Symi (Σύμη) Symi Protests: Municipality Closes | Symi (Συμη) Greece island guide: SymiGreece.com

At 1pm this afternoon, the Municipality of Symi closed for business until further notice as a way of protest over the lack of a direct ferry connection with Pireus. A committe will now go to the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and hand the Municipality keys to the Minister, Mr Manolis Kefalogiannis. (For the background of the dispute between the Municipality of Symi, Blue Star Ferries and the Government, see previous SymiGreece news-reports).

The decision was taken at last week's council meeting and at 1pm today the Mayor of Symi, Mr Lefteris Papakalodoukas, closed the Municipality and walked down the steps followed by members of the council. Speaking in front of the building, he accused the Ministers of Mercantile Marine and Aegean & Island Policy of deception, and expressed his determination to carry on the protest until a solution is found and a ferry connection between Symi and Pireus is re-established.

Mr Papakalodoukas also talked about the decline of services on the island and gave as an example the decision by OTE (the publicly-owned telephone company) to close its only office in Yialos. He expressed his frustration at the response he received from OTE when he complained that Symi residents will no longer be able to pay their phone bills. He was told that people can pay bills at either a "Germanos" shop or a lottery store, none of which are available on Symi!

Speaking earlier to local radio stations, Mr. Papakalodoukas called for the sacking of Mr Kefalogiannis by the Prime Minister holding him responsible for the problems arising by the boat situation across the Dodecanese islands.