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Audit Office 'Condemns' Rental of Aerial and Ground Firefighting Means

Published May 20, 2025, 09:55
Audit Office 'Condemns' Rental of Aerial and Ground Firefighting Means

The Audit Office announces the publication of a Special Report on the 'Audit of competitions for the lease and supply of aerial and ground firefighting means', prepared by the Audit Office, which has been posted today on the Service's website. According to the Attorney General Andreas Papakonstantinou, in his introductory note, the present Audit Report records significant weaknesses and omissions identified during the audit of the procedures followed by the Forestry Department for the supply and lease of flying and ground firefighting means during the period 2022 – 2024. The Department, as the Contracting Authority, failed to manage with the required degree of adequacy the protection of the country with flying and ground means, an issue of very critical importance for public safety and the protection of the natural wealth of the Republic of Cyprus (RC). The Attorney General also points out that these weaknesses are particularly worrying given the devastating fire of 2021 and require immediate corrective action and institutional accountability.