Busy North and Central Corfu beaches still without lifeguards
CORFU. Lifeguards and equipment are now being placed on busy South Corfu beaches.
Busy North and Central Corfu beaches remain without lifeguards despite it being the middle of the tourist season, as the invitations for tenders from the municipalities have been fruitless.
For now, lifeguards are only present on the busy beaches in South Corfu Municipality, as after several years, the invitations for tenders have finally been successful.
South CorfuDeputy Mayor, Nikos Kourtesis, told Enimerosi a few days ago that lifeguards have been put in position and will remain there according to legislation until September 30th. However, he pointed out the difficulties faced in these invitations for tenders due to the significant lack of human resources in this particular field.
In the open online public tender announced by the Municipality of South Corfu on April 13th, with a total budget of 382,189.70 Euros (including VAT), only one interested company responded.
In order to fully secure all the necessary personnel for the coverage of the 12 lifeguard posts at the beaches of Kavos, Bouka, Vitalades, Marathias, Agios Georgios, Messonghi and Moraitika, a small extension was requested for the deadline. In several cases, the posts were filled by individuals who came from other areas of Greece.
"Since the first year we took office as the municipal authority, we have been conducting the tender procedure, but it was fruitless," said Mr. Kourtesis. "However, this year we found a contractor. Despite the high cost that the Municipality had to cover, especially during challenging times for the economy, we have managed to provide safe beaches for the permanent residents and visitors in our area after many years."
Without lifeguards
However, despite the high numbers of visitors on the crowded beaches of both North and Central Corfu, they remain without lifeguards for now. Both tender invitations organised by the Central Corfu Municipality, aiming to provide lifeguard coverage for the beaches of Ipsos, Barbati, Dassia, Agios Gordios, Agios Spyridonas Paleokastritsa, Glyfada and Kontoyialos, have been unsuccessful.
Deputy Mayor of Finance, Giorgos Pantelios, told Enimerosi that, after receiving approval from the Economic Committee, the invitations will be re-announced for the third time.
The situation is similar in the north. In the two invitations for tender conducted by the Municipality of North Corfu, there was no interest expressed. According to Deputy Mayor Theofanis Skembris, the competition for the hiring of 14 individuals for lifeguard coverage at the designated busy beaches of Sidari, Roda, Acharavi, Agios Georgios Pagon and Agios Stefanos Avlioton will be repeated.
"Last year, the posts were not filled either," he said. "There is a significant problem with lifeguards. The employment period is short, and they prefer to work in hotels and water sports. The legislation, depending on the zone radius, requires not only lifeguards but also supervisors and a vessel. The requirements are extensive, and it is difficult to fill the positions."
LegislationAccording to current legislation, the lifeguard period starts on June 1st and ends on September 30th. The lifeguards' working hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, including Sundays and public holidays.
However, according to data from the Hellenic Coast Guard Port Authority Headquarters, in Corfu from June 1st until today, three drownings have occurred. A 67-year-old man at Agios Gordios beach on the afternoon of July 5th, a 65-year-old tourist in Moraitika on the afternoon of July 3rd, and the body of a 73-year-old foreign national was found in the sea area of Ipsos on the evening of June 27th.
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
