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Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the purchase of vehicles for Ministers. Given that not all information around the context has been effectively disseminated in the public domain, this is understandable. We wanted to ensure you had the facts:
1. When the PNP took Office in January 2012, the fleet of vehicles normally allotted to Ministers and Senior Civil Servants, to support execution of their jobs, was severely depleted.
2. In the last JLP Administration which ended in December 2011, 30 vehicles were sold to JLP Ministers and senior civil servants consistent with the GOJ's policy on the disposal of motor vehicles at the end of an Administration's or Civil Servant's tenure.
3. As a result, a number of the newly appointed PNP Ministers were driving their personal motor cars to ensure that Government's work continued across the island as effectively as possible even though there were no public vehicles available.
4. While the country's main infrastructure has improved significantly over many years, the nature of the work of Ministers in understanding and facilitating initiatives to effectively meet the needs of the majority of Jamaican means that they have to frequently traverse our island. In executing the work, the right tools have to be employed - that can take the wear and tear with minimized maintenance costs to the Government (which is also funded by the people of Jamaica). As such, these vehicles are a critical part of the support package to enable them to do their jobs, across the country.
5. In light of the fiscal constraints, while remaining committed to getting the Government's job done, the acquisition of the new motor vehicles was done in bulk to benefit from a significant discount, to save the government millions of dollars.
6. It is also important to note that, notwithstanding the fiscal constraints, no public servant has had their compensation cut (we are all working together to see if we can agree on no increases across various groups). As Ministers and senior public servants are paid substantially less than leadership counterparts in the private sector, these vehicles are a part of the remuneration package. In pursuing the most cost-effective vehicle solutions to support the roles, the Government did not go outside the procurement policy guidelines.
1. When the PNP took Office in January 2012, the fleet of vehicles normally allotted to Ministers and Senior Civil Servants, to support execution of their jobs, was severely depleted.
2. In the last JLP Administration which ended in December 2011, 30 vehicles were sold to JLP Ministers and senior civil servants consistent with the GOJ's policy on the disposal of motor vehicles at the end of an Administration's or Civil Servant's tenure.
3. As a result, a number of the newly appointed PNP Ministers were driving their personal motor cars to ensure that Government's work continued across the island as effectively as possible even though there were no public vehicles available.
4. While the country's main infrastructure has improved significantly over many years, the nature of the work of Ministers in understanding and facilitating initiatives to effectively meet the needs of the majority of Jamaican means that they have to frequently traverse our island. In executing the work, the right tools have to be employed - that can take the wear and tear with minimized maintenance costs to the Government (which is also funded by the people of Jamaica). As such, these vehicles are a critical part of the support package to enable them to do their jobs, across the country.
5. In light of the fiscal constraints, while remaining committed to getting the Government's job done, the acquisition of the new motor vehicles was done in bulk to benefit from a significant discount, to save the government millions of dollars.
6. It is also important to note that, notwithstanding the fiscal constraints, no public servant has had their compensation cut (we are all working together to see if we can agree on no increases across various groups). As Ministers and senior public servants are paid substantially less than leadership counterparts in the private sector, these vehicles are a part of the remuneration package. In pursuing the most cost-effective vehicle solutions to support the roles, the Government did not go outside the procurement policy guidelines.
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