Mayor of Gibraltar

Mayor of Gibraltar

The Coat of arms of the Mayor of Gibraltar
Incumbent
Adolfo Canepa
since 2 April 2014
Style His Worship
Residence Gibraltar City Hall
Appointer Gibraltar Parliament
Term length One Year
Inaugural holder Joshua Hassan
Salary Unpaid No Salary

His or Her Worship the Mayor of Gibraltar is the ceremonial official of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Mayor is appointed by the elected Members of Parliament[1] and his office is situated at City Hall John Mackintosh Square. Since 2 April 2014, Adolfo Canepa has held the position of Mayor of Gibraltar, succeeding Anthony Lima.

History

Centrally situated at John Mackintosh Square,opposite the Gibraltar Parliament, the Gibraltar City Hall is the official residence of the Mayor of Gibraltar.

Since its creation in 1921, the City Council, had a chairman. In 1955, upon request of the Members of the City Council, the post was renamed to Mayor, and therefore, the Mayor of Gibraltar was chosen from among the members of the Council. Joshua Hassan, the Chairman of the City Council at the time become the first Mayor of Gibraltar.

1969 Constitution

The City Council disappeared when the new Gibraltar Constitution Order in Council was signed in 1969. However, the Mayor of Gibraltar survived, but only with a ceremonial character, and was to be elected by the House of Assembly (later the Parliament).[2] This meant that office was invariably taken by the Speaker or a Government Minister.[3]

The 1969 Constitution stated:[2]

“ A person elected to the office of Mayor shall hold office upon such terms and conditions, and shall perform such functions (being ceremonial functions of a civic character), as may be determined by the Governor, acting after consultation with the Gibraltar Council. ”

2006 Constitution

Following the new 2006 Constitution, the Mayor no longer had to be chosen from among the Members of Parliament. Instead, the Mayor is appointed by Parliament. The intention was to move to a new system whereby citizens from the community at large can be appointed Mayor for a one-year period. The Government of Gibraltar announced that a Deputy Mayor would also be appointed for the same period and would take up the office of Mayor the following year.[3]

Appointment

The Mayor of Gibraltar is appointed by Parliament but no longer from within Parliament, and is to hold the position for a one-year period.[4] As per the 2006 Constitution:[1]

“ A person elected to the office of Mayor shall hold office upon such terms and conditions, and shall perform such functions (being ceremonial functions of a civic character), as may be determined by the Parliament. ”

Deputy

A Deputy Mayor is at the same time appointed by Parliament for one year to assist and support the Mayor in the discharge of Mayoral duties, as well as to act as Mayor when s/he is unable to participate in a civic event. The Deputy will take office as Mayor the following year and a new Deputy appointed, and so on.[4][5]

Duties

Since 1969, the Mayor is not a political figure as his/her duties are entirely ceremonial and civic.[4] The posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Gibraltar are honorific and thus unpaid.[3]

List of Mayors

The following is a list of all the Mayors of Gibraltar since the first tenure began in 1955:[6]

Picture Name Took Office Left Office
1 The Hon. Sir Joshua Hassan CBE MVO QC JP 1955 1969
2 The Hon. Col. William Thompson OBE JP 1969 1970
3 The Hon. Alfred J. Vasquez CBE MA 1970 1976
4 The Hon. Adolfo J. Canepa 1976 1978
5 The Hon. Horace J. Zammit 1979 1979
6 The Hon. Abraham W. Serfaty CBE JP 1979 1988
7 The Hon. Mari I. Montegriffo 1988 1995
8 The Hon. Robert Mor 1995 1996
9 Judge John E. Alcantara CBE 1996 2004
10 The Hon. Clive G. Beltran 2004 31 July 2008
11 Solomon 'Momy' Levy 1 August 2008 31 July 2009
12 Olga Zammitt OBE, JP 1 August 2009 31 July 2010
13 Anthony J P Lombard Ll.B. 1 August 2010 31 July 2011
14 Julio Alcantara 1 August 2010 31 July 2011
15 Anthony Lima 1 August 2012 1 April 2014
4 The Hon. Adolfo J. Canepa 2 April 2014 Incumbent

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mayors of Gibraltar.
  1. 1 2 Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006
  2. 1 2 Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969
  3. 1 2 3 Changes in Mayorship of Gibraltar
  4. 1 2 3 Sur in English - Gibraltar appoints its first non-parliamentary Mayor, Solomon Levy
  5. ↑ Gibraltar.gi - Who wants to be Mayor?
  6. ↑ Portraits of Gibraltar's 10 Mayors
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