Funding for Fort St Elmo rehabilitation

I refer to the report published in yesterday's The Sunday Times entitled St Elmo Funding Still Possible, wherein it was stated that I said that an application for EU funds could only be made if St Elmo was excluded from the Grand Harbour regeneration project. This reported statement is misleading. For clarity's sake, I would like to reiterate that my comments on the subject were the following:

1. The rehabilitation of Fort St Elmo forms part of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Project. This rehabilitation is linked to a number of other initiatives and projects, such as a new hotel to replace Evans Building, that would generate the finances through private investment and justify the transformation of St Elmo into a new centre where commerce and tourism sustain culture and the arts, and preserve this priceless heritage for future generations. (see https://secure2.gov.mt/mitc/MediaCenter/PDFs/1_Marsamxett%20reportEng%20edit.pdf )

2. Should the Grand Harbour Regeneration Project be successful in attracting private investment for the planned initiatives, there would be no need to utilise public funds including EU Structural Funds for any such initiatives, thereby allowing public funds and remaining EU funds to be utilised for other projects.

3. In the event that the Grand Harbour Regeneration Project does not succeed in attracting the right private investment that would enable the rehabilitation of Fort St Elmo, I would consider the submission of a tourism-related project in respect of St Elmo, under remaining EU Structural Funds available under the Tourism Axis, subject to the conditions of applicability and eligibility criteria. A critical factor is the cost of the project vis-à-vis the extent of any funds remaining and ensuring that any such project would be viable and sustainable.