“LET’S CHANGE THE WAY WE ARE GOVERNED” – AZOPARDI

The PDP is today publishing the text of its letter of proposals on Parliamentary Reform that it has delivered to the GSD and GSLP leaders.

Keith Azopardi said: “We believe that a set of properly identified reforms can not only improve the way Parliament works but would also deliver better debate, better transmission of information to people and most importantly improve decision-making in fields as diverse as housing, health or the environment. We think that the way Gibraltar is governed and the way decisions are arrived at inevitably has an effect on the daily lives of citizens and it is by reforming those systems of Government that we will improve the quality of life of residents of Gibraltar. In that context parliamentary reform is only one of a number of reforms that are necessary to achieve this wider agenda.
It is nevertheless a welcome first step.”

The PDP proposals address the issue of the enlargement of the House and changing how the Parliament works. Both are necessary changes if the way we are governed is to change. This will also improve how we hold the Government to account. The proposals include:

• Monthly question times for the Chief Minister
• Bi-monthly question times for Ministers
• The appointment of a Parliamentary Ombudsman with disciplinary powers over Members
• A Public Accounts Committee
• A series of cross-party Select Committees to improve the flow of information to the Opposition and accountability of the Government
• Monthly meetings of Parliament
• Online access to Parliamentary information
• The televising of the House
• Enlargement of the House to 25 members at no extra cost
• The allocation of the 8 extra seats by proportional representation of the votes cast at the next election

These are long-standing policies of the PDP. It is now up to the GSD and GSLP to be clear with the electorate as to where they stand on all these issues when the Parliament comes to debate the issue on reform. We urge that this be taken before the Summer recess as there is still time to proceed by consensus ahead of the next election and make the changes to the Parliament that will then improve decisions that affect citizens.

“There is no hiding place on this issue. The people of Gibraltar should be told clearly where parties stand on this important issue. We have published our proposals. It is now up to the other parties to do so. We are willing to work with the other parties to try to achieve as much reform by agreement as possible.”