The Public Services Ombudsman in her report for 2024 has called on the Government for more powers to instigate ‘own motion’ investigations. 

It is evident that the Government is stone walling both the Ombudsman and the Principal Auditor, who are both Parliamentary Officers, in granting them more investigative powers.  

Roy Clinton MP the GSD Shadow Minster for Public Finance stated the following:  

“The Principal Auditor is Gibraltar’s watchdog for the public purse and the Public Services Ombudsman is  the watchdog for public administration and both are expressing their deep frustration with this GSLP/Liberal  Government.  

In 2019, following a motion I had originally presented to Parliament, the Government agreed to amend the  legislation to allow the Public Services Ombudsman to undertake ‘own motion’ investigations which would  allow her ‘to initiate and conduct an investigation without receiving a complaint’. Since 2019 and despite  reminders from myself in 2023 and the current Ombudsman, who reports her email of 7 January 2025 remains  unanswered, nothing has been done by Government to present such an amending one page Bill which has  already been drafted.  

The Ombudsman, as in the case of the Principal Auditor, has reached the same conclusion in that there is no  ‘political will’ by the GSLP/Liberals to grant enhanced powers to her office. The Ombudsman notes that both  she and the Principal Auditor ‘have an important role to play within any parliamentary democracy –seeking  to ensure transparency, accountability and proper governance’.  

Both Parliamentary watchdogs, who ultimately serve the people of Gibraltar, are now barking loudly and  pulling at their leashes. The Chief Minister, it is evident, prefers them to be chained and muzzled permanently  so the GSLP/Liberals can avoid transparency, accountability and proper governance.”