Deterioration of Harbour Bridge..."It’s unbelievable, almost criminal”

Deterioration of Harbour Bridge…”It’s unbelievable, almost criminal”

Oct 12, 2008 News

– President Bharrat Jagdeo

President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed shock at the state of the Demerara Harbour Bridge when he stopped to make an impromptu inspection of the structure on his way from the airport recently.
Speaking with the National Communications Network (NCN) yesterday at his Office, the President expressed anger that the bridge was allowed to deteriorate to such a deplorable level.
According to him, he checked on the bridge after receiving information about the state of the structure linking the western and eastern banks of the Demerara River.

President Bharrat Jagdeo

“They told me that they were buying local decking and it only lasted six months, so we spent a large sum of money on this local decking and it’s all in a sad shape,” he related.
President Jagdeo, however, said that he was told that the bridge has other structural issues, with some of the anchor chains rotting.
“So I am very concerned about the management of the Harbour Bridge, because to allow things to get to that state it’s unbelievable, almost criminal!” he exclaimed.
The Head of State said he has requested an assessment of what is needed to fix the bridge’s decking so that everything can be in place by Monday or Tuesday of next week.
“It’s unacceptable that we allow things to happen that way. I looked at the decking…it’s really gone and…they told me that we couldn’t get these plates internationally. You can get anything internationally. If it took them six months to buy these plates locally and install them, then in six months, we can find and import any decking of sufficient speck and quality,” he contended.
He added that decking for the bridge that would not have rotted or deteriorated easily could have been located.
“Sometimes you just have to go on the ground to see things yourself, and… I did that; and really, I’m very upset about it. I’ve given them instructions to deal with that, so next week we can address this definitely,” the President said.