Demand for Transparency in Akamas Investigation
Amidst growing concerns over the preservation of Akamas, a coalition of environmental groups has called for the immediate release of the final report from an administrative investigation into alleged illegal interventions in Akamas. The groups, which include Terra Cypria, BirdLife Cyprus, the Cyprus Wildlife Society, and the Natural Coastline Initiative, are pressing for full disclosure regarding the construction activities on specific roads within the protected area.
The urgency of the matter was heightened following admissions by the former agriculture minister that the works carried out in Akamas were flawed, with various irregularities coming to light. However, despite these acknowledgments, the government has not yet presented the findings to Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides.
The environmental groups are adamant that the Ministry of Agriculture must acknowledge breaches of environmental conditions that were legally binding and crucial during Phase A’ of the main road network’s improvement. They insist that identifying and assigning responsibilities is crucial to prevent future violations and to uphold the integrity of special ecological assessments (SEA) for projects in Natura 2000 sites.
Furthermore, these organizations have requested that the investigation’s outcomes be discussed by the parliamentary environment committee and reviewed by the audit service, which had originally commissioned the independent inquiry. They emphasize that transparency and accountability are fundamental principles that should guide all actions related to this case.
Auditor-General Michaelides had previously pointed out that the controversy revolves around a questionable agreement between the forestry department and a particular contractor. These concerns raise numerous questions about the procedural integrity of the deal.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has announced plans to resume work in the area on April 2, with completion expected by early May. This statement has further fueled the demand from environmentalists for a swift and transparent resolution to the ongoing
