May 06 - Government Celebrates Over A Year of Transparency During Planning Process
The Government has today claimed that the openness of the Development and Planning Commission has proved extremely popular amongst the public and the press. Once the Government was elected, it was announced that DPC meetings would be held in public and would include the Environmental safety Group as a full voting member.
Members of the public, including those objecting to Planning applications also now have the right to address the Commission, as long as the DPC is notified in advance.
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, is travelling to Madrid today to fulfill a number of engagements. Mr Picardo is attending a lunch hosted by the Association of European Journalists who will be briefed on Gibraltar affairs. These lunches are periodically held with top politicians and business personalities for strict off-the-record briefings to serve as background to journalists.
During a press call this morning, the Chief Minister announced the commencement of the process towards converting the former Queen’s Cinema into Gibraltar New National Theatre. The flagship project is part of the Government’s manifesto commitment to provide a new modern theatre for Gibraltar.
The GSD has today insisted that the Chief Minister has made no effort in contacting the Leader of the Opposition with regards to Gibraltar’s position in the EU. A motion was passed in Parliament earlier this year, claiming that Mr. Picardo would meet with Mr. Feetham to confidentially brief him on the matter, which could shift, due to the UK’s proposed referendum on EU membership.
