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Wedding items worth €90,000, including 60 bride’s dresses, stolen in Larnaca

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Wedding_dress_princess_seams

Sixty wedding dresses and other wedding accessories, such as tiaras, wreaths, and shoes, worth over €90,000 were stolen from a store in downtown Larnaca, a police report said on Friday.

According to the report, the 47-year-old owner reported that, between 8 pm Thursday and 8:30 am Friday, unidentified robbers broke into her store and stole 60 wedding dresses, 100 tiaras, 15 bustiers, five wedding wreaths, and five pairs of shoes.

The woman said the stolen goods were worth over €90,000.

CID police rushed to the scene and established that the robbers entered the store through the front door, after removing the safety lock with a sharp instrument.

The scene was swept for fingerprints and police collected evidence, which was forwarded for forensic examination.

Police are expected to sift through CCTV footage of nearby or adjacent shops, in a bid to identify the perpetrators. The store had no alarm system or CCTV, but was insured.

The post Wedding items worth €90,000, including 60 bride’s dresses, stolen in Larnaca appeared first on Cyprus Mail.


Larnaca bus drivers will take their protest to the capital

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ΚΛΙΜΑΚΩΣΗ ΑΠΕΡΓΙΑΚΩΝ ΜΕΤΡΩΝ - ΛΕΩΦΟΡΕΙΑ ΖΗΝΩΝ

By Angelos Anastasiou

STRIKING Larnaca bus drivers, employees of the Zenon consortium, plan to bring their protest to Nicosia next week, in order to pressure three government ministers and parliament into vindicate them, it was announced on Friday.

The bus drivers went on strike on Monday, initially for 24 hours, over wage reductions agreed to in 2014, which they claim should be restored upon expiry of the deal at the end of 2015.

Soon, the strike was extended to 48 hours, and by Wednesday it had become “indefinite”, after transport ministry permanent undersecretary Alecos Michaelides met with union and employer reps in a failed bid to bridge disagreements.

On Friday, PEO union leader Pambis Kyritsis announced that the bus drivers will escalate measures, starting next week, and if necessary a ‘strike fund’ will be created to help them make ends meet until their fight bears fruit.

“This fight will go on as long as is required to achieve victory,” Kyritsis said after a meeting with the striking staff.

“If some think that they have found vulnerable people and a weak sector to send the message that labour mobilisations are ineffective, or that employees are defenseless, they are mistaken. The entire movement will support them.”

Asked to explain the kind of support striking bus drivers can look forward to, Kyritsis said that “if and when required, strike funds will be created for these people to feed their families”.

“As of Monday, the strikers will bring petitions to the three ministries involved – finance, labour, and transport – to ask the ministers for vindication,” he said.

“The strikers will also be outside parliament, since the issue will be on the agenda of the House Labour committee, to ask MPs for vindication, too.”

In this way, he added, the escalation of measures begins, and the coming week will determine “how it goes”.

Kyritsis noted that, while the unions and employees are willing to negotiate a solution, but the transport minister’s attitude leaves no room for hope.

“There is no leeway when it comes to matters of principle,” he said.

“We are flexible in negotiating for a solution. Proof of this is that we went to the tri-partite meeting at the transport ministry, and even worked out a solution.”

Unions blamed the falling through of the talks on Wednesday on Transport Minister Marios Demetriades, who, they claimed, killed the negotiated agreement on the spot.

The post Larnaca bus drivers will take their protest to the capital appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Remand extended for safety deposit box theft suspect

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Safe

A 36-year-old man held in connection with the theft of some €500,000 in cash and jewellery from safety deposit boxes in two banks will remain in custody for another six days, a Larnaca court decided on Saturday.

Marios Loizou, an unemployed sign maker, was arrested along with his wife, 32, on suspicion of stealing around €490,000 in cash and €10,000 worth of jewellery from safety deposit boxes at Bank of Cyprus and Solidarity co-op bank in Larnaca.

His wife’s brother, 28, was also arrested this week. He has been remanded in custody for two days.

Police said the thefts took place between March 2015 and January this year.

Police presumed that the break-ins and thefts occurred when the branches were open by a person who had access to the area.

The 36-year-old suspect is the only individual from the list of customers who had a box at the co-op and Bank of Cyprus.

There were no security cameras in the rooms where the safety deposits are stored. Customers were left alone while accessing their boxes.

According to police, when the 36-year-old suspect accessed his safety deposit, he would request to remain for twice the amount of time other clients spent – around 20 minutes – instead of 10 and always had two bags with him.

His visits coincided with the period the thefts took place, police said.

Police have not disclosed how the perpetrator opened the boxes. The Sunday Mail has learned, however, that he used a special home-made tool, which left little or no sign on the outside of the box.

According to police, during the period the thefts took place, the suspect had expressed interest in buying a boat worth €400,000 and to invest €333,000 in an aircraft recycling business. He was also looking to open a printing service and manage a Japanese restaurant in Nicosia.

Authorities have so far seized property and cash worth €200,000 found in the suspect’s possession.

