The priorities and work of the three AKEL MPs of the Famagusta District - Giannakis Gavriil, Nikos Kettiros and Giorgos Koukoumas - were presented today, Wednesday, April 02, at a press conference held in Larnaca, in the presence of mayors, community leaders, municipal and community councilors from Larnaca and the free region of Famagusta.
Opening the conference, the District Secretary of AKEL Famagusta, Christos Nikolaou, noted the challenges that AKEL Famagusta faces, since there is a need, on the one hand, to highlight the problems of the Free Area of Famagusta and to demand solutions, while at the same time it has the responsibility to maintain close contact with the displaced from one end to the other throughout Cyprus.
AKEL Parliamentary Spokesperson George Loukaidis highlighted the broader action of the AKEL Parliamentary Group, which on the one hand raises issues in the various committees of the Parliament for discussion, but at the same time, with the legislative initiatives it takes, it also assumes the responsibility to solve and address the various issues within the framework of the possibilities that the legislative power has.
In his intervention, Giannakis Gabriel addressed the problems of the Free Area of Famagusta and the needs of the agricultural sector. The need for substantial development projects was noted in order to reverse the phenomenon of seasonality which locks down the area during the winter months. He added that the delay in the implementation of water projects such as the new desalination units will have a substantial impact on both the agricultural and tourism sectors. He stressed that the problems at the Famagusta Hospital are not only degrading the quality of health services to the residents of the area but are also becoming dangerous.
Nikos Kettiros, in his intervention, put forward a series of AKEL proposals and initiatives for the upgrading of refugee policy and support for the displaced. He underlined that it was AKEL’s initiative that the mismanagement of Turkish Cypriot properties was highlighted and presented the changes that AKEL had proposed in the legislation governing the management of these properties. He added that the existing housing projects support the middle class to some extent, but what the place essentially needs is a way out of the housing problems faced by low-income earners.
George Koukoumas noted that the presentation of the Parliamentary Project is an obligation of the Members of Parliament so that their action can be judged directly by the people of the Province. He noted AKEL's initiative to open the issue of thousands of housing purchases by wealthy citizens from third countries, while adding AKEL's recent proposal that foreign investors in the housing sector should not be able to take advantage of the social measure of reduced VAT for the first home. He gave particular importance to AKEL's proposals on labor issues, noting the priority they have in the party's action. He presented the legislative proposals that AKEL has submitted for the extension of collective agreements, prolonged standing and informed that in the coming period AKEL will submit a Bill for the mandatory payment of tips to employees.
At the end of the speeches, a discussion followed with questions from journalists and statements from officials of the Local Government. AKEL Famagusta assured that it will continue to hold such conferences because it is the duty of the elected officials to put their action and work at the disposal of the people of Famagusta and society as a whole.
