mental health sufferer and help them heal through easily accessible programmes, services and tools. Mr. Speaker, mental health should be a priority for any Government that wants to advance a society because a society without the adequate mental health support services is a broken society.
Mr. Speaker I spend much of my time nursing mental health patients during the week and on weekends who have no other place to run, and it is truly heartbreaking to see that there are no structures in place to give them the care they require. A designated help line is a welcome addition, but it is simply not enough.
MEDICINAL CANNABIS
Mr. Speaker, just over two years ago, I proposed a Motion in relation to the provision of Medicinal Cannabis to suffering patients. My Motion did not succeed, and many in this House alluded to a lack of consensus in the medical literature to make that decision. Today it seems like things have changed. Despite not having seen any major breakthroughs in investigation, suddenly the idea has become palatable to these same people. Coincidentally, the cannabis-derived industry is booming worldwide, generating neat profits for those who invest in the sector.
It seems that it has been this, and not the suffering of patients that has spurred this Government into action on this issue, Mr. Speaker. It seems like my proposals, motivated exclusively by the advances in medicine and the needs of patients in severe distress, are no longer worthy of scorn - it seems to me like, yet again, profit trumps the well-being of people. In any case, if it means my constituents will get access to better medication, I welcome this development.
JUSTICE
Mr. Speaker, with reference to the Justice portfolio, earlier this year, my party proposed a four- point plan in relation to assisting families of victims of crime when the associated criminal is due to come out for parole. I believe it is vital to move on measures like the ones we proposed in order to enfranchise victims and their families into the parole process. A caring community, and especially a small community, like ours, needs directives in order to provide victims and their families the time and processing they deserve in advance of a convicted criminal coming out of jail and I hope our proposals, or similar ones are adopted shortly Mr. Speaker.
Mr Speaker, my party believes that Gibraltar’s justice system needs to serve the people of Gibraltar. It must be fair, accessible, and enjoy the confidence of everyone. In legislating on Justice matters, we will ask of any proposal; will it increase fairness? Will it make the system more accessible? Will it improve confidence in the system?
Mr Speaker, we have to be honest about the system’s failings. There is community disquiet about our criminal justice system. Justice can be expensive – too expensive for those who need to access the system. We have also an obligation to be honest about what can be achieved.
Mr Speaker, my party would propose the introduction of a conditional legal aid fund. The unfairness of both the criminal legal aid and civil legal assistance systems are well known and widely acknowledged. The eligibility threshold for legal assistance is so low as to make it worthless to most working Gibraltarians. The criminal system doesn’t pay lawyers properly to defend cases.
Too often, discussion of reform has centred around trying to squeeze more from the existing public purse. My party, Mr Speaker, believes that we need to be imaginative about this. There is a system that works in places like Hong Kong and Western Australia – places with a similar legal system to ours.
It asks those who benefit from the system to contribute towards it, thus bringing a new stream of funding into the system. We would look at how it can be introduced in Gibraltar as a matter of priority.
Another issue that my party would address, Mr Speaker, is that of short-term judicial appointments. We consider it very harmful that judges are appointed on time-limited contracts. What legal practitioner would give up their practice, Mr Speaker, if they might find themselves out of a job in 4 years time? That is leaving aside the vulnerability to arguments that short-term appointees may not be properly independent.
Mr Speaker, we will make sure that ordinary judicial appointments are made to the constitutional retirement age of 67. If the level of court business requires further judges, acting judges under s63 of the Constitution will be appointed, rather than Puisne judges.
Mr Speaker, turning to the issue of how we deal with crime in Gibraltar, in general, we are all thankful that Gibraltar is a low-crime community. But we can’t be complacent.
It is easy for politicians to engage in “get tough” rhetoric. But how we keep people from getting involved with crime, Mr Speaker, how we rehabilitate and punish those who do get involved, is too important to be left to party political games.
Mr Speaker, my party will look to establish a commission – with experts, and involvement from civil society – to examine the issues of parole, sentencing, rehabilitation and crime prevention in a holistic way, and to advise Parliament. We will invite that commission to look around the world for imaginative measures, and to look at whether they would suit our community.
Of course, Mr Speaker, the ultimate decision must be taken by Parliament, by MPs accountable to the community. But that doesn’t – shouldn’t – mean that Parliament can’t benefit from the wisdom of others.
