gibraltar social democrat manifesto

Security · Stability · Prosperity

GibraltarSocial Democrats

Record & Manifesto 2007 www .gsd.gi

Trust · Stability · Reliability · Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · St

Dear Voter I believe that the GSD remains the only party of Government with a clear vision and sense of direction for Gibraltar’s future success.

Of course, in 11½ years of active and dynamic Government, it is not possible to get everything right or to have everyone’s support for every policy, decision or project. But under the GSD Government, Gibraltar has over-whelmingly enjoyed unprecedented success economically, socially and politically: domestically and externally.

Internationally - “Gibraltar safer than ever”Our vision has been clear, and we have achieved success on a broad front. Internationally: security on sovereignty; a new Constitution giving us a modern, non-colonial relationship with Britain

and maximum possible self government; a new trilateral process of dialogue with our own voice, veto and open agenda (and a by-passing of the Brussels Process); favourable resolution of longstanding issues such as airport, telephones, frontier fl uidity and pensions; greater normality in our relations with Spain; good relations with the UK; and a restoration of Gibraltar’s image and reputation.

Gibraltar has never been politically safer or more respected. We have made more progress than ever. It is vital that these gains for Gibraltar should not be lost.

The Cordoba Agreements are not re-negotiable – any of them – they cannot be cherry-picked. Nor do they need to be. Our opponents have already declared that they will not honour the Agreements. The immediate and wider consequences of this will be clear to everyone.

Domestic prosperity & success

Domestically, the progress has been just as unprecedented. The economy is better than ever. Employment levels (5500 more jobs in the economy – 42% more jobs!), Government reserves (more than doubled) and Government budget surpluses (record levels) have never been higher. Public debt and taxation have never been lower.

We have delivered huge tax cuts (of up to 55%) across the board. At the same time, anyone earning less than £50,000 p.a. now pays a maximum of 20% tax (25% if you earn up to £100,000). Most people pay even less than that. If you earn less than £7,000 pa (£10,000 if you are a pensioner) you pay no tax at all.

We have invested huge, huge amounts in renewing and expanding our health and social services, and making them safer and more effective.

The housing scene has been positively transformed, with 1000 affordable homes and over 700 Government rental homes under construction. Long housing waiting lists will soon be a thing of the past.

Huge investments have been made in our sports facilities (including Bayside Sports Centre), our leisure facilities (including King’s Bastion Leisure Centre) and in the way Gibraltar looks (streets, squares and building refurbishments). The environment has been placed at the core of all Government policies.

Success for everyoneIn short, an economic, physical and social transformation. Gibraltar feels and is successful. The world now

Foreword

Gibraltar Social Democrats2

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respects and admires us. The GSD Government has ensured that the fruits of this success are spread throughout the community. We have done more for taxpayers, for the elderly, for workers, for business, for users of our health and social services, for families, for sportsmen, for culture and heritage – for every sector of the community – than any Government has done before. Ordinary people have never been better than they are now under a GSD Government.

With our opponents only focusing on what has not yet been done, or could have been done better, it is easy to overlook the massive success and achievements for Gibraltar of the last 11 years. This document gives you a ‘snap shot’ of these successes and achievements, of the transformation that Gibraltar has undergone, as well as setting out our continuing commitments for the future.

Having given special focus last term to health and housing (as promised), this next term (and in addition to delivering further improvements in health and housing) we have big projects and schemes to give special focus to Traffi c, Parking, Roads and Environmental infrastructure.

Opponents - negativism & no vision

In contrast, our opponents have no vision, no sense of direction, and set out no collective values for our future. They just want power (which they appear to think they can buy), despite their systematic abuse of it when they last had it.

And some things never change. To get power, they are content to systematically deceive you. So:-

• Despite the economy and Government fi nances never having been stronger, they try and make you believe that Government is short of money.

• Despite openly welcoming and supporting the New Constitution at the time of its negotiation, when it came to the vital Referendum, they pretended otherwise, putting selfi sh party interests and tactics before Gibraltar’s progress and interests.

• Despite everyone in Gibraltar knowing that Gibraltar pensioners have been taken care of every year since 1990 through Community Care, they now

seek to manipulate our elderly by trying to make them think that they have been cheated in the Cordoba Pensions Agreement because they have not had what the Spanish pensioners have now (partly) received from the UK, and our pensioners have received in greater measure yearly since 1990.

• Despite arguing in favour of and supporting the composition of the Judicial Services Commission at the time of the new Constitution negotiations, they now pretend otherwise.

• And despite our unparalleled record of wealth distribution through tax cuts (especially for the lowest paid), worker rights improvements, investments in care, social and health services, in housing estate refurbishments etc, they assert that the GSD are the party of the rich! Tell that to Bernard Linares, Jaime Netto, Luis Montiel, Danny Feetham, Edwin Reyes and Yvette Del Agua, all social and worker leaders who chose the GSD primarily because of our proven commitment to workers and those who rely on social and caring services!

And these are the same people who now scaremonger about the Airport Agreement! The Cordoba Airport Agreement normalises our airport, under our exclusive sovereignty, jurisdiction and control. Our opponents would nevertheless have you believe that it is bad for Gibraltar, that Spain will be exercising controls over Gibraltar or our airport, and that it must therefore be changed.

Their aim in all these deceptions, of course, is solely and systematically to falsely tarnish each of the Government’s big achievements... The Constitution, the Economy, the trilateral process, the Cordoba Agreements, the Hospital, Social and Caring Services, Housing, our tax cuts, our unprecedented record of dignifi ed and sustainable support to the Elderly etc.

The GSLP just cannot recognise the GSD Government’s achievements – however good these achievements might be for Gibraltar and our future generations.

The GSD will cement its proven, successful vision

The next 4 years will be crucial for Gibraltar. After the European Court Judgment (which is due soon), we must transition from

one company tax system to another. This delicate exercise is vital to the continuing success of the economy.

There are huge investment projects to implement, especially the new airport, roads and tunnels project, and many multi-storey car parks and new road schemes.

We must cement our improving relations with the UK and Spain, which have so benefi ted Gibraltar.

And not least, we must consolidate and build upon the legacy of success that we can proudly leave to our children and future generations. None of these things should be put in jeopardy.

Do not jeopardise Gibraltar’s progress

People know what a GSD Government has meant and will continue to mean for Gibraltar in the future. And people also know what a GSLP Government has meant for Gibraltar in the past and would continue to mean in the future. We had a small glimpse of this on National Day this year. The GSLP call it “democracy in action”!

On 11 October, vote for the GSD’s proven successful vision for Gibraltar. Don’t jeopardise Gibraltar’s success. Gibraltar must keep moving forwards, not return to the past.

To be sure of a GSD Government, VOTE for all 10 GSD candidates. If you prefer a GSD Government do not split your 10 votes as this simply risks the election of a different Government by the back door.

Peter CaruanaParty Leader

Gibraltar Social Democrats 3

Our Main Commitments• 1000 car ‘park’n’ride’ multi-storey car park in

Devil’s Tower Road• New car parks at Eastern Beach, Arengo’s,

Engineer Lane, Naval Hospital Road• Underground car parks at Grand Parade,

Commonwealth Parade and Mid-Town• ‘Residents Only’ parking areas throughout• New roads:- To North Front/Frontier Westside to Queensway Rosia to Queensway (via New Harbours) Dudley Ward Tunnel Access• New decongesting traffi c schemes at

Trafalgar and Upper Town areas• Extended Free Public Bus Service• Implementation of MOD/ISP/WSM job

protection deal• Systematic increases in minimum wage• Occupational Pensions in private sector• Sheltered/Assisted Employment Schemes• Improve the fi nancial position of pensioners

that have to work, including:-· No tax on fi rst £20,000 of earned income· Community Care Social Wage eligibility

• New Theatre Royal• New Cultural, Music and Art Centres• Refurbishment of Old Sports Hall at Victoria

Stadium• Europa Point Leisure Area• Playgrounds and green areas throughout• New Development Plan: balanced

development• More openness in Planning Process• Continuing commitment to tax cuts and

lowest possible taxes• Civil Service supply workers P&P after 3

years• Civil Service WOPS provisions• More residential homes and domiciliary care

for the elderly• Half-way House for men and women• Increased respite hours at Dr Giraldi Home• Childr en’s Act• Less antagonistic and costly court

proceedings for matrimonial breakdown cases

• Continued development of Social Services• Child welfare grant for all children• Continued increase in levels of Social

Security and Social Assistance payments• Two new First and Middle Schools• CCTV cameras in appropriate places• Anti-social behaviour legislation• New prison• Measures against excessive and underage

youth drinking• Reform of Parliament way of working• Establishment of full consumer Protection

Agency• New legislative model for the promotion,

management and preservation of Gibraltar’s heritage

• Full restoration of Moorish Castle after the Prison is removed

• Restoration of Charles V Wall• Restoration of Granada Gate and Northern

Defences area

• Mid-T own project• Europa Point converted to quality family

leisure area• Regeneration of the area around the old St

Bernard’s Hospital• New Air Terminal, roads and tunnel• New power station and removal of Waterport

power station, MOD power station and OESCO by end of 2010

• Refurbishment of public market• More facilities for local small boat owners –

150 berths• More road and street beautifi cations• Enhanced street cleaning• Upper Town regeneration scheme• Sewage treatment plant and new refuse

incinerator• Climate Change Agenda• New model for the coordinated management

of all aspects of the Upper Rock• Epidemiological study• Seagull and apes management programme• Operation of King’s Bastion Leisure Centre• Establishment of cultural centre at Key and

Anchor• Multi-purpose sports area• Paint-balling park and skate park• New mental health hospital• Enhanced mental health model• Improvements to Sponsored Patients

Scheme• Huge increase in local cancer treatment

services• Diabetes Clinic, Low Vision Clinic, chiropody

services and dental programme• Extended Primary Care Centre hours –

8.00am to 6.00pm• Building of new Government rental estate• Continuing housing estate refurbishment and

lift installation programme• A new hostel• Sale of homes to pre-war and post-war

tenants in multi-let blocks• New lifts in tower blocks at Glacis Estate• Replacement of Laguna Estate sheds• Housing list eligibility age reduced to 18• Funding of remedial works at Brympton

Estate, Montagu Gardens and Montagu Crescent

• Continue to build affordable and rental homes as necessary

• New industrial estate at Lathbury Barracks• Legislation to establish Gibraltar as

e-commerce centre• Low tax for all companies• New hotels to be built• Expansion of Cruise Terminal and facilities for

cruise ships • Bringing bunkering storage onshore• Eastside project• Relocation of Fire Station• Cr ematorium• Retrenchment Block for Clubs and

Associations accommodation• Camp Bay and Little Bay

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Contents06 International & Constitutional Issues

10 Health

14 Housing

18 MOD, Employment & Labour

20 Taxation

22 The Elderly

25 Development Plan & Planning Process

27 Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks

32 The Natural Environment

34 Parking & Traffi c

39 Sports, Leisure & Culture

45 Social Services

47 Social Security

48 Education & Training

50 Law & Order And Civil Protection

51 Citizen’s Rights

52 Heritage

54 The Economy

59 Your GSD Team

27 30

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· Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · Standing · Reputation · Security

International and Constitutional Issues

Progress so far:

• Sovereignty · NEW UK commitment: UK will not enter any

process of sovereignty negotiations without Gibraltar’s consent

· Successful defence against joint sovereignty · Sovereignty fully protected

• New Constitution · Maximum level of self government

compatible with British Sovereignty · Recognises our right to self determination · Establishes modern, mature and

non-colonial relationship with UK · Enshrines sovereignty

preamble assurance

• Establishment of new trilateral forum

· Separate from defunct Brussels Process

· Gibraltar has own voice on equal basis · Open agenda (not focused on Sovereignty) · Gibraltar has veto on all agreements

• Cordoba Agreements · Gibraltar Airport normalised (sole British/

Gibraltar sovereignty, jurisdiction and control) · Telephones (350 recognition, mobile

roaming and end of number shortage) · Frontier fl uidity (red & green

channels etc) · Pensions issue (UK pays)

• UN · Gibraltar’s case fully argued · First changes to annual

resolution obtained · UK rejects application of principle of

territorial integrity to Gibraltar

• Other issues · Our Constitution Referendum recognised by

UK as an act of self determination · Restoration of good & close working

relations with UK · Establishment of better, more normal

relations with Spain · First Euro elections, after Euro case WIN.

Euro vote obtained · The Annual Gibraltar Day in London

established as a quality high profi le lobby event and showcase for Gibraltar (politically & economically)

· Gibraltar’s international image and reputation successfully repositioned and transformed

· EU recognition obtained for our ID Cards and our competent authorities

Following on from the GSD Government’s successful defence of Gibraltar against Joint Sovereignty, the GSD Government moved swiftly to restore good working relations with the UK Government. This brought early gains for Gibraltar, as the GSD’s longstanding two-track policy of a new Constitution and relationship with the UK, and a safe and dignifi ed trilateral

The last 11 years in general and the last 4 years in particular have brought unprecedented progress and success for Gibraltar on the international and constitutional fronts. On both fronts we have been able to bring to fruition our longstanding policies and visions for Gibraltar. Gibraltar’s position has never been better, safer and more widely respected. We have never been so much in control of and at the heart of our destiny and affairs. This has always been the GSD’s vision.

The achievements described have placed Gibraltar in the most politically secure position it has ever been.

UK Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, The Spanish Foreign Secretary, Miguel Angel Moratinos, and Gibraltar´s Chief Minister Peter Caruana shake hands in Cordoba following the fi rst Trilateral meeting at Ministerial Level held in September 2006.

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dialogue outside the Brussels Agreement with improved, more normal relations with Spain were both successfully achieved.

1. Sovereignty

The bedrock of the GSD government’s position has always been and will always remain that because Gibraltar is the homeland of the Gibraltarians, and we are a democratic, politically mature people, fully seized of our right to self determination, ONLY THE PEOPLE OF GIBRALTAR CAN DECIDE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR SOVEREIGNTY. That will never change. It will never be compromised.

Until now the UK’s political commitment to Gibraltar in the Preamble has been not to enter into sovereignty arrangements against our wishes. The UK Government’s “Joint Sovereignty” negotiations with Spain, showed that this was not enough to fully protect our interests so, the GSD Government sought and obtained a NEW WRITTEN COMMITMENT from the UK, which it has also declared in Parliament, namely that it will not enter into any sovereignty negotiations against our wishes. This effectively dooms the Brussels Process to permanent inactivity and provides us with unprecedented political security in a dignifi ed and safe political framework.

No joint Sovereignty demonstration, 18th March 2002. Another powerful shot in the battle.

