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Harbour bridge deterioration ‘almost criminal’ - President

President Bharrat Jagdeo has described the deterioration of the 30-year-old Demerara Harbour Bridge as “unbelieveable, almost criminal” and mandated its management to have an assessment of the repairs needed completed by Tuesday so that the issue could be resolved at Cabinet.

In an interview with the NCN television, Jagdeo said he visited the Demerara Harbour Bridge on his return to the country from overseas last week and “Frankly speaking, I was shocked.”

He cited the rotting state of the decking and anchor chains of the bridge and other structural issues.
The state of the bridge, he said had been raised at the level of Cabinet as a number of people from West Coast Demerara had told him about it. “It is unbelievable that we allowed the decking of the bridge to deteriorate to that extent,” he said.

He said he was told that the decking was acquired locally and only lasted six months. “So we spend a large sum of money for local decking and it is all in a sad shape,” he said, adding that during the inspection other also structural problems, including rotting anchor chains were pointed out. “So I am very concerned about the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge because to allow things to get to that stage, it’s unbelievable almost criminal.”

Jagdeo said he has asked the management of the bridge to do an assessment of what it would take to fix the decking on the bridge and to complete it by Monday or Tuesday latest so that the issues could be resolved at Cabinet.

Noting that the decking was “totally gone”, he said he was told that the plates could not be sourced internationally. “I find that hard to believe. You can get anything internationally,” he said. He added that they could find and import decking of a better quality, which would not rot or deteriorate as easily as the ones that were last placed on the bridge.

He said it was unbelievable that he had to go on the ground himself to do these things.

Commissioned on July 2, 1978, the Demerara Harbour Bridge is a 6,074-foot (1,851 m) long floating toll bridge. It has a pedestrian foot walk and a raised section, under which small vessels pass. A retractor span allows for the passage of large vessels. Construction of the bridge began in May 1976. There are 61 spans in the bridge numbered 1 to 61 going from east to west. When the bridge was commissioned, its initial life span was ten years. The bridge has undergone rehabilitation and repair works on several occasions since.

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86 Responses to “Harbour bridge deterioration ‘almost criminal’ - President”

Johan
on October 12th, 2008 5:20 am

How about spending the same effort and money on improving the quality of local decking instead - with the same amount of passion?

[Reply to this]
bvbocan 173.32.123.175 not found
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 9:54 pm:
Jagdeo has the audacity to blame others for the bridge’s neglect? Who does he think is in charge of the Government?

[Reply to this]
guy123
on October 12th, 2008 5:42 am

Mr Jagdeo,you should do some more checking up on other areas like that,and you would see what is going on,luckily the harbour bridge was built when there was still good standard and the work in those days was of a good quality,or that bridge would have gone a long time ago.

[Reply to this]
James E Lewis
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 9:20 am:
I find this rather surprissing to read such nonsence in these times when technology is no advanced.I personally felt that the advisers who suggested the building of this bridge should have thought of the future and a bridge of much better standard and more to international standards that last for decades.

Same old story poor management and a waist of space and money.

[Reply to this]
guy123
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 11:25 am:
The harbour bridge is 30 years old,three decades,and has been poorly managed for the past 16 years,so it would start to fall to peices,but like I said before,it is only holding up because of the quality of work done on it in the first place.

bishnu R
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 11:28 am:
IF YOU YOU DID YOUR HOME WORK YOU WOULD KNOW THAT SECTIONS OF THE BRIDGE WENT UNDER SEVRAL TIMES IN THE PAST THE LAST TIME WAS IN 1992 .

[Reply to this]
guy123
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 12:24 pm:
November?

jamar
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:46 pm:
IT OUT LAST THE WHAFT THAT HAD A GRAND OPENING AND WENT FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER JUST DAYS AFTER.ITS A MIRACLE HOW THINGS OPERATE IN GUYANA THAT WAS CRIMINAL BUT JUST WHO ………..

gtfellow
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 1:11 pm:
You must be delusional …as someone who lived at the western end of the bridge and used it regularly over the years since it was constructed, I can attest that its problems go way back to before the last 16 years. I’m all for being critical, but stick to the facts.

