Government Facing Chaos – The cash strapped National Unity Party (UBP) government is facing dark days ahead after unions stepped up their fight against its controversial austerity measures. Indefinite strike action is gaining pace with more industrial action threatened unless the government rethinks its economic plan and backs down on VAT hikes and reductions in tariffs on imports. UBP General Secretary revealed that the government was coming to a stage when it might not be able to pay state sector wages, as happened in 1994-1995. Worse came on Thursday with a landmark judgement against the austerity measures when the Constitutional Court ruled a tax on pensions was illegal and should be scrapped. It was a violation of the TRNC constitution. The Finance Minister warned such a judgement would have serious consequences and “create political problems” with Ankara. Revealing the government still did not have the money to pay last year’s “13th wage” bonus to civil servants or pensioners, nor the cash to pay January’s salaries, he said “Turkey has said how much aid she will give. She will not want to change this”. The government is 300,000TL short to pay wages and pensions this month. A mass rally is being planned against the austerity measures on Friday January 28th.
We cannot continue to borrow, says Tatar – The budget problems facing the government were spelled out by Finance Minister Ersin Tatar this week. But it has not stopped plans to build a new tax office building at a cost of 7 million TL. Mr Tatar said borrowing money was not the answer to paying wages. He admitted that the Turkish contribution for the current budget had been reduced but declined to say why.
Tough approach to residency cheats – Immigrations officials have stepped up their efforts to catch out people living illegally in the TRNC. Increased checks include asking expats for their telephone numbers, address and driving licence details. There are also checks on 90 day permits which allow people to stay in North Cyprus. Some people do not apply for residency but go across to the South every three months to renew their 90 day allowance. Some have had their passports stamped with less time. Meanwhile Necmettin Capa, a Kurdish Turk who has been writing columns for TRNC newspapers and working at a printing house for 20 years, was deported this week because his work permit had not been renewed. Murat Kanatli, secretary of the New Cyprus Party and the Cyprus Turkish Teachers Union claimed the deportation was political.
Ismail’s family overwhelmed by public help – The father of a 6 year old cancer sufferer has expressed his thanks to the people that have supported efforts to help his son.
Go ahead for new branch of Legion – North Cyprus is to get its own Royal British Legion branch after the UK and TRNC governments gave plans to form one their blessing. This follows 18 months of negotiations.
Acquitted expat has passport back – An expat who faced 65 court hearings before being cleared of stealing from his builder has regained his passport from the TRNC Police after almost two and a half years. “Now I feel a free man again” said 61 year old Geoffrey Day after going to Girne police station to collect his identification on Monday.
Apology expected from BRS member – A BRS official who sent an unauthorised email to members claiming that the TRNC state owned Continental Bank was “bankrupt” will apologise for his actions – but has not been asked to resign. Trevor Hughes has agreed to contact all those who received the email to explain it was issued without the knowledge or consent of the BRS committee or any of its officers. He will also make a personal apology to Continental Bank.
Agreement reached for national airline – A founding agreement for North Cyprus’s new national airline will be signed on Tuesday, says the country’s Public Works and Transportation Minister. Ersan Sener said the new flag carrier would be called North Cyprus Airlines and flights would begin in March. The new airline will be owned 30 per cent by the TRNC government, 10 per cent by Turkish Airlines and 60 per cent by the private sector. The planned board will include Turkish Airlines executives in key posts as well as an executive director and general manager from the Turkish national flag carrier. The airline will initially be comprised of three aircraft and fly to 11 different destinations, including Stansted via Istanbul.
The cash strapped National Unity Party (UBP) government is facing dark days ahead after unions stepped up their fight against its controversial austerity measures. Indefinite strike action is gaining pace with more industrial action threatened unless the government rethinks its economic plan and backs down on VAT hikes and reductions in tariffs on imports.UBP General Secretary revealed that the government was coming to a stage when it might not be able to pay state sector wages, as happened in 1994 to 1995. Worse came on Thursday with a landmark judgement against the austerity measures when the Constitutional Court ruled a tax on pensions was illegal and should be scrapped. It was a violation of the TRNC constitution. The Finance Minister warned such a judgement would have serious consequences and “create political problems” with Ankara. Revealing the government still did not have the money to pay last year’s “13th wage” bonus to civil servants or pensioners, nor the cash to pay January’s salaries, he said “Turkey has said how much aid she will give. She will not want to change this”. The government is 300,000tl short to pay wages and pensions this month. A mass rally is being planned against the austerity measures on Friday January 28th.
We cannot continue to borrow, says Tatar
The budget problems facing the government were spelled out by Finance Minister Ersin Tatar this week. But it has not stopped plans to build a new tax office building at a cost of 7 million tl. Mr Tatar said borrowing money was not the answer to pay wages. He admitted that the Turkish contribution for the current budget had been reduced but declined to say why.
Tough approach to residency cheats
Immigrations officials have stepped up their efforts to catch out people living illegally in the TRNC. Increased checks include asking expats for their telephone numbers,address and driving licence details. There are also checks on 90 day permits which allow people to stay in North . Cyprus. Some people do not apply for residency but go across to the South every three months to renew their 90 day allowance. Some have had their passports stamped with less time. Meanwhile Necmettin Capa, a Kurdish Turk who has been writing columns for TRNC newspapers and working at a printing house for 20 years was deported this week because his work permit had not been renewed. Murat Kanatli, secretary of the New Cyprus Party and the Cyprus Turkish Teachers Union claimed the deportation was political.
