Gibraltar’s new Chief Minister Fabian Picardo yesterday announced the various ministerial portfolios for his cabinet colleagues over the next few years. In the first official function of the new GSLP/Liberal Government, Mr Picardo in answer to press questions, said he wanted to have “friendship and cooperation” with Spain outside of any sovereignty implications.

Mr Picardo declared that his first decision in office had been to assign portfolios to his team.

As Chief Minister he will be assuming responsibility for the economy and finance, immigration issues, EU and international treaties, industrial relations, the public sector, the civil service, broadcasting and the media.

His right hand man will be Liberal leader Joseph Garcia who has been appointed Deputy Chief Minister with responsibility for planning and lands, political, democratic and civic reform, and civil aviation.

 

Additionally he will be assisting Mr Picardo in his exercise of “overall responsibility for and supervision of Government departments and public administration and ministerial coordination.”

For his part, Gilbert Licudi will take on Financial Services, Gaming, Telecommunications, Justice and Education.

Former Chief Minister Joe Bossano is the new Minister for Employment and Labour, with additional responsibility for social security, pensions, social assistance, enterprise and training and inward investment.

During the subsequent press conference, Mr Picardo said the new ministers had the capacity to implement the manifesto commitments on which they fought the general election, and that they were a talented group with a wealth of information, skill and experience behind them.

Mr Picardo said he would now be turning his attention to the organisation of his office and to “understanding the position of ongoing Government projects.”

He said the “rebirth of the civil service” and the “issue of jobs” would be other key areas that would be attended to at once.

Mr Picardo also stated that the delivery of government information and service through e-Government was another priority.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Minutes before going to their respective offices to start their first day as Government Ministers, each Minister spoke to the Chronicle:

Gilbert Licudi, Minister for Education, Financial Services, Gaming, Telecommunications and Justice

“I am delighted at the appointment and this will be a very challenging time for us. I have been entrusted with important ministries and we will all be working as a team. I am dying to get going and see what issues are pending. As we have said we will allow all heads of department to manage their areas with ministerial support.

Steven Linares, Minister for Sports, Culture, Heritage & Youth

“I am very happy with my ministries as these are issues I have been shadowing for very long. I want to get on with the job immediately; the youth service will be one of my top priorities as at present the youth clubs only open partially. In sports I will be having meetings with clubs and associations to establish a good working relationship.”

Joe Bossano, Minister for Enterprise, Training and Employment

“My first priority is to get as many people back in employment as possible, and this will not take me four years. Unemployment in Gibraltar is higher than people have been led to believe and there have been no official unemployment figures since before 2007. This matter has been overlooked for years. I believe in working for Gibraltar and for working people which is what I have done whether in the Seaman’s Union or the T&G etc. (Being back in Government) is a greater opportunity to do more.”

Charles Bruzon, Minister for Housing and the Elderly

“I expect to be briefed on ongoing issues, get to know staff and work closely with them as a team, and establish a rapport. I want to give time to people who have problems, with the help of staff, so as not to leave any stone unturned to help them. They must also understand that ‘Rome was not built in a day’ and that housing is a difficult human issue. We must build on what the GSD administration have done, to turn Gibraltar into a better place to live. We want to build sufficient homes for people in the waiting list and our commitment is to re-house new applicants in the first term of office. And we will die trying.

John Cortes, Minister for Health and Environment

“I am pleased with the collegiate way that we are working. I want to talk to everybody, the health workers, the patients, see how we can streamline structures and implement our policies. In the Environmental Department we have lifted the ban on civil servants so that they can talk to NGO’s and we want to implement our manifesto commitments. I will be working seven days a week with the help of some excellent professionals there who have not been allowed to develop, in order to take our ideas forward.”

Paul Balban, Minister for Traffic, Health & Safety and Technical Services

“I am not surprised with this portfolio because the manifesto gave us an indication of what it would be. I have a busy day ahead getting to know staff and seeing what the job entails. I have a lot of experience in traffic issues because of my background and on the other matters I will be doing my homework. I am very keen to get on with it and have many new ideas to implement and put forward. I am confident that we can make a difference.”

