The unsuitability of the plot of land in Agios Sozomenos, on which it was decided to build the new Central Prison, and the failure to inform local authorities in advance are expected to be at thethe preliminary analysis of the data by the municipal councils of Latsia–Gerio and Nicosia-Idali, which are convening for an informal joint session on Monday afternoon, as Mayors Christos Pittaras and Stavros Hatzigiannis told CNA.
The mayor of South Nicosia-Idali, Stavros Hatzigiannis, explained that “since the two mayors have been expressing our personal views for two weeks regarding the decision to build the prison, following my suggestion, we convened this informal meeting so that the municipal council members of both municipalities could articulate their positions and so that we could now officially express the positions of our municipal councils.”
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He added that, in his assessment, the unsuitability of the plot of land on which the prison is to be built and the decision made without prior consultation with local authorities would be high on the agenda agenda.
At the same time, he noted that local authorities are not opposed to infrastructure development by the state and that this position was clarified in the letter sent to the President of the Republic.
“Regarding this specific plan, we would like to be informed in advance and to engage in a process of information exchange and assessment of parameters with the Ministry of Justice,” he continued, adding that “we consider the plot unsuitable for human habitation.”
Responding to a question, Mr. Hatzigiannis noted that the lack of consultation with local authorities violates the European Charter of Local Self-Government, adding that “we cannot discuss a 300-million-euro project in a municipality while the municipality is absent from the entire planning process.”
He also said that “we do not know in which part of the plot in question the planning is taking place,” noting that on one side of the plot there are pigsties and livestock farms, on the other side there is a tertiary wastewater treatment plant, and it borders Agios Sozomenos, a community that the state should prioritize restoring.”
He further stated that “if we had known, we would have offered technical input to ensure the best possible design,” noting that the Minister decided to prepare a master plan at a cost of 100,000 –200,000 euros and then inform the local community, he wondered what would happen if the plan proved unsuitable due to foul odors.
The Mayor of Latsia — Christos Pittaras Geriou — said that an informal joint session of the two municipal councils would be held to reach a common position, which would be presented at the meeting with the Minister of Justice.
He added that once the Minister of Justice briefs the mayors at the meeting, these issues will be discussed with the municipal councils for further decisions, actions, and policy management.
When asked if a meeting with the Minister of Justice had been scheduled, Mr. Pittaras explained that no meeting had been scheduled, but noted “I believe that after the joint session, we will approach the Minister and convey to him the joint positions of the municipal councils.”
He then added that “we are not opposed to any government project, but what we want—and what did not happen with the project under discussion—is that, for projects within our municipal boundaries, consultation should take place before decisions are announced.”
Responding to a question, he explained that the joint session of the two municipal councils is informal, as it is not held within the framework of the regular sessions of each municipal council.
He added that the first joint session is intended to provide a preliminary analysis of all the data and to allow the municipal councils to be briefed by the two mayors so that they have the “green light” for further action.
Source: CNA
