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November 2008 Articles:
'Tales of the Unexpected' -
Aircraft crash delays start of first trial at the new Paphos
airport
I WAS once told that you
should always expect the unexpected but I'm sure that Hermes
did not imagine in their planning of the trial runs at the
new Paphos International Airport that a light aircraft would
crash on the runway seconds before takeoff and just a few
minutes before the start of the first new airport trial.
The aftermath of the crash of the Cessna 150 luckily saw the
two people aboard only suffer broken bones but there was an
hours delay before the other 99 people plus myself were
allowed to continue on our 'journeys'.
There were 100 people for the first trial run and I was
interested journalistically to see how it would all run.
Having picked up our baggage (two per person) from in front
of the airport we were ready to begin when the announcements
were made regarding the crash and apologies made for our
wait. As we were all free agents with nothing much else to
do the banter was light-hearted and nobody quite seemed to
mind the delay.
What would have happened if this was after the airport
opened, might have been a different matter.
Three Destinations
There were three different destinations chosen with tickets
from one of them in the pack handed out at the beginning. I
was to fly to London (Gatwick) - the other two destinations
being Amman and Glasgow.
We march into the departure hall to find our checking points
- mine happened to be at the very end - and we queued as
normal with our baggage.
Obviously, it was a bit slow at the start but it warmed up
very quickly and I was soon at the front dropping my bags on
the belt weigher prior to the bags disappearing for loading
on the imaginary plane.
I should imagine, although I didn't time it precisely, that
we were an hour before facing the ordeal of the security
check. This was a normal thorough operation with the usual
unsmiling operators quickly examining your hand-baggage etc;
(I made the mistake once of jesting with a security officer
at Gatwick when flying over to Cyprus and was punished by
having to go through it all again. So now I don't smile
either!)
Then it was on to the departure lounge past the unfinished
shops, which hopefully will add a little warmth and colour
to the rather dull vast buildings. The departure lounge was
full of the usual uncomfortable metal-seats, although
ergonomically designed for your body, here we were given a
sandwich pack, which contained two sandwiches, and apple, a
bag of crisps and a bottle of water.
PA System problems
The PA System reminded me of the average British Rail
station with the announcers sounding like they had blocked
noses or adenoids problems. Barely distinguishable but was
thankfully in English.
Then it was onto a bus, quick circuit of part of the runway
and into arrivals, passports in hand. This seemed a simple
operation and I was looked on by the young Cypriot with no
real suspicion that I might not be who I was.
Then the usual push and shove to get a pole position of the
baggage reclaim before picking up two cases somewhat similar
(they might even have been the same) and through Customs to
the outside world again.
I have often wondered why I feel so furtive faced with the
'Nothing to Declare' sign even when I do genuinely have
nothing to declare.
I had no real complaints - except for an improvement in the
PA System, which seem endemic with establishments of travel
and the new airport is certainly a big improvement on the
old one - now looking slightly decadent.
The exercises that concluded on Monday October 27 with the
return of all those who had taken part in the three previous
trials as part of staff training programmes, which Hermes
Airports hope will ensure smooth travel experiences for
passengers using the new airport when it opens November.
All those taking part in one trial and on the final day are
being offered EUR50's worth of shopping coupons from
Debenhams and Super Home Centre and in addition each
participant will also be entered for a draw for EUR5,000,
held on the final rehearsal day.
Whatever the outcome, I will always be able to repeat the
immortal words of the Welsh comedian, Max Boyce, - "I was
there."
Smoking Ban Law in Cyprus needs
better implementation - says EU
THE EUROPEAN Union's ban on smoking is being flouted
regularly in Cyprus and the EU's Health Commissioner has
order the government’s Health Minster to tighten the law up.
The EU’s Health Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou has
expressed her disapproval regarding the failure of Cyprus to
implement the ban properly.
The government’s Health Minister, Christos Patsalides
examined the current law’s shortcomings and sent a letter to
the Justice Minister, Kypros Chrysostomides asking for a
stricter implementation of the law for no smoking in public
areas.
The current fines for breaking the ban are €34 fine in
nightclubs and €85 on public vehicles, which Patsalides says
are inadequate and do not act as a deterrent.
The 2002-2004 Protection of Health (smoking) unified Laws
prohibit smoking in all public places, including nightclubs,
cafes and restaurants, in all government buildings, public
transport and in private cars carrying passengers under the
age of 16.
Each individual bar, nightclub or restaurant has the right
to designate a well-ventilated smoking area.
Of the nearly 21,400 checks carry out by the police on
nightclubs since the beginning of the year, 1,066 were
reported for not implementing the law’s provisions.
Leftover money to fund
Paphos-Polis highway!
MONEY LEFT over from projects that were budgeted for but
didn't go ahead last year will be used to help fund the
construction of the Paphos to Polis Chrysochous highway,
which will start in mid-2009.
This was revealed when the Communications Minister, Nikos
Nikolaides, presented his ministry's 2009 budget to the
House Finance Committee. He told deputies that he planned to
use EUR40m to fund expropriations next year.
His procedure, he said, would be complete by the middle of
next year, when the road’s long awaited construction will
finally begin.
Said Nikolaides: "The favoured investor has been chosen and
from September 9 this year, negotiations began to achieve
and sign an agreement by the beginning of 2009. He added
that the whole construction would cost an estimated 275
million.
The main highway will be 30.5 kilometres long and will
include byroads for Polis Chrysochous to Pomos and Latchi as
well as a connection to Mesogi around eight metres long.
The Communications budget also provides for - an upgrade of
the construction of connecting roads between a number of
communities including Ayios Nicolaos and Mandria.
Accident Death Toll Close to Last Year's Total
WITH THE deaths of two men taking the total toll on the
island this year to 66 since the beginning of the year, the
number is now dangerously close to last year’s total at the
same time.
There had been a slight fall in the number of fatalities but
the latest figures again highlight how badly Cyprus compares
with other EU countries.
