“Your jobs are secured” – President Ali says DHB staff to be offered new opportunities

– as Govt prepares to open modern bridge

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday assured workers of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) that they have no reason to worry about their future, as the Government transitions from the old floating bridge to the new state-of-the-art, cable-stayed Demerara River Bridge.
Speaking directly to the staff, the President gave a firm commitment that no one will be displaced, their benefits will remain intact, and that new opportunities for growth are already being prepared.

“I do not want you to believe that this new bridge displaces your work or your contribution,” the President said. “Your contribution to the development of this country, to the Ministry of Public Works, and to the upkeep of our bridges will continue unbroken. Not a single one of you has to worry about your placement or the security of your job.”
He assured workers that all their benefits and salaries will be preserved and that the Government’s human resources team will be conducting a full skills assessment to identify and match staff with new roles and training opportunities.

“I came here this morning to say thank you,” President Ali told the workers. “Thank you to all those who laboured for decades to keep this old bridge going – to the engineers, welders, divers, toll clerks, technicians, and everyone who ensured the people of Guyana could cross safely every single day. That was no ordinary task.”
The Head of State praised the staff for their dedication to maintaining what he described as one of the most important pieces of national infrastructure. He emphasised that their years of service have played a vital role in Guyana’s growth and connectivity, particularly between the East and West Banks of Demerara.
“You know this: your jobs are secured, your service is secured, your time is secured, and the opportunities ahead of you will be as any other contributor in the Ministry. And some of you, based on your skill set, will be even offered other opportunities that are even better than the ones you have today. So we have an HR team that will be assessing also all of the skill sets to offer you those uplifting opportunities – because we want you not only to stay where you are but also to continue to grow. Once again, to the management and the staff, I want to thank you sincerely. I wanted to do this myself,” he explained.
“Your service will continue, your time is secured, and the opportunities ahead of you will grow with the country,” the President reiterated.
The President also highlighted the expanding role of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) in supporting national development, pointing out that it is being transformed into a multi-faceted infrastructure entity that will handle technical, accounting, auditing, and maintenance functions for several new projects.
As part of the transition, the Government is finalising plans for the relocation and possible repurposing of the existing DHB, while the new bridge’s operations and maintenance structure are being set up to ensure a smooth handover.
“Thank you to the dedicated team of the Demerara Harbour Bridge for their commitment, resilience, and professionalism through the years. As we transition to the new Demerara River Bridge, your service to the people of Guyana will continue with purpose and pride,” the President later posted on his social media page.
“Safe and ready”
The highly anticipated new Demerara River Bridge was recently declared “safe and ready” for public use after clearing a series of load testing exercises, which showed that the structural integrity of the fixed-high span, cable-stayed bridge exceeded required specifications.

Load testing commenced on September 15 on the western approach of the bridge. The eastern side was tested the following day, and the 50-metre-high span cable-stayed section on September 25. During this process, 20 fully loaded trucks, each weighing 40 tonnes, were utilised to complete eight distinct loading scenarios to ensure that the cables can bear the weight and that all dimensions meet international requirements.
The grand opening ceremony for the new US$262 million Demerara River Bridge will take place today at 17:30h at the abutment of the eastern end of the bridge, and members of the public are advised to wear comfortable shoes for the walk.
The much-anticipated superstructure is constructed to facilitate the continuous flow of vessel and vehicle traffic, which will boost the transportation of products and services throughout the nation, drastically cut down on travel time and improve connectivity between Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Mahaica-Berbice).
This landmark project, launched in 2022, forms part of the Government’s wider vision of national transformation.
The new four-lane, 2.6-kilometre (km) bridge stretches from Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).
With a fixed-high span of 50 metres (m), it will allow Handymax vessels to pass unobstructed beneath. The bridge is designed with a lifespan of 100 years and will operate toll-free, 24/7, with a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h. Its design will also feature the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), the country’s second-highest national award.
The bridge will replace the ageing Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), a floating structure that has long struggled with congestion and frequent closures. The DHB will be removed and repurposed to bridge other waterways across the country.
The new Demerara River Bridge project was undertaken by China Railway Construction (International) Limited with Politecnica as the supervisory consultant.