Daily Archives: December 25, 2012

IN PAPHOS, which has been hardest hit by the wave of unemployment, authorities, businesses and the general public have joined forces to ensure needy families won’t be left hungry, especially during the Christmas period.

A Paphos municipality social welfare committee programme to help began in April with 150 families receiving some sort of food support. That number has now grown to more than 500.

President of the Paphos municipality social welfare committee Maria Zavrou said the response from individuals, businesses, supermarkets and associations wanting to help, was overwhelming.

“At the beginning of the week we handed out special Christmas food parcels to about 550 needy families in Paphos,” she said.

ALTHOUGH there is probably a significant number of people in Cyprus who have been left untouched by the economic crisis, the vast majority have felt it in one way or another but this has not stopped an overwhelming mobilisation in all districts to help those less fortunate.

A few years ago before Demetris Grinchofias began to re-make families here into a 21st century image of The Waltons – a close-knit American TV family struggling through the Great Depression – Christmas was a time of indulgence and materialism with little thought for those less fortunate.

ONE man was yesterday left in critical condition, and two more were in custody, after a dramatic car chase and shootout with police 

One of the alleged perpetrators, a Greek Cypriot, was seriously wounded in an exchange of fire that took place in the community of Marki, outside Nicosia. He was rushed to Nicosia general hospital where he underwent surgery; his condition is described as critical.

The two other men, Greek Pontians, have been arrested and are being questioned. They are set to appear before a court today for their remand hearing.

It all began when police patrols, investigating a burglary an at electronics store in Latsia in the morning, flagged down a car with fake license plates near the scene of the crime.