By Chevon Lim

 

AS the late afternoon light washed Georgetown in a radiant glow, the pavement bordering Parliament Building stirred with quiet anticipation. Strangers clustered together—some laughing, others hushed and thoughtful—united by a shared curiosity about the journey that awaited them. Each carried their own expectation of the evening ahead: some sought adventure, while others simply craved a front-row seat to history.

 

On the historic evening of October 5, Guyanese of all walks of life were invited to join His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and other dignitaries in a symbolic walk across the newly inaugurated Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, heralding a bold new era of infrastructural transformation for the nation.

 

While the celebrations unfolded on land, enterprising tour operators offered a truly unforgettable perspective: from the river itself. Guests aboard the Sunset and Evening Boat Tour, facilitated by Trail Masters Adventure Tours,  were offered front-row seats to history—gliding along calm Demerara waters, framed by the fiery glow of sunset and a spectacular fireworks display that illuminated the night sky.

The check-in unfolded with a gentle hum of excitement. Coloured bands, slipped around wrists, marked the vessels to which each guest belonged. With bands gleaming under the fading sun, the passengers made their way toward the Stabroek Stelling—where the city’s beat met the pulse of the river.

 

Boarding was unhurried, almost ceremonial. The water lapped softly against the wooden posts, as if inviting everyone to slow down and take notice. And notice they did. From the deck, the Stelling rose, a living monument—its weathered timbers and old clock tower holding stories of merchants, sailors, and time itself. Just beyond, colossal vessels used in the oil and gas sector stretched skyward, their towering frames reflecting the slowly approaching golden-pink wash of dusk. It was an image of contrasts: history nestled against the steel sinews of modern industry.

And then, there it was—the quiet silhouette of the power ship, steady and commanding, anchored like a silent guardian over the darkening water. The boats moved at a languid pace, each ripple of the river casting liquid light onto the hulls. Overhead, the sky shifted from warm rose to twilight blue, and the city’s familiar hum softened into the rhythm of the tide.

 

From this vantage point, Georgetown revealed itself in layers—past, present, and the promise of what was to come. It was more than a journey to the new Bridge. It was a gentle reminder that history isn’t only made in grand structures of steel and concrete—it also lives in the quiet glances between strangers, the creak of a boat against the current, and the shimmer of a river that has seen it all.

 

After a few minutes, the flotilla settled into an easy rhythm on the river, boats gently rocking against the waves like old friends. Ours moored neatly alongside a line of vessels beyond the soon-to-be decommissioned Demerara Harbour Bridge.  Overhead, more than seventy feet above, the official proceedings echoed from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge—a livestream crackling softly from someone’s phone, bringing the ceremony down to where we sat, wrapped in the hush and hum of the river.

On board, the atmosphere shifted into something distinctly Guyanese. A flurry of hands passed drinks from coolers, snacks made their way down the benches, and laughter wove effortlessly through the air. Total strangers shared chips and stories, and cracked jokes, as if they’d known one another for years. This, more than anything, captured the spirit of the evening—not just witnessing history, but doing so together.

 

Next to us, another vessel added its own soundtrack to the night. Lotay La by Sonny Mann burst to life, the bright, infectious rhythm skimming across the water. The beat wrapped around us, mingling with our chatter, laughter and the sounds of the official proceedings overhead in a uniquely Guyanese harmony—half ceremony, half celebration.

 

People swayed where they sat, some nodding to the music, others simply watching the soft ripple of the river against the hull. It wasn’t just a bridge opening anymore. It was a shared memory in the making—a moment anchored not only in steel and concrete, but in music, community, and the easy joy of being together on the water.

The wait on the water stretched longer than anyone expected. Yet there was something almost cinematic about it—the river holding its breath as the night deepened and anticipation grew. Then, at last, the soft chug of engines stirred the stillness. One by one, our vessels began to move, their lights gliding across the dark surface like quiet constellations.

 

Our captain, with the calm precision of someone who knew these waters by heart, guided us toward the gleaming silhouette of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge. It was a delicate dance—an expert navigation through the maze of massive buoys that keep the old bridge afloat.

 

That old structure, once hailed as the fourth largest floating bridge, rose before us—a familiar landmark seen through entirely new eyes. I had crossed it countless times in the seat of a car, glancing at the water below without a second thought. But this… this was different.

 

As we slipped beneath the steel spans, the soundscape shifted—the low hum of engines blending with the muted rumble of traffic moving overhead. Lights from passing vehicles flickered against the water, casting a shimmering lattice of reflections around us. In that moment, awe washed over me. The bridge I’d known all my life stood not just as a roadway, but as an architectural marvel, a living artery that had carried generations across the river.

 

Above, history was being made. Below, we floated in its shadow—quiet witnesses to a moment we would never forget.

 

Then, without warning, the night split open in a burst of light. Fireworks exploded high above the newly opened Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, painting the sky in shimmering golds, reds, and greens. The river mirrored it all—a restless canvas of colour—each ripple catching the light and sending it spinning outward. For a heartbeat, the water and the sky seemed to blur into one dazzling spectacle.

 

Almost instinctively, every vessel joined the celebration. Horns blared across the river in a chorus of sound, each note rising to meet the fireworks in a grand symphony. Passengers cheered, some raising their phones, others simply tilting their faces skyward, soaking in the light. It was joy that didn’t need words—just the collective understanding that we were part of something historic.

 

And then, as quickly as it began, the sky quieted. A faint haze of smoke drifted like silk above the bridge. The water, moments earlier alive with reflected fire, returned to its dark calm. In that hush, a quiet reverence settled over the boats. People spoke softly, or not at all, their faces lit by the fading glow of the bridge lights. Beneath the surface of the celebration, everyone seemed to feel the same thing : this was a turning point.

 

The return journey began under a shifting sky. The river, no longer still, grew restless with the night. Waves slapped sharply against the sides of the boat, sending cold spray into the night air. It wasn’t violent, but insistent—almost as if the Demerara River itself was stirred by the weight of the moment. The laughter quieted to murmurs, passengers braced against the rhythm of the swells, and the lights of Georgetown slowly grew closer.

 

As the celebrations faded into the night, guests disembarked with a shared sense of pride, their laughter mingling with the lap of the Demerara River. This was more than a trip upriver for the bridge opening—it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for connection, community, and the spirit of a nation moving forward together.

 

We were fortunate to have witnessed history from the river itself—a front-row seat to a national milestone. For our local operator, Trail Masters Adventure Tours, the evening marked more than just an unforgettable experience; it was a defining chapter in the company’s story. Hosting the largest river tour in its history, Trail Masters successfully operated a fleet of 13 vessels and welcomed more than 230 guests on board. This remarkable achievement was made possible through close collaboration with Exclusive Adventures and the invaluable support of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Guyana Tourism Authority, and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana.

 

Special recognition was also extended to the Maritime Administration Department for ensuring safe and seamless operations on the water. It was, in every sense, a shared moment of pride—one that brought together community, industry, and the enduring spirit of a nation on the move.