On the road again! Premier’s $92G Cadillac Escalade is out of hiding
At the time their thinking was that while people were suffering it would not be a good image for the 73 year old leader to be looking like he was above the people.
Many residents lost their automobiles to the killer storms; some of them being flipped over and suffered broken glasses as a result of the powerful winds of the category 5 Hurricanes. Some vehicles were even looted.
Premier Smith took the advice and was not seen in the Ninety Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($92,500.00) Cadillac Escalade from after the storm to December 2017.
The Government owned vehicle, purchased after the 2015 elections, was previously involved in a lone accident on July 31, 2016, and was damaged, but it did not sustain any damages from the August floods or the September storms of 2017.
Leave our Premier alone?
However, our 'paparazzi cameras' caught the Premier and his police driver at Tortola Pier Park (TPP) today January 4, 2018 around 4:15 P.M. getting some late lunch while being driven in his resurfaced automobile.
Finally, the new Cadillac is out of hiding and back on the road with flying flag and all. Of course we will not publish a photo of our dear Leader holding a plastic bag with his food; however, as usual Dr Smith was dressed like the statesman he is.
We have asked the 'VI paparazzi' not to be too hard on our Head of Government over a vehicle, a common practice for Heads of Government and the political ruling class worldwide.
If we want to compare to our neighbors in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), Governor Kenneth E. Mapp has his own elaborate security detail and a fleet of over 10 vehicles including Limousines and two Chevrolet Suburban armored vehicles, plus we have not added in those for the Lieutenant Governor Osbert E. Potter.
But back to us, you may not always agree with his ruling National Democratic Party polices or their poor communication skills, but all will agree in or out of the Cadillac Escalade, Premier Smith is one of the best dressed politicians in the Territory.
Also, Premier Smith didn't have to worry about being harassed by school children at TPP today either!
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26 Responses to “On the road again! Premier’s $92G Cadillac Escalade is out of hiding”
If you walk through the parking lot at the Admin Building, you will find wrecked Range Rover Discoverys, Freelanders, and Lincoln Navigators ($45K each), all self insured by the government.
Now I believe the Governor and the Premier should have cushy rides befitting their positions, cars spacious enough to allow them to work while riding if required, without having to feel cramped. I guess my issue is when I see government plates on an $85,000 Rover and it's not the Premier or the Governor aboard. A Suzuki Vitara wasn't good enough? The territory could probably get three Vitaras for the price of a Discovery.
A Free Car + Free Gas + Free Upkeep + No Insurance just isn't quite good enough for some folks in public service?
Something is way wrong here.
Firstly, the Premier's vehicle was famaged by the storm since it was inadvertently left in the parking lot. However it was quietly hidden in the basement and repaired. VINO missed the boat on that scoop...
Secondly, Inland Revenue does not have and never owned an Escalade. It was a Freelancer and a Montero which both saw active duty on official business. Both were damaged in the storm.
While it is true that some departments and ministries obtain "vanity" vehicles to satisfy the egos of senior staff, and also that some staff receive travel allowance for their own vehicle while still driving government vehicles (a practice that needs to be diacouraged), we shouldn't ignorantly jump on every bandwagon. Give the staff the tools and equipment needed to perform their jobs adequately and hold them accountable for the management of them
Maybe the Gov will get some monies to do what is needed to be done to ensure the BVI gets back to a better state.
I can see the head of state needing an official car, but what of all the large american SUVs that government officials get free use of and use as if for private use too, doing the shopping, picking up schoolgirls etc.
In light of the recent damage to vehicles caused by natural events, is it not time for Government vehicles to be comprehensively insured, thus saving write off costs and cheap poor quality repairs, thus reducing tax payers cost.