GSD Manifesto 2007

Gibraltar Social Democrats Security 路 Stability 路 Prosperity

Record & Manifesto 2007

www.gsd.gi

Foreword 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.

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

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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 fluidity 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 cherrypicked. 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.

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 everyone In short, an economic, physical and social transformation.

Gibraltar feels and is successful. The world now

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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 Traffic, 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 finances 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 selfish 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 dignified and sustainable support to the Elderly etc.

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 multistorey car parks and new road schemes.

We must cement our improving relations with the UK and Spain, which have so benefited 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 Caruana Party Leader

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

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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 traffic 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 financial position of pensioners that have to work, including:· No tax on first £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 • Children’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 4

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• Mid-Town 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 beautifications • 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 • Crematorium • Retrenchment Block for Clubs and Associations accommodation • Camp Bay and Little Bay

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Gibraltar Social Democrats Contents

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International & Constitutional Issues

10

Health

14

Housing

18

MOD, Employment & Labour

20

Taxation

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The Elderly

25

Development Plan & Planning Process

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Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks

32

The Natural Environment

34

Parking & Traffic

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

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Your GSD Team

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International and Constitutional Issues

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.

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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 first Trilateral meeting at Ministerial Level held in September 2006.

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 fluidity (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 profile 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 dignified trilateral

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

2. New Constitution

1. Sovereignty

No joint Sovereignty demonstration, 18th March 2002.

Another powerful shot in the battle.

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 dignified and safe political framework.

Sky News 8th November 2002.

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.

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.

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 backfired!

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International and Constitutional Issues (continued)

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.

3. Etablishment of the Trilateral Forum

4. Cordoba Agreements

You will be aware that the GSD Government’s second strategic policy plank was the establishment of a ‘safe and dignified’ 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.

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The Cordoba Agreements were the first 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 difficult and politically intractable problems of the past:

Iberia´s inaugural return flight to Madrid in December 2006.

(i) The Airport Agreement The 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 fly to or from Gibraltar Airport; - Spanish officials will not exercise any

control to enter or leave Gibraltar; - No Spanish official will be located in Gibraltar; - Management control of our Airport is not to be shared with Spain We are confident 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 first time since 1982)

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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

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

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

(iii) Frontier Fluidity Another 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 fluidity. Despite the problems over the summer, caused by sheer increases in volumes of traffic, the result has been a very significant improvement in fluidity at the frontier. We will continue to work with Spain in the Trilateral Forum to further improve frontier fluidity and the operating model of the Red/Green Channel.

(iv) Pensions The 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 financial 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 significant financial improvement

to thousands of Gibraltarians and other pensioners, and this has been in addition to Community Care’s continued financial 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 affirm our decolonisation. The UN has made itself irrelevant to our decolonisation

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.

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 beneficial 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 modifications 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 first three terms in office.

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

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Health

The New St. Bernard´s Hospital in Europort

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.

Tripled Investment: The Result Our health service has been a huge beneficiary 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 benefiting 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

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• Increases in staff

1996

NOW

428

793

33

61

292

374

- Allied Health Professionals:

37

59

- Other patient service support staff:

66

299

- Medical & support staff: - Doctors & Dentists: - Nurses:

• Waiting lists and waiting times eliminated or drastically reduced • Many new medical services introduced

Mammography Unit

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Health Secondary Care Progress so far: The magnificent 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 • Significant 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)

C.T. scanner

• 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 Results The result of all these improvements are obvious to all and have had a very significant 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 Service When the GSD Government was first elected in 1996, our emergency ambulance service was provided by the duty police shift officers as part of their routine shift duties. There was no “professional” ambulance service in the medical sense.

The GSD Government first 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 “first response” capacity.

Dialysis Unit

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Health Secondary Care (continued) 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.

Critical Care Unit

Chiropody

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

Cancer Services

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

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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 financial support system and the accommodation booking system still cause hardship and stress to many patients. This will be reviewed and reformed.

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

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.

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

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Health Primary Care

Physiotheraphy Gym

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

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.

