Brand new suv's for the UN

mbain

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Jun 23, 2004
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I was wondering if someone can tell me why the United nations requires 100+ brand new SUV's and luxury vehicles to service the Haiti situation. I was at a conferance in SD last weekend and i watched them drive these UN labeled SUV's off the peer in the port of Sans Souci. Does anyone have a contact number where i can find out who won the contract to supply these vechicles to the UN.

Mark
 

pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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For all large and ongoing purchases the UN has nominated suppliers.
This decision is taken in New York in the most scrupulous way possible so people do not start calling foul play.
You have to lobby for the business.

Speculation -
They bought them straight from Toyota?
As to why?
Haiti will destroy your vehicle in a matter of a few years.
There are 7000 troops and 2000 managers plus many thousands of local Haitian staff working for MINUSTAH in Haiti - they go through a lot of vehicles.
 

Vacara

I love AZB!
May 5, 2009
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For all large and ongoing purchases the UN has nominated suppliers.
This decision is taken in New York in the most scrupulous way possible so people do not start calling foul play.
You have to lobby for the business.

Speculation -
They bought them straight from Toyota?
As to why?
Haiti will destroy your vehicle in a matter of a few years.
There are 7000 troops and 2000 managers plus many thousands of local Haitian staff working for MINUSTAH in Haiti - they go through a lot of vehicles.

Curious, I never thought you could write "scrupulous" and "UN" in the same sentence, they are like oil & water (or oil for food program ;)), they don't mix. Wasn't Kofi Annan being paid tons of money while illegally living in an apartment paid by NYC?.
 

pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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Curious, I never thought you could write "scrupulous" and "UN" in the same sentence, they are like oil & water (or oil for food program ;)), they don't mix. Wasn't Kofi Annan being paid tons of money while illegally living in an apartment paid by NYC?.


They tidied the acquisitions part of the process up after getting busted for lots of shenanigans.

I was once in a meeting in the UN HQ in Haiti - sitting at one of those huge tables with loads of flags and instant translation systems. Very impressive it was! I was asking the head-honcho bloke why he bought the crap communication towers that he bought. He said that, again, it was a decision made by the big-wigs in New York.
I do not believe that there is no dodgy dealing going on, certainly - these towers were not cheap and they sucked!
In my mind there had to be something awry for a telecomms specialist to even consider buying these towers.
The whole lobbying system is rotten if you ask me.
It favours the players with the most money, not the best product.


Personally I have no objection to UN guys driving round in 70k fully kitted out Landcruisers as long as they are actually doing some work in them. You need this kind of vehicle to be safe and comfortable in Haiti, especially outside Port au Prince.
However, all too often I would slope off for a beer mid-afternoon (I was commercial so that is OK!) and the car park would be choc full of the buggers.

That was a bit annoying.
 

juanita

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Apr 22, 2004
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Looks like we were at the same event! My mouth dropped when I saw the line up!

ncfs74.jpg
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
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They're just tryin' to keep up with Dominican politicians...:cheeky:

Just shocking that the esteemed international community as embodieed by the UN would spend $$$ in a self-serving manner.
 

NALs

Economist by Profession
Jan 20, 2003
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If Haiti's roads were like the one's in Florida, then its understandable why people would be against the UN buying new SUVs for its expanded 'mission' in Haiti.

Alas, Haiti's roads, more often than not, are ideal for... S... U... Vs....

:surprised
 

bienamor

Kansas redneck an proud of it
Apr 23, 2004
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If Haiti's roads were like the one's in Florida, then its understandable why people would be against the UN buying new SUVs for its expanded 'mission' in Haiti.

Alas, Haiti's roads, more often than not, are ideal for... S... U... Vs....

:surprised

I understand this but Land Rovers? Well really Im surprised that there not Cadillacs, Lincolns. BMW, Hummer
 

pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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I understand this but Land Rovers? Well really Im surprised that there not Cadillacs, Lincolns. BMW, Hummer


The UN suck, globally- agreed.
But what would you all be saying if they left Haiti tomorrow?
This thread is BS!
They are there - they need transport.
Why is everybody so ****ed as them for driving adequate vehicles?

If you really want to have a crack at the UN in Haiti - try talking about Jordanian troops' penchant for buggering young boys and animals.
Try a thread about the Sri Lankans' banging underage girls...
Maybe even the Brazilians getting a little bit fruity with M16s in a built up area..... whatever.

But the vehicles they drive???
Come on.....
 

cobraboy

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Jul 24, 2004
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How about tough, stripped-down utilitarian 4-door trucks instead of luxury SUV's?

