By Hon. Sharma Solomon MP– Today, I would like to repeat the call with my comrade Lurlene Nester, adding my voice once again to a growing chorus of Guyanese who believe that the new Wismar–Mackenzie Bridge should bear the name of Robert Herman Orlando Corbin. It is a call whose significance goes beyond the naming of a physical structure.
In the tributes following his passing, from President Irfaan Ali to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, from Aubrey Norton to other political and civic leaders, there emerged a remarkable recognition of a man whose political life was defined by service, dialogue, institution-building and an enduring willingness to bring people together.
Jagdeo reflected on a relationship that remained cordial and respectful despite political differences. President Ali recognised Corbin’s contribution to the national conversation on reconciliation and shared governance, while Norton remembered a loyal comrade, mentor and builder of generations. These acknowledgements, coming from across the political divide, speak to a legacy that deserves to be preserved beyond the occasion of his passing.
There is something profoundly fitting about placing the name of Robert Corbin on a bridge connecting Wismar and Mackenzie. These two shores share a history, an economy, a community and generations of families, yet their relationship has not always been free from division, historical grievances and cultural stigmas that have persisted across generations.
The Demerara River has been a geographical divide; at times, our own attitudes and inherited differences have made that divide seem wider than it is.
Corbin understood the difficult work of bringing people together. He understood that nation-building requires more than political declarations; it demands the courage to engage, the patience to listen and the willingness to build relationships where others see irreconcilable differences.
A bridge connecting these shores, carrying his name, would therefore represent something considerably greater than the crossing it provides. It would be a reminder of the unfinished work of bringing our communities together.
I recognise that the bridge itself represents a significant infrastructure investment and a new chapter in Linden’s development. Its construction and opening deserve their own recognition. However, the question of its name deserves equally serious consideration. We must learn to give permanence to the contributions of those who have helped shape our communities and country.
Our younger generation must understand that the names attached to bridges, roads, institutions and public spaces should not simply be inscriptions; they should be lessons in history, character, service and sacrifice. Robert Corbin was a son of this soil, a son of the Stalwart, whose contribution extended from Linden into the highest levels of national political life. To name this bridge after him would ensure that his story remains part of the daily landscape of the very community from which he emerged.
And so, as the opening approaches tomorrow, I gladly add my voice to this choir of calls. Robert Corbin was close to the church, and perhaps there is something particularly appropriate about a choir singing in recognition of a man whose life’s work was, in many respects, about bringing people together.
Let the bridge connect the shores; let its name connect the generations. Let every young person who crosses it understand that Robert Corbin did not merely occupy public office; he devoted his life to the difficult business of building relationships, institutions and a more united Guyana. Some structures are built with concrete and steel. Others are built through courage, conviction and the willingness to bridge differences. The Wismar–Mackenzie Bridge can stand as a tribute to both. Let it bear the name Robert H. O. Corbin. Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge.
