January to March 2005
Shopworkers Strike - Monday 28th March
More strikes across the country today; this time it's the shop keepers and workers who are protesting over government plans to extend shop hours. Some shops will also remain closed on Tuesday.
Clamp-down on Underage Drinking - 27th March
Over the last few months the Ministry of Public Order has ordered the police to crack-down on underage drinking across Greece. It is illegal for minors under the age of 17 to enter bars and consume alcohol. Until recently this law has rarely been enforced and minors throughout Greece would be admitted to bars and clubs and served alcohol. The police are now enforcing this law throughout the country with regular checks on bars, and arrests of bar owners who serve under-age drinkers.
In Heraklion yesterday two bar owners were arrested for allowing 25 under-age drinkers into their bars and serving them alcohol. The police had issued previous warnings to all bar owners to be particularly vigilant over the holiday periods when students traditionally celebrate in bars.
Bars and clubs are required to have a sign outside stating
"Entry is forbidden and is illegal for any person under 17, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian "
www.krititv.gr
Independence Day - 25th March
This Greek National Holiday dates back to the start of the War Of Independence in 1821.
School children and the military paraded through the streets across the country.
On Sunday 27th March at Venizelos Graves in Chania Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis attended and spoke at the memorial service.
Bank Holiday Weekend 12th - 14th March
Crowds took to the streets all over Greece for Carnival weekend.
In Kalives the streets were packed with revellers as the floats and dancers paraded by on Sunday.
this year there were 'Priests' dancing and drinking on one float,
the "Flintstones Real Estate - Direct From the Real Builder" on another.....
as well as floats depicting TV shows and characters.
10th March 2005
During improvement works being carried out in the area of Rethymnon harbour workers yesterday uncovered two shells in the harbour area and immediately notified the Port Authorities who called in Navy explosives experts and divers from Athens and Chania. Around midday an explosion was heard as the shells were blown up in a controlled explosion while the harbour and marina areas were sealed off by port authorities.
A few months ago other explosives from WW2 were discovered in sea areas and the Navy has since been investigating.. The pieces of the detonated shells will be tested at a Naval laboratory to determine the type of explosive, and the results will be known in a few days.
Guns, Hashish and Cocaine
10th March
Over seven kilos of Hashish, four grams of cocaine and three guns were found yesterday when police arrested two brothers aged 30 and 23 in Chania. According to the Chania Chief of Police, this is one of the biggest hauls of hashish in the Chania region.
Animal Welfare - Outrage in Athens!
28th February 2005
Unjustified seizure of dogs from Crete, at the port of Piräus near Athens: 58 dogs, property of the Arche Noah Kreta were illegally detained this morning, and transported to an unknown location, by opponents of animal welfare organisations. Main activist: Mrs. J. Karagkouni…
More on this story and UPDATES http://www.archenoah-kreta.com/news-archiv_e.php
Strikes across Greece
28th February 2005
Banks go on a 24 hour strike today over workers social insurance and pensions. Also closed today are Universities and TEI across the country as professors and teachers call for the government to address the major education issues. Students and teachers hold demonstrations throughout the country.
Primary and high school teachers are also set to strike on the 10th March.
On 17TH March the General Workers Union is calling for a 24hour strike which will involve banks, postal services and DEH (Electrical company), amongst others.
Kolimbari (West Crete) Harbour in need of major repairs.
Winter storms have caused major damage to the harbour and beach area at Kolimbari. Parts of the harbour and beach road and wall have collapsed, threatening houses and property. The local council are still waiting for a grant of 150,000 Euros to start repairs.
Unemployment in Greece
24th February 2005
Unemployment in Greece in the third quarter of 2004 stood at 10.1% according to figures announced this week. In particular the young, 15 - 29 age group are affected with umemployment rising to 19.9% in this group.
The lowest unemployment rates in the country are in the Ionian Islands (4.7%) and in Crete (5.8%), while the highest are in West Macedonia (16.4%)
The number of young unemployed, those coming into the job market for the first time, make up 42.4% of the total unemployed,
Hellenic Seaways to start the High Speed Service Souda/Piraeus 23rd March 2005
New competition has arrived sooner than expected for ANEK on the Souda/Piraeus ferry route. Hellenic Seaways have applied to start on the route on 23rd March after the withdrawal of Blue Star Ferries. The last sailing for Blue Star Piraeus/Souda/Piraeus will be on the 2nd March.
Hellenic Seaways plan to run over the 3 day break for the National Holiday weekend of the 25th March (Independence Day) and over the Easter holidays, when there is a sizeable increase in traffic to Crete.
The ferry "High Speed 4" is a Catamarn Car Pax Ferry, built in Australia in 2000. It can carry 1010 passengers and 188 cars and can travel up to 38 n.m per hour.
The journey time Piraeus to Souda will be just 4 hours and 45 minutes.
The proposed timetable is:
Piraeus/Souda 15.45/20.30
Souda/Piraeus 22.00/02.45
Blue Star Ferries Confirm Withdrawal
16th Febraury 2005
Following yesterday's news in the Haniotika Nea, Blue Star Ferries later announced that they will be withdrawing from the Chania(Souda)/Piraeus route on the 3rd March. The ship Blue Star 2 will be moved to the Piraeus – Igoumenitsa – Bari (Italy) route.