2. New Constitution

The new Constitution has been a WIN, WIN, WIN for Gibraltar. We have enshrined Britain’s sovereignty commitment, whilst securing a Constitutional recognition of our right to self determination and maximising our self government. This is precisely the relationship with Britain, and status for Gibraltar, that the vast majority of Gibraltarians want.

Britain herself has recognised and declared that she no longer regards Gibraltar as a Colony, but rather as enjoying a ‘modern, mature and non-colonial relationship’ with each other.

This Constitution makes Gibraltarians more than ever masters in our homeland, in maximised control of our own affairs, whilst still enjoying British Sovereignty and close constitutional links with UK, buttressed now by good working relations between the two Governments.


Peter Caruana addresses the audience at the John Mackintosh Hall following the announcement of the ¨YES¨ vote to the new Constitution that his forthright leadership achieved for Gibraltar.

Your GSD Government gives a standing ovation to the electorate for the overwhelming support for the new Constitution. Mr. Bossano and his colleagues seem less happy after his ‘Yes, No, Maybe’ tactics backfi red! Sky News 8th November 2002.

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3. Etablishment of the Trilateral Forum

You will be aware that the GSD Government’s second strategic policy plank was the establishment of a ‘safe and dignifi ed’ process of dialogue outside of the bilateral Brussels Process in which relations with Spain could be improved and more normalised but without political strings attached. This too has been achieved by the establishment of the new Trilateral Forum of Dialogue.

You will remember that the GSD Government had rejected participation in the Brussels Process because it is basically bilateral between the UK and Spain – ie they used to discuss our affairs as if decisions about us and our future were up to them. This was neither SAFE nor DIGNIFIED.

Trilateral Process has thus successfully side-lined the Brussels Process which is now for practical purposes dead and buried given Britain’s new commitment to us not to enter into sovereignty negotations without our consent.

The new Trilateral Forum meets all the GSD Government’s terms: it gives us our own voice on the same basis as the other participants; it is open agenda, and not therefore pre-conditioned about or focuses on sovereignty AND, importantly, Gibraltar has an effective veto over ALL agreements since nothing can be agreed without our agreement.

4. Cordoba AgreementsThe Cordoba Agreements were the fi rst fruits of the new Trilateral Forum. Apart from evidencing the establishment of a more normal relationship with the Spanish Government, based on mutual respect and a desire for safe friendship, we were able to reach agreements to solve some of the most diffi cult and politically intractable problems of the past:

(i) The Airport AgreementThe Cordoba Airport Agreement replaces the infamous 1987 Airport Agreement. Under the Cordoba Airport Agreement, EU and international normality is restored to our Airport, which remains fully under British/Gibraltar sovereignty, jurisdiction and control.

Despite the attempts of our political opponents to pretend otherwise:

- No Gibraltar passenger has to go into Spain to fl y to or from Gibraltar Airport;

- Spanish offi cials will not exercise any

control to enter or leave Gibraltar;- No Spanish offi cial will be located

in Gibraltar;- Management control of our Airport is not

to be shared with Spain

We are confi dent and glad that under the Cordoba Agreement, Gibraltar Airport will become a driving force in enhanced economic and social opportunities both for Gibraltar and for the Campo area.

It is a complete deception to be told that another Gibraltar Government will be able to re-negotiate this, or worse still, to implement some parts but not others. The Cordoba Airport Agreement makes no political concessions to Spain at all affecting our sovereignty, jurisdiction or control of OUR Airport and thus does not need amending. Mr. Bossano would destroy these gains for Gibraltar for no good reason!

(ii) Telephones: ‘350’ and ‘mobile roaming’

For years we have berated Spain (and Britain and the EU for inactivity) for its refusal to recognise Gibraltar’s ‘350’ international direct dialling code. Indeed, for many years this issue had become a political mantra in itself. Under the Cordoba Agreements, Spain has agreed to the use of our ‘350’ IDD Code from Spain. This enables our mobile phones to roam in Spain, and, more importantly, enables us to delink our telephone numbering plan from Cadiz province (for the fi rst time since 1982)

Iberia´s inaugural return fl ight to Madrid in December 2006.

Peter Caruana leaving the John Mackintosh Hall after the ¨NO¨ vote to Spanish Sovereignty in November 2002. In the Joint Sovereignty Referendum which he called as part of his successful political battle against joint sovereignty.

International and Constitutional Issues (continued)


thereby giving us an unlimited number of numbers for use in Gibraltar and full control of our own numbering plan.

(iii) Frontier FluidityAnother issue with long standing political dimensions had been Spain’s refusal to operate a red and green channel system at the frontier. This has now been established under the Cordoba Agreements, together with a general commitment to review operations so as to maximise frontier fl uidity. Despite the problems over the summer, caused by sheer increases in volumes of traffi c, the result has been a very signifi cant improvement in fl uidity at the frontier. We will continue to work with Spain in the Trilateral Forum to further improve frontier fl uidity and the operating model of the Red/Green Channel.

(iv) PensionsThe pensions dispute with Spain was a dangerous ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over Gibraltar’s head. Apart from undermining relations with our neighbours at a local level, it had a big potential for serious political and constitutional problems with the UK, since we held each other responsible for the fi nancial consequences.

Apart from resolving these aspects, without Gibraltar paying for Spanish pensions (which is what Gibraltar has always insisted upon), the Cordoba Pension Agreement has enabled the GSD Government to uprate Gibraltar pensions by 65.2%! This has represented a very signifi cant fi nancial improvement

to thousands of Gibraltarians and other pensioners, and this has been in addition to Community Care’s continued fi nancial support to the elderly.

IT IS A COMPLETE LIE that Gibraltar pensioners have been discriminated against or cheated. Every pensioner in Gibraltar knows the facts about frozen pensions and Community Care. They know they have had each year since 1990 what Spanish pensioners are now, belatedly receiving only in part. A GSD Government would not tolerate discrimination against our pensioners. If anyone established any real discrimination in this matter, a GSD Government would put a stop to it.

5. United Nations/Delisting There has been progress too, albeit on a different scale, at the United Nations.

The GSD Government has fully argued Gibraltar’s case, and such is the irrational position of the Committee of 24, that Gibraltar rightly no longer looks to it to affi rm our decolonisation. The UN has made itself irrelevant to our decolonisation

Peter Caruana greets Spanish Foreign Minister Bernardino Leon, on the occasion of Iberia´s inaugural fl ight to Gibraltar in December 2006.

and has left us with no option but to achieve it bilaterally with the UK. We will continue to press the UN to modernise its decolonisation and delisting criteria and to recognise the reality that we have effectively achieved decolonisation by moving into a modern, mature, non-colonial relationship with the UK, accepted by the people of Gibraltar in an act of self-determination.

6. Gibraltar’s standing in the world

During the last 11 years, the GSD Government has worked hard to successfully restore Gibraltar’s image, reputation and standing in the world: politically, economically and socially. We have had a large measure of success and we will continue to focus on this vital issue for Gibraltar in the way that we conduct our affairs.

Joe Holliday & Peter Caruana at the UN, 8th June 2006


Our Commitments:

(1) We will continue to place at the core of all our policies our unshakeable commitment to the principle that only the people of Gibraltar (as is the case of the people of all democratic countries), can make decisions about Gibraltar’s sovereignty and political future.

(2) We will continue to work with the UK and Spain in the Trilateral Forum to reach mutually benefi cial agreements that are good for Gibraltar, and to improve relations with Spain as much as possible, thus bringing as much normality as possible to our lives.

(3) We will continue to seek from the UN a modernisation of its delisting criteria and in the meantime, and in the light of our new Constitution, encourage it to disengage from considering the issue of our decolonisation as an issue that is still open.

(4) We will continue to seek further modifi cations to the Annual Consensus Resolution at the UN.

(5) We will continue to deal with issues and problems affecting Gibraltar internationally, sensibly and effectively, but without scaremongering, as we have done throughout our fi rst three terms in offi ce.


Tripled Investment: The ResultOur health service has been a huge benefi ciary of the GSD Government’s channelling of a large part of the fruits of our economic success (the other part went to tax cuts and capital investment projects), to improving our public (especially our caring) services. Few things, if any, are more important than our health and that of our families and friends.

So what difference has this tripling of annual health spending and this big growth in health service staff made? How is it benefi ting you and your family?

The Main Progress At A Glance• Comprehensive clinical reviews of all

areas of our health service, making our health services operate to higher medical standards, safety and medical protocols.

• New Hospital• New Primary Care Centre, • New ambulance service• Health spending rises (triples) from

£20m to £60m annually• Private practice abolished

• Waiting lists and waiting times eliminated or drastically reduced

• Many new medical services introduced

The New St. Bernard´s Hospital in Europort

Mammography Unit

Health

At the time of the last election, the GSD promised that we would focus on improving our health service. In honouring Peter Caruana’s promise to the electorate, great strides have been made during the last 4 years, building on progress made earlier in this 10-year period.

• Increases in staff 1996 NOW

- Medical & support staff: 428 793

- Doctors & Dentists: 33 61

- Nurses: 292 374

- Allied Health Professionals: 37 59

- Other patient service support staff: 66 299


Progress so far:The magnifi cent new hospital (three times the size of the old hospital) represents a £60 million plus investment in our health for this and future generations. Most of the other improvements in secondary care have been made possible by this modern medical facility which contains nearly £6 million of new medical equipment.

These are some of the main advances:

• Private practice abolished• All services externally reviewed and safer

medical operating protocols established• 5 operating theatres• CT Scanning, Mammography

Ultrasound & Dialysis facilities• Consultant numbers rise from 11 to 24• 2 extra Orthopaedic Surgeons• Cataract and knee replacement

initiatives• 24x7 in-house consultant-led intensive

care• First class ITU increased from 5 to 12

beds• New operation procedures: keyhole

surgery & ultrasound guided operations• Signifi cant reduction in complaints• Massive focus on education and training

of medical and nursing staff at all levels• Doctor present in A & E 24 hours a

day – every day! supported by in-house Consultant Anaesthetist

• Huge increase in therapy and other Allied Health services

• Patients able to choose between UK and Spain for sponsored patients treatment

• Huge increase in Radiography staff, equipment and services (2 Consultant Radiologists)

• New effective Complaints Procedure and Independent Review Panel

• Massive increase in use of information technology for patient records, appointments, internal communication and laboratory tests and radiology reporting

• Electronic prescribing and dispensing of drugs

The ResultsThe result of all these improvements are obvious to all and have had a very signifi cant impact. The hospital:

• a safer, faster and more extensive medical service

• now carries out 24,000 radiology investigations annually (up 38% on last year)

• now eliminated some waiting lists and waiting times and has drastically reduced most others

• has reduced heart attacks in hospital patients by 80%

• provides 24x7x52 doctor cover in A & E• has been able to reduce by 50% the

number of necessary emergency transfers to UK and Spain

Ambulance ServiceWhen the GSD Government was fi rst elected in 1996, our emergency ambulance service was provided by the duty police shift offi cers as part of their routine shift duties. There was no “professional” ambulance service in the medical sense.

The GSD Government fi rst transferred the service to St John’s Ambulance, and recently brought it directly into the GHA. The result of these two developments is that Gibraltar now enjoys a professional and dedicated ambulance service, which helps to save lives. We are committed to the further development, resourcing and training of our ambulance service, so as to maximise their “fi rst response” capacity.

C.T. scanner

Dialysis Unit

Health Secondary Care

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Health Secondary Care (continued)

Critical Care Unit

Our Commitments:

There is much more that we want to do to further improve our hospital service. These are our immediate plans to deliver another major round of healthcare reform and improvements:

Mental Health

In recent years, considerable strides have been made by the GHA in therapy for those with mental illness. The GSD Government will ensure the continued implementation of a new model of care combining psychological therapy and rehabilitation with the most modern and appropriate medical care.

By far the greatest improvement envisaged to our Mental Health Service will be the new, purpose built Mental Health facility which we will build at the Aerial Farm Site. Additional to this facility there will be a new site for the Community Mental Health Centre. We will also expand Mental Health Services in the Primary Care Centre.

Sponsored Patients

Improving and expanding services in our own hospital means that more patients have the option to be treated here. But for those who have to be referred abroad, they now have

a choice between UK and Spain. We have already introduced interim changes to the support programme, eg 50% increase in allowances and elimination of household income rule. But the fi nancial support system and the accommodation booking system still cause hardship and stress to many patients. This will be reviewed and reformed.

Cancer Services

We have already announced plans to transform our cancer services and give more peace of mind to our community in dealing with this challenging illness:

• Many chemotherapy treatments will be given in Gibraltar under the direction of Royal Marsden Consultants and staff

• A Breast Cancer Screening Programme for all women over 40 will be established

• We will consider introducing new cancer screening programmes, including lung, prostate and colon cancers

• Follow-up cancer clinics will increasingly be provided here by UK hospital Consultants and staff

Diabetes Clinic

A multi-disciplinary team is being established to deliver specialist care to adults and children with diabetes.

Low Vision

A low vision clinic is being established and resourced and will implement a programme of mobility training for people suffering from poor sight.

Dental Programme

Dental and nursing staff will be increased to deliver wider and more timely dental and orthodontic services.

Spectacles & Dental Artefacts for Children

We will provide free spectacles and dental artefacts for children of school age.

Chiropody

We will introduce a new comprehensive chiropody service initially targeted at those for whom it is medically necessary and thus most in need.

Care for the Elderly

We have been developing a model for elderly care which combines and co-ordinates health care with social care. The GHA and the Social Services Agency will thus jointly and cohesively attend to all related needs of the elderly.

Electronic Health Technology

An electronic health technology system is being purchased and introduced that will further improve the quality and extent of medical services. This is a full medical management system which will also deal with appointments systems, direct communications between doctors in the Primary Care Centre and in the hospital, and paperless patient records.

Investing in Staff

We will continue to invest in the training and professional development of our medical staff, nurses and health administrators. This is essential for safe and successful medical services.


Health Primary Care

Digital General RadiologyPathology Services

Our Commitments:

New Services

The Primary Care Strategy will be further developed to add Psychology, Counselling, Physiotherapy, Clinical Pharmacy and enhanced Nurse Practitioner Services as part of our primary health care services.

More Information Technology

The current information technology programme will continue. Shortly, scan and x-ray will also be available to GPs by computer (as blood tests already are). This eliminates much delay.

Extension of hours

Primary Care Centre hours will be extended (8am to 6pm) to improve patient access.

