In his latest press release on behalf of the GSD, Damon Bossino, in his blind hatred of the Gibraltar National Museum’s management, is once again showing his inability to properly research a subject, his lack of understanding of procedures, and his hypocrisy.

Mr Bossino seems not to have been aware that it was the GSD who first gave responsibility for the Moorish Castle to the Museum, announced with great aplomb when the Castle was re-opened in 2007.  Indeed, it was exactly the same individuals mentioned by the GSD at the time, Director Prof Clive Finlayson, and restorer Manuel Jean, who supervised the minor works then who are supervising the much more significant and extensive restoration today.

The Moorish Castle is one of the areas for which the Museum’s management company, Knightsfield Holdings, is responsible, and as such they are able to subcontract to entities of their choice.  The impeccable track record of the Museum team, which is internationally recognised, means that the Government has every confidence in their scrutiny in choosing subcontractors who will be able to deliver to the high standards that they have set and require.  This has been the case for several decades, during the time of the GSLP/Liberal Government and previously during both GSD and the previous GSLP administrations.   That Mr Bossino is questioning this now betrays memory failure, or possibly personal agendas that are clouding his political judgement.

Mr Bossino’s bitterness may of course simply betray frustration that so much positive work is being done for our Heritage by the GSLP/Liberal Government.  The extensive work being carried out in the Moorish Castle, which has already been revealed to the public, and which is being done for the first time, literally, in centuries, the responsible restoration and archaeology under expert supervision, and the promise of a product to be enjoyed by Gibraltar residents and tourists alike, cannot sit comfortably with him.

Minister for Heritage John Cortes said: “Damon has a problem in recognising the positive.  He tries to place a cloud over everything that is being done to enhance our heritage by trying to divert attention elsewhere.  It will not work.  Our Castle’s restoration will continue and it will become one of our biggest attractions, while Damon, as if he were locked away in some medieval dungeon, continues to struggle to stay relevant to Gibraltar when in fact he, like the GSD as a whole, are actually being left far behind as Gibraltar progresses.”