In a statement the SYRIZA - PS Kythera asks the Minister of Shipping Christos Stylianides to intervene regarding the accident of the Aqua Jewel and the ferry connection of the island. Read below:
There should be immediate government intervention for the ferry connection of Kythera
The New Democracy government has abandoned the islanders and especially the Kytherians. There are many proofs:
-The Kythera Hospital has been depleted of doctors of critical specialties.
-Closed the ELTA store in Potamos.
-Branches of banks closed
-Closed the COSMOTE branch
-The extension of the airport's runway is not progressing
-The Kythera Primary Schools remain in unsuitable buildings. The new buildings have not even been put out to tender...
-The payments of the Transport Equivalent are unduly delayed.
-Accuracy has skyrocketed. To live in Kythera on a salary or a pension is a feat!
-As a result of all this, the population of Kythera has decreased by 10% in the last decade. Especially young people are leaving our islands in search of a better fortune in Athens or abroad.
Yesterday's grounding of the Aqua Jewel at Diakofti (while the winds were blowing from the west at 5-6 Beaufort) is «the icing on the cake».
Today Kythera is blocked from the sea due to the annual immobilization of the ship «PORFYROUSA». The Ministry of Shipping has not taken care of the replacement of the...
The residents of Kythera have been constantly complaining (rightly so) about the repeated changes (or cancellations) of Aqua Jewel's itineraries.
We demand immediate government intervention and the competent Ministry of Merchant Shipping to take action:
a) to the immediate restoration of the service of the barren line Piraeus - Kythera - Antikythera - Crete, after today's accident
b) to upgrade the category of ships that will be able to participate in the tender for the Kythera barges (especially the barge that connects us with Crete).
(c) to make provision for a replacement vessel when the vessels on the line are at annual standstill.
We call on the Minister of Shipping Mr. Christos Stylianides to respond immediately to the just demands of Kytheria. Any delay is unjustified.
We call on the government to support the islanders. To adopt the measures proposed by SYRIZA for accuracy, for supporting the income of workers and especially the measures for farmers.
O.M SYRIZA - P.S. Kythera
Kythera, 06.02.2024
