The case of Chloraka is reminiscent of all the unacceptable things that have been happening for at least the last five years in the Filanda complex in Larnaca, which are largely due to the inability of the competent Services to bring order and protect the legal residents, who even report threats against their lives.
An indisputable fact is the theft of electricity and water, but also the fact that some of our fellow human beings, including children, live in the area under miserable conditions. Residents speak of a gang of foreigners, who illegally rent about 30 apartments, most of which belong to a company that has been in liquidation since 2014.
What is happening in Filanta has been highlighted many times in recent years, culminating last May when a foreigner lost his life and two others were injured after jumping from the balconies of the apartment building to avoid being arrested, during a YAM operation. The question that arises is why the competent Services failed to cooperate and provide a permanent solution.
The issue was highlighted again by the legal residents, who are desperately trying to take measures in the complex, because it has been declared, a few weeks ago, as dangerous by the Larnaca District Self-Government Organization. According to the chairman of the Management Committee, Marios Fotiou, when last week they tried to stop the illegal electricity and water connections, they received death threats.
"We have a 60% water loss, which is borne by the legal residents. What they steal is paid for by us. Our information is that they charge tenants per capita, in addition to rents. He had a person who told us that in a month they charged him €100 (for water and electricity)," Mr. Fotiou told Filenews.
He also added that those who illegally occupied part of the complex "closed a space and turned it into a kindergarten for babysitting", while in the past they had also set up a barbershop. "The first floor had closed corridors, which we opened at a very high cost. However, we raised our hands after the threats. He must check the Welfare Office and the living conditions of these tenants," he added, noting that in two of the five buildings the situation is uncontrollable.
"We have made complaints and we have given names. Unfortunately, we still have no response. The Police told us that they can't do anything, which I don't understand," he noted. The Management Committee has informed through letters, meanwhile, among others, the Minister of Justice, the Chief of Police, the Deputy Minister of Migration and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare.
"F" asked for the position of the Police, whose spokesman, Byron Vyronos, stated that "we, within the framework of our responsibilities, act with various actions, whether they are operations to arrest illegals, or to investigate various complaints. As he noted, "efforts are being made in cooperation with the other competent Services to find a permanent solution, within the framework of the law".
Members of the EAC, accompanied by police officers, meanwhile, went to the site yesterday trying to identify possible illegalities. "It is a situation that we have known for years," EAC spokeswoman Christina Papadopoulou told our newspaper, clarifying, however, that, based on the legislation, the Electricity Authority cannot intervene inside the building.
For his part, the president of EOAL, Angelos Hatzicharalambous, stated yesterday on state television that in order to give a definitive solution to the problem, all competent state services and local authorities should be involved. "We must each see what belongs to us and proceed with measures," he stressed, indicating that the issues that saw the light of day must be handled by the Police, which he informed, as he said, himself.
