Apr 23 - Picardo To Create A Body Which Will Be “Above Politics” – Consultative Council Command Paper Published
The Government has today published a Command Paper for a Gibraltar Consultative Council Act. The proposed Act reflects the decision of the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, to propose a body for Gibraltar which would be similar to the Privy Council in UK. This proposal was included within the Chief Minister’s Budget Speech in June 2014.
In last year’s Budget Speech, Mr Picardo said, ‘When a nation such as ours finds that there are issues that affect the national interest, there needs to be a body above party politics that can provide an opportunity for consideration of those issues.’
Members of the Gibraltar Consultative Council (GCC) will be:
As Post-Holders:
The Chief Minister, who will act as Chairman
The Deputy Chief Minister
The Minister for Justice
The Leader of the Opposition
As Life Members: All individuals who have held the post of Chief Minister
All individuals who have held the post of Deputy Chief Minister
As Ad Hoc Members: Other persons (but not exceeding ten in number) may be appointed by the Chief Minister.
When the Act comes into effect, there will be an inaugural meeting of the GCC at which all members will take an Oath of Appointment. After that, the Chief Minister will convene a plenary meeting of the Council at least once every 12 months. A plenary meeting will be convened at least once within four months of the appointment of a new Chief Minister who may, at his discretion, convene a meeting of the GCC as he determines necessary. The Chief Minister may wish to consult individuals or groups of members of the GCC on any matters as and when he considers it necessary.
Members of the GCC may use the pre-nominal style, ‘The Right Honourable’. However, they will not receive any remuneration.
The Chief Minister said, ‘This is a seminal piece of legislation. I think it is important that there should be a permanent forum created which allows for the best brains in Gibraltar to work together on issues that can affect all of our community regardless of party political allegiance. I believe that the UK Privy Council model is a good one for us to follow in establishing such a body. I committed myself to doing this in my Budget speech last year and I am very happy that I have been able to see the draft Bill produced in time for publication now. I am very keen indeed to see this Bill on the statute book as an Act which makes provision for us to have the proper forum for confidential discussion between our Nation's leaders on matters where cannot afford to quarrel and bicker. I sincerely believe this is the right thing to do and I hope the whole of the community will support this initiative and that the Consultative Council will become a permanent and enduring feature for the good governance of Gibraltar."
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