It has been 1 year since he left the duties of the Limassol Mayor’s office behind. When you are about to get into a conversation with Andreas Christou, you know that it may take several hours, but you come to realize that even days would not be enough. His duties are not as pressing anymore, but he has made a decision to focus a large part of his day to his family, a family towards which he feels guilty, because of his long-term absence.

The meeting was arranged in between the hours he keeps exclusively for his wife, children and grandson. The initial awkwardness was soon put aside, when the conversation made it clear that it would be a talk between Limassolians, with the same sincere and deep love for their city. This relaxed mood, without any pretentious smiles or flattery, with respects and straightforward statements, is necessary when you have to go through a discussion about anything and anyone, with the man who led the city through a most impressive decade.

The interesting part about talking with Andreas Christou, though, is not so much due to his former office as a Mayor, but due to his passionate attitude towards the city, his devotion to it, which keep him active even now that he has no formal obligation towards it. He does have his own flows, indeed, just like anyone, and he does confess this himself. Still, when you look all the things that happened in Limassol these past few years from a distance, you cannot ignore the fact that they allowed a new perspective for the city’s development.

He never stopped caring for the public life. At the same time, though, he does enjoy the luxury of organizing his own life around his family. Because, if there is 1 thing he regrets in his many years in several offices, from the Parliament to the Ministry and then at the Municipality, this is the little family moments that have gone by and never coming back. Indeed, the choice to leave his career as an engineer, to pursue the public offices, is not among the things he would do differently, if he had the chance. Out of this course, he singles out the decade he spent as Limassol’s Mayor, when he had the opportunity to use any knowledge and experience attained previously, to create something in the city where he was born and grew up, fell in love and built a family in.

His story begins at Agias Zonis area in 1949, while his marriage with Christian Christou brought him closer to the historical Heroes’ Square. In fact, his wife’s house, long before she was born, was the place in which the fir political party of Cyprus, the Communist Party, which evolved into AKEL, was founded. It is the same party he found himself bonded to since his early years.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about Heroes’ Square, because of the rumours related to the cabarets and the prostitutes that lived around there. Still, this was a form of entertainment found in any country and it is not so bad to have it in our city, too, especially with all the regular tests performed back then by the authorities. This was never a trouble or a threat for people living in the area, while now, that this kind of activities is secret and out of any control, there is a danger for some”.

His love for the square seems to be an extension for the love and tenderness he has for Christian. His wife is his most severe critic, as he says, as well as the most justified, one, because of all the things they missed during his career in politics. He claims that he does not recognize the reasons she chose him to be her life’s companion, but little Andy, their grandchild, concludes in all his innocence that his grandmother chose well, after all.

The admiration Andreas Christou expresses for the “sweet and beautiful girl that you couldn’t take your eyes off” is quite obvious. It is no accident that the only calls that interrupted our talk was the ones from his wife. An even more impressive element is the way he lights ups every time her name was mentioned. Without doubt, if there is one thing the former Mayor is trying to make up for, this has nothing to do with the city or his party, but it has everything to do with his home.

Why did you quit a career as an engineer, to pursue the politics?
I decided to get into the politics because of a moral obligation to the party that proposed that I did, the same party according to the values of which I grew up, watching my father working for it day and night, the same party that offered to me the opportunity to study.

Why were you a candidate for the third time in December 2016, even though you said that you were going to withdraw?
I had said that I wasn’t going to run for the third time, because I had some issues with my spine, after a severe injury in a charity football game a few years ago.

The hit was to hard for my spine and I suffered — and still suffer. I felt like another 5-year office at the Municipality, would harm my health further.

Did the party push you into it?
That is nonsense. I did decide to go for it, because of the persistence, not on behalf of the party, but on behalf of the people, organized groups and associations of the city. The party told me that I should do as I wished and there was no question of any pressure – how could there, at the age of 68, after so many years of service.

Why did you ask for a recount on the voting result, after you lost the elections?
This was the normal thing to do, with such a little difference in the number of votes. In several countries in Europe, this is a standard procedure, whenever the difference of the number of votes each candidate receives is less than a certain point. There is nothing personal in this case.