 

The post Remand extended for safety deposit box theft suspect appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Larnaca bus strike has gone too far, minister says

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Zenon bus company

The strike at the Zenon bus company in Larnaca has gone too far, Transport Minister Marios Demetriades said on Sunday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Pano Arodes, Demetriades said those on strike needed to take into account “current economic realities” and show some respect for the efforts to keep economic recovery on track.

The striking drivers said on Friday they would bring their week-long protest to Nicosia on Monday in order to pressure three government ministers, and parliament into vindicating them.

The bus drivers went on strike on Monday, initially for 24 hours, over wage reductions agreed to in 2014, which they claim should be restored upon expiry of the deal at the end of 2015.

Soon, the strike was extended to 48 hours, and by Wednesday it had become “indefinite”, after transport ministry permanent undersecretary Alecos Michaelides met with union and employer reps in a failed bid to bridge disagreements.

Unions blamed the falling through of the talks on Wednesday on Demetriades, who, they claimed, killed a proposed negotiated agreement on the spot
Demetriades said on Sunday that the Zenon company was subsidised 90-92 per cent by the state, and added that while forecasts put earnings at stable for 2016, there was no sign that business would be up, indicating that the strikers’ demands were not justified by economic realities.

Many workers islandwide, he said, continue to work for lower wages due to the economic crisis. If a small minority began receiving increases it would create issues of inequality, particularly in organisations that operate at a cost to the taxpayer.

“We can’t resolve disputes through blackmail, but through dialogue,” he said.

He called on the company and its employees to think of the common good, and the public who have been without transport for a week.

The post Larnaca bus strike has gone too far, minister says appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Cobalt Air says it secured Chinese equity, launching operations in spring

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COBALT AIR

Cobalt, a Cyprus based airline, said it had secured an unspecified amount of capital injection from an unnamed investor based in Hong Kong who is included in the Fortune 500 list, and plans to begin its operations in the spring of 2016 as a low-cost carrier.

“’This broadens our investor base to include both Cypriot and Chinese capital and is a major boost to our plan to launch operations this year as Cyprus’ new flag carrier,” the company’s chairman Gregory Diacou said in an emailed statement on Monday. “This is the first major foreign investment in Cyprus since the events of 2013 and represents a huge vote of confidence in the local economy”.

In the same statement, Andrew Pyne, the company’s chief executive officer said that the closure of Cyprus Airways a year ago resulted in higher fares, created “a vacuum in terms of an airline that put Cyprus first and promotes the island as its home” and led to a reduced “network coverage”.

“Cobalt will build Cyprus into a significant aviation hub capitalising on its advantageous geographic location,” Pyne said adding that the company will also create 500 jobs locally over the next five years.

“We will drive growth in the local tourism sector and, by engaging local companies, we will generate a substantial amount of additional employment as well,” Pyne added. “Initially, Cobalt will be flying from Larnaca to a wide range of destinations throughout Western Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. By 2017 Cobalt plans to add long haul destinations such as China, South Africa and the USA”.

The post Cobalt Air says it secured Chinese equity, launching operations in spring appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Men remanded after chapel collection box thefts

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collection

Two men, a 44-year-old and a 51-year-old, both permanent residents of Cyprus were remanded for four days on Monday in connection with a series of break-ins and thefts from chapels in Larnaca and the Famagusta areas.

The men were arrested on Sunday morning after Oroklini police received a tip off that the chapel of Panayia Paramythia in Dromoloxia was going to be burgled.

When members of the police went to the scene shortly after 11am they saw the two suspects leaving the chapel, getting into a car and leaving the area. The car was stopped and searched and a screwdriver and pliers were seized.

The two men were taken to Kiti police station and detained.

In court the 51-year-old admitted that the two had been going to chapels in Larnaca and the Famagusta areas, where the 44-year-old would open the money collection boxes with a screwdriver and steal the money, while the 51-year-old would stand watch outside. For this he would receive a small amount of the money, between €3 and €5. He admitted that the first time was in August 2015 in a chapel in the Capo Greco area in Ayia Napa.

They had stolen money from the chapel in Dromolaxia about 15 times and from other chapels in Ormidheia, Vrysoules and Frenaros about 30 times, he reported.

He added that they did not steal anything on Sunday as there was no money in the collection box.

The 44-year-old has denied any involvement in the case.

The post Men remanded after chapel collection box thefts appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Bus strike called off after wage deal reached (updated)

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zenon strike

Larnaca bus drivers ended their strike on Monday following the mediation of the labour minister in the afternoon.

The deal that was struck entails returning part of the income that was cut a couple of years ago.

The proposal provides for workers who make up to €1,400 to receive a 2.2 per cent increase; those on a salary between €1,401 and €1,600 will get 1.8 per cent. No change for those making between €1,601 and €2,200, while those on a €2,201 plus salary will see their salaries cut by 2 per cent to cover the increases of the rest.

“Essentially the proposal provides further concessions from highly paid workers to cover the money returned to low paid workers,” union rep Athos Eleftheriou said.

