**Cyta Union Criticizes Government Over Board Member Removal**
The recent removal of Loizos Economides from the board of directors of Cyta has sparked renewed criticism from the Pase-Cyta union, which has accused the government of failing to provide a clear explanation for his replacement. The union's statement, released on Friday, emphasized that Economides' resignation does not reflect well on the institutions involved or on the president, particularly due to the lack of transparency regarding the reasons behind the decision.
Pase-Cyta expressed concerns that Economides' departure undermines the perception of meritocracy and institutional consistency within Cyta, a semi-governmental telecommunications organization. The union highlighted that Economides, who has over 30 years of experience at Cyta, possesses substantial knowledge of the organization, making his removal a significant loss.
The controversy surrounding Economides' appointment intensified after the Cyta employees’ union, Aset, raised issues regarding a potential conflict of interest. Aset pointed out that Economides is a retired senior executive at Cyta, and that his wife is still employed by the organization. Additionally, they cited his involvement with the management committee of the staff pension and benefits fund and his previous role as vice president of the staff union as further grounds for concern.
In response, Pase-Cyta rejected Aset's claims, clarifying that Economides was appointed in his personal capacity and not as a representative of the union. They described him as a "worthy, experienced and qualified person," emphasizing that his extensive background in the organization would have been beneficial for the board.
The situation has also drawn attention to broader issues regarding the appointment processes for boards of semi-government organizations in Cyprus. The political party Akel has criticized the government for allegedly appointing individuals without going through the advisory council, which is intended to play a key role in the selection process. This has raised questions about the integrity of the appointments system, with Akel asserting that semi-state organizations should not be used for political patronage.
The government has recently appointed around 85 board members across 11 semi-state organizations and public bodies, and the controversy surrounding Economides' removal is seen as indicative of larger systemic issues within these appointments. Akel has called for reforms to ensure that the selection process is transparent and based on merit rather than political connections.
As the debate continues, the Pase-Cyta union remains firm in its stance, calling for clarity and accountability from the government regarding the decision to remove Economides. The outcome of this situation may have implications not only for Cyta but also for the governance of other semi-governmental entities in Cyprus.