Protest outside DEYAK today
CORFU. Following the protest gathering, a delegation from the Board of Directors of the Workers΄ Centre and elected local government officials met with the President of the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYAK), presenting him with their immediate demands.
A protest was held on Wednesday morning, August 21st, at the offices of the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYAK) against the policies of the Government and local administrations regarding water. Among those present at the protest were the Workers' Centre, the LASY party of the Ionian Islands and the Corfu municipalities, representatives of ADEDY (Civil Servants' Confederation), and various Pensioners' Unions, among others.
Following the protest gathering, a delegation from the Board of Directors of the Workers' Centre and elected local government officials met with the President of DEYAK, presenting him with their immediate demands.
Enimerosi contacted the President of DEYAK, Achilleas Mazis, and the leader of Ionian Islands LASY, Alexandra Balou, who spoke to us about the content of the meeting.
Absence of those responsible
The President of DEYAK views these kinds of protests positively, as they operate within a framework of demands. He agrees with most of the statement issued by the Workers' Centre, particularly the sections concerning funding and resolving the issue with the Public Power Corporation (DEI).
He said that in April 2024, DEYAK requested €700,000 in funding for drilling to address water shortages, but received nothing. He also highlighted the staffing problem, noting that in 2011, DEYAK had 220 employees, but now it has only 100.
He stated that he contacted the President and CEO of DEI, Giorgos Stassis, with DEYAK's proposal to settle its debt in 100 monthly installments, potentially reducing them to 80, along with the payment of current bills. DEYAK is still awaiting DEI's response to this proposal.
According to the President, due to the debt owed to DEI, no pumping station has been connected since April 2023.
Achilleas Mazis noted that the meeting with the representatives of the protest participants took place in a positive atmosphere. It was agreed that in the coming days, there will be a meeting between the Workers' Centre and the President of DEYAK to provide a comprehensive briefing and to present proposals, opinions, and positions on all issues concerning DEYAK.
Need for comprehensive planning
The representatives of the protesters made their demands public through their statement. These demands include emergency funding and additional staff to repair damage to the water supply network, the creation of new boreholes, and the provision of electricity from DEI to operate them, as well as the existing ones that are not being utilised due to DEYAK's debts to DEI. They also called for the supply of water tanks and tankers to meet current needs.
Alexandra Balou stated that there is a need for comprehensive project planning for the management of water resources. Immediate projects on the network are necessary, but a solution must also be found for the collection and management of water that is being lost.
She reiterated LASY's opposition to the commercialisation and privatisation of services and water.
In conclusion, she stressed the need to put pressure on the government and extended an invitation for participation to the local administration as well.
Statement from Workers' Centre
The statement issued by the Workers' Centre included the following:
"Climate change, the reduction in rainfall, and the depletion of water reserves are not excuses for the criminal actions and omissions of local administrations and the Government. Obviously, water scarcity is not to blame for:
- the lack of measures to address it by municipal authorities,
- the absence of infrastructure projects,
- the poor management of water resources, which are exploited by business groups for their own profit,
- the loss of water due to leaks in the ancient, sieve-like water supply system,
- the utilisation of only a small percentage of the total water reserves.
It seems that water scarcity is being conveniently used by governments, their pawns, and business groups to, along with the degradation of the public water management system, bring about the privatisation of water."
VASSILIS PANTAZOPOULOS
Photo: Andreas Pagiatakis