Drivers at a second bus company, Limassol’s EMEL, also called off a strike they had planned for Tuesday.

EMEL drivers said they had been assured by Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou that discussions would start to resolve their problem.

Drivers decided to strike after the management refused to reinstate the collective agreement after the pay cuts agreed for 2014 and 2015.

Earlier, Larnaca drivers, who have been striking since last Monday over their demands to restore their wages and benefits, moved their protest from Larnaca to Nicosia in a bid to step up the pressure on government.

Approximately 120 drivers gathered outside parliament to protest.

After meeting with Transport Minister Marios Demetriades and Emilianidou, union reps were told that the labour minister was willing to discuss the issue with them at a meeting later yesterday.

According to the bus drivers, the labour dispute came up after “the company refused to implement the deal signed on September 19, 2014, proposed by the Labour Relations department”.

Due to the dispute, the bus drivers’ unions contacted the Labour Relations department last month, requesting an interpretation of the 2014 deal.

They were told that, based on the agreement, the concessions made are permanent, with the exception of wage reductions that need to be restored as of January 2016.

The employees’ side has accepted this interpretation, but Zenon, the company, refused to restore the wages.

“During a meeting at the Labour Relations department, the mediator realised that the company’s refusal was not conducive to resolving the dispute and declared an impasse,” the unions said.

“Left with no other options, and implementing the clauses of the Industrial Relations Code, the employees took strike measures, demanding implementation of the deal.”

On Sunday, Demetriades branded the strike action “blackmail” and called on the bus drivers to realise the economic realities, which, he said, could not justify meeting their demands.

At a House labour committee session on Monday, both sides insisted on their views, with Demetriades citing the opinion of the legal service, according to which the dispute is between the bus company and the drivers.

 

The post Bus strike called off after wage deal reached (updated) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

An opportunity lost: the case of Larnaca port

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By Reginos Tsanos

The global economy is in turmoil. Large economies are teetering on the brink of collapse. There is volatility across all markets and sectors. The world has borne witness to billions of dollars’ worth of assets and securities being wiped out in just a single day of trading. The Eastern Mediterranean, once a haven for cruise liners, is now a station for warships and aircraft carriers patrolling trouble spots in Syria, Lebanon, and Libya.

Cyprus has been through its own troubles as well. The events that unfolded in March 2013 shook the foundations of everything that was built, particularly in the post-1974 era. But as the government readily informs us that we are ready to exit our economic stability programme, and return the country to growth, there are some events that point worryingly to the fact that we have failed to heed the lessons of the past.

Indeed it seems that we have not grasped one of the most important warnings from those events – that this was not just a financial crisis, but a much deeper problem, rooted in our behaviour, culture and practice, and not something that can be remedied simply by reforms on paper.

The Larnaca Municipality’s decision to reject the request for an extension of the use of the town’s port for support base operations in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a case in point.

A quick glance at the bigger picture helps emphasise its importance. Contrary to global developments, most notably the drop in oil prices, in the last few months a number of major international energy companies have given the Eastern Mediterranean a vote of confidence, publicly pronouncing their interest to engage in hydrocarbon exploration activities in the region. These companies include those that have been active in Cyprus’ EEZ, with ENI and TOTAL signing extensions to their contracts with the government for this exact purpose.

Their enthusiasm however has not been met with the analogous response. In fact, quite the opposite. ENI, TOTAL and Noble Energy – on whom we are waiting with bated breath to finalise its development plan for the Aphrodite field – have all invested significantly in developing Larnaca port as an onshore logistics base for the oil and gas industry. A large number of industry experts concur that, for a variety of reasons, Larnaca port is the most appropriate location.

Unfortunately, these companies are continuously receiving proverbial ‘slaps in the face’. And now, following the Municipality’s latest decision, will go back to the uncertainty and ambiguity emanating from the government, and specifically the Ports Authority, on the location of the onshore base. The two that have been touted, an area within the Sovereign British Bases adjacent to Limassol port, and the industrial area of Vasiliko, are unworkable in the short and medium term, as final approval of either would need to circumvent the maze of government bureaucracy.

At the same time, a campaign of misinformation about the environmental impact of onshore operations on Larnaca and the local environment, perpetuated by irresponsible politicians who have placed their own narrow self-interests ahead of the greater good, has taken root in the minds of local residents, with the government taking the role of a mere spectator in the events that unfolded.

In the midst of all of this, Larnaca port remains quiet and idle, its tourism product in decay, and having received another blow after the Zenon consortium failed to propose a viable leisure harbour project. The potential for economic growth is and will remain huge, and Larnaca could flourish similar to other cities across Europe, such as Stavanger in Norway, Aberdeen in Scotland, and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. It is almost redundant to mention once again that the full-scale development of the industry in Cyprus will help in reviving important sectors of the Cypriot economy, creating new job opportunities for a depressed labour market, with unemployment still hovering close to 15 per cent.

