Mr Picardo now resorts to lie about festival

Gibraltar is getting used to Mr Picardo’s spin and lies. Not content with refusing to publish a real and complete breakdown of figures on the festival Mr Picardo has now lied to the people of Gibraltar by saying that the GSD has said “black upon white” that we would increase ticket prices at the music festival.

The GSD has said no such thing and not one word was said about ticket prices in our press releases on the subject.
GSD Leader Keith Azopardi said:

“I appreciate that this subject is uncomfortable for Mr Picardo. After all his festival has lost £9.3M since inception and £3.1M alone last year. I also appreciate it must be doubly uncomfortable when at the festival he has created his special grace and favour enclosure for his friends which every year seems to get bigger. But to lie to people is unacceptable.

The GSD has not said it would increase ticket prices. It has said it would put the festival out to tender, give it more local control, reduce costs and save the taxpayer money. All of that is achievable. If Mr Picardo doesn’t know how to do that then he should move aside and let others who can do so.

I will, like every year, attend as a paying customer. Presumably Mr Picardo does not think that the thousands of Gibraltarians who like me pay their hard earned cash towards the festival should on top of that be grateful to him for losing so much taxpayers money on his jamboree.”