Samantha Sacramento, Minister for Equality and Social Services

“I am pleased at having been appointed to take on these departments, as what was lacking in these fields in Gibraltar is what motivated me to come forward and step into politics. The system needs a massive shake-up and we want to promote equality issues further and eradicate discrimination to ensure integration in the community.”

PRESS

Mr Picardo said the new Government will be accessible to all of Gibraltar’s media and he “welcomed” the GSLP party organ ‘New People’ back to Convent Place press conferences after years of absence.

UNITE

Unite the Union has congratulated the GSLP/Liberal alliance on their election as new Government of Gibraltar.

A statement said: “The people of Gibraltar has given the alliance their confidence, as such Unite they will work with the newly elected Government.

“We hope to establish a good professional working relationship with the new Chief Minister and Ministers of the new administration.

“A process of dialogue is the desired option of this union, where we can address all the issues which affects our members and the working class as a whole.

“Although the election result was very close, now that this is over, and a new Government has been voted into office, we should all put aside any differences that existed, and we should all row in the same direction, for the benefit and interest of our community.

“Unite the Union looks forward, to meeting the new Chief Minister, where we can establish a good working relationship, discuss and resolve all the issues that are pending and new ones.

“The new Chief Minister has already indicated that, he will be willing to meet the union officers and the District Committee, which this union welcome.”

 

Chief Minister:

The Hon Fabian Picardo

The Economy & Finance,

IT, e-Government and

e-Commerce,

Personal status & including immigration, residence & adoption,

EU and International Treaties (including transposition of Directives),

Elections,

Industrial relations,

Broadcasting & Media,

Civil Service and public sector as a whole,

Customs,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid,

Overall responsibility for and supervision of Government departments and public administration

 

Deputy Chief Minister:

The Hon Dr Joseph Garcia

Deputy Chief Minister – Assisting the Chief Minister in his exercise of overall responsibility for and supervision of Government Departments and public administration and Ministerial Co-ordination,

Planning & Lands,

Political, Democratic and Civic Reform,

Civil Aviation,

Information,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

Minister for Health and Environment:

The Hon Dr John Cortes

• Health,

Environment and Green Areas,

The Upper Rock,

Public Health,

Environmental Health,

Urban Renewal Schemes,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

 

Minister for Housing and the Elderly:

The Hon Charles Bruzon

Minister for Housing,

Hostels,

Housing & Works Agency,

Senior Citizens,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

 

Minister for Equality and Social Services:

The Hon Samantha Sacramento

Minister for Social Services and the Care Agency,

Families & Children,

Equality,

Consumer Affairs,

Minorities Issues,

Women’s Issues,

Civic Rights (including citizens advice, ombudsman, consumer protection, data protection, Drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation),

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

 

Minister for Education, Financial Services, Gaming, Telecommunications and Justice:

The Hon Gilbert Licudi

Financial Services

Gaming,

Telecommunications,

Justice including

- The Legal system

- Probation Service

- Tribunals

Community Service Scheme

- Access to Justice/Legal Aid Assistance

- Law Reform

- Publication of Laws

- Police Issues/Crime/Law & Order

- The Prison

- International Legal Assistance

- Law Drafting

Education,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

 

Minister for Enterprise, Training and Employment:

The Hon Joe Bossano

Employment & Labour,

Social Security, Pensions and Social Assistance,

Enterprise and Training,

Inward investment,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

 

Minister for Tourism, Public Transport and the Port:

The Hon Neil Costa

Tourism (including tourist entry points to Gibraltar) and commercial affairs,

Shipping, Ship repair and the Port,

Public Service Vehicles,

Public Transport,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

Minister for Traffic, Health & Safety and Technical Services:

The Hon Paul Balban

Traffic,

Parking,

Roads,

Licensing & Vehicles,

Health & Safety,

Technical Services,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.

 

Minister for Sports, Culture , Heritage and Youth:

The Hon Steven Linares

Sports & Leisure,

Culture,

Heritage,

Youth,

Postal Services, Utilities, including Refuse Collection and Disposal,

Civil Contingencies,

Fire Brigade,

The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid.