But why is the Ministry known for only using one Belmopan-based mechanic?
Information to our newsroom is that transport vehicles have to travel from as far as Punta Gorda to get repairs at a specially designated mechanic located near Belize Christian Academy in Belmopan. According to the CEO, it's because he is the best:
Reporter
"We have received reports that your ministry has one preferred mechanic, the one by Christian Academy, and that staffers have to bring the transport vehicles from as far as Punta Gorda to get service from that specific person. Can you comment on that?"
Chester Williams, CEO - Ministry of Transport
"That is not true. Again, it depends on the nature of the mechanical work that needs to be done. And again, it also has to do with value for money. Say, for example, you have situations where a vehicle went to a specific workshop. I'm not going to say where. And that workshop was charging us something along $5,000 to do some work. We looked at it, and we compared the price with the mechanic you're speaking about. We're now getting the same work done for $3,000. So, it's not just to say, again, to go to the specific mechanic. But again, we have to look at the capability of the mechanic in dealing with the extent of repairs that the vehicle needs, as well as the value that we're going to pay. We can say we can go and pay a street mechanic any amount of money, less. But the thing is, how reliable is the vehicle going to be when it comes from that street mechanic? If I have to go to the street mechanic, pay less, and we're not done from there, two days they have to get right back again to the same one we're trying to avoid. So, again, we have to look at it very carefully and see how best we can get the services for the work that we need to do. At the end of the day, these vehicles are vehicles that carry our officers daily, and we need to ensure that they're properly fixed and reliable to be able to get our officers to work and get them back home safe to their families."
Reporter
"So, even in the instance of the Punta Gorda vehicle, could you guys not find something in, like, Dangriga or somewhere closer?"
Chester Williams, CEO - Ministry of Transport
"We would always look in a particular area to see if there are mechanics there that can do the work. And there are instances where there is just no mechanic there. We have a vehicle right now for the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Office at a mechanic shop in Punta Gorda. Can't fix it. We have to move it and have to bring it up. So, again, like I said, not any mechanic can work on any specific vehicle, and not any mechanic can fix a particular problem. So, we have to look at the diagnosis of the vehicle and see if we can find the best mechanic at the most reasonable price to be able to repair the vehicle for us."