Progress so far:• Moved from cramped premises to new

ICC premises• Doctors increased from 11 to 17• Services improved and expanded. New

services introduced: - Nurse Practitioners - Optometrist & Orthopist Service - Diabetes & Asthma Clinic - Midwifery Community Service - Macmillan Nurse Hospice at Home

• Front desk computerised system of appointments scheduling. Also extended to facilitate patient referral process throughout GHA

• Health Centre fully computerised to enable access to GHA clinical and administrative systems and laboratory and radiology test results

• Computerised prescribing introduced

Physiotheraphy Gym

Gibraltar Social Democrats 13· Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · Standing · Reputation · Security

Housing

Overview:• Nearly 1000 affordable houses are at

an advanced stage of construction, with co-ownership availability

• Government has embarked on the construction of a new, very large Government rental housing estate, on a prime sea front site. The fi rst for nearly 40 years!

• Sale of post-war and pre-war Government housing to sitting tenants

• Old Government buildings in the upper town are being re-developed by Government and sold at affordable prices to local buyers

• 140 more elderly homes are under construction

• The tender sale of ex-MOD properties• The Landlord & Tenant Act has

been reformed• An annual housing report is now

published by the Government, so that you can measure progress

• New Housing Act• Anti-Social Behaviour legislation passed

Government rental housing

Progress so far:• Programme to refurbish all housing

estates continues• Varyl Begg Estate – re-roofi ng

and beautifi cation• New and improved estates cleaning service• House rent frozen throughout• 86 elderly citizens’ homes at Bishop

Canilla House• Edinburgh House – a model housing estate• Housing Agency returned to public sector• Lift installation programme• New housing estate project underway• 140 elderly citizens’ homes nearly completed• Major reform of public housing legislation• Introduction of waiting points• Anti-social behaviour legislation• Sale of fl ats to post-war and pre-war tenants• Introduction of residents only parking• Waiver of additional rent week every

5/6 years• Rates early payment 10% discount

Waterport Terraces - affordable housing in progress

At the time of the last general elections, the GSD said that we would embark on projects to resolve Gibraltar’s housing needs – AND WE HAVE DONE SO.


Harbour Views development following complete refurbishment by the GSD Government after the GSLP fi asco

Our Commitments:

No Government before has ever invested in public housing as the GSD Government is doing. This is our commitment, not just to provide housing for new tenants, but to improve the living environment of existing tenants.

New Rental Estate

In our last manifesto, we said that we would build 300 new rental homes (including the 150 for the elderly). In fact, we are building 840 new rental houses in all.

Waiting Lists

The effect of this new estate and our other projects is that the medical, social, 3RKB, 4RKB and 5RKB waiting lists are all eliminated.

Estate Refurbishment/Repairs

During the last 10 years the GSD Government has spent more than £30 million in undertaking major capital and refurbishment works to numerous Government housing estates. They are too many to list. Many have now been done. All will be done as part of this programme.

The next phase of estate refurbishments includes the remainder of Varyl Begg Estate, (including general landscaping throughout the Estate), Moorish Castle Estate, Referendum & Constitution Houses, Churchill House, Medview Terraces and Road to the Lines, St Joseph’s Estate, Harrington Buildings, the remaining

blocks in Laguna Estate and Bado’s Building.

New Rental Housing for Elderly

140 new rental homes for the elderly (Bishop Canilla style) are under construction at Waterport Terraces and will be ready early next year.

Lift Installation Programme

The GSD Government has introduced the policy of installing lifts in all Government estates where this is physically possible. This enables

the elderly to remain in their homes as long as possible. Glacis, Alameda, Knight’s Court, Penney House and St John’s Court Estates have already been installed. We are committed to continuing and completing this initiative.

Playgrounds

The GSD Government has invested signifi cantly in the construction and upkeep of safe children’s playing areas within public estates. We will continue with a programme of installing playing areas in all estates where this is possible.

New Hostels

The GSD Government is committed to continue with its projects to build a modern hostel at Devil’s Tower Road, and a smaller hostel at Lopez’s Ramp.

Sale of homes

The GSD Government has already announced a scheme to enable Government tenants of post-war housing to buy their homes at signifi cantly discounted prices, even if other tenants in the block do not buy. 1500 tenants have already expressed an interest in doing so. The GSD Government will proceed with this initiative this year. Similarly we have devised a legal scheme that enables us to proceed with the sale of post-war fl ats even when others in the buildings do not wish to buy.

Cleaning of Estates

In early 2003, the GSD Government brought to fruition its commitment to undertake new and more effective arrangements for the cleaning of Government Housing Estates. In order to do this the services of a private contractor were contracted. This will continue to be improved.

“Residents only” Parking

In May 2005, the GSD Government introduced parking permits for the use of residents in Glacis Estate. A similar parking permit scheme was also introduced in early 2007 at Schomberg Estate, and more recently at 6/8 Scud Hill.


Varyl Begg Estate refurbishment completed by

the GSD

Edinburgh House is part of the Government rental housing stock

t · Standing · Reputation · Security · Trust · Stability · Reliability · Progress · Vision · Experience ·

Housing (continued)

Subject to the agreement of the Tenants’ Association, we will designate all housing estates (and appropriate surrounding streets) ‘residents permit holders only’ parking areas.

Housing Allocation System

We will reform the housing allocation scheme to make it much more responsive to the people’s needs.

Minor Response Maintenance within Government Housing

Tenants will be able to continue reporting minor works through the successful centralised Reporting Offi ce system. Buildings & Works will have a fi rst opportunity to carry out any necessary repairs within a reasonable ‘specifi ed’ period of time. However, should repairs remain outstanding subsequent to this specifi ed period, then the tenant will be authorised to undertake repairs

directly through a Government approved and monitored “Jobbing” contractor at Government expense. Approved charges for these repairs will automatically be passed to the Buildings & Works for payment.

Green Areas within our public estates

Where possible, we intend to introduce more ‘play safe’ and ‘green’ areas within our public estates.

Tower Block lifts

We will replace the lifts in the Tower Blocks at Glacis Estate

Laguna Estate Sheds

We will replace old sheds and provide new sheds in Laguna Estate

Recovery of empty properties

There has been a big push in

recovering unused fl ats. We will press on with this recovery programme to end this unfair and selfi sh practice.

Housing lists – eligibility age

- The qualifying age will be reduced from 21 to 18

- The pre-list waiting time will be 1 year

Exchanges

Exchange rules will allow exchange for any same size or smaller fl at even if that smaller fl at exceeds current size entitlement.


04 & 05 - Artist´s impression of the new Government rental housing development at Mid Harbour

06 - Artist´s impression of the new Government rental housing development at Mid Harbour

04

0605

Prosperity · Success · Respect · Standing · Reputation · Security · Trust · Stability · Reliability · Pro

Co-ownership housingApart from embarking on the building of new co-ownership estates, the GSD Government has maintained a very high level of support and assistance to existing co-ownership estates and their residents, with appalling original construction defects.

Progress so far:• Nearly 1000 affordable homes, with

co-ownership availability, under construction at Waterport Terraces, Nelson’s View, Cumberland Terraces and Bayview Terraces

• The fair, transparent and public allocation of houses in these new estates

• Repair and transformation of all 22 blocks and podium at Harbour Views at no cost to owners

• Repairs to Sir William Jackson Grove at no cost to owners

• Major repairs underway at Brympton Estate at no cost to owners

• Repairs undertaken at Montagu Gardens at no cost to owners

• Soft loans to management companies for other improvements

• Exemption of tax on investment income of management companies

• Sale of Government’s co-ownership share on favourable terms

.Other private housing

Progress so far:• Str eet refurbishment• Expiring long leaseholds extended on

favourable terms• Landlord & Tenant Act reformed• Tax breaks for façade redecorations• New private developer estates• 10% early payment rates discount

Our Commitments:

Tenant protection

Under the Landlord & Tenant Act reforms, existing tenants have their security of tenure and rent control fully protected. Succession of tenancy rights remain in place. We will remain committed to these protections for private sector tenants.

Rent Relief

The rent relief system is extended to private sector tenants who need help with their controlled rents.

Soft Loans/Grants

As part of the Old Town Renewal Scheme the Government will establish a fund to make soft loans on favourable terms, and further tax concessions to property owners in the old town area who repair, refurbish and redecorate their old properties.

Brympton Estate, being refurbished by the GSD

Nelson´s View, affordable housing scheme

Cumberland Terraces, affordable housing scheme


Our Commitments:

Major Repairs

Just as we did with Harbour Views and Sir William Jackson Grove – and are currently doing with Brympton Estate – we will fund the cost of repairs of construction defects at Montagu Gardens and Montagu Crescent. We will also fund the litigation costs to recover from the developers/contractors. In addition, we will relieve estates of historical debts caused by having to deal with initial construction defects.

Careful Supervision

In order to avoid the problems suffered in Harbour Views, Sir William Jackson Grove, Montagu Gardens/Crescent and Brympton, the GSD Government is carefully supervising building standards at Waterport Terraces and the other co-ownership estates currently under construction.

Affordable Homes

We will continue to build affordable homes to meet demand.

Bayview Terraces, affordable housing scheme


MOD, Employment & Labour

Progress so far:

• 1000 MOD workers and their families fully protected

• 5500 (42%) MORE jobs in the economy. Effective full local employment

• Pensions of Civil Servants with breaks in service

• Large tax reductions, including extra cuts targeted at low paid workers

• Reform of Social Insurance contributions to cut contributions payable by casual, part-time and low paid workers

• Statutory minimum wage increased from £3.20 to £4.50

• Abolition of tax on pension income• Abolition of need to buy a pension annuity• Equalisation of industrial & non-industrial

pension and gratuity levels and other terms• Statutory redundancy rights and insolvency

fund extended to all workers• Many supply workers in public sector made

permanent & pensionable• Huge increase in training for public & private

sector employees• Introduction of occupational pension

schemes and proper contracts and working conditions in all Government Authorities, Agencies, Companies and exclusive contractors

• New Employment & Job Club Services

• Focus on Health & Safety at work• Gibraltar Provident Scheme extended to

private sector

It is no coincidence that most of Gibraltar’s leading past labour leaders and trade unionists support the GSD – Jose Netto, Jaime Netto, Bernard Linares, Danny Feetham, and now Luis Montiel and Edwin Reyes. The reason is clear. No Government in Gibraltar’s history has ever done more to improve and advance the interests and dignity of workers.

The GSD’s commitment to workers is evident in many things – but most recently in the successful efforts of the GSD Government to protect MOD workers threatened with privatisation, redundancy and job insecurity. This is in sharp contrast to the inactivity and lack of concern of a Government that claimed socialist credentials when this last occurred in the early 1990s with PSA.

Peter Caruana - “lo dicho, hecho”

Our Commitments:

MOD Deal

We will of course implement every aspect of the comprehensive deal that we have done to bring local ISP staff, WSM staff and all MOD employees and their families peace of mind and job security.

The innovative and bold deal, proposed, negotiated and concluded by Peter Caruana, has 5 key elements:

• An enhanced voluntary early exit package for all MOD employees

• The transfer to GOG of certain non-core MOD functions, including assets and staff

• A secondment model for ISP staff so that they can be employees of a GOG Company and not directly of Serco

• Job security for remaining MOD employees for foreseeable future. Most of Pegasus stays in MOD


Gibraltar demonstrates against the privatisation of the MOD functions.

• ‘Safety net’ job offer by GOG Company for all ‘redundant’ local MOD, ISP and WSM employees. No compulsory job losses for MOD, ISP or WSM staff

Minimum Wage

We will systematically continue to increase the minimum wage to ensure that the low paid share in Gibraltar’s economic success.

Sheltered/Supported Employment

We will shortly introduce a comprehensive, structured and supervised scheme, with public funding support, for the creation of sheltered and supported JOBS (in both the public and private sectors) for people with disabilities, severe social problems, substance abuse rehabilitation benefi ciaries and others, who meritoriously deserve such support from society, and from which society itself will benefi t.

Trainee Allowances

Trainee allowances have been substantially increased and Social Insurance contributions waived. Income Tax has also been abolished. We have signifi cantly enhanced our youth trainee schemes. We will continue to do so.

Supply Workers

We will continue to make supply workers who are effectively doing a full-time job, permanent and pensionable after 3 years.

Widows & Orphans Scheme

We will amend the Civil Service Pension Scheme to make provision for the widows and dependent children of pensioners and employees.

Occupational Pensions in Private Sector

The GSD believes that all private sector employers should provide occupational pensions for their employees. We will engage with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that this happens, by legislation if necessary.


Taxation

The inescapable truth is that no Party in Government has ever shown the consistent commitment to cutting taxes that the GSD Government has done. Taxes have been hugely reduced.

We promised that one of the ways that we would redistribute and share the fruits of our economic success was to cut taxes, which increases the income (and thus quality of life) of every citizen. We have been (as always) true to our word. We have cut income tax every year SINCE 1996 and we have abolished many taxes. Income Tax has been cut by up to 55%. This will continue to be at the core of our political objectives and priorities.

We have also introduced a novel alternative tax system to lower the taxes of people who do not benefi t from some of our most generous allowances, eg mortgages, life insurances etc.

New allowances introduced• Personal allowance topped up to £3,500 minimum• Nursery fees (£957 p.a. per child)• Health insurance premiums (£1060 p.a.)• Extra allowance, worth £300 p.a. tax cut, if you earn less than £19,500• Low income earner’s tax credit – worth £595 p.a. in the pocket if you earn less than £8,000• 10% discount for prompt payment of Rates• Child studying abroad allowance for all children.

Progress so far:


Taxes abolished

• Road Tax ABOLISHED!

• Tax on income less than £7,000 ABOLISHED!

• Tax on Savings Income ABOLISHED!

• Tax on Pensions Income ABOLISHED!

• Senior Citizens’ tax on first £10,300 income ABOLISHED!

• Income Tax on Community Care Officers’ fees ABOLISHED!

• Tax on student jobs ABOLISHED!

• Death Duties ABOLISHED!

• Stamp Duty on properties less than £160,000 ABOLISHED!

• TV Licence fee ABOLISHED!

• Rates on Clubs & Associations ABOLISHED!

• Need to buy pension annuity ABOLISHED!

• All Tax on 100% pension capital ABOLISHED!

• Tax on income of private estates management companies ABOLISHED!

Tax allowances increased

• Personal allowance +84%

• Wife allowance +84%

• One parent family allowance +84%

• Child allowance +88%

• Child studying abroad +132%

• Home purchaser’s allowance +55%


Other benefi cial measures(1) Top rate reduced from 50% to 40%(2) No one with income less than £7,000

p.a. pays tax at all!(3) Import duty abolished on many items

(including computers) and halved on others (including motor cars)

(4) Social Insurance contributions signifi cantly reduced for part-time and casual workers

Dual Taxation System: New fairer tax system introduced

Gibraltar is probably the only place in the world where taxpayers can now choose whichever of two different tax systems results in the payment of less tax.

