A resounding self-governing slap to the political leadership of the Municipality of Kythera is the joint, open letter co-signed by six Presidents of local communities on the island. Refusing to remain passive spectators to the degradation of their areas, the local representatives from Potamos, Chora, Karavas, Logothetianika, Aroniadika and Friligianika break their silence and denounce a methodical, as they claim, political hostage-taking and indifference on the part of the Municipality.

Without resources, powers and a voice

The Presidents describe in the darkest terms how they are treated by the Municipal Authority, speaking of a daily routine where their role becomes practically decorative. The main point of their intervention is the persistent refusal of the municipality to award them the fixed advance payment - a rudimentary, self-evident tool that is applied throughout the country and is absolutely necessary for them to immediately meet the urgent daily needs of their villages.

The blame-shifting ploy and the «good» Presidents

The text takes direct shots at the central administration, accusing it of using the Presidents as a «punching bag» against the citizens, while the Municipal Authority itself turns a deaf ear to their dozens of documents and oral requests. In fact, they openly denounce the dangerous division between «good» and «bad», with the sole criterion of blindly voting for a budget that does not respond to the real, pressing priorities of the Kytherian society.

It is a landmark letter that holds the Municipal Authority accountable, demanding an end to petty politics and the transition to a meaningful, democratic cooperation.

The joint letter from the Presidents follows:

INFORMATION TO CITIZENS AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES

Mr. Mayor,

Madam and Gentlemen Councillors,

Dear fellow citizens

With this letter we wish to inform both the Municipal Authority and our fellow citizens about the daily reality we experience in our communities, but also about the way in which the Presidents of the Communities are treated by the political leadership of the Municipality of Kythera.

From the first day we took office, we have made an effort of cooperation with the sole purpose of improving the daily life of the residents and the proper functioning of our settlements. Unfortunately, the response we receive from the Municipal Authority is in the majority of cases non-existent.

One of our most basic and long-standing demands is the return of the fixed advance to the Communities. This is an elementary tool that would allow us to deal immediately with small but essential problems of everyday life, without delays and excuses. However, not only are we not provided with the fixed advance, but we do not have any other essential resource to enable us to respond to the needs of our villages.

The result is that we appear to the people who trusted us with their vote as inactive or indifferent, when in fact we are without the necessary means and without any real support. In fact, there are more than a few times when residents tell us that when they approached the municipality about a problem, they received the answer:

«What is your president doing?»

So we reasonably ask: what exactly can a President do when he has neither resources nor powers in practice? How is it possible that in large municipalities of the country the fixed advance is normally applied and in the small municipality of Kythera it is considered impossible? For us, this attitude reflects political indifference and petty politics in dealing with the Communities.

At the same time, despite the dozens of requests we make verbally, by telephone or in writing, the response is minimal to zero. Even in the Municipal Councils where we often attend with a desire to contribute creatively, we are not given the necessary space to express the views and needs of the local communities we represent. Thus, decisions are often taken without the voice of the communities themselves being heard.

And finally the question arises: how exactly can a Community President be expected to produce work without any tools in his hands? How can he not feel exposed to his fellow citizens? Unfortunately, we are often forced to shoulder responsibilities that are not ours to shoulder and to cover needs even at personal expense, because responsibility towards the people who have entrusted us is greater than the logic of indifference.

At the same time, it is particularly surprising that there is a public attempt to create a distinction between «good» and «bad» Presidents, depending on their attitude towards the Municipality's budget. But which budget are we being asked to vote for? A budget that does not include the needs and projects that local communities are asking for? A budget that responds solely to the choices of the Municipal Authority and not to the real priorities of the residents?;

This letter is not intended to be confrontational or divisive. On the contrary, our aim is to reflect the real situation and to inform citizens honestly.

We want cooperation, understanding and the effective strengthening of the Communities so that we can fulfil our role with dignity and efficiency.

If the Municipal Authority decides to support the Communities in practice, providing us with the basic means and resources, we are sure that we will be able to offer much more to our communities and contribute substantially to the improvement of the daily life of all Kythera residents.

The author and initiator,

President of the Municipal Council of Potamos Takis Alevisopoulos and the co-signing Presidents of Communities:

Hlenzou Adamantia DK Logothetianikon

Kusouris Emmanuel DK Chora

Mavromatis Emmanouil Municipality of Aroniadika

Souris Zacharias DK Karava

Maravelias Georgios DK Frilingianikon