Chancery of the President of Latvia has sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Agriculture on 25th of August, requesting additional information about the process of estimating losses and rectifying damage caused by natural disaster on 7 August. Information must be provided to the Chancery and affected municipalities – Dobele, Augšdaugava, Jelgava, Madona and Tukums.
Chancery has received an open letter signed by heads of several local administrations, accusing responsible line ministries of negligence and slow response in terms of estimating losses and rectifying damage caused by natural disaster. As letter specifically indicates, local governments are particularly concerned about lack of support to small and medium enterprises and farmers who have suffered from the disaster. Without help, they will not be able to restore their operation and will quickly become insolvent.
President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs has therefore requested ministers of economy and agriculture to provide additional information on support measures to affected private individuals and business entities. Report, which must be completed by 1 September, must also indicate other assistance or support that will be provided in next stages and when these instruments will become available to those affected. Other vital information will include description of specific business and farm disaster relief programmes either in pipeline or already available.