Regional Development Ministry to replace its representatives on boards of Ventspils and Riga ports

RIGA - The Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry plans to replace its representatives on the boards of the Ventspils and Riga ports, according to a draft decree available on the Latvian draft legislation website TAP. 

On the Freeport of Riga Board, Edgars Stelmahers will be replaced with Elita Turka, the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry's undersecretary of state for administrative matters. 

Stelmahers was appointed to the Freeport of Riga Board since January 2023 when Maris Sprindzuks of the United List was environmental protection and regional development minister and Stelmahers himself had temporarily become a member of Riga City Council and joined the National Alliance/Latvian Association of Regions group. 

This last fall, Stelmahers lost his Riga councilor's mandate as Jurgis Klotins (National Alliance/Latvian Association of Regions) and Ieva Brante (National Alliance/Latvian Association of Regions) returned to the city council after a stint in the Saeima. 

Stelmahers is a board member of several companies, including New Rosme lingerie maker, as well as chairs the Latvian Team Sports Association. 

On the Freeport of Ventspils Board, Laima Spalina will be replaced with Sandis Cakuls, the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry's undersecretary of state for development instruments.

Spalina was appointed to the Freeport of Ventspils Board in 2019 when the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry was headed by Juris Puce (Development/For) and Spalina was the head of his office. 

Riga is the largest port in Latvia by cargo turnover, while Ventspils second largest port.