The main problem is, as the latest accidents indicate, that
speeding, dangerous driving and not wearing seatbelts cause
the majority of accidents. It seems that despite yearly
awareness campaigns and increased police clampdowns on
speeding and drinking drivers, nothing seems to make any
great impact on road deaths.
"Cyprus,
unfortunately, is very much deprived of the proper road
safety standards of other European countries," says
Communications Minister, Nikos Nicolaides.
(Editor's note: Many would also argue that it is due to a
poor standard of driving, particularly among the younger
drivers, and also a lack of concentrated police presence. To
enforce the Law requires Law Enforcement.)
October 2008 Articles:
Handed Over - On Time - and not
a day over!
A proud boast - but will
it all work on the day?
The construction of the new Pafos International Airport and
all its installations and systems has been completed - on
time and on budget - and was handed over to Hermes at the
beginning of September and the launch day set for November
17. By then it should be working like clockwork. The big
question is - WILL IT?
What you don’t expect to go wrong - often does!
TRUE - there are still a few teething problems to iron out
but with equipment and construction at around 126 million
Euros you might expect that a few hitches will occur before
the day despite every effort to ensure that it all goes
right on the day.
All the systems have been checked and verified by the
constructing company Bouygues Batiment International of
France, its associates and all the various sub-contractors
working on the project, and a lot of time will be spent from
handing over day to when it opens training all the personnel
who will work the new installations and sophisticated
technical equipment.
The new building, which has an area of 18,500 sq.m, has 24
check-in counters, systems that supply information to the
travelling public, three conveyor belts, four security
arcades, a VIP room, specially equipped room for businessmen
and closed circuit television and 800 parking spaces
outside.
It
will employ around 1,800 people and should service some 2.7
million people annually.
The underlying architectural theme of the airport that makes
it pleasing to the eye is the well-known Cyprus goddess,
Aphrodite, with wall mosaics giving it an artistic touch.
"We
want passengers to feel that they are in Cyprus by promoting
the heritage of the country which is so rich," said Michel
Hochet, managing director of the Cyprus branch of Bouygues
Batiment International, the French company responsible for
the project.
"Everything
from beginning to end, from the first design to the build
was to reflect our concept," added the art curator, Yiannis
Toumazis.
"From
the colours we have used to the materials, we wanted to
reflect Cyprus and its history."
The whole area from check-in counters, the stone floor and
the local pebble mosaics, provide a pleasing appearance and
contrast to the present terminal. The sculpture of the
goddess Aphrodite at the entrance and the space that
portrays the history of Cyprus all add a certain ambience to
keep passengers in the right mood.
You get the feeling that every effort has been made to
provide comfort while being functional and it certainly has
a Cypriot feel about it.
I toured a Paphos beach and talked to some of the
holidaymakers here about what they hoped from the new
airport.
"I
just want to be able to get through and away as quickly as
possible when I go home with the minimum of delay. If there
is a delay I like to have somewhere comfortable to sit and
wait," a holidaymaker from Essex told me.
"Information
about what’s going on is very important," said a Manchester
lady. "If there are delays and something is going wrong you
need to be told, so that you can prepare and relax. Nothing
is worse than not knowing what’s going on."
"I
just want to see a few smiling faces. Pretty girls always
make me feel happier," said one teenage boy from Bristol.
At least when Paphos has been tried and tested the
information gathered can be passed on to official of the
building at Larnaca Airport, which is scheduled to open on
time in November 2009.
Dummy runs for the new Paphos Airport first scheduled for
last month will take place this month. Passengers will be
used to give a real test of the airport’s readiness to begin
operation for business.
* ONE difference that has already emerged between the two
airports is the shuttle service that has been operated so
successfully at Larnaca airport. There now seems little
chance that this will be operated at Paphos. The explanation
would appear to be that Paphos Airport is so close to the
town itself that the service it is deemed unnecessary. The
most likely reason is the vehement protest by the airport’s
taxi-drivers, who were angry over the perceived competition
for their services.
Collapsed airline – The mess
that gets left behind
THE COLLAPSE of an
airline company is nothing new - it seems to happen at
regular intervals. The collapse of an airline catches the
headlines but it the mess that it leaves behind that causes
the heartaches.
Although a pretty comprehensive rescue package was mounted
from the UK to all points that the XL airline reached, the
collapse left stranded passengers in many locations. The
after-effects were that it would also have an impact on the
island’s already beleaguered hotel industry.
XL was the UK’s third-largest package holiday group and XL
Airways operated eight flights per week to both Larnaca and
Paphos airports from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Heathrow.
In all, they were bringing around 2,000 passengers to Cyprus
each week.
Around 80,000 passengers were stranded in various locations
abroad and aviation authorities faced a daunting task in
flying them back home with around 450 flights needed to
complete the task.
Many thousands, not covered by protected packages, had to
find their own way home.
The backlash was the fact that some €200,000 would be lost
to Cyprus hotels in lost bookings.
Paphos polluters must clear up or be fined
"OH! WHAT a circus. Oh! What a MESS!" Seems to be the cry
from Paphos residents as they survey the once very pretty
municipality.
Sure, there have been improvements in recent times but
renovations, road works and the continuing construction of
the concrete jungle haven’t improved its overall appearance.
However, the main problem that remains is the continuing
indiscriminate tipping and littering.
A
Paphos councillor said: "It's a general problem here in
Paphos but there is a law which we, as councillors, voted
in. This allows for people fly tipping or littering to be
fined.
"Unfortunately,
to date this hasn’t been exercised properly by local
authority employees," he added.
Many would agree that Paphos is a cleaner place but it still
needs to be improved and one way to do that would be to
enforce more penalties for dumping rubbish. And, they cannot
keep relying on volunteers to clear up the rubbish, as
happened recently.
The main problem is the dumping of old cars, tyres and
household goods, which isn't helped by the fact that Paphos,
and indeed Cyprus in general, has no proper recycling
processes.
