Front Page Headlines
Outrage among shopkeepers and private sector is growing
Shopkeepers and businessmen have started raising their voices against the government’s financial policies and what they say is unequal treatment of the private sector during the pandemic. The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans said, “The government, in a bid to collect money for the budget, is once again lumping the bill on those who are shattered financially. The issue of growing unemployment, bankruptcies and people unable to put food on their tables is not on the government’s agenda.”
- Uneasy wait for higher education – Face-to-face education at universities could be pushed further into the summer.
- Our current losses are at 50 per cent – Farmers in Mesarya (Mesoria) express fear of being hit by drought.
(Government) Sets its hand on the economy
In an attempt to reduce the negative effects of the extended lockdown on the economy, the government adopted additional measures yesterday. Meanwhile, two coronavirus patients died, 17 new cases, 16 of which were locally transmitted, were detected yesterday. Prime Minister Ersan Saner, following a meeting yesterday, announced the new measures adopted to mitigate the negative effects of the economy. Accordingly, the grace period for dud cheques has been extended to 27 days. Deadline for Social security premium deposits has also been extended from February 15 to February 18.
- People are impatient and angry – Psychiatrist Prof Dr Mehmet Çakıcı said psychiatric problems are on the rise in the world and our country due to the pandemic and the economic crisis, adding that there is also an increase in violence.
- The central prison is inadequate to address the rise in crime rates – Despite an earlier announcement that the new central prison building was nearly ready, there is no action. The current prison, which has been in use since 1982 has exceeded its capacity many times more. There are now 610 prisoners and convicts even though the capacity is 175.
Black Sunday
The restrictions as part of efforts to contain Covid-19 have been extended by another week. Even though there is a notable drop in case numbers, three died (of coronavirus) in one day. The Health Ministry announced the death of two coronavirus patients aged 67 and 58, who were receiving treatment in the ICU. The Ministry said the third person aged 37 died of kidney failure. However, according to news outlets on social media, the third person was also being treated for Covid-19. Also, an operation carried out by the Turkish armed forces (TSK) on Gara, which is one of PKK’s strategic points, revealed that the terrorist organisation killed 13 Turkish captive civilians.
- A message to be ‘patient’ – The Council of Ministers decided to extend the grace period for dud cheques to 27 days and delayed the deadline for social security premium deposits from February 15 to February 18.
- Civil disobedience on the agenda – Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (KTIMB) outraged with the Council of Ministers’ decision to reopen the banks.
Number of ill children exceeds 7,000
The number of people admitted to the psychiatric institution in Nicosia during the pandemic has come close to 30,000. 7,406 of these patients are children. The head doctor at the institution Dr Abidin Akbirgün said that a hundred health professionals were working in the 180-bed capacity hospital.
- This time ‘CureVac’ – South Cyprus to purchase 250,000 doses of the German vaccine.
- Batons do the talking – Greek Cypriot police used excessive force during a protest against corruption and Covid-19 measures, arresting 10 demonstrators.
- Reactions effective – Social security premium payments have been postponed until February 18, the grace period for dud cheques extended to 27 days.
The lockdown worked well
There has been a sharp decrease in the number of cases following the lockdown… However economic problems are growing… The retailers say “they are not able to put food on their tables…” The decision to extend the lockdown to February 22 also outraged business owners. The government wavers between economy and health… Only 17 positive cases were identified in 5,033 tests carried out in the past 24 hours. 16 of these are locally transmitted cases. Two people passed away… 55 people were discharged.
- Police violence in the south – Battery and bloodshed in an anti-corruption protest in the south. The group of 300 protestors were met with a fully armed police force of 150.
Main News
Opposition & private sector angry over government’s economic policies
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Economy
OVERVIEW
The opposition parties, trade unions as well as representatives of various economic sectors on Sunday stepped up their criticism of the government over its failure to provide support schemes for the private sector, a day after cabinet announced that it was extending lockdown restrictions for another week.
Unable to collect tax revenues since the lockdown first began on February 5, the Turkish Cypriot Finance Minister Dursun Oğuz announced on Sunday that the government will resort to borrowing to deliver on its financial obligations, mainly the payment of salaries of public sector employees.
