Revolution of the Mind Series
Article
Andreas C Chrysafis
Ecological Projects! Those are the magic words that are used to mislead and secure the Environment Department’s conditional approval for mega-projects. It is a common phraseology used and a well-known trick applied by architects, engineers and developers to get big projects started and worry about planning issues later.
Officials seem to be aware of this con-job but nobody seems to tackle and stop this dastardly practice that often threatens the demise of sensitive natural areas. The “Ecological Movement & Citizens’ Party” of Cyprus, has recently exposed a company’s bad behaviour of a massive project under way in Platres.
It is right to say that large projects are essential to the economic growth of Cyprus including the local economy as long they are developed within the boundaries of the law and in respect of the local environment.
But, sadly, integrity in Cyprus has become a rare commodity indeed! Officials prefer to transfer contentious matters on other departments to avoid making decisions or taking a stand on questionable planning issues. And so, the rollercoaster of incompetence is set in motion! In so doing, investigating any wrongdoings or exposing an offence or even corruption in those departments can take months, if not years.
Unfortunately, public accountability for making wrong decisions by officials in Cyprus is non-existent! It’s as if citizens and local communities have no say and only the wise and well-protected bureaucrat—hidden behind closed doors—knows what’s best for the people!
In most civilised countries accountability and transparency is critical. The public are informed with official notices posted on proposed building sites for everyone to read and see what is planned in their communities. If the public raises enough objections, by law, the planning department will demand changes to the proposed project. If developers fail to comply, the project will never get started or can be stopped with a court order or even be demolished until developers comply with the law but also bear the full costs of their arrogance. Not in Cyprus!
Guru Resort in Platres
In accordance to the “Ecological Movement & Citizens’ Party”, the company of Guru Resort is one of those contentious projects that have been under scrutiny. It applied for a building permit in October 2020 and classified as an “environmental project” in full respect of the natural topography, the environment and local architecture! Those are fine words but in reality, they are simply catchphrases aimed to deceive.
In fact, the company started construction without planning approval and without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study as required in such cases by law. The hacking down of trees without permission, digging out and scarring the land had begun without paying any attention to the Environment department’s demands to get a permit before demolition had begun. The Audit Office of Cyprus also warned about water shortages in Platres but the developers paid no attention and continued bulldozing and building with total arrogance.
The company “announced” in 2021, that all the works were legal but spinning the truth has become an art in an attempt to dissuade and mislead in order to avoid public resistance while the works are carried on!
Luckily for the company, in 2024 the case was transferred to the newly formed authority EOA (Local Government District Organisation) in Limassol. In their wisdom, EOA totally ignored all previous company irregularities and in February 2025 it has issued building permits and legitimised the unjustifiable with a fine.
A new trick has now set precedence: break all building and planning regularities; pay a fine and an illegal act becomes legalized! This can only happen in Cyprus!
The initial Guru planning application specified a 2-floor complex but it received “relaxation and approval” to build a 4-floor project. But, the company was not happy enough and instead, it built 5 floors. Yet, silence was bliss among the herd because money talks!
It appears that as long as you have money and if you are a big player, the law is adjusted to suit you; and if you have political influence then you are untouchable!
Latchi Complex
The Guru project in Platres is one of those contentious projects protected by some mysterious bureaucratic force or it may well be politically influenced. The same MO (modus operandi) seems to be employed at another controversial project: the massive Israeli Fattal Leonardo Club Family Resort project in Latchi now under way!
Comparable tactics were applied for the Fattal project located at the very entrance of the quaint Latchi Harbour. For some strange reason, the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was deemed “unnecessary” by the department of the Environment on a technicality: the company was to use the existing planning permission of Ilias Resort and build on and around them—subject to building permits!
Under those terms ecological concerns, traffic flow or the local infrastructure including other critical issues had become null and void and Paphos Environment Department approved the project. The company publicly celebrated and thanked the environment offices for their approval.
