Our View: Larnaca port push ignores viability concerns
The Committee for the Development of Larnaca Town and District will hold a news conference on Monday to brief citizens about the latest developments surrounding the town’s port and marina and to make it clear that it would accept no more delays. Two days later, the committee will stage a protest at the port roundabout to make it clear to the transport ministry that there is no scope for any more delays on the issue of the port and marina.
A statement issued by the development committee said “Larnaca demands and is entitled to clear decisions, specific planning and the immediate start of implementation of development work at port and marina.” This is all election-inspired, as by the end of this month or the start of May, Greece’s Ypertamio will have delivered its study, which will specify the area of land in the port space that would be allocated to development – for restaurants, cafes etc. At about the same time the Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) will submit its official proposal for the development of the port and marina.
The land in the port for commercial development seems to be the only thing that really interests the Larnacans and they could disown the Ypertamio study if it restricts the area they would be able to develop. What is astonishing is that nobody has mentioned the word ‘viability’ in relation to the development of port and marina, even though the reason there were no takers for the project was its viability. Now that the CPA, a state organisation, will be running the show, nobody seems to care whether the project would be financially viable or a perennial loss-maker as it would be funded by the taxpayer. As long as there are enough square metres of port land for Larnacans to make a satisfactory number of restaurants, clubs and cafes, financial viability will be of little concern.
This is why it is of paramount importance for the government not to be pushed into costly decisions by the acute sense of entitlement of the Larnaca pressure groups. The fact that in more than two-and-a-half decades no private business has been found to take on the project of the Larnaca port and marina development (one that agreed pulled out) would suggest that it is not viewed as a profitable project. Could they have all got their numbers wrong?
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades has pledged to have a preliminary master plan for the development ready within one to two months after submission of the studies. Any plan should put the financial aspects of the project above the demands of the committee for the development of Larnaca which will not be picking up the bill.