Meeting of the Minister of Interior Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou with the Community Leaders of the Fire-Affected Areas of Limassol
A meeting with the Presidents of the Community Councils from the areas affected by the fire in the Limassol District was held today in Kyvides by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou. The purpose of the meeting was both to inform the community leaders about the progress of recovery measures and to record practical problems they have identified in the implementation of these measures, as well as other requests.
Regarding the measures being implemented by the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Ioannou referred to the disbursement of the one-time grant, a process set to be completed tomorrow, as well as the progress in damage assessment, which is being carried out at a very fast pace and with simplified procedures. Mr. Ioannou thanked the members of ETEK for their assistance in evaluating the cost of damages. “Tomorrow, the first eligible beneficiaries will be notified to go to the District Administration, and the compensation payments will begin,” the Minister of Interior stated.
Asked about the problems identified, the Minister explained that the issues conveyed do not concern solely the Ministry of Interior. “The communities are concerned about restoration, cleanup, and flood prevention works that need to be carried out ahead of winter. We explained that all of these are already underway. The President of the Republic himself has emphasized the need for all relevant Ministries to move forward swiftly,” Mr. Ioannou stressed.
Asked whether most problems are related to unlicensed properties, the Minister clarified that, in coordination with the Limassol District Local Government Organization, priority and expedited procedures are in place so that those within residential zones can contact specific individuals at the EOA Limassol to apply and obtain licensing. Mr. Ioannou explained that those outside residential areas must go through the Deviation Study Council, which has assured that it will prioritize applications, so that cases eligible for licensing can receive full compensation as soon as possible. For cases that cannot be licensed, only 25% of the compensation will be granted, he added.
Responding to a journalist’s comment that one of the main issues is the cleanup of debris caused by the fire, the Minister stated that even skips have been requisitioned to facilitate the process, in collaboration with the Department of Environment. According to Mr. Ioannou, the compensation amount includes rebuilding costs based on market value (not depreciated), seismic and structural adequacy, energy upgrades, and cleanup of rubble “so that everyone can proceed at their own pace in restoring damages.” He added that in public community spaces, the debris cleanup has already begun in coordination with Community Authorities, while in private residences, it is up to the owners to proceed at their own pace.
Asked whether suggestions were made to prevent such disasters in the future, the Minister replied affirmatively, stating that in a meeting he will hold at noon with the relevant Services and District Administrations, instructions will be given “to proceed with additional cleanups of rural roads or other buildings, and I am expecting other suggestions as well.” For example, Mr. Ioannou noted an issue with camping sites, and a letter will be sent requiring organizers to submit a mandatory health and safety plan, as well as to ensure there is a means for timely evacuation if needed. “Our goal is to address any gaps and weaknesses we have identified immediately. I have a meeting today to start resolving them. The rest are being recorded. We have seen and admitted that weaknesses existed. We must be honest. The aim is to improve by evaluating all of this to avoid recurrence,” said the Minister.
When asked whether the reinstatement of the rural police force, a proposal made by a community leader, will be considered, the Minister stated that rural police can help identify illegal dumping sites. However, he added that relevant Services are already using technological means, such as drones, for this purpose.
Responding to concerns that residents are afraid to report fellow villagers for illegal dumping, the Minister highlighted that existing legislation includes provisions assigning specific roles to Local Authorities, emphasizing that everyone must abide by the law.
Source: Ministry of Interior
Feature photo source: AlJazeera
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