Cllr Juliet Solomon suggested young people using the under-threat Haringey Greek Cypriot Women’s Organisation should “go and assimilate with people who speak mostly English rather than staying in their own centre” where they learn of their culture and beliefs from their elders.
Cllr Solomon’s comments were made to the leader of the organisation who had just pleaded with the council not to evict them from their Haringey Grove Community Centre home in Denmark Road, Harringay.
Cllr Solomon said: “Might it not be better for the young people to go and assimilate with people who speak mostly English rather than staying in their own centre?
“One of the problems of younger people is sticking to another language. Could I suggest respectfully that you might think about [it], might it not be better?”
Pheodosia Stylianou, interim chairman of the organisation, replied: “To be honest I struggle to take that quite respectfully in any sense. Being Greek Cypriot myself, being born and raised in this country, I do find it very very important that we try to hold on to our traditions and our beliefs as much as is possible.
“Having the elder community work alongside the younger community for me is beneficial for both the elder community and younger generations alike.”
Her response was met with a rare round of applause in the council chamber. The organisation, which has been supported financially by the council for the last 30 years, suffered a cut in its council grant which led to its leaders believing they had no choice but to end their tenancy.
The group’s leadership has changed and it has a 2,000-signature petition backing their aim to continue providing support to residents of varied ethnic backgrounds, classes to keep beliefs and customs alive, and much more.
Cllr Richard Wilson, could not comment at this stage.
Tottenham Journal