|
Ever since the United States Air
Force turned over the keys of the base property to the Greek Government at
ceremonies in 1994, billon-euro entrepreneurs have been sniffing around the
prime acreage like a pack of hungry wolves.
And, now that the agency in charge
of the Gournes property, Public Properties Service Company (ΚΕΔ)
announced its plan to release 460 stemmata of “bon filet” shorefront for
private development, the scent of fresh meat has brought the wolves on the
attack.
Circulating at a recent town council
meeting, called to discuss the plan, were known representatives of Loyalward
Limited, a controversial British company which has come under fire for its
plans to build a vast hotel and three-golf course complex at Cavo Sidero, in
the Lasithi area.
At the same time, several other
corporations, including one with plans to construct a major shopping mall
and another interested in building a golf course, have been rumoured to be
bidding for the site.
Last month,
ΚΕΔ
said it had an agreement with the old Gouves administration which allows it
to offer the property to private developers, and was now planning to move
ahead with proceedings.
Immediately, the
citizens of Gouves joined ranks to block the move which would allow
conflagrate investors access to the property, and the Committee Fight was
formed. A series of meetings was held throughout the township as opposition
swelled, and a rally was organized, followed by a protest march in front of
the base, blocking traffic for 30 minutes.
In response to
the turmoil resulting from the ΚΕΔ
announcement, an emergency
town council meeting was held to inform and prepare Mayor Yiorgos
Nikolakakis, who was heading to Athens for a
confrontation meeting with the Public Properties Service Company,
representatives of the Irini Company, which manages a portion of the base
property, and the Iraklion Prefecture.
|
Both the
Committee Fight and the Gournes Association “Development and Environment”
officially read open letters to the Gouves Council defending the development
of the base for the people, and not to a private strategic investor.
“We demand the
old agreement between
ΚΕΔ and
the old local administration to be rendered null and
void, and for all the land, shores and old and new installations on the
property to be put under public ownership and control,” said Dimitris
Souliotakis of Committee Fight. “There should be absolutely no direct or
indirect private enterprise allowed.”
The response of
the local elected officials was mixed.
“I will not be
opposed to a strategic investor but under our conditions,” said Councilman
Yiorgos Hirakakis, while Councilman Manolis Plevrakis said: “We want to take
back all of the base properties and say no to any strategic investor.”
Councilman
Eleftherios Zuros was somewhere in the middle.
“We don’t want
the base un-developed for the next 10 years,” he stated.
“We must look for beneficial deeds
which go beyond Gouves. The school idea is nice, but the schools can be
built elsewhere in the demos. Let’s look for ideas which will benefit not
only the township but also the island and the entire country. Things are not
all black and white. Perhaps we want an investor, one who respects our frame
of thinking.”
At the end of
the meeting, Mayor Nikolakakis announced that he has put together a
seven-member committee headed by Archbishop Irinaios.
“I will also be
on the committee, which will carry our messages to the public, the
ministries and other relevant organizations. These committee members are
people of high moral values and respected by all. They will support the
decision of our council and promote that decision to the appropriate people.
I will not do any negotiating at
the meeting as it is more of a listen and hear what others involved in this
matter have to say.”
|
