Charles Swan: Reduce GP Fleet Size
United Bermuda Party MP Charles Swan said that there are 122 cars in the Bermuda Government’s pool of GP cars — costing over $160,000 in repairs and $47,000 in gas during 2011 — and suggested that government should “commit to and act on reducing the GP fleet size.”
Mr Swan said, “With 122 cars in the Bermuda Government’s pool of GP cars, we have learned the cost to the taxpayer for keeping some of these vehicles moving around our island.
“Answers to PQ’s posed by UBP Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Charlie Swan reveal that, in 2011,
- Repairs totalled $164,760.28
- The cost of fuel for GP cars for 2011 ranges from…$30 for the year for one of the GP cars….to $1733 for another vehicle. The total amount for fuel, for the 86 cars (of the total of 122 cars) that use the government fuel depot, is $47,224.16.
“It is noteworthy that the list of cars for fuel above is only for 86 cars, those that utilise the Government fuel depot in Bailey’s Bay. Also of note is the fact that the fuel figures, which where provided for each of the individual 86 cars, includes 3 cars with private numbers.
New parking bays marked for GP cars outside the old Hamilton Police station:
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“We in the reforming United Bermuda Party remark that 2 years ago Government committed to reducing the incidence of costs associated with the GP fleet by removing unnecessary vehicles, and question whether this has indeed been done. In these times of economic hardship there are palatable ways to reduce costs, and this is one area.
“Further, we have long suggested that government move towards smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles for its fleet; and, that government move towards to alternatively fueled vehicles..(Electric and propane are examples) .in both its GP fleet and in its fleets used in the provision of public transport.
“Additionally, government might consider guidelines that cap the costs it will cover for repairs and/or fuel. This will assist in garnering ‘buy-in’ from the beneficiaries of GP cars, the user.
“Also, government should review its fleet, and identify any/all vehicles surplus to requirements, then commit to and act on reducing the GP fleet size. Its never the wrong time to do the right thing.”
I find that Bermudian politicians enjoy stating the obvious, but fail to provide a plan. We as Bermudians are already aware that the cost which are derived from these vehicles are extravagant, and a good cost cutting measure would be to decrease them- that we already know Sir. Provide me with a plan- they can’t all be taken off- and then you will garner my vote!
I agree the opposition needs to state plans not point fingers. What I don’t agree with in your post is that, “they can’t all be taken off” Sure they can since the island is small the ministers do not need these cars. Maybe they can keep one or two for special occasions but don’t need them to get around the island daily. Other leaders in other countries take public transportation to most of their ongoing. I take these leaders in high regard for their modesty. If a leader says they are for the people they need to show that they can walk in the nations footsteps. The majority of people in Bermuda can’t afford to drive fancy cars so why should they pay for minister’s ones?
@tommy chong…”you cant take all of them off the road”…. The opposition and the poster above is talking about the fleet of cars associated with government jobs not the ministers’ cars. Yes they may be able to reduce the number, but you cant take them all off the road for practical reasons, govt employees need to travel the island.
Alright, government employees need some cars & I agree not all should be taken away. That being said I do think many government employees cars are not needed because they serve as much use to them as a scooter would. If they need the car to carry things for work than thats fair but if the car is to get from point a to b they don’t need it.
IB bosses like to give their top employees complementary vehicles for work & private use but they do this out of their companies hard earned money. It has become harder & harder in Bermuda for IB to give employees these perks so they settle for scooters to get to work rain, blow or shine. What message do we send to IB when our government workers travel in comfort at the islands cost of living while IB professionals can’t afford to. We do want to show that we treat IB as fair as we treat our own don’t we?
If the “need” the cars, why do they spend only $7.50 a week on gas? Do we really have to provide a vehicle to a person for 50 miles a week? The use doesn’t justify the expense.
@ “No entiendo” While the revealings in the story may be obvious to some, they may not be obvious to others. They are obviously NOT OBVIOUS to this PLP government. Austerity measures recommended by the UBP were not followed, failure to properly enact our past recommendations has today impacted Youth and other organisations (Mirrors, Salvation Army)through this governments cutbacks…..why has’nt its GP fleet been impacted?
Go Charlie GO!!
Debating whether or not it is obvious to me is like debating which came first, the chicken or the egg. My main point was to show you how this article could have been more useful if it was accompanied by a plan.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that both opposition parties need to “step up to the wicket.” I believe that being an effective opposition does not solely involve criticizing the government, but also providing pratical alternatives. Remember your goal should not to be to get reelected, but to create a better Bermuda!
COMPLICATED PLAN: sell the cars! Duh.
This is utterly disgraceful! Do the ministers not know that they are servants of the people not royalty? Be humble & take the bus once & a while ministers so you can see how you’ve let our islands infrastructure go to decay. They plp is like a bunch of marie antoinettes living it up while their people struggle.
