That the Chief Minister, himself an experienced lawyer, should signal to the profession, in what were rather gentle terms, that they should look towards having more modern compliance standards, can hardly come as a surprise in the context of recent events.

Only full investigation and the process of justice can now establish where any culpability may lie in the particular case of Marrache & Co. At this stage that is for the courts to decide.

 

Our legal profession, rightly recognised for high standards, has grown exponentially in the last decade and a large segment of the profession is almost totally dedicated to work that is inextricably linked to the work of Gibraltar’s finance centre. Its success and faults will therefore impact on our international image.

Of course it is critical that the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession is preserved. But all Gibraltar has been asked is to respond to the complex changes that the modern global way of doing business has brought about. Here, the Government is only ruminating on issues that might well have come better as a dynamic from within the profession itself.

OLD GUNS

Meanwhile, it is great news that O’Hara’s Battery is not only restored but open to the public. What a huge pity that there is no appreciation shown to the importance the ‘walking public’ attaches to one of the few areas for peaceful stroll left on our Rock. Taxis and coaches to all the main sites, fair enough. They have to live. But please close off some of the disused roads MOD finally released and let some non-cliff areas also be part of a ‘nature reserve’ in which we can enjoy being free of the ubiquitous traffic.

The walk from St Michael’s Cave is a few minutes of healthy exercise. What the tourists and the rest of us might like is less litter, fewer cars and fewer apes.