Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman yesterday ridiculed the PPP’s claim that the government has purchased 52 luxury vehicles to be used by ministers and advisors describing the recent claim as a “sideshow” by the opposition.
“We are not going to do anything as ridiculous as invest in 52 vehicles for ourselves with entertainment system and leather seats and so forth. We are all driving and using the vehicles of the former ministers and those are what we are going to use until both time and the budget allows us to upgrade them which is likely to be another few years,” Trotman told members of the media yesterday during a post-Cabinet briefing held at the Ministry of Presidency.
The opposition party in a press statement on Tuesday said it was appalled by the intention, which it deemed “most inexcusable, since the APNU+AFC Govern-ment has abandoned its election promises of a reduction in the value added tax (VAT) and a 20% pay increase for public servants, claiming there is no money in the treasury.” The statement said, “These vehicles are custom designed with leather seats, high-end entertainment centres, inclusive of High Definition TVs, among other luxurious fittings.”
Trotman said the government had heard there was a tanker with 52 luxury vehicles purchased by the PPP/C government heading to Guyana and he was given the responsibility of contacting the Beharry Group of Companies, which is the designated importer of Toyota vehicles. He did so about a month ago and was told by a senior executive that there is so such shipment and that in fact one vehicle was purchased by the then government and had entered the country about a week after the elections. That one vehicle is now in the possession of the government and has been assigned to the fleet used by President David Granger.
According to the minister, all of the known importers of high-end vehicles have denied any knowledge of any vehicles purchased.
He described the recent press release as part of the “sideshow” that the opposition likes to put on which has nothing of substance, but rather was someone in the opposition attempting to counter revelations such as those made by self-confessed death squad member Shawn Hinds.
“The truth is that if 52 vehicles were bought they have to land on some wharf and have to be driven out at some point in time. So we await to see where they are like everyone else,” Trotman said reiterating that the government has no plans to make any such investment.
“We question the wisdom of any government investing in high-end vehicles,” the minister said.
Meantime, asked about comments made by the PPP’s General Secretary that the current administration is extravagant in repairing and upgrading state houses and in its spending as well, Trotman said that one only has to visit the home of any of the former government ministers to know what extravagance looks like.
However, he said the government believes that state houses are properties of the state and need to be refurbished where necessary. He referred to the Public Buildings, various court buildings, regional democratic offices and guest houses which have been with the state from colonial days.
“So there is nothing irregular or extravagant just about fixing the gutters, putting on a coat of paint or replacing rotten boards,” the minister said.
He said Rohee and others are entitled to their “frivolous opinions” while the government has serious work to do.
