Monday 23 November 2015

My Radio Broadcast of 20th November 2015

Some have questioned my involvement in frontline politics with the GSD.  My support for a party is not based on dogma.  It is based on adherence to core political values.  Mine are those of a social democrat and not of a socialist of the type and nature exemplified by the GSLP: to me the politics of the GSLP are neither socialism nor social democracy.  The politics of the GSLP are the politics of convenience based on buying votes using savers money, irrespective of the wellbeing of Gibraltar as a whole or its future generations.  I do not believe that these are the politics that voters in Gibraltar want, however much some (and it is a few) gain personally or enrich themselves from such politics.
I have no hesitation in saying that I have voted GSD at every election, except in the 2011 election at which I split my vote.  I realise now that this was a mistake in light of the GSLP’s failures to make good its manifesto promises to improve democracy in and provide good government for Gibraltar.  My passion for decades has been to improve the democratic offering in Gibraltar and systemically reduce the chances of bad government.  The GSD has adopted policies that will help me to deliver on my passion. 
The GSLP made empty promises on issues of good government in its 2011 Manifesto.  The GSLP promised a more inclusive, less divisive and positive style of government, that it would return government to the people, ensure that ministers are servants of the people, that a government is not elected to ‘reign’ over the citizens”, that the GSLP do not believe that one man should be the government, they committed to a root and branch reform of the way our democracy works, they said that such reform must be designed to give people a greater voice in the way government and parliament function and they promised to promote free speech amongst all citizens. 
When you come to vote you will be the judges of whether the GSLP have delivered on these promises. I do not consider that the GSLP have done so.  The GSD considers that The GSLP have singularly failed to deliver on any of these.  What the GSLP have done is to pay lip service to their promises by having more meetings of parliament but using the system not to advance open and transparent government, so much so that lies have been said in Parliament and questions asked by the GSD have not been answered purposefully.
In fact Fabian Picardo has used his absolute privilege in Parliament to make serious and false accusations using venomous language against Daniel Feetham, without the Speaker protecting Mr Feetham.  I refer to the incident when Mr Picardo untruthfully alleged that Mr Feetham had corruptly promised favours in exchange for the Lloyd’s Report on LNG and that he had conspired to deprive young children, the elderly and disabled of electricity:  accusations that Mr Picardo has cowardly refused to make outside Parliament and so become susceptible to a financial claim for defamation.
The very essence of free speech, the cathedral of which is Parliament, is precisely that one must suffer the expression of views by others, which one considers repellent, especially those of minorities, like the Opposition.   Well the GSD wants to return Parliament to being the cathedral of free speech in Gibraltar.  If the cathedral of free speech itself is violated, which is what the GSLP have done, then where does that leave the right of free speech that everyone should enjoy?  I would suggest in tatters, as has happened in Gibraltar under every GSLP administration.
How the GSD will deliver better government and more democracy to Gibraltar is set out in detail in our Manifesto.  Briefly, the GSD will follow open and transparent processes in non-civil service public employment and in tendering for government and government related contracts. 
It will enforce laws to prevent corruption and cronyism and afford the necessary environment and protections for investigation of both.  The GSLP acknowledged the existence of corruption in its 2011 manifesto.  The GSLP failed to introduce the anti-corruption and anti-bribery authority that it promised.  The authority’s remit was to be to “... work with the Attorney General and seconded officers of the RGP in the investigation and prosecution of corruption ... starting in 1988”.  Now, the GSLP in its 2015 Manifesto says that the RGP are resourced to deal with this.  Can you believe the GSLP will meet its commitment?
The GSD will introduce reforms to improve parliamentary democracy aimed at reinstating the supremacy of Parliament to achieve true democratic and fair government.  It will do so by separating the executive and legislature by the election of backbenchers who will not be eligible for appointment as ministers by the Chief Minister. It will restore the Rule of Law. 
The criticism that backbenchers will increase public costs is not a criticism at all.  The entire cost of 8 backbenchers will not exceed approximately £150,000.  Returning 2 or 3 public posts filled by the GSLP Government from the private sector to reasonable salaries will pay for this, with an additional saving in excess of £500,000.  The benefit of the separation of powers to improve democracy and deliver better government more than compensates for this additional cost. 
The choice is clear: more of the same opportunism from the GSLP or giving the GSD an opportunity to improve the democratic and good governance offer in Gibraltar.  I would urge you to think carefully, not least because a vote for the GSLP is a vote in favour of an LNG plant at the end of the North Mole and for a stadium at Lathbury Barracks, once built these will be there for decades.  Careful thought will lead you to conclude that a vote for the GSD is the right vote.  We offer many other exciting and affordable promises.  The GSLP continue now to promise everything that costs and is expensive.  I suggest Gibraltar and its future generations cannot afford the GSLP.  The GSD is not for austerity.  It is for prudence by cutting bad and unnecessary expenditure and wastage.
The GSD is a team of competent persons.  It is a vote for a team not for an individual who will be Chief Minister.  On the 26th November use your privilege of voting. Vote GSD, vote for Danny Feetham, Roy Clinton, Trevor Hammond, Marlene Hassan, Kim Karnani, Lawrence Llamas, Elliott Philips, Edwin Reyes, Chris White and myself Robert Vasquez.
Thank you.

