Kleinbergs dissatisfied with closure of Meat Pavilion; criticizes lack of action

Riga City Council Chairman Viesturs Kleinbergs has taken to social media to express strong dissatisfaction with the situation at the Riga Central Market's Meat Pavilion, which was closed for meat trading on Wednesday following a decision by the Food and Veterinary Service (BVKB). Kleinbergs noted that despite prior warning, no effective solutions have yet been found to relocate traders to alternative premises.

The politician personally visited the market and walked through the entire area, speaking with traders who he described as desperate. They are hurriedly packing meat, trying to divide it and find ways to transport it to other sales points. Kleinbergs emphasized that currently no relocation to alternative trading spaces has been secured.

Kleinbergs has ordered the market's executive director to verify whether management acted as a responsible steward and did everything to avoid such a situation. He also demanded an investigation into where the funds allocated for investments and renovations over the past five years have gone, and what has been done to prevent this situation, given that the need for serious repairs to the Meat Pavilion was known as early as 2020.

The council chairman stressed that the priority is to find an effective solution so that meat traders can continue operating at the Central Market. If losses have occurred, the Riga Real Estate Board must find compensatory mechanisms and cover them from company funds. Kleinbergs pointed out that the situation affects more than fifty businesses, whose employees have been left without work just before the Midsummer holiday, with goods that may partially spoil.