«In the beginning there was water» or «Don't you have any water? Open a bottle of Prosecco»...

All Kytherians will become followers of Thales of Milesius. To him is attributed the phrase «In the beginning was the water»... A phrase that remains relevant in Kythera, 2,570 years after the great philosopher's death.

Residents in some communities and settlements have already started to intensive philosophy courses and ancient Greek literature in order to understand why in 2024, the 2024 water is a rare commodity in their own homes...

Some others prefer to read texts of the Enlightenment to understand «Ludovic attitudes».

Finally there are the «selfless» defenders of the Kytherian nomenklatura who attack anyone who dares to question the «sun-king» and its courtyard. After Marie Antoinette with the infamous «Have you no bread? Eat sponge cake» it is time to adopt the «don't you have water? Open a Prosecco»...

Thus, with a philosophical and poetic mood, things evolve on our small island. And if we have the stamina and the inclination to treat it mockingly, there are many who are suffering and literally «unlocked», they can't take any more mockery.

As long as the confrontation was limited between the Mayor and the opposition, things were «controlled» and relatively calm. The municipal majority initially sought to avoid discussing in the City Council the request of the entire opposition, which called for immediate measures to address the problem (and even submitted specific proposals). In the end, a «debate» was held and decisions were postponed until the autumn. Let's not get too nervous...

But at some point some residents literally exploded and then the situation «changed track».

The controversy comes to a head when the well-known lawyer Basil Spiliotopoulos sent open letter to the Prime Minister and at the same time announced his intention to file appeals and complaints to the competent authorities, inviting the citizens of the island to co-sign the text of the appeal. Mr. Spiliotopoulos characterizes the Mayor «erratic and evil municipal ruler» that instead of serving the citizens, treats them as feudal lord.

Η Evi Notara, tired of the water supply problems and the lack of serious answers to the Aroniadika, he dared to write in Facebook: «We have no water...» The acquaintance replied Giannis Semitekolos«I informed Mr Geroulanos about the friendly relations between his family and the Prime Minister, and I expect a reply from Nikos Androulakis, who was also informed!». This is where science throws its hands up...

And it wakes up the mayor's avatar who writes: «The network is being built! WE have studied it, WE we've matured it, WE we funded it, WE we manufacture it. But we can't dig up the roads in August.».

The following is the Efi Averof which states the obvious: «Bravo...every year you study it, mature it, finance it and build it? YOU do all that? In the meantime: do we have water? NO? So a hole in the water (which doesn't even exist). Don't try to make up for your shortcomings. No one told you to dig in August, the projects have to be done in advance so we can have them in August.». 

At the same time the internet was literally filled with dozens of angry complaints either for a complete lack of water, or water supply problems (from water outages to muddy water)... The supporters of the municipal majority (much more so the councillors) have already started to distance themselves.

To all this he sought to respond the rank and file of the Mayor «Kythera-Antikythera new day» with a statement. Although accused of abandoning the water supply network in the whole of Kythera, answers only for Agia Pelagia, blaming the regional authorities. As noted «The economic disengagement of the project, so that it can continue and be completed, resulting in zero ongoing damage to the area, is exclusively in the hands of the Region. In the first week of September will be at my request a wide meeting under the Vice-Regional Governor of the Islands Mr.Yannis Voutsinas who is already trying persistently to solve the issue although he bears no responsibility, where I hope to give the necessary solutions and the project to restart at the end of September.».

Of course, the responsibilities of the Region are a given. We are waiting for the statements of Mr.Chardalias, Mr.Patoulis, Mrs.Dourou and Mr.Hadjiperos. But just for the record, we note that the Regional Authority of Mrs.Dourou handed over the region with a surplus of around EUR 303 million in 2019 (and with the amount reserved for the Agia Pelagia project), while the ousted Patoulis in May 2023 reached the cash deficit at EUR 162 million. Except that there is no regional councillor who does not know how many projects were dismantled under Patoulis, and how many contractors went to court because they were not receiving payments (Councillor Androulakakis remembers this when he denounced them). Indeed, in relation to the dismissal of Mr Patoulis few believe that he wandered off for a dance... Neither the government nor Mr.Chardalias is covering him! Do you think they'll cover for Harhalakis for the mess in water supply and daily life of the island?;

The truth is that the island «boils» over the issue of water supply, but also on the way to exploit the island's water resources. Climate change is present and this is not in dispute. The reduction in rainfall is a given. But could it be the whole approach to the problem is completely amateurish?; Does some play on the backs of an island?; Some problems are not solved by litanies...

One thing is for sure, the city government cannot afford another season of water supply problems. If the same situation continues in 2025, we will have great times...