binch
New member
Greece
Until the Greek people face up to eliminating the fakilaki culture and the rusfeti that dominates political life, there can be no redemption. Perhaps our Greek friend will comment. I was a director of the Greek insurance company Ethniki when it was British owned (by the Norwich Union) and we had to sell it because the NU refused to make "donations" to certain "charities".
I have a lot of time for Greek ship-owners who can run profitable enterprises under circumstances that bankrupt British ship-owners, but some of their non-nautical activities worry me.
I used to have to go each year to pay formal thanks to Stavros Niarchos for the large annual donation he gave to (British) Royal Naval charities (The RN took him, and others off from burning Smyrna and he never forgot it). I also had invitations from the Pateras family to the island of Oinoussa (near Xios) and believe me I got some idea of the value of "Pull".
The monetary value, that is.
I have sailed Greek waters since 1953 when I went in HMS Childers to relieve earthquake damage. It is very easy to fall in love with Greece, but..... but...in spite of some imperfections the poorest people are ever the most hospitable.
But TI THA KANATE? (What can you do?)
It seemed to me that these mega-rich and hospitable plutocrats were not breaking Greek law, but that Greek law was adapted to their needs. Rather as banking law in the City of London.
Until the Greek people face up to eliminating the fakilaki culture and the rusfeti that dominates political life, there can be no redemption. Perhaps our Greek friend will comment. I was a director of the Greek insurance company Ethniki when it was British owned (by the Norwich Union) and we had to sell it because the NU refused to make "donations" to certain "charities".
I have a lot of time for Greek ship-owners who can run profitable enterprises under circumstances that bankrupt British ship-owners, but some of their non-nautical activities worry me.
I used to have to go each year to pay formal thanks to Stavros Niarchos for the large annual donation he gave to (British) Royal Naval charities (The RN took him, and others off from burning Smyrna and he never forgot it). I also had invitations from the Pateras family to the island of Oinoussa (near Xios) and believe me I got some idea of the value of "Pull".
The monetary value, that is.
I have sailed Greek waters since 1953 when I went in HMS Childers to relieve earthquake damage. It is very easy to fall in love with Greece, but..... but...in spite of some imperfections the poorest people are ever the most hospitable.
But TI THA KANATE? (What can you do?)
It seemed to me that these mega-rich and hospitable plutocrats were not breaking Greek law, but that Greek law was adapted to their needs. Rather as banking law in the City of London.