The GSD have issued a statement questioning the siting of the new College for Further Education at Europa Point.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

The Minister for Education, Mr John Cortes’ comments directed at the Town Planner, at the meeting of the Development and Planning Commission on the issue of the siting of the new College for Further Education at Europa Point, have raised eyebrows.

It is clear that Minister Cortes – no doubt another leadership contender – is feeling the pressure. Under his watch, the Government is being exposed for failing to deliver on another of their many broken electoral promises. It cannot be forgotten that this College was to be built at the area of the Cross of Sacrifice – that electoral commitment, something which the GSLP falsely claim they keep to, was set out, with pretty pictures, on pages 114 to 117 of their manifesto. This, one of the northern most points of Gibraltar was sold as the ideal site, now they are using the exact same spin for a location at the southernmost end of Gibraltar. The undeniable fact is that they have completely resiled from their electoral promise and have had to nervously scramble, in an unplanned and disorganised way, to locate another place.

This haphazard and incompetent approach to planning and making promises which cannot be kept, leads to bad decision making and must account for the Minister’s obvious nervousness and frustration. Instead of casting innuendos of how officials do their jobs, perhaps what Mr Cortes should be doing is accepting responsibility for his lack of delivery, but that may not suit his leadership prospects.

Damon Bossino said: “Legitimate questions arise, such as whether Europa Point is the best location given the traffic aspects which will now need to be factored in or whether, with proper planning and foresight, the height massification could have been avoided? The Government should apologise to the electorate for failing to deliver on another of their many promises.”