AKEL Deryneia issued an announcement after a General Assembly of its members regarding the reform of local government and merger scenarios. In its announcement, AKEL Deryneia clarifies that it opposes any scenario of creating a single Municipality in free Famagusta, or a scenario of creating two Municipalities, with one consisting of Paralimni and Deryneia, as well as the initial scenario of the Government to create a urban-tourist and a rural Municipality.
This is the announcement of AKEL Deryneia:
"AKEL Deryneia, discussed once again in an extraordinary General Assembly of its members, the issue of Local Government Reform. The discussion took place in the light of the latest developments at the level of the House of Representatives, but mainly due to the various scenarios that are heard regarding the mergers of the Municipalities and Communities of the free province of Famagusta.
As AKEL Deryneia we clearly state that:
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- We strongly disagree so much with the scenario initially presented by the government which provides for the creation of two Municipalities of different speeds, which in the end will create citizens of two different speeds.
- We also strongly disagree with the possibility of creating a single Municipality, which would include all the existing entities of the free province of Famagusta. The creation of such a super-Municipality entails political risks, while our political problem remains unresolved and the capital of our province remains under occupation.
- We even disagree with the scenario that seems to be orchestrated in our province by local officials for the creation of two Municipalities consisting of Ayia Napa, Sotira and Liopetri in one scenario and Paralimni, Deryneia with the other communities in the other scenario. Such a scenario conflicts with the basic principles of the reform for the merger of neighboring entities and will lead to the assimilation of both our Municipality and the merged Communities by the larger entity, leading to the loss of their special characteristics.
We also clearly state that we are in favor of and support the Reform in Local Government. The Reform is necessary and must be implemented, as it will focus on improving the quality of life of citizens, prosperity and development throughout the free region of Famagusta.
The Municipality of Deryneia is a semi-occupied Municipality, with enormous political importance since 70% of its land, including the entire coastal front, is either under Turkish occupation or is part of the dead zone and is adjacent in large part to the occupied Municipality of Famagusta. It is a small municipality, but it is financially sound despite the fact that it is almost not at all dependent on tourism. The good administration, the transparency, the respect for the citizen and the anthropocentric policy that the Municipal Councils have shown over time, have performed and have made the Municipality of Deryneia fully capable of serving the needs of its citizens by offering them excellent quality services. This should continue in the context of the reform, utilizing alternative sources of revenue as specified through strategic development planning.
Having said that, we believe that the best scenario for mergers for the free area of Famagusta, is the one that will create three Municipalities in the area. Such a scenario will allow our Municipality to unite with the neighboring and neighboring communities of the area, which will undoubtedly benefit from the experience and the high degree of organization of the Municipality of Deryneia.
The vision of this new shape that will be created will be to make this side of the province of Famagusta a modern area with semi-urban features that will be attractive to accommodate young couples, providing residents with comfortable living conditions.
Also, the creation of a university with the facilities resulting from this use, taking into account the location of the area in the province of Famagusta, will greatly change the developmental characteristics of the whole new scheme. The promotion of local products and their derivatives and the creation of destinations through the programs of the Ministry of Tourism, can highlight the new scheme in a new attractive and alternative tourist destination, both for local and foreign tourists.
At the same time, such a development keeps open the prospect of uniting all of us with the metropolis of our province, the city of Famagusta, of which we are a natural geographical extension. "