The other problem is the many building sites that abound in
the area. There is a huge amount of building work in
progress at the moment and many of the sites are left with
rubbish that needs to be cleared away and dumped on a
landfill site.
Questions must be asked when the various councils of the
district meet and action must be taken.
August 2008 Articles:
Is Cyprus still the island
paradise to be living on or are ex-Pats better off going
back to the UK?
DESPITE ALL the brochure talk
of Cyprus still being one of Europe's top property spots and
places to live is it really still continuing to grow in
popularity for overseas buyers or are we seeing a backlash
to the dramatic price rises in just about every commodity
here since the advent of the Euro?
Yet all as most ex-Pats know, it's not so much the Euro but
the dramatic drop in the value of sterling that is affecting
them here.
An Island Paradise where the sun and the Mediterranean meet
SOME OF the ex-Pats that thought Cyprus was the place where
they wanted to 'end their days' are considering whether or
not to pack up and return to the UK. Some have already done
just that even after being here for several years!
But is it the lure of wanting to be 'back home' or just that
Cyprus has now become expensive?
There is no doubt that prices have risen over he last decade
and those rises have accelerated sharply in the last year.
Recent surveys have revealed that prices of 'essential'
goods have increased by nearly eight percent in the last 12
months.
Let's be clear about one thing - in many ways Cyprus is no
longer a cheap place to live. However, it could be argued
that it is still cheaper than the UK and what ex-Pats are
suffering from now is the oncoming of a recession in the UK.
Their investments have lost value due to the drop in
sterling (one man told he had lost £20,000 on his
investments in the last six months) and their pensions have
a lower value due to the exchange rate of sterling again the
Euro.
The advice I received when I came to Cyrus four years ago
was to make sure that my financial position was secure not
just then, but for the future. If you have the cash
resources to offset any future price rises, you should be
OK, my financial adviser told me.
The move into the Eurozone at the beginning of the year has
been largely welcomed by all except those with money still
invested in the UK. The big drop in value of Sterling has
meant that the conversion rate from the English pound to the
Cyprus Euro has dramatically dropped.
Is a return to the UK a good move?
So for those who want to return - what are they returning
to?
A very unpopular government, which seems to be lumbering
from one crisis to another, and an opposition that has no
real ideas but is riding high on the government's
unpopularity. Those returning will face higher domestic fuel
bills and petrol charges. If you think that petrol is
getting dear over here (and the good news is that the two
biggest petrol companies on the island EKO and Petrolina
have both announced cuts in both diesel and unleaded) than
try buying the commodity in the UK.
Most importantly, can they afford the ubiquitous Council Tax
charges again?
Another couple I met told me that they were giving Cyprus a
12-month trial and then they would decide whether or not to
stay or go home.
"It's very much a case that our money back home is worth
less but prices here keep increasing. We are very much
caught in a trap," they told me.
One lady told me that she was only returning because she
missed her family and particularly hr grandchildren.
"They can't afford to come here because the air-fares are so
pricey so I am, in some ways, reluctantly returning to the
UK, although my husband is not so sure that we are doing the
right thing," she said.
Crime rate here is still low compared to UK
Cyprus has always boasted a low crime rate and when I first
came here 16 years ago it was almost unheard of but, while
there is an increase - particularly in the worrying area of
juvenile crime, it is nothing compared to what goes on in
the UK.
True, we make joke about Cypriot drivers with their constant
breaking of traffic laws - speeding, shooting lights at red,
not using seat-belts, using mobile-phones while driving, and
motor-cyclists without safety-helmets but at least he
motorway roads are clear and you can drive from Paphos to
Ayia Napa –- a distance of around 170 kilometres - in under
two hours.
I have always said that to enforce the law, you need law
enforcement – and Cyprus just doesn’t seem to have a big
enough police force. The problem is that booking a few
speeding motorists will not change the attitudes of most
islanders.
The motoring laws only apply to other people.
There is no doubt that there is more freedom here than in
the UK. The 'big brother' state has yet to make an impact
over here. Life is so much easier and more relaxed.
We all know about the beauty of the island. The forests of
the Troodos, the lovely beaches at Ayia Napa, the wild life
and flowers and the fruit trees. And there is a lot more
that makes this island the paradise it is.
In Cyprus you have an excellent variety of fresh food - good
fish and meat, good vegetables and a wide variety of fruit.
If you stick to a healthy diet, which includes olive oil and
lemon juice dressing, according to many, you will live
longer!
I have had four very happy years here and hopefully will
enjoy many more on this island where the sun shines most of
the time. I personally, have no desire to return to the
cold, wet land of my birth. There is nothing there that I
can’t get here and I feel that there is much more here than
I can get there.
Don’t become what the Aussies love to call us - 'whinging
poms- - believe you me this beautiful island is still the
place to be - you are far better off here!
Police to get tough on teenage
crime and the reasons for crime
A RECENT spate of incidents involving youth crime has
sparked off a debate on how to deal with the problem of the
rise in juvenile offenders.
In the last two years the number of juvenile offenders has
risen dramatically and, although figures dropped last year
from 2006, they are still well above what they were three
years ago.
It has also been noted that in the past two years there has
been a steady increase in the number of girls involved in
juvenile crime.
Among the more serious offences were; grievous bodily harm,
burglary, arson and malicious damage, firearms and drugs,
while minor offences included disturbing the peace, property
damage and conspiracies to commit crimes.
A group of seven academics have submitted a report to the
Education Ministry suggesting ways to combat the rise in
crime amongst young people in the short and long term but
even they admit that it is a complex issue.
"Such
a complex social problem has to be tackled on many fronts at
the same time," said Professor Andreas Kapardis, who was
commissioned to write the report. Kapardis pointed out that
one of the main issues was the lack of respect displayed by
young people to those in authority.
"They
no longer see a priest, teacher or police-officer and even
parents to some extent, as role models," he added.
