It is indeed with great pleasure that I am present among you today at the laying of the foundation stone of the new wing of the Administration and Laboratories of the Limassol B Technical School.
Another project which testifies to the utmost interest we have shown and continue to show in the overall and qualitative upgrading of the Public School of all levels, including the building facilities.
Our ultimate aim and objective is to make our schools modern, pedagogically upgraded, functional and safe places of education.
Recognizing the direct link between Secondary Education and Vocational Education and Training, with production and the labour market, we have adopted a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at revising the programmes offered and developing suitably qualified and flexible human resources.
As part of the planning, the sectors and specialisations offered by the Technical Schools were revised, in line with the needs and prospects of the Cypriot economy, while at the same time the percentage of practical training in the workplace was increased.
I would be remiss not to mention the targeted upgrading of the Post-secondary Vocational Education and Training Institutes, which provide young people with the opportunity, through high-quality programmes, to improve their skills and qualifications and acquire the necessary scientific, technical and professional knowledge, so that they can be directly integrated into the labour market.
The development of new infrastructure and the expansion of existing infrastructure to accommodate new programmes and additional students is considered extremely important.
The project, with a total budget of 6 million 550 thousand euros, will feature innovative building and technical facilities, as well as outdoor sports and recreation areas.
This project is added to the others that have been implemented or are being implemented in the Limassol Municipality, and I limit myself to the Limassol Municipality because my visit today does not include the rest of the neighbouring municipalities. In addition to the laying of the foundation stone of the present school building, I have been in Limassol since this morning touring projects that are currently underway, as well as the inauguration of a number of others that make Limassol a modern European city, with upgraded infrastructure and services.
In addition to the laying of the foundation stone of the present school building, I have been in Limassol since this morning touring projects that are underway, as well as the inauguration of a number of others that make Limassol a modern European city, with upgraded infrastructure and services.
A city of reference, a centre of culture, education, social activity and a local economic lynchpin.
And I am indeed happy, since, as our common vision with the Local Government, this upgraded image of the city and the wider Limassol district, works, first and foremost, for the benefit of the citizens, but also for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people.
No one can ignore that in recent years there has been an intense business and tourism activity in the city, with the attraction of new investments and job creation, which have brought comparative advantages and benefits in economic, commercial, tourist and cultural terms.
And I would like to warmly thank my friend the Mayor, as well as the members of the Municipal Council, for the cooperation between us that brought about the admittedly impressive transformation of the Municipality.
In addition to the determination of the Government, good administration and tireless efforts in terms of timely preparation and tendering were required so that the projects became mature and the announcements could be implemented.
Expanding on this message, I want to make it absolutely clear that the Government and I personally are not driven by localist preferences in terms of promoting development and infrastructure projects.
The Local Authorities, which have the will and the capacity to mature projects that are really necessary to improve the quality of life of their citizens, during the ten years of governance, it was clear that they could count on our support, always within the financial possibilities of the State, but also in combination with the European funds. No one today recognises Paphos of 2013; it is a completely new city. Nobody misjudges what is recorded in Nicosia, a renewed Nicosia, the same in Larnaca. I will have the opportunity by touring to highlight what many times through time some may forget. We put emphasis on Local Government, we really gave with determination the battle to win European funds, through prudent fiscal policy we managed in a very short time from the recovery of a country under economic crisis to be able to announce and implement projects from 2015, which are recorded and will remain as the signs that prove that when there is close cooperation between central and local government, much can be achieved. When there is a proper fiscal policy, when there is a proper tourist, commercial, economic effort to flourish, then there is the potential for the state to stand by and create conditions.
Allow me to make specific references to the projects that have brought about the economic, cultural and social development of the city. I will not make reference to projects that are not of the Government, but which were done with the encouragement and plans of the Government, such as the thematic casino, the marina, which created other dimensions in the maritime policy followed by the State, which gave the other dimension to transport, or which transformed Limassol as a service centre.
Since taking office, 79 projects have been implemented or initiated in the Limassol Municipality with the decisive contribution of the Government, either through the allocation of national funds or through co-financing from the European Union, at a total cost of 490 million euros.
By way of indication, I note that so far projects have been completed at a total cost of 231 million euros, including, among others.
- The construction of the West Limassol Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is in the final stages of completion, has already started operating (31 million euros).
- The construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Vati (4,8 million).
- The redevelopment of the old port (17 million).
- The construction of the parallel road and roundabout connecting the Limassol port with the Limassol-Pafos motorway (29 million).
- The upgrading of the road network in the municipalities and communities of the Limassol District (45,5 million).