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:05 pm:
Well said Guy, with the QUALITY of work done then it has survived all the lack of maintenance, poor management, neglect from ‘we all know who’ & still provides a valuable service. We all know of harbours RECENTLY BUILT with all the available technological advances & they have floated away. Stories like have become rather popular over these last 16 yrs.

[Reply to this]
M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
on October 12th, 2008 6:04 am

It would be nice to know the names and ages of those involved in the management of the DHB.

[Reply to this]
evileyes
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:21 am:
Say it again Hackett….You think SN will try to get not only names -ages but photos also of all those involved?Nahh I dont thnk SN will even attempt..SN knows exactly who is running the show at DHB…….

[Reply to this]
John Smith
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 12:50 pm:
Evil I did not see you yesterday, I was starting to wonder if all was well with you. Nice to see you are well and welcome back my friend

M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:10 pm:
I meet one a dem de ada day. So I noe.

evileyes
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 6:39 pm:
John I was planning of the stop blog here..seems some people can freely speak whats on their minds but some are not allowed…like one blogger said something like “they came to Guyana and made at look like south Pakistan and they should go back” everyone knew what he was referring to….but no one can reply in kind to statements like that….my response to a statement like that got the axe..chopped down….ehehehehe so all I could do is laugh at Ignorance…..Thank bro…Im ok but dealing with a painful right arm…..looks like ole age setting in…hahahahahahahaha….
Hackett I hope he is not a Phantom like they talk about here…..Thanks Guy………ehehehehehehe
drugb
on October 12th, 2008 6:57 am

Some say that Jagdeo is a micro manager. No wonder the man has to stoop to micro mananging, the incompetence of those in charge of specific projects begs for micro management.

[Reply to this]
JN
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:09 pm:
The president needs to hold people accountable and not micro-manage. There is almost no justification for micro-management.

The state of the brigde is a reflection of the laissez-faire attitude of us — Guyanese.

[Reply to this]
rambler
on October 12th, 2008 7:40 am

Come on Mr President! Stop putting down the astounding progress of this PPP government. You need to stop criticizing so much and be more patriotic.

[Reply to this]
Johan
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 8:55 am:
You…are…so…funny!!!

[Reply to this]
alexis 296
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 4:01 pm:
rambler if donot known,say nothing.

[Reply to this]
Mme Defarge
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 8:40 am:
literal-minded and humourless
2s
on October 12th, 2008 8:17 am

I totally agreed with guy123 comment that during those days there were a lot of quality job done. The best one was the harnessing of the waterfall and what a job that was.

[Reply to this]
MR.WEST BANK
on October 12th, 2008 8:19 am

Mr President more rehabilitation and repair work is needed
to other things that were build before 1992, why not mandate
your ministers to look around like you did and give the managers
a dead line comrade ?.

[Reply to this]
Kumar Persaud
on October 12th, 2008 8:20 am

Jagdeo is just amplifying his government’s own incompitence. This bridge mismanagement is just one of hundreds that are in crisis due to incompitence by the PPP government, and stratigically supported by the PNC.

Guyana begs for LEADERSHIP!!!!!!!!!

[Reply to this]
evileyes
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:29 am:
KUMAR ::::: Guyana begs for LEADERSHIP!!!!!!!!!You say????ehehehehhe….
Then Sharma and AFC should start if they want to one day lead Guyana…
AFC should start donating some nails and screws to hold down the steel plates so that people dont fall into the river…Sharma would be there as witness with his camera crew to ensure that the nails and screws are handed over by AFC….eheheheheheheheh

[Reply to this]
John Smith
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 1:00 pm:
Evil, AFC donated toilets because the people asked for donation. If the government asks for donation of nails and screws I am sure AFC is going to be there with a few buckets of same with Sharma on towe to show Guyanese that they are there to help with the betterment of the country. That is putting the interest of the nation first and that is waht counts, if political milage comes with it then good.

