"Still no relief" ...Berbice commuters distressed over high car fares despite removal of bridge toll

“Still no relief” …Berbice commuters distressed over high car fares despite removal of bridge toll

Aug 21, 2025 News

Berbice river bridge

Kaieteur News – Even with the removal of tolls from the Berbice River Bridge, commuters traveling to and from Region Six are dismayed that hire car drivers have refused to reduce their fares.

A few weeks ago on August 1, the Berbice River Bridge, the Demerara Harbor Bridge and all other cost-incurring crossings became toll-free when the government officially removed all fares for vehicles and vessels operating those main facilities.

Hire car drivers plying the New Amsterdam to Georgetown route had over the years complained that the fare for crossing the almost 18-year-old facility carved out a significant portion of their day’s earnings.

Many commuters welcomed the cancellation of the toll and were hopeful that there would also be a reduction in travel cost. This has not been realised, however, as drivers have maintained that they will not be adjusting the fares.

Prior to the implications of COVID-19, a passenger from New Amsterdam paid $1,500 to travel to Georgetown. Bridge tolls for cars at that time stood at $2,200, before being reduced to $1,900. Currently passengers pay as much as $3,000 per individual seat, up from $2,000 earlier in the year. This figure is very daunting to those who commute that route, but drivers have decided to ‘hold one head’ and fasten that figure in place.

Fifty-nine-year-old Jurette Lewis, a vendor of the New Amsterdam Market, told this newspaper that she takes a vehicle frequently to transport her produce from Georgetown at a cost of $12,000 for all seats. She said that in good conscience, she could not have qualms with that amount since her load warrants it. However, like many others, she believes the fare should be reduced in fairness.

“They’re supposed to drop the fee because they are not paying to cross anymore. They come across free,” she stated. With the drivers being adamant in their position, the vendor of over 30 years said she has no option that to pay the car operators, “because I do not have my own vehicle.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Nazeema Mohamed, another vendor of New Amsterdam. She regarded the existing fare as “not too much heavy,” but did agree that all drivers should be considerate of passengers and slash the fare.

Veteran educator of New Amsterdam, Ms. Shaundel Phillips took the issue to the cleaners by expressing her disgust with what she deems as “downright selfish” on the part of the hire car drivers.

The retired headteacher noted that many drivers make more than one trip to and from Georgetown.

She firmly opposed the reasoning of vehicle maintenance, mounted by some drivers. “They are saying that spare parts is an issue. They do not have to purchase spare parts every day. Most of them have owner- driven vehicles.”

According to her, what is also concerning is that many of the operators are using private vehicles. This, she said, needs to be addressed by the authorities.

“It really is a difficulty to know that this is supposed to benefit the travelling public,” taking into consideration persons who travel every day. The government really has to put a system in place to ensure that the travelling public can benefit from the far decrease; those who do not have their own vehicles….”

As simple as the delivery of a letter to Georgetown, she said, incurs the full fare, when that is not even factored into the seating arrangements. In light of the “unfair” conduct, Phillips is imploring that something be done to ensure that passengers enjoy a relief just akin to how the drivers benefited from the bridge fees being removed.

Another New Amsterdam resident, Burris Griffith, who traverses the city for business a frequently, told Kaieteur News that drivers are being unconscionable in their dealings. The recording artist and businessman criticised the fact that he and others are effectively forced to pay the full fare even though the drivers were given a significant relief.

“Nothing in Guyana don’t drop. I didn’t expect them to drop the bridge fare when I hear that the bridge is free up.”

Griffith, who goes by the stage name ‘Limyt’, confirmed that many individuals cry out against the fee, but are without options other than to accede to the drivers’ demands. He suggested that at the very least, passengers could pay $2,000.

With regard to the operators taking a unified stance, Griffith, much like Phillips, is calling on the government to intervene, as this is a direct and credible concern of citizens.
Another disgruntled commuter is Natassia Rose, a mother of one who also travels frequently to Georgetown.

“The drivers that are going to town, they’re saying $2,500. Now to drop the prices it’s a whole issue. I don’t understand why. How is that fair to passengers?” she questioned. She reasoned that there is no recent spike in gas price for the drivers to premise their position on.

“Even if it’s $500.”

And though drivers have used the car maintenance card, she rebutted this by explaining that the ordinary Guyanese work daily too, and are trying to maneuver economically.
“And these people are paying $2,500 to town and back, $5,000 out of their pockets,” she lamented.

At recent press conference, Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo indicated that at some point discussions will be initiated with hire car operators on the matter.

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Berbice, Berbice River Bridge, bridge toll, car fares, commuters, distressed, removal

One thought on ““Still no relief” …Berbice commuters distressed over high car fares despite removal of bridge toll”

Anonymous August 23, 2025 at 9:53 am

The fuel price is down, the bridge price is out and the price climb to $2,500 normal and $3,000 when they decide on it to NA and $3,000 to Corentyne.

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