Greece’s environment minister on Tuesday vowed to halt illegal construction on the popular tourist island of Mykonos days after a local archaeologist was beaten in an apparent building dispute.
“The law will be enforced in Mykonos,” Kostas Skrekas said, ruling out construction permits for rural areas outside the existing urban planning grid.
“No illegal plan will be legalised…there will be no loophole,” he said.
Mykonos attracted over two million tourists last year.
Mykonos archaeologist Manolis Psarros was beaten by unidentified assailants outside his home in Athens on March 7.
The Greek archaeologists association said the attackers were likely hired by people engaged in illegal construction.
“The perpetrators of the criminal and mafia-style attacks against the archaeologist will be punished,” Skrekas said.
A Greek police unit specialising in blackmail cases is investigating the incident.
The association of Greek archaeologists says illegal construction on Mykonos is “out of control.” — Agence France-Presse
