Dear David,
Good day to you and good wishes,
The fiery debate on Friday over the proposed introduction of the Gibraltar Inquiries Act 2024, was an extraordinary affair.
The performance of the opposition leader in the delivery of his speech outlining the reasons why this bill should not be rushed through weeks before the commencement of the McGrail Inquiry may well reverberate around the globe, such was the quality of its delivery. It’s not my usual habit to praise politicians at all, but this was an exceptional performance about a colossal decision, with massive implications for Gibraltar. The speech did not deserve to be on the losing side of the vote. The speaker Karen Ramagge Prescott made that much cryptically clear in her 9/9 miscount at the end of a long but absorbing session.
You will almost certainly recall that I submitted The Openshaw Report on 15th April 2022 much to your seeming initial dismay. What you may not yet be aware of is that prior to the debate I submitted a short briefing paper about the UK Inquiries Act 2005 to almost all participants prior to the debate. With respect, please see it attached for your consideration and careful reflection, please.
My briefing paper: The New Inquiries Act 2024 for Gibraltar
For the rest of your life on this prison-planet you will have to live with yourself, for the pivotal part you personally played in enabling the Pfizer bioweapons to be unleashed on the unsuspecting population of Gibraltar, in what has globally become the worst episode of crimes against humanity ever. Sadly, you cannot undo the damage that’s already been done with the Pfizer kill-shots on The Rock, but by not granting Royal Assent to this tyrannically inspired and untimely bill, you would at least start to redeem yourself for the damage done, in the eyes of God and 50% of the people of Gibraltar.
Please, do not grant Royal Assent if and when urged to do so, by the smooth-talking tyrant and pathological liar Mr. Picardo.
This request has the support of The Gibraltar Messenger, the film-maker of The Ripple Effect documentaries, as referred to in my attached two page briefing.
Do the right thing.
Tony Farrell
Background for readers:
UK Research Briefing Royal Assent 2024 – In these 10 Territories, the Governors (or their equivalents) grant or refuse the Royal Assent for territorial legislation. They may also “reserve” a bill for a UK Secretary of State to decide if the legislation appears repugnant to the territorial constitution (among other reasons, these vary between Territories). In some Territories, certain categories of legislation must also be reserved for assent by a UK Secretary of State. Even if a law is granted assent by a Governor, for most Territories this can subsequently be disallowed by a UK Secretary of State (in Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda there are only very limited grounds on which this power can be used, if at all).
• GSD calls on Govt to abandon Inquiries Bill, but No.6 will press on to ‘modernise legislation’
From GAB | The Global Anticorruption Blog – Gibraltar Government on Trial for Corruption
The focal point for those interested in corruption is the McGrail Inquiry, a judge-led investigation into the apparently forced retirement of Ian McGrail, the former Commissioner of Police. It is alleged that he was about to expose corruption at the heart of the government and was therefore effectively dismissed from office. … just as the Inquiry is about to start its substantive work, the Government of Gibraltar is rushing a new law through parliament which, according to Transparency International, risks fettering the independence of the Inquiry.
Inquiries Bill: Transparency International call for UK Government to intervene owing to Chief Minister’s conflict of interest
From Transparency International: “The Gibraltar Government claims it is introducing this legislation to align with the UK’s Inquiries Act 2005, however the UK law received Royal Assent almost two decades ago, with the timing of the bill raising suspicion that it is intended to undermine the McGrail Inquiry.”
From Walter Finch, The Olive Press – OPINION: Are the games finally over? Gibraltar’s McGrail corruption inquiry set to go ahead next month after two years of delays
“THE various machinations, manoeuvring and chess moves that have dogged the McGrail inquiry since it was announced in February 2022 may be entering their end game. The checkmate seems to be the passing of new public inquiries legislation, which the government claims will put the hearing on a surer footing. However the critics were quick to point out that it would also damage the McGrail inquiry’s independence by granting the government greater powers to interfere… continues.”