BRS Poll

[Soner]

Please cast your vote. Voting is anonymous.
(This poll is at the request of several concerned Kibkommers. )
Any comments on this, please start another thread.

[modman]

Come on Kibkomers, this poll has been set up for you. there are over 700 views, so if you come onto the thread leave a vote and make the poll truely representative.

[Marions]

Someone wanted to add another piece, but it is not necessary. I think it must be understood that the question refers to the 'now' and the present set up.

One further point, I have already been asked by two people to cast a vote for them, but they are not signed up KibKomers (don't play with computers as many of us do) and so I cannot vote for them. No rigged voting allowe d on here. So it is even more important that kibkomers do state how they feel with a yes or a no. Your casting a vote could help a lot of people to understand the majority feel. As individuals we sometimes wear blinkers.

[Dalartokat]

I don't think you can read anything into people viewing, curiosity or just being nosey can form the amount of people viewing, including myself.

[Marions]

Very true as some people keep checking back including me.

[tomsteel]

It would appear from the voting so far, only 49% of expats want BRS to represent them to the TRNC Government, and of that total only 30% (32) of BRS members wish this to be so. If the membership is actually 350, as stated by the Committee, then the vast majority (70% - 318) do not. I appreciate the poll has yards to go yet.

[terry2366]

And if it's as the original list pre AGM of 1260 then what.?

[roedelente]

Sorry for that question... but what is "BRS" ?

[tomsteel]

British Residents Society, a voluntary, social group formed in the TRNC.

[ATT]

Excuse my ignorance, but who 'owns' this poll, and what is the final outcome going to be used for ? I would find it a bit worrying if a poll of this nature is to be used for any form of 'legitimising' a "voluntary, social group" to represent thousands of ex-pats at a governmental level !!

It would be good to have a full explanation of the purpose of this poll, why it is considered necessary, and who the BRS are and what they do ?

Thanks

[tomsteel]

ATT - you will have to trawl the many posts on this subject to satisfy yourself. 'Who gave them the right'?, 'BRS Events, another 'BRS Poll' thread are all in "active posts". Fill your boots.

[sophie]

tomsteel, İ suspect that ATT is being particularly disingenuous in his latest question. He has 4 stars to his name which means he contributes fairly frequently and İ cannot believe he is unaware of the various BRS threads.

[tomsteel]

sophie - I suspect you are spot on, however, for once - I was being tactful - lol.

[ATT]

sophie & tomsteel, you can 'suspect' what you like, but the purpose of my post was to seek clarity for me (and other readers) about the purpose of this poll without having to trawl through the various posts, which as indicated by other remarks might be somewhat tedious.

I don't understand how you can make judgements about what I choose to read and not to read based on the level of contribution I make to the forum, let alone state your judgements publicly here online. I AM aware of the threads, but I have no intention of trawling through them to find out why this poll is being run, when I believe the purpose of the poll should have been clearly explained as part of this thread !!

The question being asked is a very serious question, which potentially could affect the lives of a large number of ex-pats, so the least we deserve is a clear concise explanation without having to seek the answers from within a myriad of posts, comments and opinions which may or may not have anything to do with the purpose of the poll !!

[tomsteel]

ATT - then you have totally missed the point as to the rationale for the said poll.

[ATT]

not missed it tomsteel as there is no rationale given - THAT'S MY POINT !!!

The rationale may be hidden somewhere in the various other posts, but why should potential voters have to trawl through all the other posts to find the answer ??

[ATT]

perhaps you would care to enlighten me (and others) then ? what is the rationale ?

[tomsteel]

No, read the posts and do your own research. I am not your researcher. Others have already done so.

[ATT]

If the owner of the poll wants people to respond then it is their responsibility to explain surely ! I am amazed at your attitude tomsteel

[eyebob94]

Quite amazing, if ,as stated there are approxiamately 350 BRS members, they deem themselves able to represent the several thousand UK citizens, who live here!

[Soner]

ATT, poll was put up as a request by some members.
BRS is the British Residents Society in the TRNC.
They recently had an AGM in which many members had walked out due to the unprofessional manner the meeting had been held - some of those there say that the AGM meeting was hijacked - and voting continued for Chairman and Committee members.
I believe that the BRS have announced in a local paper that they represent all British Ex-pats in TRNC.
Numbers of members is questionable from 350 to 1200 - true figure is unknown. There are approx 10,000 Ex-Pats in the TRNC.
To receive info on what they do within the Society you need to be a member and pay an annual fee - not sure what that fee is whether large of small - it matters not to me - I am not an Ex-Pat.

The question posed simply asks whether you would be happy for the BRS to represent you as an Ex-Pat in the TRNC at government level, whether or not a member of the Society.

