THE LEADER of the Akamas community of Ineia, Savvas Charalambous, yesterday expressed his fury at plans to install a shipping antenna on the mountain next to his village.
“We already have a huge problem in Ineia,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “There are three or four antennas and masts on Vouni Mountain; they all transmit waves over our village.”
“I believe these antennas cause serious health problems. We have many cases of different types of cancer amongst the villagers, and people are dying.
“Our children have the right to grow up in a safe environment, and a cancer free village. The people are angry and they are scared. I remember, before these antennas came, we didn’t have these health problems in the village.”
Agyris Ioannou, President of the European Environmental Movement agrees.
“I am against antennas altogether. They are a health risk and should never be erected close to houses. I call on the government to reconsider. If they insist on putting it up, for reasons we don’t know, they must move it a few kilometres away into the forest. I don’t want any trees to be affected either, but the children must come first.”
Kyriakos Kyriakides, a resident of Ineia, expressed grave concern: “I was born in Ineia, and I moved back 15 years ago. I never remember anyone dying of cancer before. The antennas and masts have been there for ten years, and we have had about one death a year from cancer since then. All sorts of cancers, including leukaemia.
“I am worried for myself, for my nephews and my nieces. Because of the position and elevation of the mountain, many masts are there. But I have heard that this one will be massive, 25,000 kilowatts. I don’t feel good about this at all.
“I will demonstrate and do whatever I can to make sure they don’t put this killer up in our village.’
Charalambous added: “Three or four shepherds have died already. They work close to the antennas and I think this is how they got cancer. Three young people in the village, aged between 27 and 30, were diagnosed with cancer in the last year. Only a month ago, a 65-year-old resident died of cancer. It is very frightening. If this is the death rate with these antennas, imagine what will happen to us if they put up this other monster.
“The army has one antenna, so does a telephone company and a National Television station. This new one, I think, is for shipping communication, and it’s huge.
“The government must do something; they mustn’t allow it to go ahead. They must help us. People are suffering and dying.”
But Senior Marine surveyor, Captain Andreas Costandinou, was adamant the project would go ahead. “The aim of this antenna is to save lives at sea. It has to be placed somewhere.”
“I am not a technician, but I believe such an antennae would not be harmful at all.
“The antenna on the hilltop in Ineia is part of a new system, VTMIS, which will cover the whole of the Mediterranean. This antenna is one of many which will be placed around the island.”
Themis Evriviades, a marine surveyor class A, who is the new system project manager, insists there is no cause for alarm.
“This antenna is just the usual type. People should not be concerned. They will only have the same risk as if they were travelling aboard a ship. The antenna can be compared with the radar of a ship. Technically there is no danger at all. The antenna will also be on top of a hill, away from the village. I really don’t know what the villagers are worrying about.”
The village community leader and the residents of Ineia and surrounding areas will meet tomorrow to discuss the course of action they will take.
