There is now an acknowledgment by all political parties that there is a need to improve conduct in public life. The PDP recognised as much by proposing reforms of Parliament and of the electoral system. The GSLP/Liberals have not only recognized the need for such reforms but now have put codes of conduct on the political map in Gibraltar. The sadness of all this is that it was the GSD that was elected into government in 1996 with a promise to clean up Gibraltar's image and of good governance. 16 years on, the best that it comes up with is minor proposals for reform and an admission that they have failed to carry out this central and core policy that was promised by them to the electorate. Yes, it may be that in terms of the fast launch saga Gibraltar's image has been cleaned up by 16 years of GSD administration. This cannot, however, be a good reason to keep them in Government. This sorry episode was ended, never to to be resumed by any future administration. There is a new issue on this front today that needs to be tackled.
The image of a jurisdiction is greatly dependent on the image of its government. It is not realities that produce a good or a bad image, although realities play a big part. It is perception that goes to the root of image. Perception of the GSD Government on this front is fast becoming tainted. It is irrelevant whether there is good or bad reason for this. I would think that its record of omission on the subject of parliamentary and electoral reform is such as would give credence to the image of the GSD Government that is evolving. The central question is what good reason could there be for this failure? I shall leave the reader to come to his/her own conclusion.
In the course of my research on the subject of a "Ministerial Code", a subject which has now been made topical by the recent press release issued by the GSLP/Liberal Alliance, I came across the following:
"Our new government has a particular and historic responsibility: to rebuild confidence in our political system. .. people have lost faith in politics and politicians. It is our duty to restore their trust. It is not enough simply to make a difference ... the key principles [are] freedom, fairness and responsibility ...we must remember that we are not masters but servants. Though the British people have been disappointed in their politicians, they still expect the highest standards of conduct."
The sentiments expressed in this quote are of equal application in Gibraltar. They are sentiments expressed in this blog week after week. It is taken from the Rt Hon David Cameron's Prime Ministerial Foreward to the Ministerial Code of the UK.
The question in Gibraltar is how does it best seek to achieve a result at the forthcoming General Election that is most likely to deliver this objective? The choice will be to block vote or to show disapproval of the political system by breaking that block vote. Voting for individuals irrespective of party allegiance and delivering to party leaders a low personal poll is a very direct expression of discontent. Party leaders cannot have it both ways. If they choose to exert autocratic power they must also take the blame for failures personally.
If you cannot break away from the block vote, what to do? Well that is a choice for you. I will simply leave you with one thought, the GSD have promised open, transparent and good government. They got into power on the back of this promise in 1996 in a background of wholesale breakdown in law and order. Certainly there have been improvements in Gibraltar but have they delivered on systemic changes that will continue to deliver to Gibraltar open, transparent and good government in the future by ALL administrations? I do not believe they have. I believe that that in complete disregard of and in breach of sacred promises to the electorate, there has been a complete and utter failure by the GSD to deliver any such systemic reforms. This is the primary reason why I shall not be block voting for the GSD at the forthcoming election, contrary to how I have voted in the past 4 elections. I will vote for worthy individuals. I urge you to do the same. The alternative is a vote for the GSLP/Liberal Alliance or for the PDP. The PDP have promised systemic changes. The GSLP/Liberal Alliance is now making very interesting promises on this front. The GSLP/Liberal Alliance has historic baggage. It is time for the electorate to discard this consideration and move on. We owe as much to the survival of democracy in Gibraltar. If a GSLP/Liberal Alliance does not deliver on its promises, in 4 years, we can return a GSD Government who will, by then, have learnt the lesson of having ignored and treated the electorate with disdain on this issue.
With apologies the system does not seem to be accepting paragraph breaks!
ReplyDeleteRobert
ReplyDeleteHow would you judge the worthiness of an individual candidate?
Personally, I go by the past performance of the incumbents and the promises of the pretenders. Since I believe that the strength of the economy is paramount I block vote for the party that is likely to keep the economy pointing north. Call me old fashioned if you like.
