In a new press release, the «All Together – Kythira – Antikythira» municipal faction responds to Deputy Mayor Mr. Stratigos:
Welcome, even if he was late…
We welcome Deputy Mayor G. Stratigos to Kythira. It is with great relief that we read the statement from the (who has been absent for the past two months), in which he reassures us and assures us that he is carrying out his duties from his apartment in Athens. His presence here just so happens to coincide with the carnival celebrations. We are certain that he will continue to honor us with his presence at other festivals and anniversaries as well…
Mr. Stratigos’s admission that he has been away from Kythira for the past two months fully vindicates our leader, Mr. Souris, and our municipal faction regarding the revelations that preceded this. We live here with our families; we struggle every day to keep the island alive—we do not make a living from a distance.
We have pointed out many times that the Mayor of Kythira, through his actions, undermines the democratic functioning of municipal bodies, penalizes those of us who are elected officials and work in the private sector, by scheduling meetings for the early morning and midday hours. Nevertheless, we are present… It is with disappointment that we observe that during this term, the Mayor is taking the degradation of the Municipality’s operations one step further. As he himself admitted, he has established an informal government in Athens and is content to merely go through the motions of holding meetings (always joint sessions), treating the body as if it were a group of natives. He continues to show contempt for the Kythira Municipal Council through his absence. He was even absent from the accountability hearing!
Let’s return to the case of Mr. Stratigos. If he prefers to carry out his duties from the center of Athens rather than from Kythira (aside from the administrative issue that will be investigated), he should consider his moral responsibility and think of the 3,500 residents who live here year-round. His personal place of residence is of no concern to us. What matters to us are the actual days he spends performing his duties. If he thinks he can carry them out only during three-day national holidays and public holidays and for a short time around the Feast of the Assumption, then we will disappoint him. Very soon he’ll find himself at a dead end and he’ll remember us.
And since he mentioned Mr. Sougiannis, who «divided his time» (as he casually notes), how does Mr. Stratigos—who has been out of the picture for two months now—think he divides his time? Unless, of course, the few days he spent on our islands since the beginning of 2024 felt like an eternity…
Let’s be serious: some of us face the problems of our region every day, while others treat us as natives, as second-class «country bumpkins.» The position of deputy mayor carries responsibilities that cannot be fulfilled remotely. The monthly stipend each deputy mayor receives carries with it a responsibility toward the residents who are struggling to provide for their families…
There will come a time for some people when they will take a closer look at their problems and realize that they are part of those problems.
Happy Koulouma.
