LARNACA BOILING CAULDRON FOR PORT AND MARINA - PROTEST EVENT ON APRIL 29 - Filenews 21/4 by Natasa Christoforou
Larnaca is now in a head-on collision with the government, after the unanimous decision of its bodies to proceed with a protest against the delays observed in the implementation of projects in the city's marina and port. The city's institutions will host a press conference next Monday, April 27, and on Wednesday, April 29 at 6 pm, they will hold a protest event outside the port.
Calling on the people of Larnaca to participate, the mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, said that the city cannot accept any more delays, given that two years have passed since the termination of the contract with Kition Ocean Holdings and the project has not entered the implementation track. "For what they said, we must have a clear plan, this situation cannot go any further. We need to know who will do the projects and how we are proceeding," he stressed. It is noted that the decision of the Development Committee, which met extraordinarily last Friday, was taken after the blockade caused by the blockade of the Cyprus Ports Authority, which committed to submit a proposal to the bodies of Larnaca, which will also include the development of the land areas.
"F" raised with the Minister of Transport what was decided, who did not hide his disappointment but also his annoyance at the fact that the provincial secretary of DISY, Theologos Manolis, had proposed, during the meeting, that he himself be declared an undesirable person in the city, if, this time, "he does not keep his commitments". Mr. Vafeadis noted that last Thursday he had a meeting with the mayor of Larnaca and the presidents of EOAL and ACCI, during which it was agreed to give the Greek Superfund until the end of the month to submit a study, which will show the area of land spaces that can be released for urban development. "Then a decision will be made, when we are sure that the operation of the port is not affected, because the port is of national and not local importance. When this decision is made and we present it in Larnaca, the Ports Authority will begin its studies, to conclude what we will build and how. We want to achieve a connection between the two beaches (Finikoudes and the area of the former refinery). This is my suggestion. I think that the connection is of the utmost importance because a citizen must walk from one beach and reach the other," he noted, adding that it had been agreed that these would be presented to the Development Committee. "The next day, I heard from the media that there would be protests and that someone from DISY said that I should be declared persona non grata. I imagine that this is how the man expressed his disappointment, but I do not share his position and regardless of what he says, I will continue to work for Larnaca, because I believe that he deserves better than what he has today".
Claiming that he understands the disappointment that exists in Larnaca, he reiterated the government's commitment to proceed with the projects, noting that his own proposal is to start these in the marina first. "If he has a minister who stands next to Larnaca, it is me. I highlighted the problem of the new beach in the former refineries, which we would end up with a wall of 120 meters, without a beach. I proposed the Nautical Club to the marina and secured €1.5 million for dredging. It's a shame that everyone has them with me. I will keep trying. I can't be to blame for everything. My position is that we should start as soon as possible. Why don't they let me start from the marina and give instructions to the Ports Authority to proceed?", he wondered, adding that the expansion of the marina is an easier decision, because the suggestion is to expand it in two phases. "The first will satisfy the existing demand and the second will be done when another demand is created," he noted, expressing his concern. "At the moment we will lose a few months, while the marina could start. Larnaca wants us to see everything together, but in this way we create a delay", he added, claiming that he also supported the Nautical Club. "We gave €240,000 to the municipality to announce it. Now if the municipality got involved in bureaucracy, it's not my fault. On the contrary, I asked that the tender be allowed to proceed, so that it can be part of the Feasibility Study. I backed up again, when I had no role in all this."
It is noted that the architectural competition for the Nautical Club has long delays, since it was initially set as a condition by the state to precede – among other things – the Viability Study.
