The re-elected Mayor Mr. Giannis Karousos and the new Municipal Council officially took over their duties, in a modest ceremony that took place this morning at the Municipal Hall.
The ceremony began with a holy communion by the Reverend Priesthood of the Holy Temple of Panagia Ayia Napa, in the presence of officials, members of the outgoing Municipal Council, citizens and employees of the Municipality.
The new Municipal Council consists of Panikko Markou, Emilia Evangelou Xydia, Thanasis Giasemi, Christos Pieris Zannettou, Marios Vassou, Konstantinos Zannettou, Anastasia Koumi Tsokki and Antonis Christou (Christatsou).
In his speech, Mr. Karousos stressed that "from today we are turning the page all together, we must continue to face the challenges together and take advantage of the opportunities that exist to raise Ayia Napa even higher."
He assured all the citizens that he will continue to be the Mayor of all the Agianapites and that he will defend the public interest and will vigorously claim for the interests of the Municipality.
Addressing the outgoing Municipal Council, he stated that he was proud to have served and offered to the public with them. The last five years he added "we went through many and difficult times together, since a year after our election we lost our mayor Nakis Tsokko, whom we honored and made sure we will never forget, then the economy of Cyprus collapsed and much more" .
Nevertheless, he said "we have achieved many and impressive results, in difficult times for the local economy such as the increase of revenues from 11m to 15m, and surpluses by 2.3m, the tidiness of the Municipality, which as he characteristically stated is for other municipalities as the best example to imitate, the designation of Ayia Napa as an urban center and the projects won by the Municipality through this designation - where, as he said, the upgrade of the center and the north side begins - the increase of tourist arrivals to unprecedented levels, the undertaking of the beaches by the Municipality - a difficult decision - which brought to the Municipality millions of revenues on an annual basis - the start of the Marina the beginning of the works of the coastal sidewalk, the creation of more than 18 reference points, such as the International Sculpture Park, the cactus garden, the Technical Reef.
He then congratulated the newly elected Councilors, pointing out that they have received a healthy and tidy Municipality and this means that the bar is very high, so he stressed "we must work very hard not only to reach it but also to pass it".
He also referred to the cuts and innovations that will be made in the way of operation of the Municipal Council, and the committees, in the models of successful models, so that the Municipality becomes an example of good administration but also for full transparency and accountability to the citizens, in the publication of the practices and in the introduction of the barometer of the citizens, so that the Citizens themselves can grade the Municipal Council in various issues as well as the services of the Municipality and this barometer will be published.
Immediately afterwards, Mr. Karousos honored with a commemorative plaque and gifts the outgoing members of the Municipal Council - the Deputy Mayor Vassos Xydias, Vasos Vassilios, Grigoris Giasemi, Kornilios Nikolaou and Dimitris Tofinis.
He also did not fail to thank and congratulate the former Mayor of Ayia Napa Mrs. Barbara Pericles, who was present and honored with her presence the ceremony, for the remarkable work she left during her long tenure.
After the inauguration ceremony of the Mayor Mr. Giannis Karousos and the newly formed Municipal Council, the first session was held, in which Mr. Christos Zannetos, the new Deputy Mayor of Ayia Napa, was elected, without a candidate and with the consent of all municipal groups.
Today's session was broadcast live on the internet and as stated by the Mayor Mr. Giannis Karousos, the Municipality with this action is original once again and will write its own history in this field as well.
SotiraNews