Mr Speaker, another matter on which it is worth drawing on the wisdom of others is on the arbitration of commercial disputes, which is widespread. A number of international arbitration centres exist. My party will examine whether a government-sponsored arbitration centre in Gibraltar could work, to bring business into Gibraltar.
We will also, Mr Speaker, take steps to implement a government-sponsored mediation service for family and matrimonial disputes, in order to assist separating couples to reduce the conflict and expense that almost inevitably accompany the breakdown of a relationship, both for them and, crucially Mr Speaker, for any children of the relationship.
Mr Speaker, another issue that my party will address is that of how the disabled and elderly are accounted for within the justice system. Mr Speaker, it is important that we value every member of the community. Disabled people are entitled to the assistance they need to be able to participate fully in the life of our community. The elderly are entitled to the care they need to live with dignity. Mr Speaker, we will enhance the safeguards that exist to protect disabled or elderly people who lack capacity to take certain decisions for themselves.
We will never subordinate respect for their independence, or family life, to administrative convenience. To the extent that their liberty needs to be restricted, we will look to ensure that that is subject to the approval of the courts, and enhance the right of family members to be involved in such proceedings.
Mr Speaker, Government must be congratulated for its recent proposals to reform our divorce laws, in order that the focus of divorce proceedings ceases to be the ascribing of blame to one party or another. My party also wholeheartedly agrees with the proposed reduction to the minimum period of marriage required prior to presenting a petition for divorce.
However, we would take this initiative to promote a more sensitive post-divorce environment further, Mr Speaker, by taking steps to implement a government-sponsored mediation service for family and matrimonial disputes. This would greatly assist separating couples to reduce the conflict that almost inevitably accompanies the breakdown of a relationship, both for the benefit of the couple and, crucially Mr Speaker, for the children of the relationship, without this assistance coming at a significant financial cost.
ENLARGEMENT OF PARLIAMENT
Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that I am against the enlargement of this House in the way it has been presented and with the little consultation we have been afforded. Having already made my issues clear, I take this opportunity to ask of the Chief Minister to continue to deliberate on this reform and not rush into something which will substantially modify Gibraltarian democracy for generations to come, when we can instead consult on it more widely in the following electoral term when all parties can present clearly, our own models for this fundamental change in our model of representation.
EDUCATION
Turning to our education system, I firstly thank the very approachable Honourable Minister John Cortes who is always available to clarify matters or lend a hand with constituents who approach me in need of assistance. As for education in general, Mr. Speaker, this electoral cycle has possibly been one of the most stressful, disenchanting and disruptive periods for teachers and for students in a very long time. Although there are things for which Government must be credited, there are grave and concerning issues that have surfaced during this electoral cycle that cannot be ignored.
Considering that this is likely to be the last budget speech of the current cycle before the next general election, an evaluation of the current administration’s track record in education since 2015 is a democratic necessity in order for the electorate to measure how much value has been added in real terms to the education of our youth.
Government must be congratulated for its substantial investment in educational infrastructure. The commitment to building a total of eight new schools is something to be applauded, but many are asking themselves whether such an ambitious project needed to be undertaken in such a short period of time at the expense of the quality of teaching and learning in our schools.
Teachers and students cannot perform at their best in times of great upheaval and instead of recognising this and mitigating the potential adverse effects of introducing coeducation, aligning the key stages and moving to new buildings simultaneously, the Government has chosen to ignore the concerns raised by teachers via their union time and time again and used the Department of Education and senior management to bulldoze ahead with their plans. This lack of consideration of and respect for the expert knowledge of teachers as important stakeholders in education is where much of the present discontent stems from.
The Government’s 2015 manifesto “The strongest foundations for your future” contained the following pledges:
We will build a new first school to house Governor’s Meadow School on the Rooke site as part of a wider project. Bishop Fitzgerald School will be rebuilt and expanded to take over the space vacated by Governor’s Meadow. Bayside School will be rebuilt and upgraded with additional classrooms and facilities created in a redevelopment which will include St Anne’s School. We will relocate St Martin’s School to a new site beside Notre Dame, which will also be refurbished and rebuilt in part. This will also enable Social Services Ministry to expand and if necessary re-site St. Bernadette’s and/or Dr Giraldi Home. We will refurbish the College of Further Education.