Sunday 22 November 2015

A Reply to False Propaganda from Picardo and Isola

It has come to my attention that Fabian Picardo and Albert Isola have taken to selectively quoting from my writings in this blog to discredit me.  I make no apology for what I have written in the past, which writings were relevant at the time of writing.  What I do take objection to is that they should quote me selectively and out of context.  To do this is to give a false and propagandist twist to views and opinions expressed by me; views that were relevant at particular junctures in time and in context and many that remain relevant at this election. 

It is also cowardly to make these comments at rallies and events at which I am not present to give a reply but should I expect more from these two individuals?  I do not think so.   They act, as usual, in a cowardly manner to give a wrong picture by selectively quoting: it is par for the course from a party that believes more in spin and lies than reality.

At that time, 2010 and 2011, I was an independent thinker and writer giving my independent opinions on many issues: a member of no party trying to promote independents to have a say in politics in Gibraltar.  This was a personal crusade that did not succeed.  The main theme running through many of my writings was the need for open, transparent and fair government in Gibraltar and more democracy.  An opinion that I still stand by and which the GSD espouses at this election campaign. 

I continue to be an independent and radical thinker on the subject of open, transparent and fair government and my desire to achieve better democracy.  I will work tirelessly to achieve my objective on these fronts.  The only change is that I will do so within the GSD party.  Doing so does not mean I cannot or will not achieve my objective, shared by the GSD, to give Gibraltar more open, transparent and fair government with greater democracy.  The GSD manifesto includes important policies on this front that will take Gibraltar far.  My involvement in the GSD simply gives the achievement of these objectives greater credibility, not least, because those who know mw know that it has been my passion for 40 years.

Let us see what the GSLP promised in its 2011 Manifesto.  They promised:

"more inclusive less divisive and positive style of government". 

"We will return government to the people"

"to ensure that Ministers are servants of the people"

"a government is not elected to 'reign' over citizens"

"We do not believe that one man should be the government"

We are ..."committed to a root and branch reform of the way our democracy works ... such reform must be designed to give people a greater voice in the way government and parliament function."

We will ... "promote free speech amongst all citizens."

Well, I would ask all those who are said at the Chamber of Commerce dinner to have laughed when Picardo selectively quoted my writings out of context whether the GSLP promises have been achieved and whether the failure of the GSLP to deliver on these manifesto promise is one to be critical of the GSLP about.

All the GSLP have done is to tinker around the edges without making any fundamental changes to deliver what the GSLP promised in its 201 manifesto.  More meetings of Parliament, yes, but meetings at which lies are told and important questions are not answered, mostly on the important subject of public finances and the use of savers' money. 

I ask the members of the Chamber of Commerce whether their businesses function within a fair system, where some have access to secret loans from Credit Finance Company Limited and others do not, in a secret system where not even the method of application for a loan is known? Fair competition, indeed!

The election on Thursday is about different visions.  A vision of prudence, fairness, openness, transparency and greater democracy that is espoused by the GSD or the profligacy and opaqueness of the GSLP that will not take Gibraltar to the good place that it should be. 

The choice is simple, continue to endanger our economic stability and so our political stability with a GSLP government for short term gain and long term pain, or seek prudence with the GSD to ensure our continued political independence and economic stability for the good of ourselves and future generations.  It is about whether you want a dangerous power station in the wrong location that will be there for decades or a safe power station in the right place.  It is about a stadium in the wrong place or in the right place and many more issues.  It is about taking the right decision now or a decision that will lead to the wrong decisions that will remain with us for decades. 