Regarding the misisters cars….aren’t they are all Toyota Corrollas. While they are larger (a lil longer) than Class H vehicles, at a retail price of approx $20,000 in the US, they are hardly considered fancy.
Who cares what they cost in the US its what they cost in bermuda why do you people always try come on here and quote a US price everyone in bermuda knows that the prices are different in bermuda regarding cars now cut the crap. POINT IS SOME OF THESE CARS ARE NOT NEEDED AT ALL. And most of these cars are driven by ministers that have their own cars but would rather drive the GP cause they can park anywhere and not get a ticket and their gas gets paid for.
Yes, the price is different mainly because of the duty, but that is what the govt gets.
Govt buys the car at the HWP price which includes the duty, remember HWP had to pay govt duty to bring the car in in the first place. So from a net basis government is only paying the US/UK retail price (ie what HWP paid for the car) plus whatever mark up HWP includes.
That would be because that would be closest to the true cost of the car. The duty goes back to govt. The rest is the mark up. So to quote $58k as the cost that the govt paid is inaccurate.
@ DND What WTH???? typed is similar to what my response would be but with quite a bit more animosity. Then again when someone sees a minister who is supposed to be serving the people of the country in a car thats, “larger (a lil longer) than Class H vehicles” animosity does start to brew.
If you want to compare foreign political means of travel to ours the prime minister of Canada Stephen Harper has openly spoken about his majority of travels being on public transport which cost Canada at max $360 a year. Might I add that Canada has done better than any other country through the recession because of their intelligent economic strategies.
US retail price isn’t a good comparison point given our vehicles have a huge duty tax on them…
Yes but that duty tax amount goes back into the government pot!
Government buys an expensive car for $30k from a local dealership, but that dealer had to pay approx $12-$15k in duty to the government when they shipped it in. Therefore the government only paid ($30k-$12k) $18k for the car. I’ve simplified the amounts but that is basically how it works…
The GP cars need to be managed rigorously and stringently and they should NOT be abused. My point is that government, ie the civil service, obvisously need these cars to perform their day to day functions. Let’s be real they can’t just all disappear.
No it isn’t. Remember that these cars are not US models – aren’t the prices of these right hand vehicles more expensive than their north American counterparts? Then add in shipping and duty (which ultimately goes from Peter to Paul)
Taking those figures at face value, which, coming from the PLP, I don’t trust anyway, that means that $1350 is spent per car on repairs. Repairs I assume includes routine service costs for oil & such.
The kicker is the gas cost. I mean really!!!! We are expected to believe that the average per car was only $387 per year or less than $7.50 per WEEK!!!!!
For the mathematically challenged that is not even one GALLON of gas. Cars based & working around the central area will burn more than that just going to get gas at the W&E Depot, never mind paid time for the driver of the car to take it there.
Were are the REAL figures? How much was charged at various gas stations around the island? How much was charged to the taxpayer for private use filling personal containers or using the car for private use?
Come clean PLP.
If the average usage represents less than one gallon of gas per week, obviously the vehicle is not being used. And if vehicles are not being used, they are not needed, should never have been provided, and should be withdrawn.
Never mind the Ministers for now…….
Let’s start with the civil service Permanent Secretaries. Why do they have to drive GP cars?
Perhaps to drive to LFW to board flights to Cayman??
Charlie please be rational, its not to late to join the OBA…..jump ship immediately and let Kim single handedly sail his UBP relic into the sunset. Otherwise you won’t be re-elected.
Simple suggestion?
Use smaller cars and consider setting an example by using electric cars. I think several are already available on island. It will be interesting to see how the dealers respond since 1 or 2 seem to benefit the most from the current policies when government purchases cars.
@Vote for Me. As a mechanic, although I applaud your suggestion of electric cars, this really needs to be taken into the contaxt of Bermuda. Electric cars are actually very costly to maintain, and unless they became the norm for the majority of the population the cost of spare parts is far higher than for the cars currently used by Govt. Add to this that there are no facilities who have mechanics trained to maintain electric cars and they actually end up costing more.
The issue for me is not the use of gas cars, but the number of them that are owned by Govt. It would be far more cost effective to lease the vehicles than buy them.
Why does a person who makes a salary of over 100,000 a year need to be supplied with a car? why cant they buy one support local car delaerships, put their money back into our economy which they all go on about. These people really dont get it do they they do not understand how to make their people trust and believe in them. they just want to burn as much money as they can and eleviate their own personel financial issues not the countries. F**K off and leave is what i say…
@Really….To reiterate these are Govt employees with the cars not PLP party members. Im not sure if you understand that.
Are you suggesting that govt employees be given the option to have more than one car in their household? How would that me monitored? Wouldnt that just lead to even more cars being on the road? what if that person changes jobs would he then have to sell that car?
The person is not supplied with the GP car, their postion requires them to have one. And they are not necessiarily for people making over $100,000 per year. Not all govt jobs are sitting behind a desk. If your job/boss required you to travel the the island wouldn’t you expect your empployer to provide you with a car? would you expect your job to pay for the gas and upkeep?
