Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge collapse… Linden Town Council says Govt., NICIL failed to maintain structure

Sep 18, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – The Mayor and Town Council of Region 10 on Wednesday refuted claims by the government that the council had failed to maintain the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge properly, which collapsed earlier this week injuring several persons.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips in a statement blamed the Linden Town Council for the unfortunate situation. “The collapse of a section of the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge on Sunday evening is a terrifying reminder of the failure and neglect that residents of Linden continue to face from the PNCR-led Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC). My thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and I extend best wishes for their full recovery,” the statement said.

Phillips accused Mayor Sharma Solomon of “twisting this unfortunate event into a political talking point by dishonestly blaming the government and the removal of tolls.”

He said, “The LM&TC, by its own admission, has long held legal responsibility under the Bridge Act for the oversight and maintenance of the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge. Tolls were collected up to July 31, 2025, providing a steady revenue stream for years. The question, therefore, is not whether funds were available, but whether they were used for their intended purpose and that is to ensure regular inspections, lighting, safety upgrades, and structural maintenance.”

The prime minister suggested that if an independent audit were conducted into the revenues collected between August 2020 and July 2025, “it would almost certainly reveal a pattern of negligence, poor prioritization, and misuse of funds that should have been dedicated to keeping this vital structure safe.”

He said that the safety and maintenance of existing infrastructure are core duties of any municipal authority entrusted with public resources. “The LM&TC’s failure to meet those duties, despite collecting toll revenues up to mere weeks ago, is indefensible,” PM Phillips said noting that the government has acted “with foresight and responsibility.”

Further, the prime minister said that the age and limitations of the bridge were taken into consideration by the government and resources have been committed to the construction of a modern river crossing at Linden.

“This new bridge will replace the old structure and redefine connectivity in Region 10 by improving safety, supporting commerce, facilitating tourism, and reducing transport inefficiencies that have long stifled growth,” he said.

However, the Linden Town Council headed by Solomon said that on October 9, 2014, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government approved an increase in toll for the Wismar Mackenzie Bridge.

In its statement, the Town Council said that that decision included an announcement that a share of the revenue collected would be distributed among the Linden Mayor and Town Council, and NICIL, the entity responsible for the bridge’s upkeep.

“This order was officially gazetted, clearly stipulating a revenue split, and has been in effect since that time.”

The Town Council said, “Contrary to claims that the council bears responsibility for the neglect of the bridge, it is untrue. The maintenance of the bridge was historically managed by LINMINE, which is now under NICIL and operated by the government. The Town Council has no responsibility for the operational or maintenance aspects of the bridge.”

Further, the Council maintained that the assertion that it was responsible for maintaining the bridge is incorrect. “Historically, the upkeep of the bridge was the responsibility of LINMINE, which is now operated by NICIL, a government agency. Even with the revenue-sharing arrangement, minor repairs were consistently carried out by LINMINE, while major repairs were funded through the Ministry of Works via yearly budget allocations.”

The Council noted that all decisions regarding toll levels, including increases or removals, were made solely by the Government of Guyana.

“The Council calls upon the prime minister to set the record straight and to acknowledge that the responsibility for the bridge’s maintenance has always lain with the relevant government agencies, not the Council.”

Meanwhile, the Linden Town Council noted with concern that the government has failed to remit its portion of the profit share to the council as agreed. This the entity said, has “adversely affected our capacity to perform our civic duties effectively.”

“We urge the prime minister to verify facts before making public statements that may impact the reputation and operational capacity of the Linden Town Council. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.”

Additionally, the Linden Town Council expressed concern for the persons injured due to the collapse of the bridge. “We extend our wishes for a complete and swift recovery,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, representative of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Nigel London, visited the damaged area of the bridge on Wednesday. On a Facebook live broadcast published on the Amanza Walton-Desir – Forward Guyana Movement page, London showed the deplorable state of the bridge.

London who travelled to the location via boat, videoed the bridge from underneath. Several elements of the bridge appeared disconnected. Rotten pieces of wood were quite evident along with what appeared to be debris entangled with wood and steel.

He said, “the middle span is just resting…it is not connected to any part of the bridge…they are not telling us that the bridge is a disaster.”

London, like the Town Council, said that the municipality never had responsibility for the bridge.

“The whole middle span is compromised. The bridge is rotten underneath…most of the metal plates are loose,” London said noting that the “bridge flexes when weight is on it”.

The advocate turned politician said the people of Linden should file a lawsuit against the government “for putting our lives at risk.”

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• Bridge collapse, Linden Town Council, Mackenzie, Mark Phillips, NICIL, Sharma Solomon, Wismar

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