Since your correspondent Mr Mike Klokkou (Sunday Mail, November 28) doesn’t live in Cyprus he absolutely proves my point that untold damage has been done needlessly to the property market in terms of overseas perceptions. And if he will read again the second paragraph of my November 21 letter he criticises he will see I made entirely ample mention of the problems here.
Moreover I reiterate it again below. But on a personal level my wife and I have bought two properties and sold one, both through one of the developers constantly under attack. And by using commonsense, patience, normal care – and civility – have suffered none of the horrors described by the doom-mongers. And that goes for many, many friends and contacts.
I have no grudge against anybody but I will continue to do what I can to offset some of the more extreme howls of outrage from people with agendas which I do rather wonder about.
It cannot be denied that there has been almost no balance expressed and Mr. Klokkou can be forgiven for assuming that Cyprus is a total mess of property pottage. In truth, despite all too many mistakes, fraudulent business practices, dishonest advisors, slow Government reaction to protest and some unhappy outcomes, the market is unquestionably dominated by successful sales and purchases.
Thousands of expatriates, Cypriots and others are now living with very few regrets or bad experiences. The overwhelming positive evidence is easily provable. Don’t believe all you hear Mr. Klokkou. Come and check it out for yourself
As for Denis O’Hare’s predictable and selectively phrased letter on the same page, all I am interested in is fair play for honest property players, lawyers, et al and some credit given where it is due. I have no hidden motives.
I have no link with any developer, nor have I ever failed to recognise the problems and deceptions. But with hundreds of thousands of homes across Cyprus it is obvious that the acknowledged serious problems about which we are all aware nevertheless affect a minority. Otherwise the island would be in an uproar. And I do sincerely believe that disproportionate damage is being done overseas to Cyprus at a time when we can least afford this. After 45 years association with Cyprus I care very much about its reputation.
I note that on the Cyprus Mail website, it is a small handful of the same people – some of whom have written four or five posts – who have chosen to make rather insulting comments about me, several of which happen to be misinformed and complete nonsense.
Clive Turner, Paphos
