Cyprus-Forum.com

[Pumpy]

It is quite ironic that while the major topic of political debate in Cyprus still revolves around the now ageing and decrepit issue of 'The Cyprus Problem', far more pertinent and current calamities are turning into a spiralling list of serious issues.

The way the country handled immigration and cheap labour during the 90s boom era is nothing short of farcical. The consequences are there for all to see - many people stuck in a poverty trap, humanitarian problems, dislocation, health and crime dilemmas and much more.

Then there's the ridiculous handling of the economy and the build up to EU membership, which has culminated in ill-thought out government intervention in certain markets, like food, and the export industries. So there's the laughable conundrum in place whereby the cost of living has spiralled and food is more expensive than most other EU countries (in the supermarkets certainly) and yet if you walk into a shop selling Cyprus goods in North London, the same stuff is as cheap as chips.

The education system is, in my view, one of the worst I've ever witnessed. The state schooling (if you call it that) is more of a long term baby sitting service, culminating in lost youth generations and a nation of an elite of intelligent kids who go far, and a massive majority of kids who go on to become ignorant dunces (probably the type that believes myths about the Turks and take forth the baton of hate for further generations).

Unemployment is a problem now and we are seeing more poor and homeless Cypriots who can't manage, which hitherto was never the case.

Sex trafficking and abuse of vulnerable people is a disgrace to the country and a cause for much EU and UN concern.

The Russian oligarchy that have settled in the land have led to crime and mafia problems and diplomatic strain with Moscow, on account of the fact that the settlers are utterly corrupt and owe the Russian people billions of their own money back.

Tourism, the island's number one source of income and number one key to a strong GDP has been left to rot, with the CTO having been left bereft of a CEO for years. It lies about the statistics in order to cover up for the fact that the government has no idea where to turn in order to improve numbers. This, in spite of the obvious fact that costs are too high and the main airport was privatised. A grave policy disaster if ever there was one.

I could go on.

And the only thing people want to indulge in, as a national sport or pastime almost, is the "Cyprus Problem" (singular). Of course, it's all the Turks fault. Let's shine the spotlight of nationalism and ignorance on 'the other side' and forget the fact that the Republic of Cyprus government, and the leading businesses and entrepreneurs, have majorly fucked up.

You got to laugh when you see such an abdication of responsibility and such a mass clinging to a dead and pointless cause.

[humanist]

Actually its the British fault, firstand foremost followed by their allegiance to the Americans who use the Turks to get their way, have nice day Pumpy

[umit07]

If the british and americans are to blame,
What did the americans and british get out of dividing Cyprus?

[Piratis]

Pumpy, is that Cyprus you are describing or a result of your imagination.

1/3rd of Cypriots lost their homes and all their property just 3 decades ago, and yet in Cyprus you don't see homeless and beggars in the the way you see them in most other countries. Crime rate is one of the lowest in Europe and health is on par with developed countries as it is indicated by life expectancy, death rate, infant mortality and all other indicators.

As Cyprus is getting more develped the cost of living is going higher. This is only normal. Still the cost of living in Cyprus is much lower than most other EU countries. When you calculate the cost of living you don't only see certain items but the cost of living in general for the permanent residents.

The education system while not perfect is fine. Cyprus has one of the highest rate of university graduates, and our students do very well even when they study abroad. If our education as you claim was so bad then Cypriots wouldn't manage to enter or finish universities in Greece,UK,USA etc.

Unemployment rate is low and I don't know where you saw the homeless Cypriots.

The "Russian oligarchy" is everywhere. Who owns Chelsey? Apparently that is only a problem when they come to Cyprus. The majority of the Russians that come to settle in Cyprus are upper-middle class people and come for the same reasons that the British and others come.

Tourism is stable and in general it was a policy of Cyprus for years to depend less on Tourism and more on other less fragile kinds of services.

The Cyprus Problem is the major problem in Cyprus and everybody is affected by it. I wonder if your country was occupied by the Nazis during world war two and 1/3rd of the population of your country was ethnically cleansed, if your main problem would be the "Russian Oligarchy" and other imaginary or minor problems.

[phoenix]

Very easy to slag something off, especially if you are that way inclined.

