Jul 08 - Budget Speech By Edwin Reyes
Mr Speaker,
I already mentioned last year that the present Government had acted responsibly in continuing to pursue UNESCO World Heritage status for Gorham’s Cave and its adjacent sites. Indeed, work in this respect had commenced via the Museum Team during my tenure as Minister for Heritage and, therefore, I continue to wish the Museum Team all the best for the future in their ongoing excavations at Gorham’s and Vanguard’s Caves which normally mainly take place during the summer months.
The GSLP Liberal Manifesto gave a commitment not to permit the destruction of important heritage sites or colonial style buildings but, however, now that they are in Government it has had to accept that this vision is not always easily achievable more so when expert advice deems it is not possible to salvage the facade of buildings we would all like to retain - such is the case in respect of the old Risso Bakery where sadly the facade will be lost.
The GSD is pleased to see that the Main Guard at John Mackintosh Square has been restored and that the Gibraltar Heritage Trust is the primary beneficiary of such a project. This restoration project is indeed extremely close to what this Party had planned and, therefore, I hope this House is unanimous in wishing the Heritage Trust all the best for the future.
Pending Manifesto commitments by the present Government includes digitising the content of the Gibraltar Archives and transfer of the Archives themselves into the Gibraltar Garrison Library, we await news of how and when this will happen. Likewise, there does not seem to have been much development on the commitment to make a new world class heritage site of the place where the first Neanderthal skull was found – that is the skull of Gibraltar woman. The Opposition is interested to find out how Government intends to develop a world class tourist site for visitors and Gibraltar residents so that all may see where she lived.
Mr Speaker,
Through the collective celebration of social events, participating Gibraltarians contribute towards reinforcing our identity, culture and history as a people and a community. Both the performing and fine arts fraternities always prove themselves to be very proactive within their own specialised areas and I take this opportunity to congratulate all the groups and individuals who have done Gibraltar proud through their international participations and in several cases even top awards gained.
Through its Manifesto the GSLP / Liberals adopted the slogan “... culture needs to be nurtured” - now that they are in Office Gibraltar hopes that this promise will be delivered and, therefore, I remind Government that it committed itself to provide:
- facilities for teaching of music and instruments to young people
- establishment and funding for a Gibraltar Philharmonic Orchestra
- run a “learn an instrument” campaign amongst young people
- establishment of an academy of the performing arts, administered by an Arts Council
- seek to establish Gibraltar as part of the touring circuit for UK and Spanish theatre productions
- The Gibraltar Art Collection will be permanently displayed for public viewing
I therefore have to ask: when will these projects become a reality?
What we do know is that Government has purchased both the Queen’s Cinema and Queen’s Hotel sites for the development of a Theatre and related activities. However, there are mixed feelings among the local community as to how these sites will be developed and at what cost. Given that the decision has already been taken I sincerely hope that the development of these sites will be real value for money and that our local culture, in the widest sense of the words, is enhanced.
Mr Speaker
It is now little over a year since we offered our collective congratulations to the Gibraltar Football Association on their success to become the 54th member of UEFA. Gibraltar as a whole rejoiced spontaneously upon hearing the excellent news of attaining full membership of UEFA and, therefore, I earnestly hope that Gibraltarians will continue to support our teams in all international competitions - especially those which our clubs will participate as from this week for the very first time in the preliminary stages of the Champions League and Europa League.
We trust Government will remain ever mindful and continue with the already long existing policy which they inherited from the GSD to assist all local sporting bodies to overcome any foreign Government’s politically inspired attempts to block their membership of international sporting bodies. This policy will certainly continue to receive the Opposition’s support and I take this opportunity to wish other sporting associations, such as Rugby, Tennis and the local branch of the I O C amongst others, all the very best in their continuing battles to obtain their respective international memberships which are rightfully and legally theirs.
The Government is presently working closely with the Gibraltar Football Association towards the provision of a further football pitch and related facilities, in fact quite large sums of money will be spent on this project which will be of direct benefit to the football fraternity. Estimated cost of a new stadium we are informed could be anything from 20 to over 40 million pounds, but as such we still do not know what Government’s – that is the Tax Payers’ - contributions will be and how much of it will be either grants or loans. I must take this opportunity to remind Government that much needed basic facilities for other sporting associations, like Rugby and Cricket, cannot be completely sacrificed in the process of enhancing only football. I urge Government to be ever mindful that a level playing field must be provided for all sporting associations, more so as it is a Manifesto commitment of theirs “to monitor the demand for additional facilities for all other sports to ensure that existing facilities are developed further in line with our community demands..... The Government is committed through its election promises to provide renewed facilities for the playing, teaching and development of both cricket and rugby at Europa Point”.
