HUNDREDS of persons, including government ministers, were yesterday stranded for hours on both sides of the Demerara River after three anchors on the Demerara Harbour Bridge broke their moorings. This happened after the bridge retracted to accommodate ocean-going vessels at about 14.30hrs, and the structure was unable to close.

Among the hundreds were Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud and Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. When the Guyana Chronicle spoke with the ministers, they were unaware of what had caused them to be stuck at the bridge for the extended period.  While Minister Ramsammy was with his family, Minister Persaud was returning from an out-of-town work assignment. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the anchors burst while the bridge was about to close to accommodate the vehicular traffic. The mishap saw vehicles backing up as far as Eccles and Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.
When the Chronicle visited the bridge, General Manager Rolston Adams was seen actively assisting workers in fixing the problem. Also present at the scene was Chief Engineer at the Public Works Ministry Walter Willis.
After the anchors were in place and traffic on the bridge resumed as normal, General Manager Adams explained that the high tide might have contributed to the problem.
He said that this is not the first time that there was such an occurrence at the bridge. He explained that, unfortunately, this happened on a Sunday, when the full complement of staff is not on duty at the bridge.
He said that today his engineers will be going out to reconnect the floaters to the retractor spans. He sought to dispel speculation that the problem experienced yesterday had anything to do with the works carried out on the hydraulic ramp that were completed ahead of schedule last week.
The one and a half hour delay at the bridge saw commuters making remarks about the inconvenience , with some saying it was costing them money.
One man told the Chronicle that this development and recent works on the bridge highlighted the need for an  alternative linkage between Region 3 and Georgetown.
He pointed to the fact that there are several cash crops and other items that farmers transport from various parts of the other side of the river, via the bridge, and should there be a really critical situation at the facility, persons could lose millions.