Saving the ‘jewel in the crown’

THE traffic chaos that has Girne in its clutches daily, and the ruination through overdevelopment of the oncecharming seaside town, have grabbed the attention of those running to be its next mayor.

In what promises to be a titanic struggle for control of the “jewel in the country’s touristic crown”, three big hitters are setting out their stall for polling day on June 24.

Both incumbent Nidai Güngördü and CTP challenger Birol Karaman focused on the gridlock that bedevils the town — the latter highlighting eastern “bypass” routes he intends to pursue; the former pledging multi-storey parking for all those vehicles.

Meanwhile Sümer Aygın, seeking another comeback after being mayor twice already until the last local elections in 2014, has portrayed himself as riding to the rescue by popular demand. He declared this week he could not “stand by” as Girne “continues to be destroyed” — though many would point out that the destruction began on his watch.

Talk is cheap, however. It’s easy to promise; less so to deliver.

It’s arguably too late, now, to save the Girne once cherished as what tourism chiefs call the north coast’s “jewel in the crown” — but which a leading local businessman more recently described as “f*cked up”.

The struggle for primacy on June 24 is one thing. What ultimately matters is the struggle to preserve what remains of Girne’s soul, and voters must judge who can come good on that.

ANYONE who has had need of a TRNC ambulance, and the medical care of its crew, over the last few years will have had cause to thank Terry Carter for the major improvements he brought about.

Hailed after his death this week as a “precious” man, Mr Carter’s is a lasting legacy which the North Cyprus authorities must strive to preserve — not just in his memory, but for the sake of the entire community he worked so hard to benefit.