Pathology Services

Digital General Radiology

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Housing

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.

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Waterport Terraces - affordable housing in progress

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 first 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-roofing and beautification • 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 flats 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

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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.

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.

Playgrounds

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.

Varyl Begg Estate refurbishment completed by the GSD

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.

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.

Sale of homes

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

The GSD Government has invested significantly 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.

Edinburgh House is part of the Government rental housing stock

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 GSD Government has already announced a scheme to enable Government tenants of post-war housing to buy their homes at significantly 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 postwar flats 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. X

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

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Housing (continued)

04

05 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

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

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.

Housing Allocation System

Green Areas within our public estates

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 Office system. Buildings & Works will have a first opportunity to carry out any necessary repairs within a reasonable ‘specified’ period of time. However, should repairs remain outstanding subsequent to this specified period, then the tenant will be authorised to undertake repairs

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

Tower Block lifts

recovering unused flats. We will press on with this recovery programme to end this unfair and selfish 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 flat even if that smaller flat exceeds current size entitlement.

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

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Co-ownership housing

.Other private housing

Apart 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

Nelson´s View, affordable housing scheme

Progress so far:

Bayview Terraces, affordable housing scheme

• Street 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

Brympton Estate, being refurbished by the GSD

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.

Our Commitments:

Rent Relief

Major Repairs

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

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.

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.

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.

Cumberland Terraces, affordable housing scheme

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MOD, Employment & Labour

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.

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Peter Caruana - “lo dicho, hecho”

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, parttime 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

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

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• ‘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 beneficiaries and others, who meritoriously deserve such support from society, and from which society itself will benefit.

Trainee Allowances Trainee allowances have been substantially increased and Social Insurance contributions waived. Income Tax has also been abolished.

We have significantly 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.

Gibraltar demonstrates against the privatisation of the MOD functions.

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Taxation Progress so far:

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 benefit from some of our most generous allowances, eg mortgages, life insurances etc.

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!

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.

Tax allowances increased • Personal allowance

+84%

• Wife allowance

+84%

• One parent family allowance

+84%

• Child allowance

+88%

• Child studying abroad • Home purchaser’s allowance

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+132% +55%

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Tax bands reformed and improved

Our Commitments:

1995/96

2007/08 Corporate Tax

£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)

Other beneficial 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 significantly 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, flat 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 benefits them: 20% on first £25,000 of income 30% on next £75,000 of income 40% 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 Cut Taxes have been systematically and significantly 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 Paid The GSD Government is especially proud to have pioneered special tax cuts targeted specifically 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 Tax Many tax computation rules have been changed to benefit companies. The corporate tax rate has been reduced from 36% to 33%. A small company tax rate of 20% has been introduced.

By far the most significant 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 first elected in 1996, to seek to cut personal taxes to the lowest possible levels, consistent with stability and prudence in public finances 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.

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The Elderly

The new Senior Citizens Swimming Pool

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.

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Proper & Dignified 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 flats at Bishop Canilla House • 140 more new flats for elderly at Waterport Terraces (Albert Risso House) • Lift installation programme • Mount Alvernia expanded (from 62 to 135 beds) and transformed

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Mount Alvernia fully refurbished senior citizens home from home.

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

Our Commitments: We will continue to expand and develop Gibraltar’s ability to provide, in a modern and dignified 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 floor flats 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 flats at Waterport Terraces (Albert Risso House). These have wardens and other facilities to provide a first 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 finally, 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. X

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The Elderly (continued)

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.

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.

Gibraltar Social Democrats

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.

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.

Working Pensioners

Tax on earned income

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

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.

Bishop Canilla House rental accommodation for senior citizens.

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Development Plan & Planning Process

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.

Progress so far: • Open planning process • Development Appeals Tribunal • GONHS & Gibraltar Heritage Trust represented on DPC • New draft development plan 2007

Development Plan It 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.

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 our proposed 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 X

Members of the public examine the model of the new Midtown regeneration scheme.

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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.

reaction can be made known and planning decisions influenced.

DPC approval) require the approval of the Parliament.

