In 2016 – nine years ago – I was part of a campaign with experts and dedicated volunteers from Cyprus and abroad urging the authorities to implement specific measures to prevent tragedies like the recent death of a nine-month-old baby left in a car during Cyprus’ spring heatwave. 

Parents make mistakes. They are exhausted, juggling work, childcare and life’s demands. As a father of three, I know first-hand the brain fog that can lead to unthinkable errors. 

That’s why, as a society, we must support each other.

We presented the Cypriot authorities with clear recommendations in writing, which were even picked up by the media, yet they were ignored.

One such measure was a simple safeguard: if a child fails to arrive at daycare as expected, staff should call the parents within 15-30 minutes. This, among other proposals, was shelved for nearly a decade. 

Only now, after another tragedy, will it be adopted – and this is yet to be confirmed.

This pattern of inaction extends far beyond child safety. 

It took 20 years to install road safety cameras. Faulty airbags, known to be lethal, are still in circulation despite fatalities. And buses full of children routinely break the law: speeding, cutting lanes, eschewing seatbelts and indicators. 

Entertainment venues – potential fire traps like the one that killed scores in Northern Macedonia – remain unchecked. Dangerous, deteriorating balconies continue to collapse with audits stagnating. Worksite inspections are inadequate, as seen in the near-disaster of the theatre roof collapse in Nicosia. Workplace safety education remains neglected, leading to avoidable deaths.  

How many more Mari-scale disasters must we endure before Cyprus functions as a responsible state?

Costa Constanti