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Letters to the Cyprus Mail
When will lawyers pay for their own wrongdoings?
Work-based larceny seems to be the order of the day in Britain, and its not just the odd theft of stationery, or an office laptop that’s concerning companies, it’s the increasing levels of expenses fraud, many of which put the UK politicians’ expenses scandal to shame. ... 3 comments
Delay on crematorium unacceptable
At last! Law Commissioner Mrs Leda Koursoumba responds in person on the issue of cremation, albeit through the Sunday Mail of January 29. But as a lawyer, she needs to examine correspondence with more care. She will see in my January 22 letter that I did not write alleging I had never received any replies. What I did make clear is: “I have never once had a response signed by the lady herself”. This indicates no real interest or involvement, when a short personal note or phonecall (from someone who claims she likes helping people) would have made all the difference. ... 1 comment
Body to support entrepreneurs under 30 could tap local creativity
Further to my letter encouraging creative young graduates to set up small art and design businesses I have sent a more detailed proposal to President Christofias. In it I suggest establishing a new Youth Business Council to offer seed finance to people under 30 to start small creative businesses in architecture, art and design. It could also help them find premises, offer training in business skills and help with marketing throughout the Middle East.As a way of tapping into the creativity that obviously inspires students to study art and design in the first place, this has obvious benefits. But it could also revitalise our city centres by filling them with creative people working in creative businesses. Dr Michael Paraskos... Read on
Environment not top-most concern for some stores
Not being a complete environmentalist - although I do try - I took along my collection of reusable shopping bags, ranging from those of Tesco’s to Carrefour, to Orphanides supermarket here in Larnaca.But to my complete surprise I was told at the checkout that I would have to hide the bags, as they preferred I used their plastic, environmentally unfriendly ones. As I hadn’t paid, I left my 374-euros-worth of shopping at the checkout and continued on to Carrefour supermarket. I spent my money there, and they were happy to accept both my cash and whatever I decided to carry off their goods in. Neil Tunstall,Larnaca ... Read on
Strikes worsen our bleak times
Regarding the recent bus drivers’ strike: There was a time in the ’70s when it seemed the whole of Britain was on strike: car workers, refuse collectors, coalminers... The same is happening here, something I thought I’d never live to witness. What’s so damaging and inexplicable is that it’s happening at a time when almost everybody is struggling to make ends meet and countless numbers of people have either lost their jobs or are just about to. Gavin Jones,Commenting via theCyprus Mail website... Read on
Church should punish gluttony
In response to the story: ‘No to illegal bird-trapping in Cyprus’:Yes, ambelopoulia is a culinary tradition. But relatively few are profiteering from it (poachers, owners of tavernas) to the detriment of the majority. The main culprits are the gourmet patrons and caterers. They are commiting the sin of gluttony, and should be punished by the Church. Alexey Golovanov,Commenting via theCyprus Mail website... Read on
Ignoring Denktash death gave his views credence
Everyone in the Greek Cypriot community is convinced that he was the bad demon of Cyprus. On his part he spoke with gratitude about the support which he had received at the start of his career from a well-known Greek Cypriot lawyer of those days. The man about whom I write these lines is the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. ... 4 comments
Unfair criticism on issue of cremation
Regarding the letter from Mr C Turner of Paphos under the title ‘Calling Law Commissioner Koursoumba’, published in the Sunday Mail January 22, I would like to make the following comments:Mr Turner claims not to have received a reply to his letters. As he very well knows, this is not the case. My Office responded to his numerous queries in writing.Mr Turner has in the past published in your paper criticism against my office, alleging that he had not received any replies. When we re-forwarded to him the relevant letters he admitted to us that they had been received, but failed to set the record straight through the newspaper that had published his criticisms. ... Read on
CY bag charges: rip-off or what?
We all appreciate that Cyprus Airways is having a tough time economically to keep flying … but does it have to operate at the expense of its passengers?Whereas Virgin charges 35 pounds sterling for a second suitcase from San Francisco to London, the island's national carrier thinks charging 6 pounds a kilo from London to Larnaca is perfectly acceptable.And compare this with the 35 euros charged for a second bag by British Airways, its competitor on the same route. With a regular 20-kilo bag, Cyprus Airways appear to think it's reasonable to charge four times as much as BA. Maybe a wake-up call is in order before more passengers desert the island's carrier,Haro Chakmakjian, Nicosia... 3 comments
What’s the point of psychological abuse in the army?
Writing about the army and its young conscripts seems to be a taboo in Greek Cypriot society. Many young people already have an ambiguous attitude before joining as they feel that two years of their lives are going to be wasted. I have yet to encounter a conscript who has any positive views about serving in the army, although most start out determined to make the best of it. What changes their mind? Not the work involved - which can be difficult and boring – nor the sleep deprivation even though it’s hard to see what purpose that serves... Read on