It is no laughing matter!






Thursday 19 November 2015

Corruption

Last night at the GFSB Picardo accosted me in bullying terms because I had dared air the issue of corruption in general terms and without pointing the finger at anyone or any group of people.  Well Picardo I have no fear of airing a subject that is so much in the public interest that it is talked about in whispers on a daily basis. 

I will talk and write about it especially when you try to bully me into not doing so. A tactic that I fail to understand why you adopt when the corruption issue features in your own party's manifesto in 2011.  You have committed to establish an anti-corruption commission. Surely you would not have made this commitment involving cost if you did not feel there is corruption in Gibraltar?

It is an issue that in the public interest needs to be debated and needs to be brought out in the open. It is not a subject that I have aired now because you have been in government. It is a subject that I wrote about in 2011. Indeed, I put forward the idea of an anti-corruption body then in the blog that I wrote in 2011 on that subject.  It was because I wrote about it that you made your manifesto commitment and then singularly failed to implement it. 

So yes, Picardo, I will say it over and over again: there is corruption in Gibraltar that needs to be stopped and you agree with me. However the right atmosphere needs to be created by having appropriate legislation to protect those who make reports that would lead to investigations, the collection of evidence and then the necessary convictions and punishment.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

The "Undecided"

One of the most significant features of the current electoral campaign are the undecided voters (who are not shown at all in the latest GBC poll) , without diminishing the significance of the voters who will vote blank.  

The  group who will vote blank are exercising a democratic right.  Others have written about the ineffectiveness in reality of voting blank.  I will limit myself to urging them to think about their intentions carefully.  A blank vote really send only a message of disaffection: that message falls on deaf ears, unless those who are disaffected engage as candidates with a view to changing the system against which they are rebelling. I have done precisely that: I will try my hardest to change and improve the system in manner that will reduce the confrontation that exists in politics and Parliament today.  It will be a slow process but it has to be started and once started, hopefully, it will progress to fruition in a good place.  

I am sure undecided and blank voters have a view on the power plant, on the stadium or on public debt or on some other area of policy. Blank voters should consider exercising their right to vote for people who share their view, even if it is on one issue.  The undecided have an easier task because they will decide and vote. Each group should remember that if the power plant and/or stadium is built in the wrong location, it will remain in the wrong location for decades. If our public finances are mismanaged to the point of our debt not being affordable, the repercussions for Gibraltar especially, in light of our issues with Spain, do not bear thinking about. 

I would urge the undecided to carefully consider policies but also to carefully consider the vision of each party.  The GSD has a vision of care, prudence, fairness, transparency and openness.  The GSLP have reverted to their opaque past, pretending, for example, to be fair and open when the reality shows that they hide a substantial part of the public debt and refuse to answer questions in Parliament.  The GSLP reality is also that they stampeded onwards with a project like the power station at North Mole without the necessary safety reports and without following the  processes required by law to be followed. For example,  public consultation required by law has not taken place.  What is the purpose of a legally required public consultation if contracts have already been signed and construction has started?  It will simply be a cynical process.  It displays the same cynicism that the GSLP display towards everyone about everything.  I could go on but I think I make the point.

The GSLP keep reminding everyone of situations that they consider to be past mistakes of the GSD without reminding anyone of the great things that were achieved for Gibraltar by the GSD in its 4 terms of office.  Well that argument about alleged past mistakes does not justify their own failures: for example, to build a car park under Commonwealth Park or two stories on Laguna and Glacis Estate as well as the roofing, to provide greater democracy and to do away with corruption and 'enchufes' by setting up an anti-corruption body.  That argument made by the GSLP is an admission of their own wrongs because two wrongs do not make a right!

I believe that people should vote.  I believe that the undecided are undecided because they are unhappy with the GSLP Government.  I would urge them to go and vote and obviously to vote for the GSD but importantly to  exercise their democratic right to vote.  After all, now, that same democratic vote means so much more:  ever since the GSD achieved the major advances with the 2006 Constitution, our Parliament has so much more power that can be used by the right people for the benefit of Gibraltar.  Make sure that this enlarged power is used constructively and works for Gibraltar by voting for the careful, prudent and democratic GSD vision.

