How do Larnaca stakeholders view Prosperity's proposal for the marina and port?

Without ruling out anything in advance but also emphasising that whatever the final decision is, it must ensure that the development of the marina and port of Larnaca is implemented smoothly and without setbacks, is how the city's local bodies are approaching the Prosperity Group CY proposal regarding the project.

The Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras (pictured above left), and the President of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Nakis Antoniou (pictured above right), were invited by InBusinessNews to comment on the said proposal by Prosperity, based on which the company - shareholder with a 20% stake in the Kition Ocean Holdings consortium - requests the state to consider the possibility of reviving/restoring the concession agreement to Kition with the aim of continuing construction work on the basis of the masterplan, as agreed with the government and subsequently licensed by the competent authorities.

In the context of its proposal, which has been brought to light by InBusinessNews, Prosperity appears ready to take specific actions, so that the concession agreement and by extension the project, can be immediately put back on track for implementation.

It is noted that InBusinessNews also requested a statement regarding the company's proposal from the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, but he, however, did not want to make any comment.

Andreas Vyras: The two key points for evaluating the proposal

In detail, when asked to state how the municipality of Larnaca views such a prospect, the city's mayor, Andreas Vyras, indicated two key points, which - as he emphasised - should be taken into account in the context of evaluating Prosperity's proposal.

Vyras underlined that first of all, there must be information from the Minister of Transport as to whether or not the reinstatement of the project in Kition is legally permitted.

"The first thing we need to discuss is whether it is legally permissible, since the contract was terminated," he noted, adding - citing Alexis Vafeades - that the company's proposal is being examined by the Legal Service.

The second condition, according to Andreas Vyras, is for the Ministry to carry out an audit of whether the necessary funds, guarantees and safeguards exist to implement the project, as provided for in Prosperity's proposal.

In conclusion, the Mayor of Larnaca indicated that when the municipality receives a full briefing and has all the information on the two above issues, a decision will be made accordingly on the stance that Larnaca will take.

"Let's not get our hopes up again"

Asked about the general course being followed for the port and marina after the ‘divorce’ with Kition Ocean Holdings, Andreas Vyras indicated that where they (the municipality of Larnaca) disagreed, they expressed this disagreement.

The specific report by the mayor of Larnaca regarding the disagreement concerned the initial government decision regarding temporary managers of the port and marina, which was later - and after a meeting under the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace - was overturned and the request of the Larnaca Development Committee for the temporary assignment of the management of the marina be handed to the CMMI - Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute was granted.

"We must be honest with the people and not assume that in one or two months they will see major work carried out," Vyras concluded, emphasising that "we must ensure that this time the right steps are followed to implement the project and not be left with just our expectations again."

Nakis Antoniou: Let development happen, we are not dogmatic

Speaking to InBusinessNews, the President of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Nakis Antoniou, conveyed the approach of the city's business community, and in particular the Chamber, that the issue of the development of the Larnaca marina and port should not being approached dogmatically, as long as it is implemented.

"We are not negative about anything nor are we dogmatic. We as the Chamber want development to happen, we want jobs to be created, a marina to be built without the city losing its picturesqueness and for there to be a port that serves the commercial and industrial world of Larnaca, and beyond. This is our position, plain and simple," emphasized Antoniou when asked about it.

Speaking specifically about Prosperity's proposal, Nakis Antoniou stated that from what he is aware, the issue regarding the state - namely the termination of the contract with Kition - is considered to be over.

However, as he emphasised, if the two sides find a way to differentiate this fact and with proper guarantees, the right conditions will be created for the project to proceed and be implemented, the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce & Industry will not have any objections.

"It may not be the size that the original plan envisaged, but that does not bother us as a Chamber. We want something nice to be built, consistent with the picturesqueness, with our city and with our culture," said Nakis Antoniou, who - it is worth noting - expressed his satisfaction on the interest displayed and the actions that the Government is taking towards the construction of the marina and the port.

Right decision, satisfaction for government

In this context, he described as correct the decision taken during the last meeting held at the Presidential Palace under President Christodoulides for an intergovernmental assignment to the Port Planning Authority of Greece, - a pillar of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), to carry out a study regarding the future of the port, the marina and the land area.

"We all know how much expertise Greece has on ports," indicated the Chamber President, further pointing out that through the transnational assignment, valuable time would be gained, around two years, compared to the scenario where the government were to put out bids for the study in question.

It is recalled that, as stated after the meeting at the Presidential Palace by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, the estimate is that within six months - by June - the study should be completed.

"So," Nakis Antoniou concluded, "we are clearly pleased with this move. I see the interest of the government and the minister, not only in the port and the marina, but in Larnaca in general. I am very pleased and optimistic about the future. On the other hand, I am never dogmatic, which is why we are discussing all possibilities."

Where does the project stand today?

It is worth noting, with regard to the overall effort to implement the project after the termination of the contract with Kition last May, that at the present stage - in addition to the decision to carry out a study by the Port Planning Authority of Greece, which will essentially point to the future of the development - procedures are underway for the dredging and renovation works of the marina, for the implementation of the architectural competition for the construction of the yacht club/nautical group and for the landscaping that will connect the marina with the beach of Finikoudes.

As mentioned above, consultations are underway to take over its temporary management from the Cyprus Maritime and Maritime Institute (CMMI) to ensure the smooth implementation of the aforementioned initial works.

In this regard, in the context of a recent meeting between the competent minister Alexis Vafeades, the Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, and the CEO of CMMI, Zacharias Siokouros, the next steps towards signing and implementing the agreement for CMMI to take over the temporary management of the marina were discussed.

It is also noted that on the afternoon of 28 January a public gathering was held at the Larnaca Municipal Theatre to inform residents about the latest developments concerning the port and marina.

The residents were informed about the history of the issue, including the Government's intention to assign the temporary management of the marina to the municipality's CMMI Center of Excellence, as well as the decision to assign the study for the future of the port, the marina and the land area to the Port Planning Authority of Greece.

(Source: InBusinessNews)