The opposition PPP yesterday said it was “categorically opposed” to any increase in tolls for the Berbice Bridge even though the swingeing hikes announced yesterday by company running it derives from the agreement signed under the previous PPP/C government.
In a statement yesterday following the announcement by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) of the increases to take effect on November 12, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said that it had advanced the construction of a bridge across the Berbice River with no additional burden to Guyanese taxpayers.
The APNU+AFC government yesterday vowed to oppose the increases and it would be one of the few domestic issues where it and the PPP are on the same side. (See story on page three.)
In its statement yesterday, the PPP said that the people of Berbice have had use of the Berbice Bridge for close to 10 years and have seen the transformational benefits of the bridge – crossing at a toll that was equivalent to the cost of using the ferry.
It said that had the APNU+AFC Coalition Government pursued the financial model used by the former PPP/C administration, there would have been no proposed increases of this magnitude.
“The bridge was built around a financial model that did not envisage such massive increases in tolls; rather minimal increases were envisaged – followed by a steep decline in tolls – until the Berbice Bridge was handed over to the State. Since July 2018, the PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, questioned whether the current Administration tinkered with the financial model. To date this question remains unanswered”, the statement said.
Under the PPP/C government, the phased increases of tolls had not been effected as had been intended.
While in opposition, both APNU and the AFC had vowed to move for the lowering of the bridge tolls. When they entered office as a coalition in May 2015, they began moving in this direction. After negotiations with BBCI, decreases in the tolls were agreed and the tariffs have not risen despite constant approaches by BBCI for increases because of its dire financial plight and ongoing losses.
Yesterday’s announcement by the APNU+AFC administration that it won’t countenance a hike in tolls will likely deepen the financial plight of BBCI which has been warning that it faces bankruptcy.
The PPP yesterday added that Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has in his possession both the financial model and contract documents for the Berbice Bridge. These can be released.
“The APNU+AFC Coalition holds office and must bear the responsibility of ensuring that there are no further impositions of hardship measures on Guyanese people”, the PPP added.
. “The PPP is categorically opposed to any increase in tolls at the Berbice Bridge. We do not support an increase in the tolls particularly given what is happening in Berbice – loss of thousands of jobs in the sugar industry and other sectors – as a result of the policies of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government”, the PPP statement contended.
