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A real absence of planning
Hotels are reopening today (Monday) but tourists will only be able to arrive on July 1 under ‘unknown conditions’. We spoke to the head of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association Dimağ Çağıner who complained of the lack of planning. “The health ministry has yet to decide under which criteria and form which country tourists will be allowed to arrive. When will they decide? It’s not known. You can’t have tourism without planning,” he said.
- Residents of Pile (Pyla) to be ‘tracked’ via mobile phones and to give an assurance they will not meet with Greek Cypriots.
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Foreigners have started to purchase homes from the north
Our country achieved an important success during the coronavirus pandemic, earning a reputation of being a “healthy and a safe country.” As a result, the real estate market has revived. While efforts for economic recovery are underway and when each sector is working hard to overcome the current situation, the first good news came from the real estate market. Hasan Sungur, the head of the real-estate agents association, announced people from Turkey, the UK, Russia and Scandinavian countries have put downpayments online to purchase properties in the north. Sungur noted it is not possible to give an exact figure as to how many properties have been sold and asked to wait until the sale-transaction to be completed. He added there is a high demand for homes in Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios), Alsancak (Karavas) and Esentepe (Agios Amvrosios). “Once the coronavirus is over completely, there will be a boom in the real estate market,” Sungur argued.
- “I am determined to serve the people not occupy the post” – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar spoke to Kıbrıs TV about the coronavirus pandemic and how difficult it was for the cabinet to adopt decisions. “The cabinet managed the pandemic crisis well and as a result, the cabinet has won the people’s trust,” Tatar said.
- Supermarket owners want the closing time for supermarkets to be readjusted again.
- Casino operators said they will not open their businesses.
- The summer tariffs in electricity to start today (Monday).
- The night-time curfew lifted as of today (Monday).
Blunder
The latest cabinet decisions to relax the Covid-19 measures caused chaos and confusion. The students studying in the north are outraged and the universities are shocked. The cabinet has allowed the university students studying in the north to return to the island as of June 8. However, they will be required to cover their quarantine costs. As a result, the students launched a smear campaign against the universities in the north resorting to slander. Even though the Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu attempted to calm the students, his remarks were unable to lower tensions. The universities rushed to the rescue of the students, announcing that they will allow the students to stay at university dorms free of charge during their 14-day mandatory quarantine.
- Be careful not to be struck by electricity prices during the summer heat – KIBTEK (TC Electricity Authority) has implemented the “control at your hands” three-part summer tariffs valid until 31 October. The least expensive times are between 11 pm to 9 am during weekdays and from 2 am to 9 am on weekends and public holidays. The most expensive time slots will be from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and from 2 pm to 6 pm on the weekends.
- Everywhere is open – Hotels, casinos, betting offices and tattoo parlours, theatres and cinemas, exhibitions halls, libraries, kindergartens and day-care centres are now open. Non-contact and individual sports are also allowed.
- The night-time curfew lifted – The cabinet decided to lift the night-time curfew from 12 midnight to 6 am next morning as of today (Monday).
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 944 cases, 24 deaths; Turkey 163,942 cases, 4,540 deaths.
Alarm bells ringing
In the event the pipeline that supplies fresh water from Turkey is not repaired soon, many of the major cities, particularly Nicosia which has no alternative water supply will face serious shortages. Water levels at the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam, where the water from Turkey is collected are dangerously low. Turkish Cypriot Mayor of Nicosia Mehmet Harmancı who spoke to Diyalog said they will have to introduce water cuts soon unless the pipeline is repaired. He said water will be supplied twice or three times a week. Other mayors have expressed similar concerns.
The big opening is today
In line with the normalisation process launched after the coronavirus measures, there will be a massive scale opening today (Monday). Many of the remaining businesses will reopen as of Monday. The cabinet also announced that casinos will be allowed to be reopened but the casino owners said they will not. They are demanding that the quarantine requirement for tourists to be lifted and for flights to resume before they open their businesses. The Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) will also be allowed to cross to the north provided they will fulfil the conditions identified by the health ministry. Even though the decision on public transport will be announced during the week, shuttle services of some businesses will be allowed from today (Monday) onwards.
- The parliament to convene with masks – The parliament will convene today (Monday) by adhering to social distancing and hygiene rules.
- Inadequate controls and lack of education – Mehmet Çakıcı warned against not inviting the second wave of the virus.
