Cyprus-Forum.com

[CBBB]

What measures should the Government take immediately to get our economy moving again?

My first stab list is:

1. Open the banks (obvious, I know).
2. Remove all restrictions on shop opening hours, but with measures to ensure the non-exploitation of staff.
3. Pass the legislation for vehicles to be able to run on LPG (Should create some jobs and reduce our imports bill).
4. Move civil servants to the land registry to get the backlog of non-problematic (the majority) title deeds cleared within six months. (Should bring in a lot of dosh from those that can pay)
5. Approve all the applications made under the amnesty for variations from plans for the issue of title deeds, and get them processed within 12 months.
6. Set up a small team to sort out the title deeds that are tied up due to developers mortgages on the properties. (That is still a tough one, but with the banks screwed anyway, a little more pain won't hurt them)
7. Pass the legislation allowing casinos, and issue licences for one in each district, but only to those willing to invest over a certain amount (€100 million?).
8. Outsource as many government services as possible (printing, cleaning, hospital catering, etc.).

What other things should be done now?

[cyprusgrump]

Number 8 is key...

Slash the size of government, then reduce taxes on individuals and businesses to get the economy going...

[B25]

1. Stop giving out cash lump sums to retiring teachers and other gov officials
2. Make higher contributions of gov officials to social ins on par with private
3. Reduce expenses and allwnces to gov officials and restrict overseas trvel unless vital
4. Review cyprus high commissions osts over seas and take action to reduce
5. Clap down on tax collection and fines collections especially from prominent people
6. Chase those th took out their money by inside info before all this and force them to repatriate or tax them
7. Streamline gov services to improve efficency to remove the buearocratic clap trap
8. Get the planning departments off hir arses and to issue permits within a specified time frame, say 2-3 months rather than years. This will at least allow jobs to commence.

Just to name Few, any others

[supporttheunderdog]

Number 8 is key...

Slash the size of government, then reduce taxes on individuals and businesses to get the economy going...

But how much of the outsourced work will end up in the hands of friends or relatives of senior civil servants, or senior political figures?

[Mik]

Number 8 is key...

Slash the size of government, then reduce taxes on individuals and businesses to get the economy going...

But how much of the outsourced work will end up in the hands of friends or relatives of senior civil servants, or senior political figures?

it not what you know its who and thats how it is here.

[sven]

I am going to get all N.I.M.B.Y. or (N.I.Y.B.Y. Not-In-your-Back-Yard I'm in the UK). with you, you wabbit.

What measures should the Government take immediately to get our economy moving again?

My first stab list is:

1. Open the banks (obvious, I know).Doh
2. Remove all restrictions on shop opening hours, but with measures to ensure the non-exploitation of staff.
2)What destroy Cypriot Family life and Tradition, you'll end up just like any UK High Street. cold and desolete. bbbrggh.
3. Pass the legislation for vehicles to be able to run on LPG (Should create some jobs and reduce our imports bill).
Good Idea, but the Investment and infrastructure costs would be substantial, Do the cars already exist in Cyprus
4. Move civil servants to the land registry to get the backlog of non-problematic (the majority) title deeds cleared within six months. (Should bring in a lot of dosh from those that can pay)
Again good Idea,I don't understand why it takes so long anyway, but as you point out, from those that can PAY, and the ones that can are going to be less likely too. and there is also the knock on effects of the Bail-in, sell-out fiasco, of reduced valuation of housing stock
5. Approve all the applications made under the amnesty for variations from plans for the issue of title deeds, and get them processed within 12 months.
Good Idea, see above
6. Set up a small team to sort out the title deeds that are tied up due to developers mortgages on the properties. (That is still a tough one, but with the banks screwed anyway, a little more pain won't hurt them)
Difficult, but I don't think a Small team would be enough
7. Pass the legislation allowing casinos, and issue licences for one in each district, but only to those willing to invest over a certain amount (€100 million?).
Worst Idea ever, If you thought Money Laundering and Russian Mafia didn't exist before, you would create heaven on earth for them
8. Outsource as many government services as possible (printing, cleaning, hospital catering, etc.).
Outsourcing is not the answer, never will be, The thing is with government departments that run properly, the 'profit' stays within, you only have to look at the UK to see it doesn't work
9.What other things should be done now?
A)First thing is Get out of the Euro, walk away NOW, the banks cannot and will not survive, the Bail-in, Sell-out is designed to make sure they fail.
B)Sort out the bureaucracy
C)Sort out the over inflated self-important legal system to run efficiently
D)Sort out the 3 point pricing system, you know, Expat - Charlie- Cypriot prices for the same Item

I know I have been all N.I.M.B.Y. on you, you wabbit, and to be perfectly honest it is almost as bad in the UK. I am at the point we need to sort the civil service hinderence in all countries for anything to improve, but all they will do is hinder the effort at every twist and turn. I have been so negative and I know your trying to be positive, but the negatives have to be addressed, a bit like an alcoholic admitting to themselves they are an alcoholic, so that they can move on.
Having said all that, I'm in the UK, and I take nothing away from the Cypriot People, they are nice people, it's just that the Civil service get my goat in any country.

[cyprusgrump]

Number 8 is key...

Slash the size of government, then reduce taxes on individuals and businesses to get the economy going...

But how much of the outsourced work will end up in the hands of friends or relatives of senior civil servants, or senior political figures?

It matters not...

They will be privately owned firms funding their own pensions and benefits.

Of course, to achieve value for money there must be an honest and open tendering process...

[cyprusgrump]

8. Outsource as many government services as possible (printing, cleaning, hospital catering, etc.).
Outsourcing is not the answer, never will be, The thing is with government departments that run properly, the 'profit' stays within, you only have to look at the UK to see it doesn't work

There is no profit... all government services are funded by taxpayers. It is the worst possible and least efficient way of providing services.

[sven]

Number 8 is key...

Slash the size of government, then reduce taxes on individuals and businesses to get the economy going...

But how much of the outsourced work will end up in the hands of friends or relatives of senior civil servants, or senior political figures?

It matters not...

They will be privately owned firms funding their own pensions and benefits.

Of course, to achieve value for money there must be an honest and open tendering process...

.... ......... Hang on a sec..... just getting off..... the ..floor, ...... honest and open tendering process ( collapsing into a heap while continually slapping the floor, sven is a gonner)

[sven]

8. Outsource as many government services as possible (printing, cleaning, hospital catering, etc.).
Outsourcing is not the answer, never will be, The thing is with government departments that run properly, the 'profit' stays within, you only have to look at the UK to see it doesn't work

There is no profit... all government services are funded by taxpayers. It is the worst possible and least efficient way of providing services.

I worded that wrongly, I know there is no profit, being naive, but if you were paying someone to do a job and the pay was the same whether it was in public pay or the private sector, The owner of the Private firm would have to make a profit, to pay himself and the taxes of his staff. But then you get into the efficiency between the two sectors. just Idealism.