The GSD has replied following the Government’s press release yesterday in which it denied any financial assistance for the Sunborn project:

The GSD notes the Government's totally evasive response to the Opposition's statement in relation to the mortgage granted over the Sunborn vessel to Credit Finance Co Limited, a company registered at No 6 Convent Place and owned by the Government and the Gibraltar Savings Bank.

The people of Gibraltar will not be fooled by the Government's latest smoke and mirrors statement. The documents that we circulated yesterday show:

(1) That the Gibraltar Savings Bank has invested in 289,425,000 shares of £1 each in 'Credit Finance Company Limited'.  Why is such a substantial sum of savers' money being invested in this company?  What will this company be doing with that money? 

(2) It would be a matter of grave concern if the Government were using Gibraltar Savings Bank savers' money to fund Government expenditure or projects through an intermediary company.

(3) That Credit Finance Company Limited has the benefit of a mortgage secured over the Sunborn vessel in respect of "an unlimited amount".  Why has that company been provided with that mortgage and what has it given Sunborn (Gibraltar) Limited in return?

In addition, it is not the first time that Mr Picardo publicly refers to Mr Feetham as a partner of Hassans. This is blatant attempt by the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to try to bring pressure on Mr Feetham for discharging his duties as Leader of the Opposition. It is the same underhand pressure as the GSLP brought upon Peter Montegriffo, then leader of the GSD, in 1991; it was shameful then and it is shameful now. Nothing has changed.