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Matvey Celecia

GSLP in Desperate Denial against Inquiry Truth

By News
The GSLP are in serious denial about the Openshaw Report. The insistence in repeating the falsehood of “exoneration” and continuing attempt at repackaging the Report findings is alarming. It is stunning that Mr Picardo should now suggest in a GBC interview that the British Government’s statement that there are serious findings in the Inquiry is not also a concern about the findings against him.
Leader of the Opposition, Keith Azopardi said: “The most serious findings of the Inquiry are about him. Sir Peter Openshaw found that on repeated occasions Mr Picardo acted in a ‘grossly improper way’ and ‘attempted to interfere in a criminal investigation.’ There are no findings more serious than that.” It is equally incredible that Mr Picardo should continue to try to keep shifting the focus from findings actually made by Sir Peter Openshaw to other matters which were not even findings made by the Inquiry as if it should be those nonexistent findings that should be the catalyst for the learning of lessons.
This is a GSLP Government that in its insistence to cling on to power and shut its eyes to the consequences of the serious findings are totally unwilling to take the first step on the road to recognition – which is that they should accept the wrongdoing.
Mr Picardo’s GBC interview was conducted in the wake of his filing of Judicial Review proceedings against Sir Peter Openshaw which forms part of his continual denial of facts and refusal to learn lessons. Given his insistence that there are “very serious” findings against others it is striking that no other core participant seems to have filed a judicial review against Sir Peter Openshaw and his findings. That judicial review which is his private law challenge in his own name will cost the tax-payer significant sums given the agreement of all Ministers to support it. As his private legal jamboree he should pay for it.
In 2022 and 2023 Mr Picardo repeatedly promised that the Inquiry would establish “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” But it is now clear that Mr Picardo was only willing to accept the “truth” if the Inquiry agreed with him or he writes it himself. It was remarkable to hear him say in the GBC interview that the “whole truth” has not yet been established. He is doing what Sir Peter Openshaw himself observed – making matters much worse by his repeated denials even now that he did nothing wrong and his insistence in repackaging the truth. The fact that he is aided and abetted by all other Ministers shows that they are not the people to spearhead meaningful reform.
9th February 2026
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GSLP Delays Have Left the Gibraltar College of Further Education in a Deteriorating State.

By News

The recent severe weather has once again exposed the poor condition of the Gibraltar College of Further Education building. While the Government has said that some water ingress is to be expected during a “once in a generation storm”, the truth is that this building has been in a very poor state for many years. The continuing delay in delivering a new college is being felt most by the students and staff who use the building every day.

This inevitably raises questions about whether the Government is genuinely in touch with the reality on the ground at the College. Despite ministers visiting other schools in recent days, the serious water ingress at Gibraltar College of Further Education appears to have been ignored. This is difficult to understand unless inconvenient realities are simply being overlooked.

Overlooking the problem, however, does not make it go away. It does not change the reality. The GSLP first promised a new College of Further Education in its 2019 manifesto. Since then, there have been changes in location and repeated announcements, but seven years on, students and staff are still without a new college.

Opposition MP Atrish Sanchez notes: “Students and staff are expected to learn and work every day in a building that is clearly deteriorating. This is simply not good enough. It shows a failure to honour long-standing promises and to deal with the real impact these delays are having on students, families and staff.”
The creation of a Skills and Technology College has long been a commitment of the GSD. The new facility will bring together the existing functions of the College of Further Education and provide modern facilities and workshops for academic, vocational and hands-on practical training.

Alongside this, the College will offer high-quality programmes in traditional trades, technical skills, digital skills and emerging technologies, developed in partnership with local industry. This approach is essential to widening opportunities for our young people and supporting future generations.
It is a commitment that, if elected, we will deliver without drift or delay.

2nd February 2026
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GSD Reaffirms Commitment to Independent Health and Care Regulatory Body Following Ombudsman Report

By News

GSD Reaffirms Commitment to Independent Health and Care Regulatory Body Following Ombudsman Report.

The GSD believes that the establishment of an independent regulatory body for health and care services is long overdue. It should be designed specifically for Gibraltar’s needs, with the powers to proactively monitor, inspect and uphold care standards. This would help ensure that services are safe, effective, supportive and responsive to the people who rely on them.

Concerns raised by members of the community, including those about domiciliary care and other areas of health and social care, show how important it is to have a framework that encourages transparency, trust and ongoing improvement across the system.

The Ombudsman’s Annual Report 2024 has highlighted a concerning case about patient care and experience. The case involves complaints made regarding an individual’s stay within the GHA, an Elderly Residential Services facility and Ocean Views, including issues around the care provided, record keeping and the way the complaints were handled. The report concludes that there were serious failings in both the care given to the patient and in how the complaints were managed, and it makes several recommendations. The GSD extends its sympathies and support to the family and all those affected.

While the GSD will not comment on the specific details of the case out of respect for everyone involved, the report underlines the need for continuous improvement, timely responses to complaints and stronger systems of accountability.