Meanwhile, Polis municipality welcomed the project. The company did not waste time and started demolition in full force and begun building without securing building permits (just like the Guru company did in Platres). But, the Court soon issued Stop Orders on a number of occasions until the company acted responsibly in accordance to the specified terms and conditions.
The project called for a 2-floor complex with a number of structures for a 240-beds family resort but that was never the company’s intentions! Without a stitch of respect of its host country, the company proceeded and started building a 3-floor resort complex without permission and doubled the number of buildings on the site to facilitate 480-beds. Why did they do that? Not unless they were helped and adviced on how to manipulate the existing system and get away with it!
Consequently, a classic new ploy has been introduced – reclassification! The company asked for reclassification of its original application for a new 4-Star Hotel and to “covert” the existing Ilias apartment complex. Meanwhile, over 100 villas have been bulldozed and razed to the ground and there was nothing there to “convert” but the bureaucrats never questioned or investigated the fact!
For the past three years, the bulldozers devoured and scarred the land from its original natural landscape — and continue to do so to this very day! Clusters of jam-packed steel-box buildings have now sprouted like mushrooms on top of the hill. Today, it keeps growing and the public have no idea how many more buildings the company intends to build. Public transparency is non–existent!
Ultimately, Paphos Environment department facilitated the company’s reclassification and approved its 4-Star €55-60 million 3-floor resort hotel. This was made possible under the provisions of a last-minute “revised” Polis Chrysochous Local Plan 2024 that allows the construction of three-storey buildings for hotel use. The swift changes to Polis Local Plan—before its authority was transferred to EOA—conveniently assured the speedy reclassification of the project.
The Aftermath
The Fattal Company has finally got its demands but it’s quite extraordinary when an illegal project becomes legal on a bureaucrat’s signature without public transparency or accountability!
Nobody objects to see more international hotels in the Latchi area. More hotels will certainly invigorate the region to attract new businesses and a new mind-set but also new opportunities, which in turn mean more jobs as long as the infrastructure can cope! At the moment, it cannot!
As it happens, the Fattal Latchi resort is neither environmental-friendly nor the existing infrastructure is capable to accommodate the demands of mass people-movement and the increase of car traffic in the region. The large “all inclusive” kosher Israeli resort could turn out to be a blessing or a nasty nightmare for Latchi; only time would tell!
But, there are public questions raised as to why the sudden Israeli interest in the local community? Large parcels of land and properties—mostly bank repossessions—have already changed hands to Israeli consortiums. The Fattal complex will certainly receive more “relaxations” and ultimately open for business with unforeseeable demographic and infrastructure consequences for the future.
But, since the EOA decided to offer leniency, those “relaxations” could have been conditional. The local hospital of Polis Chrysochous for example, has been neglected for years. This is an ideal opportunity for the Israeli company to enhance its status by offering to fully modernize and enlarge the small hospital at its cost, or even build a new one as a meaningful company contribution to the community on a “win-win” arrangement. Other countries use similar programmes why not here?
The truth of the matter—when the EU/USA instructed the government to get rid of the Russians—Cyprus had become a US/Israeli ally and as always, “friends help friends”. Bending the laws to accommodate Israeli companies and corporate America colonizing economically the island through land acquisitions (some call it investments) it’s not surprising at all!
Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens wait for years to get Planning Permission to build a family home or a private project! The more money one has the more laws are bend to accommodate the rich; justice, fairness or Rule of Law it has nothing to do with it!
Andreas C Chrysafis
Author/Artist/ Writer
July 29, 2025
Andreas C Chrysafis is a UK published author of six books and over 450 press articles but also a recognized artist. He is not politically affiliated but is a strong advocate for Democracy, Transparency, Equality and Human Rights and a robust opponent to Corruption. His works are globally available and can be viewed at:
https://www.amazon.com/Andreas-C.-Chrysafis/e/B00478I90O…
Copies: www.artpal.com/chrysafis
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