None of these pledges have been adhered to, which begs the question whether manifesto commitments actually mean anything to this GLSP/Liberal Government.
Governor’s Meadow and Bishop Fitzgerald will be rebuilt where they stand. In the interim, they will be relocated to the present St Anne’s and Bayside schools once these migrate to their new-builds in Laguna and Waterport respectively. Plans to house Governor’s Meadow school on the Rooke site as part of a wider project has been abandoned for reasons unknown.
The Bayside/St Anne’s project gave way to commercial interests in the area, which displaced the plan to house St. Martin’s next to Notre Dame. St Martin’s is currently being built to the detriment of Westside students and the wider community who lost their external sports facilities. I think everyone would agree that St. Martin’s is a priority, but it was also a priority in the 2015 manifesto and not a single brick was laid in over three years. It is disappointing to see the project being rushed to the detriment of many by a Government that has clearly not prioritised the education of vulnerable children and are now opportunistically seeking to tick a box in their manifesto.
The decision to co-locate Bayside and Westside schools at Waterport Road raised valid concerns from teachers and their union. Many of the most educationally sound concerns remain unanswered and have been met with a wall of silence from the Ministry of Education and the Chief Minister. The message is usually one of: ‘everything is under control’ and ‘we know what we are doing so it will be ok’. No amount of working parties will fix the broken lines of communication until teachers can once again trust their Government. Judging from the reaction of teachers at the protest outside No6 where the Chief Minister was greeted with the chant “no more lies!”, a lack of trust is more than evident and quite justified given recent events with PWC.
The size of both of these schools should worry not just teachers, but parents alike. Over 2500 in a campus-style mega site is contrary to what most education experts would advise when constructing secondary schools. The trend is now to build smaller schools where the student to teacher ratio is lower, leading to improved levels of teaching and learning, and where incidences of violence and/or bullying can be identified and tackled more effectively than in a massive institution where the crowd can facilitate anonymity.
However, once again the Government bulldozed their project forward without listening to teachers because what matters are the release of land and commercial interests and not the needs of our teachers and students. What is the point of having two identical, coeducational secondary schools side-by-side? Would it be logical to have two identical police stations, or hospitals next to each other? Of course not, but they could not build a single mega school after the political spin and party machinery aimed at discrediting the Opposition’s idea only to do the same themselves could they? Instead, they are disguising it by having a wall in between and painting both schools in different colours.
Not to mention Mr. Speaker, the discord with the purported environmental credentials of a Government aping to have a green agenda while no doubt creating mayhem traffic-wise, and major security issues, when just under 3,000 children, teachers and staff will have to navigate daily to the same spot, an area where already there are several housing estates, a power station, an airport a stones throw away, and a new housing estate recently announced about to be constructed. The mind boggles Mr. Speaker honestly, you just can’t make it up. And believe me Mr. Speaker, as a mother of four children who will just about all be in that school simultaneously, I can tell you mine and the similar concerns of hundreds of other mothers and fathers, are very real indeed.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, the Government said that the competition that will arise between both schools as a result of their proximity will be a good thing. We believe that there is a real danger of one school adopting the practices and methods of the other as soon as it begins to lag behind in terms of performance to avoid the label of ‘the bad comprehensive’. This is likely to kill the spirit of healthy competition. Considering the decision to align the key stages and introduce coeducation, an alternative and logical solution would have been to have a lower secondary school, an upper secondary school and a 6th form college housed in separate locations.
That would have been a truly revolutionary move in education. A solution that was completely outside the box and which put teaching and learning first and not the interests of speculators and contractors.
Security in our schools is a very important issue where we feel Government is failing. Education still does not have a zero-tolerance policy. Our students and teachers could be at risk and the Government has done very little to implement legal safeguards to prevent abuse. Many Civil Service and public sector departments have a zero-tolerance policy, yet after 7 years of GSLP/Liberal Government, education does not. No amount of gates and security doors can ensure the safety of our youth and teaching professionals without legislation to accompany them. Physical barriers may not deter as many people as the fear of prosecution.
In terms of the organisational review at the Department of Education, very little has happened except for the addition of an extra Education Adviser after reviewing the role of the Junior Education Adviser. The Department of Education is still not a policy-driven department and the advisory team acts more like a mini-OFSTED than provide an advisory service.
