New subsidies to boost tourist arrivals

2011-05-17

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday announced a partnership with private enterprise geared at boosting tourist arrivals and bringing in much-needed foreign cash.

The deal between the government and Hermes Airports – operators of the island’s two airports – concerns giving incentives to travellers coming to Cyprus mainly from new points of origin.

It was announced after a meeting in Nicosia between President Demetris Christofias and the chairman of Hermes Airports Nicos Shacolas.

Our View: Those in favour of referendum offer no viable alternative solution

2011-05-17

MANY PEOPLE would have been mildly amused to hear the proposal made by the Green Party last week, with regard to the Cyprus problem. There should be a referendum so that Greek Cypriots can decide what type of settlement they want, said the Greens, whose main message in this election campaign is that the big parties are out of touch with the electorate.

Papers in breach of the publishing deadline for polls

2011-05-17

Chief Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides has reported to the Attorney-general three local newspapers for breaking the law by publishing opinion polls after the set deadline.

It is now up to the AG to decide whether to prosecute.

The papers printed a CyBC-commissioned poll on Sunday. The deadline designated by the Attorney-general for this coming Sunday’s (May 22) parliamentary elections was midnight of last Saturday.

By law, the deadline for publishing opinion polls is defined as seven days prior to election day. It applies to all media: print, television, radio and electronic.

CyBC had initially planned to air the poll on Sunday, but pushed it forward to Saturday after consulting with the Attorney-general’s office.

Latest armed robbery highlights rising crime

2011-05-17

ARMED robbers stole €2,500 from a 63-year-old Larnaca resident in the early hours of yesterday morning after breaking into his home.

According to the victim, who had been sleeping the sofa, more than two people wearing hoods entered his apartment, woke him up 2am and, holding a knife to his throat, demanded his money.

When the victim resisted, he said, two of the strangers beat him in various parts of his body.

The thieves left with the money, and the victim was transferred to Larnaca General Hospital, where he was treated for lacerations to his right arm and chest and abrasions to the face.

The incident has once highlighted a rise in serious crime across the island, especially robberies and burglaries.

More than 300 young lives cut short on the roads in last decade

2011-05-17

MORE than 300 youths have lost their lives in road accidents in the past decade it emerged yesterday, as authorities said they were looking into ways to cut accidents involving young drivers.

“On average, 24 drivers up to 25 years of age lose their life in traffic collisions in Cyprus every year,” Communications Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis said.

“The problem of road collisions involving young drivers is especially serious since their number constitutes over one-third of the total,” she added.

The minister said 326 people up to the age of 25 lost their life in road accidents in the previous decade, though 2010 recorded a decrease compared with previous years.

Work begins on controversial cathedral

2011-05-17

WORK ON a new cathedral has begun next to one of the oldest churches in Nicosia, despite efforts by the architects association and a number of deputies to block the project.

Bulldozers have already begun to dig up the area earmarked for a new large church off Kennedy Avenue in the capital, on the premise that it will cater to the needs of local parishioners, adding to the three other churches in the vicinity (Ayios Nikolaos, Ayios Dimitrios and Ayios Nektarios).

Head of the Architects Association Constantinos Constanti yesterday voiced his objection to the project, saying nothing should be built in the area next to the existing 400-year-old Ayia Paraskevi church because “it will undermine and hide the existing archaeological monument”.

Defence presses for report discrediting Hadjicostis star witness

2011-05-17

 

THE defence in the ongoing trial for the murder of Sigma owner Andis Hadjicostis yesterday accused the prosecution of “coming up with excuses” to avoid handing over the report on the star witness’ psychopathic behaviour dating back to his army service.

“We are examining (the witness’) character and it’s important for the defence to have these documents,” said Elena Skordelli’s lawyer, Michalakis Kyprianou, adding that they put in a request for the army report on May 9.

“They’ve been waiting (to cross-examine) this witness for a year and a half. Now they remember (to request the report)?” state prosecutor Elena Kleopa responded.

Turkish Cypriots to vote in parliamentary elections

2011-05-17

A TOTAL of 544 Turkish Cypriots, who meet the provisions of the law, are registered to vote in the parliamentary elections on Sunday.

A copy of the ballot paper will be displayed at the polling stations in which the Turkish Cypriot voters will be casting their votes, along with instructions in Turkish on how to vote.

According to the 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the citizens of the Republic belonging to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities are registered in separate electoral polls and vote separately to elect respectively the President and Vice President of the Republic, and each community’s MPs for the House of Representatives, which is 70 per cent Greek Cypriots and 30 per cent Turkish Cypriots.

Making the beach safe for nesting turtles

2011-05-17

EPISKOPI Turtlewatch held its sixth annual beach clean programme with a major clean up of Curium Beach last weekend.

A record number of participants were willing to sacrifice their morning and between them removed several hundred bags of rubbish from the waterfront. The rubbish haul included fishing nets, tractor tyres, televisions and three piece suites, but “thankfully for the first time in three years there were no dead turtles” a statement from Turtlewatch said.

Welcoming lady with a bright smile

2011-05-17

LONG-TERM Paphos resident Christine (Chrissie) Jackson passed away on Saturday, May 14 following a prolonged illness.

Everyone who met and knew her, and there were many, will remember her as a happy, open, welcoming lady with a bright smile and embrace for all friends and acquaintances.

Known from Paphos to Larnaca and back she had been involved with many groups and organisations – from stagecraft to charitable associations, from airport training to animal rescue. Chrissie was also a Paphos ‘Golden Heart’ nominee in 2010.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, May 19 at 11am at the church of Ayia Kyriaki (St Paul by the Pillar). No flowers by request but please make donations to the Friends Paphos Hospice.

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.