The building program that was included in the tender documents in question “was prepared in accordance with all relevant laws, regulations, standards and circulars”, according to a statement.
Taking into account that misleading information continues to be provided by some regarding the planning, specifications and time shift of the construction of the new building of the Legal Service (Competition under the title “Legal Service of the Republic” with decree no. A/1/2023 E), the Legal Service of the Republic states the following:
The specifications and size (area in square meters) of the offices and other spaces of the building of the Legal Service of the Republic were prepared by the Department of Public Works (“TDE”) of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, as the legally competent government department which plans and oversees the implementation of government development Projects. Hence all the relevant correspondence on the relevant subject was between the TDE and the Audit Service, since both know that the Legal Service of the Republic is not expected to comment on any of the issues under discussion.
The TDE responded in writing and in detail to all the comments of the Auditor General with a letter dated September 28, 2023, which was also communicated to us.
In particular and verbatim it is written in the above letter of the Senior Director of TDE to the Auditor General, the construction program that was included in the tender documents under reference “was prepared in accordance with all the relevant legislation, regulations, standards and circulars, with a view to the almost zero energy consumption, with minimal impact and absolute respect for the environment and receiving all the required approvals before the tender announcement. The building program was also approved by the Fire Service and the Police, as the competent Services/Departments for fire safety and security issues. It was also approved by the National Security Authority, the Municipality of Nicosia, the Department of Labor Inspection and the Department of Cadastre and Land Surveying.
In relation to the Environmental Assessment Study, the TDE states in its said letter that, in all cases where a public project is promoted by the Study – Construction – Maintenance method, the Environmental Impact Assessment Study is submitted as an integral part of the process tenders and that in the specific project, the contractor would prepare the Environmental Impact Assessment Study based on the preliminary studies that he would publish.
In addition to the content of the letter in question, it is also emphasized that the claim that the Attorney General of the Republic personally requested excessive amenities for his Office in the new building of the Legal Service of the Republic is both unfounded and unethical because, among other things, the of the Constitution, the date of retirement of the current Attorney General of the Republic is earlier than the date of expected delivery of the project and therefore, in reality, he could not, anyway, use it personally.
In conclusion and independently of the above, on the one hand, the vital role of the Legal Service of the Republic, which supports the entire public administration daily and uninterruptedly by providing services inside and outside the Courts, and on the other hand, the absolute necessity of co-housing all the Law Sectors is re-emphasized. Service of the Republic in a modern and functional building, which will serve economies of scale and save resources, financial and non-financial.
The Legal Service of the Republic respects the need for fiscal consideration, which the announcement of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works cites as the reason for the postponement of the construction of the new building of the Legal Service, however, considers that the Government should give priority to construction implementation of the project as soon as possible.
