Calls are growing for Guyana’s new four-lane Wismar–Mackenzie Bridge to be named in honour of the late Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, with former parliamentarian Jermaine Figueira and former Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson among those advocating recognition of the veteran politician’s contribution to national life.
The proposals have emerged amid public discussion over the name of the new crossing, which is expected to improve transportation between Wismar and Mackenzie and strengthen connectivity across Region Ten and the hinterland.
Figueira, in a letter published on October 17, urged authorities to name the structure the Robert Herman Orlando Corbin Bridge, describing Corbin as a distinguished son of Linden whose public service helped shape Guyana’s political development.
Figueira argued that the recognition would extend beyond party politics, pointing to Corbin’s record of public service, dialogue and engagement across political divisions.
“For Linden, this would honour one of its own. For Guyana, it would demonstrate that national recognition can rise above party allegiance and acknowledge service wherever it is found,” Figueira wrote.
Ferguson, in a separate letter to the editor, also called for the bridge to be renamed in Corbin’s honour. She argued that the proposal should not be dismissed as a political gesture or treated as a favour to a former political leader, but considered on the merits of his contribution to Guyana.
Ferguson highlighted Corbin’s leadership, commitment to public service and role in mobilising young people during the 2011 General and Regional Elections. She recalled working with a team in Mahdia, Region Eight, after Corbin requested assistance in securing the signatures needed for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to satisfy the Guyana Elections Commission’s requirements to contest the elections in the region.
She said the experience gave her firsthand appreciation of his ability to guide people, organise collective efforts and recognise their contributions.
Ferguson also referred to Corbin’s early involvement in church activities, his connections to St Matthew’s Presbyterian Church in Christianburg, Linden, and his wife Carol’s support throughout his political and public life.
She maintained that renaming the bridge would provide a lasting reminder of Corbin’s service and create a national landmark for future generations.
Corbin died on October 4, 2026, aged 78. Born in Linden on February 15, 1948, he spent more than four decades in Guyanese politics. He entered the National Assembly in 1973 and served as a government minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). He stepped down as party leader in 2012.
His political legacy has also drawn attention to the issues of national reconciliation and shared governance. At Corbin’s funeral on October 15, President Irfaan Ali described those aspirations as unfinished business for Guyana, recognising Corbin’s efforts to encourage cooperation across political, racial and cultural divisions.
The bridge itself is a major infrastructure project in Linden. The new US$35 million, four-lane crossing spans the Demerara River and is intended to replace the ageing structure that has long contributed to traffic bottlenecks between Wismar and Mackenzie. It includes pedestrian walkways and is designed to improve connections to the Linden–Mabura Road and the wider hinterland road network.
The calls to honour Corbin add a new dimension to the debate over the bridge’s name. While Figueira and Ferguson have made their case based on Corbin’s roots in Linden and his national service, the proposals remain calls for consideration; no official decision to rename the structure has been confirmed in the reports reviewed.
Both advocates have urged the relevant authorities to consider the proposal, with Ferguson also calling for a transparent process that allows residents of Linden and the wider Region Ten community to participate in the discussion.
