Significant developments in the promotion of the construction of two marinas in the area of free Famagusta are expected until April by the two large municipalities of Ayia Napa and Paralimni. In their exclusive statements, the mayors Giannis Karousos and Theodoros Pyrillis expressed optimism that everything will go smoothly and within the year the construction of the two major projects will be promoted, which are considered extremely important for tourism and the economy of the wider Famagusta region.
In the case of Ayia Napa, according to Mayor Ioannis Karousos, the problem ceased to exist a long time ago with finding an investor for the big project, but the problem remains with the satisfaction of the "extra incentive" he asks to start construction. projects. Specifically, the company "Karamontanis" claims that it has an investor for the marina, but at the same time it requests the satisfaction of its request for an additional permit of 14 thousand square meters of construction. According to the same information, the company is asking for the specific incentive to build a multi-storey hotel complex inside the marina (there is talk of a building up to 15 floors).
The request, always according to the mayor of Ayia Napa, is being promoted by the company itself to the Council of Ministers, which will probably have the final floor before April. This is because after April, the deadline for the start of construction works expires, an obligation undertaken by the company "Karamontanis" with the signing of the relevant agreement.
However, this issue is not the only one that the Council of Ministers is called upon to deal with. As revealed by Mr. Karousos, the Municipality of Ayia Napa also has two requests regarding the final form of the project.
That is:
In case the request of the company "Karamontanis" is satisfied for the construction of a multi-storey hotel inside the marina, then the same privilege should be granted to the landowners in the area adjacent to the marina, so that the law of justice applies.
However, the most important issue raised by the Municipality of Ayia Napa is the return of its request for a marina to the limits of being able to accommodate cruise ships. According to Mr. Karousos, this provision initially existed in the design of the project but was removed by the company "Karamontanis". However, Ayia Napa is now reiterating its demand because it believes that attracting cruise ships to free Famagusta is directly linked to the tourist progress and future of the region.
Concluding, the mayor of Ayia Napa, Ioannis Karousos, also said that he believes that regardless of the request of the company "Karamontanis", the works for the construction of the marina should begin within the first half of 2014.
Pyrillis: The issue is on the right track
Regarding the marina in Protaras (where the port of Golden Coast is located), the mayor of Paralimni, Theodoros Pyrilis, stated that the whole issue is on the right track. Paralimni expects that within the first quarter of 2014 the Ministry of Commerce may proceed with the announcement of bids for the project. "We hope to get the help we need from the state. "This project will not cost anything for the state", Mr. Pyrilis stated characteristically. "We", he concluded, "what we are asking for here and now is the immediate announcement of the project bids". He also stressed that "there are already several investors interested in the case of the marina in Protaras", as long as the state initiates the bidding process for the project.
In his statements, Mr. Pyrillis stressed that the two projects, the marinas of Ayia Napa and Protaras, are of major importance for the development of tourism and the wider economy of free Famagusta. He also said that the province has been deprived of significant development projects in recent years, although it contributes more than 20% to GDP and hosts more than 50% of tourist arrivals on the island. "Some people should finally realize that the hen that lays the golden eggs in the economy also needs food to continue laying them," he said characteristically. He added that an example of the lack of state affection for the region is the continued non-promotion of the state urban planning project for the regeneration and beautification of the Pernera area, one of the most beautiful in Paralimni and Protaras.
Source: FILELEFTHEROS