In his interview with KYPE, his first after assuming office, Mr. Christofinas underlined the urgent need for actions to prevent further withering of mountainous areas, saying that the areas of safe movement, health and education are priorities.
At the same time, however, he mentioned that moves are being made to strengthen economic activity in the mountains, so that there are vocational rehabilitation options for young people who wish to settle or stay in these areas. In this context, as he said, the possibility of establishing crafts in the mountains, as well as the attraction of new businesses, is being investigated, among other things.
In this direction, Mr. Christofinas noted that the improvement of the provision of internet services in the mountainous areas will also contribute. “The Deputy Ministry of Innovation has already signed an ambitious contract with Cyta, worth 27 million euros, to strengthen the network and provide optical fiber coverage, even in the last corner of Cyprus,” he said, adding that this is extremely important, because some people who would like to work from the mountainous areas to provide services, today cannot do so.
“We have a vision, to attract new businesses to operate in some areas,” said the Commissioner, noting that there are several companies in Cyprus that are engaged in offering services, so if there was internet coverage, such a company could operate from the mountainous areas.
In this regard, Mr. Christofinas underlined the need for easy access to the mountainous areas, i.e. the need for a road network, both an internal network between communities, as well as national axes that lead to the countryside.< /p>
A bus station is being promoted in Saitta
In this context, Mr. Christofinas explained, the creation of a bus station in Saitta is also being promoted. In a meeting with officials from both the Ministry of Transport and the Police Headquarters last Wednesday, the definition and creation of a bus station in the countryside was discussed, which will be done in the first phase in the Saitta area and in the second phase also on the other side of Nicosia.< /p>
“Priority was given to the area of Limassol province, because the villages on that side are indeed blocked off, while the area of Nicosia is in a much better situation today,” explained the Commissioner.
“We will create a bus station with frequent interconnection of all communities, including the regional hospital and other tourist destinations, because the goal is to develop the tourist product and have traffic through connection with the airports and the port”, he added.
Mr. Christofinas stated that the company that will undertake the execution of the routes also participated in the meeting, which will prepare a program that will also be approved by the Ministry with the input of the Commissioner's Office, depending on the needs that have been recorded.
In addition to the elderly, the purpose of the routes is to serve students as well, as the Commissioner said, as today there is also a student who transfers from Agro to study at the oenological school that has been created in Omodos. “As a state, we have an obligation to provide a safe way of transition for these children”, he underlined.
High school departments with two students
As for the students of the mountainous regions, the Commissioner said that other incentives need to be given. As a step in this direction, he mentioned that an arrangement was reached to create departments in high schools, even with only two students.
“There are four six-form schools in the mountains, one in Lemithou, one in Agro, one in Solea and one in Omodos,” said Mr. Christofinas, explaining that the biggest problem they all face is that when the students reach the first high school, because the departments are few, they cannot choose the direction they wish.
“We have agreed and we thank the Minister for this, so that a proposal can be made to create classes with even two children,” he said. He added that this may mean a small increased cost, but it cannot be compared to the good it will do for these children and of course it cannot be compared to the big goal of giving security of access to education to all who want to settle, to remain or relocate to the countryside.
Plans for Troodos Hospital building upgrade
The Commissioner underlined the need for a building upgrade of the Troodos Hospital, saying that it has been agreed with OKYpY to prepare the plan for the renovation of the hospital by the end of the year, so that the tendering process can begin in the new year.
< p>Specifically, he said that the pathological ward is in deplorable conditions, as it dates back to 1950, and projects are underway to upgrade all its infrastructure. Mr. Christofinas pointed out that several patients are being treated in the ward and a comprehensive intervention is needed.
“In the first stage, it was agreed with OKYpY to operate the pulmonary clinic, which we hope will happen in the summer”, added the Commissioner, saying that there are some technical issues and efforts are being made to resolve them.
The Commissioner underlined that the Troodos Hospital is the only one in the countryside and that before the upgrade of the First Aid, it served 2,500 cases a year, while today, one year after the upgrade, according to the latest statistics, it serves 7,500 cases.
< p>He also noted that there have been three meetings with OKYPY for both the hospital and the regional clinics. Referring to regional clinics, he said they must be kept at all costs, noting that they have an important role to play in primary care. He explained that the five rural clinics, of Evrycho, Agro, Palechorio, Pedoulas and Pachna, must first of all be adequately staffed.
“We should not plan on the basis of a profit-cost balance in health, that is why the government has given more credits in this part,” he added, clarifying that adequate manning means having in each center two doctors and not one.
