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RIK wants to be modernised, the Chairman of the Board of Directors told the Finance Committee - "What is important is to give the Cypriot citizen what he wants to learn and what is news for him and not what he wants to know,The will of the Cyprus Radio and Television Foundation to modernise itself was expressed on Monday by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, Michael Michael Michael, after the end of the session of the Parliamentary Finance Committee. The Committee examined the budgets of RIK, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (RAEK), the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO) and the National Gaming and Casino Supervision Authority.[/P]The Committee MPs asked for an update on issues related to appointments and recruitment at RIK and focused on the need to open up the electricity market in Cyprus.
In his statement after the session, the deputy chairman of the Finance Committee, Chrysis Pantelides, said that the Committee was asked for a written briefing on the exceptional recruitment of permanent staff at RIK over the last five years, as well as on the state of the RIK Pension Fund.
"We recommended that RIK take the initiative for the now necessary modernisation of the code of coverage of election periods with its entry into force at the next parliamentary or European elections, precisely in order to formulate the code with the agreement of all parties," he added.
As for the budgets of RAEK and the System Operator, Pantelides said that "the aim is to reduce the cost of energy in Cyprus", which can be achieved by "opening the market in practice" and "creating a truly competitive environment for the benefit of consumers".
DISY MP Onoufrios Koulla said that "RIK should not and must not just chase ratings and commercial advertising", but should focus on accurate and timely information, culture and quality programmes "which may not be offered by the free market".
"A chronic staffing problem has been resolved and the aim is to gradually reduce from 371 to 263 permanent but proper employees," he said. "We can achieve a better result with fewer resources and less costs," he added.
As for the RAEC and the Transmission System Operator, Kulla said that next April the electricity market will be opened on a trial basis so that it will be free next October "definitively", which will bring serious benefits for consumers, he noted.
DISY MP Savia Orphanidou said that the revenues of the National Gaming and Casino Supervision Authority are around 18 million and are expected to increase when the casino-resort starts operating. She added that the work is expected to be completed around the end of the year.
"This is one of the biggest, developmental projects of our country, which will enhance and create huge prospects for both our tourism and our economy in general," she added.
AKEL MP Andreas Kavkalias said that for years the DISY government has been politicking on the logic that "news is what the government says or what will sound good for it". Any decisions of the RIK Board regarding appointments and promotions have a "purely partisan colour" and are driven by the logic of "the convenience of day labour", he said, adding that the RIK is obliged to align itself with the laws, treaties and protocols by which it is governed.
RIK Board Chairman Michael Michael noted that "RIK wants to modernize, wants to move forward, we want to leave behind the ills of the old days." He added that with the appropriate actions, the implementation of the organizational plan, the improvement of the conditions of employees and the new building facilities, "we are in a very good position."
Michael focused on the need to complete the Digital Herodotus project, since only 15% of the Foundation's archives have been digitized. In response to a question, he said that the new RIK building has entered the implementation phase and - according to preliminary studies - the cost will be between 25-27 million euros.
In addition, Michael referred to a study conducted to investigate people's views on the RIK, the results were not very different from what we knew. The study revealed that "people are fed up with the coverage of issues related to the pandemic, party activities without these being news, and have now clearly turned to entertainment", he noted.
"What is important is to give the Cypriot citizen what he wants to learn and what is news for him and not what we consider news", Michael concluded.
Source: CNA
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