**Lifeguards Call for Improved Beach Safety and Permanent Positions in Cyprus**
In a concerted effort to enhance beach safety, approximately 150 professional lifeguards from across Cyprus assembled outside the interior ministry on Thursday morning. This gathering was not a day at the beach but a protest demanding an overhaul in beach service that includes an increase in permanent positions, enactment of the national ‘Salamis’ plan, and the creation of a central beach service.
The lifeguards highlighted notable deficiencies in lifeguard equipment, such as life belts, first aid kits, and defibrillators. They emphasized the need for upgraded lifeguard towers and regular servicing of existing equipment to ensure the safety of beachgoers. With staffing levels reported as inadequate, many younger lifeguards face uncertainty over contract lengths, which range from four to eight months. The protesters stressed the importance of staffing beaches year-round, not only during peak summer months.
The EU policy chief of the interior ministry, Patrina Taramidou, engaged with the lifeguards and committed to initiating a dialogue after discussing their concerns with higher-ups in the ministry. The ministry acknowledged the ongoing evaluation of the lifeguard protection system and suggested interim measures such as utilizing permanent posts and extending employment for seasonal lifeguards.
Labour unions Sek and Peo have thrown their support behind the lifeguards’ cause. Sek general secretary Giorgos Constantinou criticized the ministry’s delay in implementing decisions that could advance the ‘Salamis’ plan and affect public safety on beaches.
Peo’s general secretary, Michalis Archontides, identified unsupervised beaches as a significant safety hazard and insisted that the ‘Salamis’ plan could mitigate risks by establishing clear guidelines for lifeguard tower placement and staffing.
This protest underscores a critical issue affecting both the lifeguards’ welfare and the safety of beachgoers. The resolution lies not only in addressing the immediate need for better lifeguard equipment but also in establishing a more robust beach service infrastructure as envisioned by the ‘Salamis’ plan. As discussions between the protesting lifeguards and the interior ministry continue, there is hope for a safer and more secure future for Cyprus’s beaches.
For continued coverage on this developing story, follow updates from the Cyprus Mail.
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