Yermasoyia Council close down illegal establishments but claim ‘It is not our intention to turn the tourist area into a monastery’
COMPLAINTS by enraged parents and area residents have succeeded in closing down the notorious Galatex complex in Yermasoyia’s tourist area – for the time being at least.
The action follows a police investigation and the involvement of the Ministry of Justice over complaints that some establishments operated without a license and were venues for illegal behaviour.
“There were complaints that some of the clubs did not have operation licenses.
Yermasoyia Council stopped granting licenses to illegal establishments and that is why they closed down,” a Yermasoyia Station police officer told the Cyprus Mail.
“However, two establishments at Galatex do hold a license at present, and I believe they will be up and running by summertime,” he added.
The council’s action should result in a quiet period for the Yermasoyia tourist area, but as the Mayor of Yermasoyia told the Cyprus Mail, serious problems remain and Yermasoyia Police Station continues to be understaffed and unable to police the area adequately.
“The issue of ensuring the safety of locals and tourists in the area does not end or begin with Galatex. What is really important is to have adequate policing in the area, which cannot be accomplished at present as Yermasoyia Police Station is seriously understaffed,” said Andreas Gabryilides Mayor of Yermasoyia.
Commenting on Galatex bars presently being closed, Sofocles Sofocleous, Minister of Justice re-iterated the need for strict policing of the area. “I hope that the law will be enforced. Club-owners should respect the law. The police have a serious role to execute in enforcing the law. In such matters, the enforcement should be carried out with zero tolerance,” he said.
Yermasoyia Council, however, feels that the Ministry has not been responsive to their calls for boosting the police presence in the area.
“On numerous occasions (the last time was in May) we contacted Minister of Justice Sofocles Sofocleous on the need for more support to Yermasoyia Police station, but nothing has been done yet. Presently there are 38 police officers working at the station, and it is estimated that we need at least 56 officers to address needs.
“The situation is unacceptable in the tourist area, and I am not saying that the officers are not doing their jobs; I am saying there are not enough of them.
“Consider that Yermasoyia Police Station is not just responsible for Yermasoyia, but for Ayios Athanasios, the area from Holiday Inn to Monte Caputo, Pyrgos, Mouttagiaka and Ayios Tychonas,” Mayor Gabryilides added.
Operation of businesses is likely to resume in the area in the future after George Galatariotis, Chairman of Galatex Tourist Enterprises Ltd has sold his company’s share of Galatex to a German company, which intends to re-open establishments in the complex.
“But under no circumstances will the situation at Galatex go back to the way it used to be. Galatex will have a totally different look,” said Gabryilides.
The reason Galatex closed down in the first place is because Yermasoyia Council refused to grant operation licenses to the bars and clubs, illegal extensions of their establishments and the creation of noise pollution. However, if the bars conform to the regulations, the authorities are not in a position to deny granting licenses.
“We stopped granting licenses because the bars had illegal extensions on sidewalks, blocking the walkway to the beach, and also because there was a serious noise pollution issue. If the bar-owners adhere to the regulations, and if they get town planning licenses, the law forces us to grant operation licenses. Once these licenses are granted and the owners start breaking laws again, the cases will go to Court,” explained Gabryilides.
“Our position is that we must clear the area of illegal activity. That won’t happen overnight. We also want to minimize noise at night time.
“However, it is not our intention to turn the tourist area into a monastery. It is the tourist area and people go there for entertainment,” he added.
Mayor Gabryilides also highlighted the need for parental responsibility in dealing with juvenile delinquency and underage drinking.
“If a parent allows their eleven-year-old to go out to the tourist area and they see that they are not home by 11pm or 12pm, then it is not the police’s fault. Society and parents have a big responsibility about what is happening to these children.
“As a Council we have been making numerous efforts to include youth in more useful activities, but also to make foreign-speaking residents in the area feel welcome, safe and included in our community,” he added.
Yermasoyia Council has been running ‘Social Street Works’, organizing events such as concerts, activities and trips for young people in the area. The Council also runs an EU-sponsored program aiming to encourage third-country nationals residing in the area feel part of the community.
“We got ?50,000 funding for the EU for this program which includes free Greek lessons to foreign speakers, psychological support, an activity room equipped with computers and the organization of group meetings and trips,” Gabryilides said.
