Member of Parliament Aderito Hugo has asked why the Council of Ministers did not seek quotes from multiple vehicle dealers before purchasing two Toyota Prados for the Special Zones of Social Market Economy (ZEESM) project.
Hugo said the four wheel drives cost about $71,000.
He asked whether ZEESM was beholden to any procurement laws.
Hugo called on the Council of Ministers to justify why the vehicles were not subject to a tender process.
“I am asking this question because ZEESM’s spending seems to be increasing significantly,” he said.
Council of Ministers general director Vitor Maia admitted that the vehicles, used by the bodyguards of ZEESM president Dr Mari’i Alkatiri, had been purchased without going to tender.
He said the Prados were purchased to replace damaged vehicles including one which had been damaged in a recent crash.
Maia said the old vehicles had been donated by the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor.
