This island is known the world over for its tourism, its beaches, sunshine and hospitality, some of it is the mass market booze-a-thon for those who have been given fewer choices in life, some of is for families or couples of all ages who want somewhere sunny and safe to wander around.
The first come because it’s cheap, the second because it’s special. Neither group understands the other, but they both spend money. As the song says, ‘There’s No Romance Without Finance.’
Neither are there schools, hospitals or the basic services that the 99% will need.
Years ago, a businessman in an African town near a string of slightly shabby beach resorts, was trying to explain to an educated friend of mine and asked that he be considerate towards some of the visitors excesses.
“They all come here to get away from it all,” he explained, “Imagine how terrible your life must be if you have to get away from absolutely everything.”
The visitors have almost all returned home by now, but the numbers were good this year, but the prices were bad... for the people who live here.
Former Commissioner, Neil Kinnock, before losing an election, he warned people not to be poor, sick or elderly. Advice he could have given to Greece before the Troika came in town to make decisions that increased the misery before flying off again, like a jet-set junta.
The tourists started jetting in around 50 years ago and I found a dusty copy of a guide for holidaymakers, “Off You Go” from 1971, which was given to all 300,000 who booked “all-in” breaks.
It doesn’t expect too much from the clients, “The attempt has been made to include just as much as you want to know – and as little,.” it boasts.
Greeks are described as “Great travellers, and there is scarcely a village in the whole country that hasn’t its share of inhabitants who have sailed the seven seas and roamed the wide world before returning to the land they love best. It has always been so.”
It is today, with many searching for a future abroad, while those even less fortunate head towards Greece and the EU.
Others are taking another escape.
This island has seen an increase in suicide, up by 10 cases a month because of austerity. Many of these are elderly who are making a final sacrifice for their families who just can’t afford to get by. The true figure is higher as police and coroners will try to put in ‘accidental death’ verdicts for the sake of the grieving family.
The old guidebook notes the relics left by subsequent colonists with gentle humour, “The Romans left mosaics and classical sculpture; the British left a cricket pitch, ginger beer and excellent chutney.”
What are the Troika leaving behind? Dead bodies.
It’s time to stop. It’s time to put people first. If we don’t the body count could cross that undefined border, where austerity stops looking like policy and begins to look like a crime against humanity.
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