Investor says this is a denial of fundamental right…the bridge people don’t own the river
The restriction on some laden vessels from crossing under the Berbice River Bridge’s high span has left many to wonder if the Berbice River Bridge Company Inc has taken over the Berbice River. According to a number of boat operators, about three weeks ago the bridge’s management imposed an order that laden vessels, which cross under the high span free of cost, must desist from doing so. Instead, they must now cross whenever there is a retraction. And there is a fee attached.
Vessels with foreign registration are charged $55,000 for in-bound pass and another $55,000 for out-bound. Locally registered vessels pay a fee of $28,000 for a one-way pass.
This decision was presided over by Geeta Singh-Knight, the woman who also oversaw the collapse of Colonial Life Insurance (Clico) Guyana.
In the wake of the CLICO collapse, she was appointed to the GuySuCo Board of Directors. She was already head of the Berbice Bridge Company.
Some shipping operators, who have been transporting cargo under the high span unhindered for the past three years, are surprised at this decision. They claimed that the reason given for this new order is the bridge’s safety.
It was noted that this new scheduled crossing is affecting the ability of shipping companies to transport cargo timely.
For instance, vessels that transport bulk sugar for the Guyana Sugar Corporation from Rose Hall to the Demerara Sugar Terminal have been affected. The shipping operators have been experiencing numerous hiccups and delays.
One investor, Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Dr. Yesu Persaud, said that the bridge’s owners should not charge for passage. “They do not own the river.”
He said that some politicians only want to fleece people. “You can’t fleece people who use the river to ply their trade. The bridge owners can’t deny them that fundamental right.”
Several factors such as tide, bridge retraction, rules and regulations governing transit time of 24 hours notice prior to transiting and heavy cancellation fees are some of factors that affect operators with this new system.
According to some operators, even though they met with management over this matter, the situation remains unchanged. Adjustments were even made to a particular vessel but this also did not influence management.
“The turn-around time in between shipments will be much longer and will obviously affect the estate grinding or storage capacity and this will no doubt have serious consequences to fulfill the ocean going vessels,” they said.
This publication was promised a response from the bridge’s management. However, that promise was not kept.