We are pleased to note several individuals and groups of foreign E.U. people that are contesting the Municipal Elections. We were concerned that bearing in mind the goings on (see our last article on Illegalities + Votes) the situation is so bad, especially in the smaller Municipalities with the “connected” families and “coumbaros” voting, we need outsiders, unconnected with political parties, as a breath of fresh air in a stale and at times aggravating situation. We have reported 3 weeks ago only a couple of illegalities by the Municipalities (Paralimni + Peyia).

So the first step for those courageous E.U. citizens, who dare to challenge the system is to learn the language. We were shocked to learn that some foreign councilors caused the Municipalities €10.000 p.a. so that they learn Greek. Why? Anyone who wants to get involved with local issues must not only understand what is going on at the meetings of the Council, but also to speak to the locals (Cypriots and others) so that he/she has a first hand understanding of the problems and not necessarily adopt what she/he is told. Coming back to the Harbour Shore Estate project i.e. Coral Bay (at the time was owned by Mr Papageorge an ex-patriate from Papua-New Guinea, who spent millions to prepare hotel plans etc and who was refused by Peyia Municipality – we were involved to an extent as a consultant and the whole behaviour of the Municipality at the time was most shocking. It is now owned by Armonia Estates (Leptos Group) who still has a similar problem. We have suggested that all the members of a Municipal Council who do illegalities should be placed in prison not only for its illegalities, but even for those who councillors who disagree with the wrong doings but not voicing their objection publicly (e.g. calling a press conference etc etc) since they become accomplices with the wrong doings. Everybody wants a status we are afraid, notwithstanding the fact that we have never understood what a status has a councillor of a Municipality other than doing what they are asked so that they can be re-elected. So, that we are not misunderstood this is not a phenomenon for Cyprus but it happens everywhere. Shocking as Cyprus circumstances are, seeing what is happening in the U.K. with the House of Lords and others, cheating the state for residence allowance and after 2 years nothing has been done (nobody has been in prison and no one has refunded the “stolen” money so everything is going on as before) – Cyprus, we say, is O.K. by comparison.

A similar and most shocking situation was reported by us for the Paralimni Municipality. We have reported of containers erected on the most expensive beach without a permit and with the full view of the Authorities. We have reported of hotels being converted into apartments without permits and sold to unsuspecting public etc etc. We had no response from the Municipality (voting period) but we had numerous calls from the illegal doers objecting to our writings, as we had also numerous distress letters from others, who feel that this country is not a law abiding one.

In ending this article and in order to let new blood coming in, including, we hope, Mrs Lablank, the voting system must change. Instead of voting vertically i.e. the choice is restricted to political parties and not to persons participating, to adopt the horizontal method of voting, i.e. voting should be addressed to the people and not to the parties. In this way local and foreign E.U. citizens can have a chance to get elected based on their capability and care and not to which political party belong. We add that this will not happen, since the parties are afraid to lose their grip on the local authorities. What a shame indeed.

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