Paphos isn’t what it used to be

Sir,
Thirteen years ago, I would never have believed I would be back home from Cyprus so disillusioned with what I see happening to Paphos. My father and I purchased a property in Paphos in 1996 in a supposedly exclusive development. Our reasons for choosing Cyprus were numerous, but the biggest factors were the people, the culture and the near zero crime rate.

On May 20, I was walking down Poseidonos Avenue when I had my handbag snatched. Sadly, it wasn’t what was stolen from me that affected me, but the fact that three times a year for the past 13 years I have gone to Paphos in the knowledge I was in a safe place.

When I told the local publicans and restaurant owners, they were much up in arms and from what I was told many of them contacted the police pleading with them to do something and prevent this happening again. Sadly, I met another woman who had the same experience as myself, once more on Poseidonos Avenue, apparently the eighth victim in 10 days on that stretch of road.

I know these incidents happen all over the world, but I am confident is that it is not Cypriots that are causing these problems. In my experience I have never met such friendly, helpful and caring people who have their country close to their hearts.

All we can hope for is that the police and the Cyprus government act to stem this crime wave and let Paphos return to its normal, tranquil self.

Gloria Smith, Aberdeen

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.