Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

AROUND 20 per cent of the 10,000 Pontians living in Paphos have been forced to leave Cyprus as rising unemployment has made it impossible for many families to reach even the most basic standard of living.

More than 80 Pontians, who are employed mostly in the recession-hit hospitality and construction industries, are losing their jobs each week, according to the spokesman for the Pan Cyprian Pontian Association, Raoul Tsachites.

The exodus has become so bad in Paphos, the town with Cyprus’ highest population of Pontians, that the mayor, Savvas Vergas, has stepped in to try and help.

“Vergas recently attended Parliament and spoke about our problems,” Tsachites said. “He understands and is trying to help.”

In his briefing to Parliament, Vergas stressed how many Pontians had been in Cyprus for 20 years and had become part of the fabric of the community.

“We have integrated with the locals and he pointed out that the Cypriots should help us,” Tsachites said.

“He came away with some promises that jobs would soon be opened up in Paphos, such as in construction, as there are major projects planned for the district.”

Yet nothing has happened so far, and the community has decided to take matters into its own hands by organising a demonstration outside Paphos Town Hall on May 23.

“We have invited Pontians from all over Cyprus to come and join us and we have also invited the relevant ministries and local officials. We will demand that they open up jobs in Paphos,” said Tsachites, who is expecting around 1,000 demonstrators to attend.

Although the hotels are opening for the summer season now, Tsachites says they seem to be employing Eastern Europeans over Pontians, because they can get them more cheaply.

He estimates that around 20 per cent of the 10,000 Pontians registered here have already left.

“Around 30-40 per cent of the Pontian workforce is unemployed and it’s getting worse daily,” he said. “Ten to 20 more Pontians every day are being let go from their work because there isn’t enough to go around.”

Those who are trying to leave Cyprus and have brought property have three options.

“The first obviously is to sell, but many are unable to do this at the moment due to the poor economic climate,” said Tsachites. “So they are either renting out their properties, or asking the banks to freeze their loans. This will provide them with a couple of years to be able to pay the debt. Most banks are trying to help.”

According to the spokesman most of them have lived in Paphos for 10 to 15 years and have families.

Increasingly, families are being split up. “If one member of the family has a job, the rest will leave Cyprus and he will share a flat with a friend to keep expenses down.”

Of those who own businesses, some are trying to ‘stick it out’ because they have an income, however small, dribbling in.

But, according to Nicos Avravides, the president of one of the Pontian movements who has himself been out of work for three months, salaried workers such as those in the construction and hospitality industries are faring the worst.

“I haven’t received anything from the government yet,” he said. He has been waiting for a government payout for the last three months. His son is currently working as a taxi driver and has to provide for the whole family.

“We are always looking for jobs, even if they are temporary ones just for a couple of days,” he pointed out. “We are hard workers, but if they find nothing then people have to leave Cyprus.”

Surprisingly, given the dire economic conditions in Greece, both men agreed the situation for Pontians is slightly easier there because they have more rights. For example, they are permitted to apply for jobs in the government.

“When the Pontians first came to Paphos, we didn’t send money home because we brought our families with us. So the money stayed in Cyprus and boosted the economy,” said Tsachites. “But now you will see seven or eight Pontians sharing a flat and they aren’t spending anything here. They’re sending it to their families who have left. It’s all changed.”

Pontians are returning mostly to Russia and Greece, but also to Germany and Holland, in fact anywhere they have relatives or can find work.

Tsachites said: “The crime rate in Paphos is sure to go up, even in disagreements between friends. I know of some instances where a friend lent another some money, and then the friend was unable to pay him back. They end up arguing and fighting, it’s very sad.’

According to Tsachites there are three million Pontians worldwide and many have established communities abroad for the last 60 or 70 years.

“The economic crisis has hit us badly here in Cyprus, and to a slightly lesser extent in Greece,” said Avravides. “We have communities in both countries, but we keep our problems to ourselves. We are very private people, but we do help each other out.”

Tsachites added: “I believe the Pontians have been worst hit by the economic crisis in Cyprus, because we are dependent on our wages. Most don’t own property and we don’t have our parents here to support us. This is very different from the Cypriots.

“But we love the place. It’s home and I want to stay. It’s my country.”

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/papho ... n/20100509

[Pyrpolizer]

AROUND 20 per cent of the 10,000 Pontians living in Paphos have been forced to leave Cyprus as rising unemployment has made it impossible for many families to reach even the most basic standard of living.

More than 80 Pontians, who are employed mostly in the recession-hit hospitality and construction industries, are losing their jobs each week, according to the spokesman for the Pan Cyprian Pontian Association, Raoul Tsachites.

The exodus has become so bad in Paphos, the town with Cyprus’ highest population of Pontians, that the mayor, Savvas Vergas, has stepped in to try and help.

“Vergas recently attended Parliament and spoke about our problems,” Tsachites said. “He understands and is trying to help.”

In his briefing to Parliament, Vergas stressed how many Pontians had been in Cyprus for 20 years and had become part of the fabric of the community.

“We have integrated with the locals and he pointed out that the Cypriots should help us,” Tsachites said.

“He came away with some promises that jobs would soon be opened up in Paphos, such as in construction, as there are major projects planned for the district.”

