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Linden Town Council displeased over Govt’s removal of Wismar McKenzie Bridge toll
…says it contributes $6m monthly to the Council’s budget; will cause financial hardship.
Kaieteur News- In light of the government’s recent decision to remove the toll on all bridges, the Linden Mayor and Town Council on Monday, voiced strong disapproval over the removal of the Wismar McKenzie Bridge toll, warning that the move will create significant financial challenges for the Council.
Linden Mayor, Sharma Solomon
The toll, which generates approximately $6 million per month, has been a critical source of revenue for the town, contributing to its annual budget.
President Irfaan Ali on Sunday announced that tolls to cross all three major bridges – Demerara, Berbice and Wismar – will be toll-free from August 1, 2025.
However, Ali, last year August, had first announced that the tolls will be removed from crossing the bridges when the new ones are completed. Government is currently building a new Demerara River Bridge, as well as one in Wismar, Linden and a new bridge for Berbice.
President Ali said that this move by the government will bring ease in travel while eliminating financial burdens on thousands of commuters.
However, City Mayor Sharma Solomon in a statement, raised concerns over the Council not being informed by the government before the announcement was made. He also questioned the potential alternatives the government might offer to compensate for the loss of toll revenue, which is essential for funding the Council’s operations, particularly salary payments.
“(Demerara River (Mackenzie) Bridge Act), has historically contributed approximately $6 million per month to the Council’s budget, which totals more than $70 million annually. To date, the government has not engaged the Council in discussions nor provided any alternative funding solutions to address the substantial budget shortfall that will result from this toll removal,” Solomon stated.
He explained that during a special meeting on February 6, 2025, the Council unanimously approved a 26% salary increase for workers, retroactive to cover the period from 2019 to 2022. However, with the removal of the toll revenue, Solomon emphasized that the Council may be forced to reconsider both the approved salary increase and the planned salary adjustments for 2022-2024, which were set to take effect in the first quarter of 2025.
“These salary adjustments are dependent on the toll revenue, and without it, our ability to proceed is uncertain,” he said.
The mayor also expressed concerns regarding the new Wismar McKenzie Bridge, which is expected to be completed within the next two years. He noted that the Council has not yet been consulted by the government about its responsibilities for the bridge’s maintenance and management once it is operational.
Wismar McKenzie Bridge
As such the mayor urges the government to meet with the Linden Town Council regarding these pressing issues.
He stated, “It is essential to explore viable alternative funding sources or measures to mitigate the potential negative impact on both the Council’s financial health and the well-being of the town.”
In regards to the construction and maintenance of the New Bridge, he said, “We request clarity on the Council’s role and responsibilities in the bridge’s ongoing management, as well as the allocation of adequate funding for its future maintenance and operations.”
“We remain committed to working with government to resolve these challenges in the best interests of the town. The Council’s priority is to ensure that essential services are maintained despite these financial hurdles,” the statement concluded.
(Linden Town Council displeased over Govt’s removal of Wismar McKenzie Bridge toll)
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