Jul 14 - Government: “GSD Advert Based On Pointless Voodoo Economics – RGP Better Resourced Than Ever”
The Government has described the most recent in a series of post-Budget advertisements placed by the GSD in the Gibraltar Chronicle as being so “misleading” it must be based on "Voodoo Economics".
The Government says that the public and, in particular, members of the Royal Gibraltar Police, are aware that the RGP has never been as well resourced or remunerated as it is under this GSLP/Liberal administration. The Government says that the force has seen the resources made available to it increase and existing resources renewed. The most obvious investments, it says, has seen a large control vessel purchased, another about to be delivered, a confiscated "Scarab" vessel adapted and refurbished, Jet-Skis acquired for summer policing, as well as two state of the art interceptor launches purchased which are the fastest vessels in the water in this area. In addition, says the Government, more police officers have been recruited under this administration so that there are “more police officers on our streets than ever before”, enhancing the service offered to the public and the sense of security for our community. Crime, according to the Government, has therefore been down each year for the past years and the RGP has been able to implement Commissioner Yome's "Neighbourhood Policing" schemes very effectively.
In addition, at this year's Budget the Government has increased remuneration for officers beyond the increase awarded to the rest of the public sector and awarded an additional increase to the Housing Allowance paid to officers which has included breaking the analogue previously fixed with the cost of a Government 3RKB rental property.
As regards the costs of No 6 Convent Place, it is important to note, says the Government, that the No 6 Head of Expenditure does not just account for the expenditure for Chief Minister’s Office includes the Technical Division, the Archives, the EU and International Department (EUID) and the Information Technology and Logistics Unit (ITLU).
It is even more important to note that under the GSD explains the Government, expenditure in the No 6 Head did not include the ITLU, which was shown under Enterprise. This Unit alone accounts for over £2.5 million of the £16 million. In fact, the approved complement and cost of the Chief Minister’s Office has increased as a result of ministerial responsibilities.
The ITLU staff of 24 is now shown under No 6; the approved staff complement of the EUID is now 19 (and delivering on our "culture of compliance" re EU Directives) and the approved staff complement of the Archives was 3 and is now shown under No 6 whereas under the GSD this was shown under Culture and Heritage.
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: "In any circumstances, to simply compare that to the cost of the central administration at No6 Convent Place makes absolutely no sense and provides no useful economic analysis. That, unfortunately, is an accurate description of how Mr Feetham has approached this Budget session - lots of attempts at soundbites prejudicial to the Government but no meaningful analysis. At least in the Hon Sir Peter Caruana's analysis there has been a recognition of the current prudent levels of debt and a vindication of the GSLP/Liberal's position at the election that under the GSD the level of debt was reaching the ceiling fixed in law. Perhaps that reality is what is leading Mr Feetham to want to pursue meaningless attacks as the only form of defence left to him!"
