The English School Parents Association (ESPA) has elected its new committee, promising a “peaceful atmosphere” at last, after weeks of political jostling and allegedly spurious allegations between two rival groups.
The groups are the self-styled “Concerned Parents” (a loose association that favours ethnic diversity and Turkish Cypriot inclusion) and the rest, who think the “concerned parents” are Akelites.
Thursday’s election will usher eight candidates from the latter group into the 15 person committee. However, none are Turkish Cypriot, despite 13 per cent of the school’s students being Turkish Cypriot.
Former ESPA president Magda Nicholson said yesterday: “There has been some turmoil recently and I am happy to see a peaceful atmosphere now.”
One “Concerned Parent” Maria Emmanuel said: “It is good that we managed to get 40 per cent of the vote, but we had no such hope against the other group, which is financially strong and affiliated with political parties.”
Votes were cast at the GSP Stadium in order to park the 750 parents’ cars, and Emmanuel said it was more successful than last year.
“All in all it went well; there was much more consensus and the crowd was more positive and supportive. There was a much better spirit,” she said. “But it is bad because the Turkish Cypriot students have different needs, like their religion and border crossing. It is difficult to put them forward.”
The election was also somewhat marred by some allegedly “slanderous” accusations against (the “Concerned Parents”)” on the web.
The anonymous writer, who lobbied for the incoming octet, said: “The known-unknown (sic) politically motivated circles that have turned the school into an indoctrination academy for their party politic (sic) propaganda have formed a candidate combination with the aim of taking control of (ESPA)”
The alleged party in this case is AKEL – an association Emmanuel strenuously denies.
In a counter-email she said: “Our group of parents HAS NOT BEEN FORMED (sic) nor its members belong to any single political party. On the contrary – we are parents of independent political stance and diverse ethnic origin including Turkish Cypriot and Maronite.”
She added: “It is unfortunate that such unfounded and untrue statements are being used simply as a means of collecting votes for a Parents Association election, indifferent to the damage it might be inflicting on the School.”
The incoming members, and their vote tallies are: Koulla Zambella Loizou (439); Constantinos Hilides (421); Paris Christodoulides (397); Rania Poullikka (412); Baret Kouyoumdjian (439); Constantinos Constantinou (401); Constantinos Trikoupis (423); Rena Papaeti Hadjicosta (411).
