BRS hails ‘another successful year’

THE British Residents Society (BRS) has described 2022 as “another successful year”. In an end-of-year message the BRS said it had “continued to liaise” with TRNC government officials, while holding their first meeting with the new British High Commissioner, Irfan Siddiq.

Membership of the BRS “continues to grow despite some members returning to the UK”, the message said, adding that “we aim to pass on to our members any up to date information or changes relating to living in the TRNC as soon as we have confirmation from the appropriate department or legal representative”.

BRS events during 2022 were “well attended”, with a programme of events being drawn up for 2023.

“Our joint lobbying campaign between the BRS and UK-based Turkish Cypriot groups to end the isolation of North Cyprus continues to gain momentum and we have started to see responses from UK politicians to our members,” the BRS stated.

“The replies are the standard response that we expected concerning the TRNC ‘issue’, but we are in this for the long haul and will continue with further campaigns highlighting the unjust treatment of all nationalities living in the North.”

The BRS also highlighted changes to its committee since its last annual general meeting, with two members “deciding to look for new challenges”: Tina Sone, who had been honorary secretary and who had been with the BRS for over six years; and events coordinator Pat Waddington, who been with the BRS committee for over five years.

“We will miss both of them as committee members and wish them all the very best for the future,” the BRS said, adding that Pamela Padden will take on the role of honorary secretary and Lucy Turner will fill the position of events coordinator until the next annual general meeting.