The Interior Ministry has terminated its contract for the Liopetri River fishing shelter development, sparking criticism from parliamentarians and calls for an audit investigation into the long-delayed project.
The project, which began in September 2020, has only reached 38.3% completion despite receiving 22 months of extensions beyond its original March 2023 deadline, according to officials speaking at Tuesday’s House Agriculture Committee meeting.
The Auditor General revealed that his office had recommended contract termination as early as April 2022, noting the project had moved “at a snail’s pace” from day one. He questioned what consequences the contractor would face regarding future public tenders.
“The contractor’s staff levels have consistently been minimal and insufficient based on the work schedule”, the Auditor General said, citing payment processing issues and warning that continued delays have led to quality degradation and cost increases.
The termination affects 40 professional fishermen and recreational business owners in the area. Ayia Napa’s mayor warned that the delays are damaging a local landmark and hurting tourism, while calling for swift completion of the project.
The Department of Town Planning defended the termination decision, saying they had exhausted all alternatives, including ministerial-level meetings with stakeholders. Officials confirmed they are now seeking new contractors to complete the work.
Parliamentary committee members criticised the government’s handling of the situation and called for compensation for affected fishermen, citing the state’s “inability and inadequacy” in managing public contracts.
