According to an opinion issued by the Legal Service, the state’s concession of the Larnaca marina development requires an open bidding process. This information was presented on Thursday before the Transportation Committee during a discussion on the progress of the integrated development plan for the city’s port and marina, with Members of Parliament expressing concern about the potential reversal of the plan and seeking answers.
During the session, Transportation Minister Evi Tsolaki answered questions from Members of Parliament, assuring them that the government’s intention is to move forward with the project and see it through to completion. As she noted, clarifications will be sought from the Legal Service regarding the legal opinion, while alternative ways to move the project forward will also be examined. The Committee will meet again on the matter in two weeks, as stated by its Chairman, Sotiris Ioannou, in his remarks.
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Ms. Tsolaki initially noted that, based on a study conducted, the port and the Larnaca marina must be developed separately in order for their development to be sustainable.
As she said, “The transfer of the port can take place immediately. The problem lies in the transfer of the marina’s premises. It appears there is a legal obstacle, which is why we are exploring other alternatives. The roadmap is moving forward; there are no delays. We will seek clarification from the Legal Service regarding the legal opinion.”
He added that the preliminary draft for the port is already ready, while for the marina, “once we receive clarification from the Legal Service, we will move forward there as well.”
The Chairman of the Port Authority’s Board of Directors, Zinonas Apostolou, stated that “the roadmap drawn up by the Port Authority is on schedule. Teams are working as scheduled on both projects. We have some leeway in the timeline.”
“Our agency is monitoring developments and has expressed concern about the delay, and we look forward to resolving the outstanding issues. There is a request from the Larnaca Municipality to suspend the yacht club,” said Haris Georgiou, spokesperson for the Audit Office.
“Why can’t we reach an agreement so that the project can move forward?” asked Dinos Lefkaritis, who represented the Larnaca Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company.
“I don’t think there’s any legal obstacle to reaching an agreement until the legal framework is clarified,” he said, calling on the Minister of Transportation to take the initiative and reach an agreement with the Ports Authority.
“This is a project that is a milestone for us. Larnaca is already suffering because the project hasn’t been implemented. We are on schedule, but I am concerned that we may have to halt the project,” said Angelos Hatzicharalambous, president of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Larnaca Deputy Mayor Iasonas Iasonidis stated that “we are in contact with the Ports Authority and are moving forward with the plans for the port. Unfortunately, the ownership status of the marina has not yet been clarified.”
“As soon as the ownership status is clarified, we will unblock the yacht club. We requested a suspension because we cannot build on a site whose ownership we do not know,” he noted.
“If the Parliament wishes to review the expert opinion, it can be presented to the Parliament. Toward the end of the expert opinion, there are 3–4 questions. The port is owned by the Port Authority. The marina is owned by the state,” said Rena Papaeti Hatzikosta, spokesperson for the Legal Service.
She noted that “if the state wishes to award the marina development contract, it must issue a call for bids, and if the Port Authority is interested, it must submit a bid. There must be transparency and equality.”
Transportation Committee Chairman Sotiris Ioannou said that “obviously, everything is turned upside down by what the Legal Service has stated. I ask you, Mr. Minister, to raise this issue with the President of the Republic so that the project can be implemented.”
“They left Paphos and Larnaca at the mercy of God. Whatever contracts the previous government signed, they ruined them. Those who signed them are now criticizing us. The framework is problematic,” said DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvides.
“It’s unfortunate and unfair to make the minister a punching bag. She has a series of major projects that have fallen apart, and all the agreements were made by previous governments,” noted DIKO MP Adamos Aspris.
“The Minister took office knowing that there is a legal opinion prohibiting the transfer of state assets to the Ports Authority,” emphasized AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides.
“I said there is a legal impediment and I am seeking clarification. I never said that I was aware of it,” replied the Minister of Transportation.
“This is a scandal. The responsibility lies solely with the current government, and the people of Larnaca are the victims. As we speak, three-quarters of the marina projects would be complete,” said Dimitris Souglis, a member of parliament for Direct Democracy.
“If what the Ministry of Transport is telling us comes to pass, we are essentially putting the final nail in the coffin of this project. I would like to implore the Minister to intervene and ensure that a political decision is made,” emphasized the Deputy Mayor of Larnaca.
“I share these concerns. I may have become a punching bag. The agreement with Kition was signed in 2022 and terminated in 2024 because they failed to submit the performance bond,” said Ms. Tsolaki, emphasizing that the government’s intention is to carry out the project.
“We reviewed the legal opinion regarding the marina, which is why we arranged the meeting with NY. I am also considering the proposal to amend the law or for the state to take over the marina. The roadmap is moving forward, and the Ministry will do whatever is necessary,” he added.
“The position put forward by the Legal Service—that there is no legal basis for transferring the marina and the land areas to the Ports Authority for development—has completely overturned both the decision of the Council of Ministers as well as the promises that have been made to our city,” Mr. Ioannou stated after the meeting concluded.
He emphasized that “it is unacceptable that the state itself, which holds the ownership rights to the marina, cannot transfer them to one of its own agencies so that it can proceed with the projects it has promised us.”
“As a Committee, we have decided that we will revisit the issue in two weeks. For us, the solution is either an amendment to the legislation or a direct concession by the Council of Ministers, and we will continue to insist on this,” he concluded.
“Our concerns have grown even greater. The Legal Service raised various objections to the state’s transfer of the land to the Ports Authority. Our Ministry informed us that planning is moving forward, but it seems we have a mess on our hands,” said DISY MP Prodromos Alambritis.
“If there is a will, a way can be found to get the project back on track and transfer the land to the Ports Authority so that planning can proceed,” he noted.
“It’s been two and a half years since the contract with the previous contractor ended, and we don’t see things moving smoothly,” he concluded.
“All the plans and promises of the current government—this time to the people of Larnaca—have been overturned once again,” said Mr. Pasiourtides.
“The Republic’s Legal Service has ruled that, for the areas belonging to the marina—which are state property—to be granted, the state must issue a public call for bids, and if it wishes to allowor private entities to submit a bid. As you can see, this completely upends the entire plan,” he said.
“How much seriousness is required of a President before announcing a project in a province—to be certain that it can be carried out? We’ve called on everyone to sit down and figure out how to implement this policy decision,” he noted.
DIKO MP Andreas Apostolou stated, “We demand that ways be found so that the implementation of what the state has committed to Larnaca can begin immediately.”
“I would like to highlight two additional points that I consider very important. The first concerns the protection of workers employed at the marina and the port. The second is that the land area to be utilized will be developed for the benefit of the people of Larnaca and to improve their quality of life,” he noted.
“It is a fact that there have been delays. The government and our Minister of Transportation have very clearly expressed their intention and determination to move forward with the development and implementation of this specific project,”Mr. Aspris said in his own remarks following the meeting.
“Beyond that, it is a fact that some issues have arisen on the part of the Legal Service. I would like to believe that. The necessary decisions will be made so that the way is paved for the project to move forward,” he added.
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Source: CNA
