Christian Peregin
Ex-minister hits out at Dock No. 1 decision
Dock No. 1
The government's decision to take over the embellishment of Cospicua's Dock No. 1 was criticised by Nationalist MP and former Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett who used to be in charge of the project until last year.
It was initially a private-public partnership but Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt announced on Tuesday that the €10-12 million project would now be taken over by the government. He said works would begin in January after proposals were made in October.
Mr Mugliett said the government was giving the wrong signals regarding continuity and was losing precious time in exploiting EU funding. By reversing "yet another public-private partnership project" the government was giving prospective bidders for similar projects the wrong impression, he said.
Dr Gatt, on the other hand, insisted that "any minister would have come to the same conclusion" since the investors failed to renew the bank guarantee and also "failed to provide proof that they had the financial clout to carry the project to the end".
Mr Mugliett insisted the government would "never" manage to come up with the necessary funds to do the conservation, infrastructure, refurbishment and landscaping works necessary. One of the most important aspects of such a project was having a private operator that could develop, brand, sell, run and market the project.
"I cannot understand how the government, when it takes on this project, can do all this."
Mr Mugliett said he was now "used to" the fact that all the projects he spearheaded when he was minister would be "stopped or reversed". These included several road projects, the Upper Barrakka lift and the Ta' Qali crafts village. "This does not mean I understand or feel happy with all the justifications made."
He criticised the reasons Dr Gatt gave for the change of plans with regard to Dock No. 1.
Dr Gatt said the consortium handling the project, Gruppo Romegas, had not provided the necessary bank guarantees and it did not supply the right designs. He said he would not want the area to be used for speculation.
When pressed for more details, Dr Gatt said there was "more emphasis on the development of real estate than on the regeneration aspect".
He said the proposed development was considered excessive, even though Cabinet had approved the proposals submitted years ago.
He added that the government was mulling a number of proposals including the possibility of having an arts and crafts centre as proposed recently.
Mr Mugliett insisted there was great willingness from Gruppo Romegas to come up with new bank guarantees and to keep improving designs. "I do not think the design issues were insurmountable... The proposal for Dock No. 1 was a good one with some very interesting architecture," he said.
Mr Mugliett lashed out at the minister's negative implication that the area could be used for "speculation".
"I resent the word speculation as applied to our brief. Conservation requires substantial funds and there has to be revenue that would be ploughed into conservation."
Mr Mugliett lamented the fact that even uncontroversial programmes developed under his tenure, such as the 450 residential roads programme, had been stopped.
"There could be justifiable reasons, such as the need to renew the agreement with the contractors or because the promise of funds from the local budget had become unclear. However, all the capital projects initiated by myself had passed through a rigorous filtering process, through the Cabinet Committee for National Projects and, subsequently, Cabinet."
He said that in some cases "strange" reasons were given for the termination of projects.
Timeline: Dock No. 1 saga
1996 - Finance Minister John Dalli promises to develop Dock No. 1 into a hotel and a yacht marina.
2000 - New plans include 30 flats and banks.
October 2003 - The Nationalist government promises to take Dock No. 1 from the Malta Shipyards Ltd and embellish it. Proposals expected in February.
2004 - The government buys Dock No. 1 from Malta Shipyards Ltd.
April 2004 - Opposition Leader Alfred Sant says the project never took off.
October 2004 - Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi says Cabinet approved the development brief and Mepa was soon to formally approve it.
December 2004 - Public consultation launched on development brief. Plans include three residential blocks of flats and an underground car park and are meant to be finished by 2006.
March 2005 - Cabinet approves Dock No. 1 brief and the government launches it. Call for proposals will be launched in coming weeks. Investment expected to be of Lm12 million and work to start in 2007.
August 2005 - Expressions of interest are submitted from around the world.
June 2006 - Minister Jesmond Mugliett says agreement to be concluded by September.
January 2007 - The government accepts, in principle, Gruppo Romegas' proposal of building 200 flats over three zones in the area. Project to be proposed to Parliament before summer recess.
September 2007 - Local councils and NGOs complain about lack of consultation and inaction.
