Aegina - The Opportunity

       Aegina Island -- Local  Elections for 2019

On the 26th May 2019, ( in 5 days time), Greek nationals and people with Greek residency , will be asked to vote for the .next Mayor and His/Her team for the next period of office.

There is also an opportunity for those Non-Greeks who either reside on the island or who own property on the island but do not have residency, to have some influence in how the future develops on this great island we have, or to give feedback to those who are seeking election , of what you believe to be the issues and perhaps some suggestions as to possible solutions.

This is the beauty of living part or full time in a place like Greece , that could be described as the birthplace of Democracy and it gives us all the chance to air our views, prior to those up & coming elections.

I am sure that we have all heard from time to time ( and I am sure the Greeks have also heard ) Ex-pats -- from wherever they have come from -- in discussion with opinions as to "how bad the rubbish is " or "the state of the roads " or " how long do we have to wait for the new water supply that never seems to happen" or "the poor service of the buses" and many more I am sure, and I am certainly one who has voiced an opinion on these among others and in this Democratic society, we should value this chance to be able to express ourselves with freedom of speech.

However, this also comes with choices that we as individuals are able to make, and I believe that if we choose not to do anything in the run-up to these forthcoming elections, and don't try to support or influence in any small way, the people or parties that we believe have the ability to action the important issues and be able to deliver solutions to the current issues , even if it is just writing down what we believe needs to change for the benefit of the Island and its people , and don't share this with those that we would hope might be successful in the elections , then we do not get any representation amongst the 1500 ( I believe) or so ex-patriots on the Island, or get our say in the future that could be in part ours.

In my opinion what we should NOT do , is do nothing, and then spend some of the next 4 to 5 years complaining when the important things to us are not addressed.

It is of course sometimes very difficult , maybe due to the language difference, to fully understand what any of the parties up for election are campaigning about and what they are promising to deliver, which means for many that you would rather not enquire as the decision of who to speak to and even if you are listened to is very unclear.

There are however people in some of the3 parties who recognise the numbers of non- greek people on Aegina and there are people in some of the parties that have reached out to the ex-pat communities, including getting brochures printed in English - ( apologies , but I am unsure as to whether there are any done in German or any Scandinavian countries languages , or anywhere else for that matter) - to help us understand what they will be canvasing in and have had meetings already to get a chance to meet Non - Greeks and listen to their concerns.

From what I understand , the response has been more than a little underwhelming to say the least -- although this could also be because of the communication ao any of these events getting to the people who they wish to attend .

Getting a chance to at the very least let the parties and their candidates at their chosen offices know what is important to us is an incredible opportunity.

If we chose not to attempt to take up our concerns with the next "would be " leaders , then it should all make us think when things don't get fixed or are not even recognised as being an issue when the successful party gets in to power, of what we could have done in the run up to these elections.

My wife and I , knowing that we would not be on the island during the 2 weeks prior to and during the elections wrote down our views on what we felt were issues that if addressed could benefit both the people and the Island , to achieve it's potential, and we made sure that these were shared with members of a party that we believed had the potential to bring about change and would be most likely to deliver some of the promises made to the people of Aegina Island.

Whether it helps or not we may never really know but it is so important to let people who may be in public office soon , understand that Non Greek people who reside on the island and who have invested in property on the island and who add to the local economy of the island , do have genuine concerns and want to see and help to develop a better more successful Aegina.

Aegina is an island with huge potential and as history can show, should be the leader within the Saronic Islands, and could be the jewel in the Saronics and help to get a return to the prosperity that it's people deserve after all these years of austerity, and the need for it to have a Mayor and it's team who can deliver to its promises and who have a genuine vision of a truly successful Aegina.

So like any Democracy, the choice is in the hands of individuals, both those who can vote and for those by showing support can make a difference. Choosing top be ambivalent and cynical during these elections and doing nothing to try - even if unsuccessful - surely should make us think twice in the future when we start to complain when things do not get addressed , fixed , works completed or not delivered.

Elections are an opportunity for change - for good or bad-- and on Aegina, it could be , with everyone's help be the beginning of something very special, so don't loose this opportunity to be a part of it -- however small that may be .

There are 5 days remaining so try to use friends and access to the standing candidates if you need interpretation but do get to the different parties headquarters and share your concerns with them -- this way if they then get in and do NOT address your issues that you were told would be -- then you complain all you like.

Thanks
Philip Andrews