THE RESULTS of the local elections on Sunday saw three Paphos-based British expats being elected to stand on local community councils for the first time.

Cathi Delaney and John Moffat were elected to Tala village’s community council. Ray Smith, standing in Kouklia, was also voted in.

“I’m very pleased to have been elected,” said 55-year-old Delaney. ”There is a completely new council which is good. Although we will lose the experience of the old councillors, the new people will bring new ideas.” 

Fellow Tala resident Moffat, 75, said he was optimistic about his new role. “I want to concentrate on making information available for everyone so they know where their money is going,” he said.

Non-Cypriot hopefuls were also up for election in Kouklia and Kathikas which like Tala have big British populations.

Ray Smith, 64, is now a member of Kouklia community council. “I would like to see our community working together, instead of three different areas (Kouklia village, Ha Potami and Aphrodite Hills). We need to resolve all of the agreements about community taxes and live as a proper community,” he said.

Non-Cypriot EU citizens have been able to vote in municipal elections since 2006, and it was inevitable they would soon want to extend their democratic rights further and stand for election themselves.

Linda Leblanc, although a Canadian born naturalised Cypriot – is widely regarded as the first non-Cypriot to be elected onto a municipal council. She has been granted a second term in Peyia as a member of the Peyia Coalition of Independents. “We received 260 votes, which is 13 per cent of the vote, so we have an increased our support, which is important. We’re happy and ready to carry on to support the community of Peyia.”

In Paphos, six Greek nationals, all Pontians, were all vying for a place on the Paphos municipal council. 

According to Raoul Tsachites, the spokesman of the Pontian Society of Paphos, none of them were successful. “I’m very disappointed with the outcome of the elections,” he said. I realised it would be very difficult to be elected. I support DIKO, which is that of the mayor, so I will offer my support to him. But I wouldn’t run for election again.”

Cyprus Mail