Front Page Headlines
Always chaos
There was chaos at the Council of Ministers again. Prime Minister Ersan Saner asked Health Minister Ali Pilli to revise the decisions adopted by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases. Pilli did what was asked cancelling the decision for a “lockdown”. Saner confirmed that the night-time curfew between 10pm and 5am will be implemented until January 25 and that schools will remain closed for another week. He also confirmed the suspension of the cost-of-living increment payments for three months but stopped short of revealing where the money will be used. Health Minister Ali Pilli revised the decisions of the committee without convening a meeting. He announced that the situation will be monitored for another week.
The decisions have been revised
Prime Minister Ersan Saner said the decisions adopted on the coronavirus pandemic by the Council of Ministers are valid. The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases revised its decisions adopted the other day (Saturday) and decided to extend measures adopted on January 11. It was decided that the situation will be monitored for one more week. It was also noted that the decision on a lockdown can be given by the Council of Ministers. The Committee extended its decisions adopted on January 11, noting the semester break at schools will continue. The procedures on crossing to the south will remain in place.
- Health workers formed long queues to get vaccinated – Health workers queued up at the Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta and Güzelyurt (Morphou) hospitals to be vaccinated.
- Kudret Özersay becomes the leader of the HP (People’s Party) again – People’s Party held its second congress yesterday (Sunday).
- Cigarette smugglers caught red-handed – Former Akdoğan (Lysi) Mayor A.A. and Greek Cypriot M.M. were caught loading 30 boxes of cigarette tobacco from one car to another in a military zone in Akıncılar (Louroudjina).
Chaos is worse than Covid
There was total administrative chaos in the country over the weekend. The Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases decided to implement a lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The Council of Ministers implemented a partial curfew, confusing the public. The government prevailed over the committee. Following the cabinet meeting yesterday (Sunday), Prime Minister Ersan Saner put an end to the confusion, stating that the committee’s revised decisions will be published in the official gazette.
- EU vaccines will cross today (Monday) – Spokeswoman for the office of the president, Berna Çelik Doğruyol said 1,000 doses of vaccines sent by the EU will be delivered to Health Ministry today (Monday).
- HP’s red line is Özersay – The HP re-elected Kudret Özersay, who had resigned from his post to run as an “independent candidate” at the presidential elections, as its leader during its second congress yesterday (Sunday).
- We are going through administrative chaos – Tufan Erhürman, leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) evaluated for Havadis the conflicting decisions taken by the Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases and the Council of Ministers.
- Caught with 30 boxes of tobacco – Former Akdoğan (Lysi) Mayor Adem Ademgil and Greek Cypriot man were caught red-handed in a military zone in Akıncılar (Louroudjina). Ademgil pleaded guilty.
Some businesses remain closed
The Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases cancelled the decisions it announced on Saturday night. The committee was forced to take a step back following reactions. Thus many private businesses and establishments will continue to operate. Businesses which will remain closed after 10pm are cafes, restaurants, patisseries, betting offices, barbershops and hairdressers, coffee shops and gyms. Tuition institutions and private lessons have also been halted under further notice. The quarantine condition for those who work in the south and reside in the north has also not been lifted. The night-time curfew between 10pm and 5am started last night (Sunday).
- ₺113,400 (€12,600) worth of smuggled cigarettes – Police carried out a raid at Bayrak hill, catching former Akdoğan (Lysi) Mayor Adem Ademgil and a Greek Cypriot man red-handed.
- Good news – 2000 doses of vaccines arriving from the south today (Monday)
- Three deaths on Greek Cypriot side –12 cases in the north, 157 in the south.
Fraud and racketeering in bingo
Massive fraud was exposed on the bingo game, which has become even more popular than the lottery tickets since its launch a year-and-a-half ago. It has been claimed that the winning numbers were identified in advance on the bingo cards that are printed in India and marketed from Turkey to us. The losing bingo cards are sold to the people, but the winning cards are not sold. Well-known activist Serdinç Maypa, who revealed the fraud, also informed the Ombudsperson’s office. It is reported that the Ombudsperson’s office is currently investigating the claims and will prepare a report on the issue.
- The authority lies with the Council of Ministers – The Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases announced yesterday (Sunday) the authority to adopt decisions on a ‘curfew’ lies with the Council of Ministers.
