David Revagliatte meets Gibraltar's newly appointed Minister for Business, Care, and Health, Gemma Arias Vazquez. Minister Arias-Vasquez opens up about her experiences during the hustings and shares her reaction to the tight election results. A mother of two, she provides an authentic account of how she's balancing the demands of public life and personal commitments. She offers a glimpse into her leadership style and her commitment to simplifying life for small business owners through streamlined business processes and the implementation of the new Fair Trading Act.
We also get an opportunity to learn about Care Link, a charity launched in 2018 that provides aid to families with young children.
Thanks for listening to the Gibraltar Business Podcast by the GFSB! Follow us on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook!
David Revagliatte meets Gibraltar's newly appointed Minister for Business, Care, and Health, Gemma Arias Vazquez. Minister Arias-Vasquez opens up about her experiences during the hustings and shares her reaction to the tight election results. A mother of two, she provides an authentic account of how she's balancing the demands of public life and personal commitments. She offers a glimpse into her leadership style and her commitment to simplifying life for small business owners through streamlined business processes and the implementation of the new Fair Trading Act.
We also get an opportunity to learn about Care Link, a charity launched in 2018 that provides aid to families with young children.
Thanks for listening to the Gibraltar Business Podcast by the GFSB! Follow us on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook!
Hello and welcome to the Gibraltar Business Podcast, where we meet the individuals running business in Gibraltar. I'm your host, david Ragliade. So, whether you've just found us or have been with us since the start, thank you and welcome to the show. The Gibraltar Business Podcast is brought to you by the GFSB and is sponsored by Gibraltar International Bank, which shares our passion for all things business. This week, we've got a really special episode for you.
Speaker 1:We meet the newly appointed Minister for Business, gemma Arias Vazquez. We've been lucky enough to get a window to record this interview during her first two weeks in office. We talk about her moving to politics, her plans to support the business community locally and all sorts of things within her career to date. Among other things, we talk about her moving to politics and her plans to support the business community. Later in the episode, we hear from local charity, carelink in our regular what's New Gibraltar segment. So, minister Arias Vazquez, thank you. Thank you for joining me on the podcast. Thank you very much for having me, especially because you've just been appointed Minister for Business, care and Health. So thank you again, I know, for making us one of your priorities.
Speaker 2:Again, thank you very much for having me.
Speaker 1:Congratulations on your recent victory at the general elections. How's it been so far?
Speaker 2:It's been a whirlwind because there were certain portfolios that I knew I was getting. There were certain portfolios that I didn't know that I was getting. So what I've tried to do in these first two weeks and it's crazy that it's just two weeks, it feels like a lot longer what I've tried to do these last two weeks is meet as many people as possible and everyone that wants to see me I've tried to slot in to have a conversation about whatever it is that they need, from heads of departments to members of the public. I've tried to see as many people as possible.
Speaker 1:And that's all about listening, right.
Speaker 2:Which was one of the things that we spoke about in the campaign that we would listen.
Speaker 1:I know you've just mentioned it's been two weeks since you've taken office this last week. You've been in London recently, haven't you?
Speaker 2:That's right. We were in Drabel today in London, left on Sunday night, came back Wednesday morning, we were in Drabel today. It is a great event. You reach out, you're basically going to the city of London. You're going to the city of London and reaching out to people in the city of London and showcasing Gibraltar in the city of London and what Gibraltar can offer. We have fantastic products. You know, I was sat on a table with people that that knew about your also but didn't know the extent of what we could offer. Yeah, so that's the beauty of going there and and showing what it is that we had. Obviously it was, it was. It's an event that's led by my cabinet colleague, nigel, and he's got all the enthusiasm I think that we all need it.
Speaker 2:It's, it's a, it's a great event and a great, a great thing that we now go to central London. And when I say we, it's yes, government goes, but industry and your water goes. And it's very important to say that industry also pays for the event. They pay, for their tables, they pay, and we take industry with us. So the industry lawyers, accountants, everyone goes to the city of London to demonstrate to the London what you also has to offer and that's. That's great as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 1:I think you're coming about. People know about Gibraltar but they never know enough. I work in professional services and it I come across that all the time and we're looking at trying to Attract new business to Gibraltar. That does come up.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and it's about. It's about selling our services and selling our services effectively and efficiently, and it's something I see across some of my portfolios. You know, because it applies in business and financial services actually does this very well. It applies equally in the port, you know it's, it's something that we have, a fantastic product, and we have to get that message out to the world, to show the world what a fantastic product we have. Absolutely agreed, gemma can you call Gemma? Yes, please do.
Speaker 1:Many people know you for your recent appointment as a government minister, but of course you had life before becoming a minister. What were you doing before this? What was your route here?
Speaker 2:Well, my roots, my roots here. So I studied law at university. I studied law at university, that I did my LPC I'm a solicitor, not a barrister and then, because I'm a solicitor, I did a training contract, but I did a training contract in the city of London I am. I worked in a law firm it's course law in May in the city of London, which is why I know, you know, I know that people aren't familiar with Gibraltar because I worked in the city. I spoke to people about Gibraltar and how fantastic Gibraltar is and many people, many people would often ask me a lot of questions about Gibraltar because they don't have that in depth knowledge whilst I was working in the city. So I qualified in the city and then, very shortly thereafter, I decided to come back to Gibraltar. I'd been a student in student placements at law firms in Gibraltar and I didn't want to come back and work in Gibraltar and work with the Gibraltarians. So I came back.
Speaker 2:I started working at Hassan's and very quickly I saw that I wasn't working enough with Gibraltarians, which is when I started with the GFSB.
Speaker 2:I got involved with a Federation of Small Businesses and there I became chair of the Federation of Small Businesses and I saw the way that business associations and NGOs can actually influence government policy and how businesses and NGOs work with government and give their ideas to government.
Speaker 2:At the end of the day, the GFSB was an association where individuals were giving up of their free time because it was something that they believed in. And you then go with your ideas to government because members have made representations to you and you then take it to government and government then feeds that in to its general policy. Be it by a wish list or by general ideas or however it is, it does feed into government policy. And obviously from there I've always had an interest in politics. I've always worked closely with the chief minister. I've known the chief minister since I was 15, so he's been a big influence in the political aspects of the choices that I've made to get to where I am today. But, um, but yeah, I've always had this keen interest and obviously the stepping stones were law, law in the city, law in Gibraltar, gfsb and then politics.
Speaker 1:I tell you what. Yeah, you're not the first lawyer or solicitor to be interviewed for the show. You're not the first chair of oh, ex GFSB chair to be to go to do law before and politics again, that's kind of there's a definite link, for sure, for sure. Um, obviously, this is the first time you took the step into politics. It's your first kind of time on the campaign trail, as they call it. How, how did you find that experience?
Speaker 2:Um. I ended up loving it. Um, at first it was. It was hugely overwhelming because, um, as a, as a lawyer, you're used to representing other people's views. You're used to so there's a distance between, um, what you're saying and your instructions on your um and but this time you're putting yourself front and center, you're putting um, you're putting yourself in the limelight, you're putting your own views and you're representing what you think, what you believe in your ideals. They're front and center for everyone to to see. So the the first few days it was hugely overwhelming. Um and I. I'm quite used to speaking in public, I'm quite used to interviews, but I'm not used to something like hustings, um and hustings.
Speaker 1:That's the thing it's like. It's intense in all levels, right so intense from the media, intense when you are talking to the talking, to everyone who got issues.
Speaker 2:So, but even even the media. So. So I'd done the stronger in campaign Um and I'd I'd known what it was to space the media. But this was different. You know, this was very, very different. Because you're doing hustings, you're, you're, it's very real, it's very raw. No, you're, you're there, you're talking to people, uh, you're with a microphone speaking in public there, and then Um, and then people come to you with their real life issues and also so it's um, it's a. It's a very different type of experience to anything that I've experienced before Um, and it did take some getting used to, I I have to admit.
Speaker 1:Do you get any preparation for that? Do you get any training? Like book, like politics book camp? You are.
Speaker 2:They the politics book camp is. They put a microphone in your hand, um in the middle of an estate, and they tell you to um get on with it. And, and in fact, the very, very first hustings I did um I have two small children, um, I have a six year old and a four year old and, as it happened, all childcare options on that day failed. Um, I had no child care as as as happened. So my first hustings were literally I had a microphone thrust into my hand, um I also had a four year old clinging to my neck and a six year old hiding behind my leg. Um, so it was. It was quite an experience.
Speaker 1:Wow, can imagine. Shows you're adaptable as well, right, so?
Speaker 2:well, you pretty much have to be exactly Um, but I think that's a mum thing rather than a yeah, yeah, I bet, yeah, I bet.
Speaker 1:Um, after all that work, so the hustings campaigning. Uh, what's your reflection on the result? Are you happy?
Speaker 2:Um, I'm happy with um, obviously I'm happy with the results. Um, I uh, I think it's quite honest to say that the result was tight. There's a very tight, and I think that sends a very strong message. Um, I think that sends a very strong message and it's a message which we as a, as a party, um, as an alliance, have have also listened to, or we need to listen to that message. Um, and I think the results, um, the result shows us where the electorate is. Uh, and obviously, once the people are able to speak, we are here to listen and to take that on board and to try and adapt ourselves to, to react to what they're telling us.
Speaker 1:That might lead in really nice to my next question, which is um, not many people would have known you before this point, when you've been very public and being uh, going for politics. What can people expect from your leadership? What's your leadership style?
Speaker 2:Well, um I I'm used to, I'm used to hard work, um I I've worked long hours um in the private sector before. Um and the the portfolios that I've got are demanding Um. They are. They are big portfolios, um and their portfolios where you have to invest a lot of yourself, a lot of your time, um and their portfolios where you have to care Um. So I think that I think that what I what I'd like to think I bring to this is one, an ability to work hard and two, empathy, so that um I I understand um. I understand the business community. I've worked there, I've been with them, I've I've championed their causes for six years. Um. I also understand um the needs of my other portfolios. So that's what um, that's one of the things I'd like to bring.
Speaker 1:I see this podcast is published and is for the GFSB and by the GFSB Uh go, can you reflect on those six years that you spent on its board and then later as as its chair? Uh, yeah, absolutely, Um, so, I, um, I, I became involved very shortly after coming to Gibraltar.
Speaker 2:Um, because I was a little bit of, a little bit of, a little bit of, a little bit of, a little bit of, a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of an um and um to um. To be honest, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I love working with Gibraltar business. I, um, I, I love the interaction with my community. No-transcript. I love the passion that the business is, particularly small businesses, bring to everything. It is that they do know it's the small business owner that understands that you run everything, you know, you are the it, you are the facilities manager, you are. Which facilities manager sounds great. Facilities manager means that when you need a little role change that you also does it yeah.
Speaker 2:People that run small businesses understand the passion and the energy that is the work and the share hard work. You don't close your doors and the work stops. You close your doors and you have to do your admin, you have to do your accounts, you have to. Meeting members from the business community was always fascinating, and to take that plunge to actually become a business owner, to become an entrepreneur, is actually extremely brave and is is to be applauded, because these are people that are putting their livelihoods out there and looking to generate their own, their own income. So that's something that we've got to stop, take stock of and and see. You know, can we, can we help? What do they? The large majority don't seek help is just a case of how can we support them. You know, what is it that they need to make their lives easier, and a lot of the representations that that I got from members as chair of the gfsp was about the red tape, was about the the the difficulties in setting up, was about the different loopholes that they had to jump through. You know, these are the sorts of things that the small business owner wants assistance with, you know. So so, now that I'm on the other side and I have come in, and one of the things that was on the gfsp wish list was the implementation of the new fair trading at. Yeah, and with the implementation of the new fair trading at came into place a new system, that's that accompanied it to make it more streamlined. So so that's one of the things that we've had a meeting last week, mr, how that's going. There was teething issues with that, which I think we've now come to grips with. The backlog has now been cleared and I think that that's something that we need to focus on. It's about streamlining, is about making things easier. Working with my other cabinet colleague, minister Santos, with employment, because there is a certain duplication of the paperwork that a business has to submit, yeah, so when we say assist business, we mean assist business in easing the process.
Speaker 2:That has to be step one. It's what do you need to set up? How can we make this easier? So step one has to be looking at the oft, looking at employment how can we make that seamless and easier? Looking at the one stop shop, which was raised numerous times, and Trying to address that in a way that, rather than, this is what I think, this is what I think you need what? Asking the question of what do you actually need? What do you? Can we achieve that? Seem this in between government departments? Do you actually the physical one stop shop? If everything is now online, if he services are working properly, if you have a business interface that deals with everything that you need to set up a business, do you need a physical presence as well? And you know, trying to find a balance there as to what is actually required.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of questions there and I think you know with the GFSB they published their election wish list. One of the things that was on there, and maybe one of the things that could help resolve and get answers to these questions, was the small business board. Is there plans for that to kind of yeah so the small business board?
Speaker 2:Is in existence and it needs to be convened, and, and absolutely so. The first two weeks have been a complete world, of course, but yes, absolutely, there are plans to bring a small business board Back in here in the in the boardroom just next door, and start listening to the community as to what, how they feel that the changes that we've made are are actually how it affects them in practice.
Speaker 1:I think this is it. I think with small businesses, you hit the nail on the head. I think you do everything right. So and no business is small if it's your business. So, as I'm employed, I also run my own business and I know how much red tape, so anything like that would be super, super welcome Amidst all the uncertainty you know things with the agreement financially, cost of living. It's really tough out there for people running businesses. There's a lot of uncertainty, just the wider community in general. What's your message specifically for those running small businesses or working within business, the private sector?
Speaker 2:I think that our message is message we try to give throughout the campaign, is it? You know we are here. We're here to listen, and we're here to listen to, to what they need, and we're here to try and improve things insofar as we can to assist them in making it as easy for them as possible. So I think the message is one of we're here to take into account what business needs and we're here to listen to the GFSB, we're here to listen to other associations and we're here to support them. We're now Minister Sanderson and myself are organizing an event so that shoppers are drawn to the main street on weekends during the Christmas period. You know we're looking to organize stuff like that so that we work alongside the business community, so that it's a symbiotic relationship, so that you know we help them, for them to help us, as it were, because ultimately, they do well, we do well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and there's a lot of overlap overlap between your responsibilities and Minister Santos as well.
Speaker 2:Absolutely my responsibility, Minister Santos and Minister Fetum. So myself. Christian and Nigel have to work together because there are certain projects that fall within my remit and certain projects Culture, tourism also feature highly on what we can do with business. So if we're organizing events, then if I work with culture, then that's two ministries working together to produce something that's good for the business sector and Gibraltar, I mean, you know, is this good for business and is this good for the wider community?
Speaker 1:So I mean, if it ticks that box, then yeah, absolutely Anything that brings people to main street to spend, to have fun. You know there's already stuff that's happening in Geometric Square. A lot of it in the evenings, if that kind of stuff happens in the day.
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly. So I mean we are looking to host events like that in the not too distant future. So watch the space.
Speaker 1:Brilliant. Gemma, I'm trying to get my head around it because obviously you've talked about your career today and then the amount of responsibility that you're coming into is mega right. It's not to say it's not doable, but how do you manage? Because you know a lot of us wear different hats. We've got a lot of busy schedule. Those small business owners are who are doing everything, have a lot to kind of do and deliver. What's your strategy? How do you do it?
Speaker 2:Well, I think that it's very important to say that you can't do it without a team, yeah. So I've got a team here who's amazing. I've got a team here who organizes me. I need people that set up the structure. So I think that the first step is organizing the team internally so that everyone knows their responsibility, so that everyone knows what to run with. Then, aside from that, we've also got the heads of the departments. Yeah, and the heads of the departments are extremely competent. They're used to running their own departments. So we set policy and we make sure that policy works. So, in terms of business, I've got to meet with the GFSB, the Chamber, the Small Business Board, the Main Street Retailers Association to make sure that the changes that we're trying to implement actually achieve the aims of assisting them, because sometimes I'm very conscious as well of the fact that you do something because you think it's good and actually it has an effect which you're not necessarily or a communication of it, sometimes Exactly.
Speaker 2:So there needs to be constant communication with the GFSB. But inevitably, even if you speak to the GFSB, when you walk up a down main street, people are going to stop you. Retailers are going to stop you and say you know, I don't think this works, and the reality is that you've got to take what people are telling you and then feed it back and say, actually, we've done this, it doesn't work, what can we do to mediate this? So the teams, the structure, once that's all in place, which is why this first month is about trying to find my feet, trying to find how I'm going to set myself up organisationally so that I don't drop the ball on any one of the portfolios that I've got.
Speaker 1:Good luck. I know you've got a lot of success ahead, but this next month is going to be crucial, so I won't keep you much longer. But I have one last question, which I ask all of my guests, a variation of anyway. And what's that best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Speaker 2:Oof, that's a big question, I think it. I mean, this is a bit philosophical.
Speaker 1:It is a bit yeah, I know yeah.
Speaker 2:I think it's to to always be true to myself and to always be true to myself and who I am, and you know what I think, and to try and feed that through to everything. So, polonius, knowing how much I said to that, to that I know self be true and therefore for so so he there's a quote there that that I love, that basically says you know and be true to yourself, and it follows that you can't.
Speaker 1:Thank you with that, and I think also in comms, I think general authenticity is key. So so, yeah, thank you for your time.
Speaker 2:Love you, to love you, to be here.
Speaker 1:So, stephanie yo, it's a pleasure to speak to you today on what's new to water.
Speaker 3:Thank you, david, and thank you for inviting me on.
Speaker 1:So tell me and our listeners what is Kelly.
Speaker 3:Kelly is a charity. It started in 2018 and I'm pleased to say that since then, we've come a long way. We're here to help families, families in need with young children mainly. We joined together with other charities and so we take from children up to five years old, so we give things like cuts and prams, things when obviously, a family may be expecting, but the prices of everything are exorbitant and this is so expensive that you know sometimes it becomes a difficulty for the family and a burden, and so we're here to help giving especially those more expensive items. As I've commented on the cuts and prams and things like that, but also on nappies and food, clothing. The one thing I can say is that Gibraltar is such a generous place that we get some wonderful items. I mean, they are used, obviously, but a lot of the things are just as new and it's a real privilege to be able to use them again and pass them on to families that need.
Speaker 1:So you mentioned the word new in there. So what is new with Kelly?
Speaker 3:Well, we got only this last year a new premises. We were blessed, very blessed, to get a place in Alameda state. We've got all our stuff in there now. We've managed to bring it up to speed so everything is sorted in a fashion that we can get hold of it and know what we have and what we need. So if we need donations or anything like that, we can ask specifically for items, as well as, obviously, cash, which can help. And also now, with Christmas coming up, obviously there's always a push for Christmas for things for families that are in need, and with young children especially. So we'll be looking at, obviously, posting on Facebook and that, giving our push for Christmas time.
Speaker 1:I know Christmas is round the corner, right. So, going on that, if any of our listeners are feeling more generous maybe some business owners, corporate, personal donations how can people get in touch and get involved?
Speaker 3:Well, they can get in touch. We have our Facebook page and Instagram so they can get in touch through there. But also we have and how I mainly keep in touch is on WhatsApp, because everything is written down there and it's on hand, and they can contact us on the number 5406 7935, and especially donations and things like that, because, as I said, besides the things that we have, we're always buying things we get. We're contacted very much by the care agency and government agencies, as well as other charities, and so to buy things like nappies and formula and all things like that, which we do on a weekly basis.
Speaker 1:Is it the same number for anyone needing to use the service?
Speaker 3:It's the same number for anyone needing to use the service because they require something or if they wanted to donate. I'm the one in charge of the phone, so I will be contacting them. If they leave me a message on WhatsApp, it's fantastic because I can just contact them as soon as possible.
Speaker 1:So there you go, guys. You've got the number there and I think it is 5406 7935 and you speak to Stephanie yourself. Thanks so much for coming in.
Speaker 3:Thank you very much, david.
Speaker 1:And that's a wrap for this episode of the Gibraltar Business Podcast. Thank you to our guests, minister Arias Vasquez and Stephanie from CareLink, as well as our sponsors, the Gibraltar International Bank. I'd like to thank everyone who contributes to this project and keeps the podcast going from strength to strength. Thank you. You, of course, for tuning in. I hope you found this episode informative and engaging. If you want to contact me or the show, do so at any of our social channels. So it's goodbye from me for another week. Remember, keep your eyes on the prize and reach for your goals. See you next time.