THE Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) is willing to meet with Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson to discuss offers on buyout ownership of the bridge company.

The position taken by the company comes as a response to an August 17, 2019 interview in which government’s willingness to purchase the bridge was discussed.

“We have no record of the government making such an offer, but, given your now very public statement, that the government is willing to make a fair and reasonable offer to us for the purchase of the ownership of the Bridge, we are pleased to inform you that we are ready to meet at your earliest convenience to consider governments offer,” the statement from the BBCI said noted.

Nevertheless, the Bridge Company noted that efforts since last November to meet the minister on the revision of the Concession Agreement have been futile.

The Concession Agreement between the government and the company is a product of a public/private partnership.

The BBCI, nevertheless expressed its pleasure to hear publicly from the Minister that the government is willing to make a fair and reasonable offer to purchase the ownership of the bridge. It has written to the Minister requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the government’s offer.

Last November, amidst a dispute over proposed increases of the Berbice Bridge toll, the government moved to take over operation and maintenance of the Bridge until an amicable resolution could have been met.

In a press statement Minister Patterson stated that the decision took immediate effect and is in accordance with the powers conferred upon the Minister by Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act.

An Order regarding such, cited as the Berbice River Bridge (Public Safety) Toll Order 2018, was gazetted on November 1, 2018 and signed by the Minister.

Patterson’s address to the public took into consideration that the Board of Directors of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) had demanded a 360 per cent increase on the toll for all users set to take effect from November 12, 2018. Patterson referred to the move as “draconian”, “unreasonable” and “unwarranted”, which will only become burdensome to Berbicians and the public at large.

The matter is currently before the courts.