Acting Chief Justice Roxanne George Wiltshire today delayed a decision in the case taken to the Court over government’s takeover of the operations of the Berbice river bridge.

The Judge had scheduled this morning for her decision but told the Attorneys in the matter that she was delaying her decision as she requested additional documents and information related to the case.

She will now hand down her decision on the 18th December.

The Berbice Bridge Company moved to the Courts back in 2018 following the move by the Government through the Public Infrastructure Ministry to take control over the bridge.

The move came just as the company was preparing to increase the tolls to cross the bridge.

In its filings, the Bridge Company asked the Court to issue an order quashing the decision by the Minister to take control of the operations of the bridge.

It also wants an order to be granted quashing the government’s decision to keep the tolls for the bridge in the current form.

Additionally, the Bridge company is seeking an order of prohibition, which would prohibit the Minister of Public Infrastructure from exercising the functions of maintaining and operating the Berbice River Bridge.

The Bridge company is also asking the Court to declare that the Minister has no power under the Berbice River Bridge Act, or otherwise, to approve or reject an increase in tolls by the Bridge company.

The company is also seeking several other orders in relation to the management and operation of the bridge

The Berbice Bridge Company was seeking to increase the tolls of the bridge by more than 300%. The Government made it clear that it would not have allowed any such increase to go forward.

The Bridge company then made an offer to keep the tolls as is but demanded that the Government extends the life of the agreement for its ownership of the bridge.

The laws governing the bridge company allow for the Government to move in and take over the operations because of public safety concerns.

Related posts:

Govt. take over of Berbice Bridge is Legal. -Chief Justice rules Berbice Bridge Company moves to the Court in effort to reverse Govt. takeover Berbice Bridge Company considers government’s take over of operations unlawful, but will comply Berbice Bridge Company wants additional 19 years on concession to avoid toll hike