Marneuli District Governor: “We Are Not Rich Enough to Buy Cheep Things”

Manon Bokuchava, Kvemo Kartli

District administrations procure new vehicles. Six-figure sums allocated for the purchase of cars from the local budgets attract interest of media. Marneuli district administration announced 170 000 lari tender on the purchase of 4 cars.

Humanrights.ge got interested why district administration intends to purchase new cars and for which senior officials. Marneuli district governor said: “you should know a saying – we are not rich enough to buy cheap things. Our district administration does not have cars at all. The old cars left from the previous authority are out of order. I inquired how much we spend on keeping those cars and found out that local budget spends about 100 000 lari on it. Consequently, I decided to purchase four new cars for 5 year guarantee. I do not think that 170 000 lari is too much for four cars with five-year guarantee. We will reserve much more money in this way,” Marneuli district governor Merab Topchishvili said and added that some services at the district administration do not have cars at all. Humanrights.ge asked who will use the new car and he said it is not decided yet; supposedly deputy governors. “I already have service car and am not going new one for me,” Topchishvili said.

In Kvemo Kartli region, Gardabani district administration also expressed interest in new luxurious cars. This summer they purchased a new Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep for 79 551 lari. Afterwards, the same service, which purchased the jeep, complained about limited budget and “moral” in Gardabani district. “Yes, we legally purchased everything but law is one the one hand and moral on the second. Nothing is more important than moral for me. So, it is not my personal decision; the municipal board made the decision and our unit subordinates to the board,” said Marina Pirveli, head of financial service at the Gardabani district administration.