AS PART of the capital expenditure for 2017, a sum of $22.5M has been set aside to purchase several new vehicles for use at state functions, mainly involving visiting Heads of State.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told the National Assembly that the new vehicles would replace several aging one. He made the disclosure on Tuesday as the current and capital expenditures of the 2017 Budget were scrutinised by the Opposition.

Harmon said the fleet comprises four cars and a land cruiser. According to him, the intention of the ministry is to have a fleet which can be used by visiting heads of state when on official events here. He said the move is to avoid the “uncertain situation of renting vehicles for such functions”, and that the vehicles will be properly identified and maintained.

Opposition MP Juan Edghill asked for an inventory of the vehicles on the roster of the ministry, and Harmon noted that this can be provided with details of the 142-fleet currently used by the Ministry of the Presidency. He said that several of the vehicles which the new administration inherited after assuming office in May 2015 were taken out because of the state of their disrepair.

Harmon said also that once the new vehicles are not in use, they will be “moth-balled” and placed in a secure place until ready for use by visiting leaders and persons on a similar level visiting Guyana.