Berbice Bridge has commuters at heart – CEO
December 16, 2013 By
Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) Chief Executive Officer Omadat Samaroo says the company has always had the travelling public at heart
Berbice Bridge Com-pany Incorporated (BBCI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Omadat Samaroo said that from the standpoint of national development and from a business standpoint, the entire directorate has always been committed to providing the most affordable fares that the company could provide.
The BBCI, he said, is committed to a very challenging financial model under which the most affordable rates are currently in use, but recognises that any lowering of the rates would be welcome to all involved.
Samaroo added that the company will continue to use every opportunity to reduce rates where feasible. He pointed out that for 2013, the BBCI has dropped its fares for the August tourism season and now offers a similar benefit from December 15 to January 12, 2014, to accommodate the increased number of Christmas season travellers. That way, he said, the benefit of increased traffic revenues during these seasons can be given back to the customers and the Berbice economy.
The chief executive officer added that the BBCI is currently assessing its strategic position with the needs of the customers foremost in mind. He said that everyone would agree that with lower tolls, the bridge would be more attractive to users and; hence, more vehicles would use the bridge. He said that this is a good example of demonstrating that when more vehicles use the bridge, the tolls can be reduced.
The BBCI, he said, would continually be working towards a more economical package for its customers, but warns that this has to result from careful technical, engineering, traffic analysis and financial planning and cannot arbitrarily be determined.
He said the BBCI must be careful not to price itself into insolvency, since, this could harm all stakeholders. So far, Samaroo said, these high-volume periods can be used as a test for future traffic models.
He said that the BBCI is urging all to consider the tremendous benefit the bridge has brought to Berbice and the country as a whole and to remain assured that the BBCI is doing its utmost to continually improve its operations and to give back to its customers.
Taken from the Guyana Times