Remove GSLP Next Election

⚠️The GSD’s questioning of the Government’s claim that the refurbishment of sites will not be paid by the
taxpayer fully coincides with the Report’s observation that the payment of a share of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve ticket sales is “equivalent to the payment of a subsidy by the Government”. This point was made during the Budget debate last week and it is shameful that Parliament did not have the Report’s conclusions to fully inform the discussion on the issue. The fact that a long-term contract over a heritage site has been granted on profit-sharing arrangements is not only an effective subsidy by the tax-payer of the cost of refurbishment but raises value for money concerns that lie unanswered.

On another issue, in October last year, the GSD questioned the grant of the 20—year contract to FortressAttractions Ltd in respect of the Northern Defences – a company in which a GSLP election agent has interests.

👉🏼The points made were all roundly dismissed by the Government. Yet according to the conclusions published by the Principal Auditor in his report, there were “irregularities in respect of the procurement process” in respect of various contracts, including the one in relation to the Northern Defences. It is shocking to read that the Head of Procurement “learned about the Government’s decision to negotiate exclusively with Fortress Attractions Ltd when this was published on 16 October” by Government press release.

The report further sheds light on various other contracts which have not gone out to tender such as respects Wildlife (Gibraltar) Limited. This company is referred to under the heading of “Reputational Risks – Perception of Favouritism or Corruption” when it states that the failure to re-tender may be viewed as “biased”, making a particular reference to this company’s contract for the management and maintenance of the Alameda Gardens, Commonwealth Park, Campion Park and Upper Rock Areas “where the family connection between the Director of Wildlife (Gibraltar) Limited and the Minister for the Environment, can lead to loss of trust in the procurement process”.

📣Damon Bossino said: “What the Report shows is that the GSD was absolutely correct in making issues of probity and transparency of the award of public contracts a central pillar of its campaign at the last general election. It is now beyond any possible doubt that the need for reform on these issues of financial governance remain relevant today and as I said during my intervention in Parliament last week, there will be a ‘coalition of disgust’ forming at the next election to throw this Government out.