The luxury vehicles were transported from Milan © AirBridgeCargo Airlines
The high-end cars cost roughly
AUS$200,000 to AUS$350,000 each (more than US$142,000 to US$249,000) and
can reach speeds of 240 km/h (149 mph).
However, speeds are limited to 80 km/h (50 mph) on the country’s roads which have fallen into disrepair in recent years. In the more mountainous regions, off-road vehicles are required, making the luxury sedans an impractical choice for world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Mike Pence.
The
Minister for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Justin
Tkatchenko, claims the government only paid a deposit of 40 million Kina
(AUS$16.75m), which will be reimbursed once the cars are sold off to
interested buyers after the summit.
“Maserati Quattroporte sedans have been secured and delivered, and are being committed to be paid for by the private sector,” Tkatchenko said. “Having vehicles paid for by the private sector is the smartest way to have use of the vehicles for APEC at no overall cost to the State.”
READ MORE: 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea - USGS
Papua New Guinea is beset by health, poverty and economic crises - including a polio outbreak and child malnourishment - and is still reeling from a devastating earthquake in February, so the public backlash over the Maseratis has been virulent, especially given that the vehicles were flown in from Milan on board two Boeing 747-8F charter planes for use during a two-day event.
However, speeds are limited to 80 km/h (50 mph) on the country’s roads which have fallen into disrepair in recent years. In the more mountainous regions, off-road vehicles are required, making the luxury sedans an impractical choice for world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Mike Pence.
Could 40
white-jacketed Maseratis flown from Milan for 3 days work at APEC in
Port Moresby be the undying meme that indelibly marks the O'Neill era in
#PNG as being one of historic waste, corruption & incompetence? https://t.co/7jozpAgI45
— Keith Jackson AM (@PNGAttitude) October 10, 2018
— Keith Jackson AM (@PNGAttitude) October 10, 2018
“Maserati Quattroporte sedans have been secured and delivered, and are being committed to be paid for by the private sector,” Tkatchenko said. “Having vehicles paid for by the private sector is the smartest way to have use of the vehicles for APEC at no overall cost to the State.”
READ MORE: 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea - USGS
Papua New Guinea is beset by health, poverty and economic crises - including a polio outbreak and child malnourishment - and is still reeling from a devastating earthquake in February, so the public backlash over the Maseratis has been virulent, especially given that the vehicles were flown in from Milan on board two Boeing 747-8F charter planes for use during a two-day event.