Firefighters Owed Support and Investment Not Just Praise

The GSD commends the courage and commitment of the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service, and the Airport Fire and Rescue Service who supported them, in their response to the blaze at the One Bayside construction site on Wednesday evening.

Joelle Ladislaus, Shadow for Emergency Services said: “The incident which firefighters responded to on Wednesday clearly presented an enormous challenge, reflected both in the number of firefighters despatched to the scene and the need to call upon the AFRS to assist. The sheer bravery and professionalism of those who attended the scene did not go unnoticed; Gibraltar saw the very best of its fire and rescue services.

Gratitude, however, must be accompanied by tangible support. The service needs to have the modern equipment, facilities and resources to enable it to continue responding to the needs of Gibraltar, which presents unique challenges due to our landscape and geographical location. Unlike other fire and rescue services around the world, our firefighters must be trained and ready to respond to incidents at sea, within the nature reserve and in densely populated urban areas, like Wednesday’s blaze was situated in.

Investment in our GFRS should not however stop at equipment and training, it should also include the new fire station which the Government has now been promising for 15 years, and which should provide firefighters with purpose-built training areas and space to store appliances and equipment, like the aerial ladder, which is yet to arrive in Gibraltar, and for which there is a clear need given the increase in the number of high rise buildings.

The recent incident is a reminder of the vital role which our firefighters play in keeping Gibraltar safe, and the sacrifices that they make to ensure that they do so. Simple praise for their efforts is not enough; they are owed support and investment so that they are in the best position when the next incident arises.”

GSD would reverse Anti-British and Anti-Business aspects of GSLP 9 July Residency Policy

A GSD Government would seek to reverse those aspects of the Residency policy introduced by the GSLP/Libs that operate in an anti-British and anti-Business way. That can be done while also protecting public services from undue strain by a series of residence and contribution entitlements for new entrants.

It is not in the interests of Gibraltar to place hurdles on inward investment, job creation or residence that discourage British economic investment while pushing investment or jobs to Spain. Additionally, the GSLP residency policy will, in effect, subject those people who want to work in Gibraltar but are forced to reside in Spain to seek Spanish administrative permissions. This will operate as a further control on our economy by Spain.

The new residency policy that was announced in June has also since then been embodied in the Residency Regulations 2026 commenced on 14 July 2026. By introducing these under the Treaty on Gibraltar and the European Union Act 2026 the GSLP Government have made it more difficult for there to be an easy reversal of any harmful effects of this criticized policy. Future changes may now need to be consulted with the Cooperation Council under the Treaty (and therefore, in effect, with the EU and Spain).

Nick Cruz said: “The new GSLP 9 July law introduced by Ms Gemma Arias-Vasquez that makes UK British citizens second class citizens in British Gibraltar when seeking residence is anti-British and anti-Business. This 9 July Law has been severely criticized by Chamber of Commerce and by the GFSB.” On Thursday 2 July the GFSB publicly released their views warning: “that parts of the policy could make recruitment and retention harder for employers, discourage entrepreneurship and have negative effects on business in Gibraltar”.

Mr Cruz added: “The GSD believes that the best way to protect our British way of life and our social services in the face of the Treaty is to have a successful economy that allows Businesses and individuals to contribute via tax and social insurance. A need to protect both is not served by making the attraction of British investment or job-creation more difficult. Gibraltar’s businesses and its largest sectors (the finance sector) are UK facing, and our business require recruitment from the UK. This should not be made harder.”

The GSLP 9 July Law imposes a minimum salary threshold of gross average earnings (now over £39,500) before a UK citizen can come and live in Gibraltar. That means recruitment of young British citizens (including graduates that our Businesses need) will be less attractive. The agist policy that makes it harder for anyone over 55 years old to come and live in Gibraltar (unless they are rich and have £5M and can apply for CAT 2 Status) will also prevent British entrepreneurship and startups by those senior management and decision makers that are often in their late 50’s and early 60’s. This ill-thought-out policy (now law) has not enjoyed proper consultation with business as is evident from the position of the Chamber the GFSB and the Finance Centre Council. Some of the details of this policy will operate detrimentally to our economy and make Gibraltar perceived to be less attractive and friendly to British investors.

The fact that exceptions to the GSLP 9 July Law are based on grace and favour from the Chief Minister, adds uncertainty and extra costs. Business cannot plan on that basis.

Gibraltar succeeds when everyone succeeds. The best way to protect our public sector and our public services is to foster a successful British Gibraltar business environment that can live harmoniously with our neighbour Spain and the EU but not lose our uniqueness which is our British Heritage, culture and character including our demographics and business offering. Measures like this which discourage British new entrants and give primacy to Spanish labour merely increase our reliance on Spain and can diminish our historical economic links.

As such a GSD Government would consult widely to reverse the negative effects of the GSLP’s 9 July Law with a view to introducing a balanced set of measures that are business friendly, British friendly, business promoting and residency and contribution requirements that avoid any abuse.

We will ensure that those who may be older and therefore cannot contribute in terms of PAYE/SI for sufficient years will need to pay sufficient funds into our consolidated fund or demonstrate sufficient wealth, retirement provision and medical insurance.

Gibraltar has always benefitted from British investment and British people arriving to work and contribute to Gibraltar. We should continue to be an attractive place for British investment because that produces economic benefits for our community.

The GSD will in careful consultation with the GFCC and other stakeholders also review the CAT 2 requirements. It will ensure that this residency status continues to be attractive to those who want to make Gibraltar their home and integrate and invest and this will include consideration of a minimum residency requirement.