The planned bridge across the Corentyne River will use the design, finance, build and own model and a team has been established to discuss in the coming weeks a comprehensive investment framework and advise on a final location, President Irfaan Ali and Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi yesterday announced.
“Our sides also have agreed that a Working Group will be established, which includes the addition of the Ministers of Finance to determine the investment and concessions package that will accompany this expression of interest in securing the financing, building, operating, and ownership of the bridge,” Ali yesterday told a joint press conference, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, to wrap up a four-day visit here by a Surinamese delegation.
“The technical advice of the maritime authorities of both countries would be included in the decision to determine where and how the Corentyne Bridge will be built,” Santokhi added during his address.
Also to be included in discussions when the two sides meet, would be a study on the development of West Suriname, which was done by that country’s state-owned oil company, Staatsolie.
Santokhi said that while the bridge project provides a physical link between the two countries, it will afford both sides the bridging of economies and pave the way for a number of collaborative works that will benefit the citizens of both countries.
In November of last year, and during a three-day visit by President Ali to Suri-name, the two sides signed a Memoran-dum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the joint bridging of the Corentyne River
Eight bidders from around the world have already been shortlisted to build the proposed bridge.
Suriname news agency Waterkant has reported the shortlisted companies as being China Road and Bridge Corporation (China), EGIS (France), Exp Services Inc., Pedelta, Arcadis, CEMCO (Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Guyana), FIGG / Sunecon / SRKN’gineering & Associates/ E&A Consultans / P-ALL Consultants/ Environmental Management Consultant (United States of America), Politecnica and Rina JV / ILACO / SRKN’gineering & Associates (Italy, Suriname, Guyana), SYSTRA International Bridge Techno-logies Inc. / AP&G Consultancy Suriname NV / Delta Marine Consultants / Deltares (Dubai, Suriname, Netherlands),TYPSA/ Leonard, Andra und Partner GmbH/ FIRM (Spain, Germany, Suriname) and WSP Caribbean Ltd. (Trinidad).
Waterkant said that the offers are expected no later than September 16, 2021, after which they will be assessed by a joint evaluation committee.
According to Waterkant, the chosen company has approximately one year to carry out a feasibility study.
And while it had been stated that the bridge will be located at an abutment between Moleson Creek and El Dorado, in Berbice to Lange Island that is in the middle of the Corentyne River, then connecting from there to South Drain in Suriname, the technical team from both countries would advise on a final spot.
Plans, this newspaper was told, were also on stream to make Lange Island a commercial zone. But with plans underway for development of gas and other industries, the commercial zone structure is not yet final.
“In terms of the development of Lange Island, that too is a decision that the group will make whether it comes in the package of the bridge and as President Santokhi said we have to look at the holistic approach of what is happening around the bridge…,” President Ali said.
He pointed out that both sides will also look at the fiscal incentives each country will bring to the deal and then a decision would be taken.
The announcement, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill contends is evidence of his government’s commitment to honouring promises made and delivering tangibles as the public can sense “it is not just talks”.
“There is a sense of satisfaction that progress has been made. It is more than talking but getting to the stage where concrete steps are being taken for the realization of this project,” he added.
The Public Works Minister said that during the visit of the Surinamese delegation, the team was able to advance their dialogue on the realization of the building of the bridge and that “most of the issues that are of great importance were brought to fore and discussed” and they thus came to an agreement on advancing the process.
At the technical level, according to Edghill, Guyana’s team will be ready to bring to the table their input as the sides meet to iron out issues and advance the project.