evileyes
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 6:47 pm:
aaawwwww Johnny real leaders take matters into their own hands…like my guy Burnham did…he dont wait….he didnt have time to wait to be in the forefront…..AFC must roll up their sleeves and dig right in and show those incompetent PPP and PNC ppl how to build and maintain a bridge..but to be fair to those AFC people,time must be given to them because they are too busy installing flush toilets ehehehehe…..
John Smith
on October 12th, 2008 8:38 am

I go across that bridge at least once a week and there are times when I feel my car is going to fall through. The amaizing thing is just earlierthis year extensive renovations were done and in a short period after that, plates startet to contorting and raising. You have to navigate cones that indicate danger spots and these cones keep popping up at different places. I feel either inferior materials are being used or the engineers are doing shaddy work or they just don’t know what they are doing.

The bridge has outlived its natural life and I strongly would encourage the president to start thinking about another bridge. The link between these two banks is very important to the whole country. I hope we don’t wait until the bridge takes a dive to its watery grave with hundreds on its weary back before those responsible are jolted into action. We really need to stop being reactive, be proactive for once.

[Reply to this]
evileyes
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 6:50 pm:
John , dont worry my friend, if you fall through de bridge in de river while crossing, you have a back up….swim for yuh life…good to see you here again too bro…you were also missing for a few days and had me worried…take care always…..

[Reply to this]
blahblah
on October 12th, 2008 8:44 am

i am sure this falls under Min. benn portfolio. The man has been walking around with a bully stick on the council,and now this.

I think this issue that Jagdeo is blowing up is a jab at that same Benn.

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
on October 12th, 2008 9:03 am

“He said it was unbelievable that he had to go on the ground himself to do these things.”

Is the Presee FIANLLY seeing that he has a bunch of incompetents
around him?

Now if Sharma had highlighted this is one of his “Community” programs,
he would have been deemed as not acting in the ‘nationam interest’ !

My challenge to the Presee:

…pay surprise visits to some of the offices and operations
and see first hand why the populace complains about poor service

Yes Sir…..the poor Preseehas to micro-manage with his incompetents

[Reply to this]
briantee
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 9:52 am:
Carl i agree that the president may finally be realizing that those that he has in position are not deserving of the said positions.

If only the govt, will select competent and qualified persons for hte job and not select people based on political affiliation then progress will be made.

Its a shame that anyone managing an important piece of infrastructure like the bridge will allow it to reach that stage.

Lets see what he will do.

[Reply to this]
GTRL.TV
on October 12th, 2008 9:09 am

The quality of steel available o the market is the worse quality. Piece by piece the entire Harbor Bridge can be replaced with better metal, such as aluminium alloy - a mixture of aluminium and magnesium, stainless steel or galvanize. Why not put a layer of fiberglass over the pontoons? You would not have to worry about maintenance for a number of years.
Red Lion
http://www.mainlandwe.com

[Reply to this]
Kumar Persaud
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:10 am:
GTRL u rmissing the key point, INCOMPITENCE!!!!!!!!

A colleague from UG did his final year project on the harbour bridge on maintenance for his BSc in Mech.Eng. , and amazingly he said the technology is there and is used to a limited extent to extend the useful life of the bridge.

Where is he now after graduating with distinction????

Working in Trinidad.

No future for him in Guyana.

[Reply to this]
MACK
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:25 am:
I agree with everything you said. The problem is there seem to be no one in Guyana who has the experience nor knowledge with these products. The President cannot be everywhere, and he seemed to be surrounded by a bunch of incompetents.

[Reply to this]
Jacqueline Massiah
on October 12th, 2008 9:30 am

What is “not patriotic” about ensuring that the DHB is safe?

[Reply to this]
rambler
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 11:29 am:
Just asking that question is being unpatriotic, comrade.