The recent spate of teenage vandalism has seen thefts, abuse
and beatings causing in some cases a lot of damage. Three
teenagers were arrested in Paphos for a series of break-ins
and arsonists set fire to the town's new youth centre just
weeks before it was due to be opened.
Nearly 60 extra police officers are to be deployed in the
Paphos district to try and stem this rising tide of crime.
Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas, who visited the area in
July, said that 47 special police will be sent to Paphos to
reinforce security at Paphos Airport and the General
Hospital, while 30 officers would be sent to the town
station after they had finished their training at the Police
Academy.
It has also been announced that Kato Paphos is to get a new
police station to meet the needs and problems of the area.
It is hoped that the police will then be able to deal more
effectively with such things as timeshare and holiday club
touting, thefts from hotels and apartments and bag snatching
in the streets.
Motorists watch out - those dreaded speed cameras may
soon be back!
IF MOTORISTS in Cyprus thought that they had seen and heard
the last of traffic cameras then they must think again.
A new traffic camera system is expected to be in operation
within the first six months of 2009 after the green light
was given for tenders to be submitted. The government intend
to install 440 cameras (400 fixed and 40 mobile) in three
stages over the next five years.
The Director of the Police Traffic Unit, Theodoros Achilleos,
said that fixed cameras will be put at junctions where it is
proven that accidents take place, while mobile ones will be
used at areas classed as 'high risks'.
During the 10 months that the traffic-cameras were in action
under the previous system, accidents were reduced by 70%.
The old system was deactivated last September due to a
dispute with the supplier over technical problems.
British tourism on the slide and next year it could
be a lot worse!
TOURIST ARRIVALS from the UK have always amounted to over
half of the total visitors to the island and this market has
for a long time been the mainstay of the Cyprus Tourist
industry.
The British market may have reached saturation point now and
has dipped considerably over the last five years but it
still managed to account for 55% of tourists last year. To a
degree it has held it's own this year because many people
will have booked their holidays before global prices began
to spiral out of control.
But the future for next year looks bleak as the credit
crunch hits the UK with as much as £250 being added to the
price of some package holidays.
The British market, which has seen a downturn of 3.7% this
year, is unlikely to recover for next year as both flights
and hotel prices increase.
Only Ayia Napa seems to have escaped the downturn with
Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos down and Polis occupancy
numbers falling to a third of the average - its worst year
in living memory.
The entry of Cyprus into the eurozone has done little to
lure British holidaymakers as the exchange rate between the
Euro and sterling is very unfavourable for UK holidaymakers.
There are some in the industry who believe that Cyprus
should wean itself off the UK market and look more to other
areas such as Russia and Scandinavia.
The roadworks outside several Paphos hotels have not
improved matters with hoteliers complaining that it has lost
them business. They say that works in the harbour areas may
have cost them up to 10% of arrivals.
Paphos Mayor, Savvas Vergas, has said that the work is on
target and the seafront will open again on September 15.
Water farce as Kourris Dam nears empty
WHAT A FARCE the pumping of water from Greece seems to be
turning out to be.
At first it was expected that the Greek water would be
flowing before the weekend of July 19 but by the following
Wednesday it still hadn’t begun to flow and Limassol Water
Board called a crisis meeting with the Agriculture Minister.
"If
the Greek water doesn’t begin to flow by the beginning of
August, the Kourris Dam will not be able to supply the urban
area of Limassol as the dam's resources will have run out,"
said Socrates Metaxas, Director of the Limassol Water Board.
There
are 50,000 tons of the precious liquid in a tanker anchored
off Limassol and only 2m tons left in the Kourris Dam.
Kourris is the island’s biggest dam with a capacity of 115m
tons.
Yet the island has a long history of water shortages and
this isn’t the worst drought that it has had to survive.
Based on historical evidence around 306 AD the island was
almost deserted through lack of water. Islanders have had to
find various means to deal with water shortages over the
years, mainly from drilling wells, and when there was
British rule in 1878 the Royal Corps of Engineers repaired
many irrigation works.
However, the British policy of drilling boreholes led to a
serious depletion of water supplies in the main
water-bearing areas of Famagusta, Morphou and Akrotiri.
The impact of climate change also means that snow in summer
on the Troodos is a thing of the past, yet another factor in
the troubled history of water supplies on the island.
So it appears that water cuts could be here to stay unless
new giant drills can go deep enough to find more supplies.
And, as if to compound the problem, temperatures in June
were two degrees above the normal with a high of 41 degrees
C - seven percent above the summer average.
July 2008 Articles:
CTO Chief urges all Cypriots to
SMILE…to save tourism!
…And he wants more action
from the Government
By Chris Mills
"Light up your face with gladness; Hide every trace of
sadness - Smile, what’s the use of crying; You'll find that
life is still worthwhile...If you just smile."
THOSE WORDS from the song 'Smile', which had actor/comedian
Charlie Chaplin as one of its three lyric writers, appears
to have inspired Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) chairman
Panos Englezos to wax lyrical.
He told delegates at the Cyprus Hotel Association's AGM that
all Cypriots should be nice to visitors because the island
was in danger of losing its traditional hospitality.
"We
as a people have to go back to our genuineness. We must show
more respect to our visitors. We are all responsible through
profiteering, a lack of consciousness and awareness and a
bad environment."
The fact that the majority of hotels workers are no longer
Cypriots but lower-paid workers from Eastern Europe wasn’t
mentioned nor were many of the other causes of the decline
in tourism from its near 25% contribution to GPD to the
present 12%.
Tourism globally rose by six percent last year. In Cyprus it
was below one percent. The biggest loss came from the
British market that declined 15%.
The plain truth is that Cyprus has lost its edge
competitively. It has become an expensive destination with
high airfares, higher hotel-bills and higher restaurant
charges. In fact, higher prices all round.
Hotel Association chairman, Haris Loizides, has told the
President Demetris Christofias, that they are looking
forward to a new chapter from his government.