“In three of the five centers the problems have been solved, it remains to be solved in the other two. We are trying through the communities, through the agencies, to find the scientific staff and motivate them to come to mountain communities”, noted Mr. Christofinas.
Regarding access to medicines, the Commissioner said that medicines provided by hospitals are in small number and most of them are taken by patients from private pharmacies, so the Bureau's approach is to persuade new people to set up new businesses in the highlands.
Mr. Christofinas underlined that, if there is no access to care, the inhabitants of the mountainous regions are at a disadvantage and this was also a finding during the tours to all the community clusters in the last months.< /p>
Answering a question about which region was found to have the most weaknesses and difficulties, the Commissioner said that in the region of southern Marathassa, which consists of very small villages, people are fighting a real struggle for survival, noting that they have almost nothing around them, in a distance of about 12-15 kilometers.
Today we all have Prodromos in our minds as a tourist destination, but people there will have to go down 10-12 kilometers to find a small grocery store, which could be in Kalopanagiotis or Pedoulas, he added.
< p>“An example where I felt the state was absent, although it is not exactly a problem of survival, is the fact that we have 2024, but there are five communities that only see RIK on their television sets,” said the Commissioner, speaking of equal rights to information and information.
He noted that in this matter, with the contribution of the Deputy Ministry of Innovation and Cyta, a special package will be prepared with only Cypriot channels from Cyta, to be given to these residents for free, i.e. the five communities in southern Marathasa, Lemithou, Kaminaria , Treis Elies, Agios Dimitrios and Paleomylos.
Economic activity in the mountains is of vital importance
According to the Commissioner, the survival of the whole of Cyprus is linked to the revival of the countryside, noting that the state must give everything it needs to enable the agricultural economy to recover at all levels.
“The national goal is for the contribution of the agricultural economy to the national GDP to increase,” said Mr. Christofinas and added that “we must support the countryside, also due to the climate that prevails internationally with the regional crises”.
He noted that, as far as the agricultural economy is concerned, according to the latest data from the Department of Agriculture, about 25 new applications for young farmers have been submitted in the highlands. “This is very encouraging, these are people who will engage in agriculture and stay in the agricultural economy,” he added, noting that the applications concern all kinds of crops.
“We have serious issues to deal with in the agricultural economy,” said the Commissioner. He explained that the frameworks are also determined by EU strategies, but also that the strategies are determined based on our own suggestions, “therefore we come now and give suggestions for the new plan that will start for 2027-2032”. He also added that there is also the tourism sector and that there is a plan for it as well.
When asked if he would like to see the mountainous areas turned into pure tourist resorts, he replied that “the mountainous areas are a combination and that is why the interventions in the development of agriculture must be such that they certainly must not in any way burden the beauty that Cyprus has in the mountainous areas”.
He also referred to the moves for new investments in the mountains, saying that it will not be of immediate benefit, but of long-term benefit. “We have recorded areas that need to create small industries, not factories,” he said, saying that areas were identified where there is also land available for this purpose.
He noted that one case is that of Linos, where there was a plan in the past, which was finally canceled due to high costs, while he said that needs also exist in Agia Marina. “We are also trying in consultation with the Nicosia District Administration to propose a more economical space, so that the crafts can also settle there”, he added.
Readiness for contacts with banks for stores in the mountains
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Mr. Christofinas also mentioned that his Office is ready to start contacts with banking organizations, regarding the issue of the absence of branches in mountainous areas. He said that the point of view of the banks has also been taken into account and that a meeting will also be held with the Ministry of Finance for actions that can be taken. countryside by drawing up a plan with proposed areas for the operation of bank branches.
New Home Office plans for housing subsidy
As one of the most important issues, Mr. Christofinas highlighted that of owner-occupied housing, especially after how the situation with real estate in Nicosia and Limassol has developed. “It's heartening that young people are coming and asking to learn about programs and that's why the government is continuing with more encouraging terms,” he noted. He explained that in consultation with the Minister of the Interior, a new plan will be drawn up to support young people in owning their own homes before the summer.
He also noted that the extension of the National Strategy to the mountainous communities of Larnaca and Paphos is also being planned. He said that the National Strategy must be applied to the mountainous areas, regardless of who will be in each position.
“We did not come to do something because we represent the current government, but we have to build to have continuity, to have a future”, he said. “Otherwise at the end of the day we will be talking about worse results than we found. We must build on what we found from the previous government, but also give more basis to the people”, he concluded.
source: Brief/KYPE