The time he was studying in Moscow, in the USSR, was a time with happy memories. After all, apart from the academic education and the experience of the socialist regime in full effect, he also keeps great, youthful memories, among which some romantic adventures with young girls, which he met before he decided to spend his life with Christian.

Is your wife aware of this stories? (laughs)
We both had our flirts, more or less, when we were studying, me in Moscow ad her in Romania.

“Our city’s greatest enemy is ourselves…”

Do you feel like you have been a good Mayor?
During my time, I did anything possible to me. There were things that I did not achieve, things we did not have time to proceed with. And surely you cannot accomplish everything in the same degree of effectiveness.

Do you confess that there is someone better than you?
Sure there is. Better is the enemy of good, according to a saying of Eleftherios Venizelos. There is always someone better, who might not have had the opportunity to emerge, who might even be a man next door.

Are you a severe critic of yourself, then?
How can anyone criticize others, without applying the same to oneself? What I notice as issues or mistakes around me, are the thing that I try to avoid myself. In my block, for example, I regularly see the garbage containers full of cut-off branches (resulting to containers constantly overflowing) while there is a municipal service people can call for this purpose. It makes me sad that some people choose the easy way out, without considering the cost. Personally, I make sure to keep the street and the sidewalk in front of my house as clean as I want every street in the city to be.

So, I must conclude that the local authorities, the government, the schools, we all did not manage to educate, even by imposing some laws. I hear from older people about this municipality clerk, Georgios Siandos, who used to travel around the neighbourhoods of the city and he would give a warning remark to any housewife that used to throw the water after her laundry in the public street, or even give her a fine if she did it more than once. People in the authorities used to care on a personal level and this doesn’t happen so much now.

Does this apply in the case of illegal parking, too, for example?
Sure. In all of these cases (which do not only occur in Limassol, but in any city in the world, where parking options in the city center are minimum) you have 2 options: either have an all-day patrol in these areas, or install hurdles to make clear that parking is forbidden.

When these hurdles were installed, weren’t you worries about the people opposing to this?
If you believe that something is right and it was proved to be so in similar cases abroad, too, then you must go on with it. Both the prohibition and the punishment, are ways for you to make people understand that they need to follow some rules.

After all, the people opposing to it, in contrast to the people who are happy with this measure, were much fewer.

People with disabilities, mothers with children and the police, too (which has recorded incidents, when, after a collision of a car on the sidewalk, there would be severe injuries or even death, if the if there wasn’t for the hurdles), they agree that this was the best way out. If there was a better one, someone would have used it.

Do you feel like there have been people in the authorities, who did not want to oppose to people?
Sure there were people like these. I respect the people, but when I believe that something is beneficial for the majority of the people, I don’t hesitate to act. There will always be dissatisfied people, either because they are truly disagreeing, or because they have a profit from opposing.

Negativity is very strong some times. Is nagging or complaining contagious, after all?
I don’t think so. There are people who find it hard to understand the larger and long-term profit. Some, for example, are protesting for the construction works in the streets, when these are the works that will improve their lives. It is a fact that we easily judge, but we find it hard to congratulate and appreciate. Sure, showcasing the seaside area of the city, is a project that most people appreciate, even though some have their objections.

Did you ever do something about the vandalisms on signs and walls in the city?
This phenomenon, usually related with football clubs, was really too much. Then, we decided to meet with the team representatives and the most well-known footballers of Apollon and AEL, along with which we went on an excursion in the streets, to erase the paint. This phenomenon was eliminated in a large part. What we did not achieve was to properly patrol public areas. This would ask for regular, all-night excursions to spot the people vandalizing this places. This is what we did when we had to find out who was stealing from parking meters. We were watching until we caught the thief and we called the Police to arrest him.

In this case, neither the Municipality, nor the Police could pass the message that there would be consequences of destroying public property.

The important part is that we haven’t managed to educate the young people to respect the public property, to leave a place just as clean and tidy as the found it themselves. Our public behaviour does not respond to our aspiration to make Limassol a business and economic center, as well as a popular tourist destination. Change in mentality need time, persistence and consistency.

Are there examples to inspire this change?
There are. We see such examples around us every day. The man that will pick up a trash from the street sure is an example. This is what I do, too, and this is why I asked the municipal services not to clean the street in front of my house, because I make sure to clean it every Saturday morning.

