GSD Says Power Outage “Unmasks Deeper Systemic Failings In Fabian Picardo’s Leadership Of Gibraltar’s Energy Security And Stability”
The GSD says the Chief Minister “pointed his finger and blamed GibElec”.
A statement from the GSD follows below:
Friday’s night power outage as people young and old prepared to settle in for the night watching television or enjoy a meal with friends was a failure of one of our most important infrastructure projects. Instead of reassuring the public with empathy, leadership and responsibility the Chief Minister pointed his finger and blamed GibElec. The cause of the outage currently remains a mystery but irrespective of the reason this matter falls squarely on the shoulders of the Chief Minister.
The power station is a highly complex operation and everyone will understand that issues will arise from time to time, but for any leader of a community less still the Chief Minister to point the finger at any organisation for which he is ultimately responsible for is offensive and demonstrates a clear lack of leadership and understanding of his role. As any leader of any business or organisation
knows you lead from the front always and if mistakes are made by your people you and you alone take the fall. Pointing the finger at GibElec over a project that the Government spent many millions of tax-payers money on is a shameful dereliction of his role as Chief Minister. The question should be what back-ups and contingencies are in place to avoid country wide disruption to this level and why are they not in place?
Shadow Minister for the Environment Elliott Phillips MP said:
“Friday nights outage is not GibElecs failing, it is Fabian Picardo’s failing, his failing to plan, failing to train and invest in Human Resources , failing to provide for back up and contingencies and
ultimately a failure to take a cold hard look at himself when reacting in an intemperate and school bully way. Team Gibraltar deserves better than this and the Chief Minister’s reaction shows more about his deep disconnect with our people.”