Important decisions that relate to the future of Cyprus should not be left at the whim of petty politics, nor should they fall foul of electoral campaigns, diminishing our credibility as a country and our reliability as an energy partner. It is now imperative that the government displays the will and determination necessary to come good on its much-touted plans to develop Cyprus as an energy hub. Particularly in light of its active energy diplomacy abroad, the government should also capitalise on the political instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and pursue the development of an onshore logistics base to serve the oil and gas industry, not just for Cyprus but also for the wider region.

In the prevailing global economic environment, there are two things that investors value the most: security and reliability. The Larnaca port fiasco is yet another indication that we are running the risk of scaring off foreign inward investment. The energy industry will bounce back, and by that time we will have missed the boat.

Reginos Tsanos is CEO of Lavar Shipping and Chairman of the RPT Group

 

The post An opportunity lost: the case of Larnaca port appeared first on Cyprus Mail.


Cyprus scrambles to find new location for gas support infrastructure (updated)

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Noble Energy gas rig

Following the Larnaca municipal council’s rejection of a request to allow the temporary operation of a company that provides logistics for hydrocarbon exploration, the government on Tuesday was scrambling to find alternative venues while concerns were raised that Cyprus risked losing much needed business.

On Monday evening, the council voted against allowing the operation of the company, whose services were going to be used by energy giants Total — that plans to undertake exploratory drilling off the island’s coast – and ENI.

Total wanted a six month extension while ENI had asked for a year, with an option for an additional six months after that.

Extension of the company’s operation is opposed by residents who fear that the town’s port would be turned into an industrial hub with all the risks to their health and the environment it would entail.

This, they said, would also put an end to any prospects of tourist development in Larnaca.

Chairman of the Oil and Gas Association Andy Varoshiotis said the energy and transport ministries were engaged in consultations on Tuesday to find space for Medserve to move, most likely to Limassol.

However, Varoshiotis told the Cyprus Mail that he was concerned that the decision could drive companies out.

“I hope we don’t lose any companies and continue to be business friendly,” he said.

The government was trying to find a temporary site in Limassol until a permanent solution was found near the town’s port.

Transport minister Marios Demetriades said on Tuesday that the government had informed the two companies of space available at the Limassol port in two letters, on November 20 and 30, last year.

“We remain at the company’s disposal for another meeting,” he said.

“We have met a number of times, to look at ways of granting them available space for their operations.”

The money spent on moving was not the main issue, Varoshiotis said.

He added that ENI was considering moving to Egypt while the decision could delay Total’s exploratory drilling.

Thirteen councillors voted against the extension, 12 in favour, and one abstained. One councillor was absent.

“I believe it was not an easy decision for anyone,” Mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis said after the vote. “Our discussion was whether to give a positive recommendation or not. The government policy was expressed through the cabinet decision to move the facilities in August 2016.”

He said he was in favour of approving the request, “considering all the parameters linked to the issue, that is, our country’s needs, the good of the economy, and the benefits our town would have. But the majority’s decision is respected and this is the decision we will follow.”

The government could ignore the decision and extend the permit but it was unlikely to do so a couple of months before the parliamentary elections.

The post Cyprus scrambles to find new location for gas support infrastructure (updated) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

‘Plenty of room at Limassol port’ energy giants told (Update 2)

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Limassol port

The government was on Wednesday seeking to convince energy giant Total to relocate their logistics base from Larnaca port to Limassol, after Larnaca’s municipal council voted against granting a six-month extension to the base’s operation and amid reports that oil and gas companies are considering moving their shore base to neighbouring countries.

Transport Minister Marios Demetriades met with officials from Total, in a bid to talk them into shifting their logistics base – operated by another company, Medserv – to space in and around the port of Limassol.

Coming out of the meeting, Demetriades told reporters that the wishes of Larnaca’s residents – who fear the town’s port would be turned into an industrial hub with all the attendant health and environmental risks – would be taken into account.

But, he added, the final decision regarding the oil and gas logistics facilities rests with the government.

The government could ignore the decision and extend the permit – which expires in August – but this could get politically tricky, with parliamentary elections looming.

Demetriades reaffirmed the government’s stated policy of developing the Larnaca port and marina for tourist purposes.

Leaving the oil and gas support facilities there for another six months would not have disrupted those plans, he added.

At the same time, “our energy policy cannot suffer a setback, because we…cannot grant space to these companies.”

Another question, assuming Total and ENI were persuaded to move to Limassol port, was whether the facilities there would be ready to host these operations by August.

Asked to comment on reports that Total and ENI are considering relocating their Cyprus onshore base to the port of Haifa, Israel, the minister said the government wants to avert that.

For this reason, he said, he will also be meeting with representatives of the two other companies – ENI and Noble Energy – likely on Monday “to discuss the options available to us.”

Total, which plans to undertake exploratory offshore drilling, reportedly in the autumn, had requested a six- month extension at Larnaca port while ENI – which uses the same facilities – had asked for a year, with an option for an additional six months after that.

Chiming in, Limassol mayor Andreas Christou said his town is keen to host the onshore logistics facilities, as there is ample room in and around the new port.

