The space in the Fire Services’ book is too small to list all the maintenance work carried out on two vehicles in its fleet. This was the explanation given to the T&T Guardian yesterday by accountant Kameel Hosein, in response to queries about the huge cost paid for oil and air filter changes on the vehicles. Questions about the cost of servicing the two SUVs, PCT 1633 and PCK 571, were raised in a T&T Guardian exclusive yesterday. The Toyota Prado is being used by acting Chief Fire Officer Nayar Rampersad and the Volkswagen Touareg is used by other staff.
Yesterday, however, Rampersad said he would call for a forensic audit into how money was spent on servicing vehicles owned by the service over the past five years. Financial statements listing maintenance work on the Fire Services’ vehicles for January-May this year showed the cost of oil, air and filter changes on the Prado amounted to $41,858. A similar job on the Volkswagen Touareg cost $35,917. They were among a number of questionable transactions listed in the vote book that showed orders for parts for vehicles that had already been sold, costly paint jobs and oil changes and the scope of works submitted by selected firms and not the Fire Services’ own engineering department.
Yesterday, Hosein produced copies of the invoices for the job carried out on the Toyota Prado on February 5 and on the Touareg on February 27. Asked why the departmental vote book did not reflect the full details of the servicing jobs, Hosein said: “It did not have enough room. I just wrote part. The space is one centimetre in width by four centimetres in length.” In relation to the Prado, acting chief Rampersad said: “That vehicle was giving trouble. In fact, they said it was a manufacturing defect. Nobody wanted to drive that vehicle. They had to replace some engine parts.” Rampersad said the invoice for the Touareg would also show what work was done.
Asked why $86,250 was paid for a transmission for a Dennis water tanker which was never supplied, neither Hosein nor Rampersad could say. “That was before my time,” Rampersad said. “I cannot account for that. I can only speak about what I know. “Based on all the information coming to light, I have no choice but to ask for a forensic audit relating to the expenditure over the last five years. Wherever the chips fall, they fall,” he added.
In relation to documents showing a starter was bought for $92,676, procurement officer Allister Salandy told the T&T Guardian the cost was due to more than one item being bought. Lack of space in the vote book was again blamed for the lack of detail in listing the purchases. The invoice, dated January 29, showed the following purchases: Two starters $59,980, one flywheel $7,220 and two alternators $13,388. No explanation could be given for why not one but two starters were bought. They were for a 50-seater Mercedes Benz bus that was sold in a public auction at the Chaguanas Fire Station last October.
Breakdown of servicing on the Prado and Touareg
Prado
Cost to supply and change oil and air filter, diesel treatment, check and adjust belt- $6,500
Cost to service injectors and injector pump-$3,000
Cost to supply and install turbo-$24,798.42
Complete wash, buff and polish-$950
Complete alignment-$650
265/60 R18 rotation (four)-$40
balance (4)-$40
Twelve-ounce weights-$15
Touareg
Oil filter-$253.50
Air filter-$398.25
Fuel filter-$1,150
Supply oil-$800
Rim cap-$495
Front left and night disc pads-$2,945
Rear left and right disc pads-$2,945
Glow plugs (four)-$795
Outer steering end (two)-$2,030
Inner steering end (two)-$1,595
Cradle complete with ball joint -$7,500
Cradle arm bushing $750