Ministry Responds to Reports of $250,000 Vehicle Purchase

Last Friday, News Five reported on a government contract revealing the purchase of a pre-owned 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser VX from Car Guys Belize Limited for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The report raised questions about whether taxpayer money should be used for such an expensive vehicle, even with shipping, duties, and other costs included.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has clarified that the vehicle was not purchased with taxpayers’ funds. The ministry said, “The Ministry received two vehicles through its strategic partners. Further, since the start of the Briceño Administration in November 2020, the Ministry has not purchased any vehicles with taxpayer’s funds. Instead, vehicles acquired for the Ministry’s fleet have been donated by various development partners in support of the institutional strengthening of the Ministry.”

The vehicle is assigned to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture, and Immigration Francis Fonseca.

According to the ministry, “are used for its daily operations and for the provision of protocol services for the entire Government of Belize.”

News of the purchase broke when the Public Service Union posted the letter from the ministry to the owner of Car Guys, Said Perdomo. Public backlash was swift