He issued an open invitation to Total and ENI.

“They can come to the site to look at the infrastructures, and if they have additional demands I am sure we can accommodate them,” Christou told the Cyprus News Agency.

He said Limassol port is currently operating at below-capacity due to the drop in transit trade there.

“There exists large unexploited space inside the port area, and also around the port there is available space for office and support services,” he added.

The mayor recalled that Noble Energy initially was operating out of Limassol when it was conducting its drilling operations.

Noble subsequently moved its shore base plant to Larnaca. It’s understood the decision was partly driven by cost considerations as fees at the Larnaca port were substantially lower than in Limassol.

There are a variety of technical reasons why oil companies prefer Larnaca. The water depth – around 12 metres – is more than sufficient for support vessels to wade into the harbour. Also, the port at Larnaca is nowhere near as congested as Limassol’s.

Because drilling platforms are weight-sensitive, most of the gear – risers, pipelines, fuel, inspection equipment – has to be stored on land.

The permits to the oil companies (more accurately, to their subcontractors) were issued by the communications ministry and the Ports Authority.

At any rate, relocating to Limassol port would be a temporary arrangement until a more permanent solution is found near the town’s port.

The two permanent sites earmarked for the onshore base are an area within the Sovereign British Bases adjacent to Limassol port, and the industrial area of Vasilikos. But final approval of either would need to cut through red tape.

Weighing in on the issue, Averof Neophytou, leader of the ruling DISY party, panned the “parochial mindset” that risked driving business away from the island.

At a time when the government is leaning on the energy companies to expedite their drilling programme, he said, populist local politicking is rearing its head.

“These companies have made investments at the [Larnaca] port. Their people asked for a few months’ extension in order to implement what the state asked of them. Now, we are discovering risks to the environment, a thousand excuses just to send the message that this country is not friendly [to business],” he noted.

On reports that the companies were considering moving to Haifa, Neophytou offered:

“If I were the CEO in these companies, I would have left Cyprus yesterday.”

The DISY leader derided those posing as “the protectors of workers.”

“Those who hold these populist views, based on clearly parochial criteria, tomorrow – when 150 more people will become jobless – they will come out with loudspeakers and complain about the rise in unemployment.”

 

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Larnaca port workers to protest against decision to kick out energy giants (Update: residents rejoice)

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Larnaca port workers will on Thursday stage a protest against their municipality’s decision to refuse an extension to the operation of oil and gas support facilities.

In a joint statement, three trade unions said their affected members – who are worried about their jobs – will gather outside Larnaca port at 8.30am.

They will subsequently head out to Evropi Square and then to the Larnaca town hall, handing the mayor a memo with their demands.

Next the port workers will travel by bus to the transport ministry in Nicosia, aiming to deliver a memo to the transport minister.

The current permit for the Larnaca port oil and gas facilities expires in August, but the government may overrule the municipality and grant an extension.

On the opposite end, a citizens group representing residents of Larnaca, Aradippou and Krasas, hailed the municipality’s decision.

In a statement, the group said they oppose the transformation of their town and district into a heavy industrial zone.

The group said it would continue to fight so that the facilities of Halliburton and Schlumberger are also moved from their current location, a site in Aradippou-Kalo Horio which is designated for light industry.

“We expect that the ministry and therefore the state will respect the decision of Larnaca, a decision which represents the majority of the city and district citizens,” residents said in an announcement.

“We declare that we will continue to strive to maintain our city’s touristic character and for it to be developed accordingly. Our vision is for Larnaca to become a popular tourist destination, a vision that is not consistent with the conversion of its port into an industrial zone”.

The statement added that they had been asking the government a strategic plan for the exploitation of hydrocarbons for two years. “We expected that for such an important issue, the state would show the appropriate seriousness and make sure those industries were sited in areas where they would not put residents ‘health and safety at risk.”

The statement added that Halliburton and Schlumberger were operating “irregularly and illegally” because the 2013 Larnaca Plan, did not provide for heavy industry factories in that area.

The post Larnaca port workers to protest against decision to kick out energy giants (Update: residents rejoice) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Three years jail for importing a controlled substance  

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Larnaca court

A 28-year-old man from Dromolaxia, Constantinos Eleftheriou, was sentenced to three years in jail by the Larnaca court on Wednesday, after he was found guilty of importing three kilos of a controlled substance with intent to supply.

According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Eleftheriou was arrested on December 17, 2012 after he was caught by drug squad members receiving a parcel, which arrived in Cyprus from Shanghai through a courier company and containing three kilos of a synthetic drug identified as naphthoyl indole.

Upon, arrival at the Larnaca Airport, the CNA said, the package had raised the suspicions of customs officers. When opened, three clear bags were found containing a total of three kilos of white powder. On the package, addressed to Eleftheriou’s wife, the content label said the package contained “cyanuric acid”.

Following a sample analysis by the state lab, it emerged that the powder was not cyanuric acid but naphthoyl indole, a chemical powder with effects similar to that of cannabis.

