Larnaca

Overnight pharmacies for Friday, 23 February

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Overnight pharmacies for Friday, 23 February

– In Nicosia, there are several locations where potatoes can be purchased: Antonios on Arch. Makarios III Avenue, Erricos Hatzigeorgiou on Kyrenia Avenue, Eleni Georgiou on Agiou Pavlou, Maria Gregoriou – Parani on Prodomou, and Katerina Liasi on Arch. Makarios III Avenue.
– In Limassol, potato sellers include Nikos Matthaiou on Agias Zonis, Athouloula Leonidou – Yiaskouri on Kolonakiou Avenue, Angela Markou on Miltonos, and Angelos Votsis on Dodekanisou.
– In Larnaca, Konstantinos Paschalis on Konstantinou Paleologou Avenue and Katerina Evlavi on Arch. Makarios are noted potato sellers.
– In Paphos, Eleni Epaminonda is located on Ambelokipon.
– In Paralimni, Andri Mavrogiannou – Nicolaou can be found on Georgiou Gourouna Avenue.

Pay As You Throw for 67% of the population

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Pay As You Throw for 67% of the population

By the end of 2024, Cyprus plans to implement the “Pay As You Throw” (PAYT) scheme for waste management, initially covering 67% of its population. The scheme encourages waste reduction and recycling by charging residents based on the amount of waste they produce. The first phase will involve six municipalities, representing 30% of the population, with pricing for waste disposal to be determined through preparatory studies. By June 2024, studies for additional municipalities covering 37% of the population are expected to be completed, with further expansions planned. Preliminary pricing suggests a charge of 6 cents per liter for waste bags. A compulsory waste separation and collection system for recyclables and other materials will be implemented by June 30, 2024. Recycling targets for various materials range from 25% to 85% by 2025 to 2030. Environmental data from 2021 showed a per capita waste production of 633 kg, with a recycling and reuse rate of 15.3%. Concerns have been raised about the impact of fixed charges on households and the need for improved organic waste management. The European directive sets recycling targets of 55% by 2025, increasing to 65% by 2035, and mandates separate collection of specific waste types by set deadlines.

Shots fired in Oroklini

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Shots fired in Oroklini

A vehicle parked outside a house in Oroklini was shot at several times on Tuesday. Larnaca CID officers are searching for the perpetrators after the incident was reported at 7am. Evidence collected by the police indicated that a number of shots were fired from a firearm at the vehicle. Sniffer dogs were used at the scene, and police are examining CCTV footage to understand the circumstances of the shooting. The shots are believed to have been fired around 1.30am. The car is allegedly owned by an individual currently on trial for a serious crime.

Lifeguards protest for permanent positions, beach safety

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Lifeguards protest for permanent positions, beach safety

Around 150 professional lifeguards from across Cyprus protested outside the interior ministry, demanding more permanent positions, the implementation of the national plan ‘Salamis’, and the creation of a central beach service. They highlighted the lack of proper equipment, such as life belts, first aid kits, and defibrillators, and the need for improved lifeguard towers and regular servicing of equipment. The lifeguards also reported being understaffed and expressed concerns about the uncertainty of contract durations. They emphasized the need for year-round staffing, not just during the summer months, and pointed out that in cities like Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca, there are only a few permanent lifeguard positions.

Patrina Taramidou, the interior ministry’s EU policy chief, engaged with the protesters and promised to initiate a dialogue after discussing their demands with the minister of the interior and the ministry’s general director. The ministry had previously issued a statement saying it was evaluating the lifeguard protection system and considering managing it through a central body. Until a decision is made, the ministry suggested meeting needs through existing permanent posts and extending the employment months for seasonal lifeguards.

Labour unions Sek and Peo supported the lifeguards’ protest. Sek general secretary Giorgos Constantinou criticized the ministry for delaying the implementation of decisions and not advancing the Salamis plan, which he said affects the safety of bathers and lifeguards. He argued that the state does not properly staff public beaches, despite imposing penalties for public swimming pools without lifeguards. Constantinou also stated that establishing a single beach security service, as proposed in the Salamis plan, could resolve these issues.

Peo general secretary Michalis Archontides echoed these sentiments, noting that beaches without lifeguards pose a security risk and endanger bathers’ lives. He referenced the Salamis plan, which outlines the placement of lifeguard towers, staffing requirements, and rescue times to improve safety and potentially save lives.

