Sports clubs in rent dispute

The Marsa Sports Club's main committee is currently locked in an impasse over what it termed "lack of cooperation" by the ancillary Royal Malta Golf Club.

The issue revolves around the MSC's lease agreement and a request for payment of rent to the RMGC.

The government has decided to grant a lease to the Marsa club area and it was the first time the RMGC was asked to pay rent, sources said.

The MSC's rent to the Lands Department, covering the period August 2002 and August 2003, amounts to Lm30,000 and the contribution of the RMGC, which occupies land and buildings on the premises, is Lm15,000, according to the MSC.

In the hope that "good sense would ultimately prevail", the MSC is requesting the RMGC to pay its contribution by the end of the month.

RMGC chairman John Holland preferred not to comment pending the outcome of a meeting with the MSC and the parliamentary secretary for youth and sport Jesmond Mugliett.