What a Display of Ineptitude! Corruption, cover-ups, bribery, and a bureaucratic quagmire where everyone defers responsibility to someone else.

The situation is straightforward: Do we reside in a nation governed by the Rule of Law or not? If not, then the absence of justice means there is no crime, and all illegal acts are rationalized by the Law of the Jungle.

Assuming we do live in a country where the Rule of Law prevails, then the contentious project in Latchi by the Leonardo Israeli consortium should never have been initiated. It has flouted every zoning and construction regulation and continues to operate with disregard for both the authorities and the Republic of Cyprus.

The Paphos District Government Organization (EOA) has instigated legal action to halt the illicit development, while the Planning Authority has requested the courts issue a demolition order for the unlicensed building. It’s a farce! In Cyprus, illegal structures are rarely demolished, and crafty developers are well aware of that fact.

Meanwhile, the ineffectual Environmental Department has catastrophically failed by “endorsing” this colossal Israeli hotel/apartment project, consisting of 20 structures in a sensitive environmental area, and is unquestionably responsible for this predicament. Yet in Cyprus, incompetent institutions are never held accountable for their missteps and remain shielded by the system, with the public covering for their failures.

Latchi has been changed forever due to Corruption; my only words of gratitude go to Mr. Phedon Phedonos, the Mayor of Paphos, for speaking out in defense of the picturesque Latchi. Meanwhile, no other politician or legislator has openly addressed the issue! Silence is indeed golden!

Alas, it is now too late: too many predators within the system are eager to profit from Latchi’s demise, all in the name of greed and corruption.

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**About the Author**

Andreas C Chrysafis is a UK-published author of five books and over 450 press articles, as well as a recognized artist. While not affiliated with any political party, he is a fervent advocate for Democracy, Transparency, Equality, and Human Rights, and a formidable adversary of Corruption.