The GSD has issued a response to the Government's recent statement regarding works at the Moorish Castle.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

The Government has had no alternative but to embarrassingly admit that the mechanical structure insensitively bolted on to the Moorish Castle outer wall was done without a licence.

No amount of flying of wholly irrelevant kites will take away from this astonishing revelation which cuts across the Government’s and in particular, Mr Cortes’ credibility as the supposed guardian of our heritage.

What Mr Cortes should do, as the Minister for Heritage, is apologise for this shocking breach and then explain to the public (i) what measures will be taken for what is a flagrant flouting of the law - liable to a fine or even imprisonment - against the entities responsible; (ii) what ‘immediate steps’ the Government has taken to, as the Government states, ‘address this matter’; and (iii) what ‘necessary measures’ are to be taken (again, as the Government states), ‘in line with heritage practices’.

The Moorish Castle Complex is a listed fortification which is particularly deserving of special protection and everything should be done to ensure works are completed in a sensitive manner that respects that.

Damon Bossino said: “The Road to the Lines housing project has been beset with difficulties and problems - having been passed on from company to company and from Ministry to Ministry. This latest development simply adds to the notion that Gibraltar is being led by a failing, incompetent and ineffective Government which is incapable of delivering.”