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Enhanced Democracy and Good Government

My responsibility within the GSD is to enhance democracy by changing the existing system with the objective of improving government.   I have had a passion to achieve this for all my working life as a lawyer in Gibraltar.  I have not been a lawyer exclusively, however.  I have engaged in trying to achieve my passion for enhanced democracy and good government for many years from the outside.


In 1972, advocated student grants for all in a letter to the Chronicle, which did not happen until the late 1980’s.   Early in my career, in 1978, I started the “Ratepayers and Taxpayers Association” to lobby governments for their rights.  More recently I appeared before the Parliamentary Commission on constitutional advancement that led to the 2006 Constitution.  I pushed for improved democracy.

 

I did not believe the 2006 Constitution enhanced democracy,so I joined and led the “NO Campaign”arguing that the 2006 Constitution should have allowed for more democracy. I believe that transferring more power to our Parliament and Government required more democratic safeguards. Soon afterwards in 2009, I wrote for 2 years an independent blog,Llanito World”.  This influenced policies in the 2011 General Election but has not led to meaningful reforms.


Today the GSD have given me a platform from which to push for systemic democratic changes as a frontline candidate.  The GSD is a cohesive team under the indefatigable leadership of Danny Feetham, who is maligned, unfairly.  The GSD is a team made up of individuals of unmatched judgment and knowledge in each of their fields.


You have a choice of visions: the GSD offer a better vision for Gibraltar. It is an inclusive party with moderate policies but without fearing radicalism, where it is needed.  Its policies include democratic safeguards, fairness, openness and transparency and a return to good government.  Our vision means a return to prudent public spending, no, not austerity,but, yes, cutting unnecessary expenditure and waste.


The GSD will achieve its vision through all its policies but will cement its vision through a systemic reform of administrative, governmental and democratic processes. We will establish open and transparent processes in tendering for public contracts, including those of government owned companies, and in employment direct into the public service.  We will seek the enforcement of laws dealing with and introduce systems to prevent corruption and cronyism.  We will foster a sense that all MPs on a cross-party basis can work together on fundamental issues, such as international affairs.  We will protect against lying in Parliament.  We will ensure the electorate feel a part of the democratic process by a petition system and financing challenges asserting fundamental rights and breaches of the Rule of Law.  We will introduce separation of powers and improve accountability with checks and balances, and thus counteract the perception of an all powerful Chief Minister.  We will resource the Opposition.  We will review the Ministerial Code and MPs’ Code of Conduct.   We will publish a Civil Service Code, after consultation, to protect Civil Servants by re-establishing lines of separation between Ministers and Civil Servants. 


The GSLP have failed in all these areas despite their manifesto promises.  They have little interest in constructive reforms to better democracy and government beyond tinkering at the edges: more meetings of Parliament but not answering questions! They squander money to please and get the support of part of the electorate. Overspending must stop; it weakens Gibraltar’s ability to defend its interests, especially in the international arena. 


The GSD is intent on reversing the GSLP’s destructive course.  I have fought for improving democracy with the AACR, the GSLP and, even, the GSD, when each was in government.  For me this opportunity to join frontline politics, which the GSD have given me, is but the next stage of my lifelong campaign to achieve my passion. 

 

Vote for the GSD at the forthcoming general election: we will deliver what we say.

 

Monday 9 November 2015

Top 10 Policies

The GSD is a new invigorated team.  Our primary objective is to restore security and peace of mind, to govern Gibraltar in an open, fair and transparent manner and to respect the role of Parliament in challenging the Government and to uphold the rule of law.  The GSD will assess the true state of public finances upon being elected by investigating the web that the GSLP/Liberals have created over the last 4 years to move to use hundreds of millions of pounds of savers money.

The GSD will implement policies in accordance with what is affordable.  There will be no austerity.  What the GSLP/Liberals are calling “austerity” is the GSD rightly targeting and cutting out bad spending and wastage of the GSLP/Liberals; much of this lavishness is attributable to Mr Picardo himself.  Over the last 4 years, he has become the most extravagant and wasteful Chief Minister in Gibraltar’s history.  Even Mr Bossano has publicly chastised Ministers for over-spending- he called it being brainwashed by consultants! 

The principal elements of these policies are:

1. In education. and training the GSD will provide a new co-educational secondary school at Rooke, improve current schools, start an apprenticeship programme for real jobs and introduce a dedicated careers advice service and student counselling. 

