It is with great sadness that His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has received the news of the passing of Ernest Montado CBE at the age of 72, a highly respected civil servant whose lifelong dedication to Gibraltar’s governance and diplomacy has left an indelible mark on the Gibraltarians.

Mr. Montado was Chief Secretary to the Government of Gibraltar, playing a pivotal role in shaping the administration and fostering relations between Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, and Spain. He participated in numerous negotiations over the future of Gibraltar, including the Cordoba Agreement. During his distinguished career, he served as Principal Secretary to four Chief Ministers between 1986 and 2007, contributing to key negotiations and policy developments. He also served as Financial Secretary at a very young age and on occasions acted for the Deputy Governor and the Governor. 

In recognition of his invaluable service, Her Majesty the Queen bestowed upon him the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1996 and the Gibraltar Parliament awarded him the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour in 2014, reflecting the deep appreciation of the people of Gibraltar for his unwavering commitment.

Beyond his official roles, Mr. Montado remained an active voice in Gibraltar’s political landscape. In 2021, he published an article in the Gibraltar Chronicle entitled “Let’s Give the Treaty a Chance”, in which he championed diplomatic solutions and the importance of treaties in securing Gibraltar’s future.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo, K.C, MP, expressed his deep sorrow, stating: “Ernest Montado was a dedicated public servant and close friend whose contributions to Gibraltar’s governance and international relations were invaluable. His wisdom, professionalism, and commitment to Gibraltar will be sorely missed. I shall personally miss him greatly. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest Gibraltarians of the post war generation, one of Gibraltar's most committed Public Servants and a Gibraltarian who British and Spanish officials had the highest regard and respect for. On behalf of the Government and the people of Gibraltar, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”