"We
will be making proposals - not demands. But we have lost
time and now it is the time for decisions. We have lost a
lot of time discussing what should be done. The government
now needs to simplify procedures and find ways out of all
the bureaucratic traps.
"Occupancy
has dropped to 42 percent in the winter leading to many
hotels suspending their operations, although indications for
2008 look more positive."
The fact that many private villas were being rented out
illegally doesn’t help, he added.
Although there are more hotels being built in Paphos its
position as the number one holiday destination on the island
has dropped behind Ayia Napa and Protaras.
One senior hotelier has said that the poor road
infrastructure, dirty open spaces, messy building sites and
work in the harbour have all contributed to the decline.
Numbers are also very low in Polis prompting calls for the
proposed road from Paphos to Polis to be constructed
urgently.
The news that the government has set aside a budget of €12m
over the next three years to promote winter tourism has been
welcomed by the CTO and the Institute of Travel & Tourism
(ITT) has placed itself fully behind the efforts to bring
Cyprus back as an up-market destination.
However, fuel price hikes have added to the ticket prices
for Cyprus Airways with fuel cost now the airlines largest
expense ahead of labour costs.
"Since
the beginning of this year we have paid out an extra €25m on
fuel costs,” said CY spokesman Kyriacos Kyriacou. "We have
had no alternative but to pass these costs on to passengers.
And the fuel costs keep on going up."
New Marina for Paphos - Is
about to happen?
A LEAKED email from a UK financial services consultants to
its clients suggesting that buying property in the Peyia
area will pay dividends now that the contract to build the
new Paphos 1000 yacht marina has been awarded, is causing
some speculation.
In fact, owners of land surrounding the site for the new
marina have seen its value triple since the decision to
build the new marina was taken.
The EUR70million+ contract has been awarded to a consortium
headed by the Leptos Group and includes - Cybarco, JNP Avax,
Francoudi and Stephano, Athena and KAT - and the winning
group will have to pay the government an annual rent of €4
for the next 19 years.
The announcement of the award was made by government
Commerce Minister Antonis Patsalides for the project in
Potima, Paphos.
Competition for the project was said to be 'stiff' with four
consortiums concerned and work will start immediately and
must be completed in three years.
The Marina will have moorings for 1000 boats, slipways and a
boatyard. There will also be further leisure facilities,
including a restaurant, bar and parking.
Water from Greece will ease pressure on island supplies
By Chris Mills
PRESSURE on the very depleted water stocks on the island may
soon be eased with the final preparations for bringing water
from Greece being close to completion after some complex
infrastructural logistics.
Construction workers have been working round the clock to
lay pipes along the dry Yermasoyia riverbed to be eventually
connected to the Yermasoyia Dam - part of the Limassol Water
Board reservoirs.
The water will arrive at Yermasoyia in tankers that have
sailed from Elefsina in Greece. The six tankers being used
had previously carried foodstuff and agricultural products
but have now been specially adapted to carry water.
The EUR35 million contract was signed on April 21 between
the Water Development Board and Ocean Tankers Holding Public
Company Ltd. It provides for six tankers carrying 50,000
sq.mtrs of water every day.
The estimated total of water transported over a period of
six months is said to be eight million sq.mtrs. The current
shortage of water on the island is said to be 16 million
sq.mtrs
The project has involved the co-ordinated efforts of the
Ministry of Agriculture; Athens Pireas Water Company (who
will check the water quality before it leaves Greece), the
State Lab, Port Authority and Ocean Tankers.
Besides the imported water from Greece, the island’s two
desalination plants will be upgraded to increase production
capacity and new desalination projects, including a portable
one, are also being implemented.
Water cuts have been introduced in all areas but there are
fears that more leaks can occur when water is switched back
on, especially during hot weather.
The cuts imposed by the government haven’t pleased the Mayor
of Paphos, Savvas Vergas. He had resisted turning ff
supplies in the firm belief that Paphos could get by on its
own underground water supplies and three dams in the area.
Said Vergas: "We cut supplies from our dams but continued
with uninterrupted supplies from the underground sources."
Others were worried about the effect that a cut in supplies
would have on the already diminished tourist trade.
Overseas Promotions Campaign
Increased by CTO
IN A BID to encourage
tourists to the island, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO)
has increased its promotion and advertising campaign budget
abroad with more focused strategies.
Said the CTO's director general, Phoebe Katsouri: "For this
year we have an increased budget which is being allocated in
a more focussed way in the hope of bringing tangible
results."
She explained that they were organising nationwide campaigns
in 14 countries and using such international media as
Euronews and CNN. The CTO is also the only sponsor of BBC
World’s prestigious tourism programme - 'Fast Track' , which
gives Cyprus extensive cover internationally.
"We
hope that with our expertise we have achieved better
cooperation agreements and campaigns that are being staged
now, which will be repeated in the autumn, will be in time
for the winter tourism," she added.
The CTO had also, she stated, achieved effective cooperation
agreements with tour operators and travel agents abroad.
*AIR TRAFFIC in and out Cyprus increased by 12% in 2007 and
is expected to rise by roughly the same amount during 2008.
This is according to forecasts by Eurocontrol, the EU's
organisation for the safety of air navigation. They also
predict that after a period of stagnation, growth of air
traffic in Cyprus would average five per cent over the next
five years.
Are Improvements in Harbour
Going to prove counter-productive?
Is summer the right time
to upset tourists?
IT WAS ALWAYS a source of great amusement to some and
annoyance to others in the UK when, three weeks after a road
had been dug up for new telephone cables and had carefully
been tarmaced over again afterwards, along came the workers
from the local sewerage to dig it all up again and make a
further mess, writes Chris Mills.
Crazy - you would say - why didn’t they do it all at once!
But it was yet another example of town hall departments
simply not working together.
