By Bejay Browne
PAPHOS LOCALS have expressed a mixture of shock, betrayal and world weary cynicism over the alleged level of official corruption that has been exposed in recent weeks.
The atmosphere is one of uncertainty and dismay as revelations implicate officials from all major parties, with the squandering of public funds reportedly running into millions of euros.
Whatever their response, residents are united that all those found guilty should serve prison time and public money repaid.
In an attempt to quell public negativity, the town’s deputy mayor Makis Rousis, apologised to the community as he switched on the Christmas lights earlier this month.
“I feel the need to apologise to everyone here about what is happening in Paphos Municipality. But, we are certain that Paphos has the strength to overturn this climate and ensure that the municipality takes a new path, one of both sound administration and development prospects.”
He added that recent dramatic developments highlighted the will and determination of the municipal council to continue and to intensify its work to promote transparency and accountability.
“We can achieve this through teamwork and hope to regain your confidence, momentum and optimism,” he said.
Yet optimism is in short supply at the municipality itself with staff coming to terms with the realisation that rumours which were rife for a number of years, appear to have been correct.
Municipal workers said that ex mayor Savvas Vergas ran the municipality with an iron will and was determined to do things his way, whether it was correct or not. He ‘resigned’ from his post earlier this month, bowing to pressure to do so, while in police custody.
“I need to keep my job so I don’t want to give my name, but we all suspected things weren’t quite right. But you can’t speak out without evidence and you don’t want to put your job or safety at risk,” said one municipal official.
“We try and joke about the situation now as a way of coping, but this is shameful for Paphos and all of the money needs to be clawed back. The system here is wrong. This is how things have been done in Cyprus for so long. Change will be an uphill struggle, but we need to do it and fast.”
The worker added that due to a climate of mistrust, donations to the municipal food bank have all but dried up and it’s the people who need aid that are suffering the most.
Vergas is embroiled in a number of separate cases including alleged abuse of power and financial wrongdoing
Vergas, the head of the sewerage board Eftychios Malekkides, former DISY municipal councillor Giorgos Michaelides and former DIKO councillor Efstathios Efstathiou – a well known doctor – are currently being held in custody, while police investigations are under way. Almost daily, new evidence is being uncovered, and police are still not ruling out further arrests.
So far the court has heard that the four suspects asked for bribes from contractors to favour them in tender bids for the construction of the town’s sewerage system.
Vergas, along with four defendants also faces charges for sending threatening text messages to a number of witnesses involved in the Aristo case. The case was adjourned until May 22.
The ex mayor has also been implicated in the case of a concert organised in Paphos last summer featuring Greek pop singer Sakis Rouvas, which was allegedly misleadingly advertised as a charity event.
Ian Alexander, a retired British expat living in Paphos, voted for Savvas Vergas twice. He now says he feels totally betrayed.
“My judgement was misplaced and if Vergas is proven guilty he should go to prison. He and others involved deserve to be behind bars for a long time.”
He added that the level of corruption is deep and the mayor and all those involved should repay all of the money and have their assets seized.
“Paphos has many good and honest people living here and I believe it will grow and gain a good reputation. I will vote in the January 11 elections but I will take great care in finding out all I can about the people standing for election.”
On Tuesday, Paphos municipal councillor Andreas Chrysanthou announced his independent candidacy for Paphos mayor. Elections will be held on January 11, and candidacies must be submitted by the end of the year.
Chrysanthou is also a member of the current board of directors of the Paphos sewerage board, SAPA.
“We have all been betrayed from the inside. Many knew what was going on at SAPA during the previous board’s tenure, but previously no-one dared to come forward,” Chrysanthou told the Sunday Mail. “Too many people in high positions seem to be involved.”
Chrysanthou said that evidence shows that 99 per cent of the kickbacks took place during 2007-2011.
“The current board took over on January 1 2012 and we decided to look into a number of issues including the finances,” he said.
He said he believes that as Paphos has hit the bottom, the only way is up.
“No matter how painful it is, it will be a cathartic experience. We have begun the Cyprus ‘clear up’ from Paphos. We have dared to challenge the system and the result will be worth it.”
Chrysanthou said his candidacy was a difficult decision to take, but that he was spurred to do so by the unrest and bad feeling caused by all of the revelations in Paphos.
“I am running as an independent, not affiliated with any political party and in the last three years as a councillor have always stood up for what is right. I believe in integrity and honesty and this is the only way in which a municipality should be run.”
A Paphos bank worker who only wishes to be identified as ‘Eleni’ said that the community feels not only let down but disgusted by the arrogance and disregard for the public by those implicated in the scandals.
“The (ex)mayor seems to be admitting his involvement and is naming names; this corruption obviously goes all the way to the top. Did the mayor think about the starving families and children in his town when he was pocketing the cash? People have lost their jobs, can’t pay their bills and need help. I have witnessed some very distressing scenes at the bank with people with literally no money and begging us for help. How could they do this? They deserve the full force of the law,” she said.
“I also believe they should be stripped of all of their assets, it’s time for change in Cyprus, we are in a terrible state because of people like him.”
One of the tens of volunteers who help out at a Paphos based charity Solidarity which is helping to feed nine hundred needy families in Paphos spoke of her anger.
“We all feel lost. It’s been reported that black bin bags full of cash were taken to the municipality; this is a level of greed and gluttony that fills us all with disgust,” she said. “The mayor only gave a donation of 100 euros to Solidarity to help feed those in need and yet there are innocent babies and children who don’t have baby milk or food. I have shed tears over the latest scandals, as many of us have.”
She said that complicity, bribes, corruption, kick backs, squandering of public funds, disappointment and despair are all words now synonymous with Paphos.
“It will be really hard to change this perception of us, but I think that massive levels of corruption will be uncovered in all of the towns. At least we have started to clear up our mess first.”
