Just a few hours after the large concentration of animal lovers and animal welfare organizations, outside the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, July 1st, which was supported by the Cyprus Green Party, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Ionas Nicolaou once again proved that the public’s voice was not heard. Mr. Ionas stated that an animal police does not need to be enforced, since he considers that two officers per province and the neighborhood watchers are efficient as it is.
We, the Cyprus Green Party, ask that an Animal Police is enforced immediately, while cooperating with animal lovers and animal welfare organizations that are aware of the animals’ needs and rights and have been fighting for years for their wellbeing.
The Cyprus Green Party believes that not enough measures are being applied by the Minister of Justice regarding the matter of the creation of an Animal Police. We do need two officers per province and the neighborhood watchers, but this does not change the fact that we also need an official Animal Police.
The law was passed by the House of Representatives in 2012, upon the recommendation of the Cyprus Green Party, when the Chairman of the Parliamentary Legal Committee was Mr. Nikolaou. We call on Mr. Ionas Nikolaou, as to proceed immediately, with the cooperation of animal welfare organizations and organize a special police station/section to deal with dozens of cases of violence against animals or animal abuse.
