The newly reconstituted Office of the President will have a $1.74 billion allocation to implement its current and capital programme for the last quarter of 2020.
The sum which includes $1.09 billion in current expenditure and $369 million in capital expenses was approved following several hours of consideration.
During the consideration of the agency estimates in the Committee of Supply, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira revealed that her government will be spending $95 million over the next three months to purchase vehicles for the President and several Ministers of government.
Asked by the former Minster of Public Infrastructure David Patterson to state the number of vehicles and the process of procurement, Teixeira said she could not do so.
“I am not aware of the type of vehicles, I am not aware of the cost of the vehicles. I know because of the urgency to complete the budget because the Consolidated Fund was expiring we had to rush to include a sum for vehicles to ensure the safety of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of this country,” Teixeira said.
She went on to state that government is being forced to repair several defective vehicles returned by the previous administration.
“We were shocked at the condition with cracked windscreens, fender benders, and seats dug up, stained and scratched,” the Minister said, adding that even vehicles which at first glance appeared to be sound were found to have different sets of tyres once used.
She explained that while some vehicles are to be repaired a number of them will be boarded because they are too old and expensive to maintain.
