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Berbice Bridge management fails to explain charges to passing vessels
Management of the Berbice River Bridge has failed to present Government with an explanation for its arbitrarily redirected marine traffic from under the bridge’s high span to the retractor span for a fee.
This is according to Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Robeson Benn, who explained that two weeks ago Government met with management and agreed that the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. would provide an explanation for its actions.
In addition, the Bridge management was expected to compile a list of unregistered boats.
Several weeks ago, boat operators complained that the bridge management issued an order that laden vessels which pass under the high span free of cost, must desist from doing so. Instead, they must now cross whenever there is a retraction. And there is a fee attached.
Vessels with foreign registration are charged $55,000 for in-bound pass and another $55,000 for out-bound. Locally registered vessels pay a fee of $28,000 for a one-way pass.
The Minister stated that Government is concerned that some operators who previously did not have to pass through the retractor span are said to have been forced to cross through the retractor span now for a fee.
Though Government already has a position on the matter, it would meet with the bridge management to discuss the issue. He noted that the Maritime Administration Department is in communication with the company discussing safety in relation to boats passing under the high span.
Security and safety of the structure were the primary reasons cited by management for imposing that decision. They had noted that many boats plying the area are unregistered.
According to a high ranking official at the Ministry, the big vessels that usually cross under the high span are registered since they are operated by companies. Meanwhile, the smaller vessels are probably unregistered and do not pose a threat to the structure.
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