Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1179886
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 OCTOBER 2019 NEWS KURT SANSONE PLANS unveiled for a new Gozo courthouse two years ago have been scrapped as the Gozo Ministry 'explores' a new site for the project to replace the Citadella court. No money was voted for the project in Budget 2020, which raised eyebrows among peo- ple in the legal profession who have been clamouring for a new courthouse. The first confirmation that previous plans were abandoned was given by Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana in a parlia- mentary reply to questions by Nationalist MP Chris Said. Caruana told Parliament last week that her ministry was "ex- ploring a more central site" but could not give details. Follow-up questions sent by MaltaToday to determine whether the plans unveiled in November 2017 for a court- house between Xewkija and Victoria have been scrapped were met with a similar short answer. "The courthouse is a project that will be delivered. At the moment, we are exploring a new site which was not avail- able earlier but we are still at discussion stage," the ministry replied. No further detail was given and questions as to why Budget 2020 did not contain an allocation for the project re- mained unanswered. The courthouse saga has been going on for the past few years with no progress whatsoever. Caruana's predecessor, Anton Refalo, had unveiled plans for a new courthouse in Victoria for which a planning permit was obtained in 2016. However, after the 2017 gen- eral election, Caruana, the in- coming minister, unveiled new plans for a different site on the outskirts of Xewkija. The rea- son for abandoning the original plans was put down to inad- equate geology at the Victoria site. Now, a third location is be- ing explored and no reason has been given yet for the change in direction. The budget for the missed project has been diminishing year after year. In Budget 2018, €450,000 were allocated in cap- ital funding for the courthouse project but actual expenditure was of €5,192. Budget 2019 al- located €120,000 for the pro- ject. And next year no money has been made available. No money for courthouse but Gozo ministry promises it 'will be delivered'