The public authorities are an example, too. If the Municipality makes sure that a public area is properly catered, with painted metal and wooden parts, with clerks making remarks to those citizens that leave trash behind, then we have a proper example.

So, did the city develop, while the people are still one step behind?
The city did improve, grew stronger and richer, the quality of life was upgraded, but our public behaviour does not respond to this image. It happens so that the city’s greatest enemy is our self.

Being clean and tidy is not expensive. Tidiness does not need large funds, as long as the authorities take action according to their responsibilities. One thing is to keep the city clean, the other is to punish when necessary. Even schools can make a difference. In fact, I learned to put on a safety belt every time I drive, because my grandson demands it. In my time, school was also important. All of the students used to clean the yard, do gardening and make sure that hands and nails were clean. What we need to do, then, is to put “we” above “I”, to take care of our city, as we take care of ourselves.

 

Why didn’t this mentality change during your time in the Municipality?

People’s mentality was improved in many aspects, but not in every single one. We did not manage to impose penalties to those breaking the law.

We founded the neighbourhood councils, for example, but did not operate as they should.

Since the mentality did not change during these prosperous years, how will it change from now on?
No magic wand can change these things. It is a process that takes time that will need a lot of sacrifices, many Mayors and decades. The Municipality alone cannot make a change. Maybe the proper attention was not yet provided.

Could you live anywhere else, apart from Limassol?
I wouldn’t mind living anywhere. I could live in any city, no matter how much I love Limassol, especially if I would find all the elements we want Limassol to have.

We should be proud of our city, but, we should also love it as our home. Our home does not end where our door begins.

At Sydney, Australia, some time ago this happened: the wife of a Cypriot friend threw the inner part of an apple away in a park, to let the birds eat it. A few minutes later a policeman gave her a warning after a complaint by a citizen who saw what she did. This means that they respect eh law and they love the city.

The people who trash the city, are the one who don't love it? 
I think that they do love it, but in the way that a husband loves his wife, but he occasionally treats her badly. Our behaviour to the city is our proof of love. Within this general indifference, some good  peope are rempted to act like that, too.

Haven't you ever did something illegal?
Unfortunately I did without knowing it, outside of the Limassol Municipality, when I had to park one night, at a place where there was a non visible sign and I ended up parking in a place for people with disabilities.

In fact, my car was photographed and posted on social media, so I had to apologize in public.

Which city would you considerr to be a model for Limassol?
I was impressed by Sydney, Barcelona and Toronto. All of the are near the sea. Sydney especially has a lot of respect for the environment, as well as much respect for the law, which may be inspired by the fear of punishment, too.

Could it be that the order of law is not veryinspiring in Limassol, then?
Yes. Over there the law is no joke. You know that once you break it, you will be punished. This inspires respect, after all.

"Class division was never too obvious in Limassol"

Which are the features that make people in Limassol stand out?
We are more risky, smiley and open hearted. The fact that this city had a harbor from the beginning, inspired an entrepreneurial spirit. The development of commerce and industry, provided several opportunities to people in Limassol for initiatives. Also, the fact that there was always the influence from foreigners, widened our horizons.

That is why people in Limassol make friends much easier. The was never and I think that ther still is no obvious class divition in the local society. For example, the bourgeoisie in Limassol consisted in prosperous families, owners of factories or large farms, like Lanitis family, Kirzis family, Mavropoulos family, Galatariotis family etc. There wealth was always great, compared to the average people.

In other cities, like Nicosia, these families were more introverted, due to their own prosperity.

In Limassol, though, these families were involved with all the common activities of the city, in events such as the carnival, in sports clubs, in entertainment. They were not much different than the average Limassolian, nor were their choices in going out or dining out. After all, their wealth was the result of either an inheritance or hard work. They were no thieves.

Why in Limassol different in that aspect?
We are craze in our own way (he laughts). One can see that is our actions and conversations. Loullis Katsounotos, for example, coming from one of the most well-known and wealthiest families in Limassol, was always part of the carnival celebrations, running around the city in a custom and shouting out the spirit of Limassol carnival.

After all, Jorge Amando, a Latin American writer, has said that the carnival is a celabration of Democracy and Equality.

