The GSD has issued a statement questioning the Government’s decision to assign the management of the Moorish Castle to Fortress Attractions Limited without tender.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

The revelation in Parliament last Thursday that the running of the Moorish Castle has been assigned, without tender, to Fortress Attractions Limited was alarming, even if not surprising, given this Government’s poor track record on transparency and fair play.

It was confirmed that the award was not the subject of a public tender process but the decision of another company, Knightsfield Holdings Limited, which is currently overseeing the restoration works at the site, to ‘sub-contract’ its running to Fortress Attractions Limited. Fortress Attractions being the same company which was awarded the contract for the provision of leisure activities at the Northern Defences.

As it is, Knightsfield Holdings Limited already receives in excess of £1.3M annually from the tax payer to manage sights such as the Moorish Castle.

Damon Bossino said: “That a potentially lucrative business, which the running of the Moorish Castle site will likely be – expected to receive income from increased tourist site fees – should not be the subject of an open and transparent tender process is very concerning.”

The Government should publish full details of the specific financial arrangements.