2. In democracy, the GSD will follow open and transparent processes in non-civil service public employment and tendering for government and government related contracts and enforce laws to prevent corruption and cronyism. We will make reforms to improve parliamentary democracy, reinstating the supremacy of Parliament.

3. In environment and power, the GSD say no to LNG: it is dangerous to our citizens, will build a new power station at Lathbury away from densely populated areas, upgrade the electricity grid, encourage the use of renewable energy sources, provide a new sewage treatment plant and encourage electrical transport means and cycling.

4. In the public sector, the GSD will work with the public sector and unions to motivate staff, invigorate working practices and provide a first class service, provide adequate training and professional development, develop succession planning  and substitution criteria at different levels, advertise external posts in the public service and provide parliamentary explanations for any post  attracting a salary of  £60,000 or SEO equivalent, and appoint a minister with responsibility for the public service not being the Chief Minister.

5. In housing, the GSD will continue to provide social housing but will deal with a culture of entitlement so as to control cost and ensure fairness, so means testing for new applicants will be introduced, as will zero tolerance for rent arrears and vandalism.  Works on estates will be completed and flat sharing introduced.  Naturalised Gibraltarians who have 10 years pre-naturalisation residence will be eligible to buy affordable housing.

6. In social services, will deal with domestic violence and abuse, pass the UN Convention on the Rights of the Disabled into law, bring into the benefits system those disabled after birth, improve opportunities for the disabled within secondary education, and introduce fair employment in social services.

7. In taxation and business, the GSD will simplify the tax system, improve PAYE to prevent overpayments for overtime earnings, continue to develop the finance centre and, in the event of BREXIT, seek alternative markets for the finance centre, establish start up incubators for business, introduce a 1 year Social Security holiday for first time employees and lower rates for certain businesses.

8. In health, the GSD will make GPs the centre of all health communications, paediatric nurses will visit schools, instigate a family planning clinic and teenage drop in service, ensure workings of Primary Care Centre, establish an Alzheimer and dementia centre and provide supported housing and employment for mental health patients.

9. In public finances, the GSD will ensure that the Chief Minister will no longer to act as Minister responsible for Public Finances, the Financial Secretary will answer questions in Parliament, government companies will be reviewed by the Principal Auditor after an independent audit of all is undertaken to determine the true level of public debt, parliamentary approval will be required for all government companies,  the Savings Bank will not be used to finance Government projects, Credit Finance Company to be investigated and liquidated and specific savings products will be designed for pensioners and first time home buyers.

10. In the “forgotten agencies”, will strengthen the Housing and Works Agency to enable it to undertake the public works it was intended to undertake, favourably harmonising conditions within the Borders and Coastguard Agency and improve its role to achieve its original purpose, favourably harmonise annual and sick leave within the Gibraltar Bus Company and other Government companies and employment schemes and work with the Gibraltar Defence Police Federation and the MoD to safeguard security and find means to reward members of the force appropriately when performing duties equivalent to the Royal Gibraltar Police.


There is no doubt the GSD will deliver a better Gibraltar.  It is your vote that will allow it to do so.  Additional information on all our policies is available on www.GSD.gi.

Tuesday 13 October 2015

The Leader of the GSD

After the last election in 2011 and following Sir Peter Caruana's decision to step down as leader of the GSD, the GSD elected Danny Feetham to lead it.  He became the leader of the Opposition consequently.  He was filling extremely big shoes: Sir Peter had led the GSD for many years and been Chief Minister of Gibraltar for 4 consecutive terms.  Sir Peter's leadership of the GSD is recognised by all and by me as having been brilliant and of great benefit to Gibraltar, despite my view as a then independent observer, that there were some policy shortcomings.

It is true to say that without the Opposition in Parliament and without opposition outside Parliament there is no democracy, there is one party autocracy.  The role of the Opposition in Parliament is of even greater importance in the absence of an analytical press that includes widespread comment and in a small place where Governments can exert pressure and provide incentives to colour individual and corporate opinion and opinions of groupings; consequently the opposition's role in Gibraltar has added importance.  This importance is especially so in a system that does not separate the executive arm from the legislative arm of Government, which alone is also a democratic deficit.  This a democratic deficit that I have for decades highlighted exists in Gibraltar.  The GSD has given me now a platform from which, if I am elected into Parliament, I can make efforts to redress that deficit to a sufficient degree.

