Jun 12 - GSD Tells Picardo To “Stop Misleading People”
The GSD has said that it “cannot allow Mr Picardo to continuously mislead people” as to statements made by the Leader of the Opposition
The GSD is referring to the Chief Minister’s latest assertion that the Leader of the Opposition “should change the speeches” he delivers in Spain because while Gibraltar has signed 27 bilateral tax agreements with other countries, there are over 100 information exchange arrangements arising from other measures such as an EU Directive and a Convention.
Executive GSD member, William Anidjar-Serfaty said: “I travel with Mr. Feetham to all his speaking engagements in Spain and I record his speeches so there is never any doubt about what he says. On this occasion Mr Feetham displayed a matrix table in a PowerPoint presentation which he said had been provided to him by the Minister for Financial Services, Albert Isola, and which showed (a) all bilateral agreements signed by Gibraltar, (b) all the countries Gibraltar enjoyed a tax exchange relationship by virtue of the relevant EU Directive and (c) all the countries Gibraltar enjoyed a similar relationship by virtue of the Convention.
“He therefore used both the 27 and the over 100 figure. The Government must know this to be true because they know Mr Isola kindly provided Mr Feetham with the most up-to-date information for his talk. It is therefore untrue to suggest that Mr Feetham was not providing the correct figures. In any event, the importance of the 27 bilateral agreements is that prior to the EU Directive coming into force, Gibraltar had offered to sign one with Spain and the latter had refused, which is one of the many points Mr Feetham has made in all his previous talks in defence of Gibraltar. To try and undermine the work of the Leader of the Opposition in this regard shows that Mr Picardo is simply interested in putting his own political interests above those of his community.
“This is just another attempt, of which there have been many, by the Government and the GSLP-Liberal party machinery, to distort everything the Leader of the Opposition says or does. Mr Picardo should concentrate on his own efforts to defend Gibraltar in Spain and to build bridges there. That is, of course, if he can demonstrate that he is an effective interlocutor in Gibraltar-Spanish relations –something which is increasingly in doubt.”
