PSU: Government can cut from its ‘exorbitant’ expenditure on vehicles and fuel

By BBN Staff: The Public Service Union (PSU) has shared details of a cost savings report from 2018 prepared by the Committee to Evaluate and Advise on Costs Savings Measures.

The PSU’s observations of the report share details of the abuse of Government vehicles and fuel bill for government vehicles.

The total sum of acquisition of new vehicles, repair and maintenance, purchasing of vehicle parts and fuel for the fiscal year 2018/2019 added up to $14.4 million.

The acquisition of vehicles alone was $3.9 million.

“The abuse of vehicles is rampant across the public service,” the report said citing government vehicles being used outside of working hours and for personal use, vehicle authorization forms issued for periods more than 1 month and heavily tinted vehicles with government license plates removed and replaced by private plates.

In the year 2017 alone, there were 129 vehicle accidents involving government vehicles.

The recommendations for cost-saving measures to the Government included reducing the cost of motor vehicle acquisition by providing a motor vehicle advance with duty-free concession, except for environmental tax to the ranks of:

– $90,000 max for Ministers and Ministers of state

– $75,000 max for CEO’s

– $60,000 max for Justice of the Supreme Courts and Heads of Departments

– Set a maximum ceiling cost of $60,000 for acquisition of vehicles

The PSU noted that vehicle allowances are paid out to officers holding particular posts for the use of their personal vehicles in carrying out their duties.

“However, there are instances where these officers also have a government vehicle assigned or commandeer one from their ministries… There are also instances where officers do not own a vehicle but are in receipt of the allowance,” the report cited.

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