Outgoing ministers rush for duty free cars

By a Staff Reporter

MEMBERS of the outgoing government are rushing to upgrade their cars for the latest models before their duty free status expires on March 1.

The Cyprus Mail has learned that at least three member of the Clerides government are in line for brand new BMWs, Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos, Presidential Undersecretary Pantelis Kouros and Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou.

Papapetrou, a lawyer and deputy leader of the United Democrats, was yesterday unabashed about taking advantage of his last remaining days as a member of the government.

“It’s not an issue of changing car. I am buying a car,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “I’m entitled as other ministers to this privilege and I say frankly that I will exercise it. I’m not afraid to say it, after all I don’t have something to bother my conscience because being in this office has cost me money.

“If my only consideration was money then my law practice would have been much more rewarding to me than waiting for the cheque and salary as Government Spokesman. I don’t feel I’m cheating anybody.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.