State given more time to provide reasons for takeover of Berbice Bridge

The Berbice Bridge
The Berbice Bridge

The state, through the Attorney General’s chambers, is expected to provide reasons by Friday to the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) for preventing its decision to hike tolls and for the government’s temporary takeover of the bridge.

When the lawsuit filed against the government by  BBCI was called before High Court judge Gino Persaud on Monday morning, the state was expected to have already laid over its affidavit in answer providing the reasons being sought by the bridge company.

The state failed, however, to lay over its written submissions to the court and sought an extension of time for further leave to so do.

Its request was subsequently granted by Justice Persaud who extended the time to December 21st.

Meanwhile, the matter is returnable to court for arguments on January 21st of next year.

Through its attorney, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, the bridge company wants Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and the Attorney General who are listed as defendants, to provide facts and reasons for the decisions made by Government.

Monday’s hearing was conducted in chambers at the High Court in Georgetown.

The BBCI is challenging government’s takeover of the operations of the bridge, as well as Patterson’s authority preventing it from instituting increases.

Among the orders the BBCI is seeking in its application before the court, is for the court to quash the proclamation issued for government’s control of the bridge and Patterson’s directive against increasing tolls.

The BBCI is contending that Patterson is not required by law to approve toll increases and has no lawful authority to prevent it from moving ahead.

About two months ago, the bridge company announced huge toll increases, which it was hoping to implement with effect from November 12th, 2018.

The announcement had been met with opposition from Patterson, who said that government was in no way going to allow “unconscionable increases.”

Later, while calling the planned increases a threat to public order and safety, Patterson issued an order for the functions of the BBCI, to maintain and operate the bridge to be exercised by government and to prevent toll increases.