For weeks now, we've been reporting on shortages at the Department of Transport. Well now, there is a sign of deeper cracks in a Department beset by turmoil.
This time it's a June 9th letter from the new CEO, Adele Catzim Sanchez to the Chief Transport Officer Dian Vasquez. Sanchez tells Vasquez, quote, "payments were made to The Sign Factory on June 1, 2023, for licence plates in the sum of One Hundred and Eight Thousand Eight Hundred ($108,800.00) Dollars.
This Ministry would like to know what procurement practices were utilized, as it relates to compliance with the Financial Orders, Stores Orders...and if the pertinent request for Local Purchase Approval was submitted as stipulated..."
Sanchez urges Vasquez to "provide a copy of the approval received for the procurement of the licence plates for the Transport Department." Vasquez has until this Friday to respond.
We did ask the Minister to respond today - but he left our messages on "seen."
During the UDP years, the printing of license plates was a well-known hustle for friends and relatives of ministers.