Unfortunately, the electorate does not vote on one issue only, least of all on systemic reforms particularly if there is no one individual fronting it.
Yeah, its always the same story. Block voting invariably entails having unreliable ministers representing a party in governance, tainting the rest of the elected at the time. Llo no voto por ningun compromiso que se han quedao pegao al rest of the party and only get in through their elite. I want the creme de la creme working together. Pol lo meno tenemo un party echo de do y el otro minister que viene from the latter party. We would fair better as an electorate if such practices were standard
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog Robert, I agree completely.
ReplyDeleteLG
Anonymous at 12:28
ReplyDeleteI believe that one judges the worthiness of an individual candidate on various grounds. One is your knowledge of him and his honour. Gibraltar is small enough to make such a judgment. Another is expectations. A third is recent past performance. A fourth is has an individual delivered on elector promises. a fourth if electoral promises have not been delivered whose fault is it. If you identify who then you do not vote for that person. I would add one does not have to use all 10 votes but it is useful to do so.
My question to you is how do YOu asses who will keep the economy pointing North? I believe that the present government has over borrowed, over spent and spent on the wrong projects. Energy has been ignored i.e. a power station over what were seen to be electorally more glamourous projects. Electricity is fundamental to our economy without it our economy cannot be kept pointing north. I assume then that you will not be voting GSD, so how will you be voting?
We will see how the electorate votes at rthe forthcoming election. I agree they will not vote on one issue but they may well castigate one party for its abject failure on that issue. Not all are just interested in the economy ...
It all falls back down to the sisyphean voting this way or the other. I feel completely bent if I form an allegiance singly with one party and at the end of the day after a certain number of years you can be sure that a disgruntled majority will oust it from power. Why have divisional confrontational politics in the first place as in the norm, rather than productive politics? So as to perpetuate some sort of hype with short term benefit for subjective single party ideology which demagogically will peter out in strength when it no longer serves the interests of the electorate. Demagogy brings inflexibility in the light of changing times requiring flexible social evolution.
ReplyDeleteRV@15:44
ReplyDeleteRobert
Allow me to repeat what I posted @12:28 and that was:
"Personally, I go by the past performance of the incumbents and the promises of the pretenders."
Straight forward enough is it not?
As a non member of the "chattering classes" I have no knowledge of the honour of any candidate other than the ones with a known track record.
As a reply to your question I can only say that if you feel that the present Government has over borrowed, overspent and/or spent on the wrong projects, fair enough, do not vote for the them. I would, nevertheless, point out that before a country can borrow, whether over or wisely and misspend, as you believe the current Government has, it must have, as a general rule, an underlying economy that can sustain it, which the Government believes Gibraltar has.
In any case the opposing views will be fully debated during the election campaign. Then I should be able to decide which party will keep the economy pointing north.
Anonymous at 17.59
ReplyDeleteIt is not a question od idle gossip. It is an assessment of individual personality of candidates as portrayed by each in their political careers.
As to your analysis on finances ... On that basis Greecie, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Italy and therefore the Euro should not be in crisis ...
@ Robert 17.59 encouragement of being able to assess individual candidates as portrayed in their political careers, either past, extant or proposed, will foster choice for those ideally suited for distinct ministerial posts. At the moment there is hardly any information available on the internet or elsewhere on the work experience of those new candidates for the elected political scene. For those already voted in its the same but at least there are recent records of their contributions to our community. It almost seems as if an attempt is made on the electorate to convince it on the basis of a photogenic face and not much more in terms of relevant experience. Even if the candidate has only had a very non demanding basic job, paid or unpaid, prior to political candidature, the candidate ought to educate itself accordingly if it is to support any bastion of political application.
ReplyDeleteRV:@18:08
ReplyDeleteRobert
There isn't much of a chance for new blood without a political CV.
On my analysis of finances.....that is why I said "as a general rule". By the way PIGS all have a budget deficit whereas we have a surplus.
Whether we like it or not block voting is the only option if what one wants is change.