6,500 tax payers in Gibraltar paid very high taxes simply because they had no mortgage or life insurances or other allowances. The GSD Government has introduced the new ‘Gross Income Based Alternative’. Under this system, taxpayers pay a lower, fl at rate of tax, without getting any allowances. This is worth thousands of pounds per annum in reduced tax to thousands of taxpayers. The Government website has an ‘on line calculation’ which instantly works out for each taxpayer which of the two tax systems benefi ts them:

20% on fi rst £25,000 of income30% on next £75,000 of income40% above £100,000

Under this system:

· no taxpayer with income below £25,000 will pay more than 20% tax;

· no taxpayer with income below £50,000 will pay more than 25% tax.

Taxes CutTaxes have been systematically and signifi cantly cut for everyone: low income earners, the elderly, property owners, people without mortgages, the top rate, middle income earners. The summary on the previous page shows the full range of tax cuts.

Under the traditional tax system (the allowances system), the tax burden has been cut by up to 55%. This has been achieved by a combination of increased personal allowances, the introduction of new allowances and the restructuring of tax bands.

Lower PaidThe GSD Government is especially proud to have pioneered special tax cuts targeted specifi cally at the lower paid. So much so that if you earn less than £7,000 p.a. you now pay NO TAX AT ALL

If you earn up to £19,500 you now receive an extra allowance which reduces your tax bill by £300 p.a.

Corporate TaxMany tax computation rules have been changed to benefi t companies. The corporate tax rate has been reduced from 36% to 33%. A small company tax rate of 20% has been introduced.


Tax bands reformed and improved

1995/96 2007/08

£1,500 at 20% £ 4,000 at 17%

£5,500 at 30% £12,000 at 30%

£5,500 at 35% Balance at 40% (top rate)

£3,500 at 40%

£3,500 at 45%

Balance at 50% (top rate)

Our Commitments:

Corporate Tax

By far the most signifi cant economic challenge that we have faced is the EU’s challenge to Gibraltar’s right to have its own company tax system separate and different to the UK’s. This has required the GSD Government to mount a complex court case against the EU in the European Courts. The Court’s ruling is now awaited.

Assuming that the ruling goes in our favour, the GSD Government has already announced its intention to move, as other European countries have done, to a low tax system for all companies. The company tax rate will fall from the current 33% to, most probably, 10%, but in any event not higher than 12%.

This reform is both necessary and desirable to keep our economy attractive to international businesses, and thus preserve jobs and Government revenues from international businesses. It will ensure our future economic, and thus social and political prosperity.

In the meantime, corporate tax rates will continue to fall systematically.

The handling of the EU Tax Case and the transition from a high (for some) and zero (for others) tax system, to a low tax system for all companies, is an economically, legally and politically delicate exercise which requires careful, skilful and experienced handling. We will continue to do just so.

Personal Tax

We will continue, as we have done every year since we were fi rst elected in 1996, to seek to cut personal taxes to the lowest possible levels, consistent with stability and prudence in public fi nances and the Government’s need to fund existing and improvements to public services and capital investment schemes. No other party in Government – ever – has demonstrated our commitment to lowering personal taxes. As a result, you and your family have much more money in your pockets to spend on your quality of life, as you please and choose.


The Elderly

Proper & Dignifi ed Financial Support

Progress so far: • Old Age Pensions increased by 65.2%!• Tax on Pension income ABOLISHED• Tax on other income up to £10,000

ABOLISHED• Tax on savings income and death duty

ABOLISHED• Creation of Minimum Income Guarantee

- £448.10 per month for single person, £598.10 per month for married couple.

• Minimum Income Guarantee monthly supplement of £26.10 (single) £34.80 (married) for those without a pension

• Minimum Income Guarantee paid even if family living with recipient

• Rent relief & Minimum Income Guarantee not affected by increases in Old Age Pensions and Community Care

• Four opportunities to complete pension contributions record. Over 700 pensioners helped

• Issue of higher interest, tax free pensioner bonds

• ABOLISHED: - Driving licence renewal fee - Driving licence medical test fee - Passport renewal fee - TV licence fee

• Free bus service for over 70s• No need to buy pension annuity. Whole

pension capital may be taken tax free• All Old Age Pensions paid at start of each

month• No Social Security contributions payable by

over 60s

Residential Facilities

Progress so far:• 86 fl ats at Bishop Canilla House• 140 more new fl ats for elderly at Waterport

Terraces (Albert Risso House)• Lift installation programme• Mount Alvernia expanded (from 62 to 135

beds) and transformed

One of the hallmarks of the GSD Government has been the unprecedented focus on and commitment to improving the quality of life of and amenities for our elderly, but without manipulating them or violating their dignity.

The new Senior Citizens Swimming Pool


Care & Other Services

Progress so far:• 860% increase in spending on elderly

care services• New swimming pool at Westside• Four day centres funded by Government

– meals and companionship• Establishment of dedicated Elderly Care

Agency• Consultant Geriatrician and therapists• Domiciliary Care Service – structured

programme of personal care at home• Respite facilities• Physical activities programme for elderly• Computer courses for elderly• Cataract & knee emergency initiatives:

elimination of waiting list• Minister with special responsibility for

the Elderly• New pension collection premises• Introduction of Honoured Elder Award

Mount Alvernia fully refurbished senior citizens home from home.

Our Commitments:

We will continue to expand and develop Gibraltar’s ability to provide, in a modern and dignifi ed way, for

the needs of increasingly long-living and growing number of elderly folk. May this task become even greater (since it means that our elderly will be living longer!)

Living Accommodation

Our policy on living accommodation for the elderly involves a “progressive needs” approach where elderly people live, as they want to, as independently as possible for as long as possible, but with help and support provided as their needs change.

This involves:

(i) helping elderly people stay as long as possible in their own home. To facilitate this the GSD Government is installing lifts in all housing estates (where physically possible); has introduced and expanded a system of domiciliary care; and has earmarked all ground fl oor fl ats in lower town area estates for elderly tenants exchanges.

(ii) Living at home alone can eventually become too much as you get older, even though you still can

and want to live independently, so the next stage is a move to Bishop Canilla House or to one of the new (140) similar purposely designed fl ats at Waterport Terraces (Albert Risso House). These have wardens and other facilities to provide a fi rst degree of peace of mind and care for elderly tenants.

(iii) Eventually, of course, even the ‘Bishop Canilla’ model of housing may become inappropriate to the needs and circumstances of an elderly person, even though a measure of independent living is still possible. To meet the needs of this stage, the GSD Government will provide more care-assisted residential home facilities where residents will have their own bedrooms, but will share living and dining room facilities, and meals will be provided from a central kitchen.

(iv) And fi nally, for those of our elderly for whom no independent living is possible and who are in need of intense or nursing care, Mount Alvernia will continue to provide nursing home residential facilities.


The Elderly (continued)

Bishop Canilla House rental accommodation for senior citizens.

Senior Citizens’ Swimming Pool complex with sea bathing facility.

Mount Alvernia has been hugely improved and expanded from 62 to 135 beds (plus 15 beds in the Jewish Home). In addition, the GSD Government will provide a separate ‘dementia’ residential facility at the old St Bernard’s Hospital John Mackintosh Wing building.

Our commitment is to continue to expand this model so that the facilities at each stage are available to an ever increasing number of our elderly people. The GSD’s mantra is that Gibraltar should become a role model for the world in its facilities for the elderly.

Tax on earned income

Many old age pensioners, especially many of those who have worked in the private sector, have no occupational pension. To assist such persons and others who have to carry on working as a result, we will give all people of pensionable age who work, a tax credit of £4,000.

This means that no person of pensionable age will pay tax on the fi rst £20,000 of earned income.

Care of the Elderly

In co-operation with the Ministry of Social Services, a major plan to provide more care for people in their own homes and out of hospital will be initiated. These services will be supported by the provision of specialised services on a Day Hospital basis. We will examine the feasibility of providing a “meals on wheels” service for the elderly in their own homes.

Working Pensioners

Many elderly people have to carry on working because they have no occupational pension. We will consider appropriate and affordable ways of ensuring reasonable minimum income levels for all our elderly, to ensure that they do not have to continue to work beyond a certain age.

In addition, the GSD Government will ask the trustees of Community Care to regard their work as community service, so that working men over 60 will receive Community Care social wage payments as well.


Development Plan& Planning Process

Progress so far:• Open planning process• Development Appeals Tribunal• GONHS & Gibraltar Heritage Trust

represented on DPC• New draft development plan 2007

Development PlanIt is the responsibility of Government to ensure the renewal of Gibraltar’s urban fabric and the development of property so that Gibraltar remains a modern, prosperous European city.

The Gibraltar Development Plan 2007 Consultation Draft

Everyone in Gibraltar, not least the GSD, wants to see Gibraltar’s development take place in a balanced way: sympathetic with our environment and heritage; providing open and green areas, new roads and parking facilities, schools and amenities – growing Gibraltar, but in a way that enhances the quality of life, as well as the economy and our society.

Our Commitments:

To that end we have published, for consultation with each citizen, a draft Development Plan drawn up precisely on the basis of this careful balance. We have set up public exhibitions of ourproposed major projects to ensure maximum public participation and consultation in shaping how Gibraltar will look and feel in the future. You are thus invited to participate in deciding how Gibraltar looks in the future.

But it is vital for Gibraltar, and the prosperity of future generations, that Gibraltar continues to grow, develop and modernise if we are to retain regional leadership and economic prosperity, and if future generations are to be able

Members of the public examine the model of the new Mid-town regeneration scheme.


Development Plan & Planning Processes (continued)

Peter Caruana and Joe Holliday at the Development Plan exhibition at Casemates.

to afford the things and standard of living that we enjoy today.

Development and success on this scale certainly results in disruption and inconvenience while it is taking place. But what is at stake is our very economic and social legacy to our children and grandchildren.

We commit to continuing to deliver both that legacy and improved quality of life and environment for the citizen of today, through balanced and controlled development, though not unlimited development.

Planning Process

The GSD has been the fi rst Government to introduce a signifi cant element of openness into the planning approval process. Before that, citizens never got the effective chance to object to planning simply because no-one knew about the proposed schemes until it was too late. Now that all applications have to be advertised in advance, public

reaction can be made known and planning decisions infl uenced.

We recognise that the general public in Gibraltar wants even more openness and transparency in the planning process.

We will therefore further reform the planning process, including:

1. “Minor” planning application issues will be considered by a sub-committee of the Development & Planning Commission, without ministerial participation. This will accelerate the process. Applications will require to be considered within a specifi c time frame.

2. “Major” developments will be considered by the full DPC, but DPC must issue a public statement in each case notifying its decision and the reasons therefore.

3. All major developments above a certain size or of exceptional impact or signifi cance will (in addition to

DPC approval) require the approval of the Parliament.

Environmental Building Standards

We will legislate to require environmentally friendly building standards and energy effi cient new buildings.

Height Restrictions

We recognise that, given Gibraltar’s size, geography and topography, there have to be height restrictions for new buildings. But these should vary depending on their location. The most severe height restriction will operate inside the City Walls. Buildings along our western shoreline should not be so tall as to conceal the city from a distance, and the tallest buildings should be in areas where they have little impact on their surroundings.


Progress so far:

Squares – Refurbished • Casemates Square• Cathedral Square• Catalan Bay Village Square• The Coach Park• Market Square (in progress)• Camp Bay

Street & Roads - Refurbished• Huge extension of planted areas• Main Street• Irish Town• Engineer Lane/Bell Lane• Catalan Bay• Cornwall’s Lane/City Mill Lane/Cornwall’s

Parade• Sir Herbert Miles Road• Europa Road (in progress)• Sir Winston Churchill Avenue• Lover’ s Lane• W aterport Road• North Mole Road• Fish Market Road

Walls & Bastions - Restored• King’ s Bastion• Chatham Counterguard• Orange Bastion• Wellington Front uncluttered

Other areas - Refurbished• Replacement of frontier fence• New frontier canopy• Re-decoration of Government housing

estates• Bayside Sports Complex area• Cemetery pathway• W estside Promenade• Public clocks repair & restoration programme

(in progress)• Coach Park

Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks

The GSD Government has focused and invested hugely in the physical upgrading and transformation of our city and of our living environment. In the process we have retrieved much architectural and historical heritage. It is easy to forget the very great amount of improvements that have been carried out in just 11 years. In 2004, and again in 2007, we have done major land and re-provisioning agreements with the MOD. This has allowed us to plan for the orderly re-development and urban re-organisation and zoning of several areas of Gibraltar. The following list and photos gives you a glance of the urban transformation to date.

An artist´s impression of the new air terminal building.

Our Commitments:

There are major projects in hand to regenerate most of Gibraltar’s derelict areas.

Mid Town/Mid Harbours Project

Those of you who have visited the exhibition at Casemates will have seen details of this spectacular urban regeneration of an entire chunk of Gibraltar. It will contain a very large, sea-front public housing estate, a First and Middle school, a public park, a leisure centre, a local boats marina, a private housing project, offi ce buildings and public underground parking facilities for at least 400 cars.


Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks (continued)

Artists impression of the complete refurbishment of Europa Point, as a leisure and recreational area.

The Eastside Project

Europa Point

Tenders have already been advertised for a project that will transform Europa Point into Gibraltar’s ‘family leisure area’ and a premier tourist site for viewing the Strait area.

Site of old St Bernard’s Hospital

We will continue with our project for the wholesale beatifi cation and regeneration of the whole area around the old St Bernard’s Hospital.

• The façade of the old historical ‘Colonial hospital’ building will be re-exposed, restored and refurbished, and converted into a new nursery and a First and Middle school to replace the existing ones in the Upper Town area. This will involve demolition of modern additions which defaced the historical building.

• The John Mackintosh Wing will be converted into additional residential home facilities for our elderly citizens

• The adjoining police barrack blocks will be refurbished. Tenants who wish to remain there will be able to do so. The vacant blocks will be refurbished by Government and used as affordable local housing.

The Eastside Project

This major project remains very much on track. Final agreement has now been reached on all issues with the developers, who are currently conducting the necessary environmental impact assessment study. This will be submitted to DPC, with fi nal outline plans, within 2 months. The developers have already paid premiums in excess of £30 million, and will pay at least a further £70 million. The Government

will use this money towards the cost of building Gibraltar’s new Power Station, new Rental Housing Estate and new roads.

