“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 move. 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 factors led to the decision to halt the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic in Klaipėda, and what alternatives are being considered to address community health needs?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Member of the Seimas from the Ruling Election Committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda”**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. It seems there is quite a bit of controversy surrounding the recent decisions made by the Klaipėda City Council. You mentioned that “the handbrake is closed” regarding the direction of your committee. Can you elaborate on this statement?
**Audrius Petrošius**: Thank you for having me. My statement reflects the current stagnation in our city’s developmental plans, particularly in light of some significant project halts. We are seeing projects that once had momentum, like the new Jūrininkai polyclinic and various infrastructure developments, being put on hold, which is concerning for our community’s progress.
**Interviewer**: You faced criticism after revealing plans to stop the construction of the new polyclinic. Can you explain the reasoning behind this decision?
**Audrius Petrošius**: The decision to halt the construction stemmed from our assessment of existing resources and needs. Instead of a new facility, we are choosing to invest in renovating the old polyclinic on Taikos avenue, which we believe will be more efficient and serve our citizens better in the immediate term. However, I know this has raised questions and concerns among constituents.
**Interviewer**: Other projects, including the bicycle path at Giruliai and the concession of a sports complex, are also being halted. What can you say about this development?
**Audrius Petrošius**: Yes, these are among several projects that were moving forward but are now facing delays. We must be prudent with our financial resources, and at this moment, we are prioritizing essential renovations and adjustments. Nonetheless, I acknowledge that halting these projects could lead to longer-term issues with community satisfaction and infrastructure quality.
**Interviewer**: Conservative Council member Andrius Dobranskis raised concerns about the underutilization of funds. What are your thoughts on this?
**Audrius Petrošius**: This is a valid concern and one we take seriously. Only utilizing about 80% of allocated funds in such a critical half-year period indicates that we must reassess how we are executing our strategic plan. We will be inviting administration employees to explanations, as it’s crucial to understand why these funds haven’t been put to use.
**Interviewer**: There seems to be a political undercurrent to these conversations, with some predicting that those in power might blame previous administrations for these challenges. How do you respond to that?
**Audrius Petrošius**: Such responses have indeed been a classic political maneuver in our landscape. I am committed to focusing on accountability rather than shifting blame. We need to tackle the issues at hand and work collaboratively across party lines to find solutions rather than pointing fingers.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for your insights, Mr. Petrošius. It sounds like Klaipėda is at a crossroads, and your committee has a challenging path ahead.
**Audrius Petrošius**: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important issues. We are dedicated to making decisions that will ultimately benefit the citizens of Klaipėda, even if those decisions are difficult in the short term.
