By Josiah Williams
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Vice President of Guyana, has dismissed calls for a new feasibility study for the proposed high-span bridge across the Berbice River.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Dr. Jagdeo emphasized that a comprehensive study conducted in 2004, which considered a permanent structure, is sufficient for the current project.
The existing floating Berbice River Bridge is set to reach the end of its operational life in 2027, making it an opportune time for the construction of a more permanent solution.
Dr. Jagdeo noted that the new bridge will be similar to the planned Demerara River bridge and is integral to the government’s broader development strategy for the Berbice region.
The new bridge is part of an ambitious plan that includes the development of a deep-water port, an oil and gas training facility, and other infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering the region’s growth.
Dr. Jagdeo criticized the political opposition for consistently opposing transformative projects without presenting viable alternatives or solutions.
In his remarks, Dr. Jagdeo also contrasted the 2004 feasibility study for the Berbice River Bridge with a recent study commissioned by the opposition for a new Demerara River crossing, alleging shortcomings in the opposition’s study in terms of data and procurement procedures.