Front Page Headlines
Seasonal workers tragedy
“We’re hungry; we’ve been tossed out onto the streets.” Citrus fruit pickers who have been unable to return to their homes for months because of the pandemic and who claim haven’t been paid spent a miserable night at the Kyrenia port. The seasonal workers and their families, 94 in total, were dropped off hastily at the port but could not find a ferry to take them to Turkey. After spending the night out in the open, they were then transferred to Famagusta port where they boarded a ship back to Turkey.
Ceased Print/Online Only
Potatoes unsold, farming could stop
Engin Halkseven, head of Potato Growers’ Association, said the potato consumption has dropped due to the coronavirus pandemic. He said there is nearly four to five tons of surplus produce and that many producers were considering giving up. Monthly consumption of potatoes dropped from 1,200 tons to 700 tons. Halkseven noted the main reason in the drop in demand was the closure of hotels and departure of students due to the pandemic.
- Not allowed to enter the courts if you don’t have an appointment – The pandemic also had its effect on the courts. The courts have also implemented a working system based on appointments. The cases are heard by maintaining social distancing rules and adhering to hygiene rules.
- The case will be on June 11 – The hearing for the case filed by the Rebirth Party (YDP) to revoke the decision to postpone the presidential elections for another six months on grounds it violated the constitution will be held on June 11.
- Businesses cannot find qualified personnel – Hürrem Tulga, General Coordinator of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans, said the north suffered from a shortage of qualified workers due to the absence of policies in support of vocational schools and inadequate planning. “As a result, the businesses have to import workers from abroad,” Tulga said.
Appointment era in the courts
Narin Ferdi Şefik, president of the Supreme Court shared the measures implemented at courts with the public due to the coronavirus pandemic. Şefik said the judges will have to decide on which cases to take up daily before making appointments with lawyers and other relevant people. “Individuals who don’t have appointments on that day, will not be allowed to enter the courts,” Şefik said. She also said the cases will be heard by maintaining social distancing and adhering to hygiene rules.
- The payments will be made on June 1 – The Turkish Cypriot finance ministry announced the public sector will be paid their salaries on June 1. The local administrations will also be given the state subsidies.
- The wheels of the economy have started to turn – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar evaluated the cabinet’s post-covid-19 steps and the economic protocol agreement signed with Turkey.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 941 cases, 24 deaths; Turkey 160,979 cases, 4,461 deaths.
Let’s wake up
Greek Cypriot Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos announced that they are expecting 600,000 tourists in August. Efforts in South Cyprus have started to bear fruit. While it was announced that hotels in North Cyprus will open as of June 1, no statement has yet been made about land, sea and airports. South Cyprus, on the other hand, has completed preparations and is opening its doors to tourism on June 20. The deal struck with Hungarian low-cost airline WIZZ AIR to form a base in the south is expected to give a boost to Greek Cypriot tourism. Karousos who was at Larnaca Airport yesterday (Thursday) announced they were expecting 600,000 tourists which he added will contribute greatly to the economy.
- 12 per cent of the population has been tested for coronavirus – Two new cases were detected in the latest 2,602 tests carried out in South Cyprus.
- No positive cases – 42 people were tested yesterday (Thursday) in North Cyprus.
- Death toll reaches 4,461 – Case numbers in Turkey climbed by 1182 to reach a total of 160,979.
No salary cuts by the end of June
Ersin Tatar, whose goals have reached a new level following the signing the economic protocol, said there will be economic activity in the market and everyone, will be able to take a deep breath once the money arrives. Tatar also calculated when the salary-cuts will come to an end based on the money expected from Turkey. He said the protocol agreement was in force now. “As a result, the practice of salary-cuts for the past three months will be ceased by the end of June. We will enter into a new phase in June and I am planning on announcing the details of a second economic package,” Tatar said.
- The Courts implement an appointment only system – Narin Ferdi Şefik, president of the Supreme Court, said: “We are trying to ensure that no one other than those who have an appointment can enter the courts.”
- On the verge of bankruptcy – Engin Halkseven, head of the Potato Growers’ Association said “We as the producers will go bankrupt this year. Everyone should be prepared for the import of potatoes next year.”
- The salaries to be paid on June 1 – The Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy said the public sector salaries and the state contributions to the local administrations will be made on June 1.
Main News
Tatar reveals plans for a new phase in June
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“The wheels of the economy will start turning as of this month now that the economic and financial protocol had been signed with Turkey,” Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Thursday.
Speaking to the Anatolian News Agency, Tatar said the cabinet had been working on mitigating the negative effects of the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.
He also noted the cabinet had to opt for pay cuts from the public sector salaries for a more equitable distribution of limited resources in the north.
Tatar said since the launch of the normalisation process and reopening of the businesses, the wheels of the economy has started to turn.
He added there is a significant increase in the state revenues and the economic protocol is in force now.
“As a result of economic activity, the public sector will receive their full salaries by the end of June, which consequently will be reflected in the market, too,” Tatar said.
Tatar also noted that the economic protocol agreement signed with Turkey has provisions in support of the private sector.
“Once the crossings points are opened, the flights to and from Turkey resume and the university students return to the island, the Turkish Cypriot economy will regain its strength and seize its economic potential,” Tatar said.
He also noted the cabinet is working on finalising a second economic relief package. Tatar recalled the first one had been announced in March.
