Filenews 7 September 2022 - by By Fanis Makridis
A decree prohibiting the Municipality of Paphos from any intervention in the canteen located in the building of the municipal art gallery, in the park of Ivi Maliotou, was secured by the statutory tenants of the premises.
Since last May, the Municipality of Paphos has been carrying out works at the Ivi Malioti Park. This project is implemented after a donation by the Pouroulis family (half a million euros), while it is part of the Municipality's plan for the beautification of public spaces.
The decree was issued on Monday (5/9), at the request of the legal representatives (Mouzourou and Neophytou LLC) of the statutory tenants of the canteen / café, which is housed on the 1st floor of the building of the municipal gallery.
In essence, it prohibits the municipal authority from intervening, removing and demolishing any construction and part of the premises on Gladstonos Street, as well as any other interference with the movable property and equipment used by the tenants for the operation of the premises.
In the affidavit of one of the two tenants of the premises, reference is made to a decision of the Limassol-Paphos Rent Control Court (27/4/2020), which recognizes his status as a statutory tenant. Below, details are set out on the reasons for the decision of the statutory tenants to apply for this decree against the Municipality of Paphos: "Just a few months ago, the Municipality of Paphos, seems to have started restoration works of the outdoor area in the Ivi Malliotis Park after its disastrous intervention in February 2022. For these works, we were never informed and never asked for consent to interfere with the statutory rental in the context of the works. Furthermore, I would like to point out that, since the beginning of the works, the Municipality of Paphos has confiscated my movable property and the equipment I have available for the operation of the canteen of the gallery, without even taking measures of proper guarding and leaving them exposed to the weather conditions, causing damage to my movable property and equipment. Around the 1st of September 2022, my brother and I were informed by instructions of the Mayor of Paphos, that the demolition of a part covered by the statutory rental is imminent. Immediately, my brother went to the Paphos police and gave a relevant statement. Unfortunately, while my brother was giving a statement to the Police, the Municipality of Paphos proceeded to demolish most of the elevated circular space in front of the room on the ground floor, which is also called "the round", without our prior information and consent".
The affidavit, based on what he said before a court, speaks of "inappropriate behaviour of the Municipality", adding that he has suffered "adverse consequences and damages" and does not exclude the possibility of claiming the appropriate damages.
The Mayor declares ignorance of the decree
It should be noted that a lawsuit by the Municipality of Paphos is pending, concerning the rental contract that was previously concluded during the tenure of a previous mayor.
"F" contacted the Mayor of Paphos, Phaedon Phaedonos. He declared ignorance of the decree. He added that a similar decree had been issued in the past and that it had been annulled. He also stated that the Municipality acted lawfully when it carried out works on an area of the park where the managers of the canteen had a "right of use". Finally, he complained that a first-degree relative of one of the administrators was "illegally using the canteen as a place of residence".
