The GSD says the Government's recent reply "fails to address the fact that they are guilty of a fundamental breach of an electoral promise".

A statement from the GSD follows below:

The Government statement in response to the GSD’s concerns on Catalan Bay fails to address the fact that they are guilty of a fundamental breach of an electoral promise.

They promised that the “East Side Development will not  encroach beyond the southern-most point of the reclamation (the northernmost point of the beach)” and in a personal  letter to Catalan Bay residents from Mr Picardo, the current Chief Minister, he said that “I can assure you that the  marina will NOT extend further south than the line of the existing reclamation”. 

On any view of the plans and designs, as currently before the Development and Planning Commission, on the face of  it the marina arm cuts all the way across the entirety of the beach. Without further explanation, this represents one  of the core commitments on this project which the Government would have so obviously and glaringly failed to keep. 

This is not speculation. It is evident in the plans. One of the Government’s core commitments has been broken in full  public view. They should face this reality, assume responsibility and stop with the GSD blame-game.  

In a weak and ineffective attempt at worming their way out of their obvious predicament, we are no longer being told  that the development will not cut across the full length of the beach and its village – because it is an evident truth that  it will - but that the sea wall “will be replaced by low-level revetments”.  

Instead of facing up to this reality, the Government is scrambling to excuse the inexcusable. In its usual spin and volley  of half-truths and lies the Government has the gall to sell the story that this aspect of the project will enhance  biodiversity. The one truth in the Government’s statement, which the GSD assumes was either a typo or a rare instance  of truth-telling, is that the marina arm will in fact reduce visibility. This must be the case.  

Giovanni Origo, the Shadow Minister for Tourism and the Environment said: 

“The GSLP have been in government for almost 14 years. Their tired and worn rhetoric in which they finger point at the GSD simply has no effect and has no traction with the public as it bears no scrutiny anymore.  Should the GSD now remind the Government of the devastating effects of its own reclamation projects of 35  years ago? 

This has nothing to do with the economic and social value of the project. The Government should not  misrepresent the GSD’s position as being one of blanket opposition to development of the East Side. This could  not be further from the truth. The fact is that they made a promise, they have broken it, and they now need to  wear it.” 

Will they also keep to their other electoral promise that the rubble will be removed “within 24 months”? They now  only have 2 months left. The GSD wait with bated but not hopeful breath.