“We Answer with Results, Not Noise”
Kalymnos Mayor Giannis Mastrokoukos and Municipal Port Fund President Michalis Platsis responded forcefully on Saturday, 8 August 2026, to two statements issued by the Kalymnos Standing Committee of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) concerning the awarding of technical studies and services.
Speaking at the offices of the Kalymnos Municipal Port Fund, Platsis expressed surprise at both the content and the tone of TEE’s second letter. He argued that the matter could have been addressed through formal discussions between TEE, the municipality and the Port Fund before escalating into a public dispute.
Addressing allegations of a “double award” for the same traffic study, Platsis said that no two contracts had been active simultaneously. According to his explanation, the initial procedure was cancelled and a new process was subsequently launched for the same study. He also stated that TEE’s Kalymnos committee had not contacted the Port Fund beforehand to request clarification.
Mayor Mastrokoukos offered unequivocal support for Platsis and the work of the Port Fund. He said the current administration had made progress on problems that had remained unresolved for decades, highlighting €1.7 million in funding secured for the removal of sunken and abandoned vessels, as well as €500,000 for port security.
Other projects under consideration include traffic management along the coastal front, parking and rental-vehicle arrangements, the allocation of berthing space and the further development of the port’s tourism potential.
Both officials referred to what they described as an excellent record of cooperation with TEE at national, Dodecanese and local levels. They questioned why relations had deteriorated so abruptly, pointing to the joint initiative involving the former Gendarmerie building in Chorio as an example of successful institutional cooperation.
Mastrokoukos further argued that TEE’s letters had been used by opposition groups to intensify political criticism and create a toxic climate, diverting attention from funding, studies and projects already under way.
The interview ended with a clear message from the municipal administration and the Port Fund: they intend to answer criticism through tangible work and measurable results — “on the side of action, not noise.”
