Newsroom / CNA
The mayor of Paphos, Angelos Onesiforou, has expressed strong anger over the condition of the Minoos area in Kato Paphos, also known as the Fishing Village, describing it as an “image of abandonment” that damages both the city and its tourist reputation.
In a public statement, the mayor said the situation in the area is unacceptable for a modern European city, adding that the municipality will now move ahead with a full plan to clean up and restore the space.
“Our goal is simple: a city that is clean, well-maintained, and worthy of its citizens,” he told CNA.
He said the work will begin on Wednesday, with a comprehensive intervention aimed at both restoring the area and preventing it from falling back into neglect.
“It is our duty to ensure that every neighborhood and public space reflects order, cleanliness, and respect for citizens,” he said.
The Minoos area was officially inaugurated in 2021 with the aim of becoming a reference point for Kato Paphos. Five years later, however, the mayor says the reality on the ground is very different.
According to the municipality, people are currently living and sleeping in the open, under trees, in bushes, in parks, and inside abandoned Turkish Cypriot properties, under conditions the mayor says are not acceptable for a European city.
He also said repeated complaints from residents have not been met with effective action from the relevant authorities.
In particular, he criticized the absence of police presence, as well as what he described as a lack of meaningful response from welfare services, which he said are only observing the situation without intervening in a substantial way.
The mayor also raised concerns over infrastructure in the area, saying facilities such as offices and canteens built with public funds remain closed and unused. He said this has led to vandalism and further deterioration, turning parts of the area into makeshift shelters.
He described the situation on the ground as including accumulated rubbish, heavy dirt, and strong smells, an image he said reflects total neglect.
The statement also referred to problems affecting the local mosque and public toilets, which the mayor said have effectively been taken over, leaving both residents and visitors without access to basic services.
The Minoos area covers around 10,000 square meters and includes buildings, green spaces, and a playground. It is also located near key archaeological sites and popular tourist spots visited by thousands each year.
Despite this, the mayor said it has been left to deteriorate without proper management.
He added that responsibility does not lie with one authority alone but with all agencies that were aware of the situation and failed to act, including the police, social welfare services, health services, and the municipality itself.
“We cannot talk about development, tourism, and quality of life while allowing such images in the heart of Kato Paphos,” he said, calling for immediate coordinated action.
He concluded that the area does not need more promises but real intervention, cleaning, stronger policing, social support measures, use of existing facilities, and restoration of order.
“The current image is not just abandonment,” he said, “it is shame.”