It is obvious that Government has modified its policy over the past year and this has resulted in highly divided public opinions in respect of the proposed development for Europa Playing Fields. There is a large amount of discontent towards the decision that Europa Point is the only suitable and available site for the future development of an UEFA approved football stadium. The possible enhancement of Victoria Stadium into UEFA approved facilities, which we are told are required for the hosting of certain football matches, has apparently been ruled out by Government, along with other possible sites. This in effect means that the DPC has been presented with a “fait accompli” without Government openly taking responsibility for the decision which has been presented as a GFA project and, therefore, it is the GFA who is solely being blamed for the decision that Europa is the only possible site. These feelings are being expressed because it appears to the community at large that the DPC’s role is now limited to only recommending modifications to the design as it is unable to challenge Government upon the choice of the actual location for a new Football Stadium. There is still some hope among the electorate that the DPC may be bold enough to decide that the location is unsuitable for the design submitted and directs not only the GFA but also Government itself to look for an alternative site.
The GSD recently embarked in a public consultation exercise in respect of Educational matters. Among ideas put to the community at large there could be a possibility of vacating Bayside School’s present site which would then, in turn, perhaps offer the opportunity of a suitable site to upgrade and enlarge our existing facilities at the Victoria Stadium. Given the strong concerns expressed by many about constructing a huge football stadium at Europa Point, I urge Government to investigate further the feasibility of constructing a suitable football stadium meeting UEFA standards by encompassing Bayside School’s present site as part of an enlarged Victoria Stadium.
Mr Speaker,
Although I am a firm believer that individual Sports Governing Bodies should be allowed to manage their own affairs with no political interference, I once again urge Government to take a particular interest, through the Sports and Leisure Authority, to ensure that publicly owned facilities are used in a fair manner for the benefit of all sports lovers. There is both a duty and moral obligation for the Sports Authority to ensure that, where desired by a citizen, membership in individual clubs and even their relevant Governing Body is open in all in an equal and fair manner.
I must mention this year, yet again, that Government has a Manifesto commitment to provide separate premises for martial arts clubs and associations in one large Martial Arts Centre. I would be most grateful for any information as to when this will actually materialise.
The Forecast Outturn for expenditure relating to the “Stay and Play” Programme for 2013/2014 is £19,000 – yet provision for 2014/2015 for this same Programme is reduced to a mere £2,000. Is there a reason for this drastic reduction of what in the past has proved to be a very popular and valuable programme?
Likewise, when looking at provisions for Playground Expenses, the actual expenditure in 2012/2013 was £208,559 and Forecast Outturn for 2013/2014 is £170,000 – yet the allocated sums for 2014/2015 is reduced to £80,000. It therefore begs the question, are our children not expected to continue using and enjoying playgrounds as has been the case over the last few years?
Mr Speaker
There is widespread consensus across society and political parties in Gibraltar that our educational system is both our most important investment as a community and also a justifiable source of pride for a community our size. It is now over 42 years since our local education system at Secondary Level was changed from one of Selective Schools, with admission into Grammar schools coming through the 11 plus system, into a Comprehensive Education system. It is fair to say that throughout these last 42 academic years our schools have been able to successfully meet all challenges presented to them in many different shapes and forms such as the introduction of a National Curriculum, changes to public examinations, etc. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Opposition wishes to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate all members of the teaching profession, both past and present, who have contributed in a highly professional manner towards our students’ successes.
However, after over 40 years it is time to reflect and together with teachers, parents and the community as a whole we should take stock and see if we are as best prepared as possible for the educational challenges of the next 40 or 50 years. With this in mind the Opposition wishes to offer food for thought and asks all stakeholders to offer their views in respect of the following:
- How best can we equalise subject choices at Secondary Level so that both males and females have real equal opportunities?
- Do we need to broaden the educational and vocational scope, with the potential to mix both, especially at post GCSE educational stage?
- Do we have an adequate programme to ensure that our less academic children, who may not necessarily follow a full range of GCSE examinations, obtain as good as possible and relevant education programme to prepare them for future adult working life?
- Given it is now over 40 years since the implementation of Comprehensive Education, should we look and see if a co-education system - either throughout all Secondary School years or post GCSE – could actually help to better prepare our students for both University and adult working life?
Although we are informed that plans for the establishment of a University of Gibraltar are at an advanced stage, we still wait for the implementation of Government’s pledge to provide a Second Chance Education Programme through the establishment of their promised National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. We sincerely hope that this takes off the ground as soon as possible and that when it does materialise it will be established with real links with the local labour market sectors.
