SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR HE LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR ROBERT FULTON KBE ON THE OPENING OF THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT 8 NOVEMBER 2007

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, it is both a pleasure and a privilege formally to open this House of Parliament in Gibraltar, the first in its full new form. I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to all the elected Honourable Members on their success in the election, some of whom are here today in their new capacity for the first time.

Not every Governor has the opportunity to experience a General Election during his time in Gibraltar, and I count myself fortunate to have witnessed the campaign, read the manifestos, heard the speeches, studied the commentaries and listened to the arguments. There is no more vivid way to understand what matters to Gibraltarians, what worries them, what they hope for - and to appreciate what options exist for the future. All those who stood as candidates contributed to the debate and made sure that the issues of concern were raised, issues that might otherwise remain in the background. Gibraltar's democracy would be the poorer without them, and all candidates deserve our recognition for the courage to put themselves forward and take part in that debate.

If debate is the hallmark of a democracy, its health is measured by the proportion of the eligible population who vote, without being compelled to do so. By such a measure Gibraltar must sit comfortably in the Gold Standard. Although the turnout may have fallen short of some of Gibraltar's exceptional historic peaks, it nevertheless gave yet another object lesson to some older and larger democracies.

Whilst candidates may contest and voters may select, the legitimacy of the Election depends absolutely on its conduct: from the preparation of the electoral lists to ensure that those eligible to vote could do so, through the management of the polling stations, to the verification and the count. Here too, Gibraltar showed that, when excelling becomes the habit, implementation to the highest standards risks being taken for granted. Yet we should not take for granted all those who worked so long and so conscientiously to ensure, not only that the result reflected the will of the people, but also that it was seen to do so.

That Election has brought Gibraltar to this historic moment, its first full Parliament. Underpinning this moment is the new 2006 Constitution which, amongst other provisions, secures the modern relationship between Gibraltar and the UK, whilst not in any way diminishing British sovereignty. The UK retains its international responsibility for Gibraltar, including its external relations and defence, and as the Member State responsible for Gibraltar in the EU. In the Preamble to the Constitution, Her Majesty's Government reaffirms its longstanding commitment to the people of Gibraltar that the UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Her Majesty's Government has also confirmed that it would not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. These statements bear repetition, especially on an occasion such as this, since they not only form the cornerstone of the relationship between Gibraltar and UK, but also set the context for the work that you do, and that I do, on a daily basis.

Mr Speaker, ahead lie many challenges, for the Government, for the Opposition, for the people of Gibraltar and for those of us committed to serving the well being of Gibraltar. From my year here, I know that all those in this House will do their utmost to work for all the people of Gibraltar in the manner they deserve.

Mr Speaker, I wish all members of the House, in Government and in Opposition, well in tackling the important issues ahead of them and in fulfilling the exacting responsibility placed on them by the people of Gibraltar. I have great pleasure in declaring open this Session of the House of Parliament.

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