Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 17, 2014 News
Region Ten Chairman, Sharma Solomon, has expressed concern that monies amounting to more than $4million are being wasted to repair an old vehicle allocated to his office, which has not been working for more than eight months, and further, that the region has to rent a vehicle for his use for as much as $9,000 per day, when all those monies could have been spent to purchase a brand new vehicle for him to carry out his responsibilities as Chairman of Region Ten.
Solomon opined that if the ‘non purchasing’ of a new vehicle for him to discharge his duties as Regional Chairman was deliberate, and aimed at impeding the work of the Region, he is happy to say that he is still carrying out those duties, despite all the hindrances.
But my main concern is that we’re wasting money on an old vehicle (PNN 7756) despite the fact that based on Council’s recommendations and request last year, it was proposed in our 2014 budget, to the Ministry of Finance, through the Ministry of Local Government, that a new vehicle be purchased for the Regional Chairman.
“The Council would have recognized my legitimate concerns that funds were being squandered to repair this vehicle. This had been done (repairs) about seven times since my ascension to office.
“Not only is this in itself a financial burden, where the actual cost for repairs are concerned, but it is also a burden when we have to spend money to rent vehicles, when this vehicle is not in use.”
Solomon said that the current state of affairs is unacceptable, and points to financial mismanagement and lack of wisdom, as a new vehicle could have been procured using the very monies that are being expended to repair an old vehicle that has been sitting idle for months.
The vehicle in question, (PNN 7756) despite all the repairs carried out, now sits in the Region’s Annexe compound in Wismar Street, Mackenzie, Linden, while the Regional Chairman has to move around in rented vehicles.
On January 19, 2013, Buffs Auto Spares and Repairs supplied to vehicle PNN 7756 two gallons rim 40 oil costing $14,000, one oil filter $6,300, one fuel filter $5,300, one tube grease $1,500, and general service at $25,000, accruing a total cost of $52,100.
Then on April 12, 2013, Buffs Auto Spares and Repairs carried out further repairs and supplied parts to the said vehicle amounting to a total cost of $74,000.
Further, on June 24, 2013 the entity supplied one axle seal costing $1,500, two wheel Cyl rubbers -$600,one pt brake shoes for $7000,changed axle seal for $4,000 and changed brake liners which cost $3,000, making a total of $16,100.
One set of brake pads costing $8,400, was on July 22, 2013 purchased from Foreign Links for said vehicle.
A few months later, on October 9, one Compton Rigby of Central Amelia’s Ward was paid $40,000 for the removal and dismantling of the vehicle’s engine.
Then in December a new KD engine costing some $875,000 was installed. There was no mention of a supplier, for this component.
Total repairs and services rendered to vehicle PNN 7756 for 2013 alone amounted to $1,344,000. Solomon said that those figures were only for 2013. If the 2012 and 2014 figures were totaled, the amount would more than likely exceed $4milllion, more than enough to purchase a new vehicle.
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