By Charlie Charalambous
DISY deputy Demetris Syllouris said yesterday he was ready to blow the lid on the corruption he claimed was rife in semi-government organisations if the state failed to stem the problem.
Syllouris claims to have a “drawer full” of allegations, mainly concerning board members of semi-government organisations, although he refuses to go into detail.
“I’ve clearly stated the main problem with semi-government organisations: that close relatives of board members, such as fathers, brothers, etc, have professional links with semi-government organisations,” Syllouris said yesterday.
The deputy said the allegations he had received concerned unlawful enrichment, abuse of public funds and violating tender procedures.
However, the deputy – who met President Clerides for a second time yesterday to discuss the issue – wants the government to take up the anti- corruption gauntlet and introduce tougher laws.
“I am facing a real dilemma and will meet with colleagues who have similar information to see how to go about things.”
The politician said the government’s proposal to introduce a bill amending current semi-government regulations and establish an independent tenders’ commission would go some way towards resolving the matter.
Syllouris said he would study the bill when it was submitted before deciding what action to take.
“I don’t subscribe to the theory that deputies should become detectives, but (I will have) to submit my allegations, which the state has an obligation to solve.”
The Disy deputy said his aim was greater transparency in public administration; tighter legislation would go some way towards achieving this, he said.
According to Syllouris, Clerides has, ironically, accepted that “miracles” are being achieved by semi-government tender procedures.
Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides yesterday called on the Disy politician to submit his evidence on corruption and waste of public funds.
“The government is willing to stamp out any scandals and the president has his door open to any such allegations,” said Stylianides.
He said one of the anti-corruption measures planned by the government was the “initiative, with support from the parties, to push for amending the way semi-government organisations operate.”
The spokesman also disclosed that Clerides – along with his cabinet – would give a statement of his personal of wealth for the Auditor-general to examine.
But Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades was less than pleased with another deputy from his party raising the corruption issue – he has already reprimanded Christos Pourgourides for going public with allegations against Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides.
Anastassiades has reportedly sent a letter to Syllouris requesting him to divulge his information before a meeting of Disy’s executive committee.
The Disy boss said that if Syllouris could not prove his allegations, then he would be the guilty party.
“He (Syllouris) is obliged to verify his allegations and not just make accusations,” Anastassiades said.
Semi-government board members are purely political appointees, the majority of whom now are Disy men, so any corruption allegations could only harm the party’s standing.