Blue Star Ferries to pull out of Souda – Piraeus?
15th February – Haniotika Nea
There are rumours that Blue Star Ferries are to withdraw their Souda - Piraeus service . Blue Star currently run a year-round daily ‘high speed’ service on this route, with a crossing time of 5 hours 45minutes.
Hellenic Sea Ways (ex Hellas Flying Dolphins), partly owned by Minoan Lines, are planning to run a summer-only high speed daily service on this route, in July, August and part of September, with a journey time of just 4 hours 45minutes.
ANEK Lines also run daily on the Souda - Piraeus route with an overnight crossing, in both directions, of nine and a half hours.
Blue Star Ferries have refused to confirm or deny the rumour.
Taxi Fares Increase
15th February 2005
From today taxi fares increase by an average 8%.
Single tariff rises from 28 cents to 30 cents per kilometer.
Double tariff rises from 53 cents to 56 cents per kilometer.
Minimum fare rises from 1.60 Euros to 1.75 Euros.
Avalanche kills 5
13th February 2005
Five climbers were killed by an avalanche on Sunday near the ski centre of Mainalo in the Peloponnese; another 23 climbers survived. The party of 28 had set off from Athens in the morning to climb the Profit Ilia peak. A helicopter, special rescue team and firemen were involved in the rescue and recovery of the bodies It is unknown what caused the avalanche.
Bad weather in Crete - 5th February
Rain, hail, thunderstorms, high winds and low temperatures, down to 3oC, have hit Crete over the last few days. Ferries were cancelled and main roads strewn with fallen rocks in places after heavy storms. Mountain villages have seen heavy snow fall…. Omalos had more than 30cm of snow. The bad weather is forecast to continue until at least Wednesday 9th Feb.
Supermarkets under attack again - 4th February 2005
The Consumer Protection Centre, KEPKA, accuses supermarket owners of continuing to operate illegal practices by:
- Advertising low price offers on products yet charging higher prices at the checkout. The usual ‘excuse’ by supermarket owners for this is that the prices are programmed into computerised tills by the companies’ head offices and so is not the responsibility of the branch.
- Products are no longer individually marked and prices are only displayed on the shelves. But the shelves contain the same products, of different brands in different packaging and weights and not all products are priced, leading to confusion for consumers.
- Price at the checkout is often higher than the shelf–marked price. Price increases are first programmed into computers and later changed on the shelves.
KEPAK ask that consumers report any of these practices, however small or insignificant the amount may seem. Tel . 2310 233333.
In the last three years since the introduction of the Euro supermarket prices have risen annually on average 10 - 12 %. This is 3 to 4 times higher than the rate of inflation of around 3%.
Sales - 1st February
The winter sales start 1st February in Greece and Crete. If you are thinking of making a large purchase, February is the time for bargain prices!
Free Greek Lessons in Chania
The Nomarxio Xanion are running free Greek classes for EU residents and legal immigrants in Chania. Classes are in the evenings and are split into 4 groups, from Beginners to Advanced. Current classes are now full (90 places), but a new series of lessons will be starting in March 2005.
Tel. N.E.L.E (Nomarxio) 28210 30149 for details and enrollment February/March.
Call for Education Reform - 22nd January 2005
High school students and teachers took to the streets to stage protests across Greece Friday, calling for reforms to the education system. Old and unsuitable buildings, lack of teachers, books and lack of a full programme of lessons which force students to attend frontistiria (private school lessons) meaning parents must pay for the childrens education, are some of the problems. There are calls for free public education for all, a 15% increase in education funding and the abolishment of frontistiria.
Related article in Kathimerini newspaper.
Chania to Souda Road Closed- 19th January 2005
From today a 2km section of the main road Chania to Souda, Karamanli Road (ex Souda Road) will be closed for 2 months between the junction leading to Nerokourou towards Souda for laying new water and sewage pipes.
Improvements needed in Infrastructure in Western Crete - 19th January 2005
A local work group comprising of members of the tourism council, economic studies, Hotel Association of Chania, and others, set up to study local infrastructure for tourism needs reports that a series of works for improvements in Western Crete are required:
- The immediate completion of the biological waste programme.
- Tighter controls on planning permission; the use of land and building.
- Major improvements of the roads to the south coast to improve south Crete’s economy and tourism.
- Major improvements of the National Road, including extra lanes, safer junctions and intersections.
- Improvements to the Airport-Chania and Airport-Souda roads.
- A bus service from Chania airport to Western Crete.
- Extra parking in Chania
- A second golf course in Crete, in the West. Suggested for the region of Georgioupoli, mid-way between Chania and Rethymnon.
Committee Against Illegal Gun Use in Crete
A committee headed by Mikis Theodorakis, the famous Greek composer, has been set up by the Greek ministry to try to stop the widespread illegal and dangerous use of guns in Crete. There will be a meeting in Chania with the aim of encouraging teachers, professors and priests, those who are in daily contact with the Cretan people, to take part and help to reach this goal.