News • 08 December 2002

Lm24,000 saved by withdrawing White Rocks surveillance

VALLETTA - Government’s decision to withdraw security surveillance at the vacant White Rocks Complex saved public coffers almost Lm24,000 a year.

That was the cost for keeping a watchful eye on a complex that is scheduled to be demolished in the coming months.

Speaking to MaltaToday’s TVM current affairs programme , Reporter, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that after selecting the consortium to develop the complex, the security arrangement was withdrawn because it did not make sense to guard a vacant property.

The White Rocks complex occupies a prime seaside site just off Pembroke but ever since security surveillance was removed vandals have run down the whole place. This prompted Labour leader Alfred Sant to call for Dr Refalo’s resignation.

During the same programme Labour tourism spokesperson Karmenu Vella insisted that the destruction at White Rocks was government’s responsibility since the land is still government property.

Asked about the delay that has prevented work on the complex from starting, Dr Refalo said that there was a high probability that by the end of January the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was going to issue an outline development permit.

It is understood that the delay in the project arose after the Malta Resources Authority wanted to carry out its own studies on the site before works could commence.