Cabinet to decide on highway’s future

THE PLANS for the Paphos-Polis Chrysochous highway and all big public construction projects will be presented to the Cabinet in the next few weeks so priorities can be set.

This was the message from Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis yesterday, who was invited to the House Communications Committee to explain the delays in starting work on the road.

“We are experiencing an international financial crisis,” Stavrakis said after the meeting. “The government’s capacities aren’t limitless and we need to choose now how to use our limited income to help the more vulnerable sectors but also begin development plans. This is a dilemma that will be discussed at the Cabinet in the next few weeks.”

He said priorities would be set on the public works that need to be done, including the Paphos-Polis highway.

Stavrakis explained that the ministries would be presenting the Cabinet with all the scheduled construction projects and each minister would submit the financial and social criteria of each one so those of top priority can start straight away.

He assured deputies that all of President Demetris Christofias’ pre-election commitments – including the highway’s construction – would be followed through.

Stavrakis was of the opinion that the Paphos-Polis highway would be high on the list of priorities, as it would have significant financial benefits and help a large part of Cyprus.

Polis Mayor Angelos Georgiou said the road’s construction should be promoted immediately, before efforts to expropriate land start petering out. He repeated his view that the longer it took to start construction, the costlier it would be.

“We are asking the government to realise its pre-election commitments. The area’s residents are reaching breaking point,” said Georgiou.

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