Lifeguards protest for permanent positions, beach safety

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Lifeguards protest for permanent positions, beach safety

Around 150 professional lifeguards from across Cyprus protested outside the interior ministry, demanding more permanent positions, the implementation of the national plan ‘Salamis’, and the creation of a central beach service. They highlighted a lack of proper equipment such as life belts, first aid kits, and defibrillators, as well as the need for improved lifeguard towers and regular equipment servicing. The lifeguards also reported being understaffed and faced uncertainty regarding the duration of their contracts. They called for year-round staffing of beaches, noting that some cities have only a few permanent lifeguard positions.

Patrina Taramidou, the EU policy chief of the interior ministry, promised to initiate a dialogue with the lifeguards after discussing their demands with the interior minister and the ministry’s general director. The ministry previously stated it is evaluating the lifeguard protection system and considering managing it through a central body. Until a decision is made, the ministry suggested meeting needs through existing permanent posts and extending seasonal lifeguards’ employment duration.

Labour unions Sek and Peo supported the lifeguards. Sek general secretary Giorgos Constantinou criticized the ministry for delaying the implementation of decisions and the Salamis plan, emphasizing the safety implications for bathers and lifeguards. He suggested that a single beach security service could resolve the operational issues. Peo general secretary Michalis Archontides highlighted the security risks at beaches without lifeguards, referencing the Salamis plan’s guidelines for lifeguard tower placement, staffing, and rescue times.

Kalavasos archaeologists discover ancient room

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Kalavasos archaeologists discover ancient room

An ancient room and other artefacts were discovered during archaeological excavations at the Kalavsos-Laroumena site near Larnaca in 2023. The discoveries were made in two trenches, each measuring 16 square meters. The archaeologists found multiple large drystone walls containing pottery. One wall had thick ash and charcoal deposits, indicating the presence of architectural structures on the Laroumena hillside during the Middle Cypriot period, rather than agricultural use. One of the walls was notably thick, measuring 90 centimeters. Items such as spindle whorls, shell beads, a stone pendant, and pottery were found. Evidence of stone toolmaking was also observed, suggested by the large number of worked stone flakes and blades found near the site.

Kalavasos archaeologists discover ancient room

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Kalavasos archaeologists discover ancient room

An ancient room and other artefacts were discovered at the Kalavasos-Laroumena archaeological site near Larnaca. The discoveries were made in two 16 square meter trenches. The archaeologists found multiple large drystone walls containing pottery, with one wall having thick ash and charcoal deposits. The back wall of the room was beneath a modern terrace wall, indicating that the Laroumena hillside was terraced in the Middle Cypriot period for architectural purposes, not agriculture. One of the walls was particularly thick, measuring 90 centimeters. Items such as spindle whorls, shell beads, a stone pendant, and pottery were found. The presence of a large number of worked stone flakes and blades suggests that stone toolmaking occurred near the site.

ELAM’s ambitions surge amidst turmoil in other parties

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ELAM’s ambitions surge amidst turmoil in other parties

ELAM, a far-right political party in Cyprus, is making bids for control of two major municipalities, Larnaca and Famagusta. MP Soteris Ioannou is running for Larnaca’s mayoral race, while another MP, Linos Papagiannis, is expected to declare his candidacy for Famagusta’s mayoralty. Michalis Michail is also expected to announce his bid for the position of Paphos deputy mayor. ELAM is also preparing for the upcoming European elections and aims to achieve a double-digit percentage. DEPA, another political party, is also preparing for electoral battles and predicts a percentage of 7.5% or higher.

Chief Rabbi of the UK visits Cyprus

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Chief Rabbi of the UK visits Cyprus

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the religious leader of Jews in the United Kingdom, is currently in Cyprus. He was welcomed by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, and the Ambassador of Israel, Oren Anolik. The welcoming ceremony took place at the Jewish Museum of Cyprus in Larnaca. Chief Rabbi Mirvis also attended a ceremony organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Cyprus for the 75th anniversary of the closure of British detention camps for Jewish Holocaust survivors. He met with House President Annita Demetriou and Archbishop George. This is Chief Rabbi Mirvis’s first visit to Cyprus.

Dust levels double in Limassol, overnight yellow alert for rainfall

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Dust levels double in Limassol, overnight yellow alert for rainfall

Limassol had the highest level of dust in the atmosphere on Tuesday, more than double the safe level. Larnaca also had high levels of dust. The weather service attributed this to a low pressure front and heavy rainfall was expected later in the day. The Department of Labour Inspection urged the public and vulnerable groups to avoid open spaces due to the negative effects of dust on human health. The latest hourly dust concentrations in various areas were measured. The Meteorological Service issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall and continued high levels of dust. The weather was expected to remain unsettled with occasional showers and thunderstorms until the end of the week.