Statement issued on
19 October 2011
I would like to publicly declare that, with the full support of my family, I am offering myself as a prospective candidate in the forthcoming General Election.
Throughout my life I have kept myself politically aware, but at the same time have kept away from party politics. I have worked for Gibraltar and its good name with every administration since I returned from my studies in1983.
I have, however, become increasingly concerned at the way Gibraltar is governed, at the style of Government and at the way decisions are made and executed, often despite and against expert advice given in good faith. I have worryingly seen for myself, at first hand, how this has increasingly led to the wrong decisions being made for the wrong reasons, with a negative impact on and at unnecessary expense to Gibraltar.
I am not one to see a problem, appreciate the solutions, and then to sit back and keep complaining. For years my way of tackling things, of trying to put things right, has been to work with the Government of the day. But this avenue is no longer one which works. The way things are done frustrates everyone who feels he or she has a contribution to make but who is outside a very small, and ever decreasing circle.
I therefore feel that the time has come for me to do something about it and to serve Gibraltar at another level.
Environmentally, Gibraltar has suffered greatly in the past few years. Little has been done, and what has been done has not been done well, largely because sound advice has not been sought or heeded, both from within and from outside the Government Service. My concern is with what is best for Gibraltar, not merely what is better. It is easy to be better than bad, but so often with the environment, the current administration has aimed for little more.
I have carefully considered the options open, and the alternatives available, and have found that there is only one realistic way of making a difference. My ideology has always been one of openness and equality, social justice, of inclusiveness and freedom, of working with a team as part of a team, of exchanging views and arriving at well thought out conclusions.
As a result, for me the only way forward to make the changes required is to join the team presented by the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) under its Leader Fabian Picardo. I have therefore asked Mr Picardo to put my name to the Executive Committee of that party as a prospective candidate at the next General Election.With great sadness, but correctly, I have surrendered my role as General Secretary of GONHS, a role I have filled since 1976, with immediate effect. I will also be stepping down as a member of GONHS Council and as President of the Gibraltar Magistratesʼ Association, a role that has brought me great satisfaction and fulfillment. I thank my colleagues in both organisations for the incredible support that they have always given me.
I feel that I could contribute to bringing to Gibraltar a new way of developing in consonance with the environment, so that our community can continue to grow while improving our quality of life and retaining its rich biodiversity. This would include an open planning process where all projects, including Government projects, would be subject to transparent deliberation and decision-making. I am confident that my experience as the longest serving member of the Development and Planning Commission places me in an ideal position to help improve what I believe to be a deficient process.
The collegiate style of Government that Mr Picardo promotes for the GSLP/Liberals will allow all the members of Government to provide our expertise across the administration, This will lead to a more consistent, thoroughly thought out, responsible and effective way of administering Gibraltar. I am a team player and I want to work like that and I want to see a Government in Gibraltar that works like that.
It has not been easy to come to this decision. I have already had to give up a great deal that I enjoy just to allow my name to go forward. Should I be chosen as a candidate for the Party, and then, as I hope and pray, should I be elected into Government, I will also have to give up directing my beloved Alameda Gardens, to which I have dedicated twenty years of my life and the beautiful restoration of which I hold as one of my greatest achievements so far.
But, if, as I know would be the case, this will help in achieving a less confrontational, more democratic Gibraltar, fulfilling its full potential, it will have been worthwhile.
Not only is it time for change; Gibraltar needs change. It needs things to be done differently, for everyone. We need to give Gibraltar back to its people. I hope to play my part in achieving this.