Air Terminal

Our existing terminal is a temporary building that is, in any case, too small and unsuitable to Gibraltar’s current and future needs. A new Air Terminal is required for our airport of which Gibraltar can be proud. The new terminal will also boost our economy and create quality jobs. It will be ready within 2 years.

Parking, Roads & Traffi c Projects

We are ready with a variety of major projects that will transform for the better our parking and traffi c in Gibraltar. Details are provided in the separate section “Parking & Traffi c” on page 34 of this Manifesto.

Public Parks & Green Areas

See “The Natural Environment” on page 32 of this Manifesto.

Removal of Power Stations

Waterport Power Station, MOD Power Station and OESCO will be shut down within 2 ½ years and replaced by a new power station built away from residential areas (see “The Natural Environment” on page 32 of this Manifesto). Apart from the huge environmental and noise gains,


Prime leisure area in Ocean Village, Tradewinds and Marina Bay.

this will make land available for residential and commercial use.

The Cemetery

Following the large investment in repaving the cemetery, we will make new arrangements for the management and upkeep of the cemetery to ensure that it is kept in a tidy and dignifi ed state.

Public Market

As part of the on-going beautifi cation of the whole area, the Public Market will be refurbished internally and externally.

Waterport Basin/Ocean Village

The transformation of the Waterport Basin area into a premium leisure amenity for Gibraltar is well underway. In addition, this excellent project will boost our economy, and hugely improve yachting and boating facilities for local and visiting boats and yachts alike.

Bus Shelters

New, attractive bus shelters will be provided at every bus stop.

Engineer Lane beautifi cation completed.

Beautifi cation of roads/streets

Our next phase of street beautifi cation includes Main Street south, Line Wall Road, Glacis Road, Waterport roundabout and Devil’s Tower Road. The latter will occur as part of the new frontier, airport access road and related multi-storey car parks (see page 34 “Parking & Traffi c”). The beautifi cation of Europa Road is underway and will be completed throughout its length.

Street Cleaning/Bin stores

We will continue to enhance the frequency of street cleaning and the technology and resources applied in keeping our streets clean and tidy. We are investigating the feasibility of underground bin stores, such as are in use in some European cities.

Uncluttering of City Walls

The programme of the uncluttering, refurbishment and exposure of our city walls continues. King’s Bastion, Orange Bastion, Chatham Counterguard, North Bastion and Wellington Front have already been done. This programme will continue, and includes creating a pleasant ‘walk’ along as much of our city walls as possible.

Upper Town Regeneration Scheme

This long-term project is well underway. Its objective is the recovery of our old town as a heritage asset, its repopulation with owner occupiers, the refurbishment and beautifi cation of its roads, steps and buildings, and the upgrading of

its amenities. Street refurbishment has reached Engineer Lane, and will now continue up Castle Street and its surrounding streets, ramps and steps [see photos]. Government housing estates have been refurbished, a public multi-storey car park is under construction at Willis’ Road, and the GSD Government has sold many of its old properties for refurbishment and owner occupation. In addition, the GSD Government has commenced the re-development of three large old buildings for sale as affordable housing to local residents.

The centre piece of this major project of urban renewal and regeneration is the re-development and historical recovery of the area of St Bernard’s Old Hospital and the creation of open and green spaces around it (see P49 of this Manifesto).

Relocation of Fire Station

A new fi re station will be built in a non-residential area, suitable for rapid access to all areas of Gibraltar.

Beautifi cation of the public market area.


Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks (continued)

An artist´s impression of the beautifi cation of Castle Street - ¨Calle Comedia¨

Casemates Square a meeting point for all Gibraltarians.

A completely refurbished and beautifi ed John Mackintosh Square.

Winston Churchill Avenue beautifi cation.

Waterport Road project completed.

North Mole Road project completed.

The new Orange Bastion refurbishment completed.


Catalan Bay Village beautifi cation project completed. Sir Herbert Miles Road project completed.

Widenning of Europa Road completed.


A new pavement and balustrade on Europa Road completed.



Of course, Gibraltar is too small to make a meaningful impact on the planetary scale, but in looking after and enhancing our own environment, we are ideally placed to give effect to that maxim so effectively coined by environmentalists: “think globally, act locally”.

In Government, when many of society’s confl icting interests, demands and expectation have to be balanced, it is not always possible to do what an environmental purist would want or recommend. But the GSD in Government has certainly strived to rebalance things towards the environment’s interests.

Our two main ‘philosophical’ steps have been to adopt an environmental charter and a detailed action plan to inform all Government actions and policies, and to give environmental lobbyists and pressure groups the status and credibility that they deserve as valid interlocutors with, and advisors of Government. This too requires a balancing act. Government must act and govern in the widest necessary public interest, and lobby groups are, rightly, slow and reluctant to compromise their views and principles. Coincidence of position in practice is therefore rare, even if agreement in theory is not (rare). But there can now be no doubt that the ‘environment’ is now one of the principal features of the public interest.

Progress so far: • Establishment of dedicated Department of

Environment• Environmental Charter and Action Plan

• Transparent air quality monitoring - results on Government Website

• Consolidated Waste Management Plan• Annual Environmental Report• Urban beautifi cation schemes• Open planning laws introduced• Investment programme in stabilisation of cliffs

and shoreline• Decommissioning, removal and revegetation

of water catchments• More than 50 items of environmental

legislation implemented• Dangerous Dogs legislation• Extension of green & planted areas• Funding for environmental projects: - GONHS: Upper Rock Management Plan - Alameda Conservation Park - Europa Point Bird Observatory - Alameda Botanic Gardens - Improved public bus service

• Strictly regulated and monitored bunkering regime

• Upgrading of marine pollution prevention and clean-up resources.

Mediterranean Steps

The NaturalEnvironment

It is a credit to environmentalists and environmental lobby and pressure groups that throughout the world, including in Gibraltar, they have converted the vital issue of our planet’s environment from a ‘fringe’ issue to the central political issue of our time, that no democratic Government can take lightly, still less ignore.

Our Commitments:

Environmental Charter: Placing environmental protection at the core

In 2006 the GSD Government signed an Environmental Charter, formalising the GSD Government’s commitment to assess every policy and project against a set of fi xed environmental commitments. This means, in essence, that whenever and wherever the Government can, within the constraints and limitations particular to Gibraltar, it will ensure that all its actions and policies advance and protect the environment to the greatest possible degree.

We will remain committed to the Environmental Charter and publish a detailed Action Plan to be implemented.

New Electricity Generating Station

Construction will begin early next year of a new ‘environment friendly’, modern electricity generating station to meet Gibraltar’s growing current and future electricity needs. This power station will be located either at Lathbury Barracks or, more likely, at Governor’s Cottage Camp, adjacent to the refuse incinerator. The power station will be operational by 2010.


Waterport Power Station, OESCO Station and MOD Power Station WILL BE CLOSED

This is one of the best pieces of environmental news for residents of the South District and the Westside/Waterport areas. All three of Gibraltar’s existing, old power stations which are located in or near residential areas will be closed by 2010.

Air Quality

Having established our quality measurement stations, the GSD Government will maximise efforts to ensure air-quality and the elimination or curtailment of non-compliant threats to air quality.

Climate Change

Gibraltar is too small to make a signifi cant impact, but, applying the environmentalist’s maxim “think globally, act locally”, the GSD Government has ensured, and will continue to ensure, that Gibraltar makes it contribution. We have established Gibraltar’s own Climate Change Forum to look at how Gibraltar can be affected by climate change and to identify measures that Gibraltar can take to reduce its contribution to the factors causing climate change. The Climate Change Forum has now reported to Government which is considering the report. We will adopt as many recommendations as are reasonably viable for Gibraltar.

Renewable Energy

The GSD Government has a target to produce 12% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2010. We have already undertaken an initial desktop study of options to achieve this target and we remain committed to this policy.

Sewage Treatment Plant

The plans for the building of a modern, fully compliant plant to treat our urban waste water before it is discharged into the sea, continues to progress well. During the next 4 years we will build this plant and bring it fully into operation.

Refuse Incinerator

A new, environmentally compliant refuse incinerator will be built.

Recycling/Eco-Park

Through our refuse disposal arrangement with the Los Barrios Refuse Plant, Gibraltar already recycles practically all of its waste. We will augment the existing opportunities for people locally to have a more direct participation in the process by placing more recycling bins on our streets. We will also establish an eco-park where recyclable refuse can be deported.

Crematorium & Clinical Waste Incinerator

A crematorium and clinical waste incinerator is currently under construction and will be ready this year.

Mediterranean Steps

Mediterranean Steps is one of Gibraltar’s natural environment and touristic jewels. This 1.4 kilometre path which runs along the southern and eastern slopes of the Upper Rock, has been fully refurbished and restored. We commit to the systematic recovery and refurbishment of the other principal areas of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

Upper Rock Management

We are developing and we will implement a new Plan for the management of the Upper Rock. This involves a new way and structure for the running of the Upper Rock in which Government will give a signifi cant participation to non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s). The Plan takes into account Gibraltar’s and the Upper Rock’s environmental, heritage,

touristic, traffi c, transport, leisure and economic needs and interests. It will create a model for the running, development and preservation of our most valuable asset for generations to come.

Green Areas, Parks & Playgrounds

We have drawn up plans for the location of public parks and playgrounds throughout Gibraltar. These include parks at Mid Town, the Mount, Rosia and elsewhere, as well as upgrading all existing playgrounds. We will proceed to implement this plan as another leisure and environmental amenity in Gibraltar that will further enhance our quality of life.

Cliff Stabilisation

This is not a ‘high visibility’ activity – but it is expensive and necessary to ensure public safety and the preservation of our natural environment. Cliff stabilisation works have been carried out at Catalan Bay, Camp Bay, Europa Mews, Little Bay, Lathbury Barracks, Laguna Estate (on-going) and Brympton.

Epidemiological Study

The GSD Government has been trying to persuade the Campo and Regional Authorities in Spain to join the Gibraltar Government in commissioning an independent epidemiological study, especially in relation to enquiring whether the incidence of cancer in this area is higher than normal, and (if so) the reasons therefore. Unless this joint approach materialises by December this year, the Gibraltar Government will proceed by itself in January 2008.

Seagulls & Apes

We will continue to take humane steps to reduce the excessive ape and seagull populations so as to curtail their disruption of human life in certain areas of Gibraltar.

Ship Bunkering

The GSD Government is working on schemes to relocate ship bunkers storage facilities ashore, so as to be able to eliminate the use of storage in tanker ships in the Bay.

Crematorium under construction.


During the next term we will focus specifi cally on resolving Gibraltar’s traffi c and parking issues. The success of the Cordoba Agreement in improving frontier fl uidity, has resulted in a huge increase in the number of cars entering Gibraltar, and has made parking and traffi c an even more signifi cant domestic issue facing Gibraltar.

In this section of our manifesto we set out our integrated progress to date, as well as a large number of major and exciting projects in hand to address these issues in a wholesale and integrated way.

Progress so far:• New Upper Town relief road linking Castle

and Willis’ Roads (ready Nov 07)• New major car parks at:- Willis’ Road (135 parking spaces & 45 lock-

up stores – completion Nov 07)- Sandpits (87 underground spaces –

completed)- New Harbours (197 covered spaces –

completion Nov 07)• Establishment of modern, comfortable and

reliable bus service• Establishment of new, free car parks at

Commonwealth Parade and Landport Ditch• Establishment of pedestrianised areas• New road built at Chatham Counterguard• Widening & re-alignment of Europa Road at

the Mount/Brympton area• Re-alignment of Devil’s Tower at the

Black Spot.• New road through Lover’s Lane• New road through Chatham Counterguard• New wider Sir Herbert Miles Road

• Waterport Road, Winston Churchill Avenue & North Mole Road refurbished• Residents only parking in housing estates• Bus stops taken “off road” to help traffi c fl ow• Establishment of motorcycle parks• Removal of derelict vehicles

Parking & Traffi c

Commonwealth Car Park project providing 342 free parking spaces.

Plan of the new airport, four lane frontier access road and tunnel.


Our Commitments:

Parking schemes

• A ‘park & ride’ multi-storey car park at Devil’s Tower Road (Cross of Sacrifi ce) for 1000 cars

• A new cark park at Engineer Lane• A new cark park at Arengos• A cark park at South Barrack Road• An underground car park at

Grand Parade• An underground car park at

Commonwealth Parade• A ground level car park at Old

Naval Hospital Road behind Vineyards

• Extension of ‘residents only’ parking areas

• City centre, public, underground parking for around 400 cars at the Mid-Town development

New traffi c schemes/new roads

• A new roundabout and traffi c fl ow arrangement in the Trafalgar/Ragged Staff to decongest the access to town from the South District at peak times

• A one-way system around Castle Road & Willis’s Road, using the new Upper Town link road

• A new road from the South District, through New Harbours, exiting at Queensway

• A new road from the Westside/Europort area to Queensway (at Coaling Island)

• New 4-lane road and tunnel to frontier and North Front

• A major project to safely re-open Dudley Ward Tunnel

• If traffi c circulation requires it, we will restrict the use of our roads by heavy vehicles at peak times.

By virtue of Gibraltar’s small size, popularity with visitors, shortage of roads (and space to expand existing ones) and our own liking as a community for the use of our motorcars, parking and traffi c will always be an issue in Gibraltar.

During the last terms we have, for the fi rst time ever in Gibraltar, introduced an integrated policy approach to these issues: providing new car parks; building new roads; improving the bus service, and developing pedestrianised areas.

This integrated approach is taken to new levels in our exciting and major plans for the next four years.

(1) Parking

Parking needs fall into various categories: visitors, residential areas, and city centre. We will address each of these as follows:

Devil’s Tower Road ‘Park & Ride’ Project

Visitors compete for parking with residents, as well as generating traffi c on our streets. We have negotiated with the MOD the return of land at Devil’s Tower Road (along from the Cross of Sacrifi ce) that will enable us to build a large (1000 space) car park, with an accompanying ‘park &

ride’ bus shuttle service into town, for the use of visitors, commuting workers and residents alike. This scheme will, by itself, make large inroads into both our parking and traffi c circulation issues.

City Centre Car Parks

The city centre is currently serviced mainly by the new Commonwealth Parade and Landport Ditch Car Parks. These will be supplemented by a public underground car park at Mid-Town Project. In addition, the Commonwealth Parade and Grand Parade Car Parks will be expanded into underground car parks.

Willis Road, Sandpits and New Harbours Car Parks

Our projects to provide 460 new parking spaces at Willis’ Road, Sandpits and New Harbours are nearing completion and will become operational soon (November 2007). These will provide a mixture of free parking (if street parking has been lost in the vicinity), weekly/monthly rentals and outright purchase opportunities in the Upper Town, St Joseph’s, Alameda Estate and Rosia Road, and other nearby residential areas.

