Berbice businessmen look to Bridge toll change

Feb 21, 2009 News

Businessmen from three chambers of commerce say they are optimistic that there will be a change in the current toll structure for crossing the recently commissioned Berbice River Bridge. The statement by the businessmen came after a meeting with officials of the Berbice Bridge Company yesterday.

Representatives of the Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne and Berbice Chambers of Commerce met with Officials of the Berbice Bridge Company, which included Mr. Bert Carter, Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer Mr. O. Samaroo and Mr. Paul Chung, Director.

“The Chambers are very optimistic that there would be adjustments to the current toll structure, which at present is seen as a deterrent to a greater volume of vehicular traffic on the Bridge,” the Berbice businessmen said in a statement after the meeting.

They said that they welcomed the advent of the Berbice Bridge.

However, in view of the toll charges for minibuses, they were concerned at the high fares being charged by minibuses for passengers, especially schoolchildren and ordinary workers, to just cross the Bridge.

The Chambers said they had a very cordial and meaningful discussion with the officials of the Company, who promised to take the Chambers’ recommendations as early as possible to the Bridge’s Board of Directors for discussion and possible implementation in the very near future.