Transport Minister Chris Bonnet has finally bowed to parliament’s pressure to table the privatisation contract for the Gardens Yacht Marina in Ta’ Xbiex.
However, following months of questions by PN MP Albert Buttigieg, the copy he made available was incomplete. It leaves out all of the contract’s annexes, including all the crucial details of the concessionaire’s obligations.
At the same time, Transport Malta, led by Kurt Farrugia, has so far refused to make the same documents available to The Shift.
Details of the contract have become important following various investigations by The Shift on the ongoing building of a Capitanerie to serve as a large restaurant for the marina’s private concessionaires.
The unsightly building, currently being erected despite its permit being challenged in court, is being built on behalf of Transport Malta, even though the marina was privatised years ago.
Transport Malta is listed as responsible for the ongoing works in Ta’ Xbiex.
Transport Malta spearheaded the permit for the controversial Capitanerie. According to official documents, the project’s owner is the current CEO, Kurt Farrugia.
The head of communications for former disgraced prime minister Joseph Muscat did not reply to questions about why Transport Malta was fronting the application for the private owners holding the concession.
Farrugia insisted the project would be financed by the private marina owners, but he presented no proof to back up his claim.
Upon completion, the Capitanerie and the restaurant being built will be delivered to Gardens Marina Ltd’s owners.
The company obtained the 25-year concession in 2019 and is led by siblings Mark and Paul Gauci from Birkirkara, known as Tal-Gedida. They have two other partners, Matthew Fiorini Lowell and Patrick Satariano.
Georges Bonello Du Puis is listed as site manager, although his full involvement is as yet unclear.
Robert Abela’s yacht at its new berth at Gardens Marina, Ta’ Xbiex.
In the summer, the brothers spend weekends on their luxury boats with Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife, Lydia.
Just a few weeks ago, The Shift reported that the prime minister started berthing his private luxury yacht at the marina managed by the Gaucis.
The Shift asked Abela whether he was paying the estimated €15,000 berthing fees, but the prime minister did not reply.
A repeat of the infamous Vital contract without blacked-out pages this time – but just as informative, one presumes!!
If someone hide so many things:
It smells very strong.
How can it be that the PL don’t stand every single day in court for so many bad things? HOW???
How can it be that they are ALL stay free?
For me there is only one answer:
ROBBER Abela.
The man who turned with Joseph Muscat Malta to a nearly 3rd world country and he is not finished yet.
Did Bobby’s berthing fee rise like all the rest?
The whole island is killing a business because they believe that with the present inflation, 25 and 50% increases are justified. Next year, Malta will be very surprised in its business with the EU. What has Bobby done to protect the island from the coming inflation and 10 to 25% increases across the board from most EU manufacturing? Where is that socialist soul of the Labour Party? Eh, how times have changed.
When the Ministers do not reply then the worst case scenario should be published . Then let the Minister prove otherwise.
Gorging on public assets without any restraint whatsoever; with guardians of the public purse such as Kurt Farrugia it’s all par for the course; we have been there before, that’why he is still there.