It seems likely that the Berbice River water taxi pilot that started last Monday will continue as there has been an overwhelming response from residents.
“This was meant to be a one-month exercise in the first instance, but I believe that based on this kind of response that we’re getting that this might very well go beyond that and beyond that and beyond that,” Minister of State Joseph Harmon said at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday.
Harmon explained that the pilot project was discussed at Cabinet meet and because of the favourable report given by Minister of Infrastructure David Patterson, government is now mulling having the free service, for students and the elderly, continue. The service uses two covered launches owned by private entities. “We were advised that the boats are working very well. The persons on the East and West banks of the Berbice River are happy with the service, … there are at least 15 trips being made per day and that they commence work at 6 am and end at 6 pm. The arrangements are well in place,” he said.
The decision to implement the service was made by the David Granger administration in the face of the refusal thus far of the Berbice Bridge Com-pany Incorporated (BBCI) to accept government’s proposal for the lowering of the tolls to cross the bridge. Government had announced that from September, there would have been a reduction in the cost for using the bridge but BBCI rejected the decision.
Government has proposed a subsidy to cover the loss to the company from lower tolls. However, BBCI is arguing that its financial plight requires a longer-term agreement which would enable a refinancing of its debt with creditors.
The government maintains that it is not its intention to cause the company a financial loss.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget presentation last month had announced that the toll for passenger cars and buses crossing the Berbice River Bridge would be reduced by $300, from $2,200 to $1,900, while the toll for all other types of vehicles would be reduced by 10 per cent.
