"Let's not beat the cow we milk, for the sake of a bunch of votes," DISY President and presidential candidate Averof Neophytou said on Tuesday, adding that we should not underestimate our own people and the businessman should not be in the crosshairs.
In statements following a visit to the construction site of the Paralimni marina, Neophytou expressed satisfaction with his presence at the site, a project that he said is progressing rapidly. "It is the first marina to be built in Cyprus and with Cypriot entrepreneurs," he said, noting that "Cypriot entrepreneurs can compete with foreign entrepreneurs and do equally high quality projects."
It is this, he continued, "that adds value to our country, on the one hand we have to give incentives for foreign investment to come to the country, but on the other hand we should not ignore the fact that we have successful entrepreneurs that Cypriots can compete with any foreigner. We should not underestimate our own people and the entrepreneur should not be in the crosshairs," he said. If every Kountouris does not work, the state will have no revenue to maintain the public service, if every Kountouris does not work hard, jobs will not be created and we will have the unemployed[/I]."
If, Neophytou continued, "they do not work and if their businesses are not profitable, they will not pay taxes and the state will not be able to make social policy. So let's not beat the cow we are milking for the sake of a dragon of votes," he said, adding that he is "optimistic about our country, because I see Cypriots creating the best Cyprus with the support of the government."
In his remarks, Averof Neophytou also said that "in 2000, 22 years ago when I introduced BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) in Cyprus I was stoned, mocked and fought. These projects that we see today would never have happened if it were not for BOT".
For his part, Anthoulis Kountouris, Managing Director of Paralimni Marina, thanked the President of DISY for his visit to the marina and noted that "it makes us very happy when people from the political world visit us and recognise the hard work that goes into the construction of such a difficult and complex project".
He added that the project is expected to be completed in two years, work is progressing normally and today we are in the middle of the port works. The backfilling of the project has been completed and the eastern arm that will cover the port basin of the marina is being constructed, while the onshore works such as the administration buildings and the first three residential buildings have started, 70% of which we have sold, mainly to Cypriot buyers."
In response to a question, Kountouris said that "the project includes the port basin of the marina where about 300 vessels, about 15 commercial units, 80 apartments and a small hotel of 96 rooms will be able to dock. The project will cost about €100 million," he said, noting that "because we are ourselves involved in the project, we are trying to contain the costs through various methods, without ever affecting the quality of the project."
To another question, Kountouris replied that "the marina is an official entry point to the Republic of Cyprus and there will be a Police Station, Customs and all state services that fall under such projects."
Source: CNA
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