Federation of European women pilots Cyprus for first time
By Bejay Browne
A group of eight or so women from the Federation of European Women Pilots – FEWP– are visiting Cyprus for the first time in May and during their trip will also award a membership to a British female pilot living in Paphos.
“I am going to become the first FEWP member in Cyprus and I am really looking forward to it,” Tracey Spence told the Paphos Post.
The Paphos-based pilot fulfilled her aspirations of flying and finally obtained her pilot’s licence last year and said it was the best thing she had ever accomplished.
“Flying gives me a major buzz, it’s better than any other experience I’ve had. Looking down at your shadow of the plane and being up in the skies gives you a different perspective on life and everything,” she said.
Spence completed her flight training at Griffon Aviation in Paphos, which is recognised as a leading flight training organisation in Cyprus, and now works at their office.
As a superb baker who makes all sorts of speciality and wedding cakes, baking was one of a number of jobs she took to help to pay her way through her pilot’s course.
Spence tried flying whilst living in the UK a couple of times but it proved impractical and expensive. However, after moving to Paphos as a tourist rep almost 17 years ago, she began flying in Cyprus in 2014.
The FEWP is a non-profit organisation and was founded in Rome in 1995. Since then female pilots have met all over Europe, including Austria, the Netherlands, Slovenia, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland and Belgium.
The aim of the organisation is to cultivate and retain links between female pilots, provide opportunities for them to meet and fly to all European countries, to develop international relationships between them and to promote aviation to women.
“We have the pleasure of welcoming this group of amazing ladies at Griffon Aviation in Paphos, on May 8 whilst they are here for a short stay and it will be the first time ever they have visited Cyprus as a group. They travel all over the world to fly in different countries and to encourage women into aviation,” she said.
The group will fly with Griffon using the company’s aircraft as it was proving difficult to fly into Cyprus using their own craft, due to areas of restricted airspace she said.
“Everyone should try flying both men and women, it’s so stimulating, an amazing experience,” she said.
Tourist arrivals soar in 2018
By Bejay Browne
Tourist arrivals during the first three months of 2018 were up almost thirty per cent over last year, according to official data.
From January to March, a total of 369,438 people visited Cyprus, compared to 285,693 during the same period of 2017, a rise of 29.3 per cent, according to data from the Passengers Survey
Overall arrival numbers also set a record for the first three months of the year and the month of March saw 192,090 tourist arrivals compared to 140,873 during the same month last year, an increase of 36.4 per cent.
In March arrivals from the UK were up 24.8 per cent compared to March 2017.
Tourists also increased from markets such as Russia, which rose 13.7 per cent, Germany 107.3 per cent and Israel 53.6 per cent.
In March 2018, the tourist numbers were greatest from the UK, at 35.5 per cent, followed by Russia, 11.8 per cent, Germany, 9.8 per cent and Israel 8 per cent.
According to the Passengers Survey, 73.6 per cent were in Cyprus on holiday, 13.2 per cent were visiting friends or relatives, and 13.1 per cent were arriving on business.
Global audience for inspiring 94-year-old scuba diver
By Bejay Browne
An inspiring nonagenarian living in Limassol has gained global attention after appearing on TV in both Cyprus and the UK and is now featuring in a documentary film about his life.
Ray Woolley will celebrate his 95th birthday in August and has gained a growing number of admirers from around the globe after claiming the title of the world’s oldest scuba diver last year.
“It’s all come about by being active, that’s how I’ve been noticed. The attention is rather nice at my age; I’m doing something that I enjoy and people see I’m doing something a little different from what’s ‘normal’,” he told the Paphos Post.
The documentary, Life Begins at 90, was filmed in Cyprus by In Focus Films and highlights Wooley’s life, his passion for diving and the water, and his healthy approach to ageing. It will be shown on various TV channels later this year after competing on the international film festival circuit.
Ray spent his 94th birthday on August 28, 2017 diving to the sunken wreck of the Zenobia ferry in Larnaca, and gained a Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest scuba diver. He dove to a depth of 38.1 metres for 41 minutes.
He also set himself a record to complete 39 dives in his 93rd year – 39@93, but he actually completed 51 dives.
“People say that I’m a legend, but if I can inspire people to say ‘right you’ve done it why can’t I, I’m younger than you maybe, let me have a go’, I will feel like I’ve achieved something.”
