The upcoming municipal elections, where issues of local administration should have been the main topic for debate, have seen nothing but pretty faces parading along the billboards hoping that the image of a candidate or an incumbent would be enough to get elected.
The biggest absentee from this circus has been the local Greens party, which has missed a golden opportunity to drive home the message that it is the only one that has alternative solutions to the growing problem of motor congestion on limited roads, pollution and the subsequent consequences on the pockets of the low and middle incomers, as well as the small and medium-sized enterprises.
The means to tackle the vacuum in public transport or the disastrous planning to prevent certain natural disasters, such as floods in town centres and mudslides in Paphos, should have been high on the agenda of every mayoral candidate or party lineup. Instead we have seen nothing but the same boring slogans that have been regurgitated from previous parliamentary or even presidential elections – incumbents brag about their achievements and hopefuls slam the incumbents for unkept promises.
Yet nothing has been said about the new bill that partly lowers car taxes and will encourage families to buy a third or even fourth car for as many members of the household.
No one has bothered to question the government’s decision that will boost fuel consumption (perhaps to bolster the state coffers with increased taxes on fuels) and will exacerbate the problem of pollution, lack of parking spaces and the general deterioration of the wellness of motorists and their fellow passengers.
The comments by the Minister of Communications that “a study is underway” to plan a comprehensive public transport system is not convincing. This should have been done a long time ago and not something to be announced in time for the next presidential election campaign. Even the liberalisation of the existing inefficient public transport services has not been discussed, as this would upset certain interest parties, while mayors and their town councils do little in the way of bus lanes, bicycle paths, green areas and walkways for pedestrians.
Instead, the orchestrated ribbon-cutting and declarations of ambitious grandiose projects continues, without the slightest regard for a national policy for a safe, functional and clean transport system.
In the absence of any ecological groups within the traditional political parties, perhaps now is the time for the Greens to come forward with concrete proposals on how to sustain a balance between economic development and keeping the environment healthy. Otherwise, they will never be taken seriously…