World wars have been fought and won by dedicated folks sleeping in tents, eating from mess kits and driving open Jeeps and trucks. My best friend was in charge of water and sanitation logistics for the army during Restore Democracy. He sure as hell didn't drive a luxury SUV, eat in good restaurants and sleep in a/c comfort.

Haiti should be about the humanitarian *mission* and not the comfort of the UN bureaucracy.
 

pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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That is a possibility - like in the movie, 'The Longest Day'
Not terribly practical when it rains - your cigar will get wet and there is nowhere to stash your lap-top but definitely a thought.

I hope people are aware that troops do not drive round in these cars. They are for managers and civilians and the police training staff. Why would a technical manager who can earn a fortune in the commercial world bother to work for the UN if he was told that he could not have a/c, a decent apartment and eat wherever he chooses? He just would not do it.

And why would experienced law enforcement experts work in the dust and the heat when they really do not need to, only to be told they had to give up everything they had worked for all these years - i.e. a relatively comfortable life.

These are not soldiers we are talking about. They are middle aged, professional blokes of experience.

And how much do military jeeps cost these days?
Do they even use them any more - would the equivalent be a HumV these days?

I think the whole vehicle thing is a red herring diverting attention away from the real problems of the UN.

So what about a thread concerning the UN moving into the Cyber Park near Las Americas? And getting 1100US$ per month housing allowance and, would you believe, danger money???

Watch the price of apartments in Boca Chica go through the roof over the next six months. Happy times for the girls of Calle Duarte, indeed!
 

cobraboy

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Jul 24, 2004
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That is a possibility - like in the movie, 'The Longest Day'
Not terribly practical when it rains - your cigar will get wet and there is nowhere to stash your lap-top but definitely a thought.

I hope people are aware that troops do not drive round in these cars. They are for managers and civilians and the police training staff. Why would a technical manager who can earn a fortune in the commercial world bother to work for the UN if he was told that he could not have a/c, a decent apartment and eat wherever he chooses? He just would not do it.

And why would experienced law enforcement experts work in the dust and the heat when they really do not need to, only to be told they had to give up everything they had worked for all these years - i.e. a relatively comfortable life.

These are not soldiers we are talking about. They are middle aged, professional blokes of experience.

And how much do military jeeps cost these days?
Do they even use them any more - would the equivalent be a HumV these days?

I think the whole vehicle thing is a red herring diverting attention away from the real problems of the UN.

So what about a thread concerning the UN moving into the Cyber Park near Las Americas? And getting 1100US$ per month housing allowance and, would you believe, danger money???

Watch the price of apartments in Boca Chica go through the roof over the next six months. Happy times for the girls of Calle Duarte, indeed!
There were a bunch of UN folks in Barahona at our hotel last week, maybe 10-12. We got to hear their conversations. What a bunch of drunken "look at us" assclowns...

And all those luxury SUV's do is reinforce what many people already think about the UN: a do-nothing bloated debate society bureaucracy...
 

pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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But Cobraboy, you have to admit that Haiti is now a place one can visit without too much fear of kidnap or violence.
That was their mission - to stabilise.
They have and continue to stabilise.
If they left things would fall to pieces and this side of the island would suffer greatly too.


As I always said of the (ex?) Labour government of the UK -

When people are criticising their style of operation and not their substance then they must have got some things right.

I feel the same about the UN in Haiti.
 

Collingwood

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Dec 4, 2004
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Its amazing that people are concerned about which vehicles the UN drive in Haiti? Why is that an issue? They need to drive something.

As Pedro points out these are highly trained and experienced professionals working in a not so nice environment so why shouldn't they have a reliable SUV for their job.

The UN has global supply contracts and the Prado's they purchase would be procured at a significant discount to the price you and I would pay. I am currently assisting a client to import a mid level Prado into Haiti with tax exemption priced at $45k. The UN would probably be $10k cheaper at $35k. I would not consider this an exorbitant amount of money to pay for a reliable 4x4 SUV. Certainly not in the category of "luxury" unless your normal mode of transport is a donkey with 3 legs.

UN Bashing - An easy target for those not in Haiti.
I've been working and living in Haiti over the last 4 years and the UN (Minustah) have executed their mission successfully - that being to Stabilize Haiti.

I am glad that the UN have committed to assisting and stabilizing Haiti and whilst they are not a perfect solution I would ask all the arm chair quarter backs to offer some alternatives rather than blowing hot air about driving Prado's.........serious problems need serious people and serious debate.


Collingwood
 
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pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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Well Mr Collingwood,
it seems you have everybody stumped.

Again, any takers?
Alternative solutions to MINUSTAH in Haiti?