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Cyprus’s Ministry of the Interior has terminated the employment of the engineer and contractor for the Liopetri Fishing Shelter and River Restoration Project due to long-standing delays and unmet contractual obligations, according to an announcement by the ministry.
The project, originally scheduled to begin on September 18, 2020, with completion expected by March 18, 2023, has faced numerous setbacks despite the ministry granting extensive time extensions totaling an additional 22 months. This pushed the new completion deadline to January 14, 2025. However, with the project progressing from only 50% to 55% over the past year, the ministry cited "reduced and extremely slow rates of progress" and a lack of compliance from both the contractor and project engineer.
According to the ministry, repeated attempts were made to avoid contract termination. Meetings were held with the contractor, project engineer, and local stakeholders — including officials from the Urban Planning and Housing Department and the Department of Fisheries — in hopes of expediting progress. Despite these efforts, the ministry stated that neither the contractor nor the engineer fulfilled their commitments. The two parties reportedly failed to meet quality standards, adhere to specifications, and comply with procedures. The delays have impacted local professionals, including fishermen and business owners, who have long anticipated the project’s benefits.
The project’s prolonged setbacks, the ministry said, have jeopardized not only the immediate community but the broader development prospects for the region. With a recent report from the Audit Service supporting the termination, citing unjustified delays and unmet milestones, the ministry determined that termination was necessary to mitigate further damage.
Following the terminations, the Ministry of the Interior is now evaluating alternative solutions to ensure the project's completion, focusing on options that would limit additional costs and expedite the timeline.
