IT IS often said that some projects should not be viewed from an accountant’s perspective because their value to society cannot be calculated only in money terms. For instance the Cyprus University may be costing the taxpayer a little less than €100 million a year, but it could be argued that a state university is a necessity and that its benefits to society, in the longer term, would far outweigh the high cost.

THE FIRST neighbourhood watch scheme in Cyprus looks set to be implemented in Peyia in Paphos.

Peyia Mayor Neofytos Akourshiotis, in an interview on local radio, confirmed the project would start on a pilot basis covering the whole of the municipality. This would include areas, which are not so densely populated and contain a large number of holiday homes, which are often left

“Many holidaymakers who have bought houses in the area want to come for a peaceful relaxing holiday and instead are often faced with burglaries,” he said.

POLICE arrested five youths in connection with assaulting and injuring five people at a Limassol school on Thursday.

Police said four18-year-olds and a 22-year-old were remanded in custody for three days after a group of around 25 club wielding youths barged into the 3rd Technical School, leaving five people injured, including two who needed treatment in hospital.

The motive behind the assault is said to be differences over a recent Futsal match between the two schools.

One of the two treated in hospital had been threatened before the assault.

Education Minister Andreas Demetriou dismissed suggestions that delinquency was taking over.

AN ORTHODOX Christian organisation has come under fire for distributing “ridiculous” anti-pope flyers in Nicosia schools this week.

According to Politis, The Pancyprian Orthodox Christian Movement (PAHOC) printed leaflets, opposing the visit of Pope Benedict in June, and harshly criticising Cypriot Bishops and President Christofias for remaining quiet about recent paedophilia scandals within the Catholic Church.

PAPHOS Airport won’t be closing ‘even for a day’, Communications Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis said yesterday, adding that the whole furore over such a possibility was down to a misunderstanding.

“I feel there was a big misunderstanding and so I will take this opportunity to state publicly to all the media representatives and not only that the Cyprus Republic will never accept Paphos Airport’s closure, even for one day,” said the minister.

She was commenting on recent reports that the airport was struggling financially, which could lead to it being closed down at nighttimes over the winter.

THE NICOSIA Municipality intends to create a specialised guide for all applied arts and handcraft artists as well as their workshops and shops within the boundaries of the authority in central and wider Nicosia.

The guide will be in Greek and English and aims in promoting both applied arts and handcraft and the artists in the capital.

It will be a useful tool for foreign and local visitors or professionals, providing information on the artists, their work as well as their workspace.

The municipality invites all professional artists to participate in the guide, by providing their full information to Argyro Toumazou, as soon as possible.

THE CYPRUS Red Cross yesterday kicked-off a door to door fundraiser within the framework of its continuous effort to sensitise and mobilise Cypriot society in relieving human pain.

The island-wide fundraiser will last until May 18.

Hundreds of Red Cross volunteers will knock on doors, reminding people that the smallest contribution could translate into a big deed.

Donations can also be made: from a fixed line, calling CyTA’s Charity Direct on 90936011 or 90937013 or 90938015 for €2, €5, €10 contributions respectively or from a mobile phone by sending a text message on CyTA’s Cybee service at the number 7000, writing Redcross1 or Redcross3 or Redcross5 for €2, €5, €10 contributions respectively.