Strovolos mayor launches weight loss plan

2011-02-13

THE MAYOR of Strovolos has launched an innovative campaign to encourage his workforce to lose weight to make them healthier and fit enough to do their job.

Strovolos mayor Savvas Eliofotou told the Sunday Mail yesterday that he came up with the idea when he noticed that a fair number of the local council’s labour force were packing in the pounds, which was hindering them from carrying out their duties well.

From the 150-odd labour force responsible for maintaining parks, roads and pavements, less than half were in a position to actually carry out their duties properly, said Eliofotou.

British urge expert help

2011-02-13

THE BRITISH government wants to see the two leaders make use of their agreement in Geneva and enlist the help of UN experts to overcome the impasse on property, said Britain’s Europe Minister David Lidington.

Speaking after a meeting with three of The Elders in London on Friday, Lidington said: “As I have said before, difficult choices will have to be made by both sides but I very much welcome and I am encouraged by the recent agreement of both leaders to consider technical support from UN experts on property issues.”

He added that the UK “very much hopes that such support will provide fresh thinking for negotiations on this issue, and strongly encourages further work by both parties”.

Further remands for welfare violence

2011-02-13

FIVE Palestinian refugees were yesterday remanded in custody for three days, in connection with Thursday’s violent clashes between refugees and police at the Larnaca welfare office.

The five Palestinians are all under the age of 16 and currently attend Cypriot high schools.

A further four refugees were remanded in custody on Friday, bringing the total to nine.

However police are still looking for more suspects involved in Thursday morning’s violence, when between 50 and 100 asylum seekers protested against a 10 day delay in their January benefit cheque.

Gas decision within weeks

2011-02-13

 

THE GOVERNMENT will make a decision on the supply of natural gas to Cyprus in the coming weeks, the Minister of Commerce Antonis Paschalides said yesterday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd International Bicycle Tour of Larnaca, the minister said: “Within the next few weeks and provided we have all data before us, we will be able to make the wisest decision on the matter which will be in the public interest.”

Asked whether the political situation in Egypt will affect Cyprus’ decision on how to exploit its hydrocarbon reserves, Paschalides said the government has already signed an agreement with Egypt on their Exclusive Economic Zone, noting that there exists excellent cooperation between the two countries.

More roadworks planned for Paphos

2011-02-13

BUSINESS owners in Paphos are concerned that a new road widening project due to take place this year will adversely affect trade.

The Paphos municipality is holding a meeting tomorrow to discuss plans to widen the busy Tomb of the Kings road into a dual carriageway which will be part of the circular ring road around Paphos.

Owners of the many shops, restaurants and bars which line the busiest road in Paphos fear they will lose a huge chunk of their frontage, due to the widening of the road.

Ben Hinton, owner of ‘Ben’s bar’ on the road, said he hoped tomorrow’s meeting would clarify shop owners’ concerns.

NHS report due out this week

2011-02-13

THE National Health System (NHS) report is expected this week amid criticism from the House Health Committee over its proposed budget.

“The Health Insurance Organisation’s (HIO) 2011 budget is weak and without provisions to promote the implementation of the NHS,” said the chairman of the House Health Committee, DISY’s Constantinos Constantinou. The committee will meet to discuss the NHS on February 24, after the ministerial committee in charge of the scheme has concluded its report on the financial standings and true cost of promoting and implementing the NHS.

Great communicator comes clean on gas

2011-02-13

AN INTRIGUING event took place last Tuesday evening at Nicosia’s Cleopatra hotel. Intriguing in more ways than one.

The event was a talk on “Renewable sources of energy and use of natural gas in Cyprus”. By appearances, it was organised by the Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development, which sent out the invitations. But judging by the attendance and the tone of the discussion, it would not be far-fetched to suspect it was the DISY party pulling the strings.

‘Colonial’ Erdogan traps Eroglu in a Catch-22

2011-02-13

UNTIL Thursday it may have been possible to pass off the ongoing clash between Turkish Cypriot unions and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as a spat between spoilt public sector workers and an overbearing and tactless leader. Likewise, up until three days ago, it may have been possible to defuse the arguments, kiss each other on the cheeks and say it had all been a big misunderstanding.

But not any more.

With the appointment on Thursday of Halil Ibrahim Akca as Ankara’s new ‘ambassador’ to the north, Erdogan sent a clear message to the Turkish Cypriot unions, the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu, and the Turkish Cypriot people in general: “Either you are with me or against me. Either way, my wishes will prevail.”

Grateful patient leaves hospice generous legacy

2011-02-13

THE Friends Hospice in Paphos has been left a legacy of more than 66 thousand euros by a former patient.

John Henry Howell donated the money in his will in recognition of the palliative and respite care he had received from the hospice in the months leading up to his death last May, aged 71.

According to the hospice president Chris Jones, Howell, a former officer in the British armed forces, was very popular with the staff.

“John made a very strong impression on the staff,” Jones said. “He will be fondly remembered as a gracious man, as well as for his generosity towards the hospice.”

Howell’s lawyer Penelope Athinodorou Mantis handed over a cheque for €66,105 to the facility last week.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.