[Reply to this]
TKhemraj
on October 12th, 2008 9:41 am

This is what you get from building a floating bridge. The rate of depreciation will speed up in the later years. Therefore, the cost of maintenance will increase as the bridge gets older. All bridges and infrastructure are like this, but a floating bridge is especially costly in later years.

Now, why do I get the impression that the President’s aggression is intended to deflect attention from his overall failures in managing the economy, especially the Skeldon investment. Is this a case where he is projecting subliminal messages to the uninformed Indian masses that this President knows what he is doing but the managers don’t?

Now Mr. President, remind me again who is building another FLOATING BRIDGE idge in the year 2008? Is this another case of short-termism? Is it another case of trying to win some short-term praise with poor economic decisions that will have substantial long-term costs? Is this a case of shifting the costs to future generations as Burnham had done with the current FLOATING BRIDGE?

[Reply to this]
MACK
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:41 am:
TK the floting bridge is expensive to maintain if it goes beyond it’s useful life, however they do provide a temporary relief from the present situation. The big problem is, planning ahead. There seem to have been no prior planning to replace this bridge once it’s useful life was passed. The same would happen if planning is not put in place for the new Berbice river bridge. I have some experience managing these floating bridges for the US Military, and yes it can very expensive.

[Reply to this]
coolieman
on October 12th, 2008 10:21 am

Mr President I wonder why you have to keep going around the whole country to know whats going on the ground, seems like a lot of your ministers and others around them should find other jobs , where is the media and opposition they have a responsibility to investigate and expose these dangers to the public and force the govt to take action, this one is right on their backyard, or are they waiting for another Santa Rosa

[Reply to this]
torbo
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 10:50 am:
what oppositions collieman??

[Reply to this]
coolieman
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 12:14 pm:
Your party the PNC and AFC ,thats what they are paid for to expose and not only oppose

M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:39 pm:
dem get tings call ministry of this and ministry of dat to keep an impartial eye on tings, dats why dem get pay taxpayer money. appasition only luk fuh score pints. let the ministry do dem wuk!

[Reply to this]
trix
on October 12th, 2008 10:32 am

TKhemraj hits the nail on the head… we all know the issues of building / maintaining a floating bridge ..especially with our climate, strong river currents and salty environment…. and now we are spending our money on another one in Berbice.

Both structures should have been in reinforced concrete.. like the Canje Bridge (which is holding up so well and with practically $0 maintenance).. so as they say, a wise man learns from a fool’s mistakes. unfortunately there seems to be the need for the adminstration in guyana to keep on making their own mistakesbut not learning anything from them.

[Reply to this]
Forbes Moore
on October 12th, 2008 10:45 am

This is one time i have to agree with the Pres. The Minister under whose portfolio the maintenance of the bridge falls, should be fired, regardless of race, color or creed. People’s lives are at stake. When the President has to do the minister’s job, something is really, really wrong. All guyanese should be hopping mad.

[Reply to this]
torbo
on October 12th, 2008 10:45 am

finally mr. president you are awakening from your deep slumber and seeing
what kind of works your ministers are doing, or maybe the international trips
you are taking opening up your eyes and ideas, so as soon as you arrived
back in the country you noticed the horrible state the bridges are, well open
your eyes a bit more and you will seeeee the terrible state the country is in,
no jobs for the ug graduates only kfc/popeyes/pizzahut/ they can apply for
jobs at , so for me you can continue to slumber for the rest of your time
in office..

[Reply to this]
gtbeat
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 7:48 pm:
Well Torbo what brings you out ?, let me guess, you’re on one of your usual anti-govt rants….what we have is a bridge which has survived well past it’s freshness date largely through Guyanese ingenuity this bridge has exceeded it’s lifespan there is only so much one can do if the original parts are not available.
As for the President travelling… I am sure you can appreciate it’s part of the job.
Don’t beat up the President, simply because he is disatisfied with way things are carried out, c’mon even GW is allowed to express his displeasure.