Oğuz announced the government will be borrowing ₺500m (₺58.6m), a day after he told Yenidüzen and Diyalog that there was a ₺400m-430m (€46.9m-50.4m) budget deficit as a result of the lockdown.
The cabinet also announced that it was extending the grace period for cheques submitted for clearing the second time to 27 days even though banks were opened to business on Monday.
In a post on social media on Sunday, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman criticized the government over its plans to borrow money, stating that the private sector has once again been disregarded.
He argued that the government has remained callous to the economic problems of the (privately-owned) public transport companies, travel agencies, retailers, shopkeepers and other employees in the private sector. “This government is acting as if it is not the private sector’s government,” Erhürman said.
The National Unity Party (UBP)-Rebirth Party (YDP)-Democratic Party (DP) coalition government is being criticized for failing to come up with any proper schemes for the private sector.
Apart from the ₺1,500 (€175) support payment for private-sector employees and minor contributions to social insurance premiums deposited by employers, nothing substantial has been announced so far. A loan package worth ₺120m (€14.1m) for shopkeepers, farmers and tourism transport operators who did not benefit from earlier schemes had also been announced at the beginning of February.
On Sunday, the government announced a few more decisions aimed at easing the effects of the lockdown. While the grace period for dud cheques submitted for clearing the second time was extended to 27 days, the deadline for social security premium deposits was postponed from February 15 to February 18. The government also announced that the state would forego its stamp duty when applying for support loans from the banks.
Also hitting out at the government, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit said the cabinet has abandoned tens of thousands of private sector employees to their fate by refusing to take steps aimed at addressing their economic woes.
He noted the TDP will be submitting a comprehensive economic package proposal to the government focusing primarily on the private sector. Özyiğit warned that the economy will shrink further if the government continues to ignore the problems of the private sector leading to increased unemployment and significant loss of the public’s purchasing power.
The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO) accused the government of lumping the bill of the economic crisis on the private sector. The chamber said that they have run out of options and were on the verge of collapse.
KAR-İŞ (Turkish Cypriot Public Transportation Companies’ Union) urged the government to come up with urgent measures and projects specifically designed for various sectors.
“We have spent all our savings and have now hit rock bottom,” KAR-İŞ said in a statement issued on Sunday, warning that the government’s lack of attention on the private sector will eventually result in bankruptcies on a grand scale.
Similar warnings were made by the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association (KTIMB) which expressed anger over the government’s failure to include construction companies in the sectors which have been allowed to resume operations at a limited capacity while excluding Turkish Cypriot companies in public tenders in the north.
KTIMB has been opposing the authorities’ decision to launch public tenders in Ankara for construction and development works to be carried out in the northern part of the island, arguing that the Turkish Cypriot companies are not able to contribute to the north’s economy when left out.
HP: Tatar needs to brief the parliament on his road plan
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The opposition People’s Party (HP) on Sunday demanded that Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar share with political parties his plans regarding the upcoming 5+1 informal meeting.
In a written statement, HP MP Erek Çağtay said that Tatar needs to inform the parties on how he intends to convince the Greek Cypriot side to agree to a two-state solution.
HP leader Kudret Özersay on Friday claimed that the Turkish Cypriot leadership was unclear and confused about its goal on a two-state solution.
Çatağay said that although a federation was a good solution model, it was clear that the two sides were unable to solve the Cyprus Problem based on such a settlement under the current conditions.
He reiterated the HP’s standpoint that the two sides should instead focus on building trust between the two communities through collaboration on various areas as they have done in the past, such as on the exchange of criminals, mobile phone interoperability and the integration of electricity grids.
Çağatay said that the issue of collaboration should be raised during the 5+1 meeting.
Also touching upon the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Çağatay urged the current government to swiftly lift the military status over the fenced-off town for the lawful owners to apply to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) regarding their properties.
“This is vital for the Turkish Cypriot side to gain credibility in the international platform,” Çağatay concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Çağatay (HP)
>> Tatar needs to explain to political parties how he plans to convince GC side to a two-state solution.
>> Two sides should focus on cooperation rather than a two-state solution.
>> Maraş’s (Varosha) military status should be lifted asap to allow lawful owners to apply to IPC.