On ventilators are the shopkeepers of Paralimni, who are struggling to survive and are crying out for help and support from the government, "before it's too late", asking for reductions in rent, electricity and VAT.
As Koula Goumenou, president of the Paralimni Store Managers, told KYPE, "we are trying in every way to keep our businesses open, despite the fact that things are not good at all. "Expenses are still unaffordable, meaning rents and electricity continue to be high, while consumers are 'bundled' and careful about what they buy."
In addition to the already existing problems, he continued, "we also have the 'parallel market' in the occupied territories which is constantly hitting us. All shopkeepers realize that shopping traffic is limited and people concentrate their purchases on the absolute essentials, which has been happening for two years, when the coronavirus pandemic first appeared".
In response to a related question, Ms. Goumounos "tourism in the Paralimni area is very limited, almost zero, since the tourists who arrive in Paralimni are very few, unlike in previous years when there were Russians who bought products from the shops without calculating anything. The quality tourism that existed before, which went to the shops and bought without asking for discounts or haggling, does not exist, at least for now.'
Today, he continued, “we see that the tourists who will enter, if they enter the stores, are the ones who are looking for discounts and who are haggling to buy something. There is still a big problem with shopkeepers and retail, especially in Paralimni, which started in 2020 with the coronavirus pandemic." He noted that "in front of us is the winter, which we expect to be very difficult".
He also said that “the blow we received from the corona virus, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accuracy of the products was huge and the government should look at the shopkeepers separately, since the sector has very big problems. There are stores that did not open, while several that remained open with efforts and toils, others will close, while I estimate that this period will see the great closure of the retail trade.
In another question, Ms. Goumou wondered "how much money a shopkeeper can put from his own, in case of course he has personal money left to put into the business. The problem is very big and it is probably one of the professions that have been incredibly hit". He noted that "a store can no longer be maintained, since it is hit from all sides, due to various problems, situations and factors".
He also mentioned that "recently, the phenomenon of citizens shopping online or placing orders by phone has also been observed, which is also a big blow for shopkeepers. Everyone, without any control from the state, creates a website and sells whatever they want and doesn't have to pay rent, electricity and an accountant."
Ms. Goumou, as a representative of the shopkeepers of Paralimni, said that he "sent several letters and messages to the government and the Ministries of Trade and Finance, about the problems we are facing, but without a response. We have reached the impasse and the government must finally listen to the cry of distress of our industry before it is too late".
The government and the relevant Ministries, he continued, "need to do something with rents, VAT, corporation tax and electricity, so as to give the shopkeepers a breather to get back on their feet and be able to meet their obligations. That doesn't mean we want to take advantage of the situation."
However, he added, "while we see the government helping various other sectors of commerce in various ways, however for small and medium businesses and businesses in the Paralimni area, no effort is being made, they have literally thrown us away. The rulers are indifferent to the problems of the free province of Famagusta and we feel as if we are on ventilators and we expect the authorities to either let us survive, or to pull the plug on our total destruction".
Referring to the measures that the government must immediately adopt, Ms. Goumenou said that "one of them is the reduction of the rent because it is not possible with such precision and judgement, that there are property owners who ask for an increase. At the same time, there is the issue of electricity, the price of which has reached the heights and the price of which should be reduced and time given in order to meet our obligations".
At the same time, he expressed his appreciation that "the rulers have realized that businesses can no longer stand on their own and we are sending the message of immediate help and support to the sector. I am optimistic that eventually the authorities will learn about the problems faced by small and medium enterprises and will help, in order to overcome the problems that, due to various situations, have been observed in recent years" she concluded.
Source: KYPE