Woolley is a World War II veteran who served in the Royal Navy and ‘SBS Special Force 281’ in the Dodecanese. After the war, he trained as radio engineer and whilst working for the British foreign office was posted to Cyprus in 1964.
The 94-year-old is originally from Port Sunlight on the Wirral Peninsula in the UK, and started swimming at his local swimming baths aged five. In Cyprus he dives with the British sub aqua club- BSAC-at RAF Akrotiri and began diving with the Portland and Weymouth British Sub Aqua Club in 1960.
He has vowed to hold onto his Guinness World Record and will again dive to the Zenobia wreck later this year.
“I will get into diving again as I had some time off this winter. I get into a routine so I may count dives or I may not, I’m not sure.”
Woolley’s son has also suggested that his father, who swims in his pool four times a day during the warmer months, should try to claim swimming records such as the international short course 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke.
“I might have a go and enter an event where they are officially recording times and jump in and see what happens,” he said.
Wooley is an advocate for healthy ageing and said that exercise is hugely important and that he’s proof of that. Healthy eating is obviously a great benefit, but he added: “don’t deprive yourself, I enjoy a toasted bacon sandwich once a week.”
Woolley also plans to march past the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday again this year, as he did when he was ninety.
“I will try and keep fit and be active. As long as I’m enjoying diving that’s what matters,” he said.
For further info: www.facebook.com/documentaryfilm90
Film trailer: www.facebook.com/documentaryfilm90/videos/443791259383879
Paphos Mayor refuses new national lifeguard plan
By Bejay Browne
The mayor of Paphos is digging in his heels and refusing to sign up to a new national lifeguard plan, leaving local lifeguards without necessary lifesaving equipment.
Mayor of Paphos Phedonas Phedonos said the new lifeguard system was announced without any prior notice, and if implemented would mean the municipality having to cough up thousands of euros more to cover additional costs, which on some beaches is totally unnecessary.
“In the new national plan it states that there should be two lifeguards on duty at their positions, but it also states that this is within a distance of 250 meters. Between Sodap beach and Alexanda the Great in Paphos, for example, we only have a distance of 45 metres and now we have four lifeguards on duty. This is ridiculous and an unnecessary expense,” Phedonos said.
However, a spokesman for the federation of Paphos lifeguards, said that members started working at Paphos beaches on April 2, and are extremely concerned that they have yet to be equipped with the necessary lifesaving paraphernalia.
If an accident or incident were to occur, he warned, lifeguards would not be able to administer possible life saving treatment.
“We only have flippers, masks and a few medical kits. We don’t have any defibrillators, jet skis or recue tubes. If someone is in trouble, we can only administer CPR, we may not be able to restart their heart rhythm without a defibrillator,” he said.
The lifeguard added that although the municipality may not agree with the orders of the ministry of the interior, it would be terrible if there was a death.
“We have been working for more than three weeks and with no answer as to when we will get our equipment,” he said.
The mayor, however, said that he does not accept responsibility for the current situation, noting that the responsible authority is the ministry of the interior through its district office. But he did cede that his refusal to sign the new directive has meant that lifeguards have yet to be equipped.
“I don’t take any responsibly for this situation, why is it up to the municipality to give a solution? If I give all of the equipment to the lifeguards after signing for it, the ministry will say that the municipality agrees to cover 50% of the new costs and I will not do that,” he said.
Phedonos added that when he brought up the matter of the short distances between some Paphos lifeguard positions with the minister of the interior and the person responsible for creating the new plan they were unaware of it.
He added that as very little notice was given, the municipality had not budgeted for such an increase. At present, total payment concerning lifeguards is split 50/50 between the municipality and the government.
“The total cost should be around 130,000 euros for this year, but with the new plan, it will be around 320,000” he said.
Charalambous Charalambou, the beaches inspector of Paphos municipality said that last year ten lifeguards were budgeted for and the same was planned for this year.
“The government though, has given us 15 already with another 3 in the future. We have sent the government and the district office three or four letters on the matter and also had a recent meeting with them in Nicosia. We are still waiting for their answer and expect to hear from them in the coming days,” he said.
He added that there are six blue popular flagged beaches under the control of the municipality of Paphos.
Illegal fly-tipping out of hand in Kato Paphos
By Bejay Browne
There is a serious problem with illegal fly-tipping in one of the main tourist areas of Paphos, according to residents and holidaymakers.
The practice has now got out of hand, posing a health hazard and also a fire risk as dry, hot weather approaches, say worried residents.
