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Is it possible to change the Cyprus constitution so that our MPs can be sued and seek damages from our representatives personally for wrong decisions which affect all of us?
No, it is not since any change in the constitution must be voted by the same people whom we propose to be responsible [i.e. the MPs]. It does help also that this does not happen in other countries either.
We initially had the bail-in and notwithstanding the suggestion by the EU to pay as a contribution towards the public debt 9% of the bank deposits, we ended up (after our wise MPs said ‘no’) contributing 90%, plus loss of shares and other damages, with the result seen on the economy that followed.
Now [and other bad decisions apart] the same MPs are proposing a delay in the foreclosure laws causing the local banks to increase their capital, whereas considering the court delays and legal costs probably the decision on a foreclosure will not happen earlier than 5-7 years.
The end result is that the banks will be in trouble again as the country’s credibility will be in jeopardy [see Moody’s recent warning and in addition to Moody’s we expect others will follow] by placing obstacles to the forced sale procedures.
As said earlier, the banks will be in trouble and those who will be called upon to pay at the end, are again the depositors [see near miss by the Co-Op.]
So, it will not be unreasonable to expect depositors to send their deposits abroad from the local banks, creating a vicious circle.
Another indicative example of wrong decisions reaching the level of corruption by our MPs is the mess that they have created regarding the beach sports for which the E.U. wondered how much muscle the existing operators have to set back the EU regulations – no more than 200 individuals have the right to operate watersports nowadays.
The reply by the MPs was that the existing seaside operators seem to have the local knowledge regarding waves, currents, winds etc. whereas newcomers do not.
Using this logic at the end of the day, only the existing operators can do this job creating a closed shop, keeping the job within the family, a similar business such as that of the taxi drivers, etc.
Also town planning zones are determined not on planning criteria but on voting power, with the end result that we have huge development areas capable of accommodating round 4.0 million people, whereas others on the opposite want to reduce coastal development so that a property would have a maximum building coefficient of 15-20%, as if we are in Australia in size that has vast land.
The zoning categories create unexpected wealth to individuals at no cost, hence local pressure groups, through the help of the local political parties, become their own planning designers for own benefit.
To the curiosity of this whole system of “corruption” you can add the municipalities (who are also not known for their “clean hands”), whereas where the public cannot develop within the seaside protection zone, the municipalities do exactly the opposite.
On one occasion I reported a clear violation of the coastal zone in the Municipality οf Paralimni and we have applied for correction to the Government, District Officer, Administrative Council etc., with no response. Only one authority replied that “it is looking into it” and that was seven months ago – since then, nothing.
To be specific, there is at Paralimni a small plot of land within the municipal boundaries and within the seashore zone that was leased by the municipality to a third party to put up a kiosk in order to sell newspapers, ice creams, soft drinks.
It is now turned into a full-blown grill bar, without a building permit, no C.T.O. approval, no licence to sell alcohol and with the provision of water and electricity paid by the municipality. What is this, if not corruption?
You try to extend your garden within the coastal protection zone, and you will be denied a title deed, or you stand to be sued by the municipality for your ‘illegal’ action.
How odd can this be when the public is at a disadvantage and others are above the law with the support of our MPs and the municipalities that they protect?
Hence, I am open to suggestions for a change of the law to allow citizens to take some remedial action and to wake up all of us and to have some sort of financial recourse.
Regrettably we do not have enough independent journalists to write about such matters.
Yet it took only two reports in the press about the rental high costs and within three months the government came up with proposals.
Long are the days of former President Vassiliou’s era, where such behaviour was not accepted [and to a lesser extent by the Tassos Papadopoulos period].
For the silent majority of voters having a proper government is the way that will attract more voters, which also explains the rate of voter apathy reaching 60% as an expression of their disgust.
