Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Five carry same licence plate

Dec 13, 2009 News

It certainly is illegal for any two vehicles to have the same licence plate but the Guyana Defence Force is obviously an exception to the rule.

This newspaper has observed that five vehicles that are assigned to the Chief- of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best, bear the licence plate, DFB 1.

The official vehicle of the Chief of Staff carries a special licence number plate, an arrangement similar to that of a diplomat.

This newspaper understands that currently the office of the Chief-of- Staff has six vehicles designated to him. Two bear civilian plates and do the Chief of Staff’s personal and administrative errands.

The third is a Toyota Land Cruiser inherited from the previous Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier General Edward Collins.

This vehicle is only about five years old but according to reports, Commodore Best requested a new staff vehicle. The vehicle that was assigned to Collins still bears the licence plate DFB1.

A senior official at the Guyana Revenue Authority told this newspaper that every single vehicle is authorised to have one registration (licence) number since the information related to each registration is unique.

The official said that for the Chief of Staff to have two vehicles bearing the same licence plate is illegal and the situation should be rectified immediately.

According to the GRA official, the same situation applies to diplomats, such as the American ambassador.

“Should a new ambassador be appointed and should he or she require a new vehicle from the one that was used by the predecessor, the new vehicle will bear the number assigned to the serving ambassador and the discarded vehicle will be given another,” the GRA official told this newspaper.

In addition to the three vehicles mentioned, a fourth vehicle was procured for the chief of Staff’s office at a reported cost of in excess of $24M.

It did not end there; the office secured another vehicle at a significant price and still another vehicle, a double cab camouflage pick up for field uses was procured.

According to a senior GDF official who did not wish to be named, never in history of the GDF had any Chief-of-Staff possess such a fleet of vehicles for personal and staff use.

“I believe this is an act of misuse of state assets and funds. This type of lavish wanting and luxury in a professional organisation is unbecoming,” the officer told this newspaper.

“I now wish to formally ask the Office of the President and GRA respectively this question for the benefit and clarity of the public at large. Is the Chief of Staff entitled to an unlimited number of state-owned vehicles for his luxury and duties?” he added.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record loss

Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record loss

Dec 23, 2024

(Cricinfo) – After a T20I series that went to the decider, the first of three ODIs between India and West Indies was a thoroughly one-sided fare. The hosts dominated from start to finish...
Read More
GBA confirms additional bouts

GBA confirms additional bouts

Dec 23, 2024

Opinion: Barbados Cricket Faces Crossroads

Opinion: Barbados Cricket Faces Crossroads

Dec 23, 2024

KMTC Boxing Day Horse race meet turning out to be signature year-end event

KMTC Boxing Day Horse race meet turning out to be...

Dec 23, 2024

Candy Boss Invitational 8-A-Side Football Tournament kicks off Boxing Night

Candy Boss Invitational 8-A-Side Football...

Dec 23, 2024

Chase Academy squares off with St Benedict’s College ahead of today’s final

Chase Academy squares off with St Benedict’s...

Dec 22, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]