Charles Gomez & Co say it notes “with interest” the remarks made today in Parliament by the Chief Minister to the effect that since 2011, payments amounting to £1,200,000.00 have been made by the Government to this Firm.

A statement from the firm continued:

“For the record, while the total sum cited may reflect the aggregate of payments made through this Firm, a substantial proportion of those funds were, with the full knowledge, consent and, in certain instances, upon the specific instruction of the Chief Minister’s Office itself, remitted to third parties. These disbursements were effected in the proper course of our professional duties and in accordance with the instructions received from Government.

“It follows that the suggestion that we were the ultimate recipients or beneficiaries of the entirety of those funds is inaccurate and liable to mislead the public as to the true position.

“As officers of the Supreme Court, we are bound by the strictest professional and legal duties of confidence and are therefore precluded from identifying or commenting upon the particular third parties concerned. We emphasise, however, that these entities are and were legitimate and professional organisations, and that all payments made were lawful and duly authorised or directed by the Government.

“The Chief Minister, by contrast, is under no such constraint.

“Accordingly, in the interests of full candour and transparency, we invite the Chief Minister to make public a complete and accurate account of the disbursements concerned, identifying, for the avoidance of doubt, those third parties and the purposes for which payments were made.

“Charles Gomez & Co reaffirm their continuing commitment to the highest standards of probity, confidentiality, and professional integrity, which have been the hallmarks of our practice for over four decades.

“We invite the Chief Minister to set the record straight and, whilst he is at it, to tell the good people of Gibraltar how much his own legal firm has received from the Government of Gibraltar and Government connected companies since 2011.”