- Sport : Dalglish sacked by Liverpool
- Sport : Omonia edge out AEL to win Cyprus Cup
- Sport : Moufflons win prestigious Sevens title
- AKEL : Papadopoulos 'thorn' in side of AKEL DIKO collaboration
- AKEL : Our view: Blaming the government for banking crisis is excessive
- AKEL : Papadopoulos 'thorn' in side of AKEL DIKO collaboration
- Attorney-General : MPs immunity to stay
- 13-year-old : New safety measures decided for canal
- appointment : CyBC appointment error could cost taxpayer dear
- bank of cyprus : BoC says thinking of partners in insurance sector
Tagslaw
What it means to take citizens’ rights seriously
IF YOU ask any person who resides in Cyprus to list any grievance they may have against the government, it is very likely that their treatment by public services will figure close to the top. It is a recurring complaint that contact with public services is bureaucratic, uninformative and in general rather unpleasant. Yet, at least on paper, Cyprus has many laws that aim to confer rights to citizens. The problem is not just that laws are not applied properly. They are structurally defective... 4 comments
‘Tax amnesty’ period extended
THE HOUSE last night enacted legislation extending the period for the partial write-off of interest and penalties on overdue tax.A law passed late last year afforded a waiver of interest and penalties in excess of five per cent of the principal amount owed. The law applies to income tax, SDC tax, immovable property tax, stamp duty and capital gains tax for periods up to 31 December 2008. It applied to individuals and companies alike.That law was valid until the end of March 2012. The updated law, with the same provisions, that was passed yesterday extends the so-called “amnesty” period up to October 31 of this year... Read on
Former civil servants cheated out of their pensions
THE European Commission has requested Cyprus to clarify two issues linked to former Cypriot civil servants working in another EU member state or for the EU institutions. The current law in Cyprus states that those with at least five years of service and over the age of 45 receive a lump sum payment on departure as well as a consolidated pension when they reach 55. However, civil servants who resign before the age of 45 only receive a lump sum but no future pension entitlement. This age criteria do not apply to certain internal mobility situations such as for civil servants who are recruited by a Cypriot municipal authority, or in certain cases of general interest... 3 comments
Air traffic controllers stopped in their tracks
THE HOUSE yesterday passed a law with immediate effect restricting the right of air traffic controllers to strike, in a move designed to put a stop to a string of work stoppages by controllers that have wrought havoc on air travel in recent weeks.The government bill, fast-tracked by the executive and the legislature working in rare unison, makes it a criminal offence for any ATC to refuse to work when required, and provides for penalties of up two years in prison and/or a fine of €2,550. The penalties are provided for under an existing law. ... Read on
New gas law ‘downgrades a supremely political issue’
BY PASSING a law excluding the commerce minister from negotiating gas deals, parliament has downgraded what is a supremely political matter, the government said yesterday.Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday said he hoped the new law didn’t affect the second round of licensing for offshore explorations, which was announced earlier this month.“We hope it doesn’t; we can’t know for sure,” said Stefanou. “But one would wonder if there could be more problems, when a country or company is interested in exploring for hydrocarbons, with Turkey’s threats, stance and actions to prevent countries from showing an interest in the second round of licensing looming in the background... 7 comments
Insult cases called into question Cyprus’ level of democracy
THE LAWYERS of the man prosecuted for allegedly calling President Demetris Christofias a “fool” yesterday expressed “satisfaction” with the Attorney-general’s decision to drop the case.The man in question was charged with being a public nuisance after allegedly shouting “Fool President, quit” following the naval base blast at Mari last July.His lawyers – Anna Pilidou, Xeni Xenofontos and George Trillides - yesterday said AG Petros Clerides’ ruling effectively put an early end to a case they remained convinced would “collapse in court, anyway”.“But either way, irrespective of the legal colour of the case, the specific prosecution also had a vibrant and specific political colour,” the lawyers added... 14 comments
