It's high tourist season and Greece must choose between safe transportation and profit-driven negligence

The Greek Courier

By Yiannis Damellos

In today's fast-paced world, access to safe and affordable transportation transcends mere convenience; it serves as an essential lifeline. This is particularly true in Greece, one of the world’s most beloved tourist destinations. However, as we seek to enhance travel options in this majestic land of light and history, we are often confronted with the challenging realities of profit-driven politics. These forces frequently prioritize corporate profits over the genuine needs and well-being of the people who rely on these transportation services.

It should be a matter of common sense for a country that heavily depends on tourism to acknowledge that the recent dangerous incident involving the passenger-cargo ship on the Nea Styra to Agia Marina route could have been averted with a more proactive government response and a functioning system. The repercussions of this event reflect the decisions made by those who granted this government an absolute majority, underscoring the urgent necessity for reform. This reform should focus not only on an equitable transportation system—where safety and affordability are recognized as fundamental rights for all—but also on changing the government itself. The "promised neoliberal utopia" for the Greek people has been thoroughly debunked by a government that delivers little more than scandal, corruption, and deadly negligence. But ain't that what neoliberal utopias always deliver?

Without a doubt, the recent incident underscores a critical warning about the dangers of profit-driven policies in the shipping industry, as it could have resulted in catastrophic consequences for both passengers and crew. Fortunately, favorable weather conditions and the swift efforts of volunteers with boats mitigated the impact, but the response from state authorities and the shipping company was alarmingly inadequate.

It is only fair to all those citizens who suffered the consequences of the Ministry of Shipping and the relevant state authorities' inadequacy that they are given clear explanations regarding the causes of this accident and the unacceptable conditions surrounding the ship's evacuation.

The increase in routes during the summer months, coupled with intense competition among shipping companies, has created a volatile environment where safety is compromised. Insufficient safety measures and the overworking of seafarers only heighten the risk of serious accidents. Safe and affordable transportation for both passengers and workers is essential. It must become a focal point for activism against policies that prioritize profits over the needs of the community and the safety of life