Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA), noted that the only way to run the economy and health in parallel is to get vaccinated.
Asserting that 300-400 thousand vaccines should be brought in for the TRNC at once, Gürcafer stated that without this, there will be great losses both in health and the economy.
Gürcafer said, “The key regarding the economy is the vaccine. Before tomorrow, all opposition parties, the government, and the members of the Assembly in the country should go to Ankara and in some way demonstrate the required diplomacy. If needed, they should stay put for 72 hours, till they ensure the receipt of 300 thousand vaccines and then return. Let’s go to Brussels too. After that, let us lockdown, implement a rapid vaccination program during the shutdown and reopen once that is done” he said.
CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer was a guest of the program “About Today” prepared and presented by Nazar Erişkin on Cyprus Genç TV and answered questions relating to current issues.
“No formula will work if we cannot attain the vaccine”
Saying that the health infrastructure of the country is worn down and the doctors are in a state of panic, Cafer Gürcafer stated for the record that all this point towards a lockdown, and if so what would be need in such a case will be to have a very good plan.
Gürcafer argued that, “If the planned closure will be limited to 10 days, it can be dealt with somehow. However, if the period is going to be extended, the State should stop paying salaries and contribute to each household according to their needs; at this juncture it should aim for fairness.”
Gürcafer, noting that a lockdown and a reopening before the required amount of vaccine arrives will not provide any benefit stated, “The vaccine did not yet arrive but we will still have a lockdown, what will happen then? Would we not reopen? We will reopen and end up back to zero. We will run the same scenario over and over again. Therefore, a lockdown in itself is not enough. It is necessary to develop a program, plan and act within that framework.”
Voicing that health and economy should be handled conjointly in order for the wheels of the economy to turn again, Cafer Gürcafer stated that the only way to do this is to be vaccinated.
Gürcafer said, “If the State locks everyone to their homes until the epidemic passes, manages to borrow 5-6 billion TL and provides a monthly salary of 5-6 thousand TL to each household, then there is no problem, but there is not the slightest sign that such a resolve exists within the State. Therefore, we will need to take matters into our own hands. Vaccination is the only way to do this without making the society sick and perishing. In order to re-energize our economy, we need to be vaccinated as soon as possible and open the country to people who have been vaccinated”
“Oktay will be coming to the TRNC and we shall meet with him as the EOP”
CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer highlighted his awareness of the impending visit of the Vice President Republic of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, to the TRNC in the next few days and if this was to occur, expressed the aim of the Economic Organizations Platform (EOP) to hold a meeting with him that will have the vaccine as the key issue on the agenda.
Gürcafer spoke as, ” We need to use an honest language to explain what the vaccine means, how it will positively affect our economy and the positive effect of a vaccinated TRNC would have on Turkey; getting rid of the burden that we have become on her. We will explain the reasons that 20 thousand vaccinations per month is not right, that we should be vaccinated at all at once, and we will try to obtain this vaccine somehow. The EU is an option too but if not from there, then we should even consider getting vaccines from the black market”.
“The employee is the only concern for the business world”
CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer stated that the business world has mobilized all its means for its employees and said:
“From time to time, we are described as a ‘vested interest’. It is as if the business world’s concern is to make vast sums of money and put it aside. The business world has only one problem; to keep tens of thousands of people in employment and not to have them kicked out the door. This is a humanitarian situation. Everyone has mobilized whatever means they have so that our people will not go hungry. Therefore, we will continue with the same approach. We will continue to work in harmony with the government and the opposition, and we will try to complete this task within the framework of a project.”