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

Environmental Building Standards

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 first Government to introduce a significant 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

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Gibraltar Social Democrats

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 specific 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 significance will (in addition to

We will legislate to require environmentally friendly building standards and energy efficient 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.

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Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks

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

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 reprovisioning 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.

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 Waterport 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 • Westside Promenade • Public clocks repair & restoration programme (in progress) • Coach Park

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, seafront public housing estate, a First and Middle school, a public park, a leisure centre, a local boats marina, a private housing project, office buildings and public underground parking facilities for at least 400 cars. X

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Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks (continued) 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 & Traffic Projects

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

Europa Point

The Eastside Project

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.

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 final 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

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

• The façade of the old historical ‘Colonial hospital’ building will be reexposed, 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.

We are ready with a variety of major projects that will transform for the better our parking and traffic in Gibraltar. Details are provided in the separate section “Parking & Traffic” 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,

• 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

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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 dignified state.

Public Market As part of the on-going beautification 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.

Beautification of roads/streets Our next phase of street beautification 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 & Traffic”). The beautification of Europa Road is underway and will be completed throughout its length.

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 page 48 of this Manifesto).

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.

Beautification of the public market area.

Relocation of Fire Station A new fire station will be built in a non-residential area, suitable for rapid access to all areas of Gibraltar.

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 beautification of its roads, steps and buildings, and the upgrading of Engineer Lane beautification completed.

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Transforming The Way Gibraltar Looks (continued)

Waterport Road project completed.

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

Winston Churchill Avenue beautification.

Casemates Square a meeting point for all Gibraltarians.

North Mole Road project completed.

The new Orange Bastion refurbishment completed.

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A completely refurbished and beautified John Mackintosh Square.

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Catalan Bay Village beautification project completed.

Sir Herbert Miles Road project completed.

Widenning of Europa Road completed.

A new pavement and balustrade on Europa Road completed.

The new Orange Bastion refurbishment completed.

The new Orange Bastion refurbishment completed.

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The Natural Environment

Mediterranean Steps

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.

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 conflicting 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

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• Transparent air quality monitoring - results on Government Website • Consolidated Waste Management Plan • Annual Environmental Report • Urban beautification 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.

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 fixed 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.

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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 significant 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.

touristic, traffic, 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

Crematorium under construction.

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 significant participation to non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s). The Plan takes into account Gibraltar’s and the Upper Rock’s environmental, heritage,

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.

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Parking & Traffic

During the next term we will focus specifically on resolving Gibraltar’s traffic and parking issues. The success of the Cordoba Agreement in improving frontier fluidity, has resulted in a huge increase in the number of cars entering Gibraltar, and has made parking and traffic an even more significant 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.

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

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 lockup 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 traffic flow • Establishment of motorcycle parks • Removal of derelict vehicles

Commonwealth Car Park project providing 342 free parking spaces.

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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 traffic circulation issues.

Our Commitments: Parking schemes • A ‘park & ride’ multi-storey car park at Devil’s Tower Road (Cross of Sacrifice) 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 traffic schemes/new roads • A new roundabout and traffic flow 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 traffic circulation requires it, we will restrict the use of our roads by heavy vehicles at peak times.

New Sandpits underground public car park for 87 cars

City Centre Car Parks 197 extra public parking spaces at New Harbours

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

135 parking spaces at Willis’ Road

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 traffic will always be an issue in Gibraltar.

During the last terms we have, for the first 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.

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.

(1) Parking

Extension of Residents Only Parking

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

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

Devil’s Tower Road ‘Park & Ride’ Project

(2) New Roads

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

New roads help traffic circulation by more efficiently distributing traffic along more roads and relieving bottleneck points. There are four principal traffic problem areas in Gibraltar: - Winston Churchill Avenue and North District in connection with X

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Parking & Traffic (continued) 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 traffic to/from the South and North districts.

