«Trying to appease the growing anger of the islanders about the abandonment they are suffering, Mr. Mitsotakis once again handed out ... promises and smiles», point out in a joint press release of the SYRIZA - BC, Dodecanese - Nektarios Santorinios, Corfu - Avlonitis Alexandros, Cyclades - Nikos Syrmalenios, Lesvos - Giannis Bournous, Chios - Andreas Michaelides.
And they go on: «No specific policy for insularity, no measure to strengthen the islands and no plan for the recovery of island economies and societies, which are at the mercy of price inflation, fuel price increases, the failure of the executive state and the indifference of the Southwest.
The representatives of the small islands of the country spent four hours in Maximou, listening to the Prime Minister announcing funds that were already commitments and policies of the SYRIZA government. Promising NSRF money and amounts that are already managed and allocated by the Local Authorities and the individual Ministries. To «resurrect», once again, the Antonis Tritsis programme, when all the municipalities are well aware of the long delays in its implementation, if any of their proposals are finally accepted. At the same time, Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues the deception of the islands started by the Minister of Shipping, promising a supposedly «huge» support package to the island country, through the famous Nearchos program, but in the regular budget of the Ministry of National Economy, there is no credit entry, since this tool is included along with the Transport Equivalent, for 2022 in 23 million in total.!
No response to the fact that the delays in the repayments of the Transport Equivalent - the only measure that responds to the real daily needs of the islands - are up to 6 months for the tickets, while only a short time ago the companies received money for the first 6 months of 2021. No response to the underfunding of the measure leading to the postponements of payments, while the Syriza government had secured 570 million from the regular budget for the first four years of operation. No answer, finally, to the fact that this Government not only refuses to take any initiative to reduce fuel prices, which have brought the economy to its knees, but also abolished the part of the Transport Equivalent which aimed at actually reducing the price of petrol on the islands of the country, pushing prices on the islands to over 2.80€/litre.
Not a single word was heard from the lips of the Prime Minister, who is so «sensitive» to insularity, about the multi-year contracts for barren lines, which are always announced and never implemented under this Government, or about the fact that the Ministry responsible has promised funding of 130 million for the barren lines, but in the end its budget has included only 50 million. Silence for the needs of upgrading the coastal fleet and for the strengthening of coastal connections, which after the four-year period 2015-2019, our islands have begged again like beggars for a route, so as not to be deserted.
No word, yet, on the large increases in ENFIA which are estimated even 10 times over and which have brought most island households to the brink of collapse. No specific proposal to strengthen the staffing of island municipalities and services on the islands
Finally, and With great regret, we have found that Kyriakos Mitsotakis does not understand the great unrest that his Government has caused in the islands, due to the abandonment and degradation of Public Health in these islands.. Empty Health Centres, understaffed and in a tragic state of operation island hospitals, multi-purpose clinics with only one doctor for the whole island, doctors and nurses moving around trying to fill the gaps from island to island, no permanent recruitment, plans for the privatisation of island health and a plan for doctors on block contracts. This is the legacy of the South West for the islands and no amount of marathon fiestas to boost the Prime Minister's ever-crumbling profile can hide it any longer.
Our islands need immediate interventions from a Government that has proven that it cares for Islanders: Strengthening island entrepreneurship, with real financial tools and a specific set of targeted policies. A new approach, with a concrete package of measures and a strong policy agenda, with a concrete policy package and a clear set of concrete instruments. Restoring the application of the fuel component, with a subsidy at the pump. Extension of the Transport Equivalent to subsidize tickets to all taxpayers in the country, so as to stimulate domestic tourism. Immediate establishment of incentives (administrative, financial, educational, etc.) to attract permanent doctors to the islands. Increase the budgets of island hospitals. A definitive end to plans to privatise island health care.
The government is experiencing the panic of its collapse. For three years it has condemned the islands to recession and degradation and now it is trying to reverse the climate with empty promises. The only thing he needs to understand is that the sooner he leaves, the better service he will provide to the country and its islands.».
