«In dangerous waters the implementation of the Transport Equivalent», notes in a statement, the MP for Chios and Deputy Minister of Island Policy of SYRIZA, Andreas Michaelides, who points out:
Unprecedented and extremely worrying are the delays in the payment of the Transport Equivalent to citizens and businesses on the islands.
The recent statements of the Secretary General of the Aegean and Island Policy, not only did not reassure the islanders, but intensified the fears of those who pointed out that the ideological allergy of the Southwest for the measure would lead to its devaluation.
It was announced that in mid-January 2022 the obligations relating to the four months of June - September 2021 for passengers will be paid «gradually», while there are still outstanding debts to some companies relating to 2020!
Even if this happens, which would in any case constitute an unacceptable delay, and even more so at a time when households and businesses are being hit by the growing wave of uncertainty, the reference to «budgetary difficulties» is of additional concern.
Given that in the submitted Budget for 2022, the funds related to the Transport Equivalent remain stagnant, we are entitled to conclude in conjunction with the above that not only will delays in payments continue, but also that in general the implementation and financing of this predominantly island policy has entered dangerous waters, by choice and responsibility of the government of the Southwest.