Their role is viewed by many teachers as one of enforcement rather than support. Whether that is a reality or not, that is the perception from a substantial number of teachers who we have spoken to, which means that for this education revolution to work, the staff at the Department of Education must remember its own teaching roots and begin acting like leaders and not managers. The status quo must change.
The recent pay dispute is a complex issue, but since it has been played out in the media there is little to infer. Teachers have made valid arguments in our opinion to have their basic salary adjusted to reflect their real and unseen workload, to close the salary gap with other similar professions in Gibraltar, and to be valued appropriately using a jurisdiction similar in economic prosperity to Gibraltar.
It is clear from reading the exchanges in the media between Government and NASUWT that the percentages sought are not as high as the Government has endeavoured to put into the public domain. Not only has NASUWT demonstrated that the percentages sought at each level of the basic salary scale are significantly lower, but they highlighted the Chief Minister’s own admission of having inflated civil service and public sector wages by as much as 40% above parity.
Teachers are correct in feeling that the Government treats their claim with disrespect and contempt, when they see the inflated salaries of other public servants; inflated with allowances and guaranteed overtime, which is irresponsible and unsustainable by all accounts. But having appeased others with such freebies, teachers now feel discriminated that they should bear the brunt of austerity measures, PWC audits and the so-called cries for reasonableness. My party Together Gibraltar would certainly sit with the representatives of our teaching professionals and iron out an agreement of mutual benefit. Valuing teachers without the need for back handers in the form of hidden allowances or guaranteed overtime is paramount. Teachers do not want that. They want their salary to reflect their qualifications and professional training, their seen and unseen workload, their importance for our economy, and their unwavering hard work in the academic and vocational training for our youth.
On vocational education, training and apprenticeships, the Government’s track record is simply abysmal. This, despite the Honourable Minister Bossano’s words during his own Budget address, just two days ago where he said: “We will continue to provide apprenticeships and training.”
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that on this rare occasion, I can speak for this entire side of the House and ask: “Where on earth is this taking place? Because we just can’t find it and neither can anyone else who is looking for it!” Mr. Speaker! The system continues to fail those young people who are not academic, but who may have other skills and talents that remain untapped to the detriment of the economy and society. Apart from the promise that vocational education would be introduced at secondary level at the new schools, nothing has been done in terms of provision of quality non-academic training or apprenticeships. Teachers who have approached us over the past few months have expressed concern over the lack of information given to them about vocational courses they will be expected to manage/teach supposedly as from September 2019. The advisory team at the Department of Education has assured teachers that vocational education would become a reality in September 2019 with courses ranging from hair and beauty to agriculture.
It has come to our attention, however, that the Department of Education has failed to obtain accreditation from the various awarding bodies for these courses and has had to seriously downscale its proposal. Obtaining accreditation from prestigious examination boards is not something that can be done overnight. There is a process.
The examination centre has to meet certain criteria and have a proven track record. Likewise, the centre needs to have specialists to deliver and assess the courses.
Whoever assured Government that it could be done in such a short period of time should be given a serious talking to, Mr. Speaker, and Government should start engaging real educational experts if it wants to restructure education successfully. This is this yet another example of Government putting the cart before the horse to the detriment of our youth. Vocational training needs to be given a serious injection of cash to provide an attractive, meaningful and sustainable avenue of employment to those people wishing to have a trade. There needs to be a balance between academic and vocational education and for the system to be truly objective and meritocratic.
The mental wellbeing of our students and teachers is very important. Various initiatives have been implemented by the Ministry of Education in the recent past. These are a great start, but we believe that so much more needs to be done. Engaging four school counsellors should be the tip of the iceberg. We would like to see at least 15 full-time counsellors (one for each school) available for students and teachers alike if the need arises. The Government needs to address the issue of excessive assessment from an early age.
We need to have more formative assessment and less summative assessment, which causes so much stress and anxiety amongst the young generations. Learning needs to go back to being fun where possible and not the object of dread. Assessment should be a chance to prove what one has learned and not something that keeps you awake at night and causes a panic attack the morning before, for fear of the consequences of performing badly. We need to address this as well as the workload of our teaching professionals. We need to put the teacher back into the classroom and remove all the unnecessary administrative tasks we ask them to do.
