Quite what the government hopes to achieve by writing to the UN and the EU “to put things into perspective and to give the whole story” with regard to this week’s basketball hooliganism (racism?) is not clear.

Yet again, after some condemnatory platitudes from all the political parties and the government, what we are seeing is a failure to acknowledge that hooliganism - indeed racism – is something that no-one in authority in Cyprus is willing to tackle seriously.

This is something that has been “discussed” for years now, yet no action is taken.

If the mountains catch fire we are very happy to allow helicopters and military personnel from the British Bases to help douse the flames.

When it comes to helping stop an illegal activity like bird trapping, however, suddenly the same forces are “colonial remnants” according to our illustrious politicians.

The furore about the Deputy Attorney General’s teeth implants has highlighted yet another discrepancy in Cyprus’ antiquated mollycoddling of civil servants: despite their hugely inflated salaries (often, it seems, for sitting idly in their offices from 7.30 – 2.30 every day) they are entitled to free health care.

In contrast, the average citizen – if his combined family income exceeds the princely sum of €22,000 – must pay for even the most minor treatment or test.

It is largely thanks to opposition from the civil service that - after more than a decade of promises to introduce a National Health Service – we still don’t have universal health care in Cyprus.