A new pedestrian bridge connecting Unity Street, La Grange, to Inner Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, was commissioned on Saturday, fulfilling a promise made to community members last year.
The 63-foot-long, four-foot-wide light-transit bridge was commissioned by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand, replacing a deteriorated structure that had long disrupted daily movement between the two communities and cut off residents’ access to transportation, schools and markets.
The project originated during a community meeting in Bagotville, where a resident identified only as Jackie described the old bridge’s importance as a link between Bagotville, La Grange and Canal. Manickchand committed on the spot to having it rebuilt.
At Saturday’s commissioning, “Jackie” commended the minister for being “a woman of her word” and thanked her on behalf of the community.
“This is literally a bridge from Bagotville to La Grange and from La Grange to Bagotville, so that the people could continue to be good neighbours, continue to enjoy services of each other, so that Canal and La Grange people could come over to Bagotville and Bagotville people could get produce and goods from Canal and La Grange, [and] that our school children going to the neighbourhood schools could walk over,” Manickchand said.
Regional Executive Officer for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Surendra Khayyam, and the Regional Engineer who oversaw the project attended the ceremony.
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development said the project forms part of its broader mandate to upgrade community infrastructure across Guyana.
