While the administration is still in talks with the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated, President David Granger yesterday said the government will take “any reasonable, legal steps” to ensure the bridge toll is lowered.
Although government sought to negotiate a phased reduction of the toll starting from September 1st by paying the company an annual subsidy, the company has said it could face potential bankruptcy if proposed subsidies are not calculated based on higher tolls that it had been trying to implement.
Government had previously announced that with the subsidy granted to the company, the toll for passenger cars and buses crossing the Berbice River Bridge would be reduced from $2,200 to $1,900, while the toll for all other types of vehicles will be reduced by 10 percent.
“It is our view that the level of the toll is unbearable for the residents of East Berbice, Corentyne and we will take any reasonable, legal steps to ensure that that toll is lowered,” President Granger told reporters yesterday when questioned on the issue.
According to the Presi-dent, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has indicated to Cabinet that he is still engaging the company. He added that while the engagement is not at an end as yet, the government is committed to reducing the bridge toll.
On the question of whether the government is exploring the option of buying out the interests of non-government stakeholders in the bridge, President Granger said the issue is not on the table at this time. He said the government has not advanced any other alternatives to the company.
Last Friday, Jordan had expressed frustration at a press conference over the length of time it was taking for the company to arrive at a decision.
The toll reduction was one of the items the new government had hoped to achieve in its first 100 days in office.
