Tardy start to Paphos local government reform

Implementation of local government reforms in the Paphos district has not gotten off to a great start, the president of the Union of Paphos Communities said on Friday.

Michalis Nikandros referred to a series of problems and difficulties.

“An effort that began about 15 years ago is now starting to be implemented after many setbacks due to the economic crisis that hit our country ten years ago and secondly due to party expediencies that constantly postponed decision-making, either by the ministry of the interior, or by the House of Representatives,” he said.

Nikandros said that the studies done by Greek, Italian and English experts on local government reform, “paid for by the Cypriot taxpayers”, which predicted 12 or 14 viable municipalities throughout Cyprus, “were thrown into the wastebasket” and after party wheeling and dealing, he said, there were now 20 municipalities, “some of which are of questionable sustainability”, he argued.

The result, according to Nikandros, is the weakening of some of the 60-odd communities in the district. He said two and a half years had been given to prepare so that work under the new system could start immediately.

However, for example, he said, there was little thought given to such things as where municipal employees would be housed, recruitment processes and where the particular headquarters of these entities would be.

In the last two months, he added, there were “urgent instructions” and orders given to community councils to begin work “knowing full well that in most community councils there is not a single staff member”.

Despite the difficulties, Nikandros said failure of the reforms was not an option and that once the teething problems were resolved, it would constitute an upgrade to the services being offered to the public.

“In order for this to be possible there must be a spirit of cooperation,” he said. “A great effort will need to be made to achieve goals.”