Slamming the Government for "dereliction of duty" in its purchase of defective fire trucks, the parliamentary Opposition wants the current supply arrangements with Rosenbauer NA to be abandoned in favour of a new contract with French company, Renault.

Making his contribution to the Budget Debate yesterday, Audley Shaw, Opposition Spokesman on Finance, claimed that the administration ignored respected technical advice on the choice of fire trucks and opted for the new supplier instead of Renault, the traditional supplier.

"There should be no further acquisition of fire trucks from this source (Rosenbauer) and Renault should immediately be re-engaged, even on a sole-source basis, if necessary, with approval of the NCC (National Contracts Commission)," Shaw concluded.

An axe to grind

Claiming that "someone had an axe to grind", Shaw accused the Government of reversing an earlier Cabinet decision to source fire units and garbage trucks from Renault and, ultimately, deciding in favour of a bid from Rosenbauer NA.

Some of the fire units, delivered last year, have now developed serious defects, causing a technical committee to recommend that they be withdrawn from service, pending significant modifications.

Quoting "internal documents" from the Jamaica Fire Brigade, from 1998, Mr. Shaw claimed that the relevant technical officer highlighted multiple defects with the Rosenbauer trucks and only one defect with the Renault trucks. Among the problems identified with the Rosenbauer trucks, he said, were those related to gear boxes, fuel systems, braking systems and bursting water tanks.

Recommendation

He said the technical officer stated: "Based on the performances of these two types of fire units over the years and the availability of spares for the Renault, I must recommend that the brigade purchase Renault fire units, with a modification to the braking system."

Despite such advice, he claimed, the decision was made to abandon Renault, partly on the grounds that some of the information provided by thecompany was in French.

Information Minister Donald Buchanan, commenting after Mr. Shaw's presentation, was dismissive of his claims. Asserting that the administration had merely followed established procurement guidelines.