What foreign residents want from the new government,
North Cyprus’s expats are looking to the new government to tackle a broad spread of issues affecting foreign residents. Chief Reporter KEREM HASAN heard from community groups about the concerns they would like to see on the coalition’s agenda.
FROM health, property, immigration and voting rights, to the environment, animal welfare and flight ticket prices — the TRNC’s foreign community-based organisations are hoping to see a wide range of issues attract the new government’s attention. Some expat representatives are already looking to strike up contacts with the new crop of ministers once the four-way coalition is settled in. British Residents Society (BRS) chairman Danny Dugan welcomed the formation of the new government, saying they hoped the involvement of four political parties would mean it enjoyed a wider public appeal and would thus “be able get to grips with the country’s most pressing problems, including the reform of public services”. Mr Dugan said the BRS would seek to engage with ministers over “the problems that most concern the membership and the wider expat community” — and would raise the possibility of votes for foreign residents.
“As most expats are of a certain age, the main issue . . . is public health provision and medical insurance,” he said.
“Other issues include residency, property, noise pollution, traffic and driving standards, environmental issues including dumping of rubbish, and animal welfare.
“There is expat as well as local concern about the high cost of flights to and from Ercan and the need to change aircraft in İstanbul when flying to the UK.
“Given that we pay our local taxes and live in local communities, the BRS would also like to explore the possibility of expats voting in local elections.”
Property problems are “sky high” on the priority list, according to The Foreign Residents (TFR) chairman Willy Lindh.
“There is a serious issue of security and confidence for foreign property buyers, that has over the years created a negative impression of North Cyprus, which we love and care for,” said Mr Lindh.
“There needs to be a system whereby buyers are assured that they will get their title deeds. There is also a major issue of landowners taking out mortgages after selling properties to foreign buyers, which as we know has created major problems, and has destroyed the lives of well-intentioned buyers.
“There is also a need to cap interest rates. All these are crucial for North Cyprus’s image, economy and future stability.”
Mr Lindh said North Cyprus
still enjoyed a “much lower” crime rate than “so-called ‘safe countries’ in Europe”, but had become a health and safety hazard due to “mass pollution and rubbish dumping” — which the TFR hoped the new government would tackle.
“The Lefkoşa-Girne road is appalling. Construction in the Girne area seems out of control and rubble is dumped in river beds.
“The only way to tackle this is to introduce harsh penalties and educate people better. Merely carrying out ‘clean-up’ activities is not going to solve this problem.”
In addition to domestic issues, Mr Lindh added: “We also expect the new government to seriously consider actively working for the removal of the isolation and recognition of the TRNC, which I see as the only option available to solve this so-called Cyprus problem.”
Royal British Legion Kyrenia branch chairman Brian Thomas stressed the organisation’s “apolitical” stance, but said they hoped to see attention paid to residency and driving licences.
He said: “The new government should pass a concrete law that regulates residency, particularly for over-60s, rather than expats having to rely on a ‘gentleman’s agreement’. It would just make everyone feel safer and they would know their rights as stipulated in the law.
“There are issues on temporary
residency, too, with the need to ‘own’ property. There are many who may opt to sell their property and rent instead, and they risk losing their residency rights.”
He said the RBL would also like to see a review of regulations limiting expats to having threeor five-year TRNC driving licences, and barring them from holding 10-year ones.
Driving-related concerns were also highlighted by Brenda Plant, of the Friends of the TRNC Emergency Services (112), who spoke of the need for a serious road safety campaign.
“All our work is based on raising proceeds for the emergency services, but we are active in raising awareness on road traffic issues,” she said.
“The condition of the roads needs improvement. Many drivers are drink-driving, speeding and driving while talking on their mobile telephones.
“We would call on [ministers] to start from the basics of road improvement, clamping down on motorbikers who drive without crash helmets on, and increasing punishments for reckless drivers.”
Enforcement of environmental legislation is at the forefront for the North Society for the Protection of Turtles (Spot), for whom biologist Robin Snape cited as problems “unregulated development near beaches, pollution and littering harmful to the natural environment, turtles and marine life, and jet ski and quad bike
problems at turtle nesting beaches such as Golden Beach in the Karpaz, Akdeniz, Tatlısu and Alagadi”.
He said of the issues: “There needs to be an effective crackdown on all of these problems through the employment of wardens competent to issue on-thespot fines. The law is fine but there is no enforcement.”
For Kyrenia Animal Rescue chairman Margaret Ray, the “alarming issue” was the need to promote neuturing and the enforcement of mandatory microchipping of pets.
“Microchipping is not being enforced by the municipalities. There is a widespread belief that many aren’t [doing it] because of the lack of checks,” she said.
Mrs Ray said they would also like to see tougher laws against animal cruelty and poisoning, commenting: “The standard of proof is very high in order for someone to be prosecuted. This needs to be addressed urgently, as it is clearly not adequate.”
She called on government to offer “incentives” to businesses aiding charities, and added: “We have a major problem in employing foreign vets for charity, for neuturing purposes, because of a legal obstacle.
“We also want the government to give local authorities more money — particularly smaller municipalities — to help them build and open animal shelter centres.”