THE ISLAND could have its very first crematorium within the next 12 months, putting an end to a long wait for many residents who are opposed to traditional burial.
It is unclear why parliament has dragged its feet over the implementation of a bill to build a crematorium that was first drafted and presented to parliament eight years ago by MEP Marios Matsakis.
Although the legislation is still not in place, government officials predict a crematorium could be up and running by next summer.
Interior Ministry permanent secretary Lazaros Savvides said at this stage Law Commissioner Leda Koursoumba was gathering the relevant information and canvassing different ministries for their views. He said his ministry and the Church had answered in favour of the proposal.
“I cannot give a timeline due to several unknown parameters but my best estimate would be that we may see a crematorium on the island in about a year’s time,” Savvides said.
This is expected to come as music to ears of many.
Already a petition in Paphos demanding the right to build a crematorium bears 4,000 signatures, with many younger Cypriots supporting the measure. This is partly because as things stand today, people who want to be cremated must be embalmed and flown to another country where cremation exists. This is both time consuming and extremely costly.
Human rights expert Achilleas Demetriades said people had a right to choose how to live and to choose the method of their after-death disposal.
“This is not a rhetorical proposition; it is based on freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and is secured by the European convention on human rights,” he said.
Sceptics believe the 12 month timeline is too ambitious, fearing bureaucracy could hold up the process further.
Experts also said it would take at least 18 months from now to build the crematorium if the government approved the license to build one. Allocating a plot of land away from residential areas is also important, with the area around Paphos airport thought to be ideal.
George Melas, who runs the Archangelos funeral home in Limassol, added: “I have many families who have to pay thousands of euros so their loved ones can be cremated abroad say in Italy, and yes, I do feel strongly that we should have a modern eco-friendly crematorium here in Cyprus, and not just for expatriates. There are many young Cypriots who support cremation as the only environmentally friendly manner of disposal, especially on this small island.”
