Paphos ready for bonfires, police continue patrols

As the police continue their crackdown on easter bonfires (lambradjia) outside churches, Paphos is getting ready to go ahead with what has become traditional at the midnight Easter liturgy on Saturday, symbolising the victory of light against darkness and ushering in the resurrection of Christ.

Municipalities across Paphos district are striving to keep the bonfires within strict limits, to ensure public safety.

Paphos municipality head of health and cleanliness Christos Christou said a meeting had been held with the police and fire brigade, and decisions were taken.

According to those decisions, no bonfire would be permitted in a church yard unless the organisers had submitted a request which would then have to be approved, along with the acceptance of strict preconditions.

Meanwhile, the municipality was removing materials used for the bonfires where no permit has been issued.

Christou said that so far only one church had expressed the wish to light a bonfire.

In order for the permit to be issued, the organisers must agree to only use a small quantity of timber and find an appropriate place for the bonfire to make sure people and property are safe.

Akamas mayor Marinos Lambrou told the Cyprus News Agency that the tradition would be observed under condition of safety.

Measures, he said, were being taken in Peyia and Kissonerga, where large numbers of young people are assembling.

Lambrou said guards had been posted and that municipality staff would be present to make sure everything went according to plan.

Ierokipia mayor Nikos Palios said the municipality was following instructions issued by the fire brigade and that this year there would be five bonfires at different sites.

Meanwhile, police patrols are being carried out across Cyprus to prevent dangerous behaviour and ensure public safety.

On Tuesday, Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said offenders would face arrest and parents of minors would be held accountable.

Fitiris said the aim was to ensure the traditional custom remains a celebration.

“We want this custom to be a celebration and not a risk,” he said, adding that a joint plan with local authorities and emergency services would be implemented to prevent the situation from escalating.

Referring to incidents in previous years, including a fatality, the minister warned that youth delinquency had increasingly manifested around the lambradjia tradition “in a very negative way”.