“The handbrake is closed”, – this is how Seimas member Audrius Petrošius responded about the direction of the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda“.
In the second round of the mayoral elections, the member of the Seimas, who lost quite strongly to Arvydas Vaitkas, was criticized after making public the plans to stop the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic on Birutė street. Instead, the old Klaipėda city polyclinic building on Taikos avenue will be reconstructed. The member of the Seimas and the politicians working in the opposition in the council named projects that were previously given the green light, but now they are being stopped: this includes the design of the bicycle path at Giruliai, the concession of the sports complex, and the reconstruction of the access to the Giruliai beach.
Council member conservative Andrius Dobranskis, who was the deputy director of administration in the previous term, says that the fact that only about 80% of the funds were used in half a year is also a cause for concern. planned funds. “The council had approved such a strategic plan. If it is not used, then, generally speaking, we are behind the pace, something is wrong,” said the politician.
This issue is also raised in the Finance and Economy Committee. Administration employees will be invited next week and will have to explain why such a significant sum was not used. “Looking a little ahead, I can see that this music has already started and I know what those in power will say: “The previous ones are to blame.” I foresee this already. This is a classic political act. We watch, we wait, we observe. But for now we don’t see anything good,” said the politician.
Eriko Ovčarenko/BNS photo/Arvydas Vaitkus
At that time, the mayor of Klaipėda, Arvydas Vaitkus, was straightforward: “The principle of today’s government is to finally start counting and rationally use the money of Klaipėda citizens and make decisions based on competence and transparency principles.”
“It is understandable that some people do not like the revision of the projects of the former political government. However, ask the people of Klaipėda how they value the construction of a 4-year school for double the price on Senvagės Street, how the people of Klaipėda value the sale of the plot on Jankaus Street, where a kindergarten and school were supposed to be built”, asked A. Vaitkus rhetorically.
Main points
- Whose money are you saving?
- Conservative Andrius Petraitis missed logic
- Liberal Edmundas Kvederis: “This leads to provincialism”
- Former mayor, social democrat V. Grubliauskas: “The trend is becoming clearer”
- Arvydas Vaitkus: “There is no solution not to build”
- Those in power raise questions about transparency
#Province #rationality #direction #Klaipėda
What specific actions do you plan to take to resolve the funding issues affecting the construction of the Jūrininkai polyclinic and other halted projects in Klaipėda?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Seimas Member**
**Host**: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. Recently, you stated, “The handbrake is closed” regarding the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda.” Can you elaborate on what you meant by that?
**Audrius Petrošius**: Certainly. My comment reflects my concerns about the current direction and governance of our local projects. There seems to be a significant halt in essential initiatives that were previously approved, such as the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic, and that raises alarm bells for me.
**Host**: Speaking of the polyclinic, could you clarify the rationale behind the decision to stop its construction and focus instead on renovating the old clinic on Taikos Avenue?
**Audrius Petrošius**: The decision to halt the new construction is primarily due to funding and resource allocation issues. However, many see this as a setback for healthcare accessibility in our region. The community expected progress, and pulling back is disheartening for those who rely on these services.
**Host**: Opposition council members have also pointed out that several other projects are being stalled, including the bicycle path at Giruliai and access improvements to Giruliai Beach. What do you believe is the reason behind these interruptions?
**Audrius Petrošius**: There appears to be a systematic pattern of halting approved projects. Whether it’s a lack of leadership in pushing these initiatives forward or insufficient planning by the current administration, it signals a deeper issue of accountability.
**Host**: And there’s been mention of budgetary concerns too, with only about 80% of planned funds being utilized within the first half of the year. What steps do you think should be taken to address this?
**Audrius Petrošius**: Indeed, it’s concerning. The Finance and Economy Committee is looking into this, and we will be inviting administration employees to explain why funds remain underutilized. There needs to be a thorough review and immediate action to rectify this, or we risk falling behind on our commitments to the community.
**Host**: Some council members predict that the current administration might blame their predecessors for these issues. How do you view this potential reaction?
**Audrius Petrošius**: This is a classic political maneuver we often see. It’s easy to point fingers, but what matters most is how we move forward. Instead of playing the blame game, we need constructive dialogue and effective solutions to address these challenges head-on.
**Host**: Thank you for your insights, Mr. Petrošius. It seems there are many critical issues to address in Klaipėda, and we appreciate your commitment to transparency and accountability.
**Audrius Petrošius**: Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we continue to advocate for our city’s needs and push for progress.
