On the eve of Guyana’s 56th Independence Anniversary, the Government of Guyana inked the country’s largest infrastructural development contract which is valued at approximately US$260million for the construction of a new Demerara Bridge.

A Chinese joint venture will be undertaking the construction.

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, today expressed gratitude to the many stakeholders and partners, who he noted have worked over a span of ten years to get to this historic signing today.

“We are here to sign the largest contract for a transport infrastructure project ever financed by the government of Guyana”, he said, while adding that “history is in the making right before our very eyes. It has been a long and challenging road leading us here. Today is the culmination of almost 10 years of planning dating back to March 2013.”

While Edghill acknowledged that a project of this magnitude will result in some inconvenience, he called on the citizens to work with the Government so that the project can be completed within a two-year period.

The contract was awarded to China Railway Construction Corporation International, along with China Railway Caribbean Company Limited.

A total of 14 companies were competing for the contract, but in the end, it was the Chinese companies that emerged as the winners of the bid.

Speaking at the signing today, the Ambassador of China to Guyana Ms. Guo Haiyan noted that China has been one of Guyana’s main partners in various developmental and infrastructural development projects. Ambassador Guo Haiyan said that this signing of the contract comes as gear up to celebrate their diplomatic relations.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh spoke about the various development projects that are being undertaken by the Government.

He said with the development taking place across Guyana and more international companies seeking to invest, the country has got to keep building up on its infrastructure.

We are witnessing history today and not history in the sense of a one-off isolated project but history in the sense of a major transformative project that is part of a much larger, comprehensive plan for transforming Guyana. To put it very simply, my Guyanese brothers and sisters, the making of a modern Guyana is well underway and today’s generation of Guyanese are incredibly privileged not only to witness the making of modern Guyana but to be a part of it. To be active participants, not passive spectators but active participants and meaningful contributors; whatever we may do”, Dr. Singh said.

With an estimated lifespan of 100 years, the new high-rise bridge is expected to be a 4 lane hybrid project that could see an easier flow of traffic between regions Three and Four. The length of the bridge will be about 2.65 kilometers and the vertical height is about 50 meters from the highest water point recorded.

Government officials said the latest project proves that the PPP Civic administration is keeping to its promises of major infrastructure works.

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