Ministers Don’t Need Fancy, Expensive Vehicles

Michel Chebat

The ballooning wage bill stands at six hundred and eighty-eight million dollars for sixteen thousand public officers and teachers.  One of the recommendations that the Public Service Union has offered as part of its belt-tightening is to reduce the government’s bill by releasing contract officers.  P.S.U. President Gerald Henry also recommended that the government cease purchasing expensive vehicles for ministers.  The new ministers say they are fine with that. 

Reporter

“We don’t have to give you a three hundred thousand dollars vehicles, are you okay with that?”

Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness

“I am fine with that. I don’t have a problem with that. I just need to be able to move around.”

Cordel Hyde

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“If it were up to me, we don’t get no new vehicles and we take a pay cut almost immediately and set the right example in the country mien.”

Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Dev., Labor, and Local Government

“All I can say to you is for me I just want something reliable that is going to get me back and forth to wherever I need to go and ensure that I can carry out my duties diligently.”

Rodwell Ferguson

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics

“I am okay but remember we are on the road on a regular basis and I want a vehicle that is comfortable, that protects you in terms of an accident and not every vehicle will give you that protection but I am willing to get something comfortable at a reduced cost.”

Louis Zabaneh

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of State, Ministry of Education

“I could ride to work on a bicycle if necessary. So we will see when we get there.”

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing

I am not asking for any government vehicle. I will be using my own private vehicle.”