(3) Free Public Bus Service New multi-storey car park at Willis’s Road under construction

Airport barriers and frontier traffic - Exiting Westside/Europort area (especially southbound) - Accessing town from the South District at peak traffic times (especially early morning) - Upper town area head-on traffic 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 traffic 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 traffic 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 traffic 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 traffic 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 conflict between traffic from Rosia Road and traffic from Europa Road.

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

The public bus service has even greater potential to contribute to a reduction in traffic in Gibraltar. We will test the use of free bus service for all to assess its contribution to meaningful traffic 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 traffic 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 traffic) 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.

Landport Ditch Car Park project providing 117 free parking spaces

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

New Harbours road scheme

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Parking & Traffic (continued)

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

’s een Qu ema Cin

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

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Sport, Leisure & Culture

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.

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 Westside 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 financed • 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

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Sport, Leisure & Culture (continued) King’s Bastion Leisure Centre

Before

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 Two cinemas A restaurant A cafeteria A disco/youth lounge

01

02

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

After

01

02

03

04

05

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.

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The new Tercentenary Sports Hall

The Bayside Sports Centre The final phase was completed recently.

This comprehensive and modern facility contains:

The new Bayside Sports Centre.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Tennis Paddle Tennis Multi Use Games Area Archery Range Golf Range Fitness Gymnasium Fitness Trail 5-a-side football pitch Climbing Wall Boat House Water Sports facilities Water based hockey pitch Training pitch New Sports Hall

Aerial view of the new Bayside Sports Complex

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Sport, Leisure & Culture (continued) teaching facilities in one modern and appropriate site.

Our commitments:

Theatre Royal 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

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.

The refurbished Laguna Estate Adventure Playground.

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

New public beach facilities at Western Beach.

The Europa Retreat Centre project completed.

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Sport, Leisure & Culture (continued)

Camp Bay phase one beautification and improvements completed.

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

The brand new club facilities at Sandpits.

The completely refurbished foyer of Ince´s Hall Theatre.

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

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The refurbished auditorium of Ince´s Hall Theatre.

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Social Services

Bruce´s Farm Rehabilitation Centre.

During the last 10 years, one of the GSD Government’s main policy objectives and focus has been to bring Gibraltar’s near nonexistent (in 1996) social services up to the 21st century European first 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”!

Progress so far: Structural • Establishment of unified, 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 underage drinking and smoking

Drugs And Substance Abuse Services • Establishing, staffing 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 coordinator

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Social Services (continued) • 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 flats for more homeliness and privacy • Huge increase in staffing 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 fleet which specifically caters for the disabled • The introduction of legislation to prohibit discrimination against disabled persons in the field 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 financial resources for women’s hostel for victims of domestic violence • Premises and financial 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, find it increasingly difficult, 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 field of employment. This will be extended to other fields, 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

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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.

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

Social Security 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 significant measures have been adopted to this end.

Under the GSLP Government, almost all Social Security benefits 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 benefit from our economic success.

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 benefits: - Maternity Allowance 50% (and increased from 14 to 18 weeks) - Maternity Grant 1000% - Death Grant 400% - Social Assistance Payments 40% - Unemployment Benefit 45% - Industrial Injuries Benefit 50% - Disability Allowance 160% • Raising of threshold and benefit level of Child Welfare Grant

Our Commitments: Social Security Funding We will restructure and reform Social Security funding to ensure that it is self financing 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 first 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.

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Education and Training

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

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.

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Progress so far: Education • University and Adult Education

• Schools

- 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 qualifications 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

- 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 Deficit 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

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

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

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 Scheme to develop skills through placement with firms in different areas of employment. A total of 62 secured permanent employment last year • Introduction of BTEC certificated 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.

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 qualification and schools examination bodies • Creation of Training Advisory Council

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.

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

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

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Law & Order and Civil Protection 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!

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 flu’ and ‘biological terrorism’.

• Publication of Gibraltar’s first 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.

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 antisocial behaviour in all residential areas and estates, will be introduced later this year.

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 first 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.

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

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

Citizen’s Rights 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 citizen During 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.

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

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.

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Heritage

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

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

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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

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

Chatham Counterguard project - completed.

