Proposed law on the management of beaches and especially for water sports, was discussed by the Parliamentary Committee on the Interior on Wednesday, with MPs and guests referring to the risk of not offering water sports in Protaras.
DISY MP Kyriakos Hatzigiannis said after the session that so far the local authorities have not managed to proceed with the licensing of water sports in order for the tourism sector to work without any gaps.
"In the middle of the tourist season we have beaches without water sports, this is something unacceptable, we really regret because for so many years they have not been able to overcome certain problems," he said. Hatzigiannis, adding that the MPs have submitted a specific legislative proposal in order to put an end to the case and that he welcomes any decision to finally operate water sports. It is not for us to pass legislation, but to operate our beaches and water sports as required in the context of the operation of our tourism, "he stressed.
When asked if there is a possibility that Protaras will be left without water sports this summer, the DISY MP replied that since the legal procedures have not yet been implemented, there is a risk through appeals that any decisions taken cannot work.
A guest at the committee's discussion was also the Mayor of Paralimni Theodoros Pyrillis, who called on all sides to allow public procurement regulations and legislation to work as they are established in the Cypriot state and the European Union.
"The issue is if some people want through this decision to essentially bring back the facilities points in the middle of the beach and people smelling fuel at the risk of their safety, to remain in the centre of the beaches so that they have their own title of ownership. This amendment behind everything is aimed at this effort, which is why it refers to 2019 and not any later year," he said.
Finally, the President of the Pancyprian Marine Sports Association Dimitris Hadjidimitriou said that beaches must offer the product they have been providing for 40 years safely and with respect to every word of the Beach Protection Act.
Furthermore, he noted that if no extension is given as to the deadline for submission of bids, the Protaras area will not be able to serve visitors because of the appeals to be filed since specific procedures for the declaration of bids and use of the approved forms have not been respected, which according to him makes these bids invalid.
Source: CNA
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