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Local News

Govt raises serious concerns over ‘flawed, fundamentally biased’ Principal Auditor’s report

The Government of Gibraltar has expressed deep concern over the “content, tone and methodology” of the Principal Auditor’s report for 2018/19, which was published this week. While affirming its respect for the role of independent public auditing and its value in promoting transparency and good governance, the Government said that the report “strays” from the...

Local News

CM accused of acting 'unconstitutionally’ over Savings Bank audit, Govt rejects ‘extraordinary’ claim

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo was accused of acting improperly and unconstitutionally by trying to prevent the then Principal Auditor, Anthony Sacramento, from conducting a compliance audit at the Gibraltar Savings Bank. The claim was made by Mr Sacramento in the long-awaited Principal Auditor’s report for 2018/19, which runs to over 500 pages and was published...

Local News

Govt spends over £19m in overtime annually despite controls, Principal Auditor’s report finds

The Gibraltar Government has spent over £19m annually on overtime, with top earners more than doubling their salaries with overtime hours despite previous announcements of tighter controls. The Principal Auditor’s 2018/19 report, tabled in Parliament this week, has detailed how considerable savings could be made to the taxpayer with the introduction of better controls and...

Local News

Govt ‘desperate to keep lid’ on audit report, GSD says

The GSD said the revelations in the Principal Auditor’s 2018/19 report meant it was unsurprising that the Government had “engineered delay and obstruction” in its publication ahead of the Budget. In the latest exchange in the row over publication of the report, the Opposition said this and delays with other reports had “benefitted” the Government....

Local News

Industrial action looms as Unite members reject public sector pay deal

Unite’s public sector workers have rejected the pay increase announced by the Gibraltar Government during the Budget, with the union saying it had “a clear mandate for industrial action”. The ballot, conducted on July 9, found 84% of participants rejected the offer, with only 16% voting to accept it. The turnout was 48% of the...

Local News

Applications open for life-changing leadership and mentorship program in Washington

Three talented women from Gibraltar with STEM degrees who are selected for a new mentoring program will have a life-changing experience in Washington DC this autumn. The program is thanks to The Parasol Foundation Leadership Initiative launched in partnership with Advanced Leadership Foundation (ALF), and aims to create the social, business and political leaders of...

Local News

‘Shocking’ findings in audit report point to ‘closing down sale where anything goes’, GSD says

The Principal Auditor’s report for 2018/19 sets out in detail “shocking” examples of waste alongside “opaque and questionable” financial practices, the GSD said on Thursday. The long-overdue report by former Principal Auditor Anthony Sacramento runs to over 500 pages and was published this week following controversy in Parliament during the Budget session. The GSD highlighted...

UK/Spain News

UK/Spain News

Drama in bay as supply vessel bursts into flames

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/Spain News

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

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...

UK/Spain News

Strikers bring ‘traffic chaos’ to Campo

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...

UK/Spain News

La Línea to publish strategic document on treaty impact

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...