AREEBA have come under fire over the erection of two mobile phone masts, being accused of putting up the masts without permission.
In the first incident, the company is accused of installing an antenna on the veranda of a top floor flat in Larnaca, without the permission of the majority of the building’s residents.
Elly Rousou, who lives at Marsellou Court, yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that, “only seven people signed the agreement, with the rest of us ignored. We are outraged and have rallied together in order to have the antenna removed. I have three children, my youngest being just eight months old and as you can imagine, I am very concerned about any health risks that this antenna could cause in the future to my family.”
Christos Kokkinos, who is in charge of looking after the building, was even angrier. “The roof where the antenna has been installed is the property of all the people in the building and not just of this one person, who it is rumoured is being paid £1,300 a year by Areeba for the use of his veranda. The law states that nobody can interfere with the roof, stairs or elevator of the building, so what Areeba has done is illegal, as they have trespassed on private property.
“I have written to Larnaca Municipality as well as the Interior and Communications Ministries and the police. We’ll wait a few days to see if anything is going to be done, otherwise I, along with the other residents, will be taking legal action.”
In a separate incident, the Paphos village of Stroumpi is said to have been the victim of the company’s activities, with a large mobile telephone antenna placed on a private piece of land without the authorisation of the owners.
But an Areeba spokesman, who wished to remain anonymous, yesterday hit back at the accusations, claiming the law “allows for the erection of antennas without any permission, as long as the antenna in question does not exceed a height of six metres.”
When questioned about any possible dangers to health that the antennas might pose, he replied that the company “is ready to prove to people that these antennas are not dangerous”.
The Green Party issued an announcement saying, “The state’s failure properly to stand against mobile telephone companies has led to negligence and provocation. In the last few days, a private company, Areeba, has been reported by various people over their actions.
“Regarding the case in Larnaca, the Municipality unfortunately doesn’t seem to act like the other municipalities (Limassol, Aradippou, and Ayios Athanassios) who have already reported Areeba for various violations the company has made in their areas.
The Green Party holds the state fully responsible for this matter and is calling for something to be done about the situation.”
Party leader George Perdikis went on to say that, “the reality of the situation is that Areeba did not get the permission which they needed before going ahead. If everybody just stands back and does nothing, then Areeba will just be able to do whatever they like.”
He added that Parliament asked the government a year ago to make changes to the policy regarding the height of antennas.
