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The Prime Minister's 'new' car
Sunday, November 06, 2011
ONE of the first things Prime Minister Andrew Holness did on his first day on the job was to replace the sleek black Mercedes Benz he inherited from his predecessor Bruce Golding. Not that the Benz wasn't good enough, it just wasn't the right fit.
The problem wasn't the condition of the vehicle, it was the PM's legs. At a towering 6' 2" in height, Holness is about eight inches taller than Golding, making the Benz a tight fit. He therefore opted for something that offered more leg room — a luxury BMW 5 series.
The official car used by Prime Minister Andrew Holness is seen here on the grounds of RJR where the PM was a guest on TVJ’s Smile Jamaica morning programme last week. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
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Other than being more spacious, the BMW tops the Benz because it was specifically designed for VIP use with features befitting a head of government such as flashing lights, a siren and a flagpole. Security concerns prevent us from divulging the vehicle's other features, except to say it looks the part.
But before readers work themselves into a tizzy about government spending in a tight economy, consider that a synonym for 'new' is 'different'.
Taxpayers didn't foot the bill this time, for the BMW isn't brand new. It's been in the care of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade since 2007 when BMW International supplied a fleet of cars as part of an agreement with the International Cricket Council which staged Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean. All the prime minister did was have one of those reassigned.
When Golding took the job in 2007, the car he inherited from Portia Simpson Miller was a dated blue Volvo that was also used by her predecessor, P J Patterson, who held office for two terms.
That one was the subject of media reports after it had broken down with Golding more than once.
But with concerns about the recession, which was beginning to take root at the time, rather than splurge on a brand new vehicle, Golding also had one rerouted from the foreign affairs ministry.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1cvdx0E28
Sunday, November 06, 2011
ONE of the first things Prime Minister Andrew Holness did on his first day on the job was to replace the sleek black Mercedes Benz he inherited from his predecessor Bruce Golding. Not that the Benz wasn't good enough, it just wasn't the right fit.
The problem wasn't the condition of the vehicle, it was the PM's legs. At a towering 6' 2" in height, Holness is about eight inches taller than Golding, making the Benz a tight fit. He therefore opted for something that offered more leg room — a luxury BMW 5 series.
The official car used by Prime Minister Andrew Holness is seen here on the grounds of RJR where the PM was a guest on TVJ’s Smile Jamaica morning programme last week. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
1/1
Other than being more spacious, the BMW tops the Benz because it was specifically designed for VIP use with features befitting a head of government such as flashing lights, a siren and a flagpole. Security concerns prevent us from divulging the vehicle's other features, except to say it looks the part.
But before readers work themselves into a tizzy about government spending in a tight economy, consider that a synonym for 'new' is 'different'.
Taxpayers didn't foot the bill this time, for the BMW isn't brand new. It's been in the care of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade since 2007 when BMW International supplied a fleet of cars as part of an agreement with the International Cricket Council which staged Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean. All the prime minister did was have one of those reassigned.
When Golding took the job in 2007, the car he inherited from Portia Simpson Miller was a dated blue Volvo that was also used by her predecessor, P J Patterson, who held office for two terms.
That one was the subject of media reports after it had broken down with Golding more than once.
But with concerns about the recession, which was beginning to take root at the time, rather than splurge on a brand new vehicle, Golding also had one rerouted from the foreign affairs ministry.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1cvdx0E28
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