The Opposition entirely refutes the self-serving version of events which the GSD Government and the GHA have put out in a further press release dealing with the case of the 83 year old man who spent a number of nights in Moorish Castle Prison as a result of being forcible discharged by the GHA in his pyjamas.

The Government’s have taken a policy decision to modify the noise exempt licenses issued to commercial premises at Ocean Village and Casemates in order to reduce noise disturbance to residents. The move coming after so many years, particularly in relation to Casemates, reflects the failure of the policy of the Government to find the right balance between the competing requirements of commercial premises (including the interests of leisure-goers) and the needs of residents.

The Opposition considers that Mr Caruana’s reaction to the talk on the budget that the Leader of the Opposition gave at the Casino Calpe, at their invitation, is the normal knee-jerk reaction we are accustomed to whenever he is found out and the shortcomings of his policies are exposed. This produces a diatribe of insults and personal abuse as is normal in all his tantrums.

Fabian Picardo is confident that he will be elected as next leader of the GSLP as reported by the Gibraltar Chronicle. He is equally confident that he will have also will have the support of Dr Joe Garcia in the Alliance as they prepare for the next election

The latest incursion by the Guardia Civil into Camp Bay at a time when there were bathers in the water is outrageous and represents a frontal challenge to the sovereignty and jurisdiction that Gibraltar exercises in the waters around the Rock. The problem, as the Opposition predicted, has intensified over the last few weeks given the failure to take strong and decisive action in order to put an end to these incursions once and for all.

The accusations levelled at Oppositon Member Fabian Picardo by the Government in response to our press release about bed shortages at the hospital shows that the GSD are unable to defend their policies without resorting to undignified and improper comment.  This is designed only to divert attention from the many failings of the health policy of the Government in general and of Minister Del Agua and Chief Executive David McCutcheon in particular. It should be noted that Mr Picardo has previously made no public comment about this case at all and has cleared with the family of his client that he can do so in reply to this unprovoked attack.