For any town in England - cue Cyprus and Paphos. The old
harbour of Paphos - one of its great tourist attractions
with its medieval fort and many restaurants – has been in a
mess for some time now but you would have thought that come
the tourist season work would be suspended for a while -
especially in view of the diminishing number of tourists and
the need to impress those that are here.
But work on phase two of the seafront project began on May
19 and will continue for the next six months.
Hotel owners in the area - such as the Almyra, Annabel and
Alexander the Great - are naturally up in arms because they
say it is ruining their summer business.
Paphos Municipality's consultant civil engineer, Diofantos
Hadjimitsis, said: "It is a problem as the work follows the
coastline and will affect the hotels in the area. Apart from
creating a new look for the coastline in front of these
hotels, this phase includes an extra construction of three
vertical walkways and we admit it will cause some disruption
to some hotels."
"Disruption could cause end of Paphos Tourist industry"
This area has seen a great deal of upgrading work in the
last few months which Paphos mayor Savvas Vergas thinks was
necessary and will be completed by April 2009.
"The
work will only cause disruption for two winters and one
summer," he commented.
Although the hotel owners agree that the work is necessary,
they find it difficult to believe that they’re had to be one
in June and will not be finished until next year.
With tourist arrivals for May three percent down,
particularly British numbers that have dropped sharply, it
seems foolish to put visitors off even more by turning the
area into a building site.
Said Natasha Michaelides, the communications manager of the
Thanos group of hotels who own both the prestigious Almyra
and Annabel hotels:
"Some
tour operators are already fed up with Paphos because of the
previous work and if they have to start paying compensation
to disgruntled customers, they will soon drop the venue.
People want, among other things, good quality pavements and
beaches. Once the word gets round about the present state,
they will not come.
"I think carry on this construction work during the summer
will cause far more damage than having to pay out more
money. It could be the end of the tourist industry for
Paphos."
Spend, spend, spend - it seems
the only way to be in Cyprus!
By Chris Mills
LET'S FACE IT - Cyrus isn’t a cheap place anymore. Cheaper
than the UK in many respects still, yet prices for many
things keep rising - and now we are told that higher prices
are here to stay.
So I suppose we better get used to it.
Prices have been creeping upwards for the past few years but
have certainly accelerated this year - dearer petrol, dearer
food, dearer utility costs and it can’t be blamed on the
change to the Euro.
OK! Many will point to world prices - especially that of
crude oil that has reached nearly $1.50 per barrel - this
pushes up the cost of everything - and wheat prices that
push up the cost of that most essential of foods - bread.
There will be profiteers who will take advantage of this but
in the main, the extra prices can be justified if not
appreciated.
Many older folk, like myself will remember, sunny Jim
Callaghan when British prime minister in the mid-70s saying
during a currency crisis - "Crisis, what crisis?" - and it
appears that this is also the Cypriot view of the current
situation.
They have now got used to a certain 'well-off' style of life
and intend to keep it up. Cypriot households are €17 billion
in debt, which is the highest figure ever, while at the same
time inflation stands at nearly five percent.
You would think that now was the time for cutbacks.
But no, petrol sales are five percent up, holiday sales are
five percent up, while food prices have risen six percent,
electricity 13 percent, petrol 16 percent and even the cost
of having a meal in a restaurant is nearly eight percent
dearer.
It appears that the locals may watch what is happening in
the rest of Europe - demonstrations against higher prices
and belt-tightening all round - but with little overall
interest and all that just seems to be accepted.
As long as the banks are lading out money, just get deeper
into debt and don’t worry. It is when the banks start to
call in the loans that the worry will start. And there are
always the good old pieces of plastic – the credit card.
Between January and May this year nearly €760 million was
spent on Cypriot credit cards – a rise of 25% over the same
period last year.
Perhaps my old Granny was right - 'Neither borrower or
lender be!'
Louis Tourist Agency step in to aid Road Safety
THERE HAVE been 36 deaths of the roads of Cyprus this year
and now a leading tourism organisation – the Louis Group –
has announced a road safety plan to try and reduce the
number of death
They have decided to name 2008 as the 'Year for Road Safety
Awareness' as part of its corporate social responsibility
policy. The action plan will be part of the EU’s European
Road Safety Charter, which Louis has signed.
Louis will print leaflets to be handed out to all passengers
checking in for their return flights home along with their
boarding-passes. (Louis Tourist Agency deals with more than
30 airlines in both Larnaca and Paphos airports.)
* THE BIGGEST tragedy is the number of motorcyclists killed
- most not wearing crash helmets. Yet daily on the roads you
will see motor-cyclist riding along with no helmets, many
off them over the handlebars or strapped to the back of the
bike – not on their heads where they should be and the
police seemingly do nothing about it.
Protect the Grass Snake or face
action says EU
LET'S FACE it - snakes - have never had a particularly good
press.
Often portrayed as deadly, dangerous, slimy and crafty
creatures they have never had the love and affection that
other animals get. And now Cyprus is in trouble with the
European Commission (EU) for not giving one of its eight
species - the grass snake - adequate protection.
The EU has now given the island two months to take action on
protecting the snake - the most endangered of the eight
species to be found here or face court action.
The Commission had warned Cyprus that it had not followed
European directives regarding the protection of Natrix
natrix cypriaca, which is classed as an endemic species, on
this matter when told and must now act or face the
consequences.
The main interest centres around Paralimni Lakes, which is
the most important habitat of the snake and is a designated
Protected Habitat area. The north side of the lake has
undergone lot of development in recent times.
Latest figures estimate that the remaining number of the
species may only be around 50 and this may have been reduced
still further in the last four years. The species was first
recognised in Cyprus in 1787.
Call for Smoking Ban to be implemented properly!
Two top judges have made a CALL for the full implementation
of the current Anti-Smoking Law and a total ban on smoking
in public areas.
In an open letter, Supreme Court judges, Takis Eliades and
Demetris Hadjihambis, have said that the law banning smoking
in public places was passed by the House in June 2002 but
was not being implemented.