[Reply to this]
torbo
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 8:07 am:
gtbeat is 16 yrs the ppp running things in guyana and like you said the bridge
out lived it usefullness along time ago, so why only now your president seeeeeing the horrible state of the bridge why nothing was put into place
to replace this bridge or repair it properly , so what nonsense you talking
about? that is the only floating bridge in the country that is operating , i am
quite sure your president travels across that same bridge , he must have knowledge that the bridge is old and rusting away…..
Arnold
on October 12th, 2008 11:14 am

I guess the steel plates that they are using are imported from China,
buy the original plates from the bridge builders it would last, it’s proven against salt water..

[Reply to this]
michael tannassee
on October 12th, 2008 11:55 am

It is beyond any kind of management ,, be it micro or macro,, those who manage are operating in a vacuum created by themselves ,, and is the value of square pegs ,,,,,,,,, this is not unheard of ,, the inability to inculcate self pride ,, in any thing we do in GY ,, is borne out of curruption ,, which viewed in any colour u choose will never last ,, and for those who benefit from such gains ,, and is seen as accumulation of wealth ,,, must remember that in any wealth accumulated there is crime in it ,, — de GUYANA tony montana —

there is a master engineer who if he is still aound at what used to be sprostons
which became GUYnec — more of the same ,, evidence of mo’ horse manure with the baptism of GUY as a prefix — i know him as Joe Bourne ,, last time i saw him he was superintendent of the foundry ! does it still exist ??? anyway back to the repairs of the bridge,, which bcame reality is the “advice” given as experts ,, to the leader at whatever time with their agenda cloaked in the details ,,

it is unfair to the person who ultimately must say “yes” to anything that represents development in any country ,, examples of this abound ,,,,, l’il bush is de leadah of de pack ,, who will soon be followed by a very inexperienced player ,, ??????
all of any mistake made that was on the drawing board ,, where say the President initiated the concept or one of his advisors ,, do u see the pic i’m trying to paint here ,, as is the case of the bridge ,, everything abt the DHB ,, should have been calculated from the “reason” for the bridge ! what’s the gain to have a bridge that will last for 10 years ,, when the river is not goin anywhere but to sea !
and the salt water will not ever stop being salty unless we damn the atlantic from the shores of GY ,,,,,,, and the nation will still be needing to cross the river “all the time”…..

maintenance that is necessary for the well being of the body,, is by extension ,,
mandatory ,, for the well being of anything man made ! matters not it’s purpose ,,
much more imperative will be the demand for maintenance if it is to be burdened by traffic ! like i had mentioned in past posts and is being brought to light crab island ,, is a sand bank formed by the silt from the Amazon river over milleniums past ,, the mouth of the berbice river is the largest such,, west of the Amazon ,, my point here is ,, the Amazon will continue to deposit it’s 3 million tons of silt and debris each “day ” and one day the BRB will no longer be floating ,, which will be the result of short term tunnel vision ,, with corruption cloaked in the advice given ,, like ,, they did when they advised the President to go with cup in hand to ask for a 20 mil USD loan to dredge 4 rivers !………

[Reply to this]
cargie
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:28 pm:
Well when that was built , there were problems, they didn’t even have the right parts. One of those engineers who build that bridge is now 80 years old. I wish them well. And I dont think Guynec exist anymore. But its Guyana

[Reply to this]
rambler
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 5:43 pm:
your president is Bush; stay out of Guyanese politics

[Reply to this]
Caesar
on October 12th, 2008 12:32 pm

It is imperative that we know who are the structural engineers and bridge inspectors in charge of checking bridge maintenance in the country. We need their names so they can be charged with culpable negligence and fired.Somebody is not doing their job here and are being paid.Where life safety is concerned,this bridge creates an unsafe situation.It requires that the structure be closed down,an engineer of record to evaluate the structural damage,the relevant repairs made,the bridge passes an inspection in all phases of life safety and structural compliance,and a certificate of completion issued.I was at the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge in 1996,and every day,you can see maintennance is being carried out. The same is to be seen on the George Washington Bridge, and the Whitestone Bridge.Bridges of the Guyana type,like ships, last about fifty years.It takes constant maintennance,painting,rustcoating,checking high strength bolt and riveting connections,tension of cables,reinforcing steel,welding components,and monitoring cracks in the concrete superstructure etc, to keep these structures in working order, and metal from oxidizing ,falling apart, and eventual bridge failure.

