Kalymnos Benefactor John Halikos Departs Island After Police Incident

Long-time Kalymnos benefactor John Halikos has announced his decision to leave his homeland following a personal incident that he says deeply affected him and prompted debate at the Municipal Council.

In a public letter, Halikos said he followed “with great attention” the Municipal Council meeting held yesterday, which convened after an incident involving him. He welcomed the fact that the island’s highest governing body met “with a purpose and an agenda concerning the common good and the oversight of order and the manner in which power is exercised on the island.”

Halikos expressed gratitude to those who supported him during the discussion, saying that as “a simple citizen” he felt “deep satisfaction from the beautiful and sincere words” spoken by many fellow residents.

However, he also voiced disappointment at the absence of political groups and individuals whom he said he had supported for years while they were in municipal authority. He added that he felt saddened by those who “chose to engage in political manoeuvring even on this issue.”

The letter refers to an incident that occurred a few days earlier, which Halikos said “truly shook” him. According to his account, authorities subjected him to a summary arrest procedure and opened a criminal case file against him for what he described as “an extremely minor offence.”

“Regardless of its legal dimension, this development deeply wounded me on a human level,” Halikos wrote.

He stressed that his reaction was not directed at the application of the law itself. “I am firm in my belief that the law must be applied equally to everyone,” he stated, adding that the issue lay in what he described as “the absence of understanding, equality before the law, restraint, and respect” toward a person who had supported the island “with consistency and selflessness” for decades.

While acknowledging that the incident might appear insignificant to others, Halikos wrote that for him it “may be the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Addressing references made during the Municipal Council meeting, Halikos rejected the label of “benefactor of the island,” saying it felt “foreign” to him. He maintained that whatever he offered came solely from “genuine feeling, love, and respect for the place and my fellow citizens,” without expectation of recognition.

Halikos detailed years of involvement in local institutions and initiatives, including the Municipality, Hospital, Nursing Home, military, security forces, fire service, schools, associations, social structures and community events. Despite this involvement, he said he faced “fierce opposition from a segment” of fellow citizens.

He claimed that his businesses — which he described as having a strong social character aimed at development and job creation in Kalymnos and Pserimos — were subjected to “countless complaints” over the years. He further alleged that false accusations led to him and his associates being reported to the Financial Crime Unit, with the intent of causing “irreparable damage both in Greece and in Australia.”

“All my actions, activities, and financial transactions have always been absolutely lawful,” Halikos stated.

Reflecting on the cumulative impact of these experiences, Halikos said that being taken to the police at the age of 65 and facing criminal procedures “shook me, embittered me, saddened me, and deeply wounded me, both in terms of my dignity and emotionally toward this place.”

“With a heavy heart, but with a clear conscience, I make the decision today to depart from my homeland,” he wrote.

As he prepares to leave, Halikos expressed gratitude to those who supported him, including local officials and institutional figures such as the Mayor, the District Governor and the Hospital Director. He also singled out the Metropolitan Bishop, writing that his stance “deeply moved me.”

He concluded by thanking the many citizens who contacted him personally in recent days, saying he would carry their words and acts of support with him as he departs.