The Sunday Times of Malta (May 15) story regarding the process and the sale of the ITS site is misguided by someone who fed it the wrong information and is riddled with factual errors.
Had the journalist asked the government for its version of facts, as one would have expected for a story which was given such importance, the newspaper would have learnt that a number of facts and amounts being quoted are incorrect, and that there are currently exercises and negotiations that will ensure that the prices paid for the hotel, real estate and commercial components of the project are in line with the market standard.
Regarding the reported deposits on the sale of property, please note that any such exercise is not sanctioned by the government, and that if a final agreement on the project is reached, the deal would need to get government approval in terms of the request for the tender and applicable laws.
Finally, the tender document for the site provided all the necessary details which the paper is now questioning, making it obvious that it is relying on second-hand and incorrect information.