The biggest news story over the last few days has been the sweltering heat in Kyproulla. As if anyone needed to be informed about the scorching temperatures, continuous reports and updates from the media have kept everyone on edge. While it was indeed the highest temperature recorded in early June, the extent of the coverage seemed excessive. The national broadcaster, CyBC, made the heatwave its main news story, highlighting that children in primary schools felt dizzy and some suffered nosebleeds. However, no specific numbers were provided, leaving the impression that these reports might be exaggerated.
Every day, the government issued yellow or orange warnings, a common occurrence in July and August. It would have been newsworthy if a red warning had been issued, but orange? On Friday morning, the heatwave drama had its first victim – a 60-year-old man who suffered heatstroke and was recovering in hospital. Despite the media’s portrayal, the heat was not the natural disaster it was made out to be.
Classroom Conditions and Union Concerns
The heatwave also provided an opportunity for Myria Vassiliou, head of the primary teachers’ union Poed, to speak out about the challenging conditions in classrooms without air conditioning. With secondary schools closed, Vassiliou was the only one to address this issue. She reported that many teachers felt dizzy and some children were unwell, prompting parents to collect them. No specific numbers were given.
Vassiliou used this platform to highlight the lack of air conditioning in classrooms as a significant problem facing public education. She criticized the government’s plan to install ACs over the next three years, insisting that immediate action was necessary.
Some media outlets offered advice on coping with high temperatures, which seemed unnecessary in Kyproulla, where summer temperatures above 40 degrees are common. One publication even ran a story on what to do when symptoms of heatstroke appear and who is most at risk. Despite a personal experience of playing tennis in the heat, I displayed none of the symptoms mentioned, thanks to my Cypriot DNA.
The temperature is expected to fall below 40 degrees today, just in time for the most complicated elections in our history. Voters will receive multiple ballot papers and a manual on how to vote, potentially spending up to 10 minutes in the voting booth.
This election follows a reform of local government that created 93 ‘deputy mayor’ posts for 20 municipalities. These positions have no duties or responsibilities but come with a taxpayer-funded salary. The cost-saving potential of filling these roles with volunteers instead of paid officials is significant.
While deputy mayors earn relatively modest salaries compared to MEPs, Kyproulla can elect only six MEPs. Despite their limited influence in a parliament of 720 members, our candidates claim they are not motivated by money but by a desire to represent Kyproulla.
In other news, the supreme constitutional court has allowed dismissal proceedings against Auditor-General Odysseas for inappropriate conduct. The outcome remains to be seen, but questions arise about whether senior audit office members accompanying him to court were on leave.
Ethnarch Junior defended his president against negative press, attributing it to forces that hate the president. However, he did not specify whether these were forces of evil, nature, or air forces.
PrezNikTwo decisively revoked the passport of international fraudster Jho Low, wanted for a $4.5 billion theft. This action came after his predecessor avoided revoking Low’s passport despite knowing about his crimes since 2015.
Finally, I stumbled upon a quote by Groucho Marx that seems fitting: “These are my principles. If you do not like them, I have some more.”
