The municipal faction «All together, Kythera-Antikythera» issued a press release following the latest inconvenience experienced by passengers tonight due to the Aqua Jewel's inability to reach Kythira. Read on.
PRESS RELEASE
«All together, Kythera-Antikythera»
«When will Kythira find the Aqua Jewel;»
Who is gambling with the future of Kythira? Who continues to show indifference toward the lives of the residents and the progress of our island? What interests are pushing for a ferry that is clearly problematic?;
Once again, the Aqua Jewel «didn’t make it» to Diakofti. The captain cited «severe weather conditions» in the area (weather reports indicated 5–6 Beaufort, westerly winds). The ship continued on to Antikythira and Kissamos and will return tomorrow in the hope that the winds will have died down and it will finally make it… The passengers are protesting vehemently. They wanted to come to Kythira, not go on a cruise…
The situation is, to put it mildly, third-world. Government officials have once again forced the deployment of a ship that is unsuitable for our island. It is the same ship that ran aground on the breakwater last winter, leaving Kythira and Antikythira without a ferry connection. The Mayor (who is also a member of the Coastal Transport Council…) had promised us realistic and workable solutions, but once again we’re left with a ferry that’s unable to serve the island as soon as the weather turns a bit rough.
Our party had requested that the ship’s classification be upgraded and that a study be conducted on the port of Diakofto. Our request was ignored. Instead, we were accused of populism.
We are raising the issue once again: A ship suitable for the weather conditions prevailing in our seas must be deployed. A study should be conducted on the port. Anything less is simply a farce. Anything less threatens the lives of the residents and the island’s economy. The municipality and the other institutional bodies of our islands must take a stand.
