Govt to seek compensation for damage to Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge – AG 

The Government of Guyana will be pursuing compensation from any party found responsible for the destruction of public infrastructure to the eastern approach at the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, following an early morning accident on Monday.

This was confirmed by Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, during his weekly programme, Issues In the News, aired on Tuesday evening.

Nandlall assured the public that the government remains committed to holding reckless drivers accountable for damage to public property, as it has consistently done in the past.

“Let me assure you that our government acts in an even-handed manner. If we are committed to a course of conduct, then we are committed to it. And once we are committed to that course of conduct, then whoever it is, the treatment will not be different. Equal treatment is part of the constitutional protection accorded to every Guyanese citizen,” the Attorney General said.

With just a few weeks since the official opening of the bridge, on Monday morning, a Route 44  minibus crashed into the median separating the northern and southern lanes, at the eastern approach to the bridge, resulting in significant damage including the destruction of solar-powered street lights.

Nandlall explained that the driver involved in the incident is currently hospitalised and that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is actively investigating. Once the investigation is complete and an assessment of the damages is finalised, the AG’s Chambers will initiate the legal process to recover the cost of repairs.

“The matter is being investigated by the police. A report obviously is being compiled. The damage done to the public infrastructure is currently being assessed and inclusive in that assessment, obviously, would be the cost of reparation,” Nandlall stated.

He added that, in accordance with existing procedure, once culpability is determined, a formal letter will be dispatched to the responsible party seeking compensation. If that letter is ignored or inadequately addressed, further legal proceedings will follow.

“That is the approach which was adopted on previous occasions and it yielded the compensation that was requested, and the public property was restored,” he said.

Nandlall’s remarks come in response to questions and speculation circulating on social media regarding whether the government would pursue compensation in this particular case. The AG reaffirmed that no special treatment will be afforded to any individual, regardless of circumstance.

“No different approach will be taken here because our government made a public commitment to go after the persons who wantonly, negligently and recklessly destroy public property,” Nandlall asserted.

“I just want to say that for those who are asking whether some different treatment will be meted out to this particular motor user — I don’t know why they believe that some form of different treatment is expected to be meted out to this particular individual.”

The government has previously recovered costs for similar incidents involving destruction of public assets and says it will continue to protect public infrastructure and enforce accountability.