Spanking new BMW’s were the mode of transportation yesterday for visiting delegations for the Rio Summit.
Stabroek News understands that the state-of-the art vehicles were driven by non-commissioned officers of the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force.
From observation at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel yesterday, during pick up and drop-offs, the officers demonstrated ease while handling the vehicles.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon had said that the vehicles would cost government in excess of US$30,000 each. The vehicles are also to be used during the Cricket World Cup Season. BMW is one of the official sponsors of CWC 2007, which will be held in Guyana and eight other Caribbean countries during March and April this year. At his last press briefing last year, President Bharrat Jagdeo had said since government was “getting some buses” only 20 vehicles were required and not 40 like some other host venues. Stabroek News understands that the BMW sponsorship required that every host country purchase 40 cars.
Meanwhile Le Meridien was also buzzing as liaison officers, security and hotel personnel ensured that all was in place for the arrival of the foreign delegations for the summit.
But the atmosphere at the International Conference centre was somewhat different as workmen were only working tirelessly to ‘buff the building’ as one of the workmen explained.
Up to noon yesterday the men were not certain whether they would have been finished by afternoon, but were sure that the building and its environs would be in ‘top shape’ for the official Summit of Heads of State of the Rio group today.
The immediate environment was also up to yesterday having a facelift with banners representing Guyana’s cultural heritage and welcoming banners for the visitors.
