Corfu ND MP Stefanos Gikas: "ETAD did not just sit back and do nothing about Achilleion"

Corfu ND MP Stefanos Gikas, who gave a press conference regarding the important meetings he had in Athens, referred to the restoration work at Achilleion which has stopped.

Mr. Gikas responded to the statements of the SYRIZA and PASOK MPs.

"I was surprised to hear what the opposition said about the work at Achilleion that has stopped, as if the problem that most public works are facing is not known. It is worth noting that during the four and a half years of the SYRIZA government, the project had not even started, the funding had not even been secured.

What Achilleion is facing is what a number of public works are also facing and as far as ETAD is concerned, the same problem exists in Diros Caves and Kaiafas Lake, as well as other places it owns."

Discount

The MP said that indeed the discount given in 2021 by the contractor awarded the contract was very high - 49.4%. "Some parts of the project have progressed, such as the Baron's building which has been completed. The barracks are at 80% and the main building has had significant work done but at a lower percentage of completion."

"Precisely because there was this delay, ETAD has not just sat back and done nothing. It has already assigned the updating work. Secondly, for months now, there has been cooperation with the Ministry of Finance so that the project can be included in a new funding programme and immediately afterwards it will be put out to tender. The government has not abandoned this major project, instead we are doing everything we can to get it started and completed."

Mr. Gikas also said that on Tuesday he will have a meeting with the Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

"My proposal, as well as that of the Directorate, is that Achilleion should remain open all year round, even during the winter months, with some sections open to visitors and of course the gardens. It is easy to say big words, but when SYRIZA was in charge, it did nothing," concluded Mr. Gikas.

Brief history

Although Achilleion is owned by ETAD, which earns its revenue from its huge visitor numbers, the monument had been left unmaintained and was in a tragic state. It was necessary to secure funds from the Ionian Islands ESPA programme to put its restoration out to tender.

During Theodoros Galiatsatos' term of office, resources were secured by the Regional Authority through the ESPA 2014-2020 programme in July 2019.

It was included in the programme with a budget of €12.9 million in April 2020 by Rodi Kratsa and it had to be completed until 31 December 2023. However, the project was progressing slowly and eventually ended up with the same outcome - dissolution and re-tender.

The contract with the contractor was signed on 23 March 2021 at €5.8 million (including VAT), while the initial budget was €11.5 million (including VAT), with the contractor getting the project with a 49.4% discount. ETAD is the contracting authority.

CHRISTINA GEREKOU