Iskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu underlined that the most urgent issue to be resolved in İskele in the period ahead was the sewage problem in the region (Long Beach) where there is a dense and vertical construction of buildings.
Emphasizing that the municipality does not have any financial problems, Sadıkoğlu said that money had been put aside for investments as well as for “bad days”.
Speaking to the Turkish Agency Cyprus (TAK) Sadikoğlu said that Iskele was the fastest-developing district in the country adding that there was a construction boom being experienced in the region and that this was bringing problems along with it.
Stating that the most serious problem in İskele was the sewage problem in the area across the public beach where most of the construction density lies, Sadıkoğlu said that the Environmental Committee, formed under the leadership of the Interior Ministry, to solve the sewage problem, which also caused sea pollution in the past, was operational.
Sadıkoğlu stated that a fund will be created to solve the sewage problem. He said that a municipal fee will be charged on title deed transfers or sale contracts and that the sewerage work will be done with the amount accumulated in the fund.
Sadıkoğlu said that, at present, there was no environmental problem in the region and that all necessary measures have been taken.
Stating that the construction of bicycle and walking paths will continue in the new period ahead, Sadıkoğlu said that they will build rain drainage, bicycle and walking paths on the road known as “Gıranel road” that connects from İskele to the Onur Camping site, and that cultural and social activities in the region will continue too.
Stating that there is a high demand among foreigners in the Iskele area due to its coastal location and the municipality’s infrastructure works on the beach, Sadıkoğlu was asked to give the number of foreigners residing in Iskele:
“Let’s make a joke, we don’t even know our own population, how can we know the population of foreigners? The population of Iskele was 7,900 during the 2011 census. There has not been a census for the last 11 years. I predict that there is a local population of 14-15 thousand, and at least 6-7 thousand foreign residents. This number increases even more in the summer months,” he said.
“Proportioning to foreigners should be introduced”
Referring to the foreign population that purchases homes, Sadıkoğlu emphasized that there are serious shortcomings in the orientation, integration, language learning, service procurement, and education of children. This he said should actually be a state policy.
Proportioning should be introduced, for example, the number of foreigners visiting the region should not exceed 25 percent, as this, at the end of the day, brings with it many problems.
“Foreign students studying at schools do not know the language making it difficult for teachers to do their job. Turkish students fall behind as teachers are trying to help the foreign students, other problems then follow”, Sadıkoğlu said.
Stating that the unplanned population growth brought along problems such as infrastructure and sewerage, Sadıkoğlu underlined that as the municipality they were serving a surplus of 7,000 foreigners, this includes collecting their rubbish, and building infrastructure, but that due to foreigners not being included in the system they did not receive any contribution from the state.
Sadıkoğlu suggested that Turkish preparatory classes be included in education in order to solve the language problem of foreign students.
– “Construction plans should be available everywhere”
Noting that construction plans should be everywhere, Sadıkoğlu stated that the work for the Iskele Municipality Construction Plan started 40 months ago, but could not be implemented due to the continuation of a degree.
Emphasizing that it is not the right approach to consider the decree and construction planning of Gazimağusa, Yeniboğaziçi, and İskele together, Sadıkoğlu pointed out that the problems and locations of each region are different.
