Progress on the development and management of Larnaca Port and Marina is currently at a standstill pending a legal opinion from the Law Office of the Republic on the applicable legal and institutional framework, particularly ownership of the land and facilities.
The issue was discussed at a meeting on Monday between the Mayor of Larnaca, the President of the Larnaca District Local Government Organisation, the President of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Larnaca CCCI) and MPs from the district.
According to a statement from Larnaca Municipality, the participants reviewed progress on the development and management of the port, marina and adjoining land areas.
The Mayor of Larnaca and the President of the Larnaca CCCI reportedly informed those attending that, according to statements by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus Ports Authority, the process remains stalled until the Law Office provides legal guidance.
The outstanding issues primarily concern the legal and institutional framework and the ownership status of the sites, particularly as the development as a whole has been undertaken by the Cyprus Ports Authority, the statement said.
No timetable given for legal opinion
According to the municipality, the delay has occurred despite repeated calls by the Ministry to the Law Office for the necessary legal guidance to be provided as soon as possible.
However, no clear response has been given so far and no specific timetable has been set for when the legal opinion will be available, it said.
The participants said the situation was at odds with previous statements and commitments made by President Nikos Christodoulides, which, at the time they were made, had not been presented as being conditional on the prior clarification or finalisation of the legal and institutional framework.
They also argued that, since the development is being undertaken by a state body, namely the Cyprus Ports Authority, any issues concerning the ownership or legal status of the relevant plots between the Transport Ministry and the authority should not hold up the project’s further progress and implementation.
Stakeholders call for roadmap actions to continue
The participants called on the Transport Ministry and the Cyprus Ports Authority to immediately proceed with the next steps and actions outlined in the roadmap for the development of Larnaca Port and Marina that can be advanced independently of the outstanding questions concerning the legal and institutional framework.
They stressed that there should be no further delay or inactivity in areas where work can proceed in parallel, arguing that maintaining continuous progress on the project is essential.
The municipality warned that continued stagnation could result in the loss of valuable time and potentially affect the smooth and timely implementation of the project.
The participants also called for written positions from the Transport Ministry and the Cyprus Ports Authority on the issues raised.
Issue to be raised in Parliament
MPs from Larnaca agreed to register the matter as an urgent issue before the relevant parliamentary committee, with the aim of securing an immediate discussion and examination of the project.
MP Sotiris Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency that, as chairman of the relevant parliamentary committee, he would raise the matter with his colleagues with a view to discussing it in Parliament on Thursday, 24 September.
He said the aim would be to obtain answers and “put an end to the mockery of Larnaca”.
Source: CNA
