Copper cable stolen from new Demerara River bridge

Last Updated on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 12:59 by Denis Chabrol

At least 90 feet of  heavy duty copper cable have been stolen from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, East Bank Demerara, police said.

The theft of the four-conductor cable, which is rated at 350 thousand circular mils (kcmil) each, is valued GY$1.620 million.

Investigators were informed that the cable was discovered stolen on September 1 after efforts to fully light up the bridge in the colours of the Trinidad and Tobago’s national flag, failed

“At about 18:30 hrs on August 31, 2026, an electrical maintenance engineer attempted to illuminate the bridge in the colours of Trinidad and Tobago’s national flag in observance of that country’s Independence Anniversary. However, only the lights on the northern side were functioning.

At approximately 09:00 hrs the following day, the engineer and his team inspected the southern side of the bridge and discovered that the copper cables had been cut and removed from the metal trunking box,” the Guyana Police Force said in a statement.

The theft reportedly occurred sometime between 00:00 hrs on August 23, 2026, and 09:00 hrs on September 1, 2026. Police said the lights, which are powered by a generator beneath the bridge, are used to display various colours and were last operated on August 23, 2026

Police said initial investigations revealed that the bridge is equipped with LED lights attached to steel poles along its high span.

Police said the scene was photographed and processed. CCTV footage is currently being reviewed.