By Bejay Browne.
Residents of Pissouri whose homes are crumbling due to a landslide, and their supporters, are continuing to press for action and are calling on the state to stop wasting time and to assume responsibility.
A news release from the residents said: ‘No more mockery, it’s a landslide.’
The announcement was from the Pissouri Housing Initiative Group (PHIG) and was also signed and supported by Pissouri community council, and political parties Akel, Greens, Citizens’ Alliance, Animal Party, and Elam, said lawyer for the homeowners, Elina Zoi.
“It is made in response to Auditor-general, Odysseas Michaelides’ comments at the beginning of the month that the state has no obligation to compensate the homeowners of damaged properties,“ she said.
This move came after it seemed as though the residents’ long battle for compensation was coming to a close.
“The interior ministry said that the auditor-general pointed out that a decision to compensate the affected owners by the government will create a precedent for similar cases and is basically a gift to the developers who sold the residences to unsuspecting buyers,” said the announcement. “The victims of the landslide are victims of a natural disaster. Their lives are at risk every day.”
The group call on the auditor-general to visit the area and see the landslide for himself, and to investigate state officials who have “wasted €870.000 over seven years to cover up the problem with the intention of forcing the residents to leave on their own.”
In 2015, property owners formed PHIG and paid thousands of euros to obtain studies and papers from various renowned international experts, as well as satellite imaging, at a cost of €25,000. Then the land movement was up to 40 cm per year, it is now almost that figure every month.
The group also call on the attorney-general to advise on the responsibilities of the state for the protection of the right to property under Article 23 of the Constitution and the right to a decent existence under Article 9.
“We will provide the AG with all the information that we have given to the authorities and the House of Representatives. We are sure that he will not receive it from the ministry of the interior which will try to concoct an opinion that will absolve its employees and condemn the victims of the landslide.”
Recently, the community of Pissouri blocked the Limassol to Paphos highway to demonstrate against the lack of compensation from the state and support the victims of the continuous and accelerating land slippage, that has caused homes to crumble.
Homeowners took the streets because human rights are being violated and people’s lives and property are at risk, said the group.
“The government has been mocking residents for seven years and keeps repeating allegations that have proven to be false.”
