Peter Caruana
Encyclopedia
Peter Richard Caruana, QC
(born 15 October 1956) is a Gibraltarian
politician
, and has been Chief Minister of Gibraltar
since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats
(GSD), first came to power. His party was re-elected to office in 2000, 2003 and 2007. He is a barrister
by profession and was appointed a Queen's Counsel
for Gibraltar in 1998 and elected an Overseas Master of the Bench
of Inner Temple
in 2011.
and Italian
descent. He was educated at the Christian Brothers
School in Gibraltar, and then Grace Dieu Manor School
and the independent Ratcliffe College
(both in Leicestershire
, England
), and finally Queen Mary, University of London
and the Council of Legal Education
. Before serving as Chief Minister he was a partner in the law firm Triay & Triay. He is married to Cristina, daughter of Joseph Triay
, a local barrister. He children with her are Michael, Georgina, Philippa, Patrick, Timothy, Nicola and James. His leisure interests are golf
and political and current affairs.
The GSD which he now leads, is robustly against any transfer of sovereignty to Spain
, but remains in favour of safe dialogue. As Chief Minister, Caruana consistently refused to attend bi-lateral talks between the United Kingdom and Spain
as part of the UK delegation, on the basis that the interests of the Gibraltarians
were not protected, and he did not want to give any measure of legitimacy to talks over which Gibraltar had no control.
In 2002, he called a referendum on the subject of the proposed joint sovereignty deal, which led to it being abandoned.
In December 2004 the principle of tripartite talks, with the Government of Gibraltar as an equal party with the UK and Spain, was finally recognised, largely as a result of his involvement. This resulted in the Cordoba Agreement which improved communications between Gibraltar and Spain with direct flights from Madrid
, and in Spain finally recognising Gibraltar's international dialling code, thereby ending a long-standing dispute
.
In November 2007 he was returned to office for a fourth term .
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 15 October 1956) is a Gibraltarian
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and has been Chief Minister of Gibraltar
Chief Minister of Gibraltar
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the leader of the largest party elected to the Gibraltar Parliament, and is formally appointed by the Governor of Gibraltar, representative of the British Crown.-List of Chief Ministers:...
since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats
Gibraltar Social Democrats
The Gibraltar Social Democrats, abbreviated to GSD, is a centre-right political party in Gibraltar.Their current leader is Peter Caruana, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. The GSD has been the governing party in Gibraltar since 1996.-History:...
(GSD), first came to power. His party was re-elected to office in 2000, 2003 and 2007. He is a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
by profession and was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
for Gibraltar in 1998 and elected an Overseas Master of the Bench
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 2011.
Early and personal life
Caruana was born in Gibraltar and is of MalteseHistory of the Maltese in Gibraltar
A Maltese community has existed in Gibraltar since shortly after the British conquest in 1704. Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus were the three stepping stones whereby Great Britain controlled the Mediterranean and the vital route to the Suez Canal and thence to India...
and Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent. He was educated at the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
School in Gibraltar, and then Grace Dieu Manor School
Grace Dieu Manor School
Grace Dieu Manor School is a preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13 set among of countryside. Opened in May 1933 by the Rosminians, it is a privately run Catholic school which welcomes children from all denominations and faiths. It acts as a prep school for Ratcliffe College...
and the independent Ratcliffe College
Ratcliffe College
Ratcliffe College is an independent Catholic boarding and day school in Leicestershire, England. The College, situated in of parkland on the Fosse Way about six miles north of Leicester, was founded on the instructions of Blessed Father Antonio Rosmini-Serbati in 1845 as a seminary. In 1847, the...
(both in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), and finally Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Council of Legal Education
Council of Legal Education
The Council of Legal Education was an English supervisory body established by the four Inns of Court to regulate and improve the legal education of barristers within England and Wales.-History:...
. Before serving as Chief Minister he was a partner in the law firm Triay & Triay. He is married to Cristina, daughter of Joseph Triay
Joseph Triay
Joseph Emmanuel Triay is a Gibraltarian lawyer, best know by having been one of the promoters of the Doves group in the 1960s. Triay suffered an attack to his home and office shortly after the publication of a letter advocating a political settlement with Spain...
, a local barrister. He children with her are Michael, Georgina, Philippa, Patrick, Timothy, Nicola and James. His leisure interests are golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and political and current affairs.
Politics
Prior to being elected to Government his political career progressed steadily. In 1990, Caruana became member of the Gibraltar Social Democrats. One year later, he became leader of the party and in May 1991 gained a seat in the House of Assembly by winning Gibraltar's first contested by-election. In January 1992, Caruana led his party to the position of official opposition by winning seven seats in the House of Assembly. Finally, in May 1996, he led the party to victory and became Chief Minister of Gibraltar.The GSD which he now leads, is robustly against any transfer of sovereignty to Spain
Disputed status of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, near the southernmost tip of the Iberian peninsula, which is the subject of a disputed irredentist claim by Spain....
, but remains in favour of safe dialogue. As Chief Minister, Caruana consistently refused to attend bi-lateral talks between the United Kingdom and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as part of the UK delegation, on the basis that the interests of the Gibraltarians
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
were not protected, and he did not want to give any measure of legitimacy to talks over which Gibraltar had no control.
In 2002, he called a referendum on the subject of the proposed joint sovereignty deal, which led to it being abandoned.
In December 2004 the principle of tripartite talks, with the Government of Gibraltar as an equal party with the UK and Spain, was finally recognised, largely as a result of his involvement. This resulted in the Cordoba Agreement which improved communications between Gibraltar and Spain with direct flights from Madrid
Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport or North Front Airport is the civilian airport that serves the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence for use by the Royal Air Force as RAF Gibraltar. Civilian operators use the airport; currently the only scheduled flights operate to the...
, and in Spain finally recognising Gibraltar's international dialling code, thereby ending a long-standing dispute
Telephone numbers in Gibraltar
Country Code: +350International Call Prefix: 00Trunk Prefix: noneThe Gibraltar telephone numbering plan is the system used for assigning telephone numbers in Gibraltar. It is regulated by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority , which holds responsibility for telecommunications.The country calling code...
.
In November 2007 he was returned to office for a fourth term .
See also
- List of Gibraltarians
- Politics of GibraltarPolitics of GibraltarGibraltar is represented in the European Union, having been the only British overseas territory which joined the EC under the British Treaty of Accession ....
- History of the Maltese in GibraltarHistory of the Maltese in GibraltarA Maltese community has existed in Gibraltar since shortly after the British conquest in 1704. Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus were the three stepping stones whereby Great Britain controlled the Mediterranean and the vital route to the Suez Canal and thence to India...