He noted some of the austerity measures implemented in the first economic relief package would come to an end by the end of May.
“We will be entering a new era by June. There will be the second economic package announced with the turn of the month,” he added.
Touching upon the government’s obligations in the financial protocol, Tatar said it was both important and necessary for the cabinet to display the necessary leadership in implementing the requirements of the protocol agreement despite the upcoming elections in the north in October.
Tatar also highlighted the importance of reducing energy costs in the north for economic development.
He said the efforts are underway to supply electricity and natural gas the north. He also pointed out that the freshwater pipeline is currently being repaired.
Tatar, however, warned that the north will experience serious water shortages if the repairs are not completed by July.
Touching on the north’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Tatar said that the north had achieved great success in the fight against the virus.
“This is something that could be transformed into an opportunity,” he said, reminding that no new cases have been detected in the last 40 or so days.
“We want people in Turkey and around the world to hear about our success so that we can increase our potential,” Tatar stressed.
He reminded that Turkey had continued to support the Turkish Cypriot people during the Covid-19 process.
Touching on the final phase of the normalisation process, Tatar emphasised the cabinet will remain cautious and will only act upon recommendations from medical experts.
“The opening of the crossing points and the resumption of flights will be regulated. For example, Turkey is currently working on a system in which the coronavirus test results will be integrated into the passport information of the passengers,” he said.
Tatar recalled the current mandatory quarantine for 14-days is still in force and can only be relaxed upon recommendations from the health ministry.
TC workers threathen harsher action unless demands are met
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
A group of Turkish Cypriot workers who work in the south warned of harsher action on Thursday unless Turkish Cypriot authorities addressed the issue of reopening the crossing points which would allow them to return to their jobs.
Members of the group, in a written statement, pointed out they were unable to return to their jobs in the south even though various sectors on both sides of the divide had reopened since the beginning of May.
“While some of us have lost their jobs, others are on the brink of losing them. We are unable to overcome this problem with the crossing points,” the statement read.
The group called on the Council of Ministers, the President’s Office and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) provide them with a date for the reopening of the crossings, to produce a decision on the issue and to clarify the next steps to be taken.
“There was a protest action we were planning for the beginning of June but we had decided to postpone it after we saw that authorities on both sides launched an initiative on the issue. However, it is now clear that the Turkish Cypriot government is stalling us and playing for time. We must be allowed to return to our jobs,” the group added.
The workers threatened to stage protests and demonstrations should the cabinet fail to find a solution to their problems when it convenes on Friday.
New protocol expected to bring relief to struggling TC economy
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“As a result of the economic protocol agreement, there will be grant monies and low-interest loans given to the private sector,” Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy said on Thursday.
Speaking during a programme on HaberKıbrıs web TV, Taçoy said the ministry was working on the details of a grant and loan scheme worth ₺88.5m (€11.8m).
He added the payments for the loans will be calculated on the foreign exchange values dating back to December 31 2017.
He added the low-interest loan scheme will also have a six-month deferral period will be paid back in 24 months.
Meanwhile, leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Thursday said that the people should not make the false assumption that all economic problems will be solved now that money from Turkey is arriving.
He said the government needed to urgently address problems experienced by employees in the private sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger businesses.
Erhürman argued that the agreement signed with Turkey was primarily aimed at contributing to closing the current budget deficit and public sector.
“Unless changes or new arrangements are made or a consensus is reached, it will not be possible to use any of this money on the real sector, private sector employees or the business sector,” he argued.
Erhürman warned that there were numerous businesses facing bankruptcy or countless private-sector employees who had either lost their jobs or a significant chunk of their salaries.
He said that the money borrowed from Turkey will only provide temporary relief and unless these issues are addressed, it will not be possible for the private sector to stay alive.
Also on Thursday, Engin Halkseven, Head of the Turkish Cypriot Potato Growers’ Association said the potato farmers were left with a surplus of 6,000 tons of produce on their hands.
Halkseven told the TAK News Agency, that the surplus was the result of the closure of hotels and restaurants as well as the departure of thousands of students.
He said monthly consumption had dropped from 1,200 tons to 700 tons.
“As a result, even though a kg of potatoes cost ₺2.35 (€0.31), the wholesalers offer to buy the produce from farmers for ₺1.5 (€0.20) per kg,” Halkseven noted.
He added the association asked the TÜK (Agriculture products marketing board) to purchase the surplus but the offer was rejected.
“We the potato growers have always been treated like step-children. We have been left on our own and as producers this year, we will go bankrupt,” Halkseven concluded.
Meanwhile, Head of the Supreme Court Narin Ferdi Şefik, announced on Thursday that the courts would be operating on a new appointment system.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Şefik highlighted all the cases had been postponed due to the lockdown process.
Among the cases, there are many cases related to unpaid debts, dud cheques and other financial disputes.
Şefik highlighted that only persons with a case scheduled for the day will be allowed to enter the courts preventing crowds at the courthouses.
“As long as the conditions of the pandemic continue, surgical gloves, masks and social distancing will be mandatory,” Şefik concluded.
Finally, it is announced the Turkish Cypriot finance ministry will pump ₺450 (€60m) until June 1 in the form of salary payments in the public sector, state contributions to the local administrations, and other mandatory payments.