Nicosia, Cyprus. Akel on Friday called for Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou to resign or be dismissed, criticising her handling of last summer’s wildfires in Limassol, water shortages and a foot-and-mouth outbreak in Larnaca.
Akel criticism of minister and government
Akel said the minister’s “chain of failures and incompetence” was damaging the country. It described the Limassol wildfire as “the biggest disaster in the annals of the state” and said no one took responsibility for what it called the “tragic management” of the fires.
Water shortages and warning of cuts
On water shortages, the party said the situation “is not only not solved, it is worsening day by day,” and warned that “imminent water cuts” would follow.
Foot-and-mouth outbreak in Larnaca
Akel said foot-and-mouth disease had developed into a crisis and that the livestock industry was suffering an unprecedented blow because measures were not taken in a timely manner. It said the minister and the government had not taken responsibility and were instead blaming others, adding that the minister was blaming farmers who were losing their livelihoods.
Minister’s response and measures
In her most recent public intervention on foot-and-mouth disease, Panayiotou promised that “no one will be left behind” and said she and the government had undertaken a “comprehensive framework of measures” to support affected sectors. She said she was in continuous and direct contact with stakeholders and in constant collaboration with scientific experts and European institutions.
Desalination plan and criticism
On water, Panayiotou has supported the installation of desalination units, with the number of operational desalination units on the island set to rise to nine by the end of next month. Coastal engineer Xenia Loizidou criticised the policy as an “incoherent panic solution.”
What do you think should be the government’s next step to address water shortages and livestock disease outbreaks?