Onasagoras
The millions - some say billions - that we lost as a state due to the corruption of various officials are not enough. Now we will have to pay additional funds to bring in "esteemed legal experts" from abroad - specifically from Great Britain - to assist in the investigations. Clearly, we are rapidly heading back to an era where corruption was limited, somewhere around 1950.
We are also entering a new era in the fight against corruption: in the past, we would dismiss the findings of Cypriot lawyers as worthless, but now we will start dismissing the findings of foreign - internationally renowned - lawyers as well. I proudly observe how we are becoming international, my friend.
"If Justice is absent, what else is political power but organized robbery?" -Saint Augustine
However, I don't see the dove in the logo of the Republic of Cyprus very clearly. And it's not just Phaedon's allegations about carrier pigeons transporting drugs. A disappointed friend of mine from our "Banana Republic" sighed the other day, saying, "The bird has flown." But I'm not sure which of all the birds he was referring to.
The Minister of Energy had a meeting with the vultures of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) last week, and as he left there - enlightened after the meeting - he confidently stated, "EAC is not responsible for the high price of electricity, but mainly the state." Thank goodness he didn't say that the citizens are responsible. Innocent and shameless, Mr. Minister, EAC - as my grandmother used to say - takes in many like you and brings them back worse. We are all familiar with its excuses for the exorbitant electricity prices, but even a 12-year-old child, with a little studying, can easily refute them.
Clearly, the state also bears responsibility, as it benefits from high prices because they generate higher taxes and, consequently, larger revenues. However, this situation does not bother the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) at all. On the contrary, it suits them because it allows them to grant privileges to certain individuals - let it be emphasized, certain individuals - within their ranks. So, if you truly want to hold every wrongdoer accountable, Mr. Minister, start with the EAC and don't be easily swayed by their deceitful tricks and excuses.
The church was quick to punish the young deacon who was found in the stadium stands with a slingshot. It's a pity that our church did not show the same sensitivity towards priests who had engaged in infinitely worse actions. It's a shame that sometimes priests who committed shameful acts were even covered up. Little did we care when those little "rules" were acting undisturbed and their misconduct didn't bother us? Now we're outraged over a minor slingshot incident?
[This op-ed was translated from its Greek original]
