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PAPHOS residents have become the unwitting pawns in the ongoing face-off between the Commerce Minister and petrol station owners, who have shut up shop over a freeze in petrol prices.

Many motorists are down to the last drops of fuel in their tanks, with no way of filling up.

Not a single petrol station was open in the coastal town yesterday, with locals resorting to carpooling and skipping work altogether, rather than run the risk of running out of petrol.

The town seems to be forgotten, with at least two stations open in the rest of the island’s major towns.

A police spokeswoman told the Cyprus Mail, “It’s a real problem for us – we have so many people calling us and shouting that they have no petrol, but it’s not our fault.

“There is nothing we can do.”

According to the policewoman, the squad cars filled up their tanks when news of the strike was announced and they have their own supply to ensure tanks can stay filled.

“Personally though, it will be a problem,” she said. “We all filled up our private vehicles but when the tanks run out; I really don’t know [how we will get to work].

“It’s very unfair that Paphos doesn’t have any stations open and people can only be patient for so long.”

“No one cares about us,” said taxi driver Edward.

“We all filled up our tanks when we heard there may be a strike, but when that runs out, which will be soon, I really don’t know what we can do.”

Some resourceful drivers are paying for fuel to be brought down in containers from Limassol, where a number of stations remain open.

Paphos businessman James Makelwell said it was his last resort.

“I don’t have enough fuel to get to Limassol myself. It’s working out very expensive and my friend can only bring a small amount of fuel at a time.”

Much of Paphos’ workforce lives in rural locations and are already facing problems of how to get to work. Some are car-pooling and neighbours are clubbing together to complete school runs.

Antonis Stefanou of Polis Chrysochous said, “We have two cars in our family and as we live in Polis and work in Paphos we have a lot of mileage to do each day.

“Because of our schedules, my wife and I both need our cars and we were only able to fill up one vehicle. One car has already run dry and the second won’t last past tomorrow.

“What is the government going to do about it? Do they even care that it’s the regular people who are suffering. I demand that they open at least one station in Paphos, it’s disgusting to show such a lack of concern for us just because we are at the other end of the island.”

One petrol station in Peyia stayed open past the 6am deadline for closing on Tuesday morning, but motorists faced disappointment and were turned away after fuel tankers blockaded the entrance.

Trouble in the coastal town looks set to come into effect as of today as more and more motorists run out of fuel.

“I will go to my nearest petrol station and demand action and I won’t leave until my car if full,” said one Paphos resident. “Two can play at this game.”

At a meeting of petrol station owners in Paphos yesterday morning, regional president Andreas Kommados said he felt sorry for the people of Paphos as it’s the only town where all stations are closed.

“There is nothing we can do about it,” he said. “I’m upset that there are many stations open in other towns such as Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol, breaking the embargo.”

He added that petrol station owners in Paphos fully support the stance of their president Stefanos Stefanou, who ordered the strike and has demanded that the eight-day price cap on fuel be lifted before any sort of negotiation can take place.