Filenews 6 August 2024
Within the week, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou will decide on the seats of three Community Service Clusters in the Pafos district, out of a total of 30 nationwide, in which there was a tie or no majority at the first meeting of their Council for the selection of their seat, said the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Elikos Elias.
At the same time, he said that the Ministry of Interior asked the District Officers of all districts to send, by the end of August, the name of each Cluster, which will be approved by the Minister of Interior.
Specifically, Mr. Elias explained that as defined in article 98A of the Communities Law, in each district Community Service Clusters are established and operate for the provision of common services to the Communities participating in the relevant cluster.
He said that the headquarters of the Cluster, where its central office is located, is determined at the first meeting of the Service Cluster Council, based on criteria relating to the geographical location, population and premises of the communities participating in the Cluster.
"These seats were determined for 27, out of a total of 30, Service Clusters, while for three clusters of the Pafos District there was a tie vote or there was no majority," he said, adding that in these cases, the Minister of Interior decides on the seat of the Cluster.
Specifically, the DG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that for Cluster A of Pafos, there was a tie vote of the Communities of Goudi and Peristerona, while for Cluster C of Pafos, there was a tie vote of the Communities of Tsada and Kallepia.
He said that for the Pafos D Cluster, they did not reach a majority and noted that candidates for the seat are the communities of Statos/Agios Fotios, Panagia, Pentalia and Amargeti.
"The Minister requested and received reports on the above three cases and is expected to make a decision within the week," he noted.
Individual objections
Apart from the above cases, according to Mr. Elias, there were also individual objections, in relation to the criteria and the voting method, which took place for another 5 Clusters (1 in Nicosia, 2 in Limassol, 1 in Larnaca and 1 in Paphos).
"For these cases the position of the Minister is that the legislation gives the right to the Council of the Cluster to decide on its seat and the decision of the majority must be respected," he underlined.
He also mentioned that it is necessary for the Council of each Cluster to decide on its name, which will be approved by the Minister of the Interior.
"I am sure that the names chosen will relate to the history, culture and traditions of each region," he said.
Mr. Elias said that the Ministry of Interior asked the District Officers "to send us the names by the end of August, in order to be approved by the Minister and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic."
Finally, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that "harmonious cooperation in the Council of each Cluster will be the guarantee of success in the operation of the Cluster and with this cooperation the significant benefits arising to local communities from this important reform of local government will be highlighted".
