DHB decreases weight limit but crossing fees remain same – truckers, farmers

Farmers and truck owners of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are concerned about the weight limit that is now being implemented by the Demerara Harbour Bridge since January 2 of this year.

According to one truck owner, the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge is now limiting the weight to only 18 tons from 22.4 tons, which is putting tremendous pressure on the transportation services operating out of the region taking produce to and from Georgetown.
The truck owners are claiming that the cost for transporting the produce remains the same and if they have to adjust the cost to suit the load they will be running at a loss.
When contacted, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said that the management of DHB, before making the decision to lower the tonnage of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, should have consulted with the business sector before the decision was implemented.
The Chairman said that the poor farmers are now being forced to bear the added cost of transportation due to the lowering of the weight to cross the bridge. He added that if they put a markup on their produce then they will be unable to compete with farmers coming from other parts of the country who do not have to pay such crossing fees.
Ramdatt is, therefore, calling on the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge to meet with those persons affected, especially the business community in Region Two. He said such a meeting would augur good discussions on a plan to help cushion the cost of transportation.
In an advertisement placed in the media on December 22, 2019, the management of DHB announced that effective January 2, 2020, the weight for all categories of vehicles crossing the bridge would be reduced. According to the advertisement, the weight of all categories will be reduced from 22.5 metric tons to 18 metric tons. Special crossing limit was also reduced from 25 metric tons to 22 metric tons.