Planning, preparation work for new Berbice River Bridge, other major projects to start in six weeks

The planning and preparation work for the New Berbice River Bridge and other massive projects will commence in six weeks, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced on Sunday.

“In the next six weeks, planning and preparations will begin for a suite of major projects, a brand new Berbice River Bridge, the bridge across the Corentyne River and Suriname, the second gas to shore plant in Region Six, the establishment of an economic zone in Berbice, the construction of the deep port harbour, the expansion of the Demerara Harbour, the building of our national digital backbone, new digital Guyana project and fertiliser natural gas plants that will make Guyana an industrial powerhouse in the region.

“The next six weeks will see these projects advancing on what has always been our philosophy that development is meaningless if it does not touch people’s lives,” the President told thousands of people gathered on the lawns of State House on Sunday to witness his swearing-in ceremony as the country’s 9^th Executive President, second term.

The new, high-span, four-lane, fixed bridge across the Berbice River will replace the existing, ageing structure and mirror the new Demerara River Bridge. Already, these bridges and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge are toll-free. With the establishment of the new bridges, transport between regions and maritime services are expected to become more efficient.

Additionally, the fertiliser plant will improve the country’s energy sector, making Guyana a major producer. And the deep port harbour at Parika and Berbice will make Guyana a massive logistics hub in the region. Transatlantic trade will be boosted, and thousands of jobs will be created, fostering economic development and independence.

Dr. Ali said transformation must drive economic diversification as well as human capital development.

“In the next five years, we will convert ambition into action and action into transformation. We will not speak in half-measures, and we will not hesitate to deliver,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President added that the expansion of the aviation sector must also be prioritised.

“The expansion of the aviation sector will require special focus, whilst regional planning and community development must be comprehensive to reform.”