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NA Mayor, APNU accuse government of deliberate economic marginalisation of New Amsterdam
(Kaieteur News) – New Amsterdam’s Mayor Wainwright McIntosh has accused the government of orchestrating a “blanket” development strategy for Region Six that systematically excludes the township.
Mayor McIntosh, during APNU’s press conference on Friday, argued that the town’s citizens are being disenfranchised as major national projects, including the transformative Gas-to-Shore initiative and the proposed Deep-Water Harbour, are planned without New Amsterdam’s integration. He expressed deep concern that the current developmental trajectory overlooks the regional capital, leaving its residents unable to capitalise on the economic opportunities currently fueling growth elsewhere in the Berbice region.
New Amsterdam Mayor, Wainwright McIntosh
Central to the Mayor’s grievance is the proposed construction of a new high-span, fixed Berbice River Bridge. McIntosh contends that the project reflects a “deliberate effort” to undermine the economic fabric of New Amsterdam, citing historical precedent as a warning. He noted that the emergence of the original Berbice River Bridge significantly crippled local businesses by diverting traffic away from the ferry service route, which once served as a vital commercial artery for the town. McIntosh fears that the new infrastructure plans, which reportedly favour locations that do not readily benefit the township, will finalise the economic displacement of its people.
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition has echoed these concerns, releasing a statement that characterises the government’s infrastructure agenda as a “bypass” strategy. The opposition highlighted that the concentration of developmental projects in Palmyra, alongside a planned four-lane highway expansion toward Moleson Creek, signals a strategic shift of commercial flow away from New Amsterdam. The APNU warns that this imbalance risks turning the regional capital into a peripheral access point, which would directly impact small business owners, vendors, and transport operators who rely on the steady flow of pass-through trade.
In response to what they describe as imminent economic marginalisation, both the Mayor and the APNU are demanding greater transparency and structural course correction from the central government. They are calling for the immediate publication of full route alignments and traffic impact assessments, as well as the development of a comprehensive revitalisation plan specifically for New Amsterdam. The opposition insists that the new Berbice River Bridge must include direct, high-capacity access links to the town to ensure that regional development remains inclusive and balanced rather than concentrated in new enclaves at the expense of existing communities.
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