Who will pay for golf courses’ impact?

I refer to the article by Antonis Loizou published in the Sunday Mail Property&Home section of March 15, 2009 (‘Putting golf on the right course’). I agree with you, golf courses and associated businesses (properties, hotels, etc.) make a lot of sense for a country like Cyprus that is aiming for quality tourism.

However, there is one important point on which you did not elaborate: where will the desalination plants get their energy from? Will this energy be carbon neutral? If not, who will pay the additional fines that the government of Cyprus will have to pay to the European Commission for exceeding its quota of CO2 emissions?

If it is the Cyprus Electricity Authority that will end up paying these fines, it means that all of us will have to pay higher electricity bills. Is it fair to ask each and every citizen who consumes electricity to subsidise the operation of golf resorts? The electricity produced in Cyprus is already one of the most expensive in Europe.

B. Musyck,
Nicosia

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