We need to allow them to do what they do best without expecting them to also be jacks of all trades and drown them with unnecessary tasks like collecting data to track student achievement and behaviour, which nobody knows what it is used for or how it enhances teaching and learning now or in the future. We are burning out our students since the age of five and their teachers too. Government has to take stock of this and stop pretending everything is peachy in Education.
We need a roadmap for Education for the future Mr. Speaker. Once all these shiny new schools open and operating, what we need is a clear vision and plan for the next 20 years. It is vital for the well-being of our children and piece meal solutions are not the way forward. Together Gibraltar will provide this vision in our upcoming manifesto programme for Government Mr. Speaker.
IN CONCLUSION
Mr. Speaker, Gibraltar is strong and vibrant. However, we are risking far too much by continuing to delay taking the hard decisions because of a lack of courage and political will to fix what is inherently wrong.
We must address our reliance on tobacco that has only deepened during the past two Government terms. We must address a strategy of overdevelopment that benefits the few at the expense of the many. We have to revise a Housing policy which leaves heaps of properties and neighbourhoods empty or in decay. We must tackle our economy’s reliance on an ever-enlarging civil service. We must deal with cronyism and a chronic lack of transparency in accounting for our borrowing, revenues and expenditure.
We have to overhaul investment and spending practices so that Government receives best value with no leakage to friends and family on the way.
We cannot continue to favour investment over maintenance. If something is worth building, it is worth operating and maintaining effectively. It can’t be all about cutting the red ribbon. We can’t continue to brush these burning injustices under the carpet whilst expecting that the day of reckoning will never come.
We need a Government and an administration that is prepared to take the hard decisions. We cannot have a Government that will continue the status quo and only deepen these problems further, delaying the inevitable and damaging Gibraltar beyond measure.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Border closure, Mr Speaker. In this event, we remember the pain and suffering that this brutal and arbitrary apartheid inflicted on our community, and we also honour the conviction-driven leaders that were brave and generous enough to set aside their differences in this time of need and work for the common good. There was only one agenda back then, because we were a united, cohesive and ably represented community. This agenda was the agenda of the common good.
The agenda of achieving widespread prosperity, dignified working and Housing conditions for all, and most importantly the survival of our identity and way of life. Today our political landscape is much more polarised, and our society is not nearly as cohesive. Economic interests, coming from near and far, have permeated the spheres of power and created a Gibraltar that many in this community have trouble recognising.
This new vision for Gibraltar appears to have pushed to one side that all-encompassing political agenda in favour of luxury developments and unbridled economic growth, albeit an economic growth that very rarely trickles down the average citizen. In the process, we are dilapidating our most scarce and valuable resource - our limited space - and our general quality of life. Most people in this community today recognise that this economic model has brought disruption, pollution, congestion and discomfort to their lives, and fail to see the profits of the trade-off.
Many of our constituents begin to envisage a Gibraltar cluttered with high rise buildings, luxurious marinas, and fancy real estate developments - with all that they bring - and they are far from enamoured by this vision. There can be no progress without provisions for equality, sustainability and the happiness of our people. No economic development merits the deterioration of our quality of life.
Mr. Speaker, I have to save the best for last. Firstly, I join the other Members of this House in extending my condolences to the families of those who have passed on, like Mr. Frank Bado and Ian Laide, two great servants of our community, so I keep hearing, who unfortunately I did not have the privilege to meet.
I must however add to that regrettable list by remembering the wonderful Ruth Dudley, a true angel, who worked tirelessly and assisted everyone she ever could in her department at the tax office and outside of it; someone who has left a massive void in those of us who were lucky to know her.
Mr. Speaker, after four very privileged years serving this community, I would like to thank the members of staff in this building, from Frances, to Daniel, to Kevin and to the wonderful Paul Martinez, who have never flinched at my requests and needs, big or small, which they always solve with a smile. And to you Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your unwaivering steer and leadership towards me in my maiden Parliamentary term as a Member of this House, one which I hope, if the people of Gibraltar so wish, will be a first term and not a last.
And in this vein, I must also thank the Chief Minister himself for having had an open and constructive dialogue with me over the last four years, despite us being on opposite sides of the House, providing me with help and assistance as a minority member whenever I have seeked it, never once closing himself off from me just because of the party divide and the swords that we have, on many occasions, crossed.
Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, as already indicated, and true to Parliamentary convention, I will be voting for the appropriation Bill, despite my reservations as described, in order to signal my desire to not grind services to a halt.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