New Car Parks

We will build further new car parks to cater for residential areas in Engineer Lane, Old Naval Hospital Road (ground level only), Arengo’s Palace and Devil’s Tower Road and South Barrack Road.

Extension of Residents Only Parking

We will expand and improve the ‘residents only’ parking schemes in housing estates and other residential areas around Gibraltar.

(2) New Roads

New roads help traffi c circulation by more effi ciently distributing traffi c along more roads and relieving bottleneck points. There are four principal traffi c problem areas in Gibraltar:

- Winston Churchill Avenue and North District in connection with

197 extra public parking spaces at New Harbours

135 parking spaces at Willis’ Road

New Sandpits underground public car park for 87 cars


Airport barriers and frontier traffi c- Exiting Westside/Europort area

(especially southbound)- Accessing town from the South

District at peak traffi c times (especially early morning)

- Upper town area head-on traffi c confrontation issues

(i) Airport/Frontier

Even if it were not for the increased use of Gibraltar Airport that will result from the Cordoba Agreement, Gibraltar in any case needs to move on from a situation of road traffi c paralysis for 15 minutes every time an aircraft lands or takes off.

The GSD Government has already announced details of its major scheme, which starts next year, to build a new four lane road (like Winston Churchill Avenue) along Devil’s Tower Road, through the Aerial Farm site, and then parallel to Eastern Beach Road, and then under a new tunnel under the runway at its Eastern Beach end.

This major investment represents a centrepiece of the successful

Gibraltar of the future that we are building for our children, grandchildren and future generations.

(ii) Exiting Westside/Europort

The Westside Avenue/Queensway junction at Regal House is a traffi c bottleneck for residents and business users of that area. As part of our Mid Harbours reclamation project, the GSD Government will build a new road from Europort to the Coaling Island area of Queensway, emerging at a new roundabout.

(iii) Accessing Town/and Frontier from the South District

As residents of the South District will be only too aware, the traffi c build up during the morning ‘rush hour’ is considerable. The GSD Government will implement three schemes that will improve access to and egress from the South District in all directions:

Trafalgar Junction

A new roundabout will be built north west of Trafalgar House and traffi c from Rosia Road will be diverted directly to it so that it does not have to go ‘around the Queen’s Cinema’. This will avoid the confl ict between traffi c from Rosia Road and traffi c from Europa Road.

New Harbour Road

A new road will be built from the Dockyard South Gate through New Harbours directly to Queensway.

Dudley Ward Tunnel

The Dudley Ward Tunnel has been severely affected by rock falls and cliff face instability. The GSD Government has already advertised a tender for a major project to build a new, protected/covered access road to Dudley Ward Tunnel. This will improve traffi c to/from the South and North districts.

(3) Free Public Bus Service

The public bus service has even greater potential to contribute to a reduction in traffi c in Gibraltar. We will test the use of free bus service for all to assess its contribution to meaningful traffi c reduction. The service will also run later into the night as required to service the needs of night revellers at weekends. New bus shelters will be provided at every bus stop. Our aim is to develop a truly ‘hop on/hop off’ bus service.

(4) Existing Infrastructure

Of course, it is not just about building new traffi c and parking infrastructure, it is also important to maintain and improve existing roads and car parks. The GSD Government has hugely increased public investment in road maintenance, including resurfacing. An example of this programme is the effective ‘rebuilding’ of Smith Dorrien Bridge (without closing it to traffi c) in order to ensure its continuing safety into the future. We will continue to implement a road maintenance and resurfacing programme.

(5) Bicycle Racks

Bicycle racks will be provided at suitable and appropriate locations around Gibraltar.

(6) Parking Of Motorcycles

The GSD Government has provided exclusive motorcycle parking for hundreds of motorcycles. We will provide more. Every area will be provided with adequate motorbike parking facilities. But we will also take effective steps to ensure that motorcycles do not encroach into or block car parking spaces.

Parking & Traffi c (continued)

New multi-storey car park at Willis’s Road under construction

Landport Ditch Car Park project providing 117 free parking spaces


Multi-storey car park for 1000 cars by the Cross of Sacrifi ce in Devil’s Tower Road

New Harbours road scheme


Parking & Traffi c (continued)

Proposed new road scheme in the area of Southport and Trafalgar.

Proposed new road scheme linking Europort with Queensway through the Mid-Harbour project.

Queen’s

Cinema


Sport, Leisure & Culture

Progress so far:

Sport• Establishment of Sport & Leisure Authority• New Bayside Sports Centre• New sport surfaces at Victoria Stadium

pitches & track• New Sports Hall at Victoria Stadium• Sports Development Unit• Summer Sport Programme for children• Hugely increased funding for sport and

sporting associations• New sports facilities at schools• GASA pool taken over – free use

by community• New Tennis and Paddle Courts at

Sandpits Club• Physical activity sessions for over 50’s.• Petanque facilities at Giralda

Gardens improved

Leisure & Youth• King’s Bastion Leisure Centre (opens

November 2007)• New swimming pool for the elderly• Small Boat Owners Marina at Coaling Island• Casemates Square• Western Beach upgrade as public beach• Refurbishment of Camp Bay• Beaches available at Easter• Summer beach bus service• Summer Sports Programme for youth

• Laguna Youth Club and Adventure Playground• Establishment of Sport & Leisure Authority• W estside Promenade• Skating Park• Summer Nights Programme• National Week events/National Day family fun

events• May Day holiday moved to create an extra

long weekend• Hargrave’s Play Area refurbished• Establishment of Youth Advisory Council• Refurbishment of Youth Clubs• Concerts

Culture• Retreat Centre established• Ince’s Hall refurbishment• Garrison Recreation Rooms allocated to

cultural societies• Evacuation monument built• Casemates Exhibition Halls established• Casemates Art Gallery established• Concerts: Elton John, Marillion, Kool & the

Gang, National Week, New Year, National Day arranged and/or fi nanced

• National Week cultural events• Arts Advisory Council established• Gibraltar Spring Festival expanded as an Arts

& Culture Festival• Annual ‘Calentita’ multi cultural Street Party &

Food Festival• Restocking & funding of John Mackintosh

Hall Public Library

No Government has ever invested so much in Sport, Leisure and Culture facilities as the GSD Government has done. We have recognised the value and importance of sport, leisure and culture, not just to the quality of life, but also their value and importance to the character formation and personal development of our community in general, including our youth.

The three main features are an investment of over £20 million in the Bayside Sports Centre and the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, and also the establishment of the Sport & Leisure Authority to run all facilities professionally.


The refurbished Casemates Square, Gibraltar´s meeting place. Part of the GSD´s vision.


Sport, Leisure & Culture (continued)

King’s Bastion Leisure Centre

The King’s Bastion Leisure Centre opens on 1 November 2007. It is a superb, modern, high quality leisure centre containing:

• A 14 lane bowling alley• A 4 lane bowling alley• A real ice skating rink• An amusement arcade• T wo cinemas• A restaurant• A cafeteria• A disco/youth lounge


01 & 02 - The old Generating Station site of the new King’s Bastion Leisure Centre.

01 02

Before

01 to 05 - The new King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, which includes a Bowling Alley, Disco, Ice Skating Rink, Multi-screen cinema, bars, restaurants etc.

04 05

After

03

01 02



Aerial view of the new Bayside Sports Complex

The new Bayside Sports Centre.

The new Tercentenary Sports Hall

The Bayside Sports CentreThe fi nal phase was completed recently. This comprehensive and modern facility contains:

• T ennis• Paddle Tennis• Multi Use Games Area• Ar chery Range• Golf Range• Fitness Gymnasium• Fitness Trail• 5-a-side football pitch• Climbing Wall• Boat House• Water Sports facilities• Water based hockey pitch• T raining pitch• New Sports Hall


teaching facilities in one modern and appropriate site.

Theatre Royal

We will proceed with the construction of a theatre. Although our preferred site remains the site of the old Theatre Royal, we will consult widely before proceeding on this site, as opposed to an alternative site.

Old Sports Hall at Victoria Stadium

This will be refurbished, internally and externally and integrated and brought up to the standard of the new Tercentenary Sports Hall.

Festivals

The GSD Government has already developed the Spring Festival of Performing Arts. We have also just launched the Autumn Festival, which will also become an annual event focusing on quality Opera, Operetta, Dance, Rock & Jazz concerts.

Cultural Grants

We are committed to a substantial increase (at least 100%) in the level of cultural grants.

Art Centre

We will establish an Art Centre at Orange Bastion in Irish Town.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

We remain committed to providing the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme with appropriate premises.

Retrenchment Block

The Retrenchment Block at Lathbury Barracks is being converted into premises for Clubs & Associations.

Europa Point

Tenders have already been advertised for a project that will convert Europa Point into Gibraltar’s premier leisure open area.

Parks & Playgrounds

We are ready to proceed with a specialist contractor to upgrade and modernise all children’s play areas in accordance with latest safety standards and play equipment.

In addition, we will provide play areas to this standard at Varyl Begg Estate, Calpe Road, Flat Bastion Road, Naval Hospital Road, Waterport Road, the Mount, Little Bay, Europa Point and King’s Bastion Leisure Centre.

Paint Balling

Our plans for further youth leisure facilities include a ‘paintball’ facility.

Skate Park

We will relocate the Skate Park to an appropriate and convenient site, and it will be operated by the Sport & Leisure Authority.


Our commitments:

Key & Anchor Complex

Now that the discothèque and the restaurant have vacated the Key & Anchor Complex in Main Street, this Complex will be refurbished and restored and converted into a Cultural & Performing Arts Centre for Gibraltar, including a National Art Gallery, either here or at Casemates.

Multi-Purpose Arena

Gibraltar lacks a large multi-purpose arena suitable for youth concerts and other youth events, shows (eg Dog Show etc) and other large indoor exhibitions, conferences etc. We will seek a suitable location to provide such an amenity.

Music Centre

We will establish a complex to house Gibraltar’s various music


The refurbished Laguna Estate Adventure Playground.

· Trust · Stability · Reliability · Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · St


New public beach facilities at Western Beach.

The new Cormorant Camber Boat Owners Club facilities at Coaling Island.

The Europa Retreat Centre project completed.




Artist’s impression of the complete refurbishment of Europa Point, as a leisure and recreational area.

Artist´s impression of the complete refurbishment of The Retrenchment Block at Lathbury Barracks which will provide new premises for clubs and associations.

The refurbished auditorium of Ince´s Hall Theatre.

The completely refurbished foyer of Ince´s Hall Theatre.

Camp Bay phase one beautifi cation and improvements completed.

The brand new club facilities at Sandpits.


During the last 10 years, one of the GSD Government’s main policy objectives and focus has been to bring Gibraltar’s near non-existent (in 1996) social services up to the 21st century European fi rst world standards. Much has been done, but much remains to be done. The task that we faced was not just the absence of many basic services, but the unsafe manner in which services were provided and the lack of organisational, professional and management structure. In short – “starting from scratch”!

Social Services

Progress so far:

Structural• Establishment of unifi ed, statutory Social

Services Agency to assume responsibility for delivery and co-ordination of all social services.

• Increase in annual spending from £0.5m in 1996 to £4.1m in 2006/7

• Increase in staff from 29 in 1996 to 156 in 2006/7

• Number of social workers increased from 7 to 19

• Takeover by Government of all basic social services from charitable groups, eg Mount Alvernia and Jewish Home from the John Mackintosh Trust, and Dr Giraldi Home from the Catholic Church Trust.

• Bring in expert UK management to help in the transition (Milbury)

Children’s Services• Establishment of a statutory fostering service

for children and young persons• Establishment of a Counselling Psychology

Service for children

• Closing institutionalised children’s home (Bishop Healy) and replacing with small group homes in the community for children in care

• Set up of Court Social Work Team to help courts with children’s issues in matrimonial disputes

• Introduction of legislation to combat under-age drinking and smoking

Drugs And Substance Abuse Services

• Establishing, staffi ng and funding of Gibraltar’s own drug, alcohol and other substances Rehabilitation Centre at Bruce’s Farm

• Establishment of Rehabilitation After Care Centre in Main Street (Gladys Perez Centre)

• Implementation and continuing development of a comprehensive Drug Strategy particularly focussing on:

- education - prevention - enforcement - rehabilitation

• Appointment of dedicated anti-drugs co-ordinator

Bruce´s Farm Rehabilitation Centre.


• Introduction of community-based service for juveniles with drug problems

• Establishment of a dedicated website • Production of a magazine in which

young people can collaborate and contribute

Disability Services• The designation of a Minister with

responsibility for disability issues• Dr Giraldi Home divided into separate

fl ats for more homeliness and privacy• Huge increase in staffi ng levels at Dr

Giraldi Home• Introduction of supported living pilot

scheme• Establishment of a structured respite

service, steadily providing increased hours over the years

• Creation of a fund to provide free mobility aid

• Funding of a shop mobility centre• Funding of home help• The provision of a purposely designed

swimming pool for the disabled• On-going programme of refurbishment

and reconstruction of thoroughfares and other public amenities in a disability friendly manner

• Heavy investment in a public bus fl eet which specifi cally caters for the disabled

• The introduction of legislation to prohibit discrimination against disabled persons in the fi eld of employment

• Death Grant paid to relatives even if no social insurance contributions have been made

• An increase of 160% in the disability allowance (which had remained frozen between 1988 and 1996)

• Introduction of Blue Badge Scheme

Other Services• Counselling Psychology Service for

adults• Community Service Orders Scheme for

offenders• A new prison (under construction)• Premises and fi nancial resources for

women’s hostel for victims of domestic violence

• Premises and fi nancial resources for women’s hostel at Lopez’s Ramp (under construction)

The Gladys Perez Centre.

Our Commitments:

Residential unit for younger victims of debilitating disease

Persons under 60 (the admission age for Mount Alvernia) who are severely disabled as a result of a debilitating disease or as a result of an accident, fi nd it increasingly diffi cult, in some cases impossible, to care or be looked after at home. We will establish a residential care home for such persons.

Temporary ‘Half-Way’ house for men & women

More men and women are becoming homeless (often as a result of matrimonial breakdown). We will provide a half-way house to provide temporary accommodation to such persons, while they are re-housed.

Disability Discrimination

Our new Equal Opportunities Act outlaws discrimination against disabled persons only in the fi eld of employment. This will be extended to other fi elds, including the provision of goods and services.

