It may be a cliché, but perhaps it is good for us to remember from time to time our real size and that we are nothing more than a neighbourhood in a metropolis. (According to the 2021 census, Cyprus has a population of 918,000 residents. Significantly fewer than the population of the Bronx in New York (1,472,000) or Birmingham (1,149,000), for example. One-third of the population of Rome (2,873,000), one-fourth of Berlin (3,645,000), and considerably fewer than half the population of Paris (2,161,000).
Of course, we are not just a neighbourhood but a state. When structures are needed. But still… How many official positions are needed to govern a population of around one million souls?
For many years, there were 11 ministries, with ministers, general directors, department heads, and other officials. It was decided that some responsibilities should be separated and turned into deputy ministries to assume these responsibilities. Understandable. But until today, we have reached 7 deputy ministries, and more is to come: Shipping, Tourism, Culture, Social Welfare, Innovation, European Affairs, plus a deputy minister next to the president that always existed.
Apart from deputy ministries, we have Committees: Equality, Environment, Citizen, Mountainous Regions, Administration, Humanitarian Affairs, Legislation, Child Protection, Personal Data, Communications, Agricultural Payments, GESY Supervision and a Financial committee. A total of 13. Besides some with clear objectives, roles, actions, and responsibilities, for most, it cannot be said exactly what they serve for, except to issue some announcement or organize an event under their auspices.
In an outbreak of democracy (supposedly), we decided through a referendum that the five municipalities we had at the time were not enough and that local self-government would strengthen democracy. Every community with more than 5,000 inhabitants was declared a municipality. And we reached 30. After much party soul-searching, it was decided to reduce them. Cut and sew, they ended up with 20. But they also added 5 regional commissioners when the reform ended up adding more positions to the already burdened structure.
Next to all these state-fed entities, let’s not forget the administrative advisors of various state and semi-state organizations.
With so many pushing the wagon, this state should be years ahead of everything. It should have solved all its problems and function like a well-tuned machine. It should showcase innovations, be a model, and its citizens prosper since so many are taking care of the smooth operation of the state. Instead, we are still struggling to find a way for citizens to communicate with public services (the simplest example). And at the same time, we wonder: How many officials are needed to organize a state of 1 million residents?
