June 2008 Letters:

Dear Editor,

As an ex-pat living permanently in Cyprus, I would like to make a comment on a frequently mentioned subject, namely the falling arrival rate of British tourists to the island. Without doubt the strong value of the Euro and poor exchange rates, combined with an economic downturn in the U.K. is making U.K. holidaymakers look at other cheaper European destinations, but I would like to add another as yet unmentioned factor into the equation. As the owner of the 'Petrino Bar' in Kato Paphos, I like many other bar owners am constantly being visited by the Police, who rigidly enforce what can only be described as antiquated licensing laws. Even in the high season (May to October) all music played in bars must cease at 2am, although you may remain open without any music until 3.30am!

Many tourists actually want to listen to music later than this, as they can in many other European holiday resorts, whose bars continue with music until 3 or even 4am. After all who wants to sit in a bar until 3.30am without music? Of course, not everybody wants to stay out this late, but there are many who do, but cannot here in Cyprus, as they are basically being told that at 2am you should go to bed! People come on holiday to have a fun time and for many that means enjoying the nightlife.

I personally cannot understand how Paphos Police are able to allocate so many Police Officers to the task of licensing enforcement, now referred to by the local bar owners as the "Music Police". Many of my customers are extremely disappointed when in the middle of a good night out, the police come and tell you to turn off the music! Many actually say that next time they will go to Spain or Tenerife. All music licences issued by the Municipality clearly state that music should only be audible inside the premises, and should not be heard outside, so I really don't see the benefit to anyone of finishing music at 2am, if it's not causing a nuisance.

In fact making all bars close their music at 2am means that in the "bar street" area there is a massive amount of people all leaving premises at the same time, surely this is going to create a much greater problem for the police. If bars could stay open with music later, people would leave more gradually. I don't think there is any other European holiday destination that operates these kind of licensing laws. Many bar owners employ "look-outs" who watch for the Police after 2am, turning off the music when they pass, only to turn it back on again after they leave.

This results in a ridiculous "keystone cops" situation with police hiding round corners trying to catch the bar owners! The Police now use plan clothes officers and unmarked cars to combat the issue. I appreciate that the Police are only doing their job, very often the Police officers who visit me say that they believe that the music should be permitted until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays during the high season, but the law says 2am, and that's what they must enforce. The Central Tourist Organization who issue licenses to bars and restaurants are constantly saying that they are greatly concerned by the steady drop in tourists visiting Cyprus, perhaps they should get together with government and take a look at the subject of music licensing.

It would create greater prosperity for the island if the tourists spent more money and save money on unnecessary prosecutions against bar owners. Come on Cyprus, the islands economy depends on tourism, and yet shops are still closed on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and on Sundays, making it impossible for the tourists to spend their money, and we send them home to bed at 2am. Remember, it's all about supply and demand, and at the moments we cant supply!

Jamie Lambert



Dear Editor,

Those of us actively engaged in running the Friends' Hospice of Paphos were somewhat bemused by the advertisement in May's edition of Paphos Post concerning a Summer Bazaar for the Paphos Hospice of St. Michael. At no point in this advertisement did it mention that this is a hospice under construction. It read as though there was an existing hospice called St. Michael. This seems like deliberate deception to mislead the public into parting with their money.

A UK civil engineer estimated that it will be another five years before completion, and currently there has been no progress for some long time. We see from the said advert that Matron Ann Wailes will be on hand to answer questions about St Michaels' hospice and its functions. It would go interesting to know what functions this building site has. This suggests it already exists. It does not. The only working hospice in Paphos, offering palliative care and respite for life limiting diseases and receiving constant praise for the work done there, is the Friends' Hospice which occupies a wing in, but exclusive from, the Evangelismos Hospital.

Of course the public may make contributions wherever they wish but they need correct and not misleading information.

The Friends' welcome donations as well as support for their events. Call 26911641 to learn more.

Caroline Harman Smith
Anavargos Paphos



Dear Sir,

I am a resident in Paphos and I would like to make a complaint to The Municipality through your newspaper.

The roadwork in Kato Paphos took a very long time to be completed and although at last, the area which is for pedestrians is very nice, some areas are really not safe and certainly not inviting for tourists to walk along.

I am talking about Paphos Aphrodites. I was walking along this road with my family pushing my elderly mother in a wheel-chair intending to sit and have some lunch at the hospice shop cafe, but it was extremely dangerous to walk and very unpleasant to sit anywhere due to all the traffic going past. My grand daughter was almost knocked down by a speeding car. Also quad bikes which make such a deafening noise go roaring past, making the road extremely unpleasant.

After going to the expense of laying nice pavement tiles, surely this area should now be for pedestrians to be able to walk along in safety.

No one wants to risk their lives dodging speeding traffic on a narrow road that has no pavement.

The job should have been finished properly and bollards should be placed at the entrance to Paphos Aphrodites as they have in other enjoyable places.

I do hope the department in charge will resolve this situation now that the tourist season has started.

It does NOT encourage tourism. This island needs tourists to spread the word that Cyprus is a pleasant, safe place to spend their holiday and their money, which has turned Paphos from a fishing village to a popular holiday resort.

I hope someone is not injured or killed before action is taken about this problem. Maybe your newspaper can help influence 'the powers that be.'

Yours truly,

Diane Griffith
Peyia.