July 03 - Government To GSD: “Listen To Our Clear Answers On Sunborn And Savings Bank”
The Government has issued the following statement to clarify and repeat its position on the Sunborn allegations:
The Government notes the statement issued this afternoon by Mr Feetham’s GSD suggesting that the Government’s replies to the questions it has raised about the Sunborn project are anything other than totally clear.
Indeed, the Gibraltar Savings Bank has already confirmed for itself – in its own press release - that it has neither invested nor lent money to the fantastic five star Sunborn floating hotel.
This should therefore put paid to the selfish scaremongering that Mr Feetham and the GSD have been up to, without regard to the damage that could do to depositor confidence.
In the circumstances, the Leader of the Opposition needs to understand that all his questions in Parliament have been properly answered and the facts are all as set out in Government press releases.
What is entirely ridiculous, however, is Mr Feetham’s suggestion that Mr Picardo’s reference to the fact that Sunborn is a client of Hassans is somehow an attempt to put “pressure” on him.
In fact, the GSD, when they were in Government, used to point out repeatedly in Parliament against Mr Picardo and in press releases, when a client of Hassans might be involved in a matter on which Mr Picardo was making political comment. In fact, for some years, Mr Picardo left Hassans and practised as a consultant to the firm for reasons arising from real pressure put by the previous Chief Minister on Hassans just after Mr Picardo was first elected in 2003. This also formed the basis of the attempts by the GSD to have Mr Picardo dis-barred in 2010/11.
The best example of this – although only one of many – is set out in GSD Government press release 98 of 2011 (copy below) in which the GSD lashed out against Mr Picardo on the basis that he was a lawyer at Hassans, although he had not even been involved int he GSLP/Liberal press release to which the Government were then responding. This really casts Mr Feetham’s statement today in a disgraceful light given that he appears to be complaining about the very things that they used to do when in Government!
What is shameful is that Daniel Feetham thinks that there is one law for him and one law for everyone else and believes he can stand in Parliament asking questions in respect of a client of his firm, without declaring his interest.
Finally, the public will have noted Mr Feetham’s attempts to compare himself with Mr Peter Montegriffo. All those who know Mr Feetham know he is not at all like Mr Montegriffo, which is what is causing the problems which are evident within the GSD.
