Community Leader Links Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak to Dismissal of 230 SEA Officers

The community leader of Tillyria, Nikos Kleanthous, has linked the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease to the abolition of the Special Contractual Police Officers (SEA) service a year ago. This abolition led to the dismissal of approximately 230 individuals and created a gap in the guarding of the Green Line, which was a primary responsibility of the SEA. Mr. Kleanthous argues that the cost of dealing with the disease is much higher than the cost of maintaining the service and calls on those responsible to reconsider the re-employment of the SEA officers to strengthen security in the area. The community leader emphasizes the imperative need for monitoring of the Green Line and points out that the abolition of the SEA service left the area vulnerable. The restoration of the institution and the re-employment of the workers are considered by Mr. Kleanthous as the most immediate solution to strengthen the guarding. The connection between the removal of the SEA and the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is based on the view that reduced monitoring of the Green Line allowed for the uncontrolled movement of animals and the spread of the disease. Mr. Kleanthous argues that the presence of the SEA acted as a deterrent to illegal activities and contributed to the protection of the area. Mr. Kleanthous's claim raises questions about the adequacy of security measures on the Green Line and the need to review policies related to protecting the area from the spread of zoonotic diseases and other threats.