November 2007 - The government drafts contract with Gruppo Romegas with investment expected to be Lm22 million.
December 2007 - Mr Mugliett says the plans were delayed because Mepa requested an environment planning statement. Dr Sant holds a press conference at Dock No. 1 promising the regeneration of the whole Grand Harbour area and lamenting broken promises.
May 2008 - The new minister responsible for the project, Austin Gatt says a Spanish consortium is interested in the upgrading and development of Dock 1.
January 2009 - Dr Gatt says this is the end of the road for the Ta' Qali Crafts Village because there are no EU funds available. Proposes reform of Dock 1 into arts and crafts centre. Labour MP Gavin Gulia says Nationalist government came up with nine promises on Dock 1, all of which were unfulfilled. Mr Mugliett criticises change of heart.
July 2009 - Dr Gatt announced talks were discontinued with Gruppo Romegas and that the government would be taking the project in hand with an investment of €10-12 million expected to come from EU funds. The plans will not allow "speculation". Proposals to be launched in October, works to start in January 2010.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
A Galea
Jul 18th 2009, 20:41
Mr Martinelli as usual tries to ridicule others, only he does not realize what he talks about. Apart from the fact that PN seems happy to have passed from the 'woeful 80's' since it gave promotion to the police officers who 'used to beat and kill nationaists', then defending all the wrong decisions his beloved government does by always talking about the past without seeing what REALLY happened. But to wait 13 years is to rush and not wasting money. You really are like your posts, vojt, as we say in Maltese
philip pace
Jul 18th 2009, 09:21
To our maple leaf friend over the ocean who is the prime defender of this poorly managed, government and who never sees or admits anything wrong being done by this most incompetent government the saying in Maltese is as follows:-
'Qattusa ghaggelija FRIEH GHOMJA TAGHMEL'.
Since when children have become kittens?
Get the drift!
It does not take a Government 13 years to solve this wonderful little jewel that is found in Bormla.
All the Government needed was a small group to design it and embellish it on similar term that one used to find at Greenwich re The Cutty Sark.
Dock no.1 is an important place in the history of maritime Malta and all it needed was some level headed people helped by the Government (re funds/material/manpower) to make it besides a tourist attraction a place where all Maltese can visit.
I worked there and know how much important this dock is!
But the truth (though it hurts a lot) is that the Government with its razzle dazzle and pomp style of politics has acheived a total zero regarding this project.
It has wasted 13 years and a good amount of tax payers money.
Shame on the Government
Jimmy Magro
Jul 17th 2009, 18:58
@Martinelli Your blogs are so cheap that I do not dare to reply. What I said is based on the opinion of PN insiders that are fed up by the way this arrogant administration is running the country. You seem to be cut off from these opinions since you have always had so good in the last decade being a pn blue eyed boy
J Martinelli
Jul 17th 2009, 16:56
@ Jimmy Magro "From 1996 to 2009, thirteen years went by'' True, but also true that between 1971 and 1987 sixteen years went by - sixteen years of stagnation, rife, and total abandon between acts of violence, attacks on the Times, Curia, Courthouse, etc. Qattusa ghaggelija taghmel ulied ghomja - is a Maltese proverb equivalent to 'haste makes waste'. Do you expect the government to let a Consortium proceed without furnishing bank guarantees? If the project fails half way, would not government funds be sought to finish it? Look at all the projects successfully completed in the last 22 years and on stream as we write, not the odd one like this one, not even started, but clearly heading for trouble and courageously stopped by the government. If the Consortium is so strong financially, what was it waiting to start construction?
Joe Morana
Jul 17th 2009, 15:59
What better place than Dock No 1 and its environs especially the old buildings built by the Knigths of St John for their Navy, to host the Malta Maritime Museum? Can we have Heritage Malta's view and/or Local Councils views regarding this proposal please?
joseph scerri Mayor of Bormla
Jul 17th 2009, 13:47
I was not surprised at all about the development of Dock No.1 because I've been hearing things for the last 8months that there are going to be changes in the goverment plans. I even try to arrange a meeting with the Prim Minister and Onor. Dr Gatt about Dock No1 on 27of April this year, and I received the acknowlegment but nothing happened. The local council of Bormla had meetings with the representatives of Gruppo Romegas, M.E.PA. and with ex-minister Mr. Mugliett about Dock No.1. At that time everything seems that at last the embellishment of the Dock No1 is going to be real. I have my doubts what Onor.Dr. Austin Gatt said about Gruppo Romegas that they" failed to provide proofs that they had the financial clout to carry the project to the end." The only thing I know is that the Bormla people had been hearing about Dock No1 since 1996 and till now nothing happened.
