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New bridge named after Bharrat Jagdeo
(Kaieteur News) – The 2.65-kilometer bridge across the Demerara River has been named in honor of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has been described as a giant in Guyana’s political landscape.
Former President and current Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo
The announcement was made by President Irfaan Ali on Sunday night during the commissioning of the US$262 million bridge, built by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) with a lifespan of a century.
President Ali underscored the importance of October 5th in Guyana’s history and the crucial role Jagdeo played 33 years ago in pulling the country out of economic turmoil.
President Ali recognised the former president and current vice president for his dedication to Guyana’s upliftment. “A man who has been an adviser, an architect and an anchor in our development today, I want to pay tribute to a giant of our local politics and economy,” Ali said.
“October 5th is no ordinary date in the Guyanese calendar. It is a day burned into a collective memory. It is a day that 33 years ago, witnessed the breaking of chains and the opening of doors. On October 5, the People’s Progressive Party Civic and the Guyanese people shattered the shackles of authoritarian rule and gave Guyana the chance to breathe again,” President Ali added.
He outlined that the date serves as a reminder of the dawn of a new era, when the nation was rescued from economic collapse and political darkness.
The president noted that October 5th holds special significance for Jagdeo, recalling that he stood shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Cheddi Jagan to pull Guyana out of “economic wilderness.”
Ali reminded that at the time, Guyana’s economy was bankrupt, roads were in tatters, utilities had collapsed, businesses were crippled, and debt consumed more revenue than the country earned, making it a highly indebted poor nation.
Sections of the Bharrat Jagdeo River Bridge
“A lesser soul would have walked away, but not Bharrat Jagdeo, he stood and worked to resuscitate our economy, to lift Guyana, a few years earlier, he had returned from studies with a mind sharpened like steel and a work ethic that set him apart,” the president noted.
Ali continued, “Dr Jagan recognised him a formidable asset, and he was elevated swiftly to Minister of Finance. Then he worked tirelessly rebuilding the country’s revenues, introducing the most generous incentives regime to boost our economy. He did all of this by slashing import tariffs and fighting on international front for debt relief. Under his watch, Guyana moved from being shackled by debt to standing with dignity when he assumed the presidency in 1999 it was in the midst of violence and uncertainty.”
Scenes from the commissioning of the US$262 million Bharrat Jagdeo River Bridge
President Ali praised the vice president for standing up to bullies and shielding democracy. He said Jagdeo is more than just a national figure in Guyana’s political arena, as he is also a regional leader and a global thinker. Ali reminded that Jagdeo chaired CARICOM Agriculture Initiative and pioneered the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), a model that today earns Guyana carbon credits and global respect. He noted that Jagdeo was also recognised by the United Nations as a “Champion of the Earth.”
“It is my honor, my privilege…on behalf of a grateful people, I’m pleased to dedicate this bridge in the name of from this day forward, it shall be called the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, because great men deserve recognition, because visionaries deserve legacies, because Guyana never forgets its giants,” President Ali said.
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- Bharrat Jagdeo, China Railway Construction Corporation, Demerara River Bridge, Guyana political landscape, Vice President
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3 thoughts on “New bridge named after Bharrat Jagdeo”
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Shorten the name to: BHARAT JAGDEO BRIDGE as many would call it so.
Drop the use of DEMERARA RIVER, since everyone knows where the
Demerara River is. Speed Limit should be lower than 80 kph, since drivers
don’t follow posted signs, always over the Limit.
I can’t help notice, pedestrians walking on the road bed, instead of using
the ” walkway” whilst vehicles traversing one side that was open. Dangerous.
Just don’t trust Guyana’s drivers.
And, there was garbage leftover from the long winding, boring, opening
dedication ceremony. SOMEONE FORGOT THE GARBAGE RECEPTACLES.
Mr. Jagdeo deserve the accolades and honor.
Awaiting moderation says the comments police 🤣🤣🤣