Corruption allegations against state orchestra

THE State Orchestra is the latest in a string of state services being investigated for corruption, it emerged yesterday.

A member of the Orchestra’ Board of Directors has been accused of dubious business dealings in violation of the orchestra’s legal framework approved by the Cabinet in 2005, a closed session of the House Education Committee was told yesterday.

“It seems there are serious problems within the State Orchestra, complaints about corruption, conflict of interests among board members, who it seems are operating in violation of the Cabinet decision,” said Committee Chairman, DISY’s Nicos Tornaritis, speaking after the meeting but without going into further details.

As a result, he added, the Committee has called on the Education Ministry to freeze the 11 permanent positions that have been opened until the accusations have been investigated and parliament has been informed on the investigation’s outcome.

He added that the State Orchestra had also been asked to carry out an internal probe into the matter.

Allegations that EU nationals are being favoured over Cypriot musicians for places in the orchestra were also discussed by Committee members.

“Without wanting to sound racist or xenophobic, we need to promote the right of positions for Cypriot musicians,” said Tornaritis. “We have nothing against foreign musicians and don’t want to seem racist, but a State Orchestra should be comprised of Cypriot musicians.”

DIKO’s Athena Kyriakidou said the Cabinet had clearly stated that the aim of creating the orchestra was to promote local musicians, when it approved its legal framework back in 2005.

“We saw this wasn’t the case through today’s discussion,” said Kyriakidou. “It is reasonable and desirable for Cypriots to be chosen.”

On behalf of the Orchestra’s temporary musicians, Kyriakos Mytellas said he was satisfied that the corruption claims would be investigated, but called for a “truly independent” investigator.

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