ReplyDeleteCasting aside the GSD candidates that you want to be rid of, how can a government be formed by voting for individuals?
If you vote 5 from the GSLP and 5 from the PDP will or can they merge to form a government? If you vote 4 from the GSLP 4 from the PDP and 2 independents can a government be elected from any of these or any other combinations? By doing so could this not split the chances of the GSLP, the only party strong enough to effect change?
Can someone therefore please say what alternative there is to block voting for the GSLP if we seriously want change?
Open to suggestions.
A group of unknown (except for Nigel Feetham) people from the finance industry bother to write to the Chronicle effectively saying that if Peter Caruana had not been an elected politician he would be a very wealthy and succesful lawyer. Where do they dredge these people from! All I can say in reposte if that if my aunt Filmoena had had balls she would be my uncle. Now F**K off!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 19:21
ReplyDeleteA budget surplus ,,, mmmm .... yes ... we will see ...
Tyrone Duarte says:
ReplyDeleteGovernment needs to learn that it's administration is not a business. There is no strategic plan in Gibraltar and no proper project management resulting from delegation to sub-teams. It's not even government by cabinet, it's government by unelected cabal.
The problem now is who to vote for in this circus.
Anon 20:09
ReplyDeleteWhen I read that letter you mention one word instantly came to mind........"PELOTAS" hahaha :)
What were these people trying to prove anyways?
K
An Omnibus:
ReplyDeleteSo if Peter Caruana was not a politician he would be a successful and wealthy lawyer ? How nice of our colleagues in the finance sector to tell us this. I for one won't be stopping him from practicing his profession at the next election.
RV@19:21
ReplyDeleteRobert
Budget surplus,,,mmm=£28.3m for the year ended March 11. Now we shall wait and see the results of the 11/12 exercise.
Nigel Feetham is the shrewdest operator in the GSD. His letter saying what a lovely, clever and rich lawyer Peter Caruana could have been if he had not sacrificed his partnership at Triay & Triay for us Gibraltarian ingrates, displays a level of desperation that has shocked me. Obviously the great and the good in the GSD believe that Caruana's days are as numbered as Moammar's. With friends like Nigel and the other silly old pelotas who signed the cri de coeur, who needs enemies, eh Peter?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 09.23
ReplyDeleteIn the 60's there was a song that had the line "Where have all the flowers gone?" Perhaps the question now is where have all the surpluses gone? Record public debt and no reserves ... Mmmmmmm ....I am a simple man when it comes to finances ...
Have the brown nosers put the heat on you RV? Lol ya queda menos!
ReplyDeleteThe GSD's previously outspoken supporters seem to have hushed up both here and in Facebook, with the exception of the odd family member or two who still publicly wave the flag.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they are waiting for Picardo to take the reins to be able to freely express their views regardless of any repercussions from the Government or their own party.
What the Minister for Finance should explain now and before the general election, is how the GSD intends to repay the public debt and by when. The rest of the nonsense we've heard loud and clear.
ReplyDeleteI love the Picardo interview - pure genius! He compares his assault case and evidence in it to his cases in UK abd Spain, brilliant. Best yet is that the GSD has only really copied GSLP policies of old hence our success which he now admits is the case. The debt is apparently not such a bug issue anymore as he now agrees that over £200camel be paid back instantly.
ReplyDeleteTo summarise and conclude his offering to the electorate, he promises collegiate Govt and says they can do it better. Well that's it then, it's sure to be a landslide.
Of course the poll from the Vox giving a 5pt lead gives further credence to all the publicity and campaigning by the new leader. On the other hand a 5pt lead from the Vox is tantamount to asking an Arsenal fanatic whether he believes that they will win the league. I expected at least a 10pt lead.
RV@18:50
ReplyDeleteRobert
The surpluses have been invested in order to expand the economy. Why on earth should any government tax excessively so as to create a surplus/reserve. Who needs a surplus whilst the economy shrinks.
Put simply, borrowing is sensible within affordable limits. It accelerates economic growth.
