MPs have voiced their frustration over the defence ministry’s ongoing reliance on rented offices, costing taxpayers €800,000 each year. This issue was highlighted during a discussion regarding a recent Audit Office report that scrutinised the operations of both the defence ministry and the National Guard.
The defence ministry currently operates from a rented building in Nicosia, sharing the premises with the National Guard. Despite the significant expenditure on rent, officials have yet to establish a dedicated facility of their own.
Defence ministry: Calls for Action from MPs
Akel MP Costas Costa expressed strong disapproval, labelling the situation as unacceptable and a misuse of public funds. In response, a representative from the defence ministry pointed out that preparatory work for constructing a new building has largely been completed. This includes technical studies, and they are now waiting for approval from the finance ministry to allocate the necessary funds.
Plans for a New Building
A site has already been identified for the new defence ministry building, which is proposed to be located in Lakatamia, near the airbase. The planned structure is expected to cover an area of 22,000 square metres. The ministry’s representative stated, “Now the government must take the decision. We will ask for the project to be classed as a special project so it can be expedited.” If all goes according to plan, the construction of the new facility could take around five years.
Lease Extension Likely
However, Akis Kikas, a senior official at the Audit Office, expressed concerns that the new building would not be completed before the lease on the current premises expires. This scenario would necessitate an extension of the lease, prolonging the ministry’s dependence on rented space.
Concerns Beyond Office Space
The Audit Office report also raised issues regarding the catering services provided to the National Guard. Panayiotis Simeou, a senior official at the defence ministry, revealed that these services only meet 47 per cent of conscript needs, with the remaining 9 per cent being supplied through frozen meals, primarily for isolated outposts.
Further scrutiny was directed at the requisitioning and expropriation processes of private property for military use, which have been marred by irregular record-keeping. The current military system is reportedly incompatible with the Government Data Warehouse, complicating the management of these operations.
Ongoing Irregular Practices
Lieutenant-general Neofytos Pachoulides, the deputy chief of the National Guard, addressed queries from MPs about the continued use of military jeeps to transport officers from their homes to their workplaces, a practice that breaches existing regulations. Officially, only the National Guard chief is exempt from this rule. Pachoulides acknowledged the ongoing nature of this irregular practice but assured that efforts are being made to limit it as much as possible.
Investigation into Recent Incident
The lieutenant-general was also questioned about a recent incident in late October, where a rocket launcher pod detached from an airborne helicopter and fell into a residential area in Peyia, Paphos. Fortunately, there were no injuries or property damage. Pachoulides confirmed that two investigations are currently underway—a military inquest and an internal investigation. Initial findings suggest that “human error” was involved, with a final report expected by the end of the year.
