Sod turning for Corentyne River bridge weeks away

Last Updated on Monday, 19 May 2025, 22:28 by Writer

Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who is seeking reelection in Sunday’s general election, on Monday said the sod-turning to mark the official start of the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River would be held in a few weeks.

“We were planning today (Monday) this event and the ground-breaking ceremony at the bridge that we planned a joint activity but, unfortunately, I think the ground-breaking ceremony will need some more time, more in terms of weeks than months but it will come,” he said.

His remarks were made at the official opening in Guyana of the office of GuySure Aggregate and Sand Inc., whose parent company is the Suriname state-owned Grassalco.

GuySure’s office is based at Pritipaul Singh’s Investments facility at East Bank Demerara.

The Surinamese leader’s VHP political party would be facing 13 other parties on Sunday.

Mr Santokhi’s update about the proposed 1.1 kilometre bridge, which is expected to hop from Moleson Creek to Long Island and then to South Drain, was in response to a call by the President of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Dr Vishnu Doerga for that transportation link to be constructed.

“The bridge, whilst we want it to become a reality, it’s not a luxury; it’s a real necessity. It will be the spine of a new trade corridor in reducing transportation cost, accelerating business and encouraging cross-border investment,” he said.

Guyana this year allocated US$23 million towards the construction of the bridge which could cost at least US$300 million.

Both countries are expected to split the cost.