Oracle wrote:Paphitis
You still seem unable to grasp the difference between having
evidence (which you didn't) and listening to
gossip (which you did). As well endowed as you are with enthusiasm and Knightly justice, your evaluative powers and judgement are sadly emaciated. Exemplified again by your accusation of my adulation towards Castro when I was merely pointing out he "looked Cypriot".
Your intentions are honourable; your methods are suspect.
Now, let's put an end to this spat as my fondness for you is too deep and my time too precious to spend going round in circles with you (although I know, taken to completion, you will finally realise I am right and you are wrong
).
Keep saying that Oracle and you may just start believing it, but I do understand your frustration and attempt at saving face.
And thanks for your half baked compliment. You were saying the complete opposite yesterday. Mind you, no matter how angry you get, I will never reciprocate, because no matter what, I am very fond of you too.
But you are the one having a hissy fit here, just because I am posting some views which you find very
truthful but are difficult for you to digest. I know of 3 cases in Australia where some Cypriot donkeys have defrauded the Cypriot taxpayer and broken RoC laws with the aid of some political connections in Cyprus. And there is nothing you can do to silence me.
Nepotism - The Cypriot Way To Get Things Done? Seventy three per cent of those polled said they had used nepotism to get a job done when having to deal with the public service. In Larnaca, the figure was 84 per cent. It was 80 per cent in Paphos. Three in four public officials also use their contacts when they want something done.
Sixty eight per cent of the respondents believe that ‘mentality' is the main reason behind inefficiency in the public service, while 55 per cent believe it's because public officials are not afraid that they will lose their job, Half though public servants were just indifferent and 37 per cent said they thought public servants needed to be bribed.
http://www.indexcyprus.com/site/index.p ... Itemid=202
So there is some corruption in Cyprus. Why do you pretend to be surprised?
All in all, the above is no big deal. Corruption can be found in
all countries. If you have the power and the connections, anything is possible.
It is just that Cyprus is far too small, and corruption is more prevalent and in your face, because just about ALL Cypriots know someone important and hence are capable of achieving outcomes using political nepotism. In larger countries, this is less likely for the average citizen.
Even I am guilty of using political nepotism in Cyprus. I was not entitled Cypriot citizenship until a relative called a mate in DIKO who made the necessary arrangements, and presto, I had my passport and ID card in 2 weeks flat.
But at least I did not steal for the public purse. AKEL seem to be the experts in that field....
Here is some more evidence for you:
Corruption threatens the basic principles and values of government, the society and the rule of law. Today corruption is recognized as a phenomenon, which affects both the public and the private sectors of society.
Corruption is a serious and complex problem.
The detection and investigation of corruption offences is, in many cases, very difficult. The offenders do not publicise their activities as those involved are usually motivated by mutual interest.As a result of this reality, when third persons report such offences, or where suspicion for the commission of such offences arises from any other circumstances, law enforcement authorities of most countries face major difficulties in collecting the necessary evidence.
It follows that it is of the utmost importance, for all countries, not only to criminalise all forms of corruption, as a suppressive measure, but also to adopt and implement preventive measures, in order to minimize opportunities for corruption, and to have the possibility to identify such criminal acts.
An important measure is the adoption of transparent procedures within the Public Administration, particularly in the public procurement sector, which constitutes a sensitive area, involving serious risks of corruption.
Furthermore, because corruption offences are covered by secrecy, it is important to adopt measures to protect those third persons who report such instances in good faith, from possible repercussions, such as dismissal, denial of promotion or any other disadvantageous consequence.
International co-operation is highly important, given the nature of the offence and modern globalisation of financial transactions. So far, at the international level traditional ways and means of co-operation have been used in corruption cases. Such traditional forms of co-operation include mutual legal assistance and transfer of proceedings, channeled, in most cases, through central authorities. These procedures may sometimes be time-consuming, costly and, therefore, inefficient. Direct contacts between specialized bodies, including judicial authorities, at an early stage could facilitate better communication and more efficient co-operation. It is, therefore, important to consider ways and means of improving traditional co-operation in cross-border investigations, as well as other means of co-operation between different authorities, such as voluntary disclosure of information.
It is essential to simplify the existing procedures and adopt more efficient ways of co-operation. States should ratify and implement the international instruments against corruption. Effective co-operation should exist between judicial authorities, when executing formal requests for legal assistance, between law enforcement authorities, as well as between the Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), which can exchange information on possible money laundering of proceeds derived from corruption offences.
In this respect, the importance of having monitoring mechanisms within international organisations, for the evaluation of measures taken by States, including their implementation in the area of international co-operation, cannot be doubted. Such an example is the new body within the Council of Europe, the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), which applies a monitoring mechanism of mutual evaluation processes for its members.
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Law Office of the Republic are deeply involved and devote a great deal of time, manpower and effort to combat corruption.
In Cyprus, corruption in its various forms (active and passive, public and private) constitutes a criminal offence, punishable with up to seven years of imprisonment and a pecuniary penalty.
It is also worth mentioning the creation of a "Co-Ordinating Body Against Corruption", chaired by the Attorney General, to advice on anti-corruption policy, composed of representatives from the public and the private sectors.
International co-operation is of great importance if countries want to fight corruption effectively. The competent Cypriot authorities offer international co-operation in corruption cases through formal rogatory letters, through Interpol channels, for the exchange of police information, and between FIUs, with the exchange of financial information as intelligence.
It is a global problem, which requires a global approach.
http://www.icac.org.hk/newsl/issue26eng/button3.htmMr. Petros Clerides
Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus
Of course, Christofias has been in power for a short time. But technically he was part of the prevoius Government, and the Gvernment before that, so overall he has been in power for a minimum of
11 years, so pull the other one Oracle...
We can safely say that
ALL Cypriot Governments have been corrupt in various ways, from Makarios, Spyros Kyprianou, George Vasiliou, Clerides, Tassos Papadopoulos and my all time favourite, Mr Demetris Christofias...
Christofias of course, would have to be the
grand master of corruption. If only I knew that being a "Communist" can be so
lucrative....
And as Attorney General Petros Clerides would say...
The detection and investigation of corruption offences is, in many cases, very difficult. The offenders do not publicise their activities as those involved are usually motivated by mutual interest.
It is difficult to prove various forms of corruption Oracle, because it is not as if the persons involved are going to publicise their criminal activities.
Face it Oracle, you don't have a leg to stand on and Christofias is one corrupt son of a Bitch!