[Reply to this]
eloise
on October 12th, 2008 12:59 pm

mr president your minister,s are getting paid for not doing
their job, you have to do some thing about it and very soon
people life depends on it.
that bridge is very important for guyana, you got to get that
bridge in order, in the mean time get the ferry to work , night
and day as possible while the bridge has been repair.
what about the pnc they suppose to help too. the people
depends on both parties , or the comeing election , bouth party
is out. i think guyana nead a change, some younger person,
oh don,t fall to sleep, ppp and the pnc should take a step down
if they can,t do their jobs, getting paid for doing nothing,
sorry the people of guyana come first they nead that bridge.

[Reply to this]
onelove
on October 12th, 2008 1:22 pm

i was living in guyana in the eighties when a public bus allmost fell through that same bridge.its not only now that bridge being neglected,it happens during the PNC days too.not only bus allmost fell in cars too.i will say it again the PPP and PNC need to take a hike out of politics.

[Reply to this]
JN
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:17 pm:
Why is everything divided by PNC and PPP? Both governments were corrupt and both parties lack the will to save us from certain doom. The only thing that Guyana does well is produce very well educated people.

It is quite ironic that with all that human capital, we rate consistently low in almost every category in 2008-2009 Global Econonic Forum Report (http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.html). This report, an easy read, is SHOCKINGLY ACCURATE. Read it!!

[Reply to this]
Trevor A. Norton
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 5:56 pm:
You make your own point so eloquently; you live in Canada.

M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 3:51 pm:
And the bus driver win a national award for bravery for making evasive maneuvers to save his own tail….first and passengers

[Reply to this]
gtbeat
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 7:25 pm:
Are you the new the king of the one liners?, please stop with this silly attempt at humour.

M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 10:50 am:
It is true. Read some old newspapers from that time.
pking
on October 12th, 2008 2:06 pm

Which country is this man running?Why is he surprised by the state of the bridge?When discussing preventative maintaince to the country this main bridge was not thought of?

[Reply to this]
Charriot
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 6:02 pm:
He just got back from China where he saw quality bridges. It was an eye opener!!!!

[Reply to this]
alexis 296
on October 12th, 2008 2:51 pm

coolieman you are so in to politics.

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal
on October 12th, 2008 3:01 pm

Well thank you Mr. President. Some are of the opinion that your administration was letting everything built by our founder leader LFS Burnham go to waste, citing such things as the Linden Highway (where our timber, etc. pass), The GNS (where many young Guyanes were provided avenues for their skills, energies, etc) & the Demerara Harbour Bridge (where our West Coast produce is transported). It is indeed nice to know that you care. We look forward to your efforts to maintain, widen & possibly illuminate the Linden Hwy.

[Reply to this]
jamar
on October 12th, 2008 3:40 pm

DE MINISTER OF WORKS DRIVING AROUND STOPPING WORK AT THE SITE OF THE MOUNUMENT DIDN`T SEE THIS WHEN HE DE CROSSING DE BRIDGE WHICH IS OF MORE INTEREST TO THE NATION SEEING WHERE THE MOUNUMENT IS BUILDING OR THE NATION INFASTRUCTURES FALLEN TO PIECES. PRESI SAY IT ALMOST CIMINAL
BUT THIS JUST REFLECTING THE HAPPENING UNDER HIS WATCH .ALMOST CRIMINAL AND I SAY CRIMINAL. THAT Y WE HAD SO MANY BRIDGES FALLEN TO PIECES IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

[Reply to this]
Desi
on October 12th, 2008 4:38 pm

Its significant that Presi gone public with his ‘outrage’. Apparently he was so vexed that he gone and build another floater in Berbice. Y’all Demerara people better start learning to swim cos it ain’t got no money for a new bridge. Fineman reward done spend out. Is Malalali, Mokouria and pontoon for Demeraraians. Invest in a speed-boat ( a.k.a ‘Death Trap’). Come on boatbuilders get to work!

