By Ariana Gordon
GOVERNMENT remains optimistic that the Berbice Bridge tolls would be lowered this week, even as the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure are to yet to ink an agreement.Subject minister David Patterson told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that while the agreement has not yet been signed, he is hopeful this will be done in the new week, thereby allowing for the lowering of the bridge tolls.
“[It] has not been signed, BBCI have submitted their comments and version back to us over the weekend,” said Patterson.
The minister said the comments and version of the agreement submitted by the BBCI are currently being reviewed by his ministry. Asked if the agreement is likely to be signed before the end of this week, Patterson replied, “I would hope so.”

TOLL REDUCTIONS
A draft contract sent in November to BBCI outlined the conditions upon which the tolls would be lowered and spoke to the Bridge Company receiving a $40 million government subvention. Government’s aim is to reduce the amount of money spent by passengers who use the bridge.
Currently, the toll for passenger cars and buses stand at $2,200. The reduction would see those vehicles paying $1,900, a 13.6 per cent decline. Tolls for the other vehicles are to be reduced by 10 per cent.
In July, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman announced that the Berbice Bridge toll would be reduced, noting that the APNU+AFC coalition government made a promise to the people of Berbice while on the campaign trail to ease the financial burden on those who traverse the bridge.
Additionally, government had committed to offsetting the reduction the Bridge Company would incur as a result of the lowering of the tolls. Government did acknowledge through Trotman that the BBCI is a private company, but legislation exists that gives it (government) some freedom where fares are concerned. He argued that while the Bridge Company has every right to recover finances made on its investment, a “responsible government” has a right to represent the people.
The reduction should have been implemented from September 1, according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan when he presented the 2015 financial statements. “With effect from September 1, 2015, the toll for passenger cars and buses will be reduced from $2,200 to $1,900, a 13.6 per cent decline. At the same time, the toll for all other types of vehicles will be reduced by 10 per cent,” he had said.
Unfortunately, due to a deadlock in negotiations by both parties, the reduction in tolls did not materialise. Government then looked to December 1 for the reduction. As government awaits the BBCI’s final agreement on the matter, river taxis that were implemented to transport persons from Rosignol to New Amsterdam will continue to operate.