Coming together for Fathers’ Day
IT WAS Fathers’ Day at the barricades for dads and grandads from the bicommunal village of Pile as families were reunited for the first time in three months.
A collective PCR test for hundreds of Turkish Cypriots allowed many to cross into the North from the village which sits inside the UN buffer zone and borders the Sovereign British Bases (SBAs).
Generations embraced and exchanged gifts following the easing of restrictions which had kept Turkish Cypriot residents trapped in their home village, unable to pass to North or South.
Pile muhtar Veysal Güden said: “I cannot cross either to the North or to the South. Even Fathers’ Day was today commemorated at the checkpoint barricade. This was only possible because tests were being carried out at that point and this enabled families and citizens to see one another. This is a very sad situation for us,” he said.
He said a total of 336 people had been tested for Covid-19. “The people of Pile are going through very difficult days,” he said. “We need the process to be speeded up to enable the free crossing of all residents. The tests have been carried out in accordance with the Council of Ministers’ decision concerning the crossings to the North.
“However, no statement giving precise details as to when crossings to the North will be started has been announced.
“We are waiting for the decision to be announced. However in order for crossings to be started, there is a need for the Health Ministry to hand over the test results to the Ministry of Interior and to the police. Separately, the information will be given to the British High Commission. Then all the data will be evaluated and a memorandum will be issued in order for the crossings to be allowed.”
Mr Güden said that some crossings “had been started beforehand” adding: “Between June 1 and 11 — a total of 68 workers from Pile were given permission to cross to the North to work in private companies. Crossings for public sector workers and others are yet to start,” he said.