Consumers kept in the dark on electricity hikes

2011-08-19

CONSUMERS were yesterday no closer to finding out how much their electricity bills would go up and were only told that they would be nowhere near as high as what had been rumoured.

Despite deputies’ efforts to push energy regulators and the government for answers, the Energy Regulating Authority (CERA) and Commerce Minister remained tight lipped but reports suggested that the increases would come into effect next month.

Moreover in spite of assurances that any increase would be under 10 per cent, the Electricity Authority (EAC) confirmed it had spent tens of millions since the July 11 blast which wiped out the island’s main power station.

Our View: More clarity is needed on hiring procedures

2011-08-19

The Association for Investors (PASECHA) yesterday described a recent decision by the Supreme Court, which threw out a fine imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a listed company, as “a bomb under the protection of investors”.

The SEC was told by the Supreme Court that they were not entitled to fine Aspis Holdings because some SEC members had not been hired according to correct procedures.

The Supreme Court judge said that the positions were not advertised properly because there was no mention the required qualifications.

Furthermore, there was no explanation of how the hired members met the legal requirements for the posts, the court ruled.

‘It’s our sovereign right’

2011-08-19

THE GOVERNMENT is exercising its sovereign rights to explore for hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic Zone, said Commerce Minister Praxoulla Antoniadou said yesterday after meeting with Noble Energy officials.

The newly-appointed minister said the “informative” meeting was held so both sides could get to know each other and update the existing schedule for drilling in Cyprus’ south-eastern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Noble has a concession to drill for hydrocarbons in Block 12, an 800,000-acre economic zone, which borders Israeli waters where studies suggest massive gas fields exist under the seabed.

‘Turkish Cypriots will sign their own international exploration deals’

2011-08-19

THE TURKISH Cypriot side will launch its own offshore exploration if Cyprus does not suspend its drilling date, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu’s Special Representative Kudret Ozersay said yesterday.

He said the only reason they had been holding off until now was for the sake of the Cyprus negotiations “because such options could make it harder to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem”.

“The Cyprus Turkish side will sign its own international agreements for oil and gas exploration should the Greek Cypriot administration not suspend its exploration and drilling activities,” said Ozersay.

PASYDY to hold secret ballot on possible industrial action

2011-08-19

MEMBERS of civil servants’ union PASYDY will be voting this coming Monday on what response to take if there are any deviations from the agreed economic package when it comes before parliament next Thursday.

Monday’s vote will decide what will happen in the event that any decisions are taken “in the absence of those immediately affected and in violation of statutory procedures.”

The strongest reaction would be for all unions to declare an island-wide indefinite strike.

PASYDY yesterday expressed their expectation that the package “will be respected by the legislative body and there will be no one-sided attempts to propose legislation for further cuts.”  The government submitted six bills to parliament last week as part of an austerity package.

Leaked papers put Christofias in a tight spot

2011-08-19

THE GOVERNMENT, and specifically President Demetris Christofias, was yesterday in a tight spot after a damning report recording a conversation between Christofias and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad two years ago was leaked to the media.

The eight-page classified report, which was leaked to Greek language daily Simerini, indicated that Christofias had assured Assad that the munitions cargo would not be handed over to foreign powers and would remain in Cyprus until it could be returned to either Syria or Iran. The president also told his Syrian counterpart that the government had barred foreign powers from boarding the ‘Monchegorsk’ ship and inspecting its cargo.

‘The Indignant’ meet government spokesman

2011-08-19

REPRESENTATIVES of the ‘Indignant’ protest group formed after the death of 13 people following the Mari naval blast met government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday.

Group member Andreas Onisiforou described the meeting as “very friendly”, adding that Stefanou undertook to discuss with President Demetris Christofias the possibility of meeting with the group.

Onisiforou said he clarified during the meeting who the protesters are and what their purpose is.

“As volunteers we do not belong to any political party. We conveyed the message that our aim is the prosecution of the guilty. And it is not for us to judge the guilty, but for the investigations to do that,” he said.

Contaminated chocolate recalled

2011-08-19

CHOCOLATE contaminated with worms was recently withdrawn from Carrefour supermarkets in Greece and Cyprus.

The batches of chocolate that proved dangerous for consumption were found in Cyprus, although they were produced in Greece by Carrefour Group Greece  – Carrefour Marinopoulos. High temperatures seem to be responsible for the alteration in the quality of the chocolate.

According to a report by EFET, the Hellenic Food Authority, foreign bodies (worms) were detected in a chocolate sample, in the company’s stores.

“The details as well as pictures of the products withdrawn were published by EFET,” confirmed an EFET official. “Carrefour itself informed us of the existence of the altered batches,” he added.

Greek investment to Cyprus skyrockets on economic woes at home

2011-08-19

OVER THE past 20 months, about 1,500 companies Greek companies have moved their headquarters to Cyprus as a direct outcome of the economic crisis in Greece, the Greek embassy said yesterday

Areas where there is a greater concentration of Greek investments are the financial sector, consultancy services, trade and construction.

According to the Central Bank of Cyprus, Greek investments in Cyprus in 2009 totalled around €710.2 million. Over 400 Greek companies, or 10 per cent of the total companies registered in Cyprus, are now Greek.

1,500 new teachers appointed

2011-08-19

THE EDUCATIONAL Service Commission (ESC) yesterday confirmed the appointment of almost 1,500 teachers to meet the needs of primary and secondary education for this school year.

According to ESC member George Matsikaris, 143 people were made permanent in primary education for the academic year of 2011-2012. Moreover, 226 teachers have already been appointed on a temporary contract basis, while another 13 are still pending.

Matsikaris also said that 1,930 people are currently registered on the appointment waiting list. With this year’s appointments, the number on the list will be reduced to 430.

As for transfers, most of them have already taken place, and very few are left to be completed by the end of August.

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.