Customs officers informed the Larnaca drug squad, who replaced the contents of the package with flour and placed it under surveillance.

When Eleftheriou arrived at the offices of the courier company to receive the package, he was arrested on his way out, before entering his car.

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Restaurant review: Art Café 1900, Larnaca

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rest

Art Café 1900 is well-known to those who have either lived or visited the Larnaca area over the last twenty odd years. As one of the town’s most popular bars due to its vast selection of imported beers and wonderful atmosphere, it’s reputation has perhaps overshadowed the fact that it is also home to a quality restaurant too.

Hidden in a backstreet near the Phinikoudes strip is where this old-style building can be found. Upon entry, you are immediately struck by the warm atmosphere and rich history that it carries. The walls are donned with posters and memorabilia predominantly related to rock music and culture of the 1970s and 80s while there is a smooth back drop of music from the same era constantly playing in the background.

The downstairs of what used to be an old house is the bar area – the establishment prides itself on its variety and boasts one of the widest selections of beers and whiskeys on the island. In the beer department, there are believed to be 93 different types from around the world and, for whiskey lovers, there are around 140 to choose from.

While Marios runs the downstairs bar, it is Maria who runs the show upstairs in the separate restaurant area which is one of Larnaca’s best kept secrets. Not a huge area by any means, but it makes up for it in exclusivity and quality in both the food and service department.
Looking at the menu, there is a concise list of options including some inviting traditional dishes as well as the common pub food you would expect to find in such a place. In the end, Maria insisted we tried the lamb fricassee with spinach and lemon, which did not disappoint.

The dish consisted of a stew of fatless chunks of lamb, flavoured with a variety of spices and onion in a creamy sauce. However, it was not too rich as its description may suggest as a healthy amount of lemon provided the perfect balance to the meal. It was the type of dish that just melts in one’s mouth with the meat extremely tender. The creamy sauce is created with eggs and lemon with a very similar taste to that of the commonly known Greek soup avgolemono while the addition of fresh spinach and herbs added a nice texture and slightly spicy after taste.

We also had stifado, a traditional beef dish served with rice and vegetables, which was also immaculate -the best part of this particular dish was the thick tangy, tomato-based sauce full of flavour thanks to all of the garlic, cinnamon and sweet onions – plus some vegetable rolls on the side that were full of life and flavour.

In terms of portion size, they were not the biggest, but definitely do not leave you with a rumbling belly either. The service was quick and very friendly with the owner herself in charge adding a homely feel. To finish, there was a selection of fresh fruit and sweets to choose from, as well as a good selection of teas and coffees. I could not resist the look of the chocolate cake which was also freshly made rather than pre-packed – a huge plus.

It is certainly a unique spot to eat which not too many people, even in the town itself, are aware of. By the time we left, just after 9pm on a Friday evening, the downstairs area was packed which said a lot about its popularity.

VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY: Lamb fricassee with spinach
WHERE: Art Café 1900, 6 Stasinou Street, Larnaca
CONTACT: 24 653027
WHEN: 6pm–2am every day except Tuesday
PRICE: €20 average (meal, dessert and beverage)

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Larnaca port workers protest against rejection of energy companies

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Larnaca port workers and others held a protest on Thursday against the municipality’s decision not to allow the temporary operation of a company that provides logistics for hydrocarbon exploration.

The workers marched to the town hall where they delivered a petition and then travelled to Nicosia where they continued their protest outside the transport ministry.

The protesters included port workers and former employees of the logistics company, Medserv, and Italian oil firm ENI.

On Monday, the council voted 13 to 12, against allowing the operation of the company, whose services were going to be used by energy giants Total — that plans to undertake exploratory drilling off the island’s coast – and ENI.

Total wanted a six-month extension while ENI had asked for a year, with an option for an additional six months after that.

Extension of the company’s operation is opposed by residents who fear that the town’s port would be turned into an industrial hub with all the risks to their health and the environment it would entail.

This, they said, would also put an end to any prospects of tourist development in Larnaca.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis told protesters he understood their concerns and promised to convey the memo to all councillors.

“There was a majority in the council, which rejected Total’s request,” he said. “My appeal to the council was not to close the door to the company but give a few months extension and review the operations, the benefits to our town, taking into consideration energy matters in general.”

Workers later met Transport Minister Marios Demetriades whom they briefed about their demands.

The workers want a comprehensive plan for the port, arguing that without a decision about its future, and without the operation of oil and gas companies, employment would decline dramatically with dire consequences for families depending on it one way or another.

SEK trade union rep Nicos Koliandris said they were clearly in favour of the oil and gas companies staying in Larnaca.

“Of course, the whole issue also rests with Larnaca, and we hope that wiser decisions will emerge, through consultation, so that jobs and growth that the town needs so much are created,” he said.

Koliandris said 150 people had found work because the oil and gas companies operations, which also helped port workers supplement their low income.

The companies were scheduled to leave the port in August 2016 but the government can, in theory, override the municipal council’s decision.

According to Koliandris, the minister told them the government took their positions into consideration but there was also the council’s decision which was difficult to overturn.

