“We want to stay” say vast majority of Brits

“A big thumbs-up for Cyprus” says organiser Andrew Oliver

Residents gave a huge vote of confidence in Cyprus at two debates held last week. The motion for debate was “This meeting believes that despite the current economic difficulties, ex-pats are best advised to remain in Cyprus.”
The Great Debates – “Stay Or Go?” took place on Wednesday at the Royal British Legion Club in Limassol and on Thursday at the UKCA Club in Paphos.
Financial experts, local business people and retired ex-pats thoroughly explored the question many British residents have been asking themselves. “Should we ride out the economic downturn here in our adopted home or return to our original place of residence or maybe even go somewhere new?”
Sam Orgil from ProACT Partnership and musician Andrew Oliver spoke against the motion whilst Ross Pays of The Financial Advisors Association and recent retiree David Hodges spoke for the motion. The experts gave sound advice on topics such as exchange rates, bank interest rates, property prices and the like.
Journalist Chris Hopkins chaired the debate and cross examined the panelists to tease out more and more detail to try and explain why we got to where we are now and what to do about it. Non experts David Hodges and Andrew Oliver gave their take on the current crisis.
The debate started with a ballot of the audience and in Limassol 68% agreed (“Stay”) with the motion and 29% disagreed (“Go”) and in Paphos the numbers were 80% and 11%, respectively.
After keen discussion with many lively and informed questions from the floor, a second ballot was taken and in both Limassol and Paphos the motion was carried with an increased number of people agreeing with the motion. In Limassol the numbers were 84% agree whilst 13% disagreed and in Paphos 88% agreed and 9% disagreed. This meant that not only was the motion carried, but the team speaking for the motion won the day since they managed to sway some of the audience to their point of view and increase the numbers agreeing with the motion.
Though there were plenty of financial horror stories, worries and anxiety present in the room, finally, people left feeling a little more confident in their lot and determined to ride out the crisis and try to enjoy Cyprus to the full.