GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana on Wednesday signed a US$260 million agreement with a Chinese joint venture company for the construction of a new crossing over the Demerara River.
The design for the new Demerara River Crossing“We are here to sign the largest contract for a transport infrastructure project ever financed by the government of Guyana,” said Public Works Juan Edghill, expressed gratitude to the many stakeholders and partners, who he said worked over a 10-year period to get the project signed.
“History is in the making right before our very eyes. It has been a long and challenging road leading us here. Today is the culmination of almost 10 years of planning dating back to March 2013.”
The design for the new Demerara River CrossingFinance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said although the event was “devoid of pomp and ceremony,” it was historic in the transformation of a modern Guyana.
“While simple, make no mistake that you are witnessing history today. The making of modern Guyana is well underway and today’s generation of Guyanese are incredibly privileged not only to witness it but to be part of it,” Singh said.
“We are witnessing history today and not history in the sense of a one-off isolated project but history in the sense of a major transformative project that is part of a much larger, comprehensive plan for transforming Guyana.
“To put it very simply, my Guyanese brothers and sisters, the making of a modern Guyana is well underway and today’s generation of Guyanese are incredibly privileged not only to witness the making of modern Guyana but to be a part of it. To be active participants, not passive spectators but active participants and meaningful contributors; whatever we may do”, Singh said.
The new facility will replace the almost five decades old current floating structure and the 2.65 km four-lane, high span bridge will have a hybrid design that will allow for the passage of large vessels. It will have a lifespan of 100 years and is expected to be completed and commissioned within the next two years.
Singh said the signing also comes mere weeks after the Irfaan Ali government signed the contract for the construction of 32 concrete bridges along the road from Kurupukari to Lethem which will lay the foundation for the completion of that road.
“We meet also to sign this contract at a time when advertisements are going out and the procurement processes are being launched for the gas to shore project… which will lay the foundation for the construction of Guyana’s first major industrial complex to be known as the Wales Development Authority.
“Today’s signing also comes at a time when we are about launch the procurement process for the construction of a new road from the alignment of this bridge on the West Demerara side to Crane and when we are at an advanced stage of designing a highway from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.,” Singh said, “the lost goes on”.
China’s ambassador Guyana Ms. Guo Haiyan noted that Asian country has been one of Guyana’s main partners in various developmental and infrastructural development projects.
The diplomat said that this signing of the contract comes as the two countries gear up to celebrate their diplomatic relations.
A total of 14 companies were competing for the contract, but in the end, it was the Chinese joint venture that includes China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Ltd., China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co. Ltd, and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co. Ltd (China & Trinidad and Tobago) that prevailed.
