John Pinder, president of the Bahamas Public Services Union was disappointed to learn of a report Tuesday that government planned to spend tens of thousands of dollars on new cars for Cabinet Ministers.
Speaking exclusively with The Tribune, he said he understands that Prime Minister Christie is also expected to get a “spanking new luxurious car” for the Independence celebrations.
However, a government spokesman, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said some of the Cabinet Ministers’ cars have been condemned by the Board of Survey at the Ministry of Works because of their unfit condition.
He said some cars have 90,000 miles on their meters, a window has reportedly dropped out of one of the minister’s cars, in another a door nearly dropped off, and a Cabinet minister has been left stranded several times as a result of his car breaking down.
The spokesman said the discussions to replace Cabinet ministers’ cars were held before the “budgetary process” started.
It is understood that five ministers have been driving new impalas, which on the local market costs $33,000 each.
But, according to the government spokesman, the new Chevy Impalas 2003 are really on loan to the Cabinet ministers until their new cars arrive. The new Impalas were bought specifically for Permanent Secretaries.
Source: Darnelle Dorsett, The Tribune
