Stating that they will undertake serious work in order to increase productivity in this country with the new government, Gürcafer said, “Work should be done by evaluating a socio-economic plan for this country, sector by sector.”
Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA), was a guest of the “Concerning Today” program prepared and presented by Nazar Erişkin on Cyprus Genç TV, and made important statements regarding current topical issues.
“WE NEED A CHANGE OF MINDSET”
CTBC President Cafer Gürcafer stated that the UBP-DP-YDP minority government left a wreckage behind and said, “The important thing is not that the government changes, we need a change of mindset.”
Stating that the economic condition of the country is seriously bad, Gürcafer said:
“From an economic point of view, the country is in a seriously bad state. From time to time, our politicians, prime minister and ministers speak nice words such as “We are getting better, we are developing, we are flying, we will exist forever”, but this is not the reality. There’s a country in ruins. E.g., there are politicians who present routine matters of maintenance such as building a road, putting up a classroom at a school building, as if they were some kind of development. Unfortunately, we also cheer this on too. However, in developed countries, for example, once every 7 years, a road is relayed. These are routine maintenance acts for what is needed. It is not progress. Today, many apartments do not have the money to buy disinfectants. They can’t afford toilet paper. What success are you talking about?
The important thing is not that the government changes, we need a change of mindset. With this way of thinking, this country is doomed to experience these things.”
“THIS GOVERNMENT HAS LEFT A WRECK BEHIND”
Noting that there are deputies in the country who have made a habit of spending an election period phone in hand, attempting to solve problems for individuals, and think this is a virtue, Cafer Gürcafer said, “This is all it takes with them. We need to know this. So long as we choose them, these will occur. ‘We need to create an economy that stands on its own feet’. Ok, how do we create this? By talking on the phone? It is necessary to be able to think, to develop projects, to provision laws, to make regulations, to issue circulars and to labour for this.”
CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer stated: ‘’This Government has left a wreck behind. Why are we going to Turkey? We go to ask for money, to stay in power or to ask for support in order to win at the party general congress. So, I too went and observed; there is no institutional structure between the TRNC and the Turkish Republic. Turkey does not have a project to raise the TRNC, to create a state that stands on its own feet, or to create such a political structure. There is no science based socio-economic development plan prepared to revive the TRNC economy.
Investments are not crafted according to economic development. They are not within the framework of a specific plan or project. For example, an Organized Industrial Zone is being built in Güvercinlik. So, what will happen inside this organized industrial zone? Roads will be built there, infrastructure will be built, and distributed to someone, well and good. What will happen in it that will provide employment, support the country’s economy, chip in and increase production, increase exports, contribute to per capita national income, and create an economy that stands on its own feet? Is there an exercise conducted for this? None whatsoever. So, why has this decision been taken? It was done so for populism. It is necessary to establish an institutionalised structure between the TR and the TRNC, and to shape the relationship within the framework of a planned project, which should be put forward by the TRNC. Because the people of this country know the needs of this country.”
“WE WILL CHANGE THE MINDSET AS THE PEOPLE”
CTBCA President Gürcafer talked about how Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association, Chamber of Turkish Cypriot Shopkeepers and Artisans, Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, North Cyprus Hoteliers Association, Cyprus Turkish Business People Association, Northern Cyprus Young Businessmen Association have prepared many works and programmes for the recovery of the country’s economy, for creating a self-sufficient economy, to increase production, to create employment and raise the per capita national income but he said that not even one of them came to fruition.
Cafer Gürcafer stated, “This is because there is no government structure that cares about this,” and he went on to say, “That’s why this mindset needs to change.”
Gürcafer, speaking as follows, said, “Perhaps 10 percent of the ministers, directors, undersecretaries, the institutions and organizations appointed by them, who are supposed to be tasked with managing this country, are preoccupied with solving these problems. The susceptibility of the other 90 percent is shaped by the party congress, the election, being a candidate/not being a candidate. Unless this mindset changes, we cannot arise. It is the people who will change this mindset, we are the people.’’
“IT IS EMBARRASSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE TO PAY SALARIES’’
Commenting on the statements that the government requested an appointment with the Vice President Fuat Oktay of Turkey due to the “salary crisis”, but how this request was rejected, Cafer Gürcafer said, “Those who put us in this situation should be ashamed.”
Regarding the matter, CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer made the following statements:
“Mr. Fuat Oktay is the Vice President of the Republic of Turkey. The President or the Government gave him a task. ‘You are the minister responsible for Cyprus. Go, raise the economy of the TRNC, etc.’ they said. He couldn’t either. It did not happen. When you look at it from his perspective, there is a failure. Within such a failure, when the end of the month comes, you go and ask money for pay. As a matter of fact, those who put us in this situation should be ashamed. It is embarrassing for us that the government is not be able to pay salaries come the end of the month. This country has the resources to pay its own salaries and to make its own investments. All we need is to assign to the administration of the country such people who care. This change must occur within all parties.”
“THE ASSEMBLY IS EXHAUSTED, REFRESHING THE ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY”
Noting that all segments of the country are uncomfortable with the current order, Cafer Gürcafer expressed that, in this context, he is hopeful for the coming period. Saying that the Assembly should definitely be refreshed, Gürcafer stated that the search for a long-term, reformist government will be a priority in the coming days.
Gürcafer made the following statements in his remark on the subject:
“I am speaking based on my own observations. There is discomfort in all segments and on the basis of what I have said, I think that the value judgment of the voters will be different and a divergent structure will emerge. Carrying on further with the current Assembly without having an election would harm this country. The Assembly is exhausted, it is no longer productive. This Assembly, definitely, needs to be refreshed.
In the coming period, the search for a long-term reform-minded government will be a priority. This gives rise for hope. We, as NGOs, will also contribute to this. In order to increase productivity in this country, we must do earnest work with the new government. All sectors in this country need to be touched.
If we can do this, relations with Turkey will also improve. Otherwise it will get even worse. I am uncomfortable with Turkey’s constant intervention. But I do not think Turkey is happy about it either. If you cut your own socio-economic development plan and also establish a plan about gaining your economic freedom, I don’t think Turkey will come and say to you, ‘You will not implement this plan, you will not gain your own economic freedom’.
“THERE IS A SEARCH FOR CHANGE”
CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer noted that there is a search for change among many political parties that will focus on a more conciliatory, a more eligible structure to enable economic and political independence as much as possible, and that he attaches great importance to the National Unity Party’s congress in this context.
Gürcafer said: “There are indications of a mindset change. There is a search for an economy that stands on its own feet by those who are disturbed by all that has been lived through. This is a good sign. This is also the case with other political parties. Within many political parties, a search is underway for change with a focus on works that will create more conciliatory and eligible structure that could gain economic and political freedom as much as possible. As a people, we need to support this.
If we do these things, for the next term of the government, I believe that we can create a different Assembly with a more sensitive, realistic format that is more willing to act together, is collaborative, and that is more anxious about the awareness of the public.’’
