Barely a glimmer of hope for jobless

2012-02-05

 

THE REAL impact of rising unemployment is not in the percentages being bandied about and argued over about by politicians, unions and employers but in the queue at any labour office around the island.

 “I was working as an assistant at my husband’s company, but this is the first time that I’ve come here and I’m not sure whether I’m entitled to anything,” said Maria Meliou, 37 said.

Meliou, who has three children, has been unemployed for three months. Describing how her husband’s business – a company dealing in construction materials – started to go downhill about a year ago Meliou said that on top of this they had to pay the €350 company levy last month and were also blighted with a number of thefts worth hundreds of euros.

Our View: All roads lead back to public service payroll

2012-02-05

UNEMPLOYMENT reached a record high in December, the rate climbing to 9.3 per cent which was one of the highest increases, over a year, in the EU. This gave rise to a collective lament by our politicians, all of whom called for development projects that would create jobs and kick-start the stalled economy. 

‘Development’ has now become the main slogan and the answer to all our problems, a bit like the demand for a ‘fair, just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem’. But as with all nice-sounding slogans they serve to the public the politicians offer no practical ideas as to how the objective would be realised. Who would initiate the desired development? 

Tales from the Coffeeshop: the life and times of Don Christofias

2012-02-05

THE MAN who appeared in Nicosia district court on Wednesday charged with being a public nuisance because he called the president a ‘vlakas’ last August, pleaded ‘not guilty’ and faces trial in June.

The 35-year-old, while driving his car had spotted the presidential limo on the road, poked his head out of the window and shouted ‘Fool, president resign’. He was heard by two presidential cops who, after an exchange of words, arrested him and took him to a police station where he had to give a statement.  

Man found murdered in his car

2012-02-05

 

POLICE are investigating the murder of 22-year-old Andreas Papadopoulos from Lakatamia, who was found in his car with a gunshot wound to his head in the early hours of yesterday.

According to the police, Papadopoulos was found crouched over in his car’s passenger seat, parked outside a house on the Kokkinotrimithia – Paliometocho old road, in the Agioi Trimithias village in Nicosia.

The member of the public who found him at 4.20am, immediately notified the police, thinking Papadopoulos was just injured.

Police cordoned off the scene and scoured the area for evidence. 

An eye witness yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the victim’s dog, who was in the car with him, was also shot in the snout, but survived.

Hope in sight for end to bus strike

2012-02-05

COMMUNICATIONS ministry and bus companies yesterday continued meeting in a bid to iron out their differences and bring an end to the bus drivers’ strike, which has been inconveniencing the public since last Wednesday.

According to media reports yesterday, the two sides hope to reach an agreement by the time the weekend was over.

Speaking to the CyBC yesterday, Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzos said the differences between the two sides “are shrinking”.

“I hope a solution is found,” said the minister. “We are awaiting a response from the bus companies regarding our suggestions and alternative proposals that we posed (on Friday night).”

Concern in north over proposed Islamic centre

2012-02-05

UNIONS, media outlets and opposition political parties in the north are accusing ‘the government’ of pandering to the Islamist interests of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) after it gave the green light for the building of “theology complex” on the outskirts of Nicosia. 

The wave of accusations came after the ‘council of ministers’ rushed through an agreement in which EVKAF, an umbrella organisation for religious foundations, would rent a 200-donum site to the religion-based Cyprus Science, Honour and Aid Foundation (KISAV) on a 30-year contract for a rent of just 100 Turkish Lira per year. (around €50).   

Malev’s demise a blow to passenger numbers

2012-02-05

 

LARNACA airport is feeling the financial strain after Hungarian airline Malev stopped its weekly routes to and from Cyprus after it went belly-up earlier in the week.

According to Hermes Airports’ spokesman Adamos Aspris yesterday, the airline used to carry out three weekly flights to and from Budapest over the winter, while in the summer, there used to be up to eight flights a week.

“Certainly, the cancellation of operations by an airline that flies to and from Cyprus is a blow, which is accompanied by financial losses on various levels,” said Aspris. “And the continuation of the economic crisis is evidently creating unfavourable prospects for other airlines too, which are facing financial difficulties.”

Envoys we love to hate

2012-02-05

 

IT’S BEEN a long-time brewing but parliament finally passed a resolution censuring UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer on Thursday, around seven weeks before he drafts a crucial report on the status of the peace process. 

That report will decide whether the two leaders go to an international conference for the “end-game” or the UN Good Offices pack up their bags and leave –assuming they can of course. Being branded an “undesirable” does not necessarily get you a ticket home.  

DIKO, EDEK, the Greens and EVROKO tried to pass amendments declaring Downer a persona non grata but cooler heads prevailed among the two main parties DISY and AKEL. 

Joblessness: Living day to day

2012-02-05

THE NICOSIA District Labour Office has become inundated with people signing up for unemployment benefit, and for those already in the system, to pick up their cheques.

“This is the first time in my life that I haven’t been doing anything,” said 23-year-old Joseph Nigoghosian, who said that he has been working since he was 15. His last job was as a panel beater. He has been unemployed since September.

Speaking about the emotional difficulties that come with being out of work for  five months, Nigoghosian described it as ‘very, very difficult’. The frustration and hopelessness was evident in his voice.

Joblessness; Tough year ahead for jobs market

2012-02-05

VISIT THE capital’s unemployment office on any given morning and the picture is a dire one as people from all walks of life patiently queue up to sign on for benefits. There are young twentysomethings who have barely seen a glimmer of hope despite their years spent specialising in a their desired subject, there are middle aged professionals who’ve been made redundant for lesser paid recruits, and then there are all the working class labourers who are unfortunate enough to be suffering the brunt of a shrinking industry.

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.