Gov’t says no to higher Berbice Bridge tolls

Proposing hefty increases to current tolls in keeping with its contract with government, the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) yesterday warned that the current APNU+AFC administration’s continued refusal of the hikes could lead to the company’s bankruptcy. “The investors, who are almost every Guyanese through investments by the NIS [National Insurance Scheme], etcetera, are facing the distinct possibility that the company can go bankrupt,” Chairman of BBCI Surendra Persaud yesterday told a press conference which the company held at the National Communications Network in Georgetown. Persaud, who is also the Chairman of the NIS, said that while government had sent it no formal denial of the increases, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told him that Cabinet did not approve the company’s proposal and that it must exhaust all avenues to make the fees feasible for commuters.

Cops, GCAA probing landing of plane with suspected false registration

Police have launched an investigation into the landing of a private chartered aircraft, bearing a suspected false registration number, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Monday afternoon. Based on the irregularities discovered after the landing of the aircraft, which arrived at 3.20 pm on Monday, the Venezuelan pilots were taken into custody while four Venezuelan nationals, who had been passengers on the plane, and Guyanese Michael Brassington turned themselves in for questioning yesterday. The aircraft has also been detained. According to a Guyana Police Force press statement, in keeping with enhanced security arrangements and collaboration among