Filenews 8 January 2025 - by Dora Christodoulou
My focus is on improving the quality of life of citizens, promoting sustainable development and highlighting the unique characteristics and advantages of the Pafos district. This clear mark is given by the President of the Pafos District Self-Government Organization, Charalambos Pittokopitis, speaking to "F" on the completion of the first semester since the operation of the new Local Government Organization that entered our lives on July 1st.
Mr. Pittokopitis particularly emphasizes the importance he attaches to the issue of financial management of the new entity, referring to the absolute need for transparency in the management of resources.
My highest priority is to improve the lives of the residents of the Pafos district, by solving the problems that fall within the remit of the EDA, as well as promoting innovative practices to upgrade the quality of life. We will eliminate the complicated procedures and the lack of immediacy in serving the citizen and we will promote the policy of responding to every request submitted to us, within a period of one month.
The first President of the Pafos EDA also observes that of major importance for the achievement of the objectives of the Organization is the utilization of the central system that provides direct information on citizens' issues and will contribute to the immediate handling of cases that come before it. The aim is for all citizens to have the opportunity to submit their applications electronically, he points out, and to be immediately informed about the progress of the procedure on these applications.
Regarding the issuance of planning and building permits, he said, we are immediately simplifying complex and time-consuming procedures by adopting a new policy with a human-centred approach. An electronic system to simplify submission procedures and speed up authorisations will be put in place immediately. We are enhancing transparency, stressed the Regional Governor of Pafos, with the aim of reducing the inconvenience and costs involved in time-consuming and bureaucratic procedures, while at the same time our goal is to facilitate the acquisition of a home and safeguard the assets of each Paphitis.
A key pillar of the Pafos EDA, said its president, is the optimal management of valuable water resources. We aim to immediately solve problems with the water supply system, safety efficiency and water quality. This will be achieved, he stressed, by creating a central water supply system in Paphos as is the case in other cities in Cyprus and by replacing obsolete water supply pipes. The implementation of smart water supply with automated systems and sensors, he noted, and the quality of services provided in this sector will be more than noticeable and economically beneficial for citizens.
Charalambos Pittokopitis stressed that the development and modernization of SAPA is a key policy of the Organization. Our goal, he said, is to develop a geographic information system and smart data monitoring system, which will allow timely and efficient problem solving. In the context of the new green practices, he said, we aim at the full utilization of wastewater for biogas production and energy and resource savings.
My goal, concluded the first Regional Governor of Pafos, is a better life for every Paphite and a sustainable management of public resources, with the principles of transparency and sustainability being our spearhead.
