By Delicia Janneire – NCN News – January 2, 2025
During a press conference today, Vice President and PPP General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo addressed questions surrounding the completion timeline for the new Demerara River Bridge, following President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s New Year message.
While the President indicated that the bridge would be operational by the end of 2025, questions arose about whether the deadline had been extended beyond the previously set March 31, 2025.
Dr. Jagdeo clarified that the President’s statement about the bridge being operational by the year’s end was not meant to imply a delay.
Instead, it signified that various projects, including the bridge, would be completed by the end of this year.
In response to inquiries about potential delays, Dr. Jagdeo said he would follow up to determine if a new project deadline had been set due to the late handover of the Peter’s Hall site.
However, he expressed confidence that there would not be an eight-month delay in the completion of the bridge.
He also dismissed concerns about any cost overruns, stating, “There is no cost overrun on the bridge, so that’s good for me.”
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill visited the Peter’s Hall site last Tuesday, where full clearance was granted for construction following a court intervention.
Contractor Wang Zhiliang confirmed that with the full acquisition of remaining properties, work will proceed smoothly to meet the March 31 deadline.