The Oligarchy of Authorities

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND GOVERNMENTAL SILENCE

One of the most worrying patterns that recurs every time fires break out in Mountainous Cyprus is the systematic lack of institutional preparation and the repeated failure to prevent. Despite the successive tragic examples of the last decades, no substantial change has materialized. The promises of “enhanced action plans” and “new fire protection strategies” remained on paper.

The Government did not issue any official announcement during the critical days of the fires. The aerial firefighting equipment that had been announced for 2024 was significantly delayed or was not activated on time. The National Plan for Combating Forest Fires remained inactive, while no critical meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture or the competent Deputy Ministry for Climate Crisis was held.

The House of Representatives did not hold a single urgent debate on the response or assessment of the disaster. No political party submitted official questions about the delays, omissions, or deficits in infrastructure and human resources. The parliamentary silence, at critical times, was deafening.

The Local Government, with few exceptions, proved unprepared and inactive. Many community leaders did not convene emergency community councils, did not request support from provincial agencies, nor did they inform residents in a timely manner about evacuation or protection protocols. In some cases, complete inaction was observed even when the flames were dangerously approaching populated areas.

All institutions involved – executive branch, legislative branch, local government – ​​bear serious responsibilities. Their actions (or omissions) will be examined in detail in the following sections, with evidence, documents and records.

Table of Responsible Institutions and Individuals – Who was responsible!

According to official documents and government decisions, the following bodies and persons were responsible for the activation, prevention and management of forest fires:

• Ministry of Agriculture: Andreas Grigoriou, Director General of the Ministry, was appointed by a decision of the Council of Ministers as the central coordinator for fire issues. His role included the interface between ministries, services and general operational control. However, his operational competence was later questioned.

• Department of Forests (under the Ministry of Agriculture): The Director of the Department of Forests is responsible for the prevention, maintenance and control of accessibility to forest zones, as well as for the design of fire zones and fire safety infrastructure in state forests.

• Chief Fire Chiefs of the Fire Service: Regional Fire Service officials had the direct responsibility for managing on-site firefighting, coordinating aerial and ground resources where required. Cyprus Fire Service: The Chief Fire Officer bears the overall operational responsibility for the body’s actions outside state forests, especially in mixed zones near settlements.

• Civil Defence: The Director of Civil Defence is responsible for the evacuation of populations, the protection of citizens and the provision of humanitarian support in cases of emergency. Its participation has been insufficient and delayed, especially with regard to vulnerable populations.

• National Security Council: This is the highest government crisis coordination body, chaired by the President of the Republic. While it was established for such cases, it was not activated during the crisis, which raises questions as to the role and readiness of the mechanism.

The Names of Silence

Andreas Grigoriou – Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture

He was appointed by the Council of Ministers in April 2023 as the fire coordinator, with the authority to mobilize aircraft and coordinate state and services.

Where was Andreas Grigoriou and who had real responsibility?

✅ What the Council of Ministers' Decision (April 12, 2023) stipulates

By decision of the Council of Ministers, Andreas A. Grigoriou, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, was appointed as the Central Fire Coordinator, with powers to:

1. mobilises aircraft,

2. manages the deployment of forces,

3. indicates when to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism,

   establishes a crisis operations centre and

4. indicates evacuation or movement measures, regardless of the service to which each entity belonged

🔍 During the fires: Was in Australia

At the critical time of the deadly fire in the Limassol Mountains, Mr. Grigoriou was in Australia, representing the Republic of Cyprus at anniversary events. The event caused strong reactions in Parliament, with MPs questioning the move and demanding to know who took over the role of coordinator in his absence.

❓ Was it replaced or not?

The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, stated that Mr. Grigoriou had expressed a personal interest in traveling to Australia and that before his departure:

• he held meetings with the Chief Fire Chief and the Director of the Forestry Department,

• officially appointed two senior officials to represent him in case of need,

• stressed that he never exercised an operational role and that this belonged to the Chief Fire Chief or the Director of Forestry per region.

• Despite the assurances, the Parliament insisted that no clear answers were given as to who served as the central coordinator during Mr. Grigoriou's absence, and why the decision of the Council of Ministers was not implemented as issued.

⚖️ Who was ultimately responsible?

• Mr. Grigoriou was outside Cyprus, stated that “my absence did not affect the response of the services” and insisted that he did not have an operational role, despite the Cabinet’s decision to the contrary

• Responsibility was transferred: According to the Minister’s official position, operational responsibility was held by the Chief Fire Chiefs of the Fire Department or the Director of the Forestry Department, depending on the area of ​​responsibility

• Despite the Cabinet’s decision, the Director General remained outside the country at a critical moment. The responsibility was not activated as foreseen — neither did he himself assume an operational role, nor was a replacement appointed to cover his absence.

• At the same time, the statements and contradictions — on the one hand, the Minister’s corporate view of a non-operational role, and on the other, the demands of MPs for explanations — place responsibilities on both him and the leadership of the Ministry.

• Normally, in the absence of the Director General, the political and operational responsibility should have been assumed by the Minister herself. Not only as the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, but also as the person who proposed and signed the decision of the Council of Ministers on the coordination of fires. Her silence, the lack of coordination and the denial of responsibility constitute an institutional failure and a blow to the trust of citizens in the state.

• The case highlights the lack of a clear structure and strict implementation of state decisions in crisis situations.

Department of Forests – Administrative Sector within the Ministry of Agriculture

• The Department of Forests bears legislative and technical responsibility for the prevention and treatment of forest fires, as well as for the standard treatment in a zone up to 2 km from state forests

• The state's inaction and the delay in implementing rules and measures are denounced by the Audit Service as chronic pathologies.

Cyprus Fire Service

• Responsible for the operational response to fires outside the Forest Zone, with the main administrative structure being the Chief Fire Chief of each region

• According to the Ministry, he is responsible for extinguishing fires, not Grigoriou.

Civil Defence

• Service under the Ministry of Interior, responsible for the protection of citizens, the coordination of evacuations and humanitarian management in disasters

• However, during fires, it does not provide support to the elderly/sick, due to understaffing and delays in the activation mechanism.

Central Coordination (National Security Council)

• Newly established body of 2023, under the presidency of Christodoulides, aiming at overall joint action on national security and crisis issues

• No coordination plan was activated through the NSC during the crisis, although it is intended for the effective management of such situations.

🗣 Public Statements, Contradictions and Silence

• At a meeting of Parliamentary Committees, DISY and AKEL MPs stressed that the decision on Grigoriou was questioned and that the Minister denied operational responsibility for him.

• A representative of the Department of Forestry, Savvas Ezekiel, admitted: “No one was prepared for this fire” and cited the lack of infrastructure and coordination.

• The President of the Republic requested assistance from the US government for an investigation and assessment of the management of the fire, stating at the same time that the reports from four state agencies (Fire Department, Forestry, Police, Civil Defense) are being made publicly available.