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Contact:
Earl Bousquet
Monday, January 10, 2005 - The Office of the Prime Minister says it is
not true that the Government of St. Lucia has expended “millions of dollars” to
purchase a new BMW for the official use of the Governor General.
To the contrary, the Government says it has spent “not one cent” on the new BMW
7 Series recently assigned to Government House. Nor has it paid anything for a
similar car assigned to the Prime Minister three years ago, for official state
duties.
In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister clarified that the new cars
were assigned to the Governor General and the Prime Minister under an agreement
between the Government of St. Lucia and the local agents for BMW, Prestige Auto
Imports.
Under the agreement, which dates back to 1998, the local company, through
Barbados-based BS&T Motors Inc, supplies the cars to the Government on behalf of
the BMW company.
The two cars, each covered by a 36-month warranty, are assigned, one each to the
Governor General and the Prime Minister, for three years, with normal wear and
tear expected.
According to the agreement, at the end of the three years, each car is returned
to Prestige Auto Imports and will be replaced by new ones for a similar period
of 36 months.
After they are returned to the local dealers, the cars are retailed.
The Office of the Prime Minister says the only expenses accruable to the
Government of St. Lucia in this arrangement with Prestige Auto Imports are for
service, repairs and Motor Vehicle Insurance for the three year duration of the
agreement.
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