The New HQ Project

From the day the Group moved out of the College, its leadership knew that it could not continue to operate from the premises it had found. These were in fact subject to commercial rent rates and a contract covering a period of only fifteen years. Efforts to find alternative premises therefore started immediately. But this was easier said than done. In 1993, the new GSL immediately addressed this problem with enthusiasm. In 1997, after much efforts the Group managed to obtain a piece of land, by tender on lease from the Government, very close to its birthplace, the College, now named St Elias, and a Planning Authority building permit was issued early in 1998. In November 2000, the rent contract expired and a new rent contract had to be signed the terms of the which included a higher rent but the Group had no choice but to accept. The end of 2000 saw a breakthrough and the help that was being sought finally materialised. The construction actually started in early January 2001 and by the end of October the basement was ready and closed. The Group moved out of its old HQ on the 27th October 2001 and held its first Meeting in the new HQ on the 3rd November. Since that day, the Group went through a somewhat unsettled period because no water & electricity was yet installed. It was through the cooperation of the Umberto Calosso Headmaster, Mr John Saliba, that the Group managed to obtain permission to hold its evening meetings in the Staff Room. This of helped a lot to keep the Group going through the winter months. In the meantime, construction continued and as at March 2002 it is at a stage where work is being done on the first floor.