Criticism was leveled at the selection of a building in Paralimni for housing the provincial Cadastral and Urban Planning offices during the meeting of the Parliamentary Audit Committee last Thursday (11/5).
It was pointed out that the building belongs to a person who had written recommendations from the President of the Republic (who also appointed him to the Housing Financing Organization), the former President Glafkos Clerides, as well as DISY executives.
Criticisms were also heard about the fact that the secretary of the Council of Ministers also participated in meetings of the Body that managed the issue of the selection of the specific building.
The Auditor General, Odysseas Michailidis, pointed out that while the two Departments had to start using the building from last September, it did not start being used even though it was about nine months old. It was also pointed out that the electromechanical and other necessary works (which were undertaken by the state for € 500.000) have not yet begun.
In more detail, the chairman of the Audit Committee referred to photo offers in the case of renting a building on Griva Digeni Avenue for the headquarters of the Land Registry. He wondered why it was decided that the building should be built after 2000 and why there was a narrow restriction on the distances to which the building should be located. He also asked why the Department did not proceed with the construction of privately owned buildings. Can not from the rent of € 9 per sq.m. to pay € 13 per sq.m., he said. He also lamented the fact that a relevant document states that the Audit Office orally gave its consent for the rental of the specific building. The Auditor General clarified that he disagreed and that this also exists in writing. Odysseas Michailidis stated that the representative of the General Accounting Office was not present when the relevant decision was made.
Commenting on the difference observed in rents from building to building, he pointed out that in Lakatamia in the same building the State rents spaces with different rents.
The director of the Land Registry, Andreas Socratous, claimed that his Department followed the procedures to the letter. "I think the relocation of the headquarters was right, as we are operating under unacceptable conditions," he said, adding: "Come and see the building to see if anyone can work there." "I closed rooms because the ceiling is about to fall and it happened that I was present when part of it fell," he said characteristically.
Regarding the provision as the new building is located within a radius of two kilometers from the existing one, he said that it is not functional for one building to be located in the center and the other in Lakatamia.
"Before proceeding with the decision for relocation, we submitted a request to the ministry in order to promote the construction of a privately owned building, which may be ready in five years," he said.
Willingness to repair the existing building
The Auditor General, commenting on relevant reports, said that the existing building belongs to a family of MPs. DISY MP Andreas Kyprianou also claimed that the issue is political and warned of consequences. He also claimed that the owner of the existing building was willing to repair it only recently, when he was informed that the Land Registry would be moved. Opposition lawmakers have suggested that the state rents pre-election buildings to nearby landlords.
However, regarding the safety of the building, according to the opinions of a civil engineer who visually inspected it, it does not face a serious problem despite the fact that plaster is falling and despite the fact that in some parts of the beams the iron is partially worn. According to the civil engineer who inspected it, the building can be maintained and strengthened.
Comments on the Land Registry in Nicosia
In the new building to which the Land Registry Department will be relocated in Nicosia, for a rent of € 13,5 per square meter (sq.m.), one of the largest law firms in the area rents premises for € 9 per sq.m., as indicated yesterday the chairman of the Parliamentary Audit Committee, Zacharias Koulias.
This is also related to the fact that we will rent the building only for three years and not for long as other tenants, remarked the director of the Land Registry, Andreas Socratous. He also said that the building is highly energy efficient and will save 75% of energy, thus reducing the total cost.
The Auditor General indicated that the Ministry of Defense will rent a building on Strovolos Avenue, also of high energy efficiency, for € 10 per sq.m.
The chairman of the Committee called on the director of the Land Registry not to move to the new building until the matter has been examined. The Auditor General indicated that a preliminary agreement has already been signed which creates commitments to the owner of the building. This was the opinion of the director of the Land Registry, who added that the owner will obviously refer to commitments or expenses he undertook for separations and other works. Odysseas Michailidis pointed out that the state can be released at no cost, if the owner does not comply with the provisions of the agreement that require him to obtain a certificate of final approval and which is not sure if he will secure it in time.
What the Parliament asked for
Members of the Commission demanded that the names of the owners of buildings that are rented to the public be submitted, so that it becomes clear if they have any political connections. It was also asked whether the owners pay their taxes. In addition, it was requested that information be submitted as to which public buildings rented have a final approval certificate.
Explanations were also requested on whether there is a single policy in the rental of buildings and the need to change the way the competent Agency operates was stressed. At the same time, opinions of the Attorney General were requested for some contracts. It was also suggested that the decentralization of government services be considered, in order to pay lower rents and to reduce the phenomenon of traffic jams and the absence of parking spaces.
They evicted the owner from the parking lots
Regarding the building rented by the public for housing the provincial offices of the Land Registry and Urban Planning of Famagusta, MP Skevi Koukouma pointed out that there are delays and wondered where the secretary of the Council of Ministers is to give explanations as to what happened and the time. Nothing is progressing on the ground, said Ms. Koukouma.
The Auditor General, commenting on a relevant report, clarified that delays in the implementation of electromechanical works are not implemented not due to inspections, but at the responsibility of the owner. It was not possible to implement the € 500.000 projects required in four months, said Mr. Michailidis, with whom the coordinator of the works, Lefteris Christou, agreed. The owner did not meet his obligation to find the necessary parking spaces and a piece he found was rejected because he did not have access to a road, he said. He also said that it was removed from the contract that existed for additional parking spaces. Now a piece was found that probably meets the specifications, he said. He also explained that the electromechanical works did not start because the Town Planning did not approve the issuance of the building permit of the building.
On behalf of the Evaluation Committee of the building in Paralimni, Marios Katsantonis stated that the initial announcement (which provided for the finding of a building in free Famagusta) was withdrawn and with the instructions of the Minister of Interior the rent of a building in Paralimni was examined. Of the seven offers, three were selected and parcels were requested in order to be configured in parking lots. An adjacent piece was seized which was then released.
The Auditor General stated that in free Famagusta there are buildings that are rented for € 5 per sq.m. and the public rented for € 10 sq.m.
Source: Liberal