The Berbice Bridge has become very profitable for the rich
Dear Editor,
Since the PPP regime is not prepared to tell the truth to the people of Guyana, then we will do so. It is about the naked discrimination against those crossing the Berbice River Bridge vs crossing the Demerara Harbour Bridge. For the past two years, the Jagdeo/Ramotar Cabal has ignored the pleas of Berbicians to reduce the extremely high toll on the Berbice River Bridge.
The toll amount of G$2,200 to cross the bridge is among the most expensive tolls in the United States and elsewhere. It is a total shame that this PPP regime has saddled Guyanese, especially the people of Berbice with such a huge toll. It is an extra tax burden that the masses who are struggling to make ends meet cannot afford.
The Minister of Transport, Mr. Robeson Benn revealed in the Guyana Parliament in February 2013 that his Government has “no plans to reduce the tolls on the Berbice Bridge.” What an oppressive, selfish and anti-working class statement from a Minister of the new corrupt bourgeoisie PPP regime. The Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal has revealed themselves as the fighters and defenders of the rich and the oppressors of the defenseless poor and downtrodden.
As a justification for this reckless statement from the Minister, he claimed that “school children have the options to use a ferry service that the Government operates between Rosignol and New Amsterdam.”
Clearly, Robeson Benn’s heartless, inconsiderate and big-headed statement shows that he has no respect for the youths of Guyana, not even for our school children.
The truth is that it takes more than 40 minutes for the ferry to cross the Berbice River from Rosignol to New Amsterdam while crossing the Berbice Bridge takes less than 7 minutes. Would the Minister do this to his children?
It costs a school child G$800 per day to cross the bridge, so the children of poor families have to opt to save money and in the process burn precious time crossing the river by the sluggish ferry rather than using their valuable time to do their homework or engage in sports as a form of recreation. The Minister prefers that the children be exposed to the touts at the stelling, many of whom are felons, pedophiles and drug pushers.
We call on the owners of the Bridge – (New Building Society, Beharry Family, Bobby Ramroop family and Demerara Distillers Limited, among others) to lobby the Government for a subvention so that the toll can be less repressive.
This Bridge continues to reap millions in profits for the owners and as the rich in Guyana, they have a national duty to serve the people also by asking for a little less for themselves, all paid for by the poor people who have to cross the bridge.
In the past, Jagdeo said at a public PPP rally in 2001 that he promised to “keep the toll charges low” but as Proverbs 12:22 says, “lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.” Some 260,000 vehicles traversed the Berbice Bridge per year earning the company some G$945 million per year based on some figures we saw. This year the Berbice Bridge Company is expected to take in over G$1 billion from the Guyanese people.
It costs G$8billion to build this Bridge but this company in 8 years will harvest all their capital back and for the remaining 12 years, all they will be receiving is profits which will run up to some G$11 billion. That is a 140% return on their investment; not bad for the owners of the Bridge many of whom are best buddies of Jagdeo.
These heartless investors should at least cut their profits to 50% and this will allow for the tolls to drop to G$1,000 per car and minibus. Shame on the heartless and anti-poor PPP regime and their business buddies for inflicting such financial pain on Berbicians, who are the primary users of the bridge. There is no relief for the poor and the downtrodden in Guyana as long as this PPP regime remains in power.
Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
