Governor Karousos pledges to boost efficiency

Recently elected governor Yiannis Karousos has announced plans to transform the Famagusta district self-governance organisation (Eoa) into “the most efficient licensing authority in Cyprus”, vowing to minimise the waiting time for the issuance of urban planning and building permits.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Karousos stressed “the people’s expectations regarding local government reform”, saying it is Eoa’s duty to implement reforms as effectively as possible, addressing the initial challenges encountered since its establishment.

Upon taking office, Karousos identified several issues, primarily stemming from inadequate preparation.

“Unfortunately, the preparation was not what it should have been, resulting in ongoing challenges that should have been resolved earlier,” he said. “However, from day one, we rolled up our sleeves and began working to resolve any problems or weaknesses.

The governor highlighted that during the preparation phase for the Famagusta Eoa, the organisation was treated as though it were merely setting up a sewerage or water supply board, adding that the significance and workload of the licensing process were underestimated, leading to the current difficulties in meeting public expectations.

“Our aim is to create an organisation that serves the people, not the other way around,” he said. “We plan to make the Famagusta Eoa the most productive and efficient licensing authority in Cyprus, with the shortest waiting times for the issuance of urban planning and building permits compared to other districts.”

To address these challenges, Karousos has promoted changes in the organisation’s structure, focusing on better communication with people and increasing transparency. These changes are intended to establish a solid foundation from the outset.

“The Famagusta district has a comparative advantage compared to other districts, due to its smaller size and the recent mergers of municipalities and communities, resulting in a population of 55,000,” he explained.

“This allows for easier coordination and more efficient completion of tasks, which could set it apart from others.”

Following the local government reform, the district restructured its operations, aiming for more technical staff and fewer managerial positions.

“We want more ‘soldiers’ and fewer ‘generals,’” Karousos said, indicating a shift towards increased technical capacity and service-oriented roles.

Additionally, the Eoa has approved teleworking arrangements to boost productivity and reduce the environmental impact of commuting, particularly for staff residing in other districts.

An overtime scheme has also been approved, with fixed amounts per permit, to expedite the processing of pending urban planning and building permits.

According to Karousos, transparency is a key operational principle, “and the organisation has already begun informing people through its website about various matters, such as loan statuses, debtors, water losses, and more”.

“These updates will be made monthly,” he said.

Karousos further underlined the need for accountability to build public trust.

“Decisions have been made to improve communication between staff and the public, with departmental contact details and service hours published on the Eoa website. The next step will be implementing phone appointments.”

Regarding the licensing process, Karousos assured that the goal is to establish a unified licensing authority where urban planning and building permits operate as a single entity.

“This approach will reduce managerial roles and increase technical positions, making the organisation more flexible. The aim is for both the assessment and subsequent issuance of permits to be handled by the same official,” he said, adding that a significant portion of the current workload could be outsourced to private sector partners.

By reinforcing the organisation’s human resources and involving the private sector via the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (Etek), Karousos said he believes substantial progress can be made.

Addressing the issue of water losses in the district, the governor revealed that unbilled water accounts for 37 per cent of the district’s total, with some municipal areas exceeding 60 per cent.

This represents approximately 4.3 million cubic metres annually, costing around €3.5 million. To tackle this, the organisation plans to use technology, including the installation of smart meters.

Karousos criticised the withdrawal of initial funding approval for the meters, saying that the decision “deprives Famagusta of resources while similar projects proceed in other districts”.

He said he intends to discuss this issue with President Nikos Christodoulides, seeking to reinstate the funding.

Karousos concluded by expressing his belief that the Famagusta Eoa, as well as the same other organisations in Cyprus, “should gradually take on additional responsibilities currently held by the central government, such as crisis management, regional project planning, and lifeguard services, to better serve local communities”.