Inauguration Of A Memorial Bench To Commemorate The Victims Of A Serial Killer
The people of Cyprus were in shock when it emerged that a serial killer had taken the lives of five women and two children. The story unfolded between 2016 and 2018 but now the installation of a lasting memorial will honour the memory of the victims.
Armonia Park, Agios Tychonas (near the Poseidonia Hotel) is the site where a beautiful marble bench has been erected, looking out to sea. The bench will be inaugurated on Sunday 10th November 2024, at 12.30 pm and all are invited to attend a short ceremony of commemoration.
Community groups and organisations, as well as community leaders and private individuals, will gather to pay their respects and remember the victims. Several churches will be represented at the short ceremony and this will include Reverend Deborah from St Barnabus Church.
The five ladies who lost their lives between 2016 and 2018 were foreign workers:
Maricar Valtez Arquiola, 31 from the Philippines;
Asmita Khadka Bista, 30, from Nepal;
Livia Florentina Bunea, 36, from Romania and her eight-year-old daughter Elena Natalia, 8;
Arian Palanas Lozano, from the Philippines, 28;
Mary Rose Tiburcio, 39, from the Philippines and her six-year-old daughter, Sierra Graze.
Members of two groups came together to organize the creation of the memorial bench. A committee entitled ‘In Memory of the Seven’ was chaired by Lady Elizabeth Haslam. Some on the Committee represented Agapi Cyprus (ACL) Ltd non-profit organisation ‘walking with the poor of any race or religion’.
The committee also included members of the community service group, Cyprus International Women of Today (CIWOT). This English-speaking group of ladies, from many countries, is based mainly in Limassol district, but has some members in Pissouri, Paphos, Larnaca and Nicosia.
The group carries out community service projects for local charities and it offers its members ‘personal growth’ programs, (including a Business Club for networking and skill building) as well as social events guided by the interests of its members.
The main charities currently supported by Cyprus International Women of Today are ‘Room of Hope’ (supporting victims of trafficking); Little Heroes, which supports children suffering from cancer and the Karaiskakio Foundation which helps leukemia victims and other sufferers through its international database of registered potential stem cell/ bone marrow donors.
‘In Memory of the Seven’ Committee Chairman, Lady Elizabeth Haslam, says: “Some members of Agapi Cyprus and Cyprus International Women of Today came together to help create and inaugurate the memorial bench – which is given on behalf of the people of Cyprus. It is hoped that this memorial will help to alleviate the grief of the victims’ families and help them come to terms with their loss. We welcome everyone to join us at the inauguration ceremony. We hope you will bring your family and friends on this special day of remembrance”.
The date: Sunday 10th November 2024
The time: 12.30 pm
The place: Armonia Park, Agios Tychonas
(near the Poseidonia Hotel)
