By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
— Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill announced on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, that the government is in the final stages of acquiring the Berbice River Bridge. The disclosure was made during the Committee of Supply debate on the 2026 Budget estimates, marking a major turning point for the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
Negotiations are currently underway with the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) to transition the asset to full state ownership under the Ministry of Public Works.
The Road to State Ownership
The acquisition follows the government’s landmark decision to make the Berbice River Bridge toll-free as of August 1, 2025. Since then, the treasury has been absorbing all operational and maintenance costs.
- Financial Logic: Minister Edghill stated that the acquisition cost would ultimately be lower than the total tolls the government would pay the private company between now and the end of the original contract in 2027.
- Maintenance Shift: The 2026 Budget reflects a significant increase in the “Maintenance of Bridges” line item, rising from $175 million in 2025 to over $1.34 billion, to cover operational expenses and staff salaries for the Berbice, Demerara, and Wismar bridges.
- Timeline: Negotiations are expected to be finalized before the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Ownership & Legacy
Constructed between 2006 and 2008 at a cost of approximately $8 billion, the bridge was a public-private partnership. The buyout involves compensating a variety of stakeholders:
| Stakeholder | Percentage Share |
| National Insurance Scheme (NIS) | 20.2% |
| New GPC | 20.0% |
| Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. | 20.0% |
| Secure International Finance Co. | 20.0% |
| NICIL (State) | 10.0% |
| Hand-in-Hand Fire Insurance | 10.0% |
Future Infrastructure
The acquisition of the current floating bridge is a strategic move ahead of the government’s plans for a new, high-span Berbice River Bridge, modeled after the recently commissioned Demerara River Bridge. Proposals for the new structure are already under review, with the goal of providing 24-hour, uninterrupted access to Region Six.
“The Government of Guyana is on its way to finalizing all the ‘I’s’ and crossing the ‘T’s’ for the ownership of the Berbice River Bridge,” Minister Edghill told the House. “The ministry would have to maintain everything… it will not be handed to a private company.”