It is not to exaggerate to say that, without Danny Feetham, the GSLP/Liberal Government would have had a virtually free ride over the last 4 years in Government.  Danny Feetham has virtually single handed maintained an Opposition and opposition to the GSLP/Government.  His persistence and stoicism means that today the GSD have a full team of worthy candidates to fight the imminent election.  He has had a difficult task but he has not shied away from it. Gibraltar owes him a debt of gratitude.  He is worthy and has the qualities to be Gibraltar's next Chief Minister supported by a great team that includes members with unmatched expertise in their respective fields.  He has recently  written that an important role for him, as Leader of the Opposition, is, in part, to hold the Government to account on behalf of all citizens and despite having to take up unpopular issues to do so.  He is right in what he say and it benefits Gibraltar to have someone, performing the role of Leader of the Opposition, who understands that part of the role.

There are many who say that they would vote for one party or the other if someone else was the leader or if one two or more of the candidates of that party were different.  This view is understandable but should it inform how one votes?  The electoral system that currently exists in Gibraltar allows for voting for individuals but that is not the best use of a vote until and if the system is reformed.  Today one should look at policies and visions and not personalities or individual candidates.  I believe that when the electoral campaign starts and manifestos are published it will be seen that the policies and vision of the GSD will convince: it is a vision for your family, yourself and for future generations.  Do not let the dislike of any one or other candidates put you off voting for the right vision and so give the advantage to the wrong party: in the end you are voting for a team when you vote GSD.

Friday 9 October 2015

My Involvement in Frontline Politics with the GSD

My Involvement in Frontline Politics with the GSD
I believe that the time has come to revive my blog Llanito World, so here goes my first blog in nearly 4 years! I guess some are asking why I am involving myself in frontline politics and why with the GSD?
The answer is actually terribly simple, I have always supported the vision of the GSD and I have always voted GSD save for a mistaken split vote at the 2011 election.  I share the vision of the GSD and despite believing that the GSLP had changed its spot prior to the 2011 election (hence my splitting my vote) I have seen and experienced the truthfulness of the old saying “a leopard never changes its spots”! Los enchufes siguen y se ponen peor and “they overspend and we pay”! 
The GSD may not have performed in the past to the full level that I may have expected, as shown by my criticisms in this blog, but they did perform.  They did it with a large element of sobriety, honesty and trust that is fast disappearing once again: that saddens me as a lover of Gibraltar.
I have campaigned for better government and enhanced democracy in Gibraltar all my life.  Regrettably only very small steps have been taken in the past to achieve this objective.  I have learnt to look forward, however, and today the GSD have given me a platform to achieve my ambition for Gibraltar.  I have decided to take that platform both for reasons of giving of myself to public service but also because my personal circumstances permit me to do it now. I do it, also, because Sir Peter Caruana’s GSD ensured in the 2006 Constitution that the desire to enlarge Parliament and change the electoral system could be achieved.  I thank Sir Peter and his foresight for that!
The influence that I have had recently in formulating GSD policy on the issue of enhanced democracy and good government will become obvious once the GSD unveils its policies and publishes its Manifesto for the imminent election.  I will emphasise that the choice at this election is a choice of visions and not a choice between two parties.   The vision of the GSD is one of democracy, fairness, openness, transparency and accountability, including accountability in public finances where there is much to be concerned about.  All this is to be achieved by systemic changes and reforms and not by idle promises; systemic changes proposed by the GSD that will be made clear in our manifesto and as the election campaign develops.  The GSLP promised this change in its 2011 manifesto but, other than tinkering on the edges, it has failed to make any meaningful difference.
I thank Danny Feetham, a much and unfairly maligned individual, for listening to me and allowing me to influence policy in the GSD on enhanced democracy and good governance.  Democracy in Gibraltar would have suffered an enormous set back without the indefatigable efforts of Danny Feetham to continue the responsibilities of the Opposition: government without opposition is not democracy.  Gibraltar owes him a debt of gratitude for that.  He has a team around him now that is a real squad.  It is a team that supports him: you will be voting for that team and not Danny Feetham alone.  Believe me, the candidates in the GSD team and I and are independent thinkers that will not be taken to where they do not want to go by any leader of any party!  I think that, in my case, I have proven that in my writings on this blog!
Ok bring on the criticism and questions ... I love it but I love Gibraltar more!