The Ministry of Public Works earlier this week hosted a site visit in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works of Suriname to the proposed site of the Corentyne River Bridge. The purpose of the site visit was for the eight (8) shortlisted Consultancy Firms to gain an appreciation of the proposed site for the new bridge and have an opportunity to ask related questions.
The meeting was held on Monday in the boardroom of the Guyana/Suriname Ferry Service Terminal in Moleson Creek, East Berbice-Corentyne. Ten (10) representatives from the following four (4) firms/ joint ventures were in attendance: WSP Caribbean Limited; EXP Services Inc., in association with Pedelta, Arcadia, CEMCO; TYPSA, Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner GmbH and Firm Engineering NV; and Politecnica and Rina JV and sub-consultants ILACO and SRKN’gineering & Associates.
The Ministry of Public Works was represented by its Permanent Secretary – Mr. Vladim Persaud, Chief Transport Planning Officer – Mr. Patrick Thompson and three (3) other members of staff from the Central Transport Planning Unit. Suriname was represented by Mr. Kees Boender – Technical Assistant for Capital Infrastructure Projects and his colleague, Ms. Firazia Ataoellah.
The consultancy representatives were given a tour of the proposed bridge landing sites in Moleson Creek, Guyana, and South Drain, Suriname as well as a river tour around Lange Island to which the proposed bridge will be connected.
The construction of a bridge linking Guyana and Suriname is a priority project for the governments of both countries as has been reiterated on several occasions by their Excellencies, President Irfaan Ali and President Chan Santokhi. The Governments of Guyana and Suriname have jointly agreed to realize the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge using the Public-Private Partnership method of procurement with a DBFOM (Design – Build – Finance – Operate – Maintain) model contract.
The deadline for submission of proposals by the shortlisted Consultancy Firms has been set to December 21, 2021.
