Nicosia, Cyprus. School bus services in the north will be halted from Wednesday, Turkish Cypriot bus operators’ association Kar-Is chairman Fuat Topaloglu said, citing four months of missed payments. He said the decision was taken out of necessity and held the government responsible.
Announcement and reasons given
Topaloglu said school bus services would be suspended from Wednesday and blamed the government for the situation. He said the decision was made “out of necessity” due to missed payments.
Message to parents and criticism of government
Addressing parents, Topaloglu said, “mothers and fathers; this government, which does not give labour its just desserts, is the one which is making victims out of your children.” He also criticised the north’s ruling coalition and said the association would not engage with what he described as the “lies” of Finance Minister Ozdemir Berova and the government.
Previous statements on unpaid dues
A day earlier, Topaloglu said that “for four months, they have not paid us a single kurus,” and said both bus company owners and drivers were “exhausted.” He accused Berova of “trying to deceive the sector with lies” and described the missed payments as “a clear failure of governance.”
Background and response request
The kurus is the subunit of the Turkish Lira, with one kurus equal to around a fiftieth of a cent. The Cyprus Mail said it has contacted Ozdemir Berova and is awaiting a response.
How will the suspension of school bus services affect your family’s plans from Wednesday?
