«The damage caused by the cyclones that hit the south and our region are still open wounds for infrastructures, businesses and families. Just as several of the main Calabrian cultural sites are inaccessible. Yet our requests to provide further resources to be allocated to Calabria were rejected by the government while they managed to find 5 million euros for an unrealistic promotion of the territories”.
This was stated by MP Anna Laura Orrico, Calabrian coordinator of the 5 Star Movement.
The requests of the 5 Star Movement for Sibaritide
«As the 5 Star Movement – says Orrico – we have in fact asked to include, in the latest decree regarding interventions for the bad weather emergency, further funds to be directed to infrastructures, damaged companies and safety measures for the Sibaritide. Without success. And my request for an additional fund to guarantee support and protection for the Archaeological Park of Sibari and the National Archaeological Museum of Sibaritide was also returned to the sender, the value of which is not only of a cultural nature but also of social and legal protection in difficult contexts.
Criticisms of the Government’s strategy: promotion vs security
In essence, in the provision – continues the five-star exponent – they planned to carry out a campaign to promote tourist activities in the areas affected by bad weather but they don’t bother to make them adequately safe first, see the Crati river. Or, what should tourists come to visit in Calabria if, for example, they find the Sibari Archaeological Park flooded or other cultural sites devastated by cyclones?
A plan for the summer season: the lack of resources and vision
Which tourism businesses should be made attractive if the funds to rebuild them and reopen them in time for the summer season have not yet been provided? In short – concludes Anna Laura Orrico – the government’s recipe for reviving Calabria from the scars of bad weather appears contradictory while other responses would be needed both in terms of resources and vision”.