The Rambler
Infuriated
Again the Government puts the blame on the buyers
I read the article in the Cyprus Star (dated 14 November 2008) ref Government official Mr Fellahoglu’s response to the HBPG and was furious.
First I shall point out a truth - 99% of buyers in the TRNC used an Advocate, we personally used one of the most ‘so called’ respected Advocates in Girne. We were worried because we did not know the language and the laws of the TRNC, don’t worry our Advocate told us, the laws of the TRNC are based on UK law and I will look after your interests.
We signed the contract having full trust in the Advocate only to find out later that the Advocate had close ties with the builder. The HBPG have found out that this deception used by Advocates is normal.
There have been several articles in the paper about the amount buyers are charged by Advocates, ranging from £1000 to £1500. The Advocates defended these charges stating that this was for the contract, PTP application and searches. At no point did an Advocate say that it was the buyer’s responsibility to do the searches, that we could bypass their services and submit our own PTP. So according to Mr Fellahoglu we paid £1000 for services, that in the main, we did not receive.
The recent revelations in the Cyprus English papers regarding Advocates, and the building sector, have re-enforced the HBPG assertions that you cannot take on trust any Advocate in the TRNC. This basically means you are not protected in anyway when you buy in the TRNC.
You say people must go to an office in the Interior Ministry for help – is this the Government Property Complaints office? I would agree with you that everyone should register their complaint, whatever its nature with an officially recognised body. However, how many of the official registered problems have the PIO solved? They might have the backing of the Prime Minister, but they seem to lack teeth, do they have the full support of offices within the Interior Ministry – I think not. Indeed at times the responses from the Interior Ministry are non existence or incorrect – or are they just plain lies?
In last weeks Cyprus Today Mr Hasan Sungar head of the Estate Agents union made this statement.There had been rogue builders, rogue lawyers and rogue estate agents, we have to sort ourselves out first, we are in crisis anyway. We cannot blame the global economic crisis. This is of our own making.
Mr Gurcafer of the construction union has said basically the same on several occasions. These Unions are now admitting their mistakes and want to move forward.
It is time this Government and its officials took their heads out of the sand. We, of the HBPG, have been trying to work with the Government, who have ignored our pleas. Mr Ali Safa, Mr Hasan Sungar and the HBGP have called for a joint meeting to try and solve the issues and problems within the building industry once again we have been ignored.
The HBPG will not go away.
Most civilized countries have one thing in common, that is a respect for certain institutions in their society, among these are Judges, Magistrates, Lawyers and Solicitors, we regard them as custodians of the law who are there to enforce the laws and protect the people. Isn’t it a shame Mr Fellahoglu that the TRNC has lost this respect?