Are you happy with the image Limassolians portray today?
Not always. Sometimes we come across as opportunists. This was always an issue that i observed every time there was a crisis in the Middle East and tourists or investors would prefer Limassol. They came a few years back from Kuweit, then from Lebanon, then the Russians came along. In many cases we did not treat them right, some were conned either in services provided to them, either when they wanted to buy property.

Limassolians ar indeed cosmopolitans, because there was plenty of foreign influence. Still, the element of easy profit was tempting. Whenever people came in Cyprus after the 1960s, as far as I can remember, we would get gready and act irresponsibly. Not to be unfair, though, this does not apply for everyone, but it is no accident that a coffee in Cyprus is more expensive than in any country in Europe.

Where you always so open about things?
Yes, it was a reason for misunderstaings quite oftern.

Do you feel that people like you because of your open personality?
I think that if we are not open about our flaws, especially the people that serve in a public office, these flaws will always accompany us, while we will feel happy to have it our way and making profit in the expense of another. This is not the way to build a tradition. We do have the traditional hospitality, which is intact and most admired in the villages.

The urban areas, though, and the tourist ones especially,, are carrried away. This is what happened in Limassol after 1974.

Why is it still an issue after all these decades?
How could it not? Our society was developed by this rule. This is the model set for personal success, to manage to settle yourself, get as much profit as you can, no matter how we may harm others. It is a short-sighted view, opportunistic, unfit for the people of Limassol. What I think we need, is to build a tradition, to ensuure further development, with respect to tourist and foreign investors, in order to create a long-term prospect and have them coming back with friends and families.

How can this change?
Many things can be done. The city may do a lot, as well as the Municipalities, but each one of us can do a lot, too. For example, the tidiness of the city is not what it should be. The expectations of our visitors rise faster than the speed with which we respond to them. The young people who come here to have fun, party and drink, cannot be a long-term investment, but you still need them for their color and vitality they bring along with them. You also need a tourist that will single you out for the services, the tidiness and the hospitality, in order to recommend you to friends and family. 

Our mentality needs to improve, then, because we are rather careless, but we also need to improve our services, too. The Municipality of the Government should be litteraly after us, to make sure we keep the standards.

Was there a gap always?
Yes, there was, because it is a matter of mentality. But, the fewer we were, the less visible this gap was. Sure, there are people who pay more attention to it, but this needs to be the general image, if we want results.

Why does it take time to respond to change?
I am not sure. Limassol in the past used to be different, with women cleaning the part of the sidewalk and the street in front of the houses regularly. Now, they will call to the Municipality to clean them, if a dog poops there. Our cosial behaviour has changed in a more selfish manner, in order to take care of oneself, or the family, the house etc. "We" is not what we represent anymore.

If the grate on the street has 3 oranges stuck in them and a tin, why shouldn't someone make the effort and clean it up, so that the water of the rain would not overflow? Or why should one take the garbage out on Monday, if the car will pick them up on Friday? Or why would one leave the garbage outside, when it is about to rain?

It is a stupid thing to believe that general progress and the improvement of a society is not the best way for the improvement of individuals, too.

This way of life and the selfish belief that each one should be settled best as individuals, is also the reason for weakest demands on behalf of the unions in our country. The authorities failed to emphasize on this matter. In the UK for example, you will get a fine, if you take the garbages out before the time you should do so. We tried to make recycling a concious habit for people to decrease the amount of garbage. Had we succeeded, there would be a significant defference, but we did not.

What do you love about the people of Limassol?
I love the fact that people in Limassol are all about the fun and the music. We have several choirs in the city. This is an achievement of great musicians, like Solon Michaelides, Marinos Mitellas and others. This tradition was partly borrowed from Eptanisa and Athens, because It suits the love of people in Limassol for wine and parties, and it was encouraged by their outgoing character, that allowed them to communicate with foreign elements.

It is a tradition with a touch of the madness and the romantic air of the city’s people and I am worried by the fact that this romanticism is shrinking every day.

How many people are now accustomed to go to a tavern regularly, to sing with their guitars? These might be around 20 people my age, maybe. In Zakynthos and Corfu, this tradition is still present and many young people are involved with it, because it has emerged as part of their identity. We need to find the ways to showcase these elements, too, so that the Serenaders don’t have to be mainly a part of the carnival celebration.

