The following is a translated article that appeared in Pafosnet.

Mayor Akamas: Some people were annoyed because we did not renew their contract for the operation of a building

It is strange that for events that have been organized for 13 consecutive years in the same place, especially this year, some ecological organizations and NGOs have made noise about alleged environmental damage and impact on the seals and turtles of the area. However, this differentiation is explained based on the non-renewal of a contract with a specific organization for the exploitation of a building in Kathikas.

This was stated to PafosNet by Mayor Akamas, commenting on the events of the last few days. Marinos Lambrou spoke of reactions that have their cause in the Municipality's decision not to renew the contract that a specific NGO had with the local authority of Kathikas for 4-5 years for the exploitation of a building in the community.

Now, the Municipality of Akamas is moving forward with the creation of a multi-purpose public benefit project in the area, he stressed, and the organization that was exploiting the building has been informed that its usage permit will not be renewed. After that, they suddenly discovered that our events are affecting the environment, Mr. Lambrou observed.

We are talking about a spot outside Natura, he stressed, where for 13 years our annual festival, the feast of Saint George, cultural events, weddings and baptisms have been taking place without any problems and without any objections from anyone. Until this year, the Environment Service did not even intervene to request the slightest permission or clarification. Even so, he said, we proceeded, following consultations with the Service, to move the platform in order to eliminate any last possibility for these organizations to raise issues.

The Mayor of Akamas complained that what is happening is related to a vengeful attitude of some who feel that they are now losing privileges in the area based on the decisions of the new Akamas Municipality to create its own infrastructure projects and announced that the municipal authority, for its part, will investigate the regime under which, in the last five years, the controversial building in Kathikas had been given for exploitation to an organization, most likely, as he said, based on our investigations by assignment and not following a competition.

For his part, the President of the Paphos EOA, Charalambos Pittokopitis, speaks of an attempt in recent days by some to create a storm in a teacup, in his words.

Cultural activities in the area, which have been taking place for decades, he said, this year, in a paradoxical way, are being attempted by environmental organizations to be associated with the alleged destruction of the natural environment and problems with seals and turtles.

Mr. Pittokopitis emphasized that at Tuesday's meeting, in the presence of the Director of the Department of Environment, the procedures that will be followed from now on in similar activities in the specific area have been decided upon and with what was mentioned by the municipal authority and other provincial bodies, any misunderstandings and wrong impressions that have been created are now resolved.