Ministry of Transport bailed out the Police

AN urgent instruction from the Office of the Prime Minister rescued the operations of the Namibian Police this past week, The Namibian has established.

Following a request for help by Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama, Prime Minister Nahas Angula on Friday instructed the Government Garage head office to bail the Police out of its financial dilemma by issuing fuel and oil orders for more than N$3,3 million. In addition, regional Government garages will provide maintenance services to NamPol vehicles in the different regions, including tyre replacements and minor wear-and-tear repairs.Government Garage Deputy Director Armas Malima yesterday confirmed the arrangement.He said whether the Ministry of Safety and Security would be required to pay back these costs to the Ministry of Works and Transport would be a decision taken “on a political level”.”The two ministries came up with these measures due to the fact that the budget allocation for the Police was not sufficient.We were requested to carry over the maintenance and fuel bill, otherwise the provision of law and order would have been affected,” Malima said.However, according to a letter signed by the Ministry of Transport permanent secretary and addressed to Malima, “all costs incurred as a result of service provision to the NamPol vehicles are to be recorded and forwarded to Government Garage Head Office for payments and record keeping for future billing”.”The total cost incurred by Government Garage from the whole exercise will thereafter be recovered from the Ministry of Safety and Security when Budget is finally approved.”The letter says the arrangement will stay in place until April 30.When contacted earlier this week, both Shell and Total confirmed that the Police had had trouble settling their increasing fuel bill, but neither would elaborate on the circumstances that led to the resumption of supplying fuel to the Police this week.In addition, regional Government garages will provide maintenance services to NamPol vehicles in the different regions, including tyre replacements and minor wear-and-tear repairs.Government Garage Deputy Director Armas Malima yesterday confirmed the arrangement.He said whether the Ministry of Safety and Security would be required to pay back these costs to the Ministry of Works and Transport would be a decision taken “on a political level”.”The two ministries came up with these measures due to the fact that the budget allocation for the Police was not sufficient.We were requested to carry over the maintenance and fuel bill, otherwise the provision of law and order would have been affected,” Malima said.However, according to a letter signed by the Ministry of Transport permanent secretary and addressed to Malima, “all costs incurred as a result of service provision to the NamPol vehicles are to be recorded and forwarded to Government Garage Head Office for payments and record keeping for future billing”.”The total cost incurred by Government Garage from the whole exercise will thereafter be recovered from the Ministry of Safety and Security when Budget is finally approved.”The letter says the arrangement will stay in place until April 30.When contacted earlier this week, both Shell and Total confirmed that the Police had had trouble settling their increasing fuel bill, but neither would elaborate on the circumstances that led to the resumption of supplying fuel to the Police this week.