The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has held off on granting its no-objection for the new Demerara River Bridge project due to the Ministry of Public Works’ non-consultation with the residents of Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara.
The new bridge is expected to land in the vicinity of Nandy Park on the eastern side of the Demerara River and at La Grange/Meer-Zorgen on the West Bank. According to the Ministry’s Chief Trans-port Planning Officer, Patrick Thompson, only a handful of residents would have to be relocated to facilitate the new bridge.
On November 2nd, the Ministry wrote to Regional Chairman, Daniel Seeram seeking a no-objection from the RDC in relation to the project. Seeram and the members of the Region’s Works Committee conducted a site visit on November 8. They were joined on the visit by Thompson and another engineer from the Ministry.
At the end of the visit, Seeram told Stabroek News that they were prepared to offer a no-objection since the project is needed to ease traffic congestion, but he held off to do some investigations.
“Right here right now, I’d love to give the no-objection because the project is warranted for the Region but we have processes that we have to follow right. My governance strategy at the Region is meaningful consultation, thorough discussions, leading to informed decisions. So I’m leaning towards yes, giving that no-objection, however, I have to make sure that consultations were happening below me in terms at the local authorities level and I must check with the other stakeholders before I can give that final no objection on behalf of the Region,” the Regional Chair had said.
However, in a letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Public Works Ministry, Vladim Persaud, the RDC indicated that it would be withholding its no-objection until it is satisfied that adequate public consultations were conducted.
The letter, seen by Stabroek News, said “after the site visit a check at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (Eccles-Ramsburg) governing the intended area revealed that a no-objection was given for the project. However, during further discussions with the NDC chairman Mr Anand Kalladeen, it was discovered that the no-objection was given without the full blessings of the Council or without any consultation with the residents of the intended areas that will be directly or indirectly affected by such project.”
The letter added “…in view of the above, along with concerns raised with my office from residents of the intended affected areas, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Demerara-Mahaica is hereby requesting a public consultation between the residents and stakeholders with the appropriate persons present to respond to any questions or concerns from residents and stakeholders. At this point, the RDC awaits the outcome of such consultation before considering the primary request for a no-objection.”
When contacted, Seeram confirmed that a letter was sent to the Ministry. However, he did not divulge much information about the contents and would only say that “the ball is in the Ministry’s court now.”
During last week’s site visit, Thompson admitted that there were no consultations with the residents but pointed to the process where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notifies of the project. He further informed that it was there that stakeholders could have made objections but they have received none so far.
“It will be important that they (stakeholders) are aware of the project and understand the impact that it will have and that’s why there has been an application with the EPA and the application has a project summary. The project summary has details about potential impacts that the bridge in this area may have and residents have the opportunity to if they have any concerns about those impacts to raise it to the EPA for it to be dealt with,” he had informed Seeram and team.
The EPA controversially decided that the project did not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) though it is expected to drastically change the landscape of both La Grange and Nandy Park. The environmental body has since been coming in for criticisms over the decision. Additionally, the government’s request for the Region’s approval of the project is something that is considered new and only came about following pressure from activists about the non-involvement of local authorities in large scale developmental projects.
Earlier this month, Government announced that it will be engaging China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) on the construction of the bridge since it submitted the lowest responsive bid. The company still has to accept the award and enter into negotiations with the government as it relates to the contract and design of the bridge.
CSCEC, in its tender document, pegged the cost for the construction of the bridge at US$256,638,289 and it is based on the Design, Build and Finance (DBF) option, or Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM).
The Scope of Works in the design/build contract included the complete design and construction of a two-lane dual (four-lane) carriageway, a hybrid cable-stayed centre-span bridge with concrete box/T-beam girder approach bridge structures, and must include bridge collision protection, a navigation span to accommodate Handy-max vessel navigation aids, lighting, signage, and all other ancillary works, an access road with a minimum of 50 metres up to abutments, toll-collection buildings and ancillary buildings on the West Bank of the Demerara River.
