Here’s some news I picked up. Scena, up in the village near the bus stop, is to reopen on Sunday, 12th (Easter Sunday) at 16.00. It’s been closed for a short while to prepare for the summer. They will also be back to having their late-night live music sessions. Meanwhile, the top kantina, ‘Constantinos View’ continues to remain open as it has been, and also hosts events, including music. We had lunch at Georgio’s yesterday, so you can count on Noufris being open, and Neil might be starting his summer shifts at the Rainbow from today. It’s always a little hit and miss at the start of the season, as it depends on how many visitors we have, but there were folks around yesterday, staying here and visiting for the day. If this continues, you can expect your Rainbow afternoons to be as usual. Also, the Kali Strata Restaurant is opening tonight, so Sam and the boys are back to working 18-hour days, seven days a week, from now until October.
Also… I found an announcement from the Sebeco Lines company, explaining why they no longer offer the subsidised route from Symi/Rhodes, as they have been able to do in the past. (The early from Symi and later back from Rhodes, the ‘local’ route as one employee called it, was subsidised and thus, cheaper for us locals, while the ‘tourist’ route (later from Rhodes and earlier back from Symi) never was. I’ll put the full translation below, but I’ve not tidied it up in case I misread it; I’ve left it up to you to figure out for yourself. This, btw, is not their or my translation, but one from an online translator, and you know which I’m talking about.
Important Announcement to the Passengers and Residents of Symi. With a sense of responsibility towards the residents and visitors of Symi, Sebeco Lines wishes to inform the public about the reasons for the forced reduction of the subsidised routes (morning from Symi and afternoon from Rhodes), which we have been serving consistently for the last 5 years.
What really happened: Unfortunately, the lack of these routes is not our choice, but the result of unfair practices: The Bidding Trap: Last August, shortly before the announcement of the tender, a competing company declared “free” routes at the same time. The Legal Obstacle: By law, the Ministry cannot announce a subsidised line when a company declares that it will cover it without subsidy. Thus, the routes were excluded from the announcement. The Withdrawal: Shortly before the start of the period, the company in question withdrew its statements, knowing from the beginning that these lines are loss-making without state aid.
The Consequences: This move, which turned out to be pretextual, had the sole aim of harming Sebeco Lines. However, the biggest blow was suffered by Symi. Residents are now deprived of the morning connection with the center of the prefecture, and visitors of the afternoon return, disrupting the social and economic life of the island. Our Commitment: At Sebeco Lines, we remain on the side of the people of Symi. We are making every effort and are in constant communication with the competent authorities, so that a legal solution can be found that will restore the smooth connection of the island. Thank you for your trust and support over the years. Sincerely, The Management of Sebeco Lines.
