$30m spent on SUVs for Cabinet ministers

[Lazie]

Prime Minister Bruce Golding's government has not changed course from the previous administration's apparent affinity for high-maintenance, gas-guzzling SUVs.
Documents gleaned under the Access to Information Act have shown that, since taking up the reins of the country some eight months ago, the Golding-led government has spent close to $30 million on SUVs alone for at least 10 of its Cabinet and junior ministers.

Add Clive Mullings' Mercedes-Benz to the list of new purchases and the bill jumps to just shy of $32 million. Mullings' C180K Benz is the only motor car among the pool of spanking new 2008 vehicles acquired for the recently installed ministers to carry out the nation's business.

[Mosiah]

Banana Republic

[Lazie]

Cabinet ministers clock millions in pricey SUVs

After 18 years in the political wilderness, the Jamaica Labour Party has returned to the helm of government with a love affair for gas-guzzling SUVs, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
And those who haven't, such as Energy Minister Clive Mullings, received equally pricey vehicles such as the Benz.

Documents procured under the Access to Information Act revealed that on September 25, 2007, Mullings requested a 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser. A month later, after approval was granted, the minister had a "change of mind" and requested the Benz instead.
"Our procurement members have supported/endorsed the change, as the cost for this vehicle is less than the one which was previouslyapproved," read a section of a missive addressed to the financial secretary. The vehicle, which at the time had an approximate market value of $5.35 million, cost tax-payers an estimated $2.95 million, which was $662 less than the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado bought for Karl Samuda.

One of three prados
Audley Shaw, minister of finance and the public service, now motors around in one of three Toyota Land Cruiser Prados that were bought for the three Cabinet officials at the ministry.
In his contribution to last year's Budget Debate in April, then opposition spokesman on finance, Shaw, lambasted the Government and the central bank for what he described as "extravagance and waste" and fiscal imprudence, respectively.

"In fact, the main area of growth appears to be debt corruption and waste in Government, where extravagance and waste are the order of the day, where expensive gas-guzzling vehicles are used for messenger service and the Bank of Jamaica that is to set the tone for fiscal prudence is now the seat of vulgar opulence with its fleet of expensive SUVs, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles," Shaw said at the time.

Increase approved
Six months later, Shaw approved an increase in the upper-limit purchase price for assigned motor vehicles that would facilitate the purchase of the same kinds of vehicles he labelled vulgar opulence. And, instead of taking the high road, the minister chose to be assigned one of the gas-guzzling, off-road vehicles that he lashed out against while in Opposition.

The official documents secured by The Gleaner revealed that the cost, insurance and freight (cif) figure was increased from US$27,800 to US$29,500. It is important to note that the cif does not represent the full cost of the vehicle, just what it cost to get the vehicle to the ports. In one instance, the ultimate selling price was over US$12,500 more.

"The ministry has observed that consequent on the rising cost of motor vehicles generally, quotations being submitted for the purchase of new vehicles for assignment to public officials have been reflecting amounts over the current approved cost, insurance and freight (CIF) limit of US$27,800," read a section of the circular signed by Colin Bullock, financial secretary.

CIF value
It added, "In order to alleviate the current problem, the honourable minister of finance and the public service gave approval effective October 1, 2007, for the upper limit to be (increased) to a cif value of US$29,500."
Shortly afterwards, two identical price invoices, dated October 31, 2007, were sent by Toyota Jamaica Limited to the finance ministry charging it approximately $6 million for two Toyota Land Cruiser/Prado SUVs.
They were bought for and assigned to Shaw and his fellow Cabinet minister, Dwight Nelson.

Another invoice, dated October 30, 2007, for another Land Cruiser Prado, was also received by the finance ministry from the same company, charging a little less than the two previous vehicles, but still close to $3 million. That vehicle is assigned to Minister Don Wehby.

