Erkis Skapars

Eriks Skapars, who is closely affiliated with Leonids Loginovs, has been chosen for the post of Deputy Chairman of Riga Free port during the August 16 meeting. His appointment to this post could mean a delay for possible change in the Board of the port.

There were two candidates for this post – Skapars and minister Sprudzs’ candidate Inga Antane. Skapars received more votes, LETA reports.

Skapars was chosen as a candidate for this post thanks to the political influence from Unity. Also, he recently became a co-owner of the largest waste management company, which not too long ago belonged to the port servicing Eko Osta, Pietiek writes.

There are some concerns that Skapars, who is working in the Board for three years now and is considered to be a trusted person of Loginovs, will help preserve the old order in the port’s Board. Loginovs «bought» Skapars’ loyalty by guaranteeing that Unity politician’s son, Martins Skapars, is accepted in the Board as well, Nekā personīga (Nothing Personal) reported this winter.

Non-party Transport Minister Aivis Ronis denied giving any comments on whether or not he received political recommendations from Unity that would set the recently approved TM Secretary of State Deputy Dzineta Innuna. However, according to several recent events, the non-party minister is bound by both TM politically responsible powers – Unity and «Olsteinians» – thoughts on which people to put on which posts.

It was unofficially stated in the past that Innusa could be a compromise figure for this post in case if RP and U are not capable of reaching an agreement on an appropriate candidate. However, Innusa said that she does not have the necessary experience, as well as Girts Greiskalns (who was appointed at the same time).

It should also be said that Skapars is closely related to U «cashier» Edgars Jaunips’ influence. Skapars was once New Time’s Secretary General responsible for the party’s finances, the actual attraction of finances was carried out by Jaunups. Unity’s attempts to achieve Skapars’ appointment to this post can be explained in relation to decisions that would directly affect finance attraction from companies active in the port.

Skapars is linked to one such company – Eko Osta. According to information from Lursoft’s database, Skapars became the owner of Eko Terra on July 5, 2012. Recently, the now Skapars’ owned company was owned by Eko Terra up until October 20, 2011.

Skapars’ official’s declaration for 2011 has no mention of Eko Terra capital share purchase. According to the declaration, Skapars keeps large amounts of money in cash – 34 500 EUR and 20 400 LVL. The politician has loaned 20 000 LVL more. Large amounts of cash in an official’s declaration usually attract attention of corruption combating institutions, because such savings are considered as one of possible risk factors.

BNN previously reported that the government approved the proposal to relieve Economy Ministry representative Olafs Pulks from his post in the Board of Riga Free port, putting Girts Greiskals in his place.

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