Larnaca stakeholders on Monday expressed concern at the government’s recent decision to hire a private company to temporarily operate the port and marina, but also frustration at having been kept in the dark about the move.

The gripes were heard at Larnaca municipality, hosting a meeting between Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades and local groups. Presumably the meeting was held to smooth over the government’s abrupt announcement of its plans last week.

Speaking to the media later, Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras said various stakeholders complained to the minister as they had not been given a heads-up on the cabinet’s decision regarding the port and marina.

The mayor was diplomatic, however, saying he did not believe the minister deceived them or that the government has a “secret agenda”.

But at the same time, the government ought to have at least briefed the municipality before announcing its plans.

Beyond that, Vyras also voiced concern regarding the substance of the issue.

“Our misgivings are because, in Cyprus, the temporary tends to become permanent,” he said.

He was alluding to the government’s decision to issue a new tender for the operation and upkeep of both the port and marina. The successful bidder would gain the right to operate and maintain the marina for a period of five years, or until the process of finding a new investor to upgrade the marina’s infrastructure is completed.

The cabinet also authorised the transport ministry to continue operating the marina and carrying out necessary maintenance works until either December 31, 2025, or the date on which a private operator is found, whichever is earlier.

Seeking to assuage any worries, the transport minister said the temporary operator – a private company – would not become a permanent fixture. Neither would the operator get in the way of planned construction works at the marina, such as landscaping or the establishment of a sailing club.

“At the end of the day,” said Vafeades, “this affair will regulate the duties of the operator at the marina, and that’s why I’m actually confident about this…as the operator will not act as an investor, nor will they play an important role at the marina, certainly not in a way that they cannot cooperate with any construction works there.”

In the interim –until an investor is selected to upgrade and expand the port and marina – the government would keep any profits generated by operations at the two sites.

Plans for major development at the marina and port were scrapped back in May, when the government terminated its contract with Kition Ocean Holdings, the company it had initially entrusted with a combined project worth a reported €1.2 billion.

The contract was terminated after the government accused Kition of refusing to pay a requisite financial guarantee for the project’s operation and maintenance.