The Alliance for Change (AFC) is calling on the Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration to release all studies that have informed its decision to now build a U.S. multimillion-dollar bridge across the Berbice River.
The party made the call a day after President Ali released details about the design of the structure. He was quoted by the Guyana Times as saying that the bridge, for which contractors are currently being prequalified, will be on par with the modern structure of the new Demerara River bridge currently being built.
The new Demerara River bridge is being built to the tune of US$260 million and is expected to be some 2.65 kilometres long with two carriageways and four lanes. It is a hybrid design with a high span having a cable-stay design, even as the vertical height of the bridge is to be constructed at 50 metres from the mean highest watermark.
This new bridge is said to have a design lifespan of 100 years and will take the place of the existing Demerara River bridge, which has been in operation for more than 40 years. This new Berbice River bridge is also expected to replace its counterpart which was commissioned 2008.
The AFC is now calling on the government to release the studies, noting that such a project with a massive price tag, must benefit from enhanced scrutiny.
“This significant investment, which far exceeds the cost of the existing Berbice Bridge, necessitates rigorous scrutiny and transparency to ensure that it is in the best interest of the Guyanese people,” the party stressed.
While saying it is not opposed to development and modernization, the AFC emphasized the need for responsible governance, especially when it involves substantial public expenditure.
“The AFC calls on the government to immediately release the findings of any pre-feasibility study that has informed the decision to proceed with this new bridge project. We also expect that a comprehensive feasibility study and an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) will be conducted and made available to the public before any further steps are taken,” the party said via a statement to the press.
It also outlined other concerns, noting that the current Berbice Bridge operates under a concessional agreement that runs until 2030. The AFC questioned whether the government intends to prematurely terminate this agreement, and if so, what compensation will be provided to the Berbice Bridge Company.
The AFC further noted that the Berbice Bridge Company had previously claimed that it is operating at a loss, leading to attempts to increase tolls fourfold in 2018—a move that the AFC successfully blocked. The company subsequently challenged the decision in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and lost. With the government’s announcement of a new bridge, the AFC said it remains unclear whether the company will once again seek legal recourse.
The opposition party was keen to point out that the existing Berbice Bridge, which cost US$40 million, was initially criticized for its questionable feasibility. It said the then-PPP government resorted to a controversial public-private partnership (PPP) model, aspects of which are still under judicial review. The AFC therefore urged the government to avoid repeating past mistakes by ensuring that this new project is based on solid, transparent, and publicly available data.
The AFC also reminded the government that despite Guyana’s newfound oil wealth, the country’s needs far exceed its revenues. It added that it is imperative that every dollar spent yields maximum returns for the benefit of all Guyanese.