Yet nothing has happened so far, and the community has decided to take matters into its own hands by organising a demonstration outside Paphos Town Hall on May 23.

“We have invited Pontians from all over Cyprus to come and join us and we have also invited the relevant ministries and local officials. We will demand that they open up jobs in Paphos,” said Tsachites, who is expecting around 1,000 demonstrators to attend.

Although the hotels are opening for the summer season now, Tsachites says they seem to be employing Eastern Europeans over Pontians, because they can get them more cheaply.

He estimates that around 20 per cent of the 10,000 Pontians registered here have already left.

“Around 30-40 per cent of the Pontian workforce is unemployed and it’s getting worse daily,” he said. “Ten to 20 more Pontians every day are being let go from their work because there isn’t enough to go around.”

Those who are trying to leave Cyprus and have brought property have three options.

“The first obviously is to sell, but many are unable to do this at the moment due to the poor economic climate,” said Tsachites. “So they are either renting out their properties, or asking the banks to freeze their loans. This will provide them with a couple of years to be able to pay the debt. Most banks are trying to help.”

According to the spokesman most of them have lived in Paphos for 10 to 15 years and have families.

Increasingly, families are being split up. “If one member of the family has a job, the rest will leave Cyprus and he will share a flat with a friend to keep expenses down.”

Of those who own businesses, some are trying to ‘stick it out’ because they have an income, however small, dribbling in.

But, according to Nicos Avravides, the president of one of the Pontian movements who has himself been out of work for three months, salaried workers such as those in the construction and hospitality industries are faring the worst.

“I haven’t received anything from the government yet,” he said. He has been waiting for a government payout for the last three months. His son is currently working as a taxi driver and has to provide for the whole family.

“We are always looking for jobs, even if they are temporary ones just for a couple of days,” he pointed out. “We are hard workers, but if they find nothing then people have to leave Cyprus.”

Surprisingly, given the dire economic conditions in Greece, both men agreed the situation for Pontians is slightly easier there because they have more rights. For example, they are permitted to apply for jobs in the government.

“When the Pontians first came to Paphos, we didn’t send money home because we brought our families with us. So the money stayed in Cyprus and boosted the economy,” said Tsachites. “But now you will see seven or eight Pontians sharing a flat and they aren’t spending anything here. They’re sending it to their families who have left. It’s all changed.”

Pontians are returning mostly to Russia and Greece, but also to Germany and Holland, in fact anywhere they have relatives or can find work.

Tsachites said: “The crime rate in Paphos is sure to go up, even in disagreements between friends. I know of some instances where a friend lent another some money, and then the friend was unable to pay him back. They end up arguing and fighting, it’s very sad.’

According to Tsachites there are three million Pontians worldwide and many have established communities abroad for the last 60 or 70 years.

“The economic crisis has hit us badly here in Cyprus, and to a slightly lesser extent in Greece,” said Avravides. “We have communities in both countries, but we keep our problems to ourselves. We are very private people, but we do help each other out.”

Tsachites added: “I believe the Pontians have been worst hit by the economic crisis in Cyprus, because we are dependent on our wages. Most don’t own property and we don’t have our parents here to support us. This is very different from the Cypriots.

“But we love the place. It’s home and I want to stay. It’s my country.”

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/papho ... n/20100509

So what's the problem halil?
Let them go, who cares. They brought them here illegally anyway BEFORE Cyprus had joined the EU.

Perhaps you can take this is an example to get rid of your own settlers..

[Piratis]

The pontians have nothing to do with the Turkish Settlers. The pontians are not given the Cyprus citizenship and they do not vote in elections and referenda. They are not given properties which belong to TCs and there is nothing illegal about them. We had Russian, British, Arab etc immigrants to Cyprus before we joined the EU, so why single out the Pontians?

[Pyrpolizer]

The pontians have nothing to do with the Turkish Settlers. The pontians are not given the Cyprus citizenship and they do not vote in elections and referenda. They are not given properties which belong to TCs and there is nothing illegal about them. We had Russian, British, Arab etc immigrants to Cyprus before we joined the EU, so why single out the Pontians?

On a visa basis Piratis, not on a Greek Passport basis

[Oracle]

Greeks have every right to reside in Cyprus.

Anyone who says otherwise is a Turk!

And Turks are the equivalent of Nazis!

[YFred]

Greeks have every right to reside in Cyprus.

Anyone who says otherwise is a Turk!

And Turks are the equivalent of Nazis!

Ehem ehem. Who? When? Where? How? What?

[apc2010]

Greeks have every right to reside in Cyprus.

Anyone who says otherwise is a Turk!

And Turks are the equivalent of Nazis!

Why because EU ??

[SKI-preo]

My Koumera is pontian(via the Ivory Coast-don't ask)

.... And in roll the Pontian jokes.

-Giati oi pontoi ti nikta sto komotino tou exoun ena potiri athio ki ena potiri gemato;

-Giati mporei na thipsasoun mporei na min thipsasoun.

-giati oi pontoi ama fysa aeras fkalou mia karekla exw;
- gia na katsi o aeras!

-
- Why did the pontian dig two holes?

Coz the first one wasn't deep enough.