LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister, Mr. Norman Whittaker, has rejected the ‘right’ of the Mayor & Town Council of Linden to increase the tolls charged for use of the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge by a proposed 25%.

Minister Whittaker on Tuesday summoned key players in the fiasco to a meeting at the Local Government Ministry. Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) Director, Mr. Winston Brassington; and Executive Interim Management Committee Chairman of the Linden Town Council, Mr. Orin Gordon, turned up to discuss the possible implications of a toll increase.

During this meeting, Whittaker disclosed that, acting on the advice of Cabinet, the meeting was called to “revisit the request of the Linden Town Council for an increase of the toll fees that are paid for the use of the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge.”

The minister disclosed that he first knew of the proposed increase by way of a newspaper article, which declared that the municipality had intended to implement the proposed toll increases with effect from September 1, 2014.

Whittaker said he then referred to the Demerara River (Mackenzie) Bridge Act Cap. 51:04, and similarly looked up Section 11 of the Linden Municipal Toll Point by-laws, which refer to the power to increase tolls(“The council shall have the power to increase tolls subject to the approval of the Minister”), and realised that, according to the by-laws, “such increases shall be in conformity with the submission of supplementary estimates and financial regulation; [and] the Minister shall reserve the right to accept or reject any proposal for the increases or proposed increases of tolls sent to him.”

Whittaker made clear his dissatisfaction with the way in which the decision was announced — without approval of the relevant authorities.
He also expressed “objection on the manner in which it was done.”

He said the decision presents some implications, since it would be “asking the public for additional sums of money for the use of a facility.” Such implications, he stressed, would be felt by the citizens, since, according to him, an increase in toll “would be passed on to customers.”

Minister Whittaker was concerned that vehicles, which are used to transport goods and commuters, would have commuters feel the brunt of any increase, which would mostly be evident in the anticipated increases in costs for goods and services.

“My concern is that commuters would be required by these very vehicle owners to pay more than the percentage increase that is proposed here,” he said.

Whittaker said a decision had been made between the subject ministry and the council to have the local government body resubmit a “proposal” to the Local Government Ministry.
He gave all assurance that after he would have received the resubmitted proposal, he “would take it to Cabinet, where it would be discussed and a position would be taken by Government with respect to the toll.”

The meeting at the LGRD Ministry concluded with a consensus among those concerned that Cabinet should decide, by its next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, what is the way forward in this impasse.

(By Derwayne Wills)