The GSD has said that the. law that proposes to amend how Gibraltarian Status is acquired “must be carefully considered” before any changes are made. The party says that much more must also be known about the concerns underlying the proposals and the statistical and financial basis for this. Additionally, the Opposition says there are “issues of principle and drafting detail of concern to the Opposition.”

The Leader of the Opposition, Keith Azopardi, has, today written to the Chief Minister to seek a detailed briefing on underlying statistics, information and concerns. 

Mr Azopardi said: 

“This law is about sense of identity. The Statute has been in place for over 60 years. What entitles someone to be called a Gibraltarian under the law is an emotive subject. It is not only of practical importance but emotionally so for many people who feel that (whilst they are not presently in Gibraltar) they have never lost contact with what they consider to be their ancestral home and to which their children or grandchildren should be able to return. It is equally important for those who have been here many years, made Gibraltar their family home, contributed to society and rightly regard themselves as, in practice, Gibraltarian. The sense of being Gibraltarian is therefore as much emotional and existential as it is practical. 

“The proposals will have far reaching effect in that they alter the mandatory entitlement to make application for Gibraltarian Status as well as the discretionary eligibility to apply for Gibraltarian Status making this subject to a much longer period of 20 years. We are concerned about the impact of some of these changes and that there has, so far, been little by way of detailed statistical explanation for these proposals. Clearly if there are abuses there should be administrative powers to ensure systems are not abused. But all this needs to be better understood and I have, today, written to the Chief Minister seeking a briefing so we can obtain information that would then allow us to fully consider our policy position ahead of the debate on the Bill in Parliament.”