FABIAN PICARDO: A GSLP LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD IMMEDIATELY SET UP A PARLIAMENTARY BODY, APPOINT A COMMISSION TO ADVISE ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM AND EXAMINE THE VOTING SYSTEM.
JOSEPH GARCIA : PART OF THIS PROPOSAL FOR REFORM ORIGINATES IN THE MANIFESTO OF THE GNP FROM 1991
The GSLP Liberals are totally committed to a root and branch reform of the way that our democracy and our Parliament function. Such reform must be designed to give people a greater voice in the way government and Parliament function and to modernise and bring into the 21st Century the many arcane procedures that make the government and Parliament remote from people.
The Opposition does not, however, support the rushed introduction of half baked proposals for Parliamentary Reform before the forthcoming general election purely for the purposes of pretending that something has been done. These reforms are such important measures for democracy, government and Parliament in Gibraltar that they should be rushed through without due thought and diligence simply in order to “tick” a box.
The GSD government has had four terms to consider this issue and is now trying to rush measures through in less than four months; let alone .
Leader of the Opposition Fabian Picardo stated: “Democracy is principally about the people and not just about politicians hence it is vital that every person who has a view is heard, not just the GSD government and the political parties.
“Before we consider the actual reforms we want to see implemented, we have to ask what parliament should be, what it presently is and what it should be in a 21st Century democracy governed by the rule of law and a commitment to openness and devolving government to the people.
“Parliament is a body of elected representatives who should meet on a regular basis to pass laws and debate issues related to the governance of the nation; including holding the government to account when necessary.
“It is important to make that distinction because many people in Gibraltar have been led to believe parliament is the government. It is not. In a true democracy a Parliament is the voice of the people and is as much about holding the government of the day to account as it is about passing laws or measures for the executive.
“A GSLP Liberal government is committed to immediately upon our election to allow Parliament the resources to operate effectively and to start delivering real value for money to citizens. We do not believe it is possible to run a modern Parliament on a shoe-string.
“Regardless of what future shape Gibraltar’s Parliament takes, there are also a number of other issues that can be settled immediately under present Standing Orders.
“A GSLP Liberal Government would therefore immediately after the election start the process of holding monthly meetings[1] of Parliament for questions, legislation, government and opposition motions. This in itself would very probably require that the post of Speaker should become full time and that there should be a Deputy Speaker appointed (including such additional support staff as may be necessary)
In addition a Parliamentary Timetable would be published on the first Parliamentary day of each month so that the public and MPs would know when items would be coming up for debate.
“There also clearly needs to be a Parliament website, independent of the government’s website, where all debates would be broadcast live on-line and archived. The proceedings of the House should also be televised on GBC TV or the Corporations own website, on the basis of consultation with the Corporation. The website would contain copies of Hansard plus parliamentary questions and answers. All MPs would have their own email address so that constituents can contact them easily. In our view the workings of other small Parliaments throughout the Commonwealth would be studied to see what lessons can be learned for Gibraltar’s own Parliament such as the speedier compilation of Hansard. That is what we should be getting from our attendance at Commonwealth Parliamentary Association events.
“There is also a chronic need for the current Parliament building to be modernised to provide better facilities for the public, the media, staff and MPs.
Fabian Picardo continued: “In the recent debate on Parliamentary and Democratic Reform my colleague Gilbert Licudi, who is the Opposition spokesperson responsible for such matters, put before the House our approach to this subject and a set timetable for its implementation should we be elected to government.
“Our starting point would be the appointment of a truly independent commission under a chairperson who would be selected for their expertise in parliamentary and democratic affairs. The commission – the Gibraltar Commission on Democratic and Political Reform – will be created after the next election if we form Government. The Independent Commission would consult widely with the Community (all NGOs and individuals who wish to be consulted) and will be required to report to MPs within a set time frame of twelve months. If approved by the Gibraltar Parliament the measures would be introduced within 6 months. In this way, any changes which related to the electoral system would be in place in time for the following general election. Here are the key points of our proposals:
The Independent Commission would be made up of three people appointed by the House who are independent of the political parties currently active in Gibraltar.
The Chairperson would have extensive experience of parliamentary democracies.
The Independent Commission would issue a consultation paper within three months.
The Independent Commission would seek the views of all Gibraltar society, individuals and groups, and take oral submissions.
Within 12 months of its consultation paper the Commission would make its full report to parliament.
Parliament would debate the report within three months and will decide what measures should be approved by the House or if a referendum should be held.
The measures accepted by the House or by referendum will be implemented within six months thereafter and any changes to the electoral system will apply for the following general election.
Fabian Picardo explained the terms of reference of the Commission would be to report on all aspects of the electoral and parliamentary system in Gibraltar. These would include, but not be limited to:
How can NGO’s and individual citizens directly bring matters to the attention of the Parliament and how can they become involved in the work of Committees?
Should the chief minister serve for a fixed term?
Should the electoral system be modified or reformed?
Should the number of MPs be increased?
Should some form of constituency area be introduced?
Should the voting system include proportional representation?
Should the chief minister appear in parliament on set occasions?
Should Standing Orders be modified and what type of questions can be asked?
Should the Opposition be able to bring motions for debate?
Should MPs be able to bring a motion on every daily adjournment of parliament?
Should parliamentary committees be established, specifically a General Purposes Select Committee chaired by an Opposition MP with the powers to summons Ministers, officials and others in any policy areas as is the case in other parliaments?
Should there be backbench MPs?
Fabian Picardo concluded: “There have been suggestions that the GSLP Liberal Opposition does not favour Parliamentary Reform and I have to say this is abject nonsense. We are going further in saying that we are in favour of a root and branch reform of our democracy, our electoral system, the way in which government is done and the way our Parliament works.
“We have already issued policy statements on a Ministerial Code, a Freedom of Information Act, a Citizens Charter covering response commitments from government, a Whistleblowers Protection Act and a 20 year rule for the disclosure of documentation.
“This is all part of the process of bringing Gibraltar civil society in to the 21st century so that our citizens have the right to expect the same rights and yes, obligations, as are enjoyed elsewhere in the UK and Europe.
For the GSLP Liberal parties the reform of our Parliament and our electoral system are key pieces in that democratic jigsaw. It is not a measure that can be rushed through with indecent haste, ignoring the publics role in the consultation process in the arrogant belief that government and the Parliament are just about politicians. We must ensure that Parliament and the government that are elected by the people, govern for the people, is answerable to the people – and truly serves the people.”
In closing the Leader of the Liberal Party, Dr Joseph Garcia added: “The concept of monthly meetings of the Parliament was first formally put forward in 1991 by the then Gibraltar National Party of which both Fabian and I were a part. The Independent Commission will also be empowered to look into the electoral system. This would be the first wholesale review since the basis of the existing voting system was set up for elections to the House of Assembly in 1969. A similar system was previously used for City Council elections. The single-transferable vote method of proportional representation, which is completely different, was used for Legislative Council elections.”
Dr Garcia explained: “When the City Council and Legislative Council were combined to create the House of Assembly, the principle behind the voting system of the old City Council was chosen so electors were given eight votes for fifteen seats. After the 2006 Constitution came into being, electors were each allocated, on the same basis, ten votes for seventeen seats. It is therefore time that the whole issue of electoral reform was looked at in detail once more.”
These are in-depth, important proposals for the future administration of our Nations affairs and for that reason this Press Release is a lengthy and detailed document.