What else do you single out in Limassol?
The sea is its greatest advantage. The sea is a blessing, actually. Apart from the fact that it is the element on which our tourist industry was based, it would also lay the way for new ideas. The harbour made people’s horizons wider, allowing a view to new ideas, cultures and nations. The harbour is our gate to the world. Unfortunately, emphasizing to the seaside, resulted to the decay of the countryside.

How can some villages, like Omodos for example, stand out and keep thriving?
I am not an expert on the subject, but as far as I know, Omodos has always been an important wine village. It has unique sights, which he showcased properly, in order to attract the attention of tourists and this sure did help.

Platres, on the other hand, even though this was the village that led the way for mountain resorts in Limassol, is now left behind.

Is it a matter of people to make a difference?
People are 1 aspect of what may result to this differences. Tourist agencies, which helped Omodos attract visitors, for example, have also something to do with it. The residents, the vibe in a village, its overall image, its tidiness, these are also important aspects. The people may have their share in the progress or the decay of a place, but it is not an absolute factor.

In Limassol’s case, for example, if Chrysis Demetriades and other lawyers and accountants, who made sure that the law reform related to the development of shipping in the country would proceed, were in Larnaca, Limassol could probably had missed this opportunity. In the ‘60s, the circumstances and the people determined the development course of the city as a port. And if Christou, for example, was not aware of the best way to bring structural funds in Limassol, thanks to his previous office as a Minister, the development of the city could be completely different. Someone else might have had been better at it than myself, actually, but this is just a guess.

Which of the goals you had initially were implemented?
An 80% of those goals was implemented. When we started the procedure for getting structural funds for Limassol, there was not enough staff for that purpose, so we had to move around some people, resulting to weaker services in some cases. Indeed, though, there were some achievements that we did not plan from the beginning, anyway.

Was the development of the seaside area an initial goal?
Yhe, this was the main goal. The project was initiated by Kontides with much fewer funds. Its implementation, the licences provided for the construction of the Limassol Marina and the Old Port, had a decisive role for the upgrade of Limassol’s seafront.

Another goal was to build a good relationship with foreign businessmen, who chose Limassol to do their business, aiming to let them know that they are part of this society.

This is why the Municipality honoured Heinrich Schoeller, owner of Columbia Shipmanagement, as a symbolic representative of this group of foreign businessmen.

A third goal was to take care of the environment (the green areas, the tidiness, the elimination of noise), which is where all these people in Limassol can coexist harmoniously. The first 2 goals progressed impressively. The third one (despite the new parks and green areas in the city), was not implemented. Even these parks, after all, need to be taken care of in the proper time and way, which means that the Municipality has to check the work of the contractor responsible for them. Otherwise their image will end up very disappointing.

Was it easy for a Mayor of the left, to associate with businessmen?
One’s ideology has nothing to do with how they communicate with the world. We are in a society, where our main responsibility is to serve the city. If I felt that the decisions we were taking, were contradicting my beliefs, I would have stopped. For example, I personally disagree with the operation of a casino. I think that lucky games have negative consequences for the society. But, once the government decided to proceed with a casino in Cyprus, I did everything I could to help bring it in Limassol. The city should benefit from it.

People say you are stubborn.
It is true that when I set my mind on something, I make it happen. This was very helpful when I was dealing with difficulties. After I examine something, and realize that it is the right thing to do, I do my best to achieve it. Still, if I realize it is not quite right as I proceed, I won’t hesitate to change my direction. When an issue affects an entire city, you ought to be extremely cautious, in order to do something good, not harm.

Were you ever tempted to dissipate funds?
I have heard this accusation several times. I have challenged anyone to state any evidence of my misbehaviour in public, either this is the General Auditor or any citizen, and submit a formal complaint at the Police. There has been not evidence so far. If one want to dissipate money, there are many ways to do so, especially as a Minister, since historically the Minister of Interior is the strongest one after the Minister of Economics.

If one wants to make money by dissipating funds, if their character is like that, they could even take fat out of a fly.

