Residents and local authorities in Kimolos and Milos are up in arms following a government gazette decision that establishes shoreline boundaries in the “Mersini” area of the uninhabited island of Polyaigos. The decision has raised suspicions about potential development on Polyaigos by the company “Consolina S.A.” which requested the demarcation, especially since the island is not covered by the Land Registry. Many are expressing fears that this could be a repeat of the attempted construction of a massive hotel complex, similar to what we saw a few months ago at Sarakiniko in Milos.
Read HERE the official gazette
The company’s moves are being denounced by both the Hellenic Society for Environment and Culture of Milos and the mayor of Kimolos, Konstantinos Ventouris, who issued a relevant announcement and spoke to parapolitika.gr.
Kimolos municipality’s announcement
According to the Kimolos municipality’s announcement, the island is included in the Natura 2000 network, Special Protection Zone for rare fauna species and habitat of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus-Monachus (DPA/9389/2000 – Government Gazette 1176/B/22.09.2000). As a result, any development on Polyaigos is not feasible, with only restoration of existing residences or new construction for National Defense purposes permitted.
Additionally, due to the island’s archaeological findings (such as a classical-era shipwreck on its shores), the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades has requested that the entire Polyaigos be designated an archaeological site.
Polyaigos: Unique natural and cultural treasure of the Aegean
As the mayor of Kimolos points out to parapolitika.gr, “170 residents lived on Polyaigos until the 1950s, while the island’s settlement located at ‘Panagia t’ aulaki’ was abandoned in 1971.” Until last June, the only residents of Polyaigos were Petros Marianos and his wife Eleftheria. After Petros passed away, Mrs. Eleftheria moved to Kimolos, and the municipality organized an entire operation to transfer their goats and cats from Polyaigos to Kimolos.
Polyaigos, with an area of approximately 18.1 square kilometers, constitutes a unique natural and cultural treasure of the Aegean. Regarding ownership, today, 17,374 acres belong to a private legal entity, the “Ioannis – Stavros Logothetis Foundation.” This is a monastic-ecclesiastical institution whose members include a Logothetis family member, Ms. Clio Logothetis as president, the mayor of Kimolos as vice president, the local priest, and among other things, has managed the island primarily as pastureland since 1933. Another 329 acres belong to other private individuals who maintain the island’s few buildings (essentially the houses where former residents lived). Notable among these is the 27-acre plot near the famous Mersini beach, which was recently transferred from the couple Nikola and Maria Mela to Consolina S.A.
What the CEO of Aria Hotels says
The former settlement of Polyaigos island, located at “Panagia t’ aulaki” near the church of the same name that still operates on the island, is located far from the “Mersini” area owned by “Consolina S.A.” The company “Consolina S.A.” has as president Gerasimos Livier Pantazatos, who is also the CEO of Aria Hotels. In his statement to parapolitika.gr, Mr. Pantazatos confirms that the company will proceed with construction activity on the island, saying: “Consolina S.A., in which Aria Hotels is a shareholder, is not proceeding with new construction. On the contrary, it has submitted an application for restoration and repair of one of the few existing buildings on the island, strictly adhering to the applicable institutional framework and all environmental prerequisites. Consolina’s philosophy is the protection, enhancement and reuse of historical or traditional buildings. The company’s intention is to renovate the existing residence, without exceeding its limits for exclusively ‘private use.'”
Mr. Pantazatos notes regarding the infrastructure of the residence his company wishes to renovate: “The residence will be a model of energy-autonomous housing. Proposals for renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly technologies have already been submitted as part of the permit application, which are currently being examined by the competent authorities. The same applies to water and sewage management. All infrastructure will be designed to minimize environmental footprint and ensure full compatibility with the institutional framework governing the island.” Finally, he clarifies that “there is no goal to use it for tourist purposes.”
“Polyaigos is the jewel of Kimolos, we don’t want hotel development on the island”
Professionals operating on the island with daily boat excursions state that “the beauty of Polyaigos island lies in its untouched landscape character.” Polyaigos is “the jewel of Kimolos, we don’t want hotel development on the island,” emphasizes Despoina Veniou, Kimolos Municipal Councilor and professional. Meanwhile, the island’s mayor, with family origins from Polyaigos, tells parapolitika.gr “as long as I’m here, I won’t allow such commercial activity on the island. We want those who own residences to repair them and if they want to inhabit them, but this case is different as we’re talking about a decision made for Consolina S.A.”