Increased hours in sitter/respite services at Dr Giraldi Home

The sitter/respite service introduced by the GSD Government has proved to be tremendously popular with families of disabled persons. We will expand this service in order to offer

more hours to existing users and to allow new users to access the service.

The Courts & Matrimonial Breakdowns

We will legislate to ensure that Court proceedings following matrimonial breakdown is as painless as possible, especially as it affects the children of the marriage. Legal Aid Rules will prevent lawyers from mounting unnecessary hostile and lengthy proceedings relating to assets and children. Rapid access to Court will be assured throughout the duration of court orders to ensure effective and timely compliance (whether access or alimony), and fair and proper access to children will be guaranteed as of right to both parents (subject only to the overriding interests of the child).

Children’s Act

We will proceed to publish a Children’s Act, by way of consultation, during this year.

General Development

We will continue with our systematic programme to develop and modernise our social services until they are at the forefront of modern European standards. We will continue to devote a substantial share of the proceeds of our economic growth to the development of our social services.

Social Services (continued)


In keeping with its policy to modernise social care provision, the GSD Government has ensured that distribution of economic wealth extends to those most in need through the Social Security System. Many signifi cant measures have been adopted to this end.

Under the GSLP Government, almost all Social Security benefi ts and allowances and assistance remained frozen, year after year after year! By systematic and substantial increases in these support payments, we have ensured that the most vulnerable in our society also benefi t from our economic success.

Social Security

Progress so far:• 65.2% increase in Old Age Pensions• Introduction of Minimum Income Guarantee

to ensure minimum income for all elderly persons

• Divorced women given pro-rata old age pension rights

• Married women rate contributors allowed to pay back full contributions to get OAP in own right

• 800 persons take advantage of opportunities to complete arrears of contribution record

• Social Insurance contributions abolished for over 60’s, for trainees and vocational cadets, for students and during maternity leave

• Social Insurance Contribution System reformed to reduce payments and assist casual, part-time and low paid workers

• Substantial increase in previously frozen benefi ts:

- Maternity Allowance 50% (and increased from 14 to 18 weeks) - Maternity Grant 1000% - Death Grant 400% - Social Assistance Payments 40% - Unemployment Benefi t 45% - Industrial Injuries Benefi t 50% - Disability Allowance 160%

• Raising of threshold and benefi t level of Child Welfare Grant

Our Commitments:

Social Security Funding

We will restructure and reform Social Security funding to ensure that it is self fi nancing and is not a burden on future generations. This will include the payment by the Government into the Social Security and Pension Funds of a proportion of the proceeds of sale of Government land, properties and other assets.

Child Welfare Grant

At present Child Welfare Grant is payable only in respect of the second and subsequent children. We will extend its payment to the fi rst child.

Bereavement Payment

We will review and improve the widow’s allowance.

Paternity Allowance

We will introduce an appropriate Paternity Allowance Scheme

Social Insurance Contributors under 20 to Count

At present, Social Insurance contributions only count towards the OAP contributor record as from the age of 20. This will be reduced to, at least, 18.

Retired workers without an Occupational Pension

Many elderly people have to carry on working because they have no occupational pension. We will consider appropriate and affordable ways of ensuring reasonable income levels for all our elderly, to ensure that they do not have to continue to work beyond a certain age.

Family Support Payments

We will continue to increase, and to make more widely available, social assistance payments to help families with the cost of raising children.


Artist´s impression of the new school at the old St Bernard´s Hospital site.

Education and Training


Progress so far:

Education• University and Adult Education

- Parental contributions ABOLISHED- Government pays UK tuition fees- Maintenance grants increased by 54% and

travelling expenses by 30%- 132% increase of tax allowance for children

studying abroad- Distance learning subsidies for mature

students- Greatly enhanced adult education

programme in the College of Further Education

- Hundreds of private citizens and civil servants acquire Durham University Business School qualifi cations at Diploma, Executive Diploma and Executive Masters levels in Management

- Professional courses run by College of Further Education: ACCA, AAT, ICSA, ILEX, Banking

- ICT courses for senior citizens

• Schools

- Bayside: exterior and interior repainting, major refurbishment of all laboratories and construction of Alternative Learning Centre

- Increase in teacher numbers – 288 in 1996, 335 NOW

- New Teaching Learning Responsibility agreement with teachers

- Drugs education programme for teachers

- Staff training in visual impairment, Braille, Dyslexia, Attention Defi cit Disorder, Autism, Down’s Syndrome & others

- Record GCSE & A-level examination results

- £400,000 investment in information technology in our schools

- A review of health & safety in our schools

- New school halls

Education and training remains one of the most valuable and necessary investments that we make in Gibraltar, present and future. It is our most valuable legacy to future generations. We will remain committed to improving our schools, our training, our educational product.


Model of part of the Mid-town development showing the new school complex.

Progress so far: Training• A major commitment and boost to

training at all levels• Construction Training Centre accredited

by City & Guilds, ICITB, up to NVQ Level 3

• Cammell Laird Training Centre accredited by EMTA up to NVQ Level 3. New courses introduced in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

• 188 trainees enrolled in the Vocational

Training Scheme to develop skills through placement with fi rms in different areas of employment. A total of 62 secured permanent employment last year

• Introduction of BTEC certifi cated course in Travel and Tourism in the School of Tourism at Bleak House

• All trainees – allowances increased up to 97%• Courses on Marine Trades, accredited

by MNT13 consisting of one month in

committed to improving our schools, our training, our educational product.

New Schools

We will build new First & Middle Schools at each of Mid-town development and the old St Bernard’s Hospital.

Our Commitments:

Education and training remains one of the most valuable and necessary investments that we make in Gibraltar, present and future. It is our most valuable legacy to future generations. We will remain

Training

Through the College of Further Education, Bleak House, our own training centres and other contacts with external service providers, we will continue to provide an ever wider range of accredited courses in management, marine trades, industrial trades, vocational training and others.

Warsash Maritime Centre (UK) and 6 months off-shore

• Bleak House established as a major, well resourced training establishment recognised as an examination centre by the Open University and many professional qualifi cation and schools examination bodies

• Creation of Training Advisory Council


Progress so far:• 15% increase in police force• New Police Act• Establishment of Police Authority to make

police directly accountable to the community• Fast launches suppressed• Tough anti-tobacco smuggling legislation• Establishment of GCID and GFIU• New launches for RGP, Customs &

Port Authority• New Marine Depot• Introduction of Community Service Orders• Adoption of comprehensive Drug Strategy

and appointment of Drugs Co-ordinator• High level of airport security - aircraft - police armed response unit in terminal - all luggage screened in new screening equipment installed

• Development of Disaster and Major Incident response plans for all foreseeable incidents

• Appointment of Civil Contingencies Co-ordinator

• Establishment of Government Civil Contingency Committee (C3) to prepare Gibraltar to deal with foreseeable emergencies, disasters, accidents and other threats to public health & safety

• Establishment of emergencies command & control facility

• Precautionary measures against possibility of outbreaks of ‘bird fl u’ and ‘biological terrorism’.

• Publication of Gibraltar’s fi rst ever Major Incident or Emergency Advisory Booklet and distribution to every household

• Emergency ambulance services taken over by Government

• Two large shipping casualties MV Samothraki and MV New Flame dealt with.

Law & Order and Civil Protection

Our Commitments:

Anti-Social Behaviour

Primary legislation has been passed to enable the adoption of a comprehensive set of anti-social behaviour regulations. These regulations, which will address anti-social behaviour in all residential areas and estates, will be introduced later this year.

CCTV Cameras

We will introduce CCTV Cameras in areas of frequent disruptive or anti-social behaviour or vandalism.

New Prison

The construction of a new prison is under way.

Excessive & Underage Youth Drinking

We will take measures to curb excessive youth drinking and underage drinking. We will consult widely about the raising of the minimum drinking age to 18, which is our preference.

Policing

As the increases in manpower and resources for the RGP during the last 10 years show, the GSD Government has been, and will remain fully committed to and supportive of the RGP and of high visibility and effective community policing.

Drugs

We have acknowledged, and acted upon, the reality that Gibraltar is not immune to the problem of drugs. We will continue to fund and build on the success of Gibraltar’s fi rst ever rehabilitation and after care centres, and we will continue to periodically measure the effectiveness (and modify as required) our comprehensive drug strategy. Legislation is already being drafted to more effectively tackle the issue of recovering assets from the proceeds of drugs.

Above all, we will take whatever measures may be required to expel drugs from our schools.

Police Authority & New Police Act

The establishment of the Police Authority, and other provisions of the new Police Act (including its provisions relating to independent complaints procedures) has made the RGP more transparent and directly accountable to the community. Among many other measures, it gives a wide involvement in the preparation of an annual policing plan, to ensure that policing responds to the community’s requirements. We are committed to maintaining this modern approach to policing.

The GSD remains fully committed to keeping Gibraltar a safe and secure place, where all can live in the comfort of law and order, and civil protection.

Gibraltar is not immune to the threats facing the rest of the world: accidents, natural disasters or terrorist attacks. But few small communities have done more to prepare themselves for the eventuality, however unlikely, that something should happen here!


Citizen’s Rights

Progress so far:• Establishment of Ombudsman• Establishment of Citizen’s Advice Bureau• Gibraltarian Status Act reformed: equal rights

for women• Introduction of open planning laws• Transparent tendering for public procurement

and land sales• Constitutional human rights provisions

brought up to date with European Convention of Human Rights

• Annual Government Health, Housing and other Reports

• Public statistics improved• All Gibraltar’s laws placed on Government

website and constantly updated• Establishment of Advisory Councils in many

areas such as Arts, Youth, Sports, Training etc

• Air quality monitoring information published ‘live’ on website

• Civil service given much greater freedom of political activity and public comment

• Establishment of Police Authority to oversee Police on behalf of the community

• Establishment of Judicial Service Commission to make the judiciary transparent and accountable as it is in other modern democracies

• Government adopts an Environmental Charter to govern all its actions & policies

• Fullest possible measure of public consultation on new Development Plan

• Equal Opportunities Legislation• Data Protection Legislation• Statutory right to independent Complaints

Panel in GHA

The sustained commitment by the GSD Government to ensure that Gibraltar becomes and remains a modern democracy, has contributed hugely to the change of ‘feeling’ in Gibraltar and to the high reputation that Gibraltar now deservedly has for political stability and good Government.

Empowering the citizenDuring the last 10 years or so, the GSD Government has transformed the quality of democracy in terms of:

· Government transparency & accountability

· Public tendering· Citizen involvement in

Government through Advisory Boards and public consultation processes

· Public and legislative consultation

· Accountability of the Government through Ombudsman

· Advice to citizens about their rights through Citizens Advice Bureau

· Huge increase in availability of Government information

· Improved complaints processes

No Government in Gibraltar’s history has ever done more to empower the citizen in dealing with the State.

Our commitments:

We will remain committed to open, transparent, fair and good Government. This is a cornerstone of the quality of life in Gibraltar. It is vital that the huge progress made not be lost by a return to how things were done in the past.

Consultation & Participation

We will further develop our existing policy of advisory councils, consultation processes, annual reports and exhibitions to ensure that public information about and participation in Government decision making is maximised.

Parliament

We will reform the way our new Parliament conducts its work to ensure that we have a modern Parliament that meets this community’s modern needs.

Access to Justice

We will continue to develop a new model of access to justice and legal aid to ensure fairness, affordability and the curtailment of fees-driven disputes.

Consumer Protection Agency

Having fully established the Ombudsman and Citizens Advice Bureau, we will complete our Civic Rights architecture by establishing a statutory, independent Consumer Protection Agency. In addition, we will further develop our Consumer Protection statutory framework. These will include Trade, Finance and Gambling Ombudsman, and internet legislation, as well as consumer credit protection.

Complaints

No Government in Gibraltar’s history has exposed itself more to independent scrutiny and complaints investigation than the GSD Government, e.g. Ombudsman, GHA Complaints, Police Complaints etc.

We will remain committed to expanding the opportunities that the citizen has to have complaints against the Government and public administration generally investigated effectively and independently.

Moroccans & Others

No Government has done more than the GSD Government to improve and integrate the civic rights of Gibraltar’s immigrant population. But we have done it in a way, and to an extent that is practical, realistic, affordable and does not threaten to overwhelm or distort our existing society. This will remain the GSD’s approach if re-elected. Those who unthinkingly advocate an “all rights” approach are simply being irresponsible.

Planning Process

As explained on page 25 of this manifesto, we will further extend public participation and information in the planning process.


Heritage

The focus and investment of the GSD Government in the restoration and recovery of Gibraltar’s heritage assets is unprecedented.

An artist’s impression of the Retrenchment Block conversion project - a good example of sensitive restoration of a historical building for modern day use.

An artist´s impression of the restoration of the historical Northern Defences project, linking the Moorish Castle to Casemates Square.

Chatham Counterguard project - completed.


Progress so far:• Annual Calpe Conference established• Restoration of Walls & Bastions - King’s Bastion - Orange Bastion - Chatham Counterguard - Landport Ditch/North Bastion - Wellington Front

• Restoration of Moorish Castle• Restoration of World War 2 Tunnels• Restoration of Moorish Baths• Creation of Institute of Gibraltarian Culture,

Identity & Social History• Creation of Centenary Institute• Mediterranean Steps


Our Commitments:

Moorish Castle Prison

The construction of the new prison at Lathbury Barracks is now under way, and this will result in the vacation of Moorish Castle.

Garrison Library

We will pursue the transfer of the Garrison Library with a view to its preservation as an historical Gibraltar reference library, and the housing of Gibraltar’s Parliament.

Heritage Legislation

During 2007 we will publish, by way of consultation, a draft of a new Heritage Act providing a new model for the promotion, management and preservation of Gibraltar’s heritage.

Old Guard House

The GSD remains fully committed to restoring the Old Guard House in John Mackintosh Square as the headquarters of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

Calpe Married Quarters

Calpe Married Quarters building is being restored and converted into affordable homes.

Retrenchment Block

The Retrenchment Block at Lathbury Barracks is being restored and converted into premises for Clubs & Associations.

Charles V Walls

We will restore Charles V Walls

Granada Gate & Moorish Castle Pedestrian Route

We will shortly start a project to beautify and restore the area of Granada Gate and the pedestrian walkway from Moorish Castle to Casemates Square and Grand Battery.

The World War II Tunnels - restoring our heritage.

Orange Bastion restoration project.

King’s Bastion restoration project.


Gibraltar - a favourite port of call for cruise ships.

The Economy: General

Economy At A Glance• Government Budget Surplus: £120 million since 1996 (record high) (average of £12 million p.a.) Now stands at annual record high.

