4 January 2016
Following the poor GSD results at the recent general election, there have been calls for change. Now, over 100 respondents to a Panorama online poll take the view that there is a need for the GSD to reform.
And the poll is only in its early stages, so it remains to be seen how the final results will end.
So far, no heed has been taken to suggestions that there a change in leadership. It up to the party to decide one way or the other.
More recently, there were raised eyebrows when the post of Deputy Leader was not filled. The previous deputy was Damon Bossino, who was one of a number of GSD elected leaders who had made known before the general election that he would not be standing.
Hence, the post has remained vacant - and again the second most voted candidate the general election, Marlene Hassan Nahon, is being mentioned as to why she has not been voted in as Deputy Leader.
Again, it is up to the party to take a decision - but has a vote been taken on this issue?
As this matter lingers on, the party's position on constitutional change is being mentioned in political circles'. This because the party appears favour some form of proportional system to determine the outcome of a general election.
Although there are forms of PR systems, the basic aim is that the number of votes obtained at an election should determine the number of seats that would be obtained.
If one takes the recent election as an example, the 68% obtained by the GSLP/Liberals would provide them with 11 or 12 seats as opposed to the 10 seats they now have. So, they would be better off.
And the GSD with 32%, would obtain 5 or 6 seats only fewer than the 7 they now have.
So, a system of a proportional nature would have favoured the Alliance!
Again, the GSD have been harping about having back- in parliament. There no need to change the system to have backbenchers or not to have them. Their former leader left the frontbench and became a backbencher in the previous parliament!
But the idea mooted in the GSD that instead of one general election taking place there1 should be two at the same, time, one for frontbenchers and another for backbenchers suggests a form of discrimination between all the candidates standing for election to the same single chamber.
What kind of an election system would that be?
Everyone who stands for election does soon equal rights, that is, they all aspire to be elected Members of Parliament. What happens after an election is that the party obtaining an overall majority forms the Government and others end up in opposition.
Then, the Chief Minister elects who will be Government frontbenchers and who will 'not, if any; and likewise it is up to the Opposition leader to decide who will be opposition frontbench spokespersons and who will be backbenchers, if any, - or an MP could decide if he or she does not want to hold high office, as Caruana decided last time round when he opted to be a backbencher.
Given their particularly poor showing at the general election, after all those years at the top, the GSD ought to reform itself in the first place, 'rather than seek to reform Gibraltar as a whole!
04-01-16 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Letter from Chief Minister – Congratulations
Letter to Panorama editor Joe Garcia
Dear Joe,
I write to congratulate you personally and all those who work or have worked with you on PANORAMA.
Few will appreciate how difficult a job you do in getting a full newspaper out of the door every day. Finding stories in a peaceful place like Gibraltar cannot be easy day-in/day out. Your special edition highlights the many scoops and exclusives you have secured. These are laudable and informative and as important as the everyday stories that keep your paper going each edition.
Your own hard work has been recognised by the Queen in the award to you of MBE and also directly by the people of Gibraltar by the award recently by Parliament unanimously of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour for your distinguished services to journalism. Both awards are richly deserved and the landmark 40th Anniversary edition illustrates the devotion you have shown to your chosen profession for the huge and undeniable benefit of the cause of the Gibraltarian Nation as a whole.
On behalf of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and the People of Gibraltar, our most sincere congratulations and best wishes for another forty years at least!
Sincerely
Fabian Picardo QC MP
Chief Minister
04-01-16 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
PANORAMA is a truly Gibraltarian, iconic and emblematic publication, says public
January 04, 2016
STREET TALK
With Panorama celebrating its 40th anniversary, we were interested in finding out what the public perception of the publication was on the high street. Your faithful Panorama reporter mixed in with the last-minute shoppers to find out what came to mind when we mentioned the name of this publication and how relevant it was in these times.
“Over the years the Panorama has achieved iconic status in Gibraltar,” said Javi Buhagiar. “A newspaper that was once weekly is now daily, and nowadays Gibraltar without the Panorama would be like a garden without flowers. It has offered so much to the local political and social scene with the election polls and articles therein.
“The Panorama is now an important part of Gibraltar, and has the valid role to play of providing the information we need, because otherwise people wouldn’t buy it and it would not be around anymore.”
An anonymous passer-by said she was about to buy a copy of the Panorama when we approached her: “I read it practically every day and although sometimes they’re a bit too emphatic they do a good job as providing an alternative to other news sources. It can be a bit controversial but I think that adds a bit of spice to the pot, as if we needed anymore.”
Viewpoint
A young GCSE student called Kaylan Posso said he liked the Panorama very much: “I mostly read it after my granny has finished and I think it provides a balanced view because it puts Gibraltarians first and that is always going to be popular.
“I think the Panorama is doing its best to be fair, but as we have talked about in class before, a newspaper will always be accused of favouring one side but it all depends on how you look at it.”
Former Miss Gibraltar Shyanne Azzopardi said Panorama does a very good job: “It’s important to have a variety of different media platforms to give people the opportunity to voice their opinions in a small place like Gibraltar. There’s always room for new media and giving the opportunity for people to voice their opinions.
“I think Panorama have done a great work in our community and I wish them all the best in the future.”
Said an anonymous young person: “It’s got the largest amount of information for that its price giving you most value for money in each jam-packed issue.”
Balanced
“The development of technology has been such that we can get the Panorama online if they have run out in the shops, so that is a significant advance,” said Ernest. “As Panorama publishes its articles in full within its website, unlike other dailies, that helps get the word out into the community and raise its profile.”
Someone else said he liked the sports pages the Panorama provides: “I like the international and national sports news and especially all those articles that keep us updated about what is going on in our football on the Rock.”
Michael Castiel said that although he didn’t read it much himself it had proved its worth in its value to the community: “It’s a good newspaper which is fairly balanced and an institution which is providing a good service to public in Gibraltar. If there was any criticism I could come up with is that the online version could be more up-to-date in terms of latest developments like breaking news.
“But on the whole it is certainly an emblematic publication which serves as a reference to get the latest news and views on what’s going on.”
04-01-16 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Slap in the face in New Year Honours
January 04, 2016
Dear Sir
Once again, the Foreign Office abandons and shows contempt towards Gibraltar when it comes to the New Year Queens Honours.
This year all Gibraltar gets is a BEM award for a place that has a population of 32500, this is a real insult.
There are lots of Gibraltarians who in different activities deserve an award yet they are forgotten.
With the greatest of respect to the Committee in charge of proposing persons to be given an award, this is an open slap in the face.
Personally I had the privilege and honour of having been awarded an MBE in 1999, but there are many more Gibraltarians who deserve awards for their excellent voluntary work in our community.
I ask are these awards rationed and is Gibraltar the lowest in the list
I thank the Almighty that we Gibraltarians are blessed and live in harmony together.
This is the best ever award that Gibraltar can receive.
Yours faithfully
Solomon (Momy) Levy
04-01-16 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
