Christofides: Delays in Firefighter Recruitment

AKEL MP Christos Christofides has denounced delays in approving firefighter recruitment, claiming that the Department of Forests had urgently requested the filling of 19 positions since January 9, 2025. The request concerned firefighters, forest workers, and fire watchers.

According to Mr. Christofides, despite repeated appeals and a new letter on April 2 increasing the number of necessary positions to 27, the approval was given on July 16, making recruitment possible no earlier than late September, after the critical fire season.

Christos Christofides blames the government for the delays, arguing that this negligence undermines declarations of readiness and may have affected the handling of the deadly fire in mountainous Limassol.

He demands answers as to who delayed the approval and why the warnings of the Department of Forests were ignored.