N.Farrugia
Jul 17th 2009, 13:10
Mr.Mugliette is being a bit naive because the project he worked for never materialised although many years passed by. Dr.Gatt is being very practical as he is not wasting time to turn the Cottonera area into a modern hub for all kinds of initiatives. Malta needs immediate initiatives and not many years of unsuccessful negotiations
v.pulis
Jul 17th 2009, 11:38
what ever happens with the dock we don't need another yacht marina touching the one already established in Vittoriosa. The cottonera is going to end up like a forest of masts.
What is needed in this area is some cultural activity which would work wonders with the local population especially students. There are three primary and a number of secondary schools in the vicinity of the dock which can benefit from an art oriented centre. Workshops can be organized for the students and tourism would get a much needed boost. Kenneth Zammit Tabona suggested that a modern art museum be created in the buildings along the dock. Why not?
Jimmy Magro
Jul 17th 2009, 11:25
The ToM timeline makes everyone come to the same conclusion. The present political class is a total failure. From 1996 to 2009, thirteen years went by. Those who claim that have the divine right to manage our country, have proved to be the worst administrators of our heaven in the Mediterranean.
I know people from the private sector who spent more than Lm50,000 in plans and bids to this project.
If the private sector does not have the financial clout, how come the debtful Government has the funds to do another white elephant. I think Mater Dei was the last example of total mismanagement, budget overruns.
In just a couple of months the idea of making a crafts village is turned topsy curvy into a new project. How come the great MEPA changes its locality plans on the whims of a single Minister. Did we not have a system where planning was not in the hands of the politicians? This is worst than Myanmar.
We really are a peace-loving society. If this happened in another country the people would be on the streets.
M.Buhagiar
Jul 17th 2009, 11:05
PN : IL- HMAR QED IDUR GHAL DENBU !!!!!
Mark Azzopardi
Jul 17th 2009, 09:47
Lots of high hopes and promises wih this administration but nothing materialise. I guess we have to fill the news with something !!
r ferriggi
Jul 17th 2009, 09:30
if there are finacial problems,,,, lets
1. clean the place up well.
2. enclose it so that it does not fill up wit rubbish and scrap and drugs etc.
3. leave it to be developed in the future when and if funds are found.
4. after all, places which have been kept the same or original have always retained their beauty.
Lets not try the usual half baked solutions, pre-election gimmicks, void promises , ribbon posing stuff which churn out monstrosities.
this is the problem with most of our politicians and planners . no long-term ( beyond their 5 years) planning.
cannot we possibly plan in 10/20/30 year stretches,,,, if not more??
M Axisa
Jul 17th 2009, 09:16
From 30 flats in 2000 to 300 flats in 2007..what else do you call this but speculation?.
philip pace
Jul 17th 2009, 09:14
Another imaginative razzle dazzle type of politics by this wafer thin majority of a Government.
A project that would die another death as it has been doing for the last 13 years.
Can the government come up with something more credible and attainable?
What a waste.
Shambles.
Shawn Attard
Jul 17th 2009, 09:01
I am getting the impression that there are internal problems in the party..... Dr. Gonzi r u still the leader?
Galea. L
Jul 17th 2009, 08:47
"Mr Mugliett insisted the government would "never" manage to come up with the necessary funds to do the conservation, infrastructure, refurbishment and landscaping works necessary."
If €10 - 12m cannot be found for the Dock 1 project, how can the estimated €80 million for the Valletta project, €130 million for the Menqa project and the various other projects which everyone knows will cost several times the estimated amounts be found?
Must be a lot of pies-in-the-sky.