Mathiatis, Cyprus. Mathiatis village mukhtar Theodoros Tsatsos said a newly announced central prison can only be constructed on the village outskirts if the community agrees to it. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris earlier told a House human rights committee that a new central prison would be built near Mathiatis due to overcrowding at existing facilities.
Government announcement and proposed location
Fitiris told the committee that the new central prison would be constructed on the outskirts of Mathiatis. Sources told the Cyprus Mail the proposed location was towards Analiontas, where a solar farm project had been planned and later abandoned after protests by surrounding villages.
Local concerns over land use
Tsatsos said Mathiatis already hosts two army camps, archaeological sites, churches and farms. He added that 60 per cent of the land around the village belongs to Turkish Cypriots and is not available for development.
Community position and preconditions
Tsatsos said discussions within the community had not yet begun, while not ruling out that the community could ultimately agree to the prison. He said the prison would require a large area and argued that about 50 to 70 farms could be accommodated on the land earmarked for the project.
He said any decision would depend on how the ministry responded to a list of preconditions. Fitiris said the location had been presented to the community and that “there is no objection to the construction.”
Tsatsos said the community had been informed at a meeting of the intention to promote the project, but “we were not aware of a decision.” He said reaching an agreement would require the project to be presented to the community and environmental impact studies to be carried out.
What conditions would you expect to be met before a major facility is built near your community?