The report discusses in details the program for Rehabilitation of Historic Districts and Tourism Infrastructure in Batumi 2009-2013. The document also submits separately the projects funded within the program such as: construction of Alphabetic Tower and Piazza Square, as well as Historic Fort and Opera House in Batumi. The report also pays attention to the issue of cultural heritage in the process of implementing the program for Rehabilitation of Historic Districts and Tourism Infrastructure in Batumi 2009-2013. 

 

The report also contains visual photo material to make it easier for readers to perceive the program Rehabilitation of Historic Districts and Tourism Infrastructure 2009-2013 together with the parallel developments. 

 

While working on the report GYLA has learned that:

 

• Majority of procurement forms applied by Batumi City Hall in the frames of programs for Rehabilitation of Historic Districts of Batumi and Tourism Infrastructure implemented by Batumi self-government in 2009-2013 are less competitive and fall short of the standard of transparency. For the Piazza project, construction of alphabetic tower and organization of amenities for the nearby territory Batumi City Hall spent GEL 80 million on procurement through single bid negotiation and simplified means of public procurement. 

 

• Over the years in frames of the rehabilitation program in Batumi, millions of laris were spent for procuring services and works which were later never actually implemented; some of vivid examples include construction of Opera Theatre in old boulevard of Batumi, Fort of Batumi on the seaside, Piazza roofing, etc. Based solely on projects contained by this report, GYLA estimated GEL 3,533,364 spent by Batumi City Hall on projects never realized. 

 

• Majority of the programs for Rehabilitation of Historic Districts of Batumi and Tourism Infrastructure implemented by Batumi self-government in 2009-2013, which entailed performing of works or provision of service, was not based on accurate and comprehensive information. 

 

• None of the changes made to the 2009-2013 rehabilitation program provide any information or justification about the necessity of modifications made. Furthermore, analysis of the 2009-2013 program suggests that these changes made over the years were spontaneous in nature rather than based on objective calculations. 

 

• This report has also found that in light of the fact that the rehabilitation program provided funding for a number of projects, including for those that were eventually never realized, many buildings with the status of cultural heritage were destroyed and/or significantly modified. 

 

GYLA considers decisive that in light of the many unanswered questions that remain about works performed in frames of the rehabilitation program in Batumi, as well as the problems uncovered by this report, relevant state authorities should take an interest and examine in a comprehensive manner the 2009-2013 Program for Rehabilitation of Historic Districts and Tourism Infrastructure in Batumi.