Anon@23:03
ReplyDelete1)The public debt is serviced from Government revenue.
2)Who said that repayment of the public debt had a deadline.
Tyrone Duarte says:
ReplyDeleteCould someone put up a copy of this famous 'carta de los pelotas' so that those of us abroad may read it? Even if it's just for shits and giggles.
Anonymous at 11:03
ReplyDeleteA typical cheap shot from a GSD supporter of a party that palys politics by destruction and not constructively. I pity people like you that are incaable of seeing the psoitive aspects of anything that a politican from an opposing party says. Asin esta la politica en Gibraltar. Negativism reigns and will reign whilst the GSd continue to play politics the way it does.
If Fabian criticises, he gets salmmed. If he speaks constructively and positively he is ridiculed. Gosh I am looking forward to change to positive constructive politics that will help construct a better gibraltar. GROW UP! Re-read the interview there is a lot more in it. Carry on as you are and the GSd will certainly lose the election. GROW UP and be positive, constructive and inclusive and it may have a chance ...
Anonymous at 12:32
ReplyDeleteI repeat, I am a simple man in finances. You admit it has been spent ... so then it is not a surplus :) It is only an investment if it will produce a return. I see nothing that GSD Government has invested that will provide a return. In fact most will produce greater recurring cost. What sort of investment is that?
Anonymous at 12:47
ReplyDeleteAll debt has to be repaid at some time. .. even if it is from new borrowings ... if these are available ....
Tyrone
ReplyDeleteI have it in Gib. I will email it to you when I can.
Anon@17:58
ReplyDeleteRobert
What on earth do you mean by "a return"?
RV@17:59
ReplyDeleteRobert
The money is borrowed in tranches, the whole debt does not have to be repaid on the same date.
Anonymous at 19:12
ReplyDeleteLast time I looked in a dictionary, and indeed now that I have just checked, a return on an investment means income or profit :) if no return is expected it is not an investment it is expenditure :)
Anonymous at 19:14
Yes, agreed and?
RV@19:14
ReplyDeleteRobert
Now that you have verified the definition of "a return" in simple financial/commercial terms please extrapolate the same term into a national economy context:)
Please let me know whether I can help you establish the difference:) :)
RV@19:27
ReplyDeleteRobert
Anonymous at 19:14
Yes, agreed and?............
Agreed you are a simple man when it comes to finance:) :)
Robert que grande eres! Nice responses :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog!!
K
Anonymous at 22:28
ReplyDeleteYou used the term "investment". I simply replied to your use of that term. If and when you define what you meant by that term, I will answer answer your reply. In the meantime all I can say is that I play the game better than you :)
Anonymous at 22:35
Thank you, it is fine whilst Gibraltar plc can refinance as and when each tranche becomes due and payable ... PIGS are in somewhat of a problem because they needed help to do so. Will Gibraltar have anyone to help and if so who and on what political terms?
Devils Advocate..
ReplyDeleteChange undoubtedly is required in Government.
It is clear from conversations and social blogs that the current GSD administration has lost its credebility.
The GSD have I believed burnt their bridges by strangulating freedom of speech locally, incurring significant financial debt, squandering public funds on questionable projects and demonstrating an arrogance in their decision making; with little to no public consultation.
As for an alternative its great to acknowledge the existance of new developing political parties and key independants initiating debate.
Fabian Picardos input for introducing transparency,a ministerial code of conduct, freedom of expression for local civil servants is in my eyes a step in the right direction.
Certainly it tackles a significant local deficiency and resembles the type of Government I wish. One however will have to wait and see what other interesting concepts arise from this corner.
If the GSD claim credit for the occasional rain, they cant be surprised if the GSLP/PDP/independents blame it for the long droughts.
PS Hi Robert long time since we havent spoken, still do the Calpe on a Friday?
What a laugh! people are writing in discussing simple principles of economics because the GSD die hards can not believe that their all knowing leader could have left Gibraltar in such terrible indebtedness at a time when the world economy is in trouble. I would not like to be in the private sector now. After years of laissez faire on tax they are going to feel the white heat of Caruana's desperation to pay the national debt. By this time next year many businesses will be closed.
