If I’d been able to vote in the latest municipal election held on the 15th October 2006, I would definitely have been one of those found perched on the fence!

Of course, I should have been able to vote but now the election is over I feel a sense of relief that I never had to make the decision because I’m still as undecided as ever.

I didn’t vote this year or in the 2002 elections because I wasn’t registered. This is rather reprehensible given that the local government of the day has an immediate impact on me as Hydra is where I have chosen to live, work and bring up my daughter. And there’s no point in my complaining that no-one told me that I had to register before June, because ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure I am better informed, although I do find it irksome that neither of the major parties saw fit to value my vote enough to make sure I was registered in time so they could canvas for it!

And I wasn’t alone in the foreign but EU part of Hydra’s cosmopolitan community. I personally know 24 other non-Greeks who are entitled to vote, who like me were not on the electoral list so couldn’t. Apparently a notice (in Greek) calling for people to register was put up at some time just before the cut-off date, but it only stayed up for a day or so. As the difference between votes received by the major parties was really tiny (about 8-12 depending on who you speak to) another 24 votes could have made a substantial difference one way or other so perhaps both parties could be justifiably accused of shortsightedness?

My biggest problem living and working on Hydra has been my inability to speak Greek and this is not good; why should anyone take my views seriously when I live in a community where I can’t communicate effectively in the majority language. Mea culpa but … I’ve started lessons and I’m determined to be better able to understand in time for 2010.

I have also noted that unlike Greek residents, non-Greeks are required to register to vote before every election. So I have already added a notice on the HydraDirect.com website calendar to remind myself, and others, to register in time.

Being able to speak Greek and getting registered will help but still I have a sense of foreboding and worry that perhaps by understanding more, it will leave me even more undecided in 2010 than I was this year.

So I am also going to invite ALL political parties on Hydra to use the HydraDirect website as a forum to present their policy between now and the next election. That’s four years to become better informed. After all, even though I am a foreign member of Hydra, I would still like to know the views of those who represent me and influence my standard of living and well being. And I’ve made this offer to all parties because I suspect others, who would also like to know where the elected party stands as well as what the opposition’s stance is on various issues, share my interest. I sincerely hope that all parties will accept my invitation. I’ll even publish in English AND Greek!

Regards Kelsey Edwards October 2006