"According
to the provisions of the law, smoking is banned in areas
that include restaurants, cinemas, theatres, hospitals,
private clinics, doctor's offices, dentists, concert halls,
galleries, government or semi-government offices, banks,
factories and other places where foodstuff is prepared or
sold, common areas of government buildings, closed sports
centres, airports, ports, vehicles of private use and cars
of public use in which there are passengers under 16," the
judges have said.
The law also states that in areas where smoking is banned,
smoking can only be allowed in designated areas that have
been specifically set aside and which have adequate
ventilation systems.
Also at the workplace, employers can only allow smoking in
designated areas.
According to the two judges, for smoking in recreation
centres such as restaurants, cafeterias, bars, coffee shops,
disco and dance centres, there must be a specially regulated
area for smokers and nobody should smoke in no-smoking
areas.
They added by saying that owners of recreational centres
have flouted the law by putting up signs saying - 'Smoking
Permitted' - claiming that they were obeying the law! Also,
no police action was being taken to 'warn or arrest
smokers'.
The judge's conclusion was that a total ban on smoking
should be implemented in all public areas.
Other countries in the EU such as France, Italy and the UK,
where there were many keen smokers, had implemented such
laws with quite severe penalties for non-compliance.
The judges were also concerned that not enough was being
done to warn smokers of the dangers of smoking. Official
statistics for Cyprus show that 650 people die every year as
a result of smoking, compared with around 90 in road
accidents and 17 from drug related causes.
There were also the dangers of passive smoking to be taken
into consideration because non-smokers inhale double the
amount of nicotine that smokers do.
* GO INTO any taverna or bar in Paphos and you will find
many smokers just puffing away merrily ignoring signs with
little attempt by managements to point out the non-smoking
ban. Among the worst are some ex-Pats who, along with fellow
Cypriots, seem to think that the law doesn’t apply to them!
Progress on target for the new Paphos air terminal
PAPHOS International Airport at present handles over 1.5
million passengers per year but in November this year when
it opens its new terminal and runway extension it will
eventually be able to handle 2.7 million per year.
The plans to expand both Paphos and Larnaca airports were
first put forward in 1988 and the upgraded project master
plan prepared in 1993. The new terminal and runway
extension, which is based on those original plans, will be
able to handle two million passengers in the first phase and
a further 0.7 million after the second and be able to handle
even the largest aircraft like the Airbus A321.
Passenger growth is expected to be around 3.5-4%.
The concession for the new airport has been given to Hermes
Airports for a period of 25 years.
Work
is approaching completion with construction scheduled to be
finished by the end of June when the testing phase will
begin. The Paphos Airport will have 20,000 sq.m of floor
space, 24 check-in desks (currently 16), six
security-screening positions, three baggage reclaim
carousels and an 800-space (currently 150) car park.
The airport runway is being extended from its current 2,700m
to 3,100m allowing it to handle even the largest aircraft.
Outside a four-lane highway is to be constructed to link the
airport to the town of Paphos 10 kilometres away.
Cost for work at both Paphos and Larnaca is estimated at
EUR645m.
Action on Animal Cruelty
CRUELTY TO animals is something that most people don’t want
to tolerate and this island has in the past come in for its
fair share of criticism on the way it treats its animals.
"Whether
its dogs, cats, horses or donkeys, we repeatedly see
examples of mistreatment," says Stella Stylianou, who is
secretary of Cyprus Voice for Animals (CVA).
It appears that the biggest problem, according to the CVA’s
President Mary Anastasi is 'ignorance'.
"A
lot of people don’t know how to treat animals or how they
should be kept. They don't necessarly mean to harm the
animal but it gets harmed because they don’t know any
better," she added.
But the organisation has now had a meeting with government
officials, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture,
Interior & Justice, the Police and others, which was chaired
by the Agriculture Ministries Permanent Secretary, Panicos
Pouros.
The two women said afterwards that the outcome had been
extremely positive.
"It looks very promising. For the first time everyone
involved showed a will to try and solve the problems" said
Anastasi.
One of the first suggestions is the setting up of dog pounds
for stray dogs. Animal welfare organisations have also been
asking for the construction of more sanctuaries and
increased grants.
"The
Law is strict but nobody seems to be enforcing it," added
Anastasi.
Rise in Car Registrations
CAR REGISTRATIONS in the first quarter of the year increased
by 4.3% over the same period last year. The total
registration of motor vehicles from January to March this
year increased to 17,024 from 16,325 in 2007.
Ironically, the sales of used cars outnumbered the sales of
new cars. Private saloon car sales rose 3% from 12,262 in
January 2007 to 12,625 this January. Out of the total of
private saloon cars over 53% were second-hand, while nearly
47% were new.
Vehicles for commercial use increased by 5.3%, light good
vehicles by 2.2% and heavy goods vehicles by 16%.
Registration was also up for motorbikes and mopeds. They
increased by nearly 5% compared with registration up to
January 2007.
Don’t they know there's a water shortage?
THE CONTROVERSY over the watering and the setting-up of
private desalination plants for golf courses runs on. And,
getting the blame for setting this up is the Cabinet of the
former President - Tassos Papadopoulos.
It appears that his cabinet bypassed a ruling by the
Building Relaxations Council and went ahead with the moves.
This was in violation of a decision of the Council and
effectively stripped it of its powers provided by
town-planning laws for the approval of private desalination
units for watering golf courses.
And it couldn’t have happened at a worse time with the
island going through a severe shortage of water, as well as
the financial burden of increasing oil prices, electricity
prices and the delay in importing natural gas.
Because desalinisation plants are Category B industrial
developments, applicants can only get permission to build
through town planning and an exemption from the Relaxations
Council (an independent body made up of people in the
development business which approves exceptions to local
development plans under a strict criteria).
The Relaxation opposed applications in 2007 but at the same
time the Cabinet approved a proposal by the Agriculture
Ministry to exempt businessmen who wished to build
desalination plants for golf course from having to go
through the Council.