ReplyDeleteDevils Advoctae
ReplyDeleteCalpe on Fridays starts week of 12th September ... so will be there on 16th!
RV:00:18
ReplyDeleteI shall give you a simple example of an unquantifiable "return" from an "investment" and that is the paving that we tread on everyday that covers the pedestrianised area. Cobblestones imported from Yorkshire and laid at tremendous expense. I hope that helps towards understanding "Government investment".
Hey Robert, will you comment on the PDP's excellent press release today on the recent GCSE and A level results. What we have all whispered about in the past has now come to light!!
ReplyDeleteIt's being rumoured that Danny Feetham will stand for election again but on condition that Joe Holliday is dropped from the GSD line-up. Judging from the unedifying spectacle of Joe and Danny jockying for position, when they unnecessarily accompanying the CM to the UN to watch him deliver his speech after Danny became a GSD Minister I wouldn't be surprised if this was more than just a rumour.
ReplyDeleteAnon@08:58
ReplyDeleteThe world's economy was in trouble last year and the year before.
I am sure that the corporation tax reduction to 10% is going to have a devastating effect on the survival of the private sector.
RV@00:18
ReplyDeleteRobert
PIGS borrowed way above their ability to service the loans and had to be bailed out.
The Public Finance (Borrowing Powers) Act 2008 restricts any Gibraltar Government borrowing to within the limits of affordability.
Anonymous at 11:12
ReplyDeleteWho decides what is an investment or an expenditure? Road refurbishment is usually a recurrent expenditure ...
Anonymous at 13:08
ReplyDeleteIt is not something that I know a lot about but the PDP have identified and brought to light an excellent point. It is time for our political parties and politicians to become self-critical. In Gibraltar we have a tendency to believe that everything is great. Often it is not. Self-criticism is what leads to improvement.
Anonymous at 16:42:
ReplyDeleteThis subject has been debated at nauseum in previous blogs. I am not going to explain it all over again. Go back and read previous blogs and threads on this subject. Suffice it to say (a) it depends on the interpretation given to the Act you name and (b) Gibraltar's economy is more exposed tto external factors than large independent staes, so our borrowing policies should be more conservative than it is (c) much of what has been borrowed has bee misspent.
anon @ 13.11 Daniel Feetham has not put a foot wrong since he was elected. Joe Holliday on the other hand has not put a foot right or in the cases of OEM, FlyGib, tourism, telecoms, the port, cruise liners, the DPC, has put his foot in it every time. Carruana faces a freudian moment: if he choses Feetham he shows that he wants to win and if he goes for Holliday he will be telling us that he wants to call it a day, and who can blame him?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 17:38:
ReplyDeleteYou assume all those cases that you mention are decsisions taken by Joe Holliday ... two points I do not think this is likely, if they were then it is a failure of the GSD as a Government both in terms of how decisions are taken and in the failures themselves ...
With the exception of Caruana's demoltion of the joint sovereignty game the GSD record is in fact a long line of spectacular and costly failures. Not a single contract signed by government in the last 16 years except Daniel Feetham's development of the Court House has been anything else than an expensive cock up. My question is this: when Picardo replaces Caruana he has promised forensic audits. If any forensic audit shows that a contract cost the public purse because of incompetence or failure to adhere to european style basic requirements will the consultants ;) responsible be sued for damages? Is there any reason why they should not? Bring on the general election!
ReplyDeleteIf Peter continues to employ the same consultants he must know why. Let us not forget that Peter solved the £38 million disaster at Harbour Views which was the responsibility of the GSLP.
ReplyDeleteRV@17:06
ReplyDeleteRobert
Simple again, when you build a road it is an investment and the recurrent cost of maintenance it is expenditure.
Anonymous at 19:58
ReplyDeleteNot correct (1) building a road is a capital expenditure not an investment (2) in any event it makes no difference to your example: Main Street was already there there was an expenditure on refurbishing it.