Ismail’s family overwhelmed by public help
The father of a 6 year old cancer sufferer has expressed his thanks to the people that have supported efforts to help his son.
Go ahead for new branch of Legion
North Cyprus is to get its own Royal British Legion branch after the UK and TRNC governments gave plans to form one their blessing. This follows 18 months of negotiations.
Acquitted expat has passport back.
An expat who faced 65 court hearings before being cleared of stealing from his builder has regained his passport from the TRNC Police after almost two and a half years. “Now I feel a free man again” said 61 year old Geoffrey Day after going to Girne police station to collect his identification on Monday.
Apology expected from BRS member
A BRS official who sent an unauthorised email to members claiming that the TRNC state owned Continental Bank was “bankrupt” will apologise for his actions – but has not been asked to resign. Trevor Hughes has agreed to contact all those who received the email to explain it was issued without the knowledge or consent of the BRS committee or any of its officers. He will also make a personal apology to Continental Bank.
Agreement reached for national airline
A founding agreement for North Cyprus’s new national airline will be signed on Tuesday, says the country’s Public Works and Transportation Minister. Ersan Sener said the new flag carrier would be called North Cyprus Airlines and flights would begin in March. The new airline will be owned 30 per cent by the TRNC government, 10 per cent by Turkish Airlines and 60 per cent by the private sector. The planned board will include Turkish Airlines executives in key posts as well as an executive director and general manager from the Turkish national flag carrier. The airline will initially be comprised of three aircraft and fly to 11 different destinations, including Stansted via Istanbul.
Government Facing Chaos
The cash strapped National Unity Party (UBP) government is facing dark days ahead after unions stepped up their fight against its controversial austerity measures. Indefinite strike action is gaining pace with more industrial action threatened unless the government rethinks its economic plan and backs down on VAT hikes and reductions in tariffs on imports.UBP General Secretary revealed that the government was coming to a stage when it might not be able to pay state sector wages, as happened in 1994 to 1995. Worse came on Thursday with a landmark judgement against the austerity measures when the Constitutional Court ruled a tax on pensions was illegal and should be scrapped. It was a violation of the TRNC constitution. The Finance Minister warned such a judgement would have serious consequences and “create political problems” with Ankara. Revealing the government still did not have the money to pay last year’s “13th wage” bonus to civil servants or pensioners, nor the cash to pay January’s salaries, he said “Turkey has said how much aid she will give. She will not want to change this”. The government is 300,000tl short to pay wages and pensions this month. A mass rally is being planned against the austerity measures on Friday January 28th.
We cannot continue to borrow, says Tatar
The budget problems facing the government were spelled out by Finance Minister Ersin Tatar this week. But it has not stopped plans to build a new tax office building at a cost of 7 million tl. Mr Tatar said borrowing money was not the answer to pay wages. He admitted that the Turkish contribution for the current budget had been reduced but declined to say why.
Tough approach to residency cheats
Immigrations officials have stepped up their efforts to catch out people living illegally in the TRNC. Increased checks include asking expats for their telephone numbers,address and driving licence details. There are also checks on 90 day permits which allow people to stay in North . Cyprus. Some people do not apply for residency but go across to the South every three months to renew their 90 day allowance. Some have had their passports stamped with less time. Meanwhile Necmettin Capa, a Kurdish Turk who has been writing columns for TRNC newspapers and working at a printing house for 20 years was deported this week because his work permit had not been renewed. Murat Kanatli, secretary of the New Cyprus Party and the Cyprus Turkish Teachers Union claimed the deportation was political.
Ismail’s family overwhelmed by public help
The father of a 6 year old cancer sufferer has expressed his thanks to the people that have supported efforts to help his son.
Go ahead for new branch of Legion
North Cyprus is to get its own Royal British Legion branch after the UK and TRNC governments gave plans to form one their blessing. This follows 18 months of negotiations.
Acquitted expat has passport back.
An expat who faced 65 court hearings before being cleared of stealing from his builder has regained his passport from the TRNC Police after almost two and a half years. “Now I feel a free man again” said 61 year old Geoffrey Day after going to Girne police station to collect his identification on Monday.
Apology expected from BRS member
A BRS official who sent an unauthorised email to members claiming that the TRNC state owned Continental Bank was “bankrupt” will apologise for his actions – but has not been asked to resign. Trevor Hughes has agreed to contact all those who received the email to explain it was issued without the knowledge or consent of the BRS committee or any of its officers. He will also make a personal apology to Continental Bank.
Agreement reached for national airline
A founding agreement for North Cyprus’s new national airline will be signed on Tuesday, says the country’s Public Works and Transportation Minister. Ersan Sener said the new flag carrier would be called North Cyprus Airlines and flights would begin in March. The new airline will be owned 30 per cent by the TRNC government, 10 per cent by Turkish Airlines and 60 per cent by the private sector. The planned board will include Turkish Airlines executives in key posts as well as an executive director and general manager from the Turkish national flag carrier. The airline will initially be comprised of three aircraft and fly to 11 different destinations, including Stansted via Istanbul.
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