Linden economy suffering since Govt. scrapped bridge toll – Mayor

May 13, 2026 News

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…says promised alternative funding never came 

(Kaieteur News) – The economic hardship in the mining town of Linden has increased significantly following the government’s removal of tolls from the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge in August 2025, Linden Mayor Dominique Blair.

The town’s mayor has since written to President Irfaan Ali informing him of the town’s financial struggles. In the letter penned one year after the government promised to meet the Linden Town Council to discuss alternative compensation for the bridge toll loss. That promise, which was made by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in March 2025, never materialized.

“We will have to meet with the Town Council in Linden,” Jagdeo told reporters during one of his weekly press briefings.

Blair, in his letter to the president dated May 12, 2026, wrote, “The decision to remove the toll, without prior consultation with the Council and without the establishment of an alternative compensatory funding mechanism, has placed the municipality in a position of undue economic hardship.”

“At present, the Council is struggling to meet its operational expenses and satisfy outstanding obligations, including the payment of essential bills and the continuation of municipal services to the residents of Linden,” Blair detailed.

The mayor said that the situation has been further compounded by ongoing challenges faced by the Council in accessing adequate revenue through the collection of rates and taxes.  He noted that efforts in this regard have not received the necessary support or approval from central government authorities.

Blair in his letter, seen by Kaieteur News, said while the Linden Town Council appreciates the importance of the removal measures intended to bring relief to citizens it is equally important that local democratic organs are not rendered financially incapacitated in the process.

“The sustainability of the municipality and its ability to serve the people of Linden depend heavily on stable and predictable revenue streams,” Blair stated as he requested a meeting with between the Linden Town Council and the head of state to resolve the situation for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Kaieteur News understands that the Wismar/McKenzie Bridge toll generated approximately $6 million monthly and was a vital source of revenue for the town, contributing to its annual budget.

Previous mayor Sharma Solomon in a statement last year also 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 then 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.

He had also called for a meeting between the government and the Linden Town Council regarding the matters. “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,” he stated.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Works said that the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge is on track to become fully operational by June as construction is progressing steadily, with works now 95.4 per cent complete.

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• economic hardship, Linden, mining town, Wismar Bridge

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