Kythera without a ferry connection - anger of residents and reactions of the mayor

Kythira is currently cut off from ferry service, as the ship Aqua Jewel of the company SeaJet suspended its ferry service, leaving the island without maritime transportation. The situation has caused enormous outrage among residents, who accuse the government of indifference and a lack of a substantive island policy. Read Vangelis Valavanis’s report on the DocumentoNews.

Kythira: Huge Outrage on the Island Left Without a Ferry – The Mayor’s Response to documentonews.gr

Kythira, with its ferry service cut off, has joined the long list of islands that prove that island policy is a foreign concept to Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s government. The island of Aphrodite is now completely cut off from the sea, as SeaJet’s Aqua Jewel has suspended its service.

It is worth noting that this route is included among the Ministry of Shipping’s subsidized unprofitable routes. This route operates twice a week, traveling between the ports of Piraeus–Kythira–Antikythira – Kissamos, while the other route follows the Gythio–Kythira–Antikythira–Kissamos route and was also operated twice a week. Public outrage has reached a fever pitch on the island, with residents speaking to documentonews.gr and asking:

«At long last, when will there no longer be two Greeces in this land? When will the people of the ’Barren Line’ feel secure rather than abandoned? When will they feel that those in charge are thinking of them, caring about them, and working for them? When, I wonder, will they feel that those in charge aren’t just sitting back carefree in their ministerial or municipal armchairs?;

Could it be that Giorgos Katsaros’s song «We’ll Never Find Kythira—We Missed the Ferry,» in addition to its allegorical meaning, is now taking on a literal one as well? The farcical and unacceptable situation in ferry service between the two islands that we see today certainly provides a resounding and damning answer to our question.».

A few days ago, Alexandros Meikopoulos, head of the Infrastructure & Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Island Policy for SYRIZA-PS, stating:

«The suspension of the ferry service will have serious consequences for passenger access, supplies, and food distribution. The islands do not thrive only during the summer months. The minister in charge has been made aware of this and must take action to ensure the continued ferry service between Kythira and Antikythira. We are waiting.».

Business owners on the island also issued a strongly worded letter of protest regarding the ferry blockade of Kythira, accusing the Mitsotakis government of causing the economic stranglehold that could lead the island, while serious problems could even arise with the supply of raw materials!

Impact

Among other things, the island's professionals point out:

• Crisis in the primary sector: The island’s organic egg production facility is at risk, as the inability to transport raw materials and products will lead to the destruction of thousands of eggs, resulting in incalculable economic losses.
• A blow to farmers and ranchers: Without a supply of animal feed and raw materials, producers are unable to continue their operations.
• Shortage of basic goods in supermarkets: The inability to restock is leaving shelves empty, causing serious problems for residents and visitors.
• Collapse of local product exports: Businesses that export products off the island face the risk of financial ruin due to the suspension of ferry service.
• Impact on gas stations and building materials businesses: The supply shortage is affecting the entire market on the island. This poses a serious risk to patients and emergency transportation.

Residents with health issues are also at risk due to the simultaneous suspension of the two ferry routes, with Kythira’s professionals demanding an immediate solution to the isolation of their island from the Ministry of Shipping, the government, and all relevant agencies.

Mayor of Kythira: «We’ll know on Thursday what’s going to happen»

documentonews.gr contacted the mayor of Kythira, Stratos Charhalakis, to ask him what steps he plans to take regarding this major issue for his island. .

As he told us:

«The company unilaterally declared a layup, even though its original plan was for the layup to take place from March 10 to April 10. A week ago, it sent a letter to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs regarding the ship’s suspension of service, citing technical reasons. We know that the local ferry (i.e., the connection to Neapolis) would not run from March 10 to March 10 because this has been the case for the past 10 years. Right now, the island is accessible only by plane. Just imagine: I’m in Athens right now and was planning to travel down from Gythio, but an announcement came out stating that due to the 10-Beaufort winds we’re experiencing down there, the ferry services would not be operating. On Thursday, our issue was added as an emergency item to the agenda of the Coastal Transport Council (S.A.S.), where I serve as a representative of KEDE, and efforts are underway to find a solution, which will be announced on Thursday.».

When we asked whether a solution would be found to the ferry blockade of Kythira, the mayor replied:

«We're going to hold a protest at the Ministry. Is the island going to be left without a ferry? Are they making fools of us? The minister is nowhere to be found.».