TCC Press Review 14 Apr 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Covid-19 test figures: 20,000 in the south, 4,393 in the north

The total number of coronavirus cases In Cyprus has reached 762. The island’s death toll has reached 16. 127 people in total have recovered and been discharged. There is a huge difference in the number of cases and tests carried out on both sides of the island. While 662 cases were confirmed in the south, only 100 cases were reported in the north. However, 20,000 tests have been carried out in the south while only 4,393 in the north

  • Tatar: ‘We have given instructions to increase the number of tests’
  • Health Ministry claims it will build a new hospital in 45-days
  • “We want justice,” says private sector establishments excluded from the support package – The head of the Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects Seran Aysal: “Our independent working colleagues have been treated as employers.” Basın-Sen (Press Workers’ Union) President Ali Kişmiş: “We are not beggars. We want justice.” Head of the Bars Association Hasan Esendağlı: “We have young colleagues who are experiencing serious issues.” Head of the Livestock Breeders Association Mustafa Naimoğluları: “The support should have been given to sectors which are in greater need.” Citrus Growers’ Association President Turgut Akçın: “The citrus pickers who work for daily wages need to be supported.”

Kıbrıs Postası

Ceased print/Online only

Kıbrıs

Support package draws reactions

The cabinet’s package to support employment in the labour market caused reactions and criticisms. Güven Bengihan, head of KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union), criticized the cabinet for excluding many sectors e even though the economic crisis was being felt by all. Bengihan also slammed the cabinet for protecting the wealthy. “Instead the cabinet is dipping its hands into the pockets of the lower-income groups and the public workers,” Bengihan argued. Rebirth Party (YDP) questioned why some sectors were left out of the package. The Chamber of Civil Engineers also asked why its members had been left out of the package, demanding an explanation from the government. Turkish Cypriot Tour Guides’ Association (KITREB) also slammed the cabinet for leaving out self-employed individuals, which the tour guides mainly are, out of the package.

  • The fourth death in the north from coronavirus and one new case.
  • 12th death in the south and 662 cases.
  • 1296 people died from coronavirus in Turkey.

Havadis

Correct your mistake

Excluding press and media employees from the economic support package has drawn criticism. While some of the politicians said the cabinet’s decision is unfair, Güven Bengihan, head of KTAMS argued the cabinet was acting like dictators. Accusing the government of wanting to silence alternative views, Bengihan added: “those who believe in democracy will not allow the silencing of the free press.” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman asked the cabinet the reasons for leaving the media out of the package whereas Democratic Party (DP) leader Fikri Ataoğlu said: “This is scandalous.” He said the financial support scheme is far from the spirit of equality and equitable sharing. Communal Liberation Party – New Forces (TKP-YG) General Secretary Mehmet Davulcu also said the cabinet’s goal was to silence the free media.

  • The cabinet failed – Dipkarpaz (Risokarpaso) Mayor Suphi Coşkun spoke about the latest situation in the coronavirus pandemic in the area to Havadis web TV. He harshly criticized the cabinet regarding its decisions to contain the virus. “The government failed. The parliament is full of doctors but the north’s biggest problem is still health,” Coşkun said.
  • Financial support to continue until June – The Greek Cypriot administration has increased the economic support package to prevent economic recession to €1.32bn which amounts to 5.4 per cent of the GDP (Gross domestic product).
  • The latest situation: 100 cases four deaths in the north, 662 cases 12deaths in the south, 61049 cases 1296 deaths in Turkey.

Diyalog

Invitation to Corona

Citizens have to wait in crowded groups to draw out their salaries because some banks operate from one branch only.

  • Loss of life reaches four – While a new case of coronavirus was confirmed in the north, Mehmet Uğur Kaya who was receiving treatment in the ICU lost his life.
  • Another death – The total number of cases in South Cyprus rose to 662 with 29 new cases.
  • A total of 1296 deaths – The total number of cases in Turkey reached 61,049 with 93 new cases.

Afrika

Some of the public offices to open tomorrow (Wednesday)

The restrictions are being lifted gradually in the north. Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars announced the Land Registry Department will be opened on Wednesday as the necessary health and safety measures have been completed. The Vehicle Registration Department and the Post Office might also open Baybars said, adding that these departments contributed significantly to state revenues. The cabinet, on the other hand, allowed export businesses to resume operations. Factories that produce beverages are also allowed to resume their production.

  • The first step for building a pandemic hospital – The construction of the building to be completed in 45 days.
  • Falyalı brought the medicine urgently needed – Özlem Gürkut said these medicines are for the patients in ICU.
  • Fourth deaths in the north and 12in the south – Only one positive case found in the north after administering 181 tests. 29 new cases identified in 891 tests administered in the south.

