OPEN MEETING OF KYTHERIAN INITIATIVE, 23 AUGUST

A meeting of Kytherian Initiative (Kythiraiki Protovoulia), the newly-formed independent political grouping aimed at reforming local government on Kythera, will take place at 8.00 pm on Monday, 23 August in the Kythiraikos Syndesmos, Chora. The meeting, which is open to all concerned Kytherians and friends of Kythera, is intended to introduce the group to the island's voters and present a number of its proposed policies in view of the upcoming municipal elections of 7 November. An open debate with the audience will follow, and those present will be able to ask the group's representatives any questions they want.

One question which will undoubtedly be asked several times but which will remain firmly unanswered is the issue of who heads the Kytherian Initiative slate. The answer is that KI is a group of like-minded individuals who, rather than opportunistically coalescing around a wannabe mayor, share a number of principles and a common vision of how Kythera must evolve; as such, we will elect the person who will head our slate as well as the other candidates by a democratic vote of the membership, and the final slate will be announced next month. Meanwhile, the sheer unlikelihood of a truly democratic political grouping appearing on Kythera, let alone one driven by issues rather than personalities, is driving a number of opponents and potential opponents into a frenzy of frustration and speculation, which can't be all bad...