Gov’t close to acquiring Berbice Bridge, cost less than one year of tolls – Edghill

The Government of Guyana is moving closer to acquiring the Berbice Bridge and according to Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, the cost to the Treasury will be less than what it would have paid in tolls for one year.

The disclosure was made on Wednesday during consideration of the 2026 Budget estimates in the Committee of Supply, as the National Assembly examined allocations under the Ministry of Public Works.

During the examination, Opposition Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews questioned why there was no allocation listed for subsidies to local organisations, specifically in relation to the Berbice Bridge.

In response, Minister Edghill reminded the House that the government had previously announced the removal of tolls for three major bridges — the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, and the Berbice Bridge.

He explained that since tolls were abolished, the government has been absorbing the operational costs of the bridges to ensure their continued functioning, including the payment of staff and routine maintenance.

“Last year, allocations were appropriated to take care of that activity. As a result, the bridges were compensated based on monthly operational expenses in a formula that was worked out,” Edghill stated.

Addressing the absence of a specific sum for bridge subsidies in the current estimates, the minister said that while the allocation may not appear under that heading, financial provisions were made elsewhere in the budget.

More significantly, Edghill informed the Assembly that negotiations for government acquisition of the Berbice Bridge are advancing.

“I want to take this opportunity to inform the House that the government is on its way to owning the Berbice Bridge,” he said.

Based on financial assessments, he added, the acquisition would cost the Treasury less than the amount it would have paid if tolls were collected for one year.

Opposition MP Amanza Walton-Desir subsequently asked how advanced the negotiations were. While not providing detailed specifics, the minister indicated that there has been movement in the direction of full government ownership.

The Berbice Bridge has been privately operated since its commissioning in 2008.

During further scrutiny of the estimates, questions were also raised regarding allocations for the maintenance of the Berbice Bridge.

Minister Edghill clarified that funds budgeted under bridge maintenance will not be handed over to the bridge company but will remain under the control of the Ministry of Public Works.

Under the capital budget, approximately $24 billion has been allocated for bridges, including payments of retention and other related works.