Wealth gap in TRNC is huge
HAVING spent Christmas and New Year making our first visit to North Cyprus, I’ve come away with the impression of a beautiful country, but one where there is a huge discrepancy between the “haves” and the “have nots”.
On one hand, there are everywhere luxury cars and swish-looking shops and apartment blocks.
But the picture of wealth they create seems hugely at odds with the far less affluent lives seemingly being led by many, many ordinary people.
From appearances, those working on some of the (incidentally, far from safeseeming) construction sites we passed barely had two Turkish lira to rub together.
Moreover, you don’t have to stray too far into the back streets of towns like Girne or Lefkoşa, both of which we visited extensively, to see a whole new level of lifestyle a million years from the aspirational culture of those driving round in their brand new Mercs, BMWs, or enjoying life in their penthouse apartments.
I have no idea how North Cyprus’s local authorities and politicians can square that circle, and we left without learning the result of Sunday’s general election. What was heartening, though, was some of the stories in your paper that we picked up at the weekend on our way home.
In view of the huge social division we witnessed, it was great to see the amounts that had been raised by various local charities during last year, and other stories showing how hard so many people are working to help needy children, the less well off and individuals and families afflicted by cancer.
We wish everyone involved more success in their efforts in 2018 — and everyone there in North Cyprus a very happy New Year. We loved our stay, and will definitely be back!