[Reply to this]
alexis 296
In reply to the above comment on October 12th, 2008 6:48 pm:
desi how fine man get in this?

[Reply to this]
Desi
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 1:06 pm:
Read between the lines. How much bridge repairs we coulda get from the reward money that the Joint Services people collect?

alexis 296
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 2:05 pm:
desi that is what the govt. said ,we donot know if the joint service collect the rewards.

Desi
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 6:28 pm:
Well if the gov’t SAY the Joint Services got the money and the Joint Serviced DID NOT DENY receiving it, then………………………..

Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 10:43 pm:
More funds are available from the overseas bank accounts and stolen property of members of the previous regime .The government should seize those accounts to defray expenses.

[Reply to this]
j persaud
on October 12th, 2008 8:07 pm

guyana has never know such progress ,from 1992 to now,after 28yrs of misrule and feed ,clothe and house the nation , we can safely say that things are looking up. unless we want to go back to calabash bowls and rice flour roti.the jagdeo govt has change guyana from being the second runner up to haiti , to a respectful position, the former thugs are just blind to real development and cant adjust to the real world. we have seen what happen to guyana after being the bread basket to the begging bowl under the former dictatorship.16yrs after they cant take the progress, hey brothers join the band and rebuild what u have damage, at least be part of the process, or ur so stupid that for a split second u r living in false hopes of winning again. never again would the pnc get another oppurtunity to take this govt. look around everywhere, things are happening. join the team .

[Reply to this]
torbo
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 8:18 am:
lololol bannas wake up guyana is still the second runner up to haiti so stop your
nonsense and enjoy your good life in richmond hill .. hahahahaha

[Reply to this]
Desi
In reply to the above comment on October 13th, 2008 1:09 pm:
Thanks, Torbo. Some of these bloggers still living in 1992 and they won’t even take a few minutes a day to read some newspaper headlines. Schuups!
Faceboy
on October 12th, 2008 9:01 pm

Once we are on track with the oil exploration, I hope that the governemnt will budget some of the revenues from the oil sales and put in place a new bridge, like the one that bridge the Berbice river. NB: Please remove the strays off the public roadways and reinterduce the state big buses to ply the hihgways. THANK.

[Reply to this]
Leyland Bascom
on October 13th, 2008 1:39 am

I cannot avoid declaring my interest in the latest bridge concerns. I am not a politician or an engineer, I was born at west bank, school and worked at Mackenzie and finally received lasting fundamentals from Govt. Tech. Institute. I am now a Canadian for 38 years. Of all the numerous trips to G/T it is the applied techonogly implemented in the bridge construction that captured my interest. For those of you who are foreign and fortunate to see techonolgy at its best in reference to bridge and tunnels will understand where I am going with this.

My observation 25 years ago, resulted as limited conserderation for protection of the flooting pantoons against the salt water, the pumping mechanism installed on the very pantoons, the complete structure noted to be galvanized coated only and many other defficiencies applicable to bouyancy.

My recent observation was June/08. I certainly commend management for the many improvements with the exception safety precationary measures implemented while bridge workers conducted their task.

My ideas are s follows: Lets coordinate our inteliegence Soil engenieers, Structual engineers, Civil engieers, Mechanical engineers and Electrical Engineers. I am sure young and older heads are still in Guyana but I am positive lots of my retired buddies in and around North America would love the challenge to put a business plan together and construct the real thing for Guyana.

For those of you who are familar with Power Engineering, try standing on the bridge look into the northern direction of the river especially when tide is in fall direction, my friends we can do a lot the velocity of the undercurrent, implementation of water turbines can be utlized to power the very bridge.

