-
.
- Ελληνικά
I wish everyone a very Happy Birthday, with health and happiness! Thank you for your honorable invitation to attend today's ceremony, which is the culmination of the effort made over the past few years to restore and renovate the Community Building
The completion of the work and restoration of the Community Building is one of the latest projects implemented in the Community of Kalopanayoti over the past 20 plus years. Having experienced both glorious times and periods of decline, Kalopanayiotis, thanks to the vision and love of its pure residents, has achieved something that few Communities have achieved in Cyprus and in the European Union. Not only has it stood the test of time and preserved its heritage, but it has transformed itself into a model Community that proudly receives praise and is an example for all mountain communities in Cyprus and the European Union.
When in 2001, Giannakis Papadouris decided to resettle in his beloved village from the Arab countries where he was professionally active, he carried in his luggage the experience and knowledge he had acquired and the desire to give his beloved Kalopanagiotis its old glory. Immediately after his election to the position of the village's Common Master, he drew up one of the largest and most innovative for that time mountain community regeneration and development programs ever implemented in our country.
The Kalopanayoti Conservation and Revitalization Study, later upgraded to a Regulatory Plan, was the beginning of a long journey, at the end of which there was only the goal of transforming the community into a thriving, economically robust, investment-attractive area, and a place where existing and new populations thrive. Within a few years, Kalopanayiotis achieved its objectives: promotion of its cultural heritage and natural environment, economic revitalisation, enrichment of the tourist product, creation of basic structures and services, creation of jobs, development of business activity, improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitants. The mountainous community of the Nicosia District regained life, gave incentives to the local young people to stay and be active in the community, retained the existing population, attracted new residents who now have the opportunity to live away from the urban centres, without feeling cut off from services, work and entertainment. The increase in the young population has breathed new life into the communities in the areas, helping to reduce urbanization and the abandonment of the mountain communities due to shortages of basic goods and services. It is no coincidence, moreover, that in 2021 a crèche opened in the village to meet the care and education needs of the young children of the Marathasa Communities.
Kalopanayiotis is now an example to follow, a growing community that gives momentum to the neighbouring communities, which are gradually upgrading and becoming nuclei of entrepreneurship, culture and social development, while protecting their natural wealth and preserving their historicity.
Friends,
This tremendous development of the Troodos Communities puts them in an advantageous position in view of the implementation of the local government reform. Having now the knowledge to implement projects that upgrade the Communities and improve the service and daily life of residents, the new Local Government environment will be even more beneficial for all of you.
In particular, the establishment of the Service Delivery Clusters comes to streamline the way the Communities operate, with multiple benefits both for the Local Authorities themselves, but especially for the residents. By establishing proper procedures, based on budget and organisational standards and, above all, by recruiting staff with specialised knowledge, we expect that the Communities will be helped to operate on a solid basis of progress, making maximum use of national and European funds, for the benefit of local communities.
At the same time, continuing and upgrading successful policies of the previous Government, we have completed the revision of the Housing Regeneration Plans for Mountain, Scenic and Disadvantaged Areas, so that they meet today's requirements and include more of our fellow citizens living in mountainous areas. We will be able to provide more details in the very near future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The project we are launching today is one of the last to be completed. I am aware that under the Regulatory Plan, priority was given to other projects that would deliver more immediate results for the residents of the Kalopanayoti community rather than community buildings. The result proves that the prioritisation that was made was the right one. European Union funding programmes and national resources were extensively used to create public infrastructure which consequently attracted private investment and further upgraded the product that the Community now offers.
Dear Mr Lambrou,
You have every reason to feel proud, both personally and collectively as a Community, of the positive change brought about by all the projects you have implemented over the years in your beloved village. You earlier expressed the hope that the support from the Ministry of Interior will continue uninterrupted. I would like to assure you that the Government will not only continue to support you, but expects you to dare to do more. After all, how could we abandon a community, an entire region, that is driven by a sense of collectivity and belonging, that has a vision, that has set and maintains a high bar.
The appointment by President Christodoulides of the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities proves the truth of the political will that exists for the reactivation of the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities, as well as other policies and measures, with the ultimate goal of the development of our countryside and mountainous areas, recognizing their value for the whole of Cyprus. I have scheduled a meeting with the Commissioner for Mountain Communities in the coming weeks, as well as an inter-ministerial meeting with the competent Ministers and Deputy Ministers, in order to examine the progress of the implementation of the National Strategy and to determine our next steps for the rapid implementation of the actions included in it.
Dear Friends,
At today's event, the elders relive the decades since 1955 when the Community Building first opened and housed public services, the Local Authority and the market. With respect to its unique architecture and the incorporation of all necessary modern infrastructure, the restoration of the historic building achieves the goal of providing better quality services to residents and visitors of the Community.
Dear Giannakis,
My emotion and joy at being at today's ceremony is beyond words. The appreciation of all of us, residents and non-residents of Kalopanagiotis, for your selfless service to the place that gave birth to you, nurtured you and formed your pure character, is boundless. A minimal sign of recognition and respect for you by your fellow villagers is their decision to name the building the Community Building of Kalopanagiotis "Giannakis Papadouris". You are rightly described as the benefactor of the Kalopanayoti Community and rightly offered this great honour today.
I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the architect of the project and the team that worked to complete the work, delivering to the locals and visitors of the Community a gem. Sincere thanks and congratulations both for today's event and for the perspective you are creating for your community deserve to the entire Community Council of Kalopanagiotis and Troodos Communities. Thank you for your attention.
(MKY)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