“It is necessary to put everything on the table; the municipal council must make wise thoughts and the only way to get a positive outcome is through consultation,” he added.
Ruling DISY chief Averof Neophytou criticised opposition parties for rejecting the companies’ request while at the same time, unions affiliated to them were protesting on Thursday along with the workers.

Neophytou questioned why PEO, DEOK, and SEK did not take protesters outside the offices of AKEL, DIKO, and EDEK and instead demonstrated at the town hall and the ministry.

“This populist mentality, municipal groups siding with the residents demanding the closure of the operations and party unions siding with the workers protesting the loss of jobs, present us as a third world country,” he said.

While AKEL opposed the extension in Larnaca, its mayor in Limassol, was ready to welcome the companies there.

Operations affected the health of Larnaca residents but they did not affect Limassolians, he said.

“Honestly, I cannot understand this logic and what image we give off to global giants that have turnovers many times our country’s GDP. I wonder why they still put up with us?”

Neophytou said he would oppose populism wherever it came from.

“We will be here, the voice of rationality,” he said. “We will oppose populism, we will oppose populist approaches that hurt national interest.”

 

 

The post Larnaca port workers protest against rejection of energy companies appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Decisions by DEFA & Larnaca spark exodus of energy companies (updated)

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By Stelios Orphanides

Two decisions taken by authorities recently may at best delay Cyprus’s plans to emerge as a hydrocarbon producer in the medium term, while they have already triggered an exodus of energy companies, an oil and gas professional said.

The decision of the Larnaca municipality to reject a request to extend the operation of MedServ, a company providing oil and gas exploration support services, has angered those directly involved and caused widespread disappointment in the industry, the professional said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Maltese company MedServ, which offered support services to energy companies — including Italy’s ENI and France’s Total — involved in hydrocarbon exploration in Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone, was looking to relocate to Egypt, the Cyprus Business Mail also has learned. Other logistics companies, including Schlumberger, Haliburton and Weatherford were likely to follow.

And the government’s decision to cancel the tender -the third in five years- for an interim natural gas supplier, which would have allowed the state-owned power company to switch to a cleaner fuel, added insult to injury, the professional said in an interview. A day later, state natural gas company DEFA, sealed the government’s decision, angering the winning company, Vitol, and sending shockwaves in the energy industry.

The professional, with long experience in the global oil and gas industry at top executive positions, said the two decisions neither took into account how the industry worked nor which players were involved.

Following the acquisition of a 35 per cent stake in Cyprus’ Aphrodite field by British Gas (BG), the island will soon discover that it will have to deal with energy giant Royal Dutch Shell, the professional said.

BG, the owner of Egypt’s natural gas liquefaction plant at Idku, that Cyprus eyes for its planned gas exports, was the target of a £40bn (€51bn) takeover by the Anglo-Dutch company, which is expected to absorb BG’s operations this year.

Shell was the company that won a competition for a €7bn contract to supply Cyprus with natural gas four years ago. The government cancelled the tender following the discovery of the Aphrodite gas reserve by US-based Noble Energy, thought then to hold up to 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas. The estimation was later revised down to 4.5 tcf.

Shell, which is considering how to complete the merger with BG, is now “suspicious” of Cypriot authorities as it was among bidders in the two new tenders for the interim supplier that followed, the professional said. “Shell has a very long memory”.

Itera which won the competition three years ago, declined to submit an improved offer after it was asked by DEFA to do so and pulled out of the competition.

As oil prices dropped to their lowest level since 2003, “Shell will take time to consolidate the takeover” and in this context, it will also have to consider BG’s €160m Aphrodite investment and the Idku liquefaction terminal, the professional said.

“So Shell will have to feel that it is worthwhile,” the professional added. “However Cyprus is not easy to invest in”.

“How are you going to guarantee the return when they don’t even know whom they should talk to? How can one explain that a municipality can kick out companies?” the professional asked. “If Shell decides not to work with Cyprus, who is going to develop Aphrodite?”

The professional added that hundreds of energy companies which set up offices in Cyprus in recent years were considering relocating to Egypt. “Companies are fed up with Cyprus; they got their fingers burnt.”

Even following the invitation to the companies affected by Larnaca’s decision from Limassol mayor Andreas Christou to continue operating from there, for oil companies “the choice is not between Larnaca and Limassol but between Cyprus and Egypt”.

Besides, oil companies left Limassol years ago, the professional said, after being overcharged for space they subletted from a Cypriot company which rented it from the Cyprus Port Authority at a much lower price, the professional added. “Noble also got its fingers burnt there and now there is additional uncertainty as a result of the port’s privatisation”.

The post Decisions by DEFA & Larnaca spark exodus of energy companies (updated) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.


Father of three, elderly man killed in separate road accidents (updated)

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A 54-year-old father of three was killed in Larnaca on Friday afternoon, the second person to die in a traffic accident in the district in just a few hours following the death of an elderly man.