Pauline Puttock, 55, said she is exasperated about garden waste, household items, furniture and tyres being regularly dumped on a piece of land adjacent to her Paphos apartment on the busy Tomb of the Kings road.
The British expat has lived in the apartment with her partner for the last eight years. The complex is also a popular holiday destination to many tourists. She said that all sorts of unwanted items appear at the site on a regular basis.
“The view from my balcony is terrible and it looks messy. It’s also very dangerous,” she said.
Puttock said rubbish is being piled up against a wall separating a piece of unused land from the Kings Gate complex, where she resides, and she is concerned that the ever-growing pile of waste, which includes cuttings from shrubs and trees and dry grass, could go up in flames at any moment.
The illegal rubbish dumping started last summer, but after placing calls to the municipality and appealing to the mayor, Puttock managed to get the rubbish removed two weeks later.
However, during the Christmas period, the dumping got underway again, and in the same spot next to her apartment, she said.
“This time it started as garden waste, but now there are also around 120 old television sets, beds, chairs, mattresses, tyres and other items.”
Puttock claimed that a nearby hotel has been undergoing renovation, and also suggested the cuttings and garden waste might come from a neighbouring complex.
Along with other residents of the Kings Gate complex, Puttock has emailed a number of complaints to the municipality over the last few months.
Although the resident has openly taken both video footage and photographs of people seemingly illegally dumping materials, of which they are aware, they continue to visit the site and offload any unwanted items, she said.
The rubbish tip is already putting holidaymakers off returning to the complex, as a neighbour told Puttock that some of their guests had said they were ‘not inclined to come back’, blaming the growing pile of rubbish.
Further along the busy road, which is home to many of the town’s hotels, apartments, restaurants, bars and cafes, guests at a newer complex are facing a similar problem.
Kate and Robert Barnes did not wish to name the complex they have been staying in, but said they would not return to the same place due to the uncleanliness of the area.
“Our view for our two-week holiday has been spoilt by a huge mountain of rubbish in the field in front of us which includes all sorts of furniture and shrubbery, as well as rubbish bags containing household waste, it stinks and we complained, but no-one seems that bothered.”
The couple said that although they will holiday in Paphos again, it will be in a different area.
“So much has been done to improve the town and a lot of money spent. Its things like fly tipping and untidy and unkempt areas that let it all down,” they added.
Puttock agreed: “The mayor and the municipality are telling all of the business in the area to remove their awnings to try and tidy it up a bit, but I suggest they come and look at what’s going on down here, it’s disgraceful,” she said.
When contacted and informed about the illegal rubbish, the head of the municipality cleanliness department said he would forward the information with instructions to remove all of this waste to the authorised places immediately.
However, although this was carried out, Puttock said that almost immediately rubbish appeared at the site again.
“I fear this could be a futile case,” she said.
Worried parents appeal to Paphos authorities to clamp down on ‘hippy crack’
By Bejay Browne
Worried parents in Paphos are calling on authorities to clamp down on the illegal sale and distribution of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’ or ‘hippy crack’, which is widely available in bars and clubs in the town’s tourist areas.
According to local teenagers and parents, the recreational inhalation of nitrous oxide is particularly prevalent in bars on Ayiou Antoniou Street (also known as Bar Street) in Kato Paphos during the summer months.
Marcus, a 16-year-old English Cypriot, said that last summer he often frequented the busy entertainment street and started buying laughing gas balloons, egged on by his friends.
“Everyone’s doing it, girls and boys, it’s not a big deal, it’s not like I’m drinking or taking drugs and its fun. My parents have no idea what we are doing and I’m sure they would freak out if they knew,” he said.
When the dangers of inhaling the gas were pointed out to him, he shrugged it off, but said that he might limit his intake in the future.
Nitrous oxide has had significant medical uses over the years, especially in dentistry and surgery, and is known for its anaesthetic and pain reducing effects.
The gas can produce a euphoric high when inhaled. If not handled and administered properly, the gas can cause dizziness and affect the user’s judgement. It can also cause oxygen deprivation and in extreme cases it can cause heart attacks, unconsciousness and death from a lack of oxygen. Regular use can lead to B12 deficiency and serious nerve damage and can also depress the formation of white blood cells.
Nikos Tsappis of Paphos police said that, to the best of his knowledge, no successful prosecutions for the illegal sale or supply of the gas have occurred in Paphos to date, despite the fact that a licence to sell nitrous oxide is only granted for medical purposes.
