Handover ceremonies mark ministry changes
HANDOVER ceremonies were held this week at some TRNC ministries as ministers took up their roles following the creation of the National Unity Party (UBP)-Democrat Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) coalition, the second time the three parties have joined forces.
The government was formed following last month’s general election in which the UBP emerged as the largest party, winning 24 of the 50 seats in Parliament but falling short of a majority.
Only two of the 11 members of the previous Council of Ministers saw their roles remain unchanged – UBP leader Faiz Sucuoğlu continuing as Prime Minister and Ali
Pilli remaining as Health Minister.
DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu stays as Deputy Prime Minister and the minister responsible for tourism and the environment, but has had youth and culture policies added to his portfolio.
On Monday newly appointed Labour and Social Security Minister Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu took over from Dr Koral Çağman.
Mr Hasipoğlu said during the handover that “we will do our best so our workers and people on social security can have a suitable and prosperous life”.
Dr Çağman said that the TRNC had “come a long way” despite the country’s economic problems during his one-year term in office.
“Considering the difficult economic conditions that the country is going through, you have a difficult task but I think you will easily manage it,” he told Mr Hasipoğlu before wishing him success.
A handover ceremony also took place at the Finance Ministry where Dursun Oğuz handed over the reins to Sunat Atun.
Mr Oğuz gave a brief overview of the work carried out by the Finance Ministry for the last 14 months and pointed out that the TRNC, along with the “entire world”, has been adversely affected economically due to the Covid19 pandemic, but noted that as “people who love their country and think about their country, all available means were mobilised for the welfare of the people”.
Dr Atun also pointed to the effects of the pandemic, which he said has “deeply affected” the TRNC economy for the last two years, “as it has the whole world”.
A handover ceremony was held at the Public Works and Transport Ministry where Resmiye Canaltay turned over her position to Erhan Arıklı.
Mrs Canaltay wished Dr Arıklı success in his new role and Dr Arıklı thanked Mrs
Canaltay for her service.
Mrs Canaltay said she believes that Dr Arıklı will be “very successful” in his new position.
Dr Arıklı praised Mrs Canaltay for her “admirable performance” during her term and said she accomplished “very important projects in a short time”.
Ministry diary secretaries had a challenge on their hands on Tuesday as more handovers took place, with some ministers involved in two ceremonies.
Kutlu Evren handed over his Interior Minister job to fellow UBP and Girne MP Ünal Üstel, before travelling to the Economy and Energy
Ministry to take over from Sunat Atun.
Mr Atun then left for the Finance Ministry to take over from Dursun Oğuz, who in turn took part in a ceremony at the Agriculture and Natural Resources Ministry, where he took over from Nazım Çavuşoğlu.
Mr Çavuşoğlu then went to the National Education Ministry to take over from Oglun Amcaoğlu.
A ceremony was also held at the Foreign Ministry, as Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu handed over to Hasan Taçoy.
This is not a cabinet that will last for five
years, p12-13