Through an agreement that was signed today, the legal title that the Luqa St Andrew’s football club has on the land for 45 years is being strengthened and thus the club is now in a much better position to manage this land.
The agreement therefore allows this club to occupy the land for a longer period of time, than a 25-year lease as it had previously, and thus has a major incentive to invest so that state-of-the-art facilities can be built. Among these, a new and modern building so that the club can work from it.
The signing of the agreement was chaired by the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima and the Minister for the Economy, European Funds and Lands Silvio Schembri.4
Minister Grima said that this is another agreement that shows the Government’s commitment to help sports associations and unions at every level.
“Our plan and vision are clear, that of strengthening the sports sector to continue raising the level of sport in our country, even at the level of clubs,” said Minister Grima. He spoke about the various aid schemes that are being given to associations and clubs so that they can strengthen their work in the various respective sports disciplines.
“Today’s agreement shows the Government’s commitment to continue to fulfill its electoral sporting promises, initiatives whose aim is to give clubs and sports federations the tools and facilities to continue grow,” said Minister Grima.
Minister Silvio Schembri remembered a time when he too was a child playing with Luqa St Andrew’s but at a time when the facilities were minimal.
“For me and for the children of Luqa this day is a dream. A dream that has now come true and our children will be enjoying it,” he said.
Through the signed contract, today we will be improving the decision of 2008, and through the Department of Lands where a title is being given on the land for 45 years. Through the 95% subsidy offered by the Government on the acquisition of Government lands to be converted into sports facilities, the total amount of rent that the club will pay per year is two thousand and thirty euros (€2,030), instead of the current value of forty thousand six hundred euros (€40,600).
The rent payment is put into a ‘Sports Fund’ and the money is then utilized for further reinvestment in local sport. The mentioned investment will also be beneficial for children and young people because the land that is being transferred will also serve the youth nursery of Luqa St. Andrew’s as well as children who attend the nearby school during school hours.
