By Andros Karagiannis, Mayor of Deryneia
"But how can you live right next to the barbed wire and so close to the Turkish soldiers, are not you afraid?" This is one of the many questions we are asked to answer to locals and foreign visitors to Deryneia, as well as so many others regarding the "accuracy" of Deryneia. On the occasion of these questions, we as a local authority and as a municipal council were stubborn, changing the bad impression that many citizens had and still have, that Deryneia is an area isolated from the urban centers.
With coordinated efforts, many steps and in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, we achieved the coveted inclusion of the entire free territory of Deryneia, ie the 25% that remains available to us, since the rest is occupied, in the Housing Plan for the Rehabilitation of Mountain, Acritic and Minority.
In April 2013, after the abolition of housing plans for needy, poor families, refugees and young couples, showing a lot of perseverance and patience, we managed in consultation with the Ministry of Interior to join the new housing plan, which offers the amount of € 25 to € 65 thousand to each beneficiary, depending on gross family income and the number of children in the family.
The municipal council of Deryneia, recognizing the great interest in securing housing in Deryneia, decided to exempt from municipal fees for two years to those who choose to obtain housing in our remote Municipality. The project has been embraced by several new residents and according to data from the Famagusta District Administration, Deryneia is the first local authority in Cyprus to apply.
Attracting young couples for permanent housing in Deryneia is also due to the tireless efforts of land development entrepreneurs, who offer new owners / residents quality, comfortable and modern homes. The fact that Deryneia is only a few minutes away from the coastal centers, the Ayia Napa - Larnaca highway, but also the housing of several government services, the proximity to the Famagusta General Hospital, the Fire Service and the operation of the renovated Police Station , also contribute to the permanent stay in our Municipality.
Our experience in local government has taught us that citizens need incentives, good services and facilities to decide where to live. The creation and upgrade of the craft area and the industrial zone of Deryneia has pushed the commercial development in our Municipality since several companies, handicrafts and small and medium enterprises are based in Deryneia, supplying the entire Cypriot market with local products.
The offer of incentives from the municipal council to young craftsmen regarding the exemption from rent for the first two years of operation, is an important breath for the craftsmen, who, utilizing the new support measure, exhausted within a few months the 28 craft pieces created the local authority in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry.
In the future we could, as a local authority, taking into account the great response of both young couples and craftsmen / industrialists, to work out the granting of a similar type of incentive to new companies to operate in Deryneia in terms of environmental protection, education , consulting services, cyberspace, etc.
After two years of validity of the housing plan for remote areas, building permits, subdivisions and coverage permits have doubled. The applications are being considered in a relatively short period of time, since the hiring of a Municipal Engineer and the support of the secretariat staff and the municipal council, we believe will push further residential, commercial development, progress and prosperity in the remote Deryneia.