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The first
attempt to create a COOP in Lapithos was made with the initiative of
Christophoros Demetriades from Ayios Theodoros, Lapithos. The first COOP
began operations in 1913. Due to hardships from the establishment, and the
people that lent money on high interests, the first attempt failed and the
first COOP ceased operations after 3 years. Another attempt by Polydoros
Konstantinides 12 years later also failed, after 9 years in operations. In
1937 the British administration encouraged the creation of the first COOP
to protect the producers from High-Interest rates from rich people. Again
this attempt found the steady resistance of the estsablishment. In 1937,
with the initiative of Odysseas Ellinopoulos, Christophoros Taliadoros,
Demos Kalliades, Athanasis Kyriakides, and Polycarpos Michakellides goes
to Nicosia and meets the British Head of COOP in Cyprus. They agree to
establish a COOP with minimum of 20 members and 2 shellins minimum
membership.
The first committee comprised of: Nickolas Proxenos (President), Nikos
Kantis (Secretary), Dionysis Kaimakkamis, Odysseas Ellinopoulos (Member),
and Costas Kaplanis (Member)
The self-own Building of Lapithos COOP in
occupied Lapithos, Kyrenia.
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The main
purpose for the establishment of the COOP in Lapithos was to get rid of
all big Merchants and lenders that used to lend money on high-interests to
the farmers and lemon producers. During the World War II, these
High-Interest lenders spread-out the word that the COOP had no money, and
that all money were transferred abroad, where actually the money were in
Nicosia in the Central COOP Bank. They spread panic among the citizens and
all went to withdraw their money. The situation was very critical, but
Odysseas Ellinopoulos imediately gave 70 pounds of his own money to the
secretary Sophoklis Poullis to leverage the situation. The reputation of
the COOP was saved!
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Lapithos
COOP soon earned the trust of all citizens and became the second biggest
COOP institution in Cyprus. Lapithos COOP developed agriculture and other
branches of the economy. Before the 1974 barbaric turkish invasion it had
almost 1000 members. It had its own building which also incorporated
"IRIS" theater, one of the best in Cyprus. It also bought a lot
of land for future Tourist development.
The following people served as presidents of Lapithos COOP: Nikolas
Proxenos, Costas Kaplanis, Georghios Siakides.
The following people served as secretaries of Lapithos COOP: Nikos Kantis,
Sophoklis Poullis, Polykarpos Mahallekides, and Anthimos Siakides.
The following people served as members of Lapithos COOP committee:
Timotheos Panayiotou (Zavallis), Savvas Sideras, Hadjisavvas Sakides,
Nikos Georgiades, Costas Agathokleous, Costas Hadjilias, Savvas
Christophides, Ermis Kyriakides, Charalambos Athanasi Euaggeli, Costas
Philippides, Phidias Paraskeuaides, Demetris Hadjiharitou, Soteris
Siakallis, et al.
Lapithos COOP employed the following people at the time of the 1974
barbaric turkish invasion: Anthimos Siakides (secretary), Andreas
Mourettos, Heraklis Herakleous, Sophoula Agathokleous, and Anthoulla
Agapiou.
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The
planting of Lemon trees crops in Cyprus was done since the times of the
Francs (French) and Venetians (Italians). At the beginning of the 20th
century, the need for better organization among the producers was more
than imperative since the big merchants took advantage of the producers
and did not allow them to prosper and advance.This need was driven by the
exports of Lemons to other countries. The producers of lemons in Lapithos
realized that they had to create a company to market their products since
Lapithos was the biggest producers of Lemons in Cyprus. (Lapithos 11-12
million, Karavas:5-6 mill., Ammochostos 7-8 mill., Morphou 1-1.5 million,
and Lefka 7-8 million)
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In 1938,
with the initiatives of Dionysios Kaimakkamis and of Demos Kalliades, the
"Lapithos Lemon Producers Association" was formed. Slowly but
steadily the association was embraced by all lemon producers and became
very very strong. The counsiousness of this power made it possible for the
producers to think directly to market their products by exporting it
directly to France and England. In this way they could set their own
prices, and resolve all other problems such as the delivery of all their
harvest.
In 1943 all Lemon Producers met in Morphou, in order to create a
PanCyprian Association to better market and promote their products. In
that historic meeting the following people attended: Pol. Nikolopoulos
Mayor of Morphou, Odysseas Ellinopoulos Mayor of Lapithos, D. Kaimakkamis
President of Lemon Producers Association of Lapithos, A. Adamantos Mayor
of Famagusta, Georghios Karaoutshis Mayor of Karavas, Ioakim Proestos
President of Lemon Producers Association of Karavas, the Mayor of Lefkas,
and others.
Unfortunately the British did not allow the formation of a confederation
of Producers, but this was achieved 20 years later in 1962-62 with first
President Phidias Paraskeuaides. The barbaric turkish invasion interrupted
this prosperus future and destroyed the whole region, since now most of
the lemon trees crops in Lapithos and Karavas are destroyed.
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