Nicosia, Cyprus. Birdlife Cyprus warned on Tuesday that delays in processing an appeal against ongoing works at Pentakomo port could lead to irreversible environmental damage. The NGO said the case was classified as urgent, but a court decision has not yet been issued.
Warning over delays in an urgent case
Birdlife Cyprus director Melpo Apostolidou said that when a case is handled under an urgent procedure, delays in making a decision undermine the purpose of the legal process. The NGO said that work on the port has continued since the hearing, further burdening the area and increasing the risk of irreversible impacts.
Permits and motivation behind the project challenged
In its appeal, Birdlife Cyprus, together with Friends of the Earth, questioned the legality of environmental and planning permits issued for the works. The organisations alleged that the motivation behind the construction was to serve the fish farming sector.
Timeline and concerns about administration of justice
A first hearing was held in September, and the court ordered all involved parties to expedite the case because ongoing construction works were already visible in the region. Birdlife Cyprus said that six months later, the absence of a decision raised serious questions about the timely and effective administration of justice in an urgent case.
Environmental significance of the area
Birdlife Cyprus stressed the importance of protecting the region, saying it is home to the critically endangered monk seal and could pose an immediate threat to the animal. The organisation described the Pentakomo case as a crucial legal process for the protection of one of Cyprus’s most important remaining natural areas.
What do you think should happen when an urgent environmental case remains undecided while construction continues?