Corentyne River bridge to pave way for major developmental projects – Min Edghill

In light of recent concrete commitments to bridge Guyana and Suriname over the Corentyne River within five years, this move is expected to open up the pathway for other major developmental projects including the much-anticipated deepwater harbour project in Guyana.

This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who along with his Surinamese counterpart on Saturday planted flags at the sites in both countries where the Corentyne River Bridge will land.
There were three points of demarcation identified – Moleson Creek, Longs Island in the Corentyne River and South Drain in Suriname. The entire Corentyne River belongs to Suriname.
Minister Edghill had posited that the bridge will not only link the two neighbouring countries but also open up access to greater economic opportunities beyond them into French Guyana, and through the road network being developed into Brazil, and eventually further into South America.
“This bridge, when it is complete, will form part of a network of roads, where the proposed deepwater harbour is to be built at Berbice – which is not in the too much distant future…,” he posited.

Only last week, President Irfaan Ali disclosed that an upcoming high-level visit with Brazil will see discussions with investors on the deepwater harbour project and the Guyana-Brazil road network.
According to Minister Edghill, even French Guiana is now also showing interest in the Corentyne River Bridge.
“When you link the Linden-Lethem road with the Takutu Bridge and you link then Suriname, Corentyne Bridge into French Guiana, the markets that are now 750,000 now boasts to multiple millions. Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina because it’s all interlinked,” he noted.
The Public Works Minister further stated that apart from infrastructural growth, there will also be the incentivising of agriculture mainly for corn and soya beans. He added that with cheap reliable and renewable power generation for electricity expected in the future, agro-processing and manufacturing will definitely take off in a big way.
While the Corentyne River Bridge is currently in the developing stages, that is, with the designs being done, it will be a flat bridge from Guyana to Long Island in the Corentyne River and then a high-span bridge from there to the Surinamese mainland to allow for heavy marine traffic. This bridge is expected to promote the safe movement of people and products.
Moreover, it is anticipated that Long Island will become an economic hub and free zone that will also see major infrastructural development such as hotels, recreational parks, entertainment spots, tourist attraction, malls and farmers’ markets.
Head of the Project Cycle Management Division within Guyana’s Finance Ministry, Tarachand Balgobin explained that the bridge will be much more than a physical connection between Guyana and Suriname but will also accrue economic and social benefits.

According to Balgobin, while there are other design options that could have been considered with shorter routes, the substantial thinking process – both on the Guyana and Suriname sides – to use Long Island is to create a long-term free zone for the operation of the two countries.
“We have perpetually argued that the trade between Guyana and Suriname is not regularised. But imagine a situation where Surinamese produce and products can come on this Island and Guyanese products and produce can come on this Island and be traded evenly with each other – the backtrack would die immediately. The intent we should forward with this bridge is not just to build the physical edifice but to create the economic benefits that bridging the two countries would allow for,” he contended.
Balgobin further pointed out that through this two-part design, the cost of the bridge would be cheaper.
Moreover, he too recognised the bigger picture of hemispheric integration that the Corentyne River Bridge will facilitate.
He noted that the three Guianas – French, Dutch and British – have always been mooted to be connected by bridge to each other and this is the first step in that direction.
Acknowledging that financing has been a major impediment to the project, Balgobin posited that the major task now will be to generate the capital for the project.
Surinamese Public Works Minister, Dr Riad Nurmohamed, who along with his delegation also participated in Saturday’s site visit, disclosed that next week a Ministerial delegation from Suriname will be coming to Guyana to finalise key aspects of the bridge.
This will be followed by a State visit by President Ali to Paramaribo next month for Suriname’s Independence anniversary celebration. Minister Edghill is expected to be part of that visiting delegation where a formal agreement on the bridge project is expected to the signed.