Concerns over ‘questionable payments’ trigger row on ‘spectre of favouritism or political patronage’

Govt says criticism of procurement ‘unjustified’

15th July 2025

The Gibraltar Government on Monday defended its record on procurement and the award of public contracts, rejecting criticism of “irregularities” set out in the Principal Auditor’s report for 2018/19 as “unjustified” and lacking wider context. The audit report highlighted four contracts including one to provide and manage leisure activities in the Northern Defences; another in...

Concerns over ‘questionable payments’ trigger row on ‘spectre of favouritism or political patronage’

15th July 2025

A furious row erupted on Monday after the GSD highlighted “questionable payments” to people identified in the Principal Auditor’s 2018/19 report as being close to the GSLP, triggering a tough response from the Gibraltar Government. The GSD said political favouritism in the award of public contracts was “unacceptable” and that “unjustified payments” should not be...

Chief Secretary’s circular draws Opposition criticism

15th July 2025

A circular sent by Chief Secretary Glendon Martinez to all public servants last Friday expressing “full and unequivocal” support following publication of the Principal Auditor’s 2018/19 report has drawn criticism from the Opposition. In the circular, Mr Martinez sought to defend the professionalism and integrity of the public service, which he felt had been brought...

Govt defends progress on refuse collection reforms after audit report reveals ‘scandalous’ £1.1m overtime

14th July 2025

The Gibraltar Government has said reform of refuse collection services is now “delivering better value” after the Principal Auditor’s 2018/19 report found “scandalous and unacceptable” overtime of £1.1m was paid out from the public purse in the 2023/24 financial year. The report detailed how industrial cleaners had been “paid for not working” and that the...

GSD says procurement ‘irregularities’ flagged by auditor confirm long-standing concerns

14th July 2025

“Irregularities” identified by the former Principal Auditor, Anthony Sacramento, in his report for 2018/19 were highlighted by the GSD on Friday, which said a long-term contract for the Northern Defences granted on a profit-sharing arrangement amounted to a public subsidy and raised questions about value for money. In his report, Mr Sacramento reviewed procurement procedures...

McGrail asks RGP to again investigate alleged witness inducement following audit report, as Govt says claims ‘will not stand up to scrutiny’

11th July 2025

Former police Commissioner Ian McGrail has written to Owain Richards, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, requesting that the Royal Gibraltar Police reopen the investigation into alleged inducement of witnesses following publication this week of the Principal Auditor’s report for 2018/19. A statement issued by Mr McGrail’s lawyer, Charles Gomez, described findings in the report...

GSD accuses Govt of ‘playing the man and not the ball’ in response to audit report

11th July 2025

The GSD accused the Gibraltar Government on Friday of “trashing” the former Principal Auditor, Anthony Sacramento, following publication of the Principal Auditor’s report for 2018/19, adding the Government was “playing the man and not the ball” in a bid to distract from the report’s findings of “waste and financial mismanagement”. The Opposition was reacting after...

Drama in bay as supply vessel bursts into flames

25th June 2025

Seven crew members escaped unhurt after a harbour vessel operating from Algeciras port caught fire on Wednesday afternoon while delivering supplies to a container ship anchored at the northwest corner of the Bay of Gibraltar. The Ceutamar Cinco, a catamaran operated by Maritima Velum, was consumed by flames and a thick plume of black smoke...

‘UK must prepare for war on home soil for first time in years’, strategy warns

25th June 2025

By David Lynch, Rhiannon James, David Hughes and Harry Taylor, PA The UK must actively prepare for a “wartime scenario” on British soil “for the first time in many years”, the Government has warned. In the national security strategy published on Tuesday, ministers said the UK now finds itself in “an era in which we...

Strikers bring ‘traffic chaos’ to Campo

24th June 2025

Steelworkers brought traffic on key Campo roads to a standstill during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, setting up roadblocks on the access road to La Linea. As Spain’s Guardia Civil set up diversions, commuters heading into Gibraltar faced lengthy delays and queues stretching kilometres. This was the second consecutive day of disruption as workers...

La Línea to publish strategic document on treaty impact

19th June 2025

The Mayor of La Línea, Juan Franco, has announced plans to publish a strategy document addressing the city’s future after the UK/EU treaty on Gibraltar’s post-Brexit relations with bloc is ratified. The document, which is not public yet, will be formally submitted to Spain’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Monday, but was outlined by Mr...