Hope this helps.

[Soner]

Deleted a couple of posts... let's just concentrate on the poll.

Pretty much even so far by the looks of things. Let's see how it pans out over the week.

Now, can we keep this thread open just for the poll. Discussions can be made on another thread.

Thanks.

[tomsteel]

So be it Soner!!

[topten]

I speak as an ex member of BRS but still voted `yes` for representation simply because they are the only voice, of the ex pat community that seem to have the `ear`of the government.

[Marions]

I think you will find that the Making North Cyprus Better Movement which WAS part of the BRS (IN A SENSE) speaks for all people on matters important to being here. Most of those in the group are concernedTurkish Cypriots who speak to the government on matters of property, residency, health etc. Some people think they are a better voice because they are not all ex pats themselves. This group does not have a membership but is always interested in hearing form those who wish to be kept informed. However, this is not really the place to discuss another group and if anyone wants further info, please send me a private message.

Also having an 'ear' does not mean the ear then becomes an arm.

[3dognight]

This poll may have a headline that attracted some 1716 hits, but it has also managed to encourage a grand total of only 135 (7.9%) of the hits to vote. More telling is the number of those hits inclined to comment; a whopping 24 (1.39%) of the same 1716 users. The poll, asked for by a conspicuous and vociferous minority, is a complete waste of time.

[Philoz]

The fact that there is a poll is a sign of a democratic society-regardless of the number of votes.
The fact that the AGM was totally undemocratic, in that the vote was deliberately railroaded, and a regime voted themselves in highlights that.

[whiskeyjoe]

Who else other than the BRS can represent us expats?????. (no one). May not be all singing and dancing at committee level, for whatever reason, But we need representation no matter what, Illness, Death, Births, Residency, Passports, Property info and more. The body is here, but it must stay focused. I speak to many expats living here who are not members. so maybe a recruitment campaign for new members is needed. Safety in numbers as they say. Yes i have voted.

[tomsteel]

Ref msg 28 above. Msg 25 highlighted another group providing representation, HBPG is another, Citizen's Advice is another as does St Andrew's Church etc etc. Others do not want unelected groups to represent them or their views to the Government.

Ref msg 26 above. If you read the comments left by the poll initiator he stated at Line 3 "Any comments on this, please start another thread." Whether you consider it a waste of time is succinctly answered in msg 27.

[PoshinDevon]

Who else other than the BRS can represent us expats?????. (no one). May not be all singing and dancing at committee level, for whatever reason, But we need representation no matter what, Illness, Death, Births, Residency, Passports, Property info and more. The body is here, but it must stay focused. I speak to many expats living here who are not members. so maybe a recruitment campaign for new members is needed. Safety in numbers as they say. Yes i have voted.

I agree that some form of representation is required, however to me it seems that the BRS have over the last couple of months have let themselves down badly. As a result many who would like representation are rightly concerned at what happened at the AGM, what are the aims of the BRS, has the membership been fully consulted on what form of representation they want, has the membership agreed as to what subjects/topics they want to be represented on and the actions that are required - in other words is it the "membership" that is being represented?

We were going to join whilst on holiday this month, however the antics at the AGM do not make pleasant reading however much people try to gloss over what happened. As a result we decided against joining. The failings at the AGM will take a long time to repair and IMO the BRS have a very long road to walk to rebuild confidence.

Never voted as it is unclear to me what the BRS stand for.

[terry2366]

Again to mention this. A vote was held and 161 people voted then the hijack. The committee that are now in were voted in by just 31 of the hijackers that were left. As this is supposed to be democratic surely you want to be led by the best people as opposed to the ones who voted themselves in why did the paying members not ask for the results of the -61 voters or are they just after the discounts? The shower that are representing us got in by corrupt means and are stubbornly not giving answers they should reveal the results of the 161 voters of which they came bottom. Reminds me of the muppets and stapler and Waldorf in the box. They should man up and respect the wishes of the membership.

[kiplet]

Soner
You stated "I believe that the BRS have announced in a local paper that they represent all British Ex-pats in TRNC"
With respect I would get this statement clarified as it could be just paper talk ??
I know of a few cases that were simply not true posted in TRNC local papers so for me it needs to be questioned.

[Carbotec]

Posh I see that you haven't voted, that's understandable. I sent in a legitimate question to the committee over 3weeks ago and to date have never received an answer, not surprised, when the last committee took over there were over 1000 unanswered emails, so your question begs an answer who do they represent?

[Soner]

I think this poll has run its course, so I will close now. Seems pretty much even Stevens - make of it what you will.
Will now lock this thread.
Thanks to all that participated.