A restaurant owner in Latsi has refused to accept an official stop-work order and vowed to resist demolition after authorities moved against what they describe as an illegal concrete extension built onto the beach, in a case that has drawn in the Interior Ministry and ignited a public dispute over selective enforcement.
The works, which began last Saturday, are described by authorities as a 12-metre concrete extension within the beach protection zone.
Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou, informed of the incident over the weekend, instructed the Paphos District Officer to intervene immediately.
A team of eight officials from the District Administration, the Paphos District Local Government Organisation (EOA) and the Environment Department visited the site to serve a formal stop-work notice.
The owner, Nestoras Neofytou, reportedly refused outright to accept it. Officials posted the notice on the premises, making it officially enforceable.
Neofytou, speaking to philenews, denied any wrongdoing and flatly rejected the claim that concrete had been used on the beach.
He said the works involved a paved outdoor dining area costing €40,000, intended to serve tourists, and that restaurateurs in the area operate under a tolerance arrangement with the local authority pending a wider seafront redevelopment, paying fees of €3 per square metre.
He described the deployment of eight officials as disproportionate and estimated the inspection had cost the state €1,000.
“They have it in for me because I am the brother of a politician,” he said, referring to Averof Neofytou. “Why is there no equal application of the law? Let them go after everyone else who is breaking the rules in the area.”
The Interior Ministry is pressing ahead regardless. A technical team is being assembled to demolish the structures, with the cost to be borne by the owner if he does not comply immediately.
Neofytou was unequivocal in his response to officials. “I will not demolish them,” he told them, inviting them to let him know the date of any demolition so he could alert the media and demonstrate what he called unequal treatment.
“We all have illegal pergolas and structures. Let them come and demolish them for everyone, not just me,” he said.