Filenews 14 May 2023 - by Dora Christodoulou
After the gradual normalization of commercial activity in central areas of Pafos due to the completion of the renovation works carried out in recent years, the phenomenon of the appearance of beggars has been observed again in recent days, which once again provokes the protests of traders.
Professionals complain, in particular, that beggars set up outside mass consumption businesses, such as supermarkets and bakeries, approach migrant citizens and ask them for financial assistance. Shopkeepers state that the whole attitude and behaviour of these people often provokes a strong reaction from passers-by, but also from businessmen who witness frequent incidents and who react because they see the image of the area degraded and their customers annoyed in a rude way.
"There have been cases where colleagues have intervened in a more forceful way in order to get customers out of trouble," one of them said.
Similar actions have been reported in recent days in areas of the mall, at traffic lights in central Kennedy Square and the area of the Markideion Theatre.
The protesting businessmen have made representations to the police, demanding immediate measures to remove these individuals from the heart of the tourist area, as well as more systematic action to end begging in general.
