The General Workers’ Union has submitted an offer to take over the development and running of a new yacht marina in Sa Maison for the next 25 years, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.
Sources close to Transport Malta, which issued a request for proposals last July to grant a new government concession, told this newspaper that the GWU – through one of its commercial companies – had submitted a bid together with two partners forming a consortium known as CGS.
The GWU’s partners in this bid are Creek Developments Ltd – which already operates the Ta’ Xbiex and Msida Marina – and another company controlled by the owner of the Paparazzi restaurant in Gżira. Five bids have been received for this concession.
Robert Borg, the GWU’s financial controller who is also a director on the two commercial arms of the union – GWU Holdings Ltd and GWU Properties Ltd – was appointed by the Labour government soon after the general election on a number of government boards and entities, including Transport Malta where he serves as board secretary.
The final decision on the winning consortium will be taken by the Transport Malta board of directors.
The other bidders for the yacht marina concession are Marina di Valletta Consortium, Harbour Management Ltd and two others called Valletta Marina Consortium.
The evaluation process is still ongoing
Asked to give details on the companies or individuals involved in these consortiums, a spokesman for Transport Minister Joe Mizzi declined to give any details stating only that “the evaluation process is still ongoing”.
This newspaper is informed that the other consortiums competing with the GWU for this bid include a number of experienced companies in the yachting sector with some already running other marinas including the one in Gozo. Businessmen Beppe Hili and Michael Zammit Tabona – owner of the Fortina Hotel – are also investors in two different consortiums.
The GWU has struck important commercial deals with the Labour government since its return to power in March 2013.
Last year, the GWU was given a tender by Arms Ltd – the State entity responsible for issuing utility bills – to lease premises at its headquarters in Valletta.
Despite questions about how much the GWU being is paid for this five-year lease, the Energy Ministry said the information was commercially sensitive and could not disclose the sum involved.
Transport Malta has also agreed with the GWU to lease another of its properties – some four floors at the A3 Tower in Marsa – as its offices.
Under the deal, Transport Malta will be paying €500,000 a year to the GWU for the next five years. An option for another five-year renewal is included in the contract.