DISGRUNTLED property buyers believe that President Demetris Christofias may have cancelled his appearance at the opening a new municipal park in Peyia this week because of their planned demonstration.
The peaceful action was to highlight the government’s inaction over delays in the issuing of title deeds.
“We have embarrassed him, so he is putting his head in the sand and hoping we will go away,” said one would-be demonstrator.
“We won’t go anywhere and there may be even more of us next time.”
Christofias was scheduled to open the park on Thursday night. The Cyprus Property Action Group (CPAG) anticipating around 500 people to attend, most of them fighting for the issuing of their title deeds.
CPAG say they arranged the demo in response to “the failure of the government to respond to calls for them to address the many pitfalls of buying property in Cyprus“.
Hearing the news that President Christofias may be unable to attend, Cyprus Property Action Group co-ordinator Denis O’Hare said there will be another opportunity to demonstrate.
“The President seems unable to answer our letters, despite the fact that people are being defrauded but this doesn’t weaken our resolve.”
“We’re not happy to be saying these things and it saddens me that the situation has reached this stage. It really gives me no pleasure saying these things, but it’s a sign of our desperation.”
O’Hare believes that all the parties involved should all be able to sit down together, help each other and find a solution to the ongoing problem.
“Ultimately the casualties will be the image and economy of Cyprus, and that isn’t good for anyone,” he said.
“We may go ahead and stage a protest anyway to say ‘where are you Mr President?’”
A press release from the Peyia municipality said that the official opening of the park by the President had been postponed, due to an important commitment of the President, but that it would, take place at a later date.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
Newsflash
THE DEMONSTRATION will go ahead as planned. The Cyprus Land and Property Owners Association (KSIA) will be supporting the event and media crews from Cyprus and the International Herald Tribune will be attending.
In order that the media camera crews can take advantage of better lighting conditions, those attending are asked to gather at 19:00 in front of the main building at Paliomonastiro Park in Peyia.