- The construction of a Post-secondary Vocational Education and Training Institute (8,2 million).
- The construction of the Limassol Fire Station (5,5 million).
- The creation of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the extension of the Nephrology Clinic and the Department of Nuclear Medicine (350 thousand).
- The creation of the Adult Activity Centre (2 million).
- The new Limassol stadium (40 million).
- The extension of the Garilly Linear Park (5,6 million).
- The upgrading of the infrastructure of Misiaouli and Kavazoglou streets (5,4 million).
- The redevelopment of the municipal blocks of flats on Misiaouli and Kavazoglou Streets (5,1 million).
- The construction of new buildings and the upgrading of the sports facilities of the 'Lanitia schools' (5 million).
- The construction of the 'Franklin Roosevelt Avenue' (3,5 million).
- The first phase of the widening and improvement of 'Agia Fylaxeos Street' (3,5 million).
- The redevelopment of squares along Nikos Roussos, Filellinon, Syntagma, Anagenion Streets (3,1 million).
- The redevelopment of facades and the creation of a 'Green Walk' at religious, historical and cultural monuments in the so-called 'Intervention Area' (3,3 million).
- The renovation of the Municipal and University Library of the CUT (2,3 million).
- The renovation of existing and construction of a new building of classrooms and laboratories of the CUT (3,1 million).
- The creation of 3D creation laboratories at the CUT (2,7 million).
- The creation of the University Rehabilitation Clinic of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the CUT (900 000).
- The extension of the Second Technical School (1,2 million).
- The creation of a Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (600 000).
- The reconstruction and operation of the 'Papadakio Municipal Art Centre' (780 000 euro).
- The construction of the AETOS stadium in the Agios Ioannis area (1. 1 million).
At the same time, the following are in the course of implementation:
- The first phase of the construction of the Limassol-Saïta motorway (31.1 million).
- The road network around the perimeter of the new Limassol stadium (9,1 million).
- The first phase of the construction of flood protection works in the greater Limassol area (16,2 million).
- The construction of the building of the School of Communication and Media and the laboratory building of the Fine Arts Department of the CUT (8,1 million).
- The redevelopment of the historic centre of Agia Fila (3,4 million).
- The construction of a network for the use of recycled water at the West Limassol Waste Water Treatment Plant (2,1 million).
- The project for the reduction of municipal solid waste from seaside hotels and other related premises (2,14 million).
- The landscaping of the archaeological site of 'Profitis Ilias' (595 km).
In addition to the above, the following projects have been launched:
- The creation of the infrastructure of the CUT in Berengaria (48,5 million). A project which, unfortunately, bureaucracy prevented it from being implemented as announced. However, the whole design has been wheeled and is nearing completion and this is an important step forward in order to relieve the centre of Limassol, to give the opportunity for the construction of dormitories and classrooms.
- The construction of 231 housing units in Agios Nikolaos and Agios Ioannis and 48 in Polemidia (46 million). This is a project that has been announced, but is being considered with the Housing Agency and the Government's wider housing policy. It is a project that will be done because the social needs of the city dictate it.
- The rehabilitation of 44 "Uncontrolled Waste Sites" (36 million).
- The seismic upgrade of the Limassol Primary School (5,4 million).
- The construction of the new building of the 'Apostolos Loukas' Special School and the 'Red Cross' Infirmary (2,8 million).
The new appearance of Limassol through the completion of these projects or those planned, the acquisition of modern infrastructure and the prospects for further development make it more human and functional.
At the same time, they create conditions of a high level of quality of life for the benefit of the citizens, while highlighting the rare cultural and natural wealth that it has.
As I mentioned at the beginning, as a Government we have shown the same will and determination in supporting the development policy of each Local Authority.
And this is confirmed by the visible change with a plethora of infrastructure projects in each city.
Most importantly, in the context of the major reform of Local Government, you are aware of the multiplier benefits that the implementation of the reform will have for the Limassol Municipality.
Every citizen of Limassol and every visitor to Limassol is now seeing its regenerated image.
Every citizen of Limassol and every visitor to Limassol is now seeing its regenerated image.
Every citizen of Limassol and every visitor to Limassol is now seeing its regenerated image. Its transformation into a city that has nothing to envy from the rest of Europe and, most importantly, the prospects created in all sectors for its further development.
I would like to reiterate my warm congratulations and praise to my friend the Mayor and the City Council, and more generally the authorities of the city and the neighbouring municipalities, for the cooperation we have had and, most importantly, for the results of this close collaboration.
I am sure that this progress will continue no matter which Government follows.
(PM/MG/EHR)
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