Charalambos Sougiannis: «stops» Tallarou from «leveling» the Harhalakis tourism project

In a statement, Kythira Deputy Mayor Charalambos Sougiannis responds in the critique by Eleni Tallarou, a member of the «Free Kythira» political group, presenting arguments and putting a stop to the «dismantling» of the municipal government’s work over the past 9 years. Read Mr. Sougiannis’s statement

THE TRUTH ABOUT TOURISM:

It is very encouraging that young people are deciding to become actively involved in public life and take part in public discourse. After all, for some of us who have reached a certain age and continue to participate, it is precisely to pave the way for the younger generation.

Setting aside the fact that Ms. Tallarou was involved in tourism, she completely dismissed the work of the municipal administration—which consists not only of the mayor, but of all elected officials, the municipal council members, the local district chairpersons, and the municipality’s employees, We will use her recent post as an opportunity to respond to her allegations by presenting the REAL TRUTH about TOURISM!

1. Let’s start with the issue of cruises, which, following the maritime accident involving the Costa Classica (July 19, 1997), ceased calling at Kythira. Since then, the regulations governing the docking of international cruise ships have changed and become stricter. In 2014, when our political group took over the administration of the municipality, we began the process of gradually reintroducing cruises, which requires infrastructure and safety procedures that were not required 20 or 30 years ago. This infrastructure constitutes the «accreditation» of the Port of Kapsali as a destination for international cruise ships, in accordance with the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code), which serves as the «passport» for our port in the eyes of cruise lines—a code that, even in major island ports ranked among the top 10 for cruise arrivals in Greece, was completed in 2020 or later (e.g., Rhodes, Syros, etc.) or has not yet been completed (Samos, etc.). This is not some kind of «Port Security Certificate» that can be easily awarded, but rather the proper implementation of Ministerial Decision 3113.11/43730/2007, as reflected in the Port Facility Security Plan (PSSP) with the aim of establishing reciprocal fees for the provision of services that enhance the security of ships, port facilities, and ports. The Kythira Port Authority completed the PSIP as early as 2016–2017 and immediately requested funding for its implementation. The funding was approved, but the Archaeological Service took an excessive amount of time to approve the execution of the works, as the Port of Kapsali is in direct line of sight with the Castle. Furthermore, because the Municipal Port Fund lacks administrative capacity—as it has no staff (through no fault of the current Municipal Authority or the current Municipal Port Fund Administration)— the delay in putting the ISPS projects out to bid was even greater. Once these facilities are completed, the Port Authority will be able to increase its revenue, as a key requirement of the Ministerial Decision is the proper implementation of the SAL, supported by the installation and operation of controlled-access systems at the Port of Kapsali, primarily for non-Schengen passengers. Furthermore, since 2016, the Port Authority has appointed a (and a deputy) Port Facility Security Officer (PFS), who is on duty whenever a cruise ship calls at Kapsali (since coastal cruise ships also call at the port).

2. In Diakofti, light reigns supreme, not darkness. Under the administration of this municipal government, the Municipal Port Authority installed modern LED lighting at the port, as well as at the other six ports under its jurisdiction, so that light now illuminates everything. In Diakofto in particular, modern passenger waiting facilities were created through the LEADER program, and the installation of a desalination plant and new
   water supply networks, renovation and automation of reservoirs and pumping stations to permanently resolve the water supply problem, a modern and safe playground, new street lighting on the road to the harbor, replacement of the metal guardrails on the bridge leading to the harbor, the procurement and installation of a “seatrack” to provide safe access to the sea for people with disabilities, etc.

3. Based on studies commissioned by the Port Authority and funded with over €600,000 from the Public Investment Program, the Region, and the FILODIMOS program, port infrastructure development projects are being planned, such as the installation of a cruise ship service terminal in Kapsali, projects to improve and protect the port of Agia Pelagia, as well as improvements and repairs at Agia Patrikia and elsewhere, in order to upgrade services in the maritime tourism and cruise sectors. These studies were put out to bid in their entirety by the Port Authority, a process that, as discussed above, was anything but easy.

4. The Thessaloniki–Kythira–Kalamata air route was not only funded but also put out to bid—twice, in fact—by the Civil Aviation Authority. However, both tenders were declared VOID. In other words: no airline was interested in operating the route. And so, we requested that a new nonstop route to Kalamata be subsidized, an issue we will raise again with the new government, as it is well known that municipalities do not own their own ships or airplanes. Attached below is the recent correspondence on this matter.

5. The Municipality’s delegations to tourism fairs have never been «large.» They usually consist of one employee and one or two elected officials. Tourism professionals also participate at their own expense, not at the municipality’s! And of course, the results are measurable, as are the results of promotional activities in general: In 2014, annual arrivals (May–October) totaled 72,571; in 2016, 78,224; in 2019, 79,637, and in 2022, 81,672! In other words, during our term in office (during which, I’d like to remind you, we faced capital controls in 2015 and the pandemic in 2020–22), arrivals increased by nearly 13%. One might say, «Big deal,» but we would do well to ask ourselves how many people the island can ultimately accommodate without creating problems for its infrastructure and logistics. That is the key question, and we look forward to a serious statement on this matter.

6. For the Municipal Authority, the municipality’s greatest contribution to tourism is its INFRASTRUCTURE (a clean island with modern waste management, safe road access to tourist areas and beaches, revitalization and enhancement of the value of settlements, major water supply and sewer projects) and securing FUNDING through public spending of nearly 6,000,000€, via the Islands Network under the LEADER program, along with 60 private investments (catering, tourist accommodations, the primary sector, fishing and specialty tourism, manufacturing, and services, etc.), through which our island is establishing itself as a destination that invests first and foremost in quality rather than in shaky foundations that can easily crumble (of which, unfortunately, there are many examples).

7. Egchoria is the sole authority responsible for the campground and the Mylopotamos Cave; we not only collaborate with them but also do whatever is asked of us to expedite the procedures.

Because we want to believe that Ms. Tallarou, as a young person and a scientist, is primarily driven by a genuine interest in and concern for the future of our islands, and not simply by an intention to undermine and slander the Municipal Authority, we invite her—as we do every citizen—to visit City Hall to learn about any issue she wishes.

And of course, aside from her criticism—no matter how harsh or intense it may be—it will always be welcome, as it gives us the opportunity to showcase, little by little, a small part of our vast body of work. And because for criticism to be valuable, it must be accompanied by the participation of the person offering it, for us, her EXPERTISE and KNOWLEDGE regarding the actions that needed to be taken by the Municipal Authority would be INVALUABLE, in order to overcome the aforementioned delays:
(a) the issuance of the “Port Security Certificate,” which, as mentioned, “is relatively easy to obtain,”,
(b) the legalization of the building at the Port of Diakofto,
(c) the expansion of the airport runway,
(d) the financing of the Thessaloniki–Kythira–Kalamata line,
e) regarding the Camping and Mylopotamos Cave sites.
We are eagerly awaiting Ms. Tallarou’s response, hoping that the “principle of cooperation”—which, as she states, serves as the “compass of the ELEFTHERA KYTHIRA faction”— will allow her to share her PROPOSALS with us, “so that our beautiful islands can rise even higher”!!!

Wednesday, June 28, 2023
CHARALAMBOS ALEX. SOUGIANNIS
Deputy Mayor
Public Works, Spatial Planning & Environment, Deputy Mayor

• Attached are 3 documents regarding the “Thessaloniki–Kythira–Kalamata” flight route:

1. The document with reference number 868/06-03-2023 from the Mayor of Kythira to the Commander of the Civil Protection Authority
   Aviation,
2. The document with reference number 6958/05-04-2023 from the Administrator of the Civil Aviation Authority to the Mayor
   Kythira,
3. The document with reference number 1485/05-04-2023 from the Mayor of Kythira to the Civil Aviation Authority