- 31,374 is the total number of tests conducted in the north – One positive case in the south and no new cases in the north again.
Main News
Third Community Forum expresses support to TC workers
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Third Community Forum on Sunday expressed support to the Turkish Cypriot workers preparing to stage a demonstration in front of the Turkish Cypriot Parliament on Tuesday.
According to the forum, restricting the freedom of movement of individuals in their own country was unacceptable.
The forum, in a written statement, pointed out there was no mention a to when the crossing points could open in the last timetable announced by the Turkish Cypriot authorities to lift restrictions.
“Although tourists will be allowed to enter the country on July 1, we have yet to be informed as to when we shall be able to cross over to the other side of our country. This is greatly disappointing,” the statement read.
The forum reminded that the European Union (EU) was founded on the four basic freedoms, the freedom of movement of individuals, capital, goods and services.
It pointed out that the restrictions imposed on EU citizens within Cyprus were unacceptable and that the freedom of movement was a right not only for certain groups but all.
The forum concluded by expressing support to the Turkish Cypriot workers working in the south who will be staging a protest on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot residents of the mixed village of Pile (Pyla) will be allowed to cross north following the easing of restriction by Turkish Cypriot authorities.
However, not all residents will be allowed to cross and those crossing will be subject to certain criteria determined by the health ministry.
It has been reported that a request will be put to the cabinet to grant all public-sector employees residing in the village administrative leave for June.
Those wishing to cross will have to sign a written assurance that they will not cross south and will refrain from contact with Greek Cypriot residents of the village.
They will also have to undergo PCR testing.
Also, all residents crossing north to attend work will be required to upload a tracking app on their mobile phones.
The move coincides with a decision to allow all Turkish Cypriot residents abroad who reside permanently in the north to be allowed back into the country as of June 1 on condition of remaining in a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Collaboration between two sides for tourism
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
“Collaboration between the two sides to revive the economy and specifically the tourism sector is unavoidable and is vital,” head of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association (KTOB) Dimağ Çağıner said on Saturday.
In a written statement, Çağıner noted his organisation supported the two leaders’ efforts to reopen the crossing points.
He also noted the two sides could also collaborate on health issues.
Çağıner, given the decreasing number of cases in the south, urged the cabinet to support the efforts to reopen the crossing points as of June 8 June.
“Everyone is trying to heal their wounds together with the neighbours following the coronavirus pandemic. In this respect, we also need to find ways to collaborate on the island and we have to work towards reviving the economy together,” Çağıner concluded.
In the meantime, the Turkish Cypriot Travel Agents’ Association (KITSAB) criticized the cabinet for not consulting with sector representatives before adopting decisions on the tourism sector.
In a written statement issued on Saturday, KITSAB president Orhan Tolun said the tourism sector, which is one of the driving sectors in the north, is being irrevocably harmed by the cabinet’s decisions.
He also published KITSAB’s demands from the cabinet, mainly focusing on deferrals of mandatory payments to the state.
“The cabinet has until June 5 to consider whether it will give support to travel agents. The agencies will stage a protest on June 8 if the government fails to announce any support,” Tolun concluded.
Tatar gives a positive outlook for economic recovery
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“The north’s economy will recover in a short period. The funds to be received from Turkey will be a driving force in reducing the effects of the economic recession in the north,” Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Saturday.
During a meeting with the board members of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), Tatar added “We suffered from the economic recession due to the coronavirus pandemic but the north has entered the normalisation process faster than we had predicted. We are now on the path to recovery trend.”
Tatar noted the cabinet was currently working on the second economic relief package.
He added the second package will focus on ways to support the development of the private sector.
Tatar pointed out that the public sector will experience relief following the signing of the economic and financial collaboration protocol agreement with Turkey on May 26 May.
He added that the money will also allow the completion of infrastructure projects.
Also speaking during the meeting, Turgay Deniz, President of KTTO, said the chamber’s priority was to revive the markets while preventing unemployment and bankruptcies.
Deniz highlighted the importance of the economic protocol agreement and said the business community is in severe need of the funds to be transferred to the north.
“The chamber will no longer accept any excuses from the cabinet. The wheels of the economy are turning now and life in the north is being normalised.
The economy needs support but it needs to have the accurate interventions,” Deniz concluded.