THE TIMEFRAME for new projects in Peyia, including a much anticipated ambulance service, has drawn a negative response from critics who say the service should have been included in the 2009 budget.
The mayor of Peyia, Neophytos Akourshiotis has announced that a new fire department and ambulance station would be built, and be operational from 2010.
But local Peyia councillor, Linda Leblanc, who represents the coalition of Independents said:” I’m surprised that the time frame is only a year and a half, I would expect a project of this size to take far longer. The matter was discussed at the last council meeting, but this was in relation to the local football club.”
APOP Kiniras Peyia has been granted a direct cash subsidy of €150,000 from Peyia’2009 budget.
“For this amount of cash, we could have a 24-hour fully trained paramedic cover in Peyia,” said Leblanc. “Choices are being made, which affect the community, and no-one is being consulted.”
At the last meeting of the coalition of independents and their supporters, who Leblanc represents on Peyia council, the overwhelming opinion was a preference for an ambulance service, over granting subsidies for the local football team.
Peyia resident Margaret Walshman said:” I understand the locals like to have a football team, but I do think this amount of cash, €150,000,is a huge chunk of the taxpayers money to be earmarked for this. I think if we had given them a smaller amount, we would have funds to improve aspects of Peyia, which would benefit the whole community and not just football fans. I would like to see a public clinic with a casualty department and ambulances, fire services, better policing, a post office and more community projects.”
Ministerial approval has already been given for a new Peyia post office and Akourshiotis advised he is trying to find the right location to house all the new construction works, so that these services may be concentrated in one area.
The modern European approach to the development of the emergency services is to place them together in one area.
“I can see this makes sense to have the police, fire and ambulance services in one place, and I do understand the Mayors’ vision,” said Leblan. “But there is such a gap in services now in Peyia, we need something urgently.”
It currently takes half an hour for an ambulance to travel from Paphos general hospital to Peyia village, and when they arrive, a myriad of new buildings and unnamed, unknown roads await them.
“The emergency services often can’t find a large proportion of the addresses. The drivers go to ask at the police station, but it’s almost impossible for locals to know where houses may be, as there is so much building going on, it’s chaotic.”
The councillor admitted that the proposals for the new structures and services have been under discussion for two years, since she was elected.
“Whilst I’m very pleased about the ideas, I think it’s a little early to be making announcements now. If we’re talking about a multi service building, it’s going to be years down the road until completion. Although we’re moving in the right direction, I would prefer to have known dates and timeframes. I know the mayor is talking about it being ready by the second half of 2010, but I can’t see this as being realistic.”
Leblanc said that according to Akourshiotis, part of the delay in the Peyia ambulance service is being caused by intensive driver training .It takes four years to fully qualify as a paramedic.
She said,” I would like to see qualified paramedics all over Cyprus and not just in Peyia, this is something which we really need here and I firmly believe in.”
Leblanc believes that if a Cyprus trained paramedic were to commence work in Peyia now, they wouldn’t be up to EU standards.
“I’m not criticising, but this is how it is in Cyprus at present.”
She added, “rather than a fancy new building, I would like to see effective, quick action. We have plenty of possibilities open to us, with highly trained people already providing a private paramedic service in Paphos. The government could contract them, and it could all happen tomorrow. The government have to back the expense.”
Leblanc spoke of numerous ‘horror’ stories, of how many residents of Peyia have suffered, and in some instances died, because of the lack of an ambulance service in the area. She also pointed out that these instances are not being tracked and recorded.
“There isn’t really a reliable way to collect this data but I know it happens,” she said. “Recently a Cypriot woman had to wait an hour for an ambulance, and she had a head injury.”
The councillor underlined that the situation was of great concern and is a priority for the coalition.
She pointed out, “the paramedic scheme has to be government backed, and it can’t exclude anyone and mustn’t be private. There are British run and trained paramedics here, which is wonderful to have, but as they are privately run schemes, we couldn’t use them. A scheme must be inclusive.”
“But,” she pointed out, ” we could send out tenders and receive proposals, and raise additional funds within Peyia. I’m sure residents would lend their support even in these difficult times.
Sadly there isn’t any room for this in the 2009 budget.”
The councillor added that choices are being made about the quality of life in Peyia, and that people who voted for the council and the mayor, aren’t being given any choices.
Meanwhile, Akourshiotis also announced on local radio, that plans for the creation of a multi- use community centre and a public library in the area are underway. He added that a team of experts has already begun work on the project, and the plans will soon be drawn up
The mayor expressed his hope that the new projects would help improve the general economic climate of Peyia.