Mr Speaker
Government has still to announce their definite plans for the Housing Works Agency and whenever I have asked for details of progress in this respect I have been told that it is to be discussed at Cabinet Level. In effect what has happened over the last 3 years is that an ever increasing number of home refurbishments are contracted out to private companies without going through any type of transparent and accountable tender process. The number of staff members employed at the Housing Works Agency continues to be reduced, so does this mean that what the future holds is that all refurbishment works will simply be allocated to private contractors and without being subject to an adequate and transparent competitive tender process?
The GSD worked hard in consultation with Unite to reform the old Building and Works Department and its transfer into the Housing Works Agency. This project provided brand new workshops and depots - and from its origins delivered vastly improved services to Government tenants. Therefore the question now is: what plans does Government have for the Housing Works Agency and its employees? Like the Opposition, Government knows there are many excellent craftsmen and professionals within the Housing Works Agency, so I must stress that it is important to ensure that the correct and proper administration procedures and resources are in place for housing maintenance and repairs to be carried out. Given the reduction in the number of employees we must ask for clear answers in respect of how will the Agency be expected to carry out its duties if the Agency is not given the human resources required to meet workloads and targets?
Under their section dedicated to Youth the GSLP / Liberal Manifesto states that young people who are entitled to housing will not wait more than 3 years for a home. Given that there are presently a large number of young people registered as applicants seeking their own homes I must ask on their behalf for a firm date when Government will deliver on this promise – after all, it is now almost 3 years since they were elected into office.
The visible presence of scaffolding in some Housing Estates leads us to conclude that the promised refurbishments are well under way. However, many residents in these estates are concerned at the length of time works are taking to be completed. In some cases concerns are made worse because the quality of workmanship in some phases of works already completed leaves somewhat to be desired. I therefore urge the Minister for Housing to ensure that quality monitoring is strictly adhered. Residents in estates where refurbishments are taking place would welcome the publication of target dates for different phases to be completed.
Government pledged that everyone on the housing waiting list and on the pre-list on 9th December 2011 would be re-housed before the next General Election. This in effect means that at least 1,415 homes need to be allocated during their present term in office. In order to meet their target Government pledged through their Manifesto that they would build high quality homes for rental and sale. Three years into their term in office there have still been no announcements of new homes to be built for rental resulting in great disappointments for those who are unable to afford purchasing their own home. It is highly disappointing to see that the only new rental homes to be built will be exclusively for senior citizens at what is to be known at Charles Bruzon House.
In respect of the two projects for home ownership there is great discontent among many applicants on the priority system being used to offer these homes for purchase. Whereas in respect of rental homes applicants are offered these in precedence order corresponding to the rooms composition for which their application is being considered, this is not the case when it comes to home purchases. What in effect is happening is that applicants who would only qualify for a one or two bedrooms home under rental allocations are being allowed to purchase even four bedrooms homes despite this being well above their housing application entitlement. For applicants to be able to purchase on a co-ownership basis homes which are above their entitlement is not perceived as being fair by many but, above all, by those applicants with larger families who really need the larger four bedroom homes. Why are there different rules in respect of the size of home offered for rental when compared with co-ownership?
The GSLP Liberal Manifesto commits them to eliminate the housing pre-waiting list but this has yet not happened and we have still to hear by when this will take effect.
Another Manifesto pledge was to provide a separate additional housing list for applicants who are living in Spain and wish to return home. In many cases, Mr Speaker, these families moved into Spain due to their original home purchased becoming too small for their family needs and the absence of an affordable larger home in Gibraltar led them to seek a property beyond our shores. However, because they have already been home owners these families cannot file an application for either rental or co-ownership homes – surely there must be a fair way whereby we can assist these families to return back to Gibraltar. As the separate housing list for this type of applicant has not yet materialised, can you blame those families who feel so let down by the present Government after they have been 3 years in office?
Isn’t it ironic that Government Ministers, still in their Opposition-mode style of politics, should choose to rubbish the Opposition’s new policies in their budget speeches to score cheap political points? As if they don’t have enough on their own plate to deliver their over-ambitious manifesto, they desperately and nervously have to concern themselves over our new policies. Doesn’t the Government realise that there is always room for improvement in housing, education, democracy and indeed all policies, however good we deem the systems to be at the time. It is about striving for excellence and evolving policies; something the governing parties perhaps do not recognise as they spent 16 years in opposition, stagnating, visionless without evolving their own policies, just waiting their turn to govern. In stark contrast, in just two and a half years in opposition we have already revisited our policies, consulted with stakeholders and, in a process of discussion, we are proud to offer the improvements and enhancements we, and the many organisations and individuals with whom we have consulted, have together developed in the pursuit of excellence. Our vision and the statement announcing it is being mischievously and quite dishonestly misinterpreted for their own political gain.
