I apologise in advance to readers, as today’s column will essentially be written by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. No, I didn’t ask her to do so.
But to understand the issue at hand – which concerns the fairy tales politicians sell us daily – we must read the letter she sent to Annita Demetriou regarding the water shortage problem.
Annita dared – in an attempt to appear somewhat oppositional – to raise the burning issue of water scarcity. She tried to position herself as somewhat above the fray, proposing a National Council to address the matter.
This infuriated the Presidential Palace which, as we understand, decided to respond harshly to the opposition and media, tasking Maria Panayiotou with the response. And Ms Panayiotou presented everything that follows to undermine Annita Demetriou.
Enjoy this virtuous performance as presented in the minister’s letter: “Since 2023, all desalination plants have been put into full operation”. She notes they have improved water supply to communities in Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos districts to meet emergency drinking water needs.
They installed rapid filtration units in Frenaros to enhance water supply to Ayia Napa and Paralimni areas. They installed an additional rapid filtration unit at Tamasos Dam to cover the drinking water needs of the served communities.
They upgraded central water supply systems to enable receiving the largest possible quantities of water. The most significant upgrade completed in 2024 was the installation of a new central pipeline from Ormideia to Xylofagou to supply these two communities.
In April 2024, they approved the first National Water Infrastructure Investment Plan, comprising 93 projects totalling €1.17 billion. These cover drinking water, irrigation, sewerage, and reclaimed water utilisation across all districts.
In July 2024, they addressed emergency drinking and irrigation needs with new measures and strengthening of existing ones.
In November 2024, they decided on 28 actions to address drought and water scarcity. Key measures include four mobile desalination units, expanding capacity of existing units, utilising boreholes, constructing two permanent desalination plants using renewable energy, and more.
On 26 March 2025, €8 million was approved for Water Boards to undertake immediate repairs within one year. They approved payment of €1 million annually (2025-2027) to cover losses and water needs in remote communities outside Water Boards.
They approved a €3 million Grant Scheme for Small Private Desalination Units in hotels.
The licensing framework for desalination plants up to 1,500 cubic metres was significantly simplified, allowing hotels, local authorities and farmers to install small desalination units and receive permits within one week.
“This way,” she continues, “the tourism industry gains for the first time a very powerful financing tool and a simplified licensing framework so that, starting this year, hotels that wish to can achieve self-sufficiency in water supply and irrigation”.
To address the impact of drought on farmers, they included in investment programmes since summer 2024 the possibility of subsidising up to 80% of permanent infrastructure that solves the problem through technology, such as smart irrigation systems, agrivoltaics that reduce water needs by 30%, photovoltaics for irrigation associations to reduce pumping costs, doubling the budget for improvements to irrigation departments under District Officers’ responsibility, and more.
So what water problem is Annita talking about? What National Council is she asking for? From everything the Minister has listed, do you see a problem? At one point she states it clearly: “This is a comprehensive, costed programme with a specific timeline, the implementation of which is already underway and which provides, for the first time, a permanent solution to the water problem, with Cyprus fully independent from weather conditions for meeting drinking water needs”.
Apologising for the ordeal I’ve put you through, here’s the actual substance: Ms Maria Panayiotou rushed to Abu Dhabi yesterday to discuss with the United Arab Emirates’ national energy company the installation of mobile desalination units in Cyprus to supply drinking water!
That’s the reality, Ms Panayiotou and Presidential Palace. If no external solution is found, we’ll be parched. Everything else is nonsense!
Already, as philenews revealed days ago, the Water Development Department’s scenarios are nightmarish. If it doesn’t rain next autumn, they’re planning water cuts from February 2026!
Everything you’re listing in the letter is cheap communication tactics. Clearly, the government isn’t responsible for the lack of rain.
However, the previous government is to blame for being complacent. The current government is partially responsible because in two years, it should have done what it’s doing today – increasing desalination units.
So instead of spinning tales to the public, consider Annita’s proposal positively. Because, who knows, just as you ended up in the UAE, party leaders might suggest another quick solution.
Set aside these ridiculous claims of “for the first time we did…” The problem is urgent, and you’ll be exposed…
