MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

NEW GP1

The Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, JP, MP
Minister of Works and Engineering

Friday, 20th June, 2008

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Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in rather extraordinary circumstances, as I never anticipated that a car would be the subject of a Ministerial Statement. I refer here to the Premier’s official vehicle, GP 1. Judging from the telephone enquiries that the Department of Communication and Information, my Permanent Secretary and I received from members of the news media last evening, there is heightened interest in the fact that a new official car has arrived for the Premier’s use. Given the incorrect – and in some cases outrageously incorrect – information that some members of the news media seem to have in their possession, I deemed it prudent to set the record straight via a Ministerial Statement. I would not wish for my Honourable colleagues, the Members of the Opposition in particular, or the people of Bermuda generally to be similarly misinformed.

Mr. Speaker, the current GP 1, a Peugeot 607, was purchased in December 2000 for $61,300. Unfortunately, the vehicle has experienced considerable mechanical difficulties during the past four years, with some $40,000 being spent on repairs during that period. The $10,100 estimate for repairing the current problem with the car’s transmission led to the decision to retire the vehicle and to purchase a new one. Honourable Members would agree, I am certain, that it would not have been cost-effective – indeed, it would have been foolhardy – to spend a further $10,000 on repairing a vehicle that was fast reaching the end of its career. Since the retirement of GP 1 some eight months ago, the Premier has been using either GP 2 or GP 4, Peugeot 406’s that were purchased in May 2000 and which are also fast approaching the end of their careers..

Mr. Speaker, the Department Operations and Engineering within the Ministry of Works and Engineering was then tasked with the business of identifying and recommending an alternative vehicle that would befit the office of Premier. The result was the recommendation that we purchase a BMW 750LI, the same model vehicle that was purchased for the use of His Excellency the Governor a couple of years ago to replace the aging and malfunctioning Daimler. There was a demonstrated and compelling need for the Governor’s official car to be replaced, with the result that there was minimal media interest and no criticism that I can recall. In this case, there is a similar demonstrated and compelling need for the Premier’s official car to be replaced, yet there is a media frenzy, extraordinary suspicion and a great deal of misinformation disseminated. One wonders why!!

Mr. Speaker, Bermuda Motors very kindly offered Government a reduced price of $90,000 for the new car, which, when shipping and duty are included, resulted in a cost of $188,000 to the Bermuda taxpayer.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, the new GP 1 is not an inexpensive vehicle, but it is our expectation that a quality automobile of this nature will serve the office of Premier well for many years to come. Here, it is useful to remember that the GP 1 used by former Premier Sir John W. Swan for most of his tenure as Premier was in service for twelve years before it was retired in 2000. That vehicle was also a BMW.

Mr. Speaker, the new GP 1 arrived in Bermuda via the Oleander on Monday, with Bermuda Motors taking delivery on Wednesday. That same day, the vehicle was inspected by Mr. Oraefo Adisa, Transport and Equipment Manager within the Department of Engineering and Operations. The vehicle is currently undergoing full programming and once that process is complete, it will be taken to the TCD for testing and licensing.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier will take possession of the gleaming new GP 1 towards the end of next week.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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