The Government of Guyana is progressing toward the acquisition of the Berbice Bridge, with Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill stating that the financial implications for the Treasury will be less than the tolls it would have collected in a year.
This announcement was made on Wednesday during the examination of the 2026 Budget estimates in the National Assembly’s Committee of Supply, where allocations for the Ministry of Public Works were scrutinized.
In response to Opposition Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews, who questioned the lack of listed subsidies for local organizations related to the Berbice Bridge, Minister Edghill highlighted the government’s earlier decision to remove tolls from three major bridges: the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, and the Berbice Bridge. Since abolishing the tolls, the government has been covering the operational costs of these bridges, including employee salaries and routine maintenance expenses.
“Last year, allocations were appropriated to cover those activities. Consequently, the bridges received compensation based on a monthly operational expense formula,” Edghill explained.
Addressing the absence of a specific subsidy allocation in the current budget, he noted that while it may not be explicitly listed, financial provisions have been made in other sections of the budget.
More importantly, Edghill emphasized that negotiations for the government’s 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 stated, adding that financial assessments indicate the acquisition cost would be lower than the toll revenue for one year.
When pressed by Opposition MP Amanza Walton-Desir regarding the negotiation progress, Minister Edghill refrained from providing specific details but confirmed that steps are being taken toward full government ownership of the bridge, which has been privately operated since its opening in 2008.
Further scrutiny of budget estimates revealed queries about maintenance allocations for the Berbice Bridge. Minister Edghill clarified that maintenance funds budgeted would remain under the Ministry of Public Works’ control rather than being transferred to the bridge company.
Under the capital budget, approximately $24 billion has been allocated for bridges, including retention payments and related works, reflecting the government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the region.
