20%
Of Police Cars Donated By China Out Of
Service
Last year the government of China donated to
the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública 200
police vehicles. We have all seem them, as
they overtook the patrols of the run down,
some even beaten, up small blue vehicles
that were in use for some time.
However, the same is fate is soon becoming
the donated vehicles, as 20% or 40 of the
vehicles are sitting idle, not fit for duty.
Seguridad officials say the vehicles are
broken down due to mechanical failure,
others having been involved in a collision
or two during chases.
At least three of the vehicles are a total
write-off, according to the Ministerio de
Seguridad Pública.
The reason that the majority of the vehicles
are sitting idle is due to the long and
complicated process of buying and importing
replacement parts, which can only be
purchased from the manufacturer in China.
Police officials are quick to deny that the
units are of low quality and the reason for
their quick deterioration. The problem, most
will tell you is the bureaucracy in getting
parts.
And the problem is intensified by the
policies of the Instituto Nacional de
Seguros (INS) - national insurance company -
that insists that replacements parts for the
repair of the vehicles must be original and
not aftermarket.
Kattia Rivera, the sub-director of the
Fuerza Pública, said that a recent approval
for a ¢90 million colones purchase of parts
was approved and that the parts should be
arriving in the first months of 2010, at
which time repairs can be made and the
vehicles back in use.
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