- 11 local, total 12 positive coronavirus cases in the north, 157 cases and three deaths in the south…
Main News
Thousand doses of Pfizer vaccines to be delivered on Monday
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry will receive 1,000 doses of the EU supplied vaccines for the Turkish Cypriot community on Monday morning, Turkish Cypriot presidential spokeswoman Berna Çelik Doğruyol announced in a written statement on Sunday.
She said the EU-reserved vaccines for the Turkish Cypriot community will be delivered to the Turkish Cypriot health authorities via the bicommunal technical committee on health.
Doğruyol added that the following vaccine shipments from the EU will be coordinated through the Turkish Cypriot “EU Coordination office” and the bicommunal technical committee on health.
In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar held his first meeting with the Turkish Cypriot co-chairs of the bicommunal technical committees.
In this regard, the heads of technical committees are as follows: Coordinator of the bicommunal technical committees, Prof Dr Tülen Saner; Environment committee, Prof Dr Salih Güzel; Economy and commercial matters committee, Tamer Müftüzade; Crossing points, Lawyer Salih Doratlı; Humanitarian affairs, Zehra Başaran; Crisis Management, Gül Güresun; Cultural Heritage, Ali Tuncay; Culture, Fevzi Tanpınar; Crime and Criminal Matters, Lawyer Hakkı Önen; Health, Dr Cenk Soydan; Gender equality, Assoc Prof Dr Münevver Çağın; Broadcasting, Communication and Frequencies, Kadri Bürüncük; Education, Prof Dr Ersun İşçioğlu.
Cabinet forces health committee to revise its decisions
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases on Sunday backed down from its decision to implement a full lockdown of the country, less than 24 hours after making the announcement.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner, accompanied by Health Minister Ali Pilli, appeared confidently before reporters at a press conference early on Sunday evening declaring that the committee had agreed to revise its measures adopted late Saturday.
He said that the decisions he had announced on Saturday – the night-time curfew, the extension of the school closures and the temporary suspension of cost-of-living increment payments – came into force on Sunday midnight.
“We have to ensure that the wheels of the economy continue to turn while we adopt decisions on the pandemic,” Saner stressed.
He added, however, that the Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases will produce a new set of measures within the coming two days.
Later on Sunday night, the committee announced that it was extending the previous measures in place. It said it would be monitoring the situation over the next week.
Those living in the north but working in the south or vice versa are still required to enter quarantine when entering the north. The exemption for ambulances at the Kato Pyrgos/ Limnitis (Yeşilırmak) crossing point continues to remain in place.
Those working for the UN, the EU, the British Sovereign Bases, the Committee for Missing Persons (CMP) and UNFICYP will continue to be exempt from quarantine on the condition they present a negative PCR test carried out within the last 72 hours. The same measures are valid for those who live in the mixed village of Pile (Pyla).
Those who are receiving treatment in the south of the island are also exempt from quarantine on the condition that they provide a negative PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours and repeat their PCR tests on the 7th and 14th day of their return. Pupils and students living in the north but studying in the south and their parents will also continue to be subject to quarantine.
Meanwhile, the opposition was swift in responding to the government’s decision to push aside the committee’s decisions.
“You have made a mess!” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman said in a social media post, adding that the minority government’s inability to rule the north had become evident. Erhürman also pointed out the contradictions in the cabinet’s decisions and questioned the committee’s purpose if the cabinet was just going to override any decisions it did not like.
He questioned if the committee was indeed fully authorised to take decisions on the pandemic. Erhürman also argued that the government’s move had harmed the public’s confidence in the Higher Committee, Attorney General and the Ombudsperson.
Former Akdoğan (Lysi) Mayor arrested for smuggling
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Adem Ademgil, former mayor of Akdoğan (Lysi) from the National Unity Party (UBP) and a Greek Cypriot man were arrested on Sunday while smuggling cigarettes through the buffer zone.
The two were caught red-handed in a military zone in a military area near Akıncılar (Louroudjina) as they were loading the Greek Cypriot’s car with 30 boxes of “Old Holborn” brand tobacco, worth ₺113,400 (€12,600).
The two were charged with violating a 1st-degree military zone and smuggling. It was reported that Ademgil confessed to the crime. A military court ordered the suspects to be remanded in custody for two more days.
11 irregular migrants arrested by police
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Migration and Citizenship
OVERVIEW
11 undocumented Syrian migrants discovered in the back of a lorry at Famagusta Port were detained by police on Sunday.
The police first took the migrants, who are all Syrian nationals, to the general hospital in Famagusta for medical examination tests before placing them in an undisclosed quarantine facility.
Police also arrested a 22-year-old man believed to be involved in the incident.