“It is a crime to sell nitrous oxide without a relevant licence and if found guilty it carries a two year prison sentence or a fine of up to 2,500 euros. However, I don’t know of any such prosecutions here,” he said.
However, according to a police spokesman for the central office in Nicosia, statistics show that a growing number of arrests have been made in Famagusta in connection with the supply of the gas since 2015.
“In 2015, we had 12 cases, in 2016 fifteen and then 17 in 2017. These were made according to the criminal code and article 236 which includes reckless and negligent acts.”
He added that although the sale and supply of the gas without a license is illegal and carries certain punishments, it is only classed as a ‘misdemeanour’.
There have been numerous reported instances of the sale and possession of hippy crack in Ayia Napa getting out of control in the UK tabloids and a You Tube video reportedly shows a British holidaymaker in Ayia Napa becoming hysterical after inhaling a massive balloon apparently containing laughing gas.
In the UK in 2016, laughing gas was made illegal – apart from for certain permitted uses including cookery – under new laws banning all kinds of so-called legal highs after media reported a string of 17 related deaths.
A twenty year old Paphos resident who only wished to be identified as Margo, said that she has been using balloons for the last two years, and despite getting bad headaches the following day after every use, she has yet to stop.
“I know that they can be dangerous and I’m not like some of the idiots that overdo it. I’ve seen some people do double and triples [where three canisters of the gas are used]. I’ve seen them pass out on Bar Street, they are silly for doing it.”
One worried father, who wished to remain anonymous, is aghast at his teenage daughters’ apparent blasé attitude towards the drug, which she said is sold for only 2 euros a pop at many bars in Paphos, after being pumped into balloons which are then inhaled.
“My daughter is 17 and recently went out with a couple of friends for the evening and told me that they were ‘doing balloons’. I asked her what they were and she explained. She wasn’t very sure of what was in them and they were being sold at a well-known bar on Bar Street.”
Another teenager said that promotion girls walk around the bars in Paphos’ main tourist strip wearing belts strapped to their waists holding canisters which are used to fill up the balloons. They approach youngsters offering their illegal wares, some are two for five euros, other are 3.50, it depends on the size, he said.
“One of my friends’ did five in a row and he collapsed. It was a bit scary, but he was OK, apart from a bad headache for a few days,” he said.
Dr. Antonis Nicandrou advised young people to stay away from using the gas and said that although it has its uses, this is under strict medical supervision.
“It could be very dangerous to take recreationally and I would stress not to do this.”
Cyprus International Film Festival continues to support women in film
By Bejay Browne
Preparations are already underway in Paphos ahead of the Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) due to be held in the coastal town in June.
CΥIFF offers new and upcoming directors in multiple sectors of entertainment (such as feature films, short films, animations, music videos, dance, experimental films and video art) the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a jury of internationally acclaimed cinema experts, directors and actors.
Festival Director Petra Terzi, told the Paphos Post that this year, films relating to peace will be able to submit in a new category, as will films of ’50/50’.
Terzi explained: “50/50 is a category with film credits 50% men and 50% women. There is no restriction in genre, length or year of production,” she said.
50/50 aims to encourage females in film production and refers to not only the people in the film, but also the crew. This categories’ selected films will help promote equality of men and women in film, she said.
In addition, female filmmakers (director and/or producer) can submit their film to compete for the Aphrodite Cinematic Award. There is no restriction regarding the production year, the genre or the duration of the film in this category.
Palia Ilektriki Cultural Centre, Attikon outdoor theatre and Neapolis University amphitheatre will be used as the festival’s 2018 venues. The festival runs from June 23 until July 1, when the Golden Aphrodite awards ceremony will take place at Palia Ilektriki.
“We are in Paphos again this year and we hope to stay here, we love Paphos, it’s convenient for participants to travel and stay here, and our main award, the golden Aphrodite award is connected with the history of the area.”
A director with first or second feature film wins this award, and there are a total of twelve awards in the feature films category, as well as other accolades in other categories.
The event will not just focus on film but also include a photo exhibition from Rhodes and Cyprus, and a musical concert.
Entry to the public is free and the festival programme will be announced during the first week of June.
Volunteers are now needed during both the festival and before hand to greet people, give them information and run the equipment and social media promotion, she said.
For further information or to volunteer: www.cyiff.cineartfestival.eu
Email: cyiff2018@gmail.com
