Posted on 06/14/2009 8:15:13 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Chief Minister Peter Caruana's growing determination to stifle any criticism of himself and his regime took a new and ominous twist on Wednesday when he used Parliamentary procedure to avoid answering a series of potentially embarrassing questions set down by Opposition Leader Joe Bossano and fellow GSLP MP Fabian Picardo. It took Gibraltar one step further down the shoddy path away from democracy and confirmed the Chief Minister's own steady descent to autocracy.
Caruana's ploy -- described as "leaving a lot to be desired" in terms of Parliamentary courtesy and behaviour -- came only a few days before the Privy Council is to hear the case against Gibraltar's Chief Justice Derek Schofield whose suspension from office was triggered by Caruana...a successful move that has since encouraged the Chief Minister to tighten his Neroesque screws on his opponents and critics.
Schofield's fate will be decided over three days from Monday when Britain's Privy Council considers a recommendation by the judicial tribunal appointed by Governor Sir Robert Fulton in the wake of complaints by four leading local law firms. Their attack on the Chief Justice is believed by many to have been prompted by Caruana, who was incensed by Schofield's efforts to protect the independence of the Rock's judiciary...threatened by aspects of the new Constitution which the Chief Minister appears to regard as his own creation.
(Excerpt) Read more at vox.gi ...
Piece of the Rock.
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