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"Car-gate": Vice-President Defends $10.35M Splurge On Cars In The Middle of a Pandemic


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Vice-president defends $10.35 million splurge on cars

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Posted 10/09/2020

In the midst of a social and economic crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic, Vice President, José Gabriel Gaby Carrizo and  Presidency Minister, José Gabriel Gaby Carrizo justifies the spending of $10.3 million) in rental of 251 cars for officials of the Presidency.

He said the tender was a "considerable savings" compared to the last government's contract reports La Prensa.

Meanwhile , the Director of the National Budget, of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Carlos González, claimed  that renting the cars generates savings ranging from 15% to 20% compared to the option of buying them.

Neither official mentioned the dramatic drop in revenue: 34.3% until last August; what Carrizo did say is that the government, even facing the pandemic, "responsibly attends to the needs of Panamanians."

Carrizo even published two tables in which he compared the 2018 lease and the public act that is being processed. In 2018, the expense was $5,966,487 (one year); and the one now will be $5,176,970, also one year. A saving, according to Carrizo, of $789,516.

Several of the citizens who responded to Carrizo's message reminded him that in 2018 there was no health crisis. They also told him that he seeks to "justify" a millionaire expense, while thousands of Panamanians do not receive help in the midst of the crisis.

The public unease over this spending in the midst of the crisis was transferred to a protest that took place in front of the University of Panama.

Students protesting cuts in the university budget warned that the Cortizo government must better evaluate its priorities.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/vice-president-defends-1035-million-splurge-on-cars

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OPINION: And the rich man drives by

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La Prensa cartoonist Lowi highlights government proglifacy while other needs like justice, health, education, security, and the cost of the basic food basket go unattended

Posted 10/09/2020

The Ministry of the Presidency manages the rental of 251 vehicles for an amount greater than $ 10 million. Under less pressing circumstances, this hire wouldn't be so outrageous. But our officials seem to forget that we are in the midst of a pandemic, that tens of thousands of people have been left without work, that many small businesses have probably gone bankrupt, that we have much higher priorities than meeting this expense. What should be done is to invest every penny to boost the economy, as there will be a serious impact from this health emergency that will continue for several more months. Allocating such an amount of money to rent cars reveals the human smallness of our rulers, while thousands of Panamanians who trusted them remain mired in uncertainty, wondering what will become of them and their families. The few resources of the country should not be wasted on trivialities that only seek the comfort of those who spend these millions. How can you call this good government? How empty these words sound in the face of such waste! - LA PRENSA, Sep.11

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-and-the-rich-man-drives-by

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¿Quién utiliza los vehículos oficiales?, el otro debate

Aminta Bustamante
10 sep 2020 - 11:41 PM

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/quien-utiliza-los-vehiculos-oficiales-el-otro-debate/

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  • Moderator_02 changed the title to "Car-gate": Vice-President Defends $10.35M Splurge On Cars In The Middle of a Pandemic
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Alquiler de carros: dos empresas quieren el pastel más grande

Cinco compañías presentaron ofertas; dos de ellas pujaron por seis de los siete renglones de la licitación pública: Panamá Car Rental y Thrifty.
 
Eliana Morales Gil
12 sep 2020 - 12:00 AM

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/alquiler-de-carros-dos-empresas-quieren-el-pastel-mas-grande/

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