• Government Reserves: more than double since 1996 (record high)• Jobs: 5,500 more (+42%) since 1996 (record high)• Public Debt: 15% of GDP (record low)• Size of the Economy (GDP): +125% (record size)• Average take-home pay since 1996: +64% (infl ation only 22%)• Government capital investments in Gibraltar: £260 million over 11 years (record high)

How Have We Done On Our 4 Golden Rules?

Since 1996 the GSD Government’s 4 ‘Golden Rules’ have guided the GSD’s policy as to how to distribute the fruits of the success of our economy.

The economy of Gibraltar has more than doubled in size since 1996. This economic prosperity has brought many personal benefi ts to everyone and to every household in Gibraltar. It has allowed the GSD Government to make huge cuts in personal taxes, to pay for reform and expansion of our public services, and for a massive infrastructure investment programme, and to keep record public fi nances at record levels. It has massively increased the number of jobs in our economy to record levels, including for Gibraltarians. Gibraltar’s economy has never been better.


The GSD Government’sEconomic RULE

1. Captial investments in our economy (to create and maintain jobs and living standards) and in Gibraltar´s physical fabric and amenities for the future

2. Investment in public services generally, and care services in particular spending

3. Maintenance of prudent public fi nances

4. Return of surplus monies to taxpayers through tax cuts

The GSD Government’sEconomic RECORD

- record level of public investment - record number of jobs- 64% increase in take home pay

- record health spending 200%- record social care 720%- record spending on elderly care 860%- record spending on sports & leisure

- record high budget surpluses- record high reserves- record low public debt

- unprecedented and substantial- cuts in taxation up to 55% (see P21) - abolition of many taxes (see p20)

· Trust · Stability · Reliability · Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · St

Economic GrowthOur economy has grown from £327 million in 1996 to £599 million in 2005 and an estimated £730 million in 2007. This represents an increase in the size of our economy of 124%, much more than doubled in 10 years.

Employment/JobsIn 1996 there were 12,985 jobs in our economy. In 2006 there were 18,485. There are thus 5,500 more jobs in Gibraltar than there were in 1996. This is a spectacular increase of 42%!

The number of Gibraltarians in employment has also increased sharply from 9390 in 1996 to 10346 in 2006. An increase of 956 or 10%. This represents effective full employment. Almost everyone that wants a job can fi nd one. In fact, there is now a labour shortage in Gibraltar, with most of our economic growth having to be serviced by imported labour.

We will nevertheless remain vigilant and do as much as lawfully possible to ensure that job opportunities go to suitable locals fi rst.

Average take-home payAnother measure of our economic success and our tax-cutting is the fact that a combination of rising pay and lower taxes have resulted in average “take home” pay having risen since 1996 by 64%, at a time that infl ation has only been 22%.

Public FinancesDespite unjustifi ed and unpersuasive efforts by our political opponents to persuade you otherwise, public fi nances have never been better or stronger. The GSD Government’s annual budget surplus has risen to over £24 million, and this has allowed the GSD Government to fund the recent substantial personal tax cuts and pension increases.

Government Reserves have risen from £40 million in 1996 to over £100 million now, and this enables the Government to pay for its housing, roads and other capital investments programme.

Public debt, which has been static for several years, has fallen to just 15% of GDP, which is very low. This means that we are investing for now and for the future, but without saddling our children’s generation with public debt.

Economic Development

Gibraltar’s economic success benefi ts every Gibraltarian. Everyone has a stake. Economic growth is what enables Government to lower taxes for everyone; to eliminate taxes and increase pensions for our pensioners; to improve and expand our health and social services for everyone; to build new public amenities, improve and build new public housing; to pay higher wages in the public sector. In short, to improve the standard of living of everyone in Gibraltar and make everyone fi nancially better off. Everyone in Gibraltar has a stake

in our economy’s success – whether you work in the public or private sector, or even if you do not work at all.

Everyone has a stake in the fi nance centre, in the gambling industry and in real estate developments, whether it’s luxury or affordable housing or offi ce and commercial.

In addition to the retail and wholesale trades, the backbone of our economy are our fi nance centre, our gaming centre, tourism and our airport. In the future our airport will also become an economic engine in itself.

During the last 11 plus years the GSD Government has carefully plotted a course for the successful and internationally reputable growth of fi nancial services, gambling, tourism and the port.

Consider the record of achievements: this very small country of ours has become:-

1. the world’s leading on-line gambling location;

2. the Western Mediterranean’s largest (and the world’s 8th) bunkering port;

3. one of the most successful tourist destinations in Europe;

4. one of the world’s most successful and reputable small international fi nance centres;

5. one of the most successful and prosperous small economies in the world.


Local Business

Progress so far:• Abolition of tax on company’s

investment income• Introduction of small company 20%

tax rate• Reduction corporate tax rate to 33%• Discontinued practice of annual 10%

annual increases in Social Insurance Contributions

• Built three industrial parks• Simplifi ed and reformed system of

payment of Social Insurance Contributions• Reduced Social Insurance Contributions

for casual & temporary workers • Unifi cation of PAYE and Social Insurance

Contributions systems• Established level playing fi eld through

public procurement fair and open tendering

• Computers and commercial vehicles exempted from import duty

• ‘One stop shop’ for registration of employees

• 8 wage subsidy schemes• Improved postal service• Extra tax relief for business facades• Taken over liability for Maternity

Allowance• Abolished tax on student jobs• Big reductions in personal tax rates• Halved import duty on many goods and

reduced it to zero on many others• Street beautifi cation programme• Telecoms liberalisation and tariff

reductions• Hotel refurbishment assistance scheme• T raining schemes

• General boost from fi nance, gambling and port sector growth

• Tough illegal labour regime to prevent unfair competition

• Invest Gibraltar Unit: ‘one stop shop’ service to business

Port PortSince 1996 the Port has been at the forefront of the GSD economic policy, with great success. The GSD has invested signifi cantly in the Port infrastructure in order to meet the demand of today’s shipping world.

Port Growth Since 1996• Number of calls by merchant ships +137%• Quantity of bunkers sold +219%• Ships on our register +675%

The Economy (continued)

Our Commitments:

More commercial premises

We will continue to relieve pressure on rents and lack of start-up opportunities, by encouraging the building of sensible amounts of new retail, industrial and offi ce premises. We will shortly put out to tender new retail premises at Waterport Terraces and Chatham Counterguard.

More warehousing premises

The Lathbury Barrracks Industrial Park Phase II will be constructed to meet the demands of the commercial sector for warehousing.

Lower Taxation

Local businesses will be big benefi ciaries of our plan to introduce a low company tax rate for all companies, probably at 10%, but not higher than 12%.

Counterfeit & degraded goods

We will legislate to clamp down on the importation and sale of counterfeit and degraded goods.

New Airport

The new air terminal will provide enhanced business opportunities for existing and new local traders.

Retail & Wholesale Sector

We are aware of the importance of our retail and wholesale sectors and we will continue to work closely with business representatives to address its needs as far as reasonably possible. This sector is a big local employer and therefore a vital part of our economy.

Gibraltar Bank

The GSD Government continues to favour the establishment of a locally owned and managed bank to supplement the services to local business provided by the local branches of UK and other banks. We will continue to promote the establishment of such a bank – with Government participation, if necessary or desirable.

E-Government

E-Government – the infrastructure is being laid to enable businesses and citizens to transact business with Government on the Web.

E-Commerce

The GSD Government will continue to provide facilities and will establish a legislative framework to enable Gibraltar to operate as an e-commerce centre, especially in retailing and wholesaling.

Our commitments:

We will continue to develope and invest in our Port, as one as our most valuable economic assets. We will continue to study and assess the viability of our medium term project to develop the Port by widening the detached mole and reconfi guring the wharves inside the harbour to increase cruising, bunkering, general shipping and other facilities in the Port.


The Gibraltar Coach Terminus

Our Commitments:

The Model for the Finance Centre

The repositioning of our fi nance centre away from a simple tax haven to a reputable, mainstream, ‘value-adding’ international fi nance centre, has already made huge progress. This is the only model for a successful fi nance centre in the EU single market in the future, and we are thus committed to continue along this path. We will continue to focus on the importance of sound but business friendly regulation.

Taxation

This being the biggest challenge that the fi nance centre (and indeed

the economy as a whole) has faced, the GSD Government has carefully but fi rmly litigated on the issue of regional and national selectivity in the European Court. The Court’s ruling is now awaited.

The GSD Government is committed to fi scal competitiveness for our fi nance centre. This means ‘no tax’ for the clients/customers of our fi nancial services providers, and ‘low tax’ for all fi nancial services providers themselves. We are committed to a tax rate of, probably 10% but no higher than 12%.

This will be introduced as soon as possible, (although not later than 2010), balancing the (competing) interests of the handling of the tax court case; the different sectors

of our economy; the interests of the Finance Centre (and even the different interests within the Finance Centre); and the public fi nance needs. Sensible debate on the best timing for the change is not possible without an understanding of the existence of these confl icts and of the relative importance to our economy and society of each of these confl icting interests.

We will continue to work closely with fi nance industry experts to modify other aspects of our tax system and rules to promote the needs and interests of our fi nance centre.

Finance Centre

The Finance Centre has changed, matured and grown hugely since 1996, and continues to do so despite the external challenges that it has faced. It has now shed its ‘tax haven’ image, in favour of an excellent reputation as a small, but successful fi nance centre. New activities such as futures broking, insurance (+ 66% growth in the number of companies), investment management (+ 150%)

together with others, have supplemented the traditional activities. There has been a 66% growth in jobs (1056 extra jobs) in the Finance Centre since 1996!

Progress so far:• International confi dence and reputation

restored and maintained• Development of successful regulatory

machinery• Passporting rights in banking, insurance

and investment services• Successful deal with EU to grandfather

and phase out the tax exempt company• IMF, IRS and FATF endorsements• 66% growth in jobs• growth in traditional activity• development of new activities, such as

the funds industry• successful modifi cation of on-shore tax

system • all laws of Gibraltar on website

and updated

Gibraltar Social Democrats 57Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · Standing · Reputation · Security ·

The Economy (continued)

The World War II Tunnels - a new tourist attraction.

Our commitments:

Hotels

Hotels in Gibraltar continue to invest in the upgrading and updating of their facilities. The GSD believes that greater volume of hotel bed availability is now essential to Gibraltar’s development as a successful tourist destination. We will therefore encourage the building of new hotels.

Europa Point

Europa Point will be transformed into one of Gibraltar’s most important leisure and tourism areas whilst at the same time highlighting its importance as a centre for natural history and heritage.

Camp Bay & Little Bay

The second phase of Camp Bay will start in October of 2007. We are also committed to a similar scheme for Little Bay.

Product Improvement

We will continue our programme of investment in improvements to the visitor attractions on the Upper Rock.

A major upgrade of the Great Siege Tunnels is planned with improvements to the static displays and lighting.

The Apes’ Den will continue to be the focal point for visitors wishing to see the macaques and the Den will be refurbished.

Tourism Marketing

Investment in tourism marketing and product development will continue in response to the industry’s needs

as established through contact with partners in the industry.

Yachts

We look forward to the completion of the marina projects so that we can restore and enhance yacht arrivals.

Air services and the airport

Whilst we are keen to attract new operators the development of new air routes must continue in parallel with the development of the new air terminal and its road infrastructure. The current levels of commercial air traffi c are already having an effect on the free circulation of vehicular traffi c and this must be taken into consideration when planning the immediate expansion of services to the airport.

The building of the new air terminal and associated new roads and tunnel will enable environmentaly acceptable expanded use of the airport.

Cruise Industry

We are committed to continuing growth in this sector. The number of cruise ships expected to call at Gibraltar in 2007 is 228 with approximately 297,978 passengers. This would represent an increase of 41.37% on 2006.

We are committed to the extension of the Gibraltar Cruise Terminal, almost doubling the current facility for passengers.

Our Tourism Policy Will Also Include:

• The opening of O’Hara’s Battery as a tourist attraction.

• Improvements to the transport infrastructure for visitors ensuring that all aspects of the tourism product become accessible.

Gaming

Progress so far:• Number of licences – +600%• Number of jobs – 1700 (+800%)• Contribution to Government Revenue –

£8.0 m pa (+800%)• New regulatory & licensing legislation• White listed for UK• Expert Gambling Commissioner

appointed

During the last 10 years, we have established Gibraltar as one of the leading global quality centres for responsible on-line gaming. We will continue with our successful policy of very limited, selective licensing. Our focus will remain on quality and not quantity, and on responsible gaming and sound regulation.

Tourism 2007

Progress so far:• More arrivals by land then ever before. • Greater consultation on tourism matters

with the private sector.• Completion of the fi rst phase of

refurbishment of Camp Bay.• Completion of the refurbishment of John

Mackintosh Square.

• All signage within the Upper Rock has been updated and improved. The signs are particularly aimed at improving directions for those who wish to walk within the Upper Rock.

• World War 2 Tunnel – established as a tourist site

• Floodlighting of city walls• Refurbishment of street, bastion

and square• Tourist offi ce at Casemates• Casemates Square experience

• All hotels refurbished • Cruise terminal and air terminal

refurbished • New ferry terminal, coach terminal and

frontier arrivals hall• Management of tourist sites returned to

public sector • Tourist arrivals at record levels• Ship cruises at record levels• Beaches available at Easter• Refurbishment of Mediterranean Steps

Gibraltar Social Democrats58 Trust · Stability · Reliability · Progress · Vision · Experience · Prosperity · Success · Respect · St

Peter Caruana

Joseph Holliday Ernest Britto

Jaime Netto Edwin Reyes

Danny Feetham

Fabian Vinet

Clive Beltran

Yvette Del Agua Luis Montiel

Your GSD Team

Gibraltar Social Democrats 59· Standing · Reputation · Security · Trust · Stability · Reliability · Progress · Vision · Experience ·

The GSD’s proven vision:- Political security & stability

- Economic prosperity- Social progress

...You know you can trust the GSD

Vote for ALL 10 GSD candidates.

Clive BELTRAN ✘

Ernest BRITTO ✘

Peter CARUANA ✘

Yvette DEL AGUA ✘

Daniel FEETHAM ✘

Joseph HOLLIDAY ✘

Luis MONTIEL ✘

Jaime NETTO ✘

Edwin REYES ✘

Fabian VINET ✘

Only by voting for all 10 GSD candidates can you ensure a GSD Government. Anything else simply risks the election of a

different government by the back door.Election Agents: Isabella Sheppard-Capurro & Nigel Feetham, 1a, College Lane, Gibraltar.

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gibraltar social democrat manifesto

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