Lets work together, we an accomplish the impossible!
This bridge is always on my mind, Over the years I constantly joke with a Canadian engineer, for me to take him to G/t to check my bridge out

[Reply to this]
JUAN GABRIEL
on October 13th, 2008 5:57 am

This situation can only be described as criminal negligence.God forbid, but can you imagine waking up one morning to read that scores of commuters have been swept away to their deaths if that bridge should fall apart. Let’s see if their is any testicular fortitude to hold those responsibleto task for this gross neglect and deriliction of duty.

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parmanand dholichand
on October 13th, 2008 9:49 am

it was a mistake to build the longest floating socialist bridge.a permanent structure is now needed instead of a white elephant stadium.the elected president must be blamed.he chosed the minister of public works and his advisor.is there two presidents in guyana.well probably they were chosen by the actual president and the elected president is now complaining.rememer bharrat said that a minister build the wrong road in mahaica.get rid of the semi autonomous body that is managing the bridge and do not ask them for advice how to put the bridge back in order.the bridge is making a lot of money.the bridge must be fully privatised.i know privatisation is not the cure for all ills but if you cannot run it you will have to do same.

[Reply to this]
mwilson
on October 13th, 2008 6:20 pm

Not the management to be blamed. The minister responsible should be fired. Gross incompetence.

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Canadian Banna
on October 13th, 2008 9:35 pm

Glad it was the Pres. who mentioned the state of the bridge, just imagine if Hinckson had mentioned it! Yes, yes we all know he would be jailed for life!! heh, heh.

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 14th, 2008 8:52 pm:
No,he would be commended. However,he chose to mention other things that got him where he is.

[Reply to this]
eloise
on October 14th, 2008 12:46 am

FACE BOY
WHO ARE YOU CALLING STRAYS, EXPLAIN YOUR SELF
I DON,T THINK YOU MEAN THE PEOPLE OF GUYANA OR
THE MINIE BUSSES, IF IS THE MINIE BUSSES YOU MEAN YOU
ARE CRAYZIE, THAT IS HOW MOST PEOPLE MAKE A LIVEING
THE GOVERMENT DON,T PAY THESE PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO
SUPPORT THEM SELF, OUR PRESIDENT IS NOT SO OLD,
BUT THE MINISTER OF THE PPP AND THE PNC IS TOO OLD
GUYANA NEAD A CHANGE, GUYANA NEAD TO GO FOWARD
IT IS DIFFERENT TIME NOW THESE OLD HEAD,S NEAD TO TAKE
A BACK SEAT, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE OLD YOU SLEEP
A LOT , AND THE THINK IS ALL WAYS STAY THE SAME
BACK IN THE OLD DAYS. WE ARE LIVEING IN DIFFERENT TIME
WE GO WITH THE FLOW, PPP AND PNC OLD TIME IS OUT
THE PEOPLE NEAD A CHANGE, NO DICTATER SHIP NO
COMMUNIST. THEY NEAD DEMOCRAT.
MR PRESIDENT GET THAT BRIDGE IN ORDER AND ROADS
EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO STOP PAYING THE MINISTER
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR WORK.

[Reply to this]
GTBanna
on October 14th, 2008 3:00 am

Just imagine! It took the President to discover that the current condition of the bridge is “criminal.” Wonder what happen to the Minister and the P.S. for Ministry of Public Works????

[Reply to this]
Pat
on October 14th, 2008 10:46 am

Isn’t there a minister with direct responsibility for the bridge? If so what is he really doing; or is it a case of the President just dabbling in any and everything?

[Reply to this]
evileyes
on October 15th, 2008 10:32 am

De President aint dabbling in nothing:::De thing is a floating bridge…with or without people let it float even if it float away…….is a floating bridge…….

[Reply to this]
i4ithal
on October 17th, 2008 10:02 am

my fella guyanese yal hava tink long term here…….30yrs and demarara bdge is falling down, yal eva stop feh tink wah go happen to deh berbice bridge!

n i hava gree wid kumar, we hava get rid of the snake n deh mangoose if guyana is goin to prosper……..

le me ask wan queston hey,, any of yall no how much money the cabinets n deh president n vice is paid?

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