MP demands reason for scrapping Demerara Bridge tender

Finance Minister Winston Jordan has recently been reported in sections of the media as revealing that Government has decided to issue a new “request for proposals for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge” in the wake of an examination of previous requests.
This means that previous proposals largely centred on a three-lane bridge across the river have been scrapped.
In an interview with this publication, Opposition Member of Parliament Juan Edghill has urged Government to come clean on the matter.
“I am surprised that, with a project of such magnitude, the Minister of Public Infrastructure did not notify the Guyanese people that the project as envisaged for the three-lane bridge would conclude by way of an annulment,” Edghill declared.

“The last words of the Minister were that three companies would be selected from the companies who bid, and they would be asked to submit proposals, including for financing the bridge. And he had given a particular timeline,” Edghill reminded.
According to Edghill, this development is indicative of three things: that the Government has no policy direction in the public infrastructure sector; that Govt is prone to making ad hoc decisions; and that Govt follows a pattern of annulling tenders.
He was here referring to the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) $3 billion tender for the installation of smart meters and transmission lines which Government annulled a few months ago.
“It would appear that unless they get a specific outcome, or they are allowed to get away with their underhand dealings, their (preference) is to annul and start all over. If it was the case where they wanted a four-lane, six-span bridge, we of the PPP have been saying to them that is the way to go. They were talking about cost,” Edghill explained.
“Why would the Government want to invest US$170 million on a three-lane, retractable bridge? And we always wanted to know why. But they have been caught with their pants down, and the only way they can deal with it is annul and go for a four-lane bridge. I would specifically like to hear the Minister of Public Infrastructure give the rationale for the annulment,” he declared.
Edghill questioned why Government was only now going for the four-lane bridge model. He also queried at what level the decision to annul the tender was made, and what led to the annulment.
Attempts by this publication to make contact with Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and junior subject Minister Annette Ferguson were futile.
Last year, a feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River Bridge had reportedly cost some $146.3 million. It was presented to Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson.
The 57-page final report was done by Dutch company LievenseCSO. The project team had included officials from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and Transport and Harbours Department.
It is understood that the feasibility study had determined the proposed location of Houston-Versailles was the most ideal. It is also understood that a low-level bridge with a movable part and three-lanes was recommended for construction.
Another study had been completed back in 2013, when the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation had collaborated with the then Public Works Ministry to carry out a pre-feasibility analysis. That study had concluded that a ‘fixed, high level’ bridge was the best option to pursue, rather than the retractable model, echoing the most recent recommendations made by Consultants Rameshwar.
The “fixed, high level” option would ensure that traffic would be able to flow even while boats passed underneath the structure. The bridge presently operates according to schedule in order to cater for marine traffic.
There have traditionally been lengthy traffic lines during rush hour, as motorists hurry to catch the bridge before it closes. It was to solve these traffic woes and to cater for the advanced age of the Demerara Harbour Bridge structure that a new bridge has been contemplated.
According to the 2013 report, consultations were carried out with various private sector agencies and non- governmental organisations (NGO) representing cross sections of the production and manufacturing sectors in Guyana. Those consultations, the report details, were to obtain valuable data to complete the report, introduce stakeholders to the new Demerara River Crossing concept, and garner feedback that could potentially influence the project.