Main News

One new death from Covid-19 in the north, total cases reach 100

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

A 54-year-old man from Alsancak (Karavas) became the fourth coronavirus fatality in the north on Monday.

There was also one new case announced, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the north to 100.

It was reported that the latest case is an employee at the Riverside Hotel in Alsancak (Karavas) currently being used as a quarantine facility.

Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali, announcing the news on Bayrak, said that the man who had been admitted to an ICU on March 27, was diabetic.

Five people were also discharged from the hospital on Monday, he said, adding that 34 people were still being treated while there are no more cases in ICUs.

Pilli said that 4,393 coronavirus tests have been performed in the north to date.

He added that 181 tests had been carried out on Monday.

“Health must not be used for political gains,” the bicommunal technical committee on health said on Monday.

The Turkish Cypriot members of the committee issued a written statement saying they had prepared a list of what they needed to curb the spread of Covid-19, including 2,000 chloroquine tablets, an anti-malaria drug that has been producing some promising results around the world in treating the virus.

“The committee has been working for 12 years to develop cooperation and trust between the two communities in the field of health, to develop joint plans for health problems which pose a risk to both communities and to help people in both communities to deal with health problems,” the statement from the Turkish Cypriot members said.

The list of needs related to the coronavirus was made after consultation with experts at the Turkish Cypriot health ministry, which was then transmitted both to the Greek Cypriot side and through the UNDP to the EU.
“Unfortunately, some circles tried to politically exploit cooperation on such a humanitarian issue,” the committee members said.

“At a time when everyone is involved in a common struggle, health should not be used as a political tool and or for political leverage. We emphasize again that our only goal is to protect the wellbeing of people,” the statement concluded.

The statement was signed by Dr Cenk Soydan, co-chair of the committee, and members Dr Jale Refik Rogers, Dr Bülent Dizdarlı, Dr Ayşe Sözüöz, Dr Yeşim Örek Gümüşdağ, and Emete İmge.

As it would be remembered, President Mustafa Akıncı on Sunday hit back at criticisms for requesting medical supplies and medicines from the south, including two thousand units of Chloroquine used for the treatment of Covid-19.

He was referring to remarks made earlier on Saturday, National Unity Party (UBP) İskele (Trikomo) MP Yasemin Öztürk, who had said she does not want any alms from the Greek Cypriot side and that she will acquire the required medicine from Turkey and cover the expenses herself. 

However, Prime Minister Ersin Tatar criticized Akıncı on Monday for the move.

“It may be a health issue, but it’s also political. The presidency should not have made such a move on its own but should have asked the government directly. Until now, we have been taking these drugs from Turkey. Now we went and asked for them from the Greek Cypriot side. This was unnecessary and put the TRNC in a bad position,” Tatar said during a programme on Diyalog TV.

He noted Turkey has always sent whatever is necessary upon the cabinet’s request.

Responding to a question on contradictory statements with the Covid-19 coordination board, Tatar said the scientific board and the covid-19 coordination board are tasked to discuss issues and to make recommendations to the cabinet.

“It is the cabinet that will give the final decision,” he said.

Tatar also said he has given instructions to increase the number of PCR tests, which have proved to be more accurate.

He recalled as a result of the measures adopted by the cabinet, the coronavirus pandemic continued on a flat trend now with a minimum number of cases. 

“There is no risk for any increase in the number of cases however the tests will reveal to what degree the community is immune to the virus. We believe some people have already been infected and recovered from the virus without even knowing it. There is no doubt a great benefit in increasing the number of tests to see asymptomatic cases,” Tatar concluded. 

In another development, the Health Ministry announced plans to construct a pandemic hospital with 92 rooms and with 182-bed capacity in 45 days.

In a written statement issued on Monday, the ministry noted that the new hospital, which will be built using a light-steel construction system, will have intensive care units, operating rooms, CT scanning equipment and laboratory facilities as well.

The Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli will present the idea to the cabinet and if approved, the tendering process will be launched.

Also on Monday, the Economic Organisations Platform announced its unconditional support to Pilli.

In a post on social media, the head of Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association Dimağ Çağıner, on behalf of the platform, said the health minister was fully competent and knew what he was doing.

“Pilli knows what he is doing and what he wants. He is also working with good intentions but he needs support, not for himself but our future,” Çağıner said.

He urged everyone to unite behind the on-going efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus instead of constantly criticising the officials.

In another development, the Post Office announced on Monday that salary cheques from the south will be delivered to recipients’ addresses.

In a statement issued, the Post Office said they will strive to deliver the cheques by the 17 April.

“The decision to deliver the cheques to the recipients were adopted in order not to force people in high-risk groups from having to leave their homes to collect them,” the statement said.


