NICOSIA - "WE DON'T DARE GO OUT INTO OUR YARD - STONES, FIRECRACKERS, GAS CANISTERS ARE THROWN AT US'' - CITIZENS INDIGNATIO OVER A PARK THAT HAS BECOME A DEN OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY - Filenews 22/4
Citizens of Nicosia express despair and indignation due to serious episodes of juvenile delinquency and nuisance in their neighbourhood. "From the afternoon onwards we don't dare to go out into our yard," they complain to Filenews, as groups of people aged 13 to 20 enter the unfenced Aphrodite Park in Palouriotissa, turning their lives into hell. They throw stones, firecrackers, gas canisters on their balconies, set fires outside their homes, insult them if they are remarked, do not let them rest even after midnight.
The citizens sent an open letter to the mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos about the problems in the park, asking that it be fenced as soon as possible and that a guard be placed. For his part, the mayor confirmed to Flenews the existence of problems and delinquency in the park in question, mentioning the actions to be taken.
In particular, the citizens complain that every night they hear voices and screams, while they are insulted in the worst way if they express a complaint. "Lately, stones, firecrackers, gas canisters have been thrown into our yards and balconies. They throw them right under the bedrooms of our minor children!", they emphasize and add that they often light fires outside their homes.
People have become very frustrated, it was reported. "We hear an angry neighbour shouting at 1:00 in the morning that he will go out with the hunting rifle"
These are also mentioned in the letter of the citizens to the mayor of Nicosia, which was obtained by Filenews.
Among other things, the citizens point out that for the umpteenth time they are addressing the Municipality of Nicosia to put an end to their torment. "Unfortunately, neither the messages we left to contact us were ever answered, nor the e-mails we sent you. Without meaning that we do not appreciate or recognize the work you are doing in the capital, we now feel as citizens and residents of this area great insecurity, disappointment and bitterness that the Municipality's indifference to our problem has led to the sharp drop in our quality of life for about a year now", they point out.
The citizens acknowledge that the park has been upgraded, despite the fact that any actions were taken without adequate consultation.
"Unfortunately, however, the upgrade of the park was not done in the right context, as it seems," they emphasize and add that when the explicit and clear reactions of the residents of the neighbourhood to municipal officials were recorded, they were informed that it was now too late and that the bids for the project had already been awarded.
Today, the citizens say, "the park is a pole of attraction for more delinquent teenagers and young people, since it is not even fenced. In the visit of your officials before the "upgrade", which caused a deterioration in our quality of life, since from 6 pm onwards we do not dare to go out in our yard even as a joke!, we stressed that this park cannot stay open at night, it definitely needs a guard and fencing. We already had huge problems of rioting and delinquency, damage from objects thrown at us, etc. Not only were we not heard, but the new toys were placed next to our homes! But with what criteria, we wonder, are some initiatives taken?", they wonder.
"Young people between the ages of 13 and 20 enter undisturbed at night at any time (after all, aren't there hours of common quiet?), they leave, they come back, they cause a huge disturbance in the neighbourhood with their shouting and screaming, they often fight and curse each other and insult with vulgar expressions any neighbour who dares to complain and generally cause unbearable discomfort to all of us who live in the area," they emphasize with indignation.
Lately, they continue, the situation has gotten completely out of hand! "We are not just talking about a riot, since they throw not only stones but firecrackers and gas canisters in the yards of the surrounding houses and on the balconies of the apartment buildings. If possible, right under the bedrooms of our minor children!"
The citizens report that they were informed by the Municipality of Nicosia that at the end of January that fencing had been approved for the park in question amounting to several thousand euros and that soon (before Easter) there would be fencing, however this did not happen.
"The only thing that happened is that the park, for which the taxpayers paid, is being destroyed. Families with children come to the upgraded park only until 5:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon. Then no one dares to approach. Every few days it burns from fires that young people light right outside our house. The Fire Service can confirm this, since in the last month alone he was called to come at least three times, while as many neighbours ran at the risk of our lives, to put out the fire. Especially in a case where it was windy and we were terrified."
The citizens ask the Mayor of Nicosia what he would do if all this happened outside his house. "Would you like your children to cry and be in fear?", they ask.
The citizens report that now "it is difficult for us to leave the house after some time and after fear of how we will dare to re-enter. Listen, listen! It is not possible for parks to be open all night and unguarded, especially when such issues are observed. If you want the park to exist, then it must be guarded at night and fenced. The employment of a security guard is required, it is absolutely imperative. If the park on Aphrodite continues to operate, it must definitely be under other bases and conditions."
The Police, to which they turn every night, sometimes respond willingly and send patrol cars and sometimes they are unable to, the citizens continue. "They often even tell us 'But the Municipality builds parks and the Police pull them?' They are not wrong. If no action is taken NOW, the situation risks becoming consolidated and not being resolved but getting worse year by year. We are sounding the alarm, with everyone having to take their share of responsibility," they underline.
The citizens are anxious that the situation may get out of hand. "A few nights ago we all froze in the neighbourhood, hearing an angry neighbour shouting at 1:00 in the morning that he would go out with the hunting rifle, with his wife trying to dissuade him crying!"
Within the year, fencing will be installed, says Prountzos
"The residents are right," the mayor said about the problems and delinquency in the park in question. As Mr. Prountzos clarified, the park was recently upgraded, which was in poor condition and particularly neglected, which according to him gave an image of abandonment and contributed to the outbreak of delinquency.
Mr. Prountzos underlined that within the year it is planned to install fencing and that volunteers are being sought to open and close it or otherwise to open and close it "road safety patrol".
In addition, he said, the Municipality will apply to the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection for the installation of security cameras.
Mr. Prountzos also said that they have raised the problems of delinquency recorded in specific parks, both to the Chief of Police and to the Minister of Justice. "We did not avoid dealing with the problems, but we believe that repression alone is not enough," he said.
The efforts of the Municipality of Nicosia, he said, will be extended to other actions and in cooperation with other bodies, including the program of the neighbourhood social worker.
