The Berbice River Bridge…linking communities, creating opportunities

Standing testimony to the years of successful progressive governance that has characterised the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government is its investment and realisation of that very crucial infrastructure that is now providing ‘real time’ travel across the Berbice River.

Yes, it is worth repeating, although this may sound like a broken record, but that bridge across the Berbice River, one of the most successful public-private partnership ventures, has been transformative. The impacts of this infrastructure on the socio-economic livelihoods of people, not only from Berbice, but from other parts of the country as well, have been overwhelming.

Indeed, because of this infrastructure, Guyanese no longer have to worry about living in Berbice. No longer are they concerned with the fact that the ferry ride is about an hour across the river, and if that ferry broke down (which it did often) that they would have been stranded, waiting to cross for hours.

Not today, instead, many Guyanese are enjoying the freedom of taking their own vehicles, across the river and at their own time and convenience.

Certainly, the volume of traffic that the bridge accommodates on a daily basis can be considered epic compared to the proportion that the ferry service could have shuttled across the river.

 In line with Guyana’s rapid transformation

For years, prior to the Berbice River Bridge, commuting to and from Region Six was dependent on the slow and almost decrepit ferry. However, with Guyana’s rapid transformation, this old ferry system could not have met the demands of increasing vehicular traffic, seeking access across the river.

Efforts therefore began at charting faster and more efficient access across the river, and thus bridging of the Berbice River was quickly seen as the most logical response and one with additional benefits: improving the link between Regions Five and Six; and opening up new business opportunities for the thousands of Guyanese.

For a country that was growing economically and welcoming more foreign investment, the bridge across the Berbice River was the type of infrastructure definitely needed and in that regard the PPP/C should be lauded for transforming the vision into reality, following years of persistence by Government, the private sector and other entities.

Guyanese welcomed this vital infrastructural input, on December 23, 2008 and soon its contribution was evident. Quickly noted, was the time it takes to get across the river by the bridge compared to the burdensome and arduous waiting time that commuters had to inevitably endure with the ferry service. Now it is possible to make at least two trips a day from the city to Berbice.

 Millions of dollars, which prior to the bridge, were lost on waiting time, are now being used by commuters and drivers to enhance production and productivity of businesses.

Also, marketing opportunities for the farming community have now opened up significantly; farmers from Black Bush Polder can now take their produce all the way to Bourda or Stabroek markets, while those from Parika can take theirs to Moleson Creek to be exported to neighbouring Suriname.

Patients in need of urgent medical attention and had to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) had no choice but to wait in an ambulance or a vehicle to be ferried across to West Berbice. People travelling to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri had to literally leave their homes many hours in advance to line up at the stelling and sometimes still miss their flights.

 Robert Moore, a resident of Region Six, had many good things to say about the bridge. “You do not have to wait a long line to get over to the other shore. When we had the boat, you had a long waiting, especially if you were moving with your own transportation. I mean, if you are travelling on your own, without a vehicle it is easier for you to wait and catch the boat, but now with the bridge it is easy. You just come up with a car or bus and you just come straight across. No Hassle.”

H.M Sugrim, owner of Guyana Tractor & Equipment, spoke of the ease of travel when compared with what obtained prior to the advent of the bridge. “Compared with the ferry service, this bridge is better because I could get up at 5 am in the morning and by 7 am, done be in Georgetown, before time, on the ferry, you had to line up at the stelling for 9 pm and 6 am in the morning, and then you are crossing.”

Businessman, Shabeer Baksh noted that the infrastructure is a positive thing for the people, because access to Region Six is faster. “We all know time is money and getting across faster means that you can get things done, then go back to Georgetown if you like, comparing to the ferry it used to be a hold up…so with the Bridge is something positive…it is also a positive for the persons leaving Georgetown to go do business in Suriname.” (GINA)