Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning said he could not understand all the “fuss” being made about a cruise terminal project in Gozo, following the publication of plans for such a project in a quarry by the sea, close to Ħondoq ir-Rummien in Qala, Gozo.

“I cannot understand all this fuss, as it was well known that government had issued a call for an expression of interest for such a facility in Gozo,” Dr Muscat said.

Plans on this major development were mistakenly unveiled by the Milan studio of Chapman Taylor, saying through its website it was selected to design the 220,000 square metre coastline construction development in Qala.

However, a company spokesman later told Times of Malta, that this announcement had been “a big mistake” pointing out that internal information had been erroneously divulged.

Asked to clarify the situation following a news conference at Castille, the Prime  Minister this morning said the government was looking positively at this proposal as it would take place on a site which had already been disturbed by extensive quarrying.

However, he stressed that negotiations with Kalamarine Development Consortium, which last year was chosen as the preferred bidder had not been finalised.

“Once the privatisation unit concludes the deal, it would be up to the government to decide whether to take up the offer or not,” Dr Muscat said.

He also clarified that the government had no control on what the design company published, but insisted he had never come across the detailed plans.