
East Bank and West Bank Demerara residents who are likely to be relocated to make way for the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge can be assured that they’ll be paid the market value for their properties by the Government.
The assurance came from Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, on Wednesday evening as he was grilled during the consideration of the budget estimates and the sums set aside to address that issue.
More than 40 property owners are to be relocated for the bridge’s construction.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee of Supply, Minister Edghill explained that while many of those to be relocated have agreed to the terms of the relocation, the cost for their properties has ballooned in recent time. He said the Government will be moving ahead with the project and will honor the market prices for the properties.
“Most of the residents had agreed, when they were engaged by the Ministry of Housing, forty persons identified that they will accept lands, commercial property elsewhere, and we now have the situation where the prices that were agreed then, have since escalated…But monies have been provided in this year’s budget for the relocation of those residents, and since some of them might be listening, I want to say quite emphatically that the Government of Guyana will uphold the law. If there is compulsory acquisition of a property for the public good which will be done under the signature of the Minister of Public Works, we will obey the Constitution which says you must pay market value, and we will pay market value, like we would have done to every property owner for every project where we would have had to engage in the acquisition of property”, Minister Edghill explained.

The Public Works Minister said the Attorney General Chambers is already meeting with the residents to be relocated and is in the process of drafting agreements with them for the acquisition of their properties.
Minister Edghill repeatedly made it clear that the Government will follow the law and obey the Constitution as it seeks to acquire the properties to push ahead with the bridge construction works.
The new Demerara Bridge will connect Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara to La Grange on the West Bank. Structural works for the bridge are already underway.
The four-lane high span bridge with a projected lifespan of 100 years, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
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