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

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

Orange Bastion restoration project.

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.

The World War II Tunnels - restoring our heritage.

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.

King’s Bastion restoration project.

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

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The Economy: General

The economy of Gibraltar has more than doubled in size since 1996. This economic prosperity has brought many personal benefits 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 finances 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.

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Gibraltar - a favourite port of call for cruise ships.

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: Jobs: Public Debt: Size of the Economy (GDP): Average take-home pay since 1996: Government capital investments in Gibraltar:

more than double since 1996 (record high) 5,500 more (+42%) since 1996 (record high) 15% of GDP (record low) +125% (record size) +64% (inflation only 22%) £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 GSD Government’s Economic RULE

The GSD Government’s Economic RECORD

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

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

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

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

3. Maintenance of prudent public finances

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

4. Return of surplus monies to taxpayers through tax cuts

- 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 Growth Our 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/Jobs In 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 find 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 first.

Average take-home pay Another 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 inflation has only been 22%.

Public Finances Despite unjustified and unpersuasive efforts by our political opponents to persuade you otherwise, public finances 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 benefits 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 financially 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 finance centre, in the gambling industry and in real estate developments, whether it’s luxury or affordable housing or office and commercial.

In addition to the retail and wholesale trades, the backbone of our economy are our finance 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 financial 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 finance centres; 5. one of the most successful and prosperous small economies in the world.

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The Economy (continued) 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 • Simplified and reformed system of payment of Social Insurance Contributions • Reduced Social Insurance Contributions for casual & temporary workers • Unification of PAYE and Social Insurance Contributions systems • Established level playing field 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 beautification programme • Telecoms liberalisation and tariff reductions • Hotel refurbishment assistance scheme • Training schemes

• General boost from finance, gambling and port sector growth • Tough illegal labour regime to prevent unfair competition • Invest Gibraltar Unit: ‘one stop shop’ service to business

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 office 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.

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

Lower Taxation Local businesses will be big beneficiaries 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.

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.

Port Port Since 1996 the Port has been at the forefront of the GSD economic policy, with great success. The GSD has invested significantly 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 • Quantity of bunkers sold • Ships on our register

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+137% +219% +675%

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 reconfiguring the wharves inside the harbour to increase cruising, bunkering, general shipping and other facilities in the Port.

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

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 finance centre. New activities such as futures broking, insurance (+ 66% growth in the number of companies), investment management (+ 150%)

Our Commitments: The Model for the Finance Centre The repositioning of our finance centre away from a simple tax haven to a reputable, mainstream, ‘value-adding’ international finance centre, has already made huge progress. This is the only model for a successful finance 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 finance centre (and indeed

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 confidence and reputation restored and maintained • Development of successful regulatory machinery • Passporting rights in banking, insurance

the economy as a whole) has faced, the GSD Government has carefully but firmly 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 fiscal competitiveness for our finance centre. This means ‘no tax’ for the clients/customers of our financial services providers, and ‘low tax’ for all financial 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

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 modification of on-shore tax system • all laws of Gibraltar on website and updated

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

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

The Gibraltar Coach Terminus

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The Economy (continued) Tourism 2007

Progress so far: • More arrivals by land then ever before.

• Greater consultation on tourism matters with the private sector.

• Completion of the first phase of refurbishment of Camp Bay. • Completion of the refurbishment of John Mackintosh Square.

as established through contact with partners in the industry.

Our commitments:

Yachts

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

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• 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 office at Casemates • Casemates Square experience

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 traffic are already having an effect on the free circulation of vehicular traffic and this must be taken into consideration when planning the immediate expansion of services to the airport.

• 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

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.

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.

The World War II Tunnels - a new tourist attraction.

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

Your GSD Team

Peter Caruana

Joseph Holliday

Clive Beltran

Ernest Britto

Yvette Del Agua

Danny Feetham

Luis Montiel

Jaime Netto

Edwin Reyes

Fabian Vinet

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

Gibraltar Social Democrats

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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.

Printed by: Gibraltar Chronicle, 2 Library Gardens, Gibraltar.