These findings remind us that although Gibraltar’s health and care professionals work incredibly hard under challenging and demanding circumstances, they, and the people they care for, need and deserve the support of an independent structure that helps maintain consistent standards and builds public confidence.

Shadow Minister for Care, Atrish Sanchez, notes:
“This has been a longstanding GSD commitment. We are often asked what changes we would make and prioritise if elected to Government, and the creation of an independent regulator for health and care services, tailored to Gibraltar’s needs, is one of them.  This would not only help those who rely on these services but also those delivering care, who do valuable work every single day. It would provide a structure that strengthens quality, ensures accountability and supports professionals in delivering the highest possible standards within positive and effective working environments. It would be a positive and forward-looking step for Gibraltar, and one that we are committed to delivering.”

22nd October 2025
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𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩

By News
𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
The GSD are surprised at the timing and composition of the launch of a Steering Group on governance reforms to the Royal Gibraltar Police.
Throughout their 14 years in office the GSLP have shown little interest in governance reforms to enhance the independence of the Gibraltar Police Authority (GPA) or of the Police. Indeed, notoriously there have been plenty of allegations and cross-allegations in the McGrail Inquiry that would tread precisely on the governance of the Police or the GPA, their relationship with the Government and the importance of preventing Executive overreach into the operational activities of either.
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐊𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐳𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝:
“The GSD is committed to the reform of governance of the GPA, protecting their independence and that of the RGP and ensuring that there are clear and robust structures that create checks and balances on the power of the Government as well as enhance consultation of the Opposition. In Government we would pursue such reforms. However, we are deeply sceptical of a process spearheaded by a GSLP Government that far from having had any real commitment to this area before has, in fact, shown a disdain for Police governance. Given that we have not yet seen the Inquiry findings we are concerned this is at best window dressing or at worst a smokescreen from any criticisms in that Report to come.
The McGrail Inquiry has not yet reported and may clearly impact on matters of Police or GPA governance. As such it seems to us that reforms will necessarily be informed by that Inquiry report and that forging ahead now is premature when the report has not been delivered still less published.
Secondly the composition of the steering group is heavily made up by those who were core participants and indeed key witnesses in the McGrail Inquiry. Legitimately many people will struggle to have confidence in a “reform” process led by the very people at the heart of the Inquiry. People may think that the GSLP Government will seek to protect themselves, not learn from the past and be a handbrake to the necessary reforms.
There is little to suggest that there is anything except central GSLP Government and Party control in this Steering Group process. Given the quasi-constitutional importance of the Police and its governance our view is that any reforms would necessarily need to involve top-level influence in decision-making from persons outside the Government and its political parties and be drawn on a cross-party basis. There should also be participants drawn from the Judiciary and senior members of the Bar. For example, the Police Authority was born out of a cross-party proposal of the Select Committee on the Constitution in 2002. It seems obvious that before any changes are undertaken in this sensitive area they should first involve cross-party participation at the highest level.”
21st October 2025
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PUBLIC LEFT IN THE DARK- SAME MISTAKES, SAME RESULTS

By News
PUBLIC LEFT IN THE DARK- SAME MISTAKES, SAME RESULTS
Today’s general power blackout once again exposes the Government’s complete inability to safeguard Gibraltar’s power infrastructure from avoidable failures, as we predicted.
Despite repeated warnings from the Opposition, including our April 2025 press release following 2 similar incidents and questions put to Minister Arias Vasquez in the May session of Parliament, the Government has failed to act decisively. There has been no implementation of proper safeguards and their refusal to enforce critical recommendations has now led to yet another unnecessary and damaging blackout.
Improve grid resilience
We have consistently urged the Government to improve the grid’s resilience by ring-fencing key circuits and isolating faults so a single incident does not cascade into a full system failure. Yet this unheeded advice has led to every home, business and public service (including, shockingly, our 999 service) being plunged into darkness simply because the Government refuses to take the basic steps to protect our power supply.
Enforce GEA supervisory oversight
Even more concerning is the Government’s continued failure to regulate the supervision of groundwork in critical locations. Our calls for the GEA to be empowered to mandate the presence of a contractor-funded supervisor during such works have gone ignored. This measure, simple in concept and at no cost to the taxpayer, would provide critical oversight and prevent the sort of damage and system failure we continue to suffer.
Minister Arias Vasquez repeatedly insisted in Parliament that the power grid was more resilient than ever. However, we have now witnessed a complete contradiction between her rhetoric and the reality on the ground, which has left the community exposed and vulnerable.
Opposition MP Craig Sacarello commented, “How many more blackouts must we suffer before this Government accepts responsibility and acts? We are not dealing with extreme weather events or cyberattacks. These are very avoidable failures stemming from bad planning and no supervision.
The Government must now move beyond empty assurances. Gibraltar deserves a reliable distribution network which provides an uninterrupted service to the public”.
17th September 2025
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