The Government of Guyana has denied reports by the opposition People’s Progressive Party that it had purchased 52 Land Cruisers for use by government officials.
Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman told a media conference on Wednesday that the reports are entirely false and clarified that no vehicle has been procured by the APNU+AFC administration.
“I’m embarrassed to tell you that we heard when we assumed office that there is a vessel on the high seas heading to Guyana with 52 luxury vehicles that the previous government had bought,” Trotman said.
He explained that the government immediately questioned the wisdom of any government to invest in high end vehicles and contacted the BeHarry Group of Companies, which is the designated importers of Toyota vehicles.
The administration was advised, by a senior executive, that there is no such shipment of vehicles, Trotman said.
The Minister said only one new vehicle, purchased by the previous government, is being utilized by the APNU + AFC administration. He said that vehicle is in fact a part of the Presidential fleet.
The PPP claimed on Tuesday that the government was investing some $1Billion to purchase 52 new Luxury Land Cruisers to be used by their ministers and advisers.
Trotman maintained that these allegations were entirely untrue and insisted that all known importers of high end vehicles are denying any knowledge of vehicles purchased.
“We are not going to do anything as ridiculous as invest in 52 vehicles,” Trotman added.
He said all Ministers and advisers are currently utilizing vehicles of the former government and will continue to do so until better can be afforded.
Trotman believes these baseless allegations are to counter the daily revelations of PPP’s mismanagement while in government.
“In someone’s demented mind to counter the Sean Hinds accusations they have come up with 52 vehicles and I don’t think it will wash and the truth is if there are 52 vehicles bought it has to land at some wharf and driven out at some point in time so we await to see where they are,” he said.
The PPP while in office had purchased a number of the same Land Cruiser vehicles for its Ministers. A number of the pricy rides were purchased over the past few years. Both former Presidents Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo currently use two of the same vehicles.
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