By Belize Live News Staff: As public backlash grows over the government’s recent purchase of a pre-owned Toyota Land Cruiser VX for $250,000, former Commissioner of Police and current CEO in the Ministry of Transport, Clyde Williams, is pushing back, calling for a shift in focus from cost to purpose.
In a statement shared on social media, Williams argued that the vehicle in question is essential for Belize’s foreign image, particularly as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chief Protocol Officer are tasked with receiving international dignitaries. “They are the first impression of our country,” Williams wrote, stressing that reliable, high-quality transport is standard protocol worldwide for high-level diplomatic engagement.
Williams dismissed critics who suggested the purchase was wasteful, pointing out that a brand-new version of the same vehicle would have cost between $350,000 and $400,000. He also noted that the vehicle had logged less than 5,000 miles, describing it as “brand new” despite being second-hand.
Perhaps most notably, Williams revealed that the vehicle was purchased through a foreign grant, not directly from the national budget, a detail meant to ease concerns about taxpayer burden. “Let’s not look at the cost,” he urged. “Let’s look at the positive impression it will leave in the minds of foreign ministers and dignitaries who visit us.”
While the Public Service Union (PSU) has condemned the purchase as excessive and symbolic of poor public resource management, Williams’ statement suggests government insiders see it differently, not as extravagance, but as a strategic investment in Belize’s international image.
The debate over the quarter-million-dollar Land Cruiser continues to stir heated reactions across Belize.