But for every fair or (in this case) unfair criticism, there is usually a silver lining . . . . Apart from the fact each one of your points can be made null and void, as has been justifiably carried out by the inimitable Piratis, I would like to add:

Cyprus has an enviable climate.

The population has one of the longest lifespans in the world.

The hospitals do not yield nosocomial infections to the patients like the MRSA problem we have in the UK.

[Pyrpolizer]

It is quite ironic that while the major topic of political debate in Cyprus still revolves around the now ageing and decrepit issue of 'The Cyprus Problem', far more pertinent and current calamities are turning into a spiralling list of serious issues.

The way the country handled immigration and cheap labour during the 90s boom era is nothing short of farcical. The consequences are there for all to see - many people stuck in a poverty trap, humanitarian problems, dislocation, health and crime dilemmas and much more.

Then there's the ridiculous handling of the economy and the build up to EU membership, which has culminated in ill-thought out government intervention in certain markets, like food, and the export industries. So there's the laughable conundrum in place whereby the cost of living has

spiralled and food is more expensive than most other EU countries (in the supermarkets certainly) and yet if you walk into a shop selling Cyprus goods in North London, the same stuff is as cheap as chips.

The education system is, in my view, one of the worst I've ever witnessed. The state schooling (if you call it that) is more of a long term baby sitting service, culminating in lost youth generations and a nation of an elite of intelligent kids who go far, and a massive majority of kids who go on to become ignorant dunces (probably the type that believes myths about the Turks and take forth the baton of hate for further generations).

Unemployment is a problem now and we are seeing more poor and homeless Cypriots who can't manage, which hitherto was never the case.

Sex trafficking and abuse of vulnerable people is a disgrace to the country and a cause for much EU and UN concern.

The Russian oligarchy that have settled in the land have led to crime and mafia problems and diplomatic strain with Moscow, on account of the fact that the settlers are utterly corrupt and owe the Russian people billions of their own money back.

Tourism, the island's number one source of income and number one key to a strong GDP has been left to rot, with the CTO having been left bereft of a CEO for years. It lies about the statistics in order to cover up for the fact that the government has no idea where to turn in order to improve numbers. This, in spite of the obvious fact that costs are too high and the main airport was privatised. A grave policy disaster if ever there was one.

I could go on.

And the only thing people want to indulge in, as a national sport or pastime almost, is the "Cyprus Problem" (singular). Of course, it's all the Turks fault. Let's shine the spotlight of nationalism and ignorance on 'the other side' and forget the fact that the Republic of Cyprus government, and the leading businesses and entrepreneurs, have majorly fucked up.

You got to laugh when you see such an abdication of responsibility and such a mass clinging to a dead and pointless cause.

IN SUMMARY
There is a fly in the air.
Conclusion: The place is full of shit

[humanist]

think about umit, think about it
I think they are called bases .....

[Pumpy]

Very easy to slag something off, especially if you are that way inclined.

But for every fair or (in this case) unfair criticism, there is usually a silver lining . . . . Apart from the fact each one of your points can be made null and void, as has been justifiably carried out by the inimitable Piratis, I would like to add:

Cyprus has an enviable climate.

The population has one of the longest lifespans in the world.

The hospitals do not yield nosocomial infections to the patients like the MRSA problem we have in the UK.

I think 'Pheonix' misunderstands me.

My intention is not to 'slag off' Cyprus, or otherwise do it down, it is to highlight the bizarre pre-occupation with the 1974 invsaion, which actually serves nobody. The current dilemma that face the island are very urgent and important, and in fact vastly outweight the urgency of the so-called Cyprus Problem.

The points I make are entirely relevant and pertinent to Cyprus today. How sad that people chose to ignore my points instead of engage with them.

[humanist]

Pumpy you have no idea ......... if you claim that the Turkish occupation of Cyprus bears no impact on the current situation faced by the island and its people on either side of the divide.

[Piratis]

What you fail to see is the difference between the ordinary problems that every country in the world faces, and a problem caused by invasion, ethnic cleansing and occupation of 1/3rd of our country.

It is not that we don't have other problems. We do and we care about them. However unlike most other countries we have a much bigger national problem which makes all those other problems seem minor in comparison.