Bridge Please

Location: Riga, Latvia

Problem: Corruption

For intro, Latvia is a country in Europe, part of Baltic states, and its lead by few interested rich people, so you can call this country as a business for some guys. As you know, each country has a budget, but in Latvia, interested groups divides it for their pockets, and here is the best example how they manage it.

Riga, Latvia’s capital, separated by a river called Daugava. Somehow the government thought that we need another bridge, that crosses the river. So they got some money from EU and rest of money (of course) came from taxes. Everyone was so happy, like, hell yeah we’ll get a new bridge, no more traffic jams. But here is the real thing – actually, the bridge “project” was made to get money from EU, and to legally get money from tax payers. So here is how the scheme works: interested groups suggests to build a bridge; they promote the idea, so people thinks, that we need it; money arrives from taxes and EU; money goes to companies which builds the bridge, and companies are connected to people who are really leading the project ; at the end, we have a shitty bridge, with 3 years (wtf) warranty and almost no car on it. Conclusion – poor people gets nothing, rich people comes more richer. Also this is just a one project of hundreds, how money is stolen from tax payers and poor people as well.

Here are some facts:

• Bridge expenses: 714 millions EUR
• Unofficial money stolen: 250 millions EUR
• Traffic: 10% of 4 bridges – supposed to be 20 at the beginning of project
• Expenses per 1 m2 – 1700 EUR.

We call it as “Probably the most expensive bridge in the world”

Pauls Bite, Latvia