AKEL contacts with the people and examination of problems continues
AKEL Parliamentary Representative Giorgos Loucaides visits Larnaca district
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 1st June 2020, Nicosia
A delegation from the AKEL Larnaca District Committee, headed by AKEL Parliamentary Representative Giorgos Loucaides, paid a visit today to the Municipality of Lefkara and the local community of Kornos for an on-the-spot examination of problems. The AKEL delegation also included AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides and AKEL Larnaca District Committee member Renos Georgiou.
The shopkeepers in the Municipality of Lefkara expressed their strong concerns about the businesses’ future, given that the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic and the expected severe reduction in tourism, is driving them to the brink of economic disaster. The loss of their incomes, combined with the cost of rent and other obligations, make it more than imperative for the state to provide substantial support so that small and medium-sized businesses can cope with these difficult conditions.
The AKEL delegation briefed shopkeepers and people about the initiatives it has taken in this direction since the beginning of the pandemic for support to small businesses and the self-employed, both for providing cover to workers within the framework of the Ministry of Labour’s programs, the subsidy of rents, but also with the initiative for the initial approval and subsequent extension of the temporary ban on evictions, which was recently adopted by the Plenary Session of the House of Representatives
The AKEL delegation reiterated the need for small businesses to be immediately supported with a total fund of at least € 250 million, an amount equivalent to the provision of the original state guarantees bill, given that the proposed – on the part of the Government – amount of €100 million is deemed as insufficient for rendering substantive support. At the same time, the government must also take additional specialised measures to support purely tourist areas throughout Cyprus, which are expected to be hit hardest by the loss of revenues due to the fall in tourism.
The AKEL delegation subsequently met with the Mayor of Kornos and the President of the Cooperative Association of Ceramists of Kornos, where it was briefed on the operation of the pottery, but also on the efforts underway to promote and upgrade it to the benefit of the local community. AKEL expressed its readiness to contribute to these efforts and will be at the local Community’s disposal for any action deemed necessary.
Finally, a visit was also made to the Regional Forest Station of Kornos. In separate meetings with the staff, but also with the management of the Forest Station, AKEL expressed its thanks and gratitude for the difficult work being carried out, whilst it was also briefed about the problems with regards to the Station’s understaffing and particular labour issues, but also the need to expand the forest fire season, issues about which AKEL will take the necessary actions and steps towards the executive power with the aim of solving them.
Furthermore, AKEL requested and was briefed on the extent of the implementation of the recommendations put forward by the team of experts set up after the catastrophic fire in the region of Solia. AKEL will request additional information on this issue through the planned parliamentary procedures.
