Disy on how to stamp out corruption

PUBLIC corruption can be stamped out through the privatisation of state services, the leader of governing Disy party, Nicos Anastassiades, suggested yesterday.

He said the state had to stop being active in sectors “which should naturally belong to the private sector”.

“The problem of corruption could be largely restricted by a drastic reduction of the bureaucratic authorities and business activities of the public sector,” Anastassiades said in an address to a Nicosia anti-graft seminar organised by his party.

President Clerides, in a speech read by Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides, said fighting corruption was the responsibility of the state but it could not succeed unless the public did its bit.

The main opposition party Akel issued a statement attacking the seminar and suggesting that Disy members were in no position to preach honesty.

“The organisation of this forum by the Disy leadership is a provocation, given that under their government corruption has reached unprecedented levels,” Akel charged.

Opinion polls suggest the public sees public servants — under any government — as largely corrupt.

The latest corruption scandal to make headlines has been the indictment of the former Chief of Immigration, Christodoulos Nicolaides, on charges of accepting bribes to >fix= residence and work permits for cabaret artistes.

Nicos Anastassiades= twin brother Bambos is currently on trial in Limassol, charged with selling forged >pink slips= for artistes.

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