It is very worrying that the law breaking on Lara beach by some individuals who decided to camp there has triggered a debate about setting up an ‘organised beach’. By ‘organised’ beach, the deputy mayor of Inia, Yiangos Tsivikos, meant the setting up of sunbeds and umbrellas plus, presumably, facilities such as a café, a restaurant and perhaps a beach bar.

The head of the Paphos district office EOA, Charalambos Pittokopitis, tried to play down the incident, claiming that two families had placed umbrellas on a beach that this was not allowed and all hell broke loose. The incident was used by some as a ‘firework’ to create a big issue, talking about ‘the invasion of Lara’, said Pittokopitis, after a meeting with the new environment commissioner, Elias Myrianthous, last week.

Myrianthous did not mince his words, saying what they had done was ‘unacceptable’ and bemoaned the small fine of €50 which was not a deterrent. He also spoke of the need for more regular monitoring of Lara beach; at present inspectors only work for a few hours each day and cannot be at Lara all the time.

The Lara-Toxeftra area is an important nesting site for the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and has been legally protected since 1989. Sunbeds, umbrellas, tents and caravans are not permitted on the beach from the beginning of June until the end of September. During this period people can use the beach from one hour after dawn until one hour before dusk, sitting on their towels or straw mats.

Not every beach of Cyprus must be ‘organised’, that is, covered in sunbeds and umbrellas. On the contrary people must be given the option to enjoy beaches on which there has been no human interference or organisation, especially as there are not many such beaches left. In the case of Lara beach there is an additional reason – protecting the turtle nesting – for not having ‘facilities’ and municipal bosses must accept this.

Keeping Lara beach in its natural state is non-negotiable and it was important that there was a strong public reaction to what happened a couple of weeks ago. Organised groups as well as individuals must always be on alert, because there will always be municipal bosses of the area looking for ways to change the law. Three years ago, there was a proposal to turn Lara into an ‘organised’ beach on the way to the council of ministers for approval, but it was stopped by the head of the Fisheries Department that warned that this was illegal.

The attempts to commercialise Lara beach are ongoing, even though this is against the law of the country. It is happening again, but public resistance thankfully has seen off the threat. At least for now.