President Ali assures continued employment, relocation of old Demerara Bridge
On the eve of the opening of the new Demerara River Bridge, President Dr. Irfaan Ali met with staff of the existing bridge earlier today to personally thank them for decades of service and to assure them that their jobs and benefits are fully secure.
President Ali emphasised that the transition to the new bridge will not leave a single worker displaced, adding that their experience and expertise will continue to play a vital role in the country’s infrastructure sector.
“Not a single one of you have to worry about placement or the security of your job,” the President said. “Neither would you be losing any of your benefits or the level of salaries that you have, because your service will continue and you will grow with the new opportunities that will come your way.”
He explained that the new Demerara River Bridge will still require administrative, electrical, and maintenance support, and that many of the existing staff will be absorbed into those roles. Others, based on their skill sets, will be offered new or improved opportunities within the Ministry of Public Works.
The President noted that an HR team has already begun assessing workers’ qualifications to ensure that everyone is appropriately placed. He also confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the allocation of staff for upcoming projects, including the relocation of the current bridge.
“We are working now to finalise the movement of this bridge- the old Demerara River Bridge- where we will place it,” Ali explained. “The technical expertise, the engineering expertise, the maintenance expertise- all of that will be critically involved once again.”
The new Demerara River Bridge, which is scheduled to officially open tomorrow, is expected to alleviate congestion, reduce travel time, and significantly enhance connectivity between Regions Three and Four.