I agree with you DND, where Govt expects its employees to travel regularly to perform thier duties they should have a car – by why not a pool car? Why are they allowed to use them at weekends/evenings for personal use? I know of at least one Director who has a brand new vehicle that he uses to drive 3 miles to work and back every day and very very rarely leaves his office.
Exactly, lets tighten up the system, make it efficient, and save where we can. “Get rid of becuase we dont need them ” is not a solution.
@ DND “If your job/boss required you to travel the island wouldn’t you expect your employer to provide you with a car? Would you expect your job to pay for the gas/upkeep?”
The number of Government vehicles parked at the quarry correctly justifies your statement pertaining to all Government workers whose jobs do require them to “travel the island” to service the public – and how do you think these Government workers perform their tasks on a daily basis? Many of them in their own private, personal, 1 car per household family vehicles!
A stipend is calculated to compensate these Government workers for their gas, but I can tell you for sure, the Bermuda Government is not “paying for the upkeep” of these Government worker’s private cars, (at least not ours) as you have stated should be expected (or you only agree for GP privilege) – and they are not interested in meeting with you to discuss your concerns regarding this matter – we’ve tried up to the PS and Minister in the past, and you get no response to your request.
Maybe BERNEWS should do a story on this matter, as I don’t see my mail, garbage, vector control, inspectors, fire, police, district nurse and the like performing their public duties in their private vehicles, so why is it allowed with the public works vehicles parked at the quarry, while the GP cars are paraded at the grocery stores, Church, family transport, dinner, shopping and the like…. They all need to use their own private cars, bikes, walk, catch the bus, ferry, taxi or car pool just like the rest of the public are expected to “do more with less”.
Inquiring minds want to know – I say if it is true that former Premier Jack Sharpe rode around on a mobylette, then all GP vehicles should be sold off to these car garages who need extra loaner vehicles so everytime my private, 1 car per household family car has to go in the garage to receive repairs/service due to excessive and unanticipated wear and tear (we did not purchase our car to be used as a Government public fleet work horse), then I can drive something better than those jello wigglers offered at these garages.
If our families have to be inconvenienced to better serve the public, then I say every Government member should “share the love” the same.
Wintersun, it is very true that sir John Sharpe got around on his old beat up Mobylette. Rain or shine he rode that thing. He was a major shareholder & had an office at Purvis Ltd (where BGA is now). I was employed there so I saw him everyday.
Back to Government cars. There are a number of jobs in the private sector that require cars. At Purvis Ltd. I had succh a job. The company paid a car allowance which covered gas & some.
When company business & private use of the car conflicted we just had to deal with it one way or another.
@ DND: “The person is not supplied with the GP car, their postion requires them to have one.”
That statement may be true, but I don’t understand why we now have so many more positions that require a car than we used to. Also, what function(s) might there be that would require the cars to be out at night? One was parked outside Berkeley on fight night. I saw the Minister and his wife walking in the other direction, and I assume he would have been the only one there in an official capacity.
SMH at ALL those that think that Government workers SHOULD be supplied with a vehicle..Everyone else has to drive their OWN car to and from work..what makes them so special????…a gas stipend I would agree with in some cases..but outside of that NO!!!!!! There are SOME of them that abuse this..You are not going to tell me that you are on Governmnt business in the “cookie isle” at the Market Place on Sunday or at Tyler Perry’s movie “Good Deeds” down at Southside!!!!! The use of vehicles is being abused and WE, the tax payer who drive our own cars to and from work are footing the bill and it is UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! UNNECESSARY! and OUT OF ORDER! and NEEDS TO STOP!!!!!!!!
What are these civil servants doing that means that they need anything more than a an A,B maybe a C class car? Are they physically bigger than the rest of us? Yes, I know some of their heads are larger but even the little cras have plenty room for driver & passenger.
For most of my errands I could get by just fine with a golf cart. Golf carts work just fine in other small islands & communitiys sich as Bermuda BTW.
My thing is that I see MP’s driving all over Bermuda on weekends with family in toe, mornings taking family to work, school while their cars remain parked at home and as mentioned sometime ago Minister of Works & Engineering Burgess driving around with a lawnmower in the back of his GP, and Ashfield Devent sitting off in his GP in his sleeveless T-Shirt near Swizzle Inn in Bailey’s Bay. I don’t think either of these are considered official business or maybe they are/were/is???? Let’s get rid of unnecessary/uneithical use of GP’s across the Board…. and stick to essential service personnel only… Ride their bikes (motor,pedal, battery operated), be held accountable to license and insure their personal cars – they get paid more than enough and whle you are dropping numbers – drop some off their salaries as well. Come on Election Day – I have an itchy right hand…. gonna put the X in the right box becuase I want to be able to have the right to change, the right to complain… You don’t vote you can’t grumble nor can you speak about should have/could have/didn’t do.