‘Local government reform a bet that must be won’

The local government reform is a big bet that must work, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday, adding that the ultimate goal is the administrative autonomy and financial viability of the new local authorities and the expansion of their powers.

Addressing the inauguration of the “Mediterranean” Artists’ Park in the Turkish Cypriot neighbourhood of Skala and the restoration/upgrading of facades in Piale Pasha Street, the president said that they are two of the many and remarkable projects that have been implemented in recent years in the Municipality of Larnaca.

Referring to the artists’ park, Christodoulides said that “it will give a new cultural breath to the region and the Municipality of Larnaca, since it will provide another space for artists, especially young artists, an area that both as a state and as municipalities we are lagging behind to a significant extent, to exhibit their creations and organise performances of various interests”.

Christodoulides also reiterated his readiness to support the creation of a university in the city, in collaboration with the municipality of Larnaca. He added that there is a strong interest from Greek Universities to operate in Cyprus and in Larnaca.

He also described the local government reform as very important, adding that “today, we are on the verge of its implementation, a big bet that we have to work to win. The goal is the administrative autonomy and financial viability of the new Local Authorities, while at the same time, following the example of other European Member States, the expansion of their responsibilities, so that they can offer more and better-quality services to the citizen”.

Through the reform, Christodoulides noted, “the foundations are laid for the implementation of actions that will lead to the achievement of priorities and objectives of our administration programme, such as, for example, green transition and digital transformation”.