In a letter to Len McCluskey of UNITE (which was published in full in PANORAMA's letters page yesterday) Sir Joe has clearly and unequivocally communicated his view that the public sector cost is “unsustainable” saying “Gibraltar cannot continue this annual level of growth in the cost of the public sector into the future, especially in the context of Brexit.” He added “I genuinely believe that the current structure of our economy cannot sustain the level of annual increases in the cost of public services which currently stands at £50 Million a month.”

This is in stark contrast to the cavalier approach to public expenditure of the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo and the largesse in his own approach. If Sir Joe is right it would be expected that the GSLP Government should be prudent in its approach to public finances and ensure that it adopts best practices to control and make public expenditure more sustainable and efficient.

GSD Leader Keith Azopardi said: “Two weeks ago the GSD set out its approach to the award and supervision of public contracts. We maintain there must be real Value for Money controls to ensure taxpayers’ monies are properly and sustainably spent. Sir Joe’s comments provide further vindication as to that need.

"There is a need for better control of public spending especially in the context of BREXIT. The GSD have been promoting this message for years. It is clear that Sir Joe agrees. Spending wasteful sums on Luke Skywalker or on lavish VVIP entertainment for Ministers at the Music Festival does nothing to deliver public services but simply adds to the current unsustainability of public expenditure.

"As this is election year no doubt there will be an attempt to present an even more grandiose Music Festival which taxpayers will end up paying for in years to come as was the case with the massively loss-making 2015 pre-election event. People will not be duped by such hollow and irresponsible gestures.

"In fact what the GSLP Government should be doing is being prudent with taxpayers’ monies, focussing on affordable public services, growing the economy and building financial contingencies for the period of post-BREXIT uncertainty that is coming. Anything less than that is sheer financial recklessness. The GSD promise a much more responsible approach to the spending of your money. ”

28-02-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR