«I have a dream,» said American civil rights activist Martin Luther King, speaking at a Jobs and Freedom Rally in Washington DC. It was August 28, 1963 and he was calling for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States. At the time many laughed at his demands. They were considered unattainable. Today, 61 years later, many of his demands are now a reality. The reason? His speech was heard by 250,000 citizens and many more adopted his «dream» and fought for it... So they achieved it, with vision and faith, not defeatism and resignation!
Why this introduction? Simply because the (temporary) launch in Kythera of a ship that can do the Piraeus-Kythera route in about 4 hours, allows us to dream! But we want to hope that there are many people who can dream with us and are willing to claim that a ship with such characteristics can be launched in Kythera. Besides, the older ones may remember the MILLOS EXPRESS which had similar characteristics for the time. Is it «maximalism» to claim a similar ship decades later? No!
So let us decide that misery and defeatism are not for us. Let's leave it to others, you know who we are referring to.
Let's talk about a «dream» when it comes to Kythera and transport. A dream whose realization will «bring Kythera closer» to Attica. It will bring it closer to sustainable development, to the preservation of its inhabitants and the attraction of new ones, to the development of the economy and especially tourism.
Let's define this «dream» and say what it will contain:
- Improvement of the port in Diakofti after a study that must be done immediately.
- Launching a safe ship that can cover the distance Piraeus-Kythera in about 4 hours. The barren line should be the Piraeus-Kythera-Antikythera-Crete connection with similar calls at Gythio.
- Maintaining the Neapolis-Kythira-Antikythera line with the reliability it has today.
- Increase the density of air services in winter to at least one flight a day
- Improvement and expansion of the main passenger terminal and the runway to accommodate larger planes.
- Improvement of the road network in the Sparta-Neapolis section with the extension of the “MOREAS” motorway (as claimed by the Municipality of Monemvasia, which will also help the development of Laconia).
- Improvement of the road network of Kythera, especially the axis connecting north-south.
- Creation of a municipal transport service to meet the needs of residents and visitors, especially the youth.
- Implementation of the much-announced network of charging stations for electric cars, at least in large and tourist villages.
Is that too much to ask? No, because this is the only way to implement the notorious announcements about «regional development» and keeping our islands alive.
Is it expensive what we are asking for? No, because the development of Kythera can provide an outlet for a significant number of tourists who consider many Greek destinations to be oversaturated and are looking for alternatives.
This kind of development will create business activity and jobs, not only in the tourism sector but also in the agri-food and related services, because everything is a chain. It will bring the much-needed increase in the active population on our islands.
In other words, it will bring benefits and revenues that will soon recoup the required investment.
A prerequisite for the above is that they be adopted by the vast majority of Cypriots (and fellow Cypriots).
The prerequisite is that they must be asserted with determination.
The prerequisite is to believe in our own strengths.
We can. It can be done!
- Koroneos John
- Lourantos Manolis (Pierros)
- Megaloconomos Cosmas
- Michalakakis Spyros
- Prekkas Ippolytos
- Charalambos Sougianis
- Sideri Anastasia
- Zacharias Souris
- Manos Trifyllis Manos
- Haros Manolis
