Thirty lifeguard towers are staffed in the Free Province of Famagusta, with a total of 86 lifeguards, while at seven small beaches, the lifeguard towers are unstaffed due to low visitor numbers. At the same time, the shortage of new lifeguards is a serious cause for concern, as, as Michalis Adamou, Head of Lifeguards for the Famagusta District Administration, told CNA, this year there has not been a single new lifeguard in the free district of Famagusta, while there have been two or three resignations.
In the free district of Famagusta, there are 30 lifeguard towers staffed by 86 lifeguards, according to Michalis Adamou, Lifeguard Supervisor of the Famagusta District Administration.
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As Mr. Adamou told CNA, seven lifeguard towers are unstaffed because they are located on small beaches. Every day, he said, there are about 10 people, while the number of swimmers increases in August and on weekends. The seven beaches are Pagida in Sotira, Loukkos tou Manti and Katsarka in Ayia Napa, while in Paralimni they are Glyky Nero, Sirena, Nisia, and Mima Rosa.
Regarding beach staffing hours, Mr. Adamou noted that the lifeguard towers are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
During the peak months—namely June, July, August, and September—operating hours are extended by an hour and a half, until 6:30 p.m. However, as he clarified, this does not apply to all beaches, as the contracts do not allow the six-day-a-week lifeguard to be required to work more than ten hours of overtime per month.
Every day, all beaches designated for staffing—with the exception of three or four beaches where visitor numbers are very low—operate without extended hours.
There are, however, two beaches in Ayia Napa and two in Protaras that are staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. These are Makronissos and Pantachou 1 beaches in the Grecian area, at the small harbor of Ayia Napa, as well as Kaparis and Vrysi 2 beaches on the main beach of Protaras.
According to Mr. Adamou, these four beaches are staffed, with two of them operating year-round starting at 7:00 a.m., as appropriate. During the winter months, the hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while during the summer months, they are from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Regarding the recent incident that occurred in the Pernera coastal area in Protaras, Mr. Adamou stated that it occurred outside the swimming area and that it was an accident, noting that the responsibility does not lie with the lifeguards.
At the same time, the issue of staffing the beaches with new personnel is causing particular concern.
As Mr. Adamou noted, there is a serious problem, as there are no new lifeguards and there is a lack of interest. He added that there is no interest even from the “training grounds”—that is, the clubs that participate in competitions—a fact that worries him greatly.
According to him, this year there wasn’t a single new lifeguard in the free district of Famagusta, while there were two or three departures.
Mr. Adamou noted that perhaps the number of months of work is not enough of an incentive for someone to come and work as a lifeguard, pointing out that one cannot work just six months a year.
As he said, the issue has been discussed with the relevant authorities, and it is possible that more months of work will be offered this year.
According to Mr. Adamou, a lifeguard’s starting salary is 1,560 euros net per month, and there is the option to work overtime to increase one’s pay.
As he noted, the salary isn’t bad; however, to become a lifeguard, one must love the sea and undergo training.
He believes that the main problem is the limited number of months of work.
Source: KYPE
