Increased drinking fuelled by cheap booze

2012-01-29

 

 

TWO FORTHCOMING reports are set to highlight a burgeoning alcohol problem in Cyprus, which has driven up road deaths and is increasing rehab clinic admissions by up to 20 per cent.

The 2011 traffic police report will show alcohol has continued to be the leading cause of car crashes and road deaths. The report shows road collisions caused by drink-drivers increased from 17 per cent in 2006 and 2007 to 43 per cent in 2010. In 2011, 23 died in alcohol related road accidents.

Meanwhile, preliminary data from a European wide European School survey project on alcohol and other drugs (ESPAD) study which is due in May shows the number of school age students in Cyprus who regularly drank in 2011 has risen by around 10 per cent since 2007.

Our View: Is an honest public debate too much to ask?

2012-01-29

PRESIDENT Christofias continues to be in denial about the imposition of time-frames on the peace procedure by the UN Secretary-General, while opposition politicians are busy scoring points over his failure to achieve his modest objectives at Greentree. These were not so much objectives but stalling tactics aimed at keeping the so-called Cypriot-owned talks dragging on inconclusively for as long as possible.

Tales from the Coffeeshop: Suffocating defeat at the Battle of Greentree

2012-01-29

PARANOID hysteria and mass anxiety spread like a cholera epidemic among the Cyprob warriors, as soon as Ban Ki-moon finished reading the statement about the failure of the Greentree meeting and the timeframes he had set for the completion the talks and for the holding of the colossally undesirable multilateral conference.

Within minutes, the knives were out for the bungling village idiot, who, despite being strengthened by the three ‘nos’ sanctioned by the National Council, failed to utter a single one of them (or if he did, he was ignored) when Ban set his timeframes for the conclusion of the talks.

Labour Minister: climate in private sector explosive

2012-01-29

LABOUR relations in the private sector are explosive following an employers’ recommendation to freeze payrolls, Labour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous said yesterday, as she urged all sides to avoid actions that could worsen the climate.

 “Clearly the situation is very difficult, I would say explosive,” the minister tod state broadcaster CYBC. “The last thing we need at the moment is a generalised labour and social unrest.”

Unions, reacting to a recommendation by employers’ organisation OEV for a freeze in payrolls, have threatened strike action.

OEV has recommended to its members to freeze payrolls while businesses faced with serious financial problems should cut salaries.

Christofias will meet Downer to ‘discuss his role’

2012-01-29

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias will meet with United Nations special adviser Alexander Downer soon for a comprehensive discussion that will include his role in the talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The meeting was announced by government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, who did not however disclose further details.

“Certainly, the discussion includes issues concerning his role as special adviser on the Cyprus problem of the UN Secretary-General,” Stefanou said. “Let us wait for the president’s meeting with Mr. Downer.”

Downer has fallen foul of Greek Cypriot politicians, who do not consider him impartial. Some have also demanded his removal as mediator.

Kannaviou dam joins overflow bonanza

2012-01-29

THE DAM at Kannaviou in Paphos was the latest to overflow early yesterday morning much to the delight of local residents.

The reservoir has the capacity to hold over 17 million cubic metres of water, and this was only the second time since it was built in 2006, that the dam has overflowed, according to Water Development Department District Engineer Vasos Socratous.

Kannaviou is the second highest-up dam in Cyprus and fourth largest in terms of capacity.  Socratous said that the dam at Evretou, also in Paphos is expected to overflow next.

Late on Thursday, Asprokremmos – the island’s second largest dam, overflowed for the first time in seven years. Locals turned out to celebrate, organsing food, and entertainment to witness the event.

Paphos to create artificial reef

2012-01-29

PAPHOS is due to get a new tourist attraction in the form of an artificial reef, complete with a sunken ship, the first of its kind in Cyprus.

According to the head of the Paphos regional board of tourism, Nassos Hadjigeorgiou, the Paphos board, with the financial support of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), and in association with the Cyprus divers association, has bought a boat to be used as part of a man-made reef.

Hadjigeorgiou said: “We have now purchased the boat which is a first step to start developing the reef. Our aim is to develope diving tourism in the area and also to upgrade the tourist experience in Paphos.”

‘Give me €20 for pot’ thief begs

2012-01-29

WHILE being chased away by a female kiosk employee he had tried to rob in Larnaca, a man begged her for €20 to buy cannabis, it was reported yesterday.

As he legged it, the man shouted “I am a drug addict; give me €20 so that I can buy cannabis.”

The incident happened on Athinon Street in the Oroklini at around 7am.

The young man went into the kiosk and asked for cigarettes but when it was time to pay, he pulled out a metal rod from his pocket and demanded the cash.

The woman refused and grabbing a wooden club she kept nearby for security, she chased the would-be robber.

The attempted robbery was recorded by security cameras and the footage handed over to police.

 

Cyprus marathon to be hosted in Paphos

2012-01-29

THE 2012 Cyprus marathon, half marathon and 10 km road race is taking place in Paphos on Sunday March 11 for the 14th consecutive year.

Close to 500 runners are expected to take part in the three events and already, participants from the UK, Germany, Belgium, Austria, South Africa and Canada have registered to enter.

“Usually, most of the overseas runners are from the UK but we expect to also get participants from Italy, France and other EU countries,” said race organiser Savvas Kakourides.

The full marathon will see entrants start at Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s rock) and finish at the ancient castle in Kato Paphos. The other two races will start and finish at the Castle square.

Three lots of everything

2012-01-29

OVER the past 15 years there has been a whopping 75 per cent increase in the birth of twins and triplets, the vast majority of them a result of fertility treatment as women in Cyprus follow the western trend of having babies increasingly later in life.

A mere 15 years ago it was women between the ages of 20 and 24 who gave birth to the most children. Today the number of births in this age bracket has dramatically declined, while the 25 to 29-year-old age bracket and the 30 to 34-year-olds are now almost on par in terms of birth figures. Women over the age of 35 are also fast catching up.

Whilst twins are relatively common, the odds of conceiving ‘spontaneous’ triplets au natural is a mere 1 in 8,100. 

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.