Stelios Stratis, a car mechanic from Pervolia, was driving on the Ayia Anna to Kalo Horio road when his pick-up veered off course and crashed into a truck coming from the opposite direction, driven by Panicos Nicolaou from Kornos.

The fire service had to scramble to free Stratis from his vehicle, police said. He was rushed to Larnaca hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The driver of the second vehicle was also taken to hospital as a precaution.

Earlier on Friday, an 87-year old man from Larnaca was killed after he was hit by a truck while crossing the road.

Nicos Flourentzou was hit by a water tanker at around noon, while crossing Spyros Kyprianou Avenue.

Flourentzou was rushed to hospital where he died shortly afterwards.

The truck driver, who was arrested following the accident, claimed he did not see Flourentzou.

The post Father of three, elderly man killed in separate road accidents (updated) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Police arrest two for sham marriage (update)

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POLICE arrested two men from Bangladesh aged 23 and 34 in Larnaca on Thursday in connection with a sham marriage. The Larnaca district court later issued a six day remand for each of them.

According to police, a 22-year old Bulgarian woman arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday accompanied by her husband to allegedly marry a man from Bangladesh for a fee.

The woman’s name was on the alert list as a potential victim of human trafficking, police said.

The 22-year-old’s husband and the groom-to-be were arrested on Thursday at a hotel in Larnaca, where the wedding was scheduled to take place.

The woman told police that she was married in Bulgaria, but due to financial problems she was convinced by a compatriot to marry the man from Bangladesh for €1,000.

Police also issued a European arrest warrant for another Bulgarian woman, 22, a friend of the would-be bride.

The 23-year-old admitted guilt while the 34-year-old denies any involvement in the case.

 

 

 

The post Police arrest two for sham marriage (update) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

‘Bank box bandit’ released on lack of evidence

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By George Psyllides

A 36-year-old man held in connection with the theft of some €500,000 in cash and jewellery from safety deposit boxes in two banks was released on Friday after prosecutors judged there was not enough evidence to charge him.

Marios Loizou, an unemployed sign maker, was arrested along with his wife, 32, on suspicion of stealing around €490,000 in cash and €10,000 worth of jewellery from safety deposit boxes at Bank of Cyprus and Solidarity co-op bank in Larnaca.

His wife’s brother, 28, was also arrested in connection with the case. Both had been released earlier.

Police said on Friday that the Attorney-general’s office had judged there was not enough evidence to charge the suspect so they were forced to let him go.

A Larnaca police spokesman said the investigation into the case continued. It is understood that authorities are having difficulty substantiating the amounts of cash that the holders claimed had been stolen from their boxes.

Police said the thefts took place between March 2015 and January this year.

Authorities believe the break-ins and thefts occurred when the branches were open and were carried out by a person who had access to the area.

Loizou was the only individual from the list of customers who had boxes at the co-op and Bank of Cyprus.

There were no security cameras in the rooms where the safety deposits are stored. Customers were left alone while accessing their boxes.

According to police, when the 36-year-old suspect accessed his safety deposit, he would request to remain for twice the amount of time other clients spent – around 20 minutes – instead of ten and always had two bags with him.

His visits coincided with the period the thefts took place, police said.

The perpetrator opened the boxes using a special home-made tool, which left little or no sign on the outside of the box.

According to police, during the period the thefts took place, the suspect had expressed interest in buying a boat worth €400,000 and to invest €333,000 in an aircraft recycling business. He was also looking to open a printing service and manage a Japanese restaurant in Nicosia.

Authorities have so far seized property and cash worth €200,000 found in the suspect’s possession.

 

The post ‘Bank box bandit’ released on lack of evidence appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Teen biker killed in Larnaca collision

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A 18-year-old was killed instantly on Saturday night when his motorbike collided with a Land Rover in Larnaca at a traffic lights at the intersection of Spyros Kyprianou Avenue, Machairiotou Street and Papanikoli.

The fire services, who were called to the scene around 8.20pm said on Sunday two fire trucks responded to the call. They said in an announcement that the motorcyclist had died on impact.

Both the teen, and the 54-year-old driver who had been travelling with a 49-year-old female passenger, were taken to Larnaca General Hospital. The 18-year-old’s death was confirmed by doctors, and the other driver, after being treated and released, was arrested, police said on Sunday. He was released later in the day. Neither driver had been drinking.

Police are investigating the exact cause of the accident.

The fatality was third in Larnaca in 24 hours. Two other people died in separate road accidents on Friday.

The post Teen biker killed in Larnaca collision appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Separate robberies in Limassol and Larnaca

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Police are investigating two separate robberies, one in Limassol and one in Larnaca, both perpetrated in the early hours of Sunday, they said.

At around 4.50am, a 57-year-old man in Limassol told police that as he left his home to go to work he was attacked by two strangers who grabbed his briefcase containing 3,500 euros, and fled.

Around the same time in Larnaca, a man walked into a bakery brandishing what appeared to be a gun, and took 150 euros from the till. At the time there was only one employee, a 51-year-old woman on the premises, police said.

The post Separate robberies in Limassol and Larnaca appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

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