Defended decision
In a written response to queries from the Gleaner, Shaw defended the decision to increase the cif.
"The nominal increase from US$27,800 to US$29,500 on the limit for the purchase of an assigned motor vehicle was occasioned by the increased cost of motor vehicles," read a section of Shaw's response.
The minister also said that Cabinet would be conducting a review of the motor-vehicle policy for assigned vehicles to all eligible public servants. The review is especially prompted, he said, because of the "energy crisis we face at this time".

Shaw argued that the SUV assigned to him was not done so at his request. "It was at the recommendation of the ministry based on the serviceability and reliability of the unit and it is a diesel model that enhances fuel efficiency," Shaw said.

Not backing down
He added that he was not backing down from comments in Parliament last year concerning the use of gas-gobblers for messenger service, and that he would ensure that the practice was discontinued. However, the minister failed to comment on the fiscal imprudence he accused the central bank of because they were purchasing SUVs and other posh cars, which is exactly what his administration has done.
Official documents revealed that Robert Montague, minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, who was assigned a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, has cost taxpayers close to $50,000 a month from November 2007 to January 2008, just to purchase petrol.

[DiGlor]

Cock mouth....

Audley Shaw - 'Cock mouth kill Cock'.

They do it all the time, when criticizers are on the other side of the fence, they can see everything and make one whole heap a noise. When they jump the fence and come on the other side, see how things run, they just go with the same old system. Nothing naw change.

[Mosiah]

...it is a diesel model that enhances fuel efficiency," Shaw said.

Him tek people fi eediat? Diesel is now the most expensive type of fuel out there. Does the efficiency of the vehicle make up for that?!?

Official documents revealed that Robert Montague, minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, who was assigned a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, has cost taxpayers close to $50,000 a month from November 2007 to January 2008, just to purchase petrol.

So, Robert Montague, a charlatan who is yet to address the local govt. issue he was assigned to do, will cost us around $200,000 in gas alone.

The sad thing is the opposition will not say anything about it because they used to splurge and they can't wait to resume splurging.

[Mosiah]

Well, they got some of us to believe that they will change the course. The sensible ones either didn't believe it or gave them a chance so dem coulda eat a food tuh.

[Muadib]

Is the question regarding efficiency rhetorical ?

[Muadib]

Is it possible to change course in a SUV ?

[Assasin]

Unnu give the man them a break. The man them want dependable motors.

While I believe they should have set an example by buying energy efficient cars the JLP administration has not done what the former PNP government did when they came to power.

Buying 10 new cars for government ministers is not a big thing. The thing is to maintain it and keep it running.

[Mosiah]

Yuh mek man like Lazie look reasonable.

The issue is not "buying 10 new cars for govt. ministers". It is what kind of "car". It is the cost of those "cars" and how much it costs to maintain them, to fuel them, to detail them. You see, these vehicles are never used in ways we might all find acceptable. These "cars" are used to drop kids off at school, to pick up matey, to do some grocery shopping, all in Kingston's crazy traffic.

Ever seen how govt. ministers move around in these "cars"? There is a brand new SUV in front and one behind, the security detail for each of these ministers in their "cars". This must be the result of a new study by our law enforcement officials because not even the PNP ministers had that sort of an entourage.

And don't worry about the maintenance of these vehicles. This is not your JUTC bus. There was another newspaper article that touched on that topic. It would not be surprising if these vehicles are detailed once a month. But I guess with all the pork barrels they carry around, not to mention the greasy hands of our ministers, that's the least we should expect.

Suh stay deh tink it's just "10 new cars".

[Muadib]

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

[Assasin]

Well the article is pointing to the ministers and saying the car they got.

Yes there should be guideline as to how the cars are used but for the car to drop off ministers children at school is no problem for me because each minister children should have some security detail while in public under a certain age as if they kidnap the kids them we would be asking where is the security.

The matey thing I know you can limit it but I don't know if you can stop it.

Again my big disappointment is that nothing is been done about conserving energy.

[Assasin]

a you did Benj?

[Mosiah]

Again my big disappointment is that nothing is been done about conserving energy.

You justify the exrtravagance and then end your post with that. Dat mek sense, bredren?

[No Mercy]

If mi was in jamaica mi would just go a king house and mash

up all a them inna mi mascaratti