The Akamas National Forest Park must be protected
Statement by Christina Nicolaou, Head of AKEL’s Environment Policy
24 November 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
Two main conclusions can be drawn from the debate in the Parliamentary Environment Committee last Wednesday on the implementation of the works for the improvement of the road network within the Akamas National Forest Park.
First, that there are illegalities and that the legally binding conditions of the Special Ecological Assessment were not implemented, a fact confirmed by the position of 6 out of 7 members of the ad hoc evaluation committee of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study.
The question therefore arises as to why the Forestry Department, as the project manager, did not identify the irregularities so that it could take appropriate action?
There are also other issues raised by the Audit department in relation to the proper award of the project, such as whether the binding conditions were incorporated and adopted in the construction plans, and many others, which should and will be addressed later.
Secondly, it became apparent that there is a complete lack of coordination within the government itself. At the same time that the Minister was assuring that the work had been frozen after the intervention of the President himself, the project contractor told the Committee that up to yesterday they were continuing to work normally.
For us, things are simple. If indeed President Christodoulides and the Ministry comprehend the magnitude of the problem, then they must immediately instruct that the existing work be completed, the ecological damage done be repaired and any other work be frozen and that planning can proceed only after consultation.
AKEL has from the very first moment opposed the fragmentation of the Akamas peninsula through the implementation of 3 different plans, precisely because this would provoke the problems we are facing today.
With regard to the press reports concerning the applications for planning permission for a large development along Lara Street, AKEL will proceed with the registration of an ex officio matter in the competent Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee, because with what has come to light it is absolutely necessary to investigate them.
For AKEL, the protection and promotion of the Akamas peninsula has been, is and will remain a top priority.
