Did M.O.H.W. Bypass Bidding Process for Vehicle Purchase?

Was preferential treatment afforded to a particular auto company in the recent procurement of vehicles for the Ministry of Health and Wellness?  That is the allegation being made by Caribbean Motors upon learning that a fleet of six pickup trucks had been purchased with the approval of the Ministry of Finance.  The unproved assertion comes amid a Commission of Inquiry by the Briceño administration into the disposal of government assets, including ministerial vehicles, at rock-bottom prices in the months leading up to the November 2020 general elections.  In a letter written to Contractor General Omar Mitchell on March twelfth, Chad Dietrich, the managing director of Caribbean Motors, claims that Belize Auto Zone was selected as the supplier of six Mazda pickups without going to tender.  The total cost of the vehicles amounted to three hundred and fifty-seven thousand dollars.  Not only is Caribbean Motors the exclusive distributor of the Mazda brand in the country, Dietrich also asserts that Belize Auto Zone is not even an authorized vehicle dealer.  The letter goes on to say that since the bidding process was disregarded, the choice of Belize Auto Zone as supplier contravenes existing good governance practices, as well as the rules of fair play.  Moreover, the company, in light of the economic difficulties, contends that the vehicles could have been purchased at a cost that is much lower than the fifty-nine thousand, five hundred dollars spent on each truck.  Caribbean Motors says it also has the same model vehicles in stock, therefore no foreign exchange had to be expended, considering the scarcity of U.S. dollars at this time.  In responding to Dietrich’s letter late this evening, the Ministry of Health and Wellness says that in fact seven quotations from different companies were reviewed.  The quotes were then evaluated and recommendations were made to the Ministry of Finance which did not object to the contract being awarded to Belize Auto Zone. The release from the ministry ended by stating, (Quote) “it is unfortunate that Caribbean Motors, who has been the beneficiary of Government contracts, would seek to defame the M.O.H.W. and denigrate a small Belizean business in this manner.” (Unquote)