Do you have any regrets about the things you did or didn’t do as a Mayor?
I have no regrets. I do have things I wanted to do, but did not have the time, or the resources. Our weaknesses are mainly related to the appearances of the city. Limassol grew, its visitors grew in number, too, the behaviours became more loose and we did not manage to control every aspect of this matter.

A major weakness is the fact that, during the rough years of the recession, we did not manage to convince the government to proceed with works in the roads in Limassol. The recession knocked our door just 4 years after I was elected a Mayor and funds were cut off, which cancelled major projects in Ayia Fyla, as well as the road works in Limassol. This is the reason why many works were left behind, including some related to the prevention of floods. Limassol needs €100 more million to finish them.

Will Limassol’s traffic issues be resolved with these works?
The traffic issues came up from the sudden increase of the number of vehicles, before the infrastructure was ready for them. Even the works for the connection of the seaside road and Franglinou Roosevelt avenue, in front of the Old Port, if it is not supported by other works, too, it will simply move the problem to another area.

Will Aktaia be a solution for the traffic issues?
Aktaia has long been delayed, same as the general plan for the western areas of Limassol, but it is supposed to be a road that will serve the people staying in those neighbourhoods, to move to the city center.

We predict that western Limassol will have significant growth in the coming years, with tall buildings, commercial and tourist developments and a rise of population.

Isn’t the lack of parking places at the city center and the Old Port a weakness of your time as a Mayor?
According to the law, there is the appropriate number of parking spaces at the Old Port. At the city center there were 1.000 extra parking spaces created, apart from the private ones. We need to understand that no city in the world has enough parking places for all of its vehicles to park any time of the day. Personally, now that I move around the city, I never encountered any difficulty with parking. In fact, the municipal parking near Cyta is almost always half full. There is a rule that says: make way for cars and wait for more to come. We still could have some more parking areas, but they would be around the city center.

Walkways would be a solution, to make cars go away, then?
Walkways are not an option for city roads, but they can work for commercial areas. Aneksartisias could be a walkway, after a careful study, in order to create solutions, for any possible issues. At first, though, maybe it should become a one-way street.

Are you happy about the image of the Wine Festival?
The Wine Festival is a folk festival, a fair for every day people. It could not be a wine tasting event. The aim is not to change the Wine Festival, but to enrich those 10 days in the way the 10 day of the Limassol Carnival events feature themed days and nights, with references to the activities and the content of the Wine Festival. We did contact some businessmen with restaurants and hotels, in order to promote local wines in their menus during that time, with a fund from the COT. It was hard to convince them. Still, we do need parallel events about the history and the flavors of the local wines.

The area of the Wine Festival interests locals, as well as 30.000 tourists who ask for this priduct, with all of its folklor color. The Wine Festival needs to be all about traditional images and scents.

Many people have noticed it has been unchanged for too long. Don't you see that?
There are changes all the time. Sure, there are more significant updates in other cases, but there are smaller steps here. The Wine Festival has been upgraded with fabric seatings, for example, there is 1 bottle of wine for every adult visiting the Festival, there is a free bus service established to bring people from other cities. What we need to fix is related to the events outside the Public Garden.

Why wouldn't it be upgraded in a way that restaurants and hotels would find it more appealing?
We do not expect from everyone in Limassol to be attracted by the Festival in the Garden. We cannot make everyone happy. We want to create the rest, which will extend the Festival outside the Garden, so that there is a 10-day event that will honor the history of wine in our place.

Regardless of his time as a Mayor, Andreas Christou is a hot-blooded Limassolian, with a vision for the city. After all, this was the only reason for this interview in All About Limassol, the Official City Guide. It is clear that, with the city and its progress in mind, All About Limassol is not confined by anyone or attached to anyone, especially parties or other groups. After all, Andreas Christou did use the tools provided by his office, to bring results universally renowned, regardless of one’s origins, social class or political party. Himself was clear about caring about the city above all, during the 10 years of his office. The result sure is a proof.

Keeping any sentimentalism for his personal relations (rarely letting the image of a romantic, idealist and deeply sentimental man come across), the former Mayor of Limassol made sure to take any decision based in pure logic. Even if he never denied his Limassolian temperament, this special “madness” he shares with the people of this city, a sober way of thinking proved to be an ideal – yet oxymoron – pair in his character, to allow him push Limassol just a bit higher.