The Government says that following constructive engagement with the Moroccan Community Association, it has announced an agreement with the developers of the Queen’s Hotel site to ensure continued accommodation for all current residents of the hostel until a new facility is constructed at the Sunrise Motel. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

The new extension to the Sunrise Motel, designed to accommodate these residents, is anticipated to be completed in approximately 18 months. In the interim, the current facilities at the Queen’s Hotel will undergo refurbishment to improve the standard of living for its occupants during this period. 

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: "I am very grateful for the work done by Pat Orfila and Gemma Arias-Vasquez with the Moroccan Community Association and their Youth in helping us to engage with the residents of the hostel in a positive and forward-looking manner, and to resolve the issues that concerned them. This has produced a very positive outcome, despite some trying to use hostel residents for party political purposes. We can now agree a more realistic way forward and that will benefit all parties, not least the residents of the hostel and the taxpayer. The Government will now continue to work closely with all stakeholders to oversee the timely completion of the Sunrise Motel extension and ensure that the temporary housing arrangements at the Queen’s Hotel meet acceptable standards, as was the case when we moved residents in from the GSD's Buena Vista Hostel which was unfitfor human habitation. I wantto add my particular thanks also to Ali Douissi and Sumaya Acheddad for their work for the MCA and the MCAY and all their help in finalising these arrangements".