…private sector, Berbice association urge swift end to impasse

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) are urging a swift end to the impasse over the hiking of tolls to cross the Berbice River Bridge.

Monday was intended by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) to raise tolls threefold, but the government stepped in to prevent the move.
By taking up temporary supervision and maintenance of the bridge, the move prevents the increase in tolls even as Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson stated the legal grounds on which the decision was made.

This, he noted, was in keeping with the Berbice River Bridge Act. The PSC in a release dated November 10, have agreed that the proposed increase in tolls are “steep” stating that “a 265 per cent increase in tolls is…inconceivable.”

“From its inception, the bridge has served an important role in ensuring efficient movement between Demerara and Berbice, both for businesses and commuters. It also functions as a gateway to traffic going to and from neighbouring Suriname. The bridge has, in fact, become an important and necessary contributor to Guyana’s economic growth,” the PSC release stated.

However, the commission is not in favour of the government assuming the temporary supervisory position as it believes that this poses a threat to democratic freedom. “The forced takeover of the bridge by government, however, runs counter to freedom within a democratic society and could do untold damage to investor confidence at a time when we are actively seeking to encourage investment,” the release added.

Contrary, to the PSC release, on November 5, 2018, Minister Patterson had dispelled claims that the government had intentions to nationalise the Berbice Bridge or micromanage the private sector. “The Coalition Government would also like to assure the business sector that there is no policy or interest to interfere in or take over private businesses or enterprises,” Patterson had stated, adding: “The social good provided by this bridge ranks similar to other important social services such as healthcare and education. Its value to the economic fortunes of many of our people is also well recognised.

No responsible government could sit and wait for the stalemate, arising from the unreasonable unilateral action of one party, to continue, which could lead to massive disruption and dislocations in people’s lives.”

Even so, the PSC urged: “In the interest of maintaining viable private-public partnerships we urge both parties to go to the negotiating table and work towards an amicable solution. The business community is looking forward to a speedy resolution to this crucial national issue.”

Similar hopes were expressed by the BCCDA which made known “deep regret” regarding the current situation between the BBCI and the government, even as it stated its non-support of the “astronomical increase” in tolls.

Yet, the association added: “In the interest of promoting public-private partnership as a model for much needed future infrastructural works across the length and breadth of Guyana, the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association would like to call on both parties to have open negotiation immediately so as to bring this current development to a swift end and to have all parties working in the best interest of the growth and development of Berbice and by extension, Guyana.”