The Plenary Session of the Parliament, after discussion and controversy of opinions, unanimously voted in law the Budget of the Cyprus Ports Authority for the year 2021 which provides revenues of € 32,457,010 and expenditures of € 32,197,005.
According to the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance to the Plenary Session of the Parliament, according to the submitted data, the Budget of the ALK is in surplus by € 260,005. The revenues of ALK for the year 2021 are projected to decrease by € 393,000 compared to the revenues for the year 2020 and come mainly from the operation of ports (€ 20,422,000), investments, bank interest and various financial revenues (€ 1,085,000). , rent from the lease of the port of Limassol (€ 9,950,000) and remuneration of secondments (€ 350,000).
The budgeted expenses of ALK for the year 2021 show a decrease of € 630,070 compared to the corresponding expenses of 2020 and relate to current (regular) expenses (€ 20,067,855), capital expenses (€ 10,629,150), unforeseen expenses and (€ 1,500,000).
During the discussion held before the vote, DISY MP Onoufrios Koullas said that 4 years after the beginning of the management of the port of Limassol by individuals, the port is able to serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if needed. Commenting on the positions of AKEL and DIKO MPs, he said that with what was said, it was as if there had never been a problem in the port and no strike had ever taken place. He added that the average of charges did not increase. He said that while the port was managed by the ALK, the charges were determined through political pressure and were not fair and objective charges. Clarifying that he will not claim that everything is perfect, but in the four years the state revenues amounted to 200 million.
He also said that even if there was a ceiling on charges, the opposition would still “go up to the tables”. He stated that the 3 companies will spend 50 million in investments in the port. He finally said that there are problems everywhere and we must insist on making improvements.
AKEL MP Stefanos Stefanou, addressing DIKO regarding the port of Limassol, said that it is my close knowledge that I had you first, adding that some people, together with the government, voted for the privatization of the port of Limassol.
Mr. Stefanou spoke about the obsessions and dogmas of the Government, said that the charges have taken off, a fact that almost eliminated the transit trade. He stated that AKEL will register for discussion in the Audit Committee the issue of the Limassol port contract with the private investors.
Referring to the charges, he said, among other things, that the storage fee was 1.32 euros per container for as long as the port was under the Port Authority at no extra charge when the container was waiting and today for the first and second day is 12 euros per day. third day has a charge of 24 euros, the fourth day is charged 36 euros and from the fifth day onwards the daily charge is 48 euros.
Stating that AKEL will vote in favor of the Budget, he said that ALK has lost revenue and its role is questioned
The Parliamentary Representative of DIKO Panikos Leonidou stated that the problems in the port of Limassol are concentrated in high charges in basic port services of 2 of the 3 managers that reach up to 200% compared to 2019, in the optional cargo service, in the refusal to served in addition to the two cruise ships and lack of loading and unloading equipment and much more.
He added that the amount of cargo handled is disappointing, which overturns the statements of the rulers to increase the cargo and expressed the view that the numbers certify the tragedy that prevails in the port of Limassol.
Mr. Leonidou also said that the contract with the individuals was heterogeneous and reduced the commercial activities, he stated that there is difficulty, the little transit trade has been lost and transferred to neighboring ports. Through the ALK, the state implemented the policy and controlled the security of the state, which is in doubt, as it passed into the hands of individuals, he continued, adding that he avoids making the same mistakes in the contract for the port of Larnaca.
