The vote transferring Fort Chambray and the adjacent land from the government to Gozitan entrepreneur Michael Caruana, as expected, did not find any hitches and was passed by parliament last week before it rose for the Christmas recess.
The fact that the government thought it fit to add four extra parliamentary sessions right after the budget debate to discuss the matter shows its concern and determination to see that such an important project, which has encountered so many problems in the past years, starts as quickly as can be.
The resolution passed in Parliament last Friday terminates the agreement that was given to Italian developer Roberto Memmo on 13 April 1993. The land, in the outskirts of Ghajnsielem, has now been passed to Fort Chambray Limited, Forti Resort Hotel Limited and Forti Development Limited.
The original lease for 99 years – between 1993 and 2092 – remains, meaning that the new developers will keep the land for 88 years as from now.
Several points were raised during the 12-hour debate in the House of Representatives. The opposition harshly criticised the decision taken by the government 11 years ago to transfer the land in question to Roberto Memmo, saying that it had been right to voice its concern and vote against the said transfer in 1993.
The government, on its part, admitted that matters did not proceed as planned with the Italian developer, who, at best, failed to live up to expectations and, at worst, did nothing to develop the site. It explained that, at the time of the agreement with Mr Memmo, there were no Maltese or Gozitan entrepreneurs who had the liquidity to carry out such a project.
Today, the situation has changed and Dr Caruana has been entrusted with a project that, the government said, is aimed to generate jobs both while work is being done at Fort Chambray as well as afterwards. The government said that tourism in Gozo will get the boost it requires once the project is completed.
Rather than going the legal way and risk more years of neglect at Fort Chambray that could have compromised the project or rendered it more expensive, the government thought it fit to renegotiate the contract, which is now in the hands of Dr Caruana.
The opposition, in reply, said the government’s plans for Mr Memmo to develop the site had failed miserably. While expressing his respect for Dr Caruana, Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant said the opposition is disgusted by the fact that the government was getting rid of a part of Malta’s national patrimony. The MLP believes that the proposal is not in the best interest of Gozo.
This led Investments, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt to claim a dichotomy in the opposition’s arguments, saying it was taking such a stand to keep on Dr Caruana’s “good side just in case they are elected to government”. He insisted that the project will be beneficial for the island.
There’s nothing new in these heated exchanges in Parliament.
What is now important is that the project does get underway as soon as it is possible. The government has done the right thing in setting deadlines for the completion of the different phases of the development, imposing a Lm100 fine for every day this time-limit is not adhered to.
Gozo needs a push, and the development of Fort Chambray and its surroundings will help put the island – so dependent on tourism, foreign or local – on the right track. It is hoped that, once completed, Fort Chambray will enable Gozo to start a new chapter.