This was at a time when the Government was offering generous
incentives for the creation of golf courses as a means to
improve tourism.
June 2008 Articles:
Could cremation happen in Cyprus?
Law
to allow for the building of a crematorium in place soon?
DEATH
COMES to us all in the finish - besides birth it's one of
the only certainties of life! Today, while it is still a sombre
occasion, a funeral is more often the celebration
of a life than of the death itself.
Here in Cyprus there
is only one form of dealing with a body and that is a burial.
There are no facilities for what is more popular in some
other EU countries - cremation. But that could be all about
to change as Government officials have said that there is a
possibility of offering this service within a year.
Nobody
is quite sure why the legislation to build the island's
first crematorium has dragged on so long as it was first
drafted and presented to parliament eight years ago by the
current MEP Marios Matsakis.
While
the legislation is still not yet in place, government
officials are predicting that a crematorium could be up and
running by next summer.
The Interior
Ministry's permanent secretary, Lazaros Savides, is quoted
as saying that Law Commissioner, Leda Koursoumba, was gathering
the information and canvassing different ministries for
their views. He said that his ministry and the Church had
answered in favour of the proposal
"I cannot give a
timeline due to several unknown parameters but my best
estimate would be that we may see a crematorium built on the
island in a year's time."
A recent petition
with over 4,000 signatures asking for the building of a
crematorium - many of the signatures from young Cypriots - is still on the table. As the island only allows for burial,
those wishing to be cremated have to be embalmed and sent to
a country that allows for cremation.
This applies to
Expats, many of whom are used to this type of burial, which
is commonplace in the UK, and have probably stated their
desire for cremation in their wills.
Is
12-month timeline too ambitious?
But many feel
that the 12-month timeline is far too ambitious and are
fearful that opposition from the Greek Orthodox Church and
from the government can still slow down the process. Also
the cost of building a crematorium is fairly high,
considered to be near four million for land, building and
all the equipment, even if a license was granted.
Keith McCready is the
businessman who wants to build the first crematorium in the
Paphos District near to the Paphos International Airport and
he has said that it could be 'up and running' in 18 months
time if the government gave the green light by issuing the
appropriate licence.
He also reckoned that
a full cremation service with ashes in a memorial garden
could be done for under CYP500. To embalm a body, put it in
a lead container and ship it to another country, for
instance the UK, is
around CYP2,500, with the costs of storage, removal and final
service to be added on. If the ashes are then sent back to
Cyprus, that's an additional cost.
Cremation has been
commonplace in many countries for centuries. The funeral
pyre was actually most popular in ancient Greece and has
always been practised in India. They have even found burial
vessels associated with cremation from the 11th
century BC at Kourion on the island.
The thoughts
of many people here is that the Republic of Cyprus should
allow people to have their bodies disposed of in the way
that they choose and that steps must be taken now to amend
the law so that permission is granted for cremations to take
place.
Record-breaker dies in tragic crash
A PAPHOS man who flew in a
micro-light aircraft from St. Albans in the UK to Cyprus in
record time in 2006 to raise money for children's charities
was tragically killed when the power-glider he was piloting
crashed in the Ayios Efrem area, near to Lemonas village.
David Armstrong (71),
who lived in Tala, had taken off from Paphos International
Airport at around 9.45am in the morning but 10 minutes
later contacted the control-tower to report severe
turbulence.
He then
reported shortly afterwards that he had engine trouble but
the control-tower then lost contact and he came down around
10.30 am.
According to witnesses he had tried to land the micro-light
glider in a field but it came down erratically, first
striking a tree and then plummeting down an embankment.
Residents nearby arrived quickly at the scene and an
ambulance and fire engine were also dispatched but he was
already dead as a result of massive injuries.
His
funeral was held at the Ayia Kyriaki Church with burial at
Mesa Chorio.
Armstrong hit the headlines in 2006 when, along with
co-pilot Jason Madhavani, they finished an eight-day, 2,700km journey from St. Albans to Paphos in 42 flying hours,
which was believed to be a world record.
The
Cyprus Air Accidents Committee is investigating the
circumstances of the crash and has reported that the
micro-light-s engine was new and the pilot experienced.
Heart Attacks and drinking warm
water....
IT HAS BEEN found advisable to drink warm water after meals
to help prevent heart attacks. This makes sense as the
Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals so maybe
it is time to adopt their drinking habits whilst eating!!!
It is also applicable to those who like to drink cold water.
While it is nice to have a cold drink after a meal, cold
water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just
consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this
'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be
absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It
will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats
and lead to cancer so it is best to drink hot soup or warm
water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks:
You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going
to be where the left arm is hurting also be aware of intense
pain in the jaw. You may never have the first chest pain
during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense
sweating are also common symptoms.
It is a fact that 60% of people who have a heart attack
while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can
wake you from a sound sleep. So it pays to be careful and be
aware. The more you know, the better chance that you could
survive.
Tigers need new sponsor
PAPHOS TIGERS - the town's rugby club - are looking for a
new sponsor.
Last year's sponsor - Chillingtons - has decided to withdraw
leaving the Tigers the summer to find both a sponsor and
settle on a ground.
At the first meeting of the new committee, hopes were
expressed that the Tigers could win back the league title
and with the Colts now providing a strong backing the new
season could be faced with some enthusiasm.
If you would like to be next season's sponsor for the Tigers
contact secretary Ron James on - tisron@cytanet.com.cy - he
will be delighted to hear from you.
Square Pub takes to the round board
THE SQUARE PUB in Timi has taken to Darts.
They have now put in a board and oche for regular sessions
on Tuesday nights. This has already attracted a group of
local Brits, who hope to put out a team in the second
division of the Paphos Darts League for the next winter
season.
The Pub played its first friendly fixture against Seahorse
and, while they were completely overwhelmed by a much more
experienced team, it gave all a chance to get together.
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