Attorney and St. Philip South MP Sherfield Bowen revealed that government spending on vehicles in 2024 far exceeded the amount approved by Parliament, with approximately $17 million spent despite a budget of only $5 million.
Speaking during the Vehicle Gate town hall meeting’s question-and-answer segment, Bowen detailed the discrepancy, saying that the figures raise serious concerns about fiscal discipline and adherence to the Finance and Administration Act.
“In 2023, under the line item for purchase of vehicles, $2 million was budgeted. Then there was another budget for $6 million, bringing it to a total of $8 million,” Bowen said. “What is alleged here is some $15 million that was purchased outside of these votes.”
He continued, “In 2025, what was budgeted was $6 million. In 2024, $5 million was budgeted — but the actual spending for 2024 was $17 million. That means $12 million was spent in excess, without parliamentary approval.”
Bowen argued that the figures confirm widespread concerns that the government acted outside its legal authority, stressing that any expenditure not approved by Parliament represents a direct violation of financial law.
“These are not small overruns,” he said. “This is a fundamental breakdown in the control of public funds. You cannot simply spend $17 million when only $5 million was approved.”
His remarks came in response to a question from the audience asking what the typical annual budget for government vehicle purchases would be, to help the public understand the scale of the alleged overspending.
Bowen, a practicing attorney, said the situation underscores the urgent need for a full investigation, emphasizing that fiscal accountability is at the heart of good governance. “If this is not checked, it means that the very laws meant to protect taxpayers are being ignored,” he said.
The Vehicle Gate town hall brought together opposition leaders, former senior civil servants, and members of the public to discuss the growing controversy surrounding government vehicle purchases, which allegedly cost taxpayers millions beyond what Parliament had sanctioned.
