FARMERS yesterday defied torrential rain and hail and converged on Larnaca where they used their tractors and trucks to block the Rizoelia junction.
The Larnaca and Famagusta farmers were protesting about long standing problems but especially about the government’s insistence that they pay social insurance for seasonal foreign workers.
Around 240 vehicles early yesterday morning blocked the junction completely and only let emergency vehicles go through.
At 3pm the farmers used 10 tractors to block the old Larnaca to Nicosia road, cutting all access and forcing drivers to use the Larnaca to Kofinou and Kalo Horio to Mosfiloti roads to get through.
The farmers held a meeting under the overpass, which protected them from the heavy rain and decided to continue their blockade until 9am today, when they will hold another meeting to decide how to proceed.
The protesters then formed a delegation to go to the Presidential Palace but Undersecretary to the President Pantelis Kouros warned them through a telephone conversation that they would not be seen by anyone unless they removed their vehicles from the junction.
The farmers demand resolution of a series of problems including debts, VAT issues, pensions, compensation, and seasonal foreign workers’ social insurance.
The Chairman of the House Commerce Committee, DISY deputy Lefteris Christoforou said the problems of the area’s farmers were the problems of all farmers, and people should not be misled into believing that it was only potato growers who had grievances.
Christoforou said it was unacceptable for farmers to pay social insurance three times higher than what housemaids and artistes paid.
“What they demand is equal treatment and I do not think there is anyone in their right mind who does not find the demand fair,” Christoforou said.
Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the President would look into the demands if the farmers submitted a memo outlining what they wanted.
Papapetrou said President Glafcos Clerides was planning to set up a ministerial committee to look into the farmers’ problems and was willing to study their demands if the measures were lifted.
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