Sectors excluded from the support package express outrage

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy

OVERVIEW

The cabinet finally published the details of its much-awaited support package on Monday, revealing which sectors will benefit and which will be excluded.

It emerged that the package will be covering fewer sectors than initially anticipated.

The regulation titled “Employment Support payment” was published in the official gazette dated 12 April, bringing the regulation into force.

The scheme was reported aims to ensure the sustainability of employment within the private sector and envisions the payment of a monthly contribution of ₺1500 (€205) to insured workers.

In addition to detailing the procedure on the application, the regulation listed the sectors included and excluded from the support scheme.

In this regard, financial, education, tourism, health, food, agriculture sectors including livestock breeders, those employed in house-services (maids, etc.), petrol stations and GSM operator companies as well as self-employed individuals (architects, lawyers, etc.) are excluded from the scheme.

“We are greatly disappointed to see that civil engineering services have been left out of the scheme,” the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Civil Engineers said on Monday.

Issuing a statement, head of the chamber Gürkan Yağcıoğlu questioned the government’s economic and scientific rationale for leaving out civil engineers from the scheme.

Yağcıoğlu argued that the “cabinet is making sinister plans” to force the civil engineers to go out to construction sites while exposing them to the risks of the virus.

Other associations representing the various professions such as the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects, the Bars Association, Basın-Sen (Press Workers’ Union), the Turkish Cypriot Tourist Guides Association and the Citrus Growers’ Association, also slammed the government for being excluded from the support package.

The associations issued stating calling for justice.

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Monday slammed the cabinet for leaving the press workers out of the support scheme.

In a social media post, Erhürman asked the cabinet: “What are you trying to do?” He highlighted the importance of the media at times of crisis.

“Since the beginning of the crisis, the advertisement revenues gave dropped, newspaper sales have dropped severely and press workers had experienced pay-cuts. Some media companies are about to declare bankruptcy but can the cabinet make such a decision by disregarding the realities?” Erhürman concluded.

In another criticism of the cabinet, PRIO’s senior researcher Mete Hatay said: “I do not remember a time when the media sector has been subject to such insult.”

Hatay, who himself is a regular columnist and son of a well-known Turkish Cypriot journalist, said the profession of journalism was a very strenuous occupation and the efforts of the journalists have never been appreciated in the north.

Hatay urged the readers to help the newspapers to survive.

“The end of the media means silencing certain voices in the community. Communal freedom can only come with free media. Therefore, you have to protect and help your newspaper to survive,” Hatay concluded.

The Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union (KTAMS) also blasted the government for its failure to support the media.

“It is obvious that the real intention of the cabinet is to silence the free media in the north,” KTAMS head Güven Bengihan said on Monday.

In a written statement, Bengihan said even though the UBP-People’s Party (HP) coalition intended to destroy democracy in the north, they will not allow it to happen.

Bengihan pointed out that journalists and workers in the media were undertaking a very important responsibility during the times of the crisis but had been excluded from the economic support package.

“KTAMS will not accept attempts to silence the free media,” he concluded.

Ahmet Yönlüer from the Rebirth Party (YDP) also joined the band of those criticising the cabinet’s decision on including some sectors while excluding others

“The ‘employment support payment’ scheme has blatantly violated the constitutional principles of equality and fairness,” Yönlüer said in a written statement.

Instead, he said all workers registered with the social security department must be entitled to receive the ₺1500 (€205) support.

Democratic Party (DP) leader Fikri Ataoğlu on Monday described the package as scandalous.

He said the financial support scheme was far from the spirit of equality and equitable sharing.

Also slamming the package, the General Secretary of the Communal Liberation Party – New Forces (TKP-YG) Mehmet Davulcu also said the cabinet’s goal was to silence the free media.

In the meantime, the Turkish Cypriot cabinet on Monday announced it was authorizing businesses which produce export goods or produce to resume operations.

A statement issued by the cabinet said that these businesses will be allowed to operate on the condition they provide the Turkish Cypriot Ministry of Economy and Energy with documented proof of contracts or agreements signed with purchasers abroad.

The businesses will also have to meet the necessary hygiene standards.

The cabinet also authorized soft-drink and juice producers to resume their operations within the framework of essential enterprises.

Also on Monday, the Turkish Cypriot Minister of Interior Ayşegül Baybars announced that several public offices will be opening its cash desks on Wednesday.

Baybars, speaking on a programme on HaberKıbrıs Web TV, said that the offices which will open on Wednesday will include the Land Registry Department, the Vehicle Registration Department and the Post Office.

She said that all these offices collect revenues for the state.

Baybars said that the offices will operate with an online appointment system.

“The Land Registry Department will only be open for transfers of property and mortgages. We are planning to do the same for the other public offices,” she said.


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