The the issue of migration was widely discussed at the 14th meeting (Monday 31/10/2022) of the City Council with several convergences but also criticism on the part of the opposition.
Harsh criticism reserved the Councillor of the minor opposition George Didimiotis who characterized «party fiesta» the award ceremony organised by the Ministry of Shipping to honour the Kytherians for the rescue of migrants. He added that «the Mayor rightly said that an island is awarded to him. But probably in reality this is arrogant. An island is not rewarded in the person of a mayor because there are many cases where in the past the mayor did not even give people water to drink. So let's not turn around now and smile at the praise that a minister gives us.» Also Mr. Didimiotis said for the absence of Mr Katsanevakis from the award: «I think that not having Mr. Katsanevakis participate in such fiestas is rather an honour for him, not only for him but also for anyone else who was invited or not invited.’.
It was preceded by the Mr. Mugula's review who was the first to question the absence of Mr Katsanevakis from the award ceremony, but he did Review and the fact that the migrants of the first incident of October were left for 4 days and nights at the pier of Kapsali without the basic care of the Municipality».
Ο Mayor responding to the opposition's criticism on the issue of awards referred to the minister who was responsible for the ceremony, while on the subject of the award of Katsanevakis said that his award is for all his colleagues. While stating that expects the Minister of Migration, Mr. Notis Mitarakis, in Kythera.
They agree on the development of a new Civil Protection Plan covering every crisis
Mr. Magoulas expressed the position of his party for training a new Civil Protection Plan on the occasion of the incidents with migrants in Kapsali and in Diakofiti. Recalled that the same line is in the same line and the opposition through an official statement by Deputy Mayor Haralambos Sougianne after the events of Diakofti, but the faction «We Live Here» which first opened the the issue of establishing a municipal protocol for such situations.
And yet the Municipality, from its rigidity before the refugee shipwreck, shows other reflexes and changes its policy
It seems that the tragic shipwreck changed the Mayor's rigid attitude who last August he told in.gr that the municipality has no funds to handle refugee flows nor the infrastructure to cope with the needs, and is unable to provide a space.
Finally, spaces were found, opened the schools of Frillingianikon and Mitata and funds were found after the municipality allocated money for the needs of the persecuted refugees.
It is recalled that yesterday it was decided by the Economic Committee the submission of the Municipality Proposal for funding from the Solidarity Fund of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum. The Municipality is requesting funding of €570.400 for the following:
- «Supply of essentials for the reception and short stay of migrants in Kythera»
- «Supply of special equipment and rescue means»
- «Conversion of a municipal property into a Civil Protection and Short Term Management Centre for Migration Flows»
