Dear Editor,
The PPP/C administration’s decision to make crossings at the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), Berbice Bridge Company (BBC), and the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge toll-free has become a widely promoted political talking point. Marketed as a people-centered policy, it is now being heavily used as campaign propaganda, cloaked in the guise of economic relief. While this move has brought short-term financial ease to commuters, it raises a number of serious and unanswered questions about financial transparency, sustainability, and the impact on workers.
Curiously, despite the removal of tolls, receipts are still being issued to commuters at these bridges. This begs the question; if no payments are being made, why are receipts necessary? Is there internal billing or shadow accounting involved—perhaps to track reimbursements by the government to the bridge companies? The lack of transparency on this issue is concerning.
More broadly, there has been no public disclosure of any feasibility study conducted by the government or bridge companies to assess the long-term financial sustainability of these toll-free operations. Bridge infrastructure is capital-intensive and requires ongoing maintenance, safety oversight, and future upgrades. Without tolls, the full cost burden now falls on the state, potentially impacting other sectors of the national budget. This shift is particularly troubling if it was not factored into Budget 2025.
Which brings us to a critical point, were these absorption costs included in Budget 2025? To date, there has been no definitive statement from the Ministry of Finance on this matter. If not, how does the government intend to sustainably fund the continued operation of these bridges? Will we see resources quietly diverted from education, healthcare, housing, or hinterland development?
Editor, it is important for readers to be reminded that during the 2025 budget debates, my former parliamentary colleague Mr. David Patterson posed direct questions to Minister Juan Edghill regarding what arrangements were in place to protect the welfare of toll collection staff. To date, Minister Edghill has failed to provide any clarity or assurances.
The employment impact is very real:
- At the Demerara Harbour Bridge, dozens of toll clerks, supervisors, and customer service workers face potential redundancy.
- The Berbice Bridge Company, already operating under a public-private model, may now be entirely reliant on government subvention, with job security in limbo.
- At the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, where resources have always been thin, staff may face salary uncertainties or downsizing.
If these workers are being laid off, what provisions are in place for severance, reassignment, or retraining? The government cannot simultaneously claim to protect workers while quietly sacrificing their jobs under the veil of populist policy.
All of this is unfolding in a broader context that is hard to ignore. As the September 2025 General and Regional Elections (GRE) approach, it is beginning to feel like Christmas has arrived early; not in December, but in the months leading up to the polls. Promises are made, tolls are free, and handouts are being distributed here, there, and everywhere. But behind the festive optics lies a serious question: who is paying for all of this?
The public deserves clear and honest answers:
- Who is paying for the upkeep of the bridges now that tolls are removed?
- Why are receipts still being issued, what is their purpose?
- Were feasibility studies done to assess the viability of removing tolls?
- Were these costs included in Budget 2025?
- If yes, under which line item or agency?
- How many employees are expected to be affected, and what plans exist to support them?
Guyanese citizens must remain vigilant and demand accountability. Genuine public policy should be rooted in sustainability, transparency, and the long-term interest of the people; not orchestrated as short-term political theatre to secure votes. Toll-free bridges may seem like a gift today, but we all may end up paying for it tomorrow; quietly, and without a receipt.
Yours truly,
Annette Ferguson
