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Maria Drogitis from the Ionian Echo joined Bobby Gee on Island FM’s Breakfast show to inform listeners that she will be running Nick Tsipiras Municipality Council chairman under Candidate mayor Yannis Agalianos in the forthcoming May elections. Maria said “we will be dealing with administrators and people who care about the island and have ears and not just a voice, they listen and want diversity and want the expats to have voice, and communication between everyone on the island. We want unity and one identity for the island. So yes I am running for local council.”
There will be a media meeting after the radio show with all the local media, and some national media is covering it too. They will be announcing all the information on the Ionian Echo and it will be posted bilingually too, so both Greek and English readers can see all the details.
Bobby Gee welcomed Nick Tsipiras
Nick Tsipiras was born in Australia, grew up and studied there, but finished his University Education at the American College of Greece. Nick chose to live on Zakynthos as his parents were from the island, and he has lived here since 1986. As well as being a local businessman with two businesses, Nick has been Chairman of the Municipal Council of Zakynthos for the last five years, is part of the Chamber of Commerce and represents the Council in European policy in Brussels.
Bobby asked Nick about a number of issues the island has been through over the last years:
Nick noted that a lot of the problems that the island currently has are difficult, but they have been put on the right road and solutions are close. Solomos square has been completed and is now the best in Greece, success and very good for Zakynthos Town. Nick said there have been some downsides to the past year which have included the issues with rubbish.
Rubbish
Nick said that the island has had a rubbish problem, but it’s also everywhere in Europe, and has dated back ten years but no one was looking for solution but we have now found a solution. We have got the move done quickly and it hasn’t been easy, but it is improving. It is being managed at LIVA, organic and recyclable is being taken out and the leftovers being wrapped, to be put into the ground. This is Greek Government and European policy. It’s going well, there have been issues with rubbish on the roads due to costs and bins got lost when rubbish was on the road, and were burned when rubbish on the roads was set alight. Bins are gradually coming back, but in specific organised places. We {the island} has a large amount of recycling and many have started to recycle and it’s tripled in last three years. There is a new plan with brown bins for business so organic will be put into brown bins, so rubbish will be “cleaner”. Recycling is currently at about 12% and with these news changes should increase to 25%. Expats, such as English German etc, they have good experience and good practice of recycling so need them to help the local people understand the process of recycling.
Roadworks/Building
Nick noted there was a lot going on with Roadworks and building. The council has a project for each of the six areas of the inland for tarmacing, as soon as winter rains etc. have passed, the roadworks will start in all the municipal areas/villages. The crisis has meant we [Zakynthos] haven’t received enough money for this sort of work, they reduced the money coming in by about 70% over the last years which has impacted this work. They will be tarmacing a big part/bad parts of the island. Bobby Gee asked if any money was coming back from the big lorries and excess vehicles use. Nick noted that unfortunately not enough was and every winter busy works on the island destroy the roads, but now the money is coming in so the roads will be fixed. Bobby Gee also asked if there were any plans for the rubbish in ditches. Nick said that this year there will be more workers for rubbish collections and the island has received money for the ditches and many parts of the island have been cleaned, but it’s a big job to get them all cleaned. In the past locals used to do their own, but they all expect someone else to do it for them. Nick said that we all have to give a hand and take part and help. Its our obligation. It’s not just about the ditches we all have to help to look after our environment.
Lighting
Nick told listeners that the new lighting, its going very well, the contract is being signed today with the Mayor. All the lights post on the island will be changed to LED lighting, all operated via computer and electronics. It will be good infrastructure and good for island inhabitants to have new lights in their area. In the next three months about 30% of lights will be changed. Lights that are changed will increase light quality by about 70%.
Port
Nick said that after being damaged by last years earthquake the Government has said they will give Zakynthos 10million EUR to fix any port damage. Repairing of the port is Central Governments responsibility as the port is managed by them. It’s not ideal as currently half of Zakynthos town is managed by Central Government and the other half by Local Government. Nick also said that in regards to Cruise ships, we know that they’re important for the island, but no steps have been made to accommodate them and we really have to push Central Government to help create a port for the cruise ships. At the moment were [Zakynthos] missing out.
Ferries
Bobby asked Nick about the islands Ferries. Nick said that the island has big changes in the competition but its also has the best ferry connection in Greece, there are huge problems on other islands, but in comparison, ours is the best. The ferry connections will be good.
Airport
Nick told listeners that the Airport is looking good, works are mainly done and the airport is probably the best in Greece. Inside the airport has been greatly improved for first and last impression for out visitors. Around 1.2million tourists come through the airport and it’s important we are a European island/destination for our tourists. Quality of tourists is important, it’s not easy to bring high quality tourists in, but we do have a lot of five/four star hotels. The local Government have to improve the infrastructure and have vision, and Yannis Agalianos, who is running for mayor has this. He started the sewage system in a number of island locations, he put some pavements and connected St. Marks Square to Solomos Square. We believe the island has a need for a man with vision for the island.
Hospital
Bobby asked Nick about the hospital. Nick said that part of the problem is Central Government obligations and that has caused issues, Central Government are not doing well, doctors are leaving, they are trying to solve it, but the hospital has to be at a good level, but it’s not as it should be. All we can do is put pressure on Central Government, there are General Elections this year and people on the island must consider this, for the Central Government it seems hospital not important.
Brexit
Bobby noted a number of listeners had asked about Brexit. Nick said that the Greek Government has waived all rights for visas, so it’s not an issue for any British expats living here [on Zakynthos] and things [life] for British expats will continue to be the same. The problem with Brexit is the economy of the UK and how it will affect the tourism of the island. It may mean that its more expensive to visit the island and that is a concern.
Voting in the forthcoming May Elections
Bobby thanks Nick and asked Maria to tell listeners about voting in the forthcoming elections.
Maria said it’s “Your voice your vote”. All expats pay taxes, and they have always been able to vote. The process is extremely simple, and people should grab the opportunity to do so [vote].
Maris set out what you need to do in order to resgoter for voting/vote:
Take your tax return, passport and residency permit to your local Town Hall office and ask for “Certificate of Permanent Residence”. They will issue a piece of paper and you take that paperwork and go to the Xenia building, Zakynthos Harbour, Zakynthos town, and register [complete application form].
For those who want to vote, the ballot is divided into municipalities, you have three crosses [+++] to use in your vote. When you vote it’s 2 crosses [++] for your municipal unity and one cross [+] for a councillor from any other part of the island outside your unity.
Maria said that she felt it was an honour to have earned peoples trust, to be alongside Nick Tsipiras in this election, and will work really hard. Maria also noted that she will be posting relevant information on the Ionian Echo and is will help people sort out voting queues if they if they need it.
Bobby thanked Maria and Nick for joining him in the studio.
To access the Ionian Echo please follow this link.
To listen to the full radio interview, please click below.
Transcribing by Chrissie Parker. Thanks to Peter Lee for the live recording.
Photos, library images of past studio visits.
