In a press release issued by the combination “Kythira Antikythera Antikythera We live here”, accuses the mayor, Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis that, in the midst of a pandemic crisis, it is attempting to alter the character of the River Bazaar through the adoption of an operating regulation, «which provides the possibility of transferring him to another village», and at the same time leads to the extinction of small sellers of handmade souvenirs and small manufacturing.
At the same time, attached and the alternative proposal of the combination, which, according to the announcement of the combination, «concealed from the file of the alleged consultation».
In it, the municipal faction “Kythera Antikythera We live here” proposes the formulation of an overall framework for the operation of the Bazaar, which will support primary production, stimulate the two-way communication between the local community and visitors and strengthen the existing operating framework, which will ensure a promising future for the institution.
The following is the party's announcement and its alternative proposal.
The combination “Kythira Antikythera Antikythera We live here” totally rejects the Mayor's choice to vote for the regulation of the bazaar in Potamos that provides for the possibility of transferring to another village!! removes all the small vendors small processing (jams, spoon sweets, pickles, handmade pasta), excludes even the sale of eggs. It removes the artists with small handmade souvenirs .
Instead of keeping the bazaar as it has been since 1927 with the existing operating permit and adapting the regulation to the actual situation, it leads to its shrinkage and obsolescence.
The Mayor chooses a period with closed shops, closed bazaar, meetings in rotation to lead to the shrinkage of a four hundred year old market that not even Metropolitan Meletios managed to dissolve.
It invokes a euphemistic consultation that no one knows what was proposed and, furthermore, conceals the alternative proposal that our group submitted within the deadline.
We call for an end to the selective use of the articles of the law on flea markets , to implement the promises of alternative access to the River parking lot, and to follow the pedestrianization on Sundays. .
Only under these conditions and the restoration of normality in economic and social life can we discuss the necessary rules of operation.
In any case, the responsibility for the developments is assumed by both the Mayor and the majority councillors who support these choices. .
We attach the proposal that is withheld from the so-called consultation file.
Kontoleon Dimitris
Didymiotis George
Manos Trifyllis
Proposal for a combination “Kythera Antikythera We live here” for the River Bazaar.
The combination “Kythira Antikythera Antikythera We live here” welcomes the effort to formulate a framework for operation. Besides, this was our programmatic pursuit.
We believe that the upgrading of the Sunday Bazaar in Potamos should be based on the promotion of the identity of the village, the uniqueness of the square, the public space as a host for the development of a participatory economy and not individual profitability, the festive atmosphere with all the shops of the village open and the existence of cultural activities.
Products promoted on the square must be :
- Support Primary Production (especially high value products and not intensive farming),
- They reinforce targeted small-scale manufacturing combined with primary production,
- They attribute to the seller added value resulting from the processing of primary products and not from the simple distribution and sale without an intermediary.
- They follow the rules of proper production, processing and standardisation.
The authentic character of the Bazaar concerns all that is described in the 1961 declaration to the people of Kythera and has nothing to do with untruthful approaches and what we have been reading lately.
This “Sunday feast” is addressed to both residents and visitors. Consequently, it is necessary to have souvenirs and appropriate packaging and not only fresh agricultural products.
On this basis, we propose to include the products provided for by the Article 7 of Law 4497/2017, without the cuts proposed by the draft regulation,
Implement Article 45 of the same law on the sale of art and handicrafts of personal creation,
To implement Article 38 (2) with the possibilities of the Municipality to determine the items sold.
The competent committee will check at the time of licensing that the conditions for licensing are met and any necessary checks thereafter.
In Article 5 of the draft regulation, we call for Law 4497 to be applied, “the right to participate shall be granted to producers who have the legal documents” and not only to farmers.
For anything not provided for in the ordinance, the city council is responsible, not the finance committee.
We request that any provision for the permanent relocation of the bazaar from River Square be removed.
The demarcation of the bazaar should provide for the possibility of expansion in the future in conjunction with the pedestrianisation and not only refer to the square, without any provision for tomorrow. !!!!
The consultation of the Municipality on the regulation and the issues that arise should include, apart from the vendors - producers, obviously the opinion of the Local Council and the shopkeepers of the River.
