La Grange & Bagotville now connected via pedestrian bridge – INews Guyana

Demonstrating a commitment to rapid community development, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, officially commissioned a newly constructed pedestrian bridge connecting Unity Street, La Grange, to Inner Bagotville over the weekend.

Delivered in fulfillment of a promise, the structure provides safe, immediate access for residents and daily commuters.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Surendra Khayyam, alongside the Regional Engineer who oversaw the project’s timely execution. Spanning 63 feet in length and 4 feet in width, the light-transit bridge replaces previous infrastructure challenges, ensuring residents no longer face disruptions in their daily routes.

The project was born out of a conversation the Minister had with a resident during a community meeting in Bagotville last year. The resident, Jackie, explained that the deteriorated bridge had once served as a vital link between Bagotville, La Grange and Canal, allowing residents to access transportation, schools and markets with ease. Jackie commended Minister Manickchand for being a “woman of her word” and thanked her on behalf of the community for the much needed bridge.

Recognising the importance of the crossing to everyday life, Minister Manickchand committed to having the bridge rebuilt once she was in a position to do so. The completion of the project stands as a testament to the Minister’s commitment to listening to citizens’ concerns and delivering on promises that improve the daily lives of communities.

During the commissioning, Minister Manickchand emphasised the transformative nature of the new structure for the community.

Regarding the importance of the project, Minister Manickchand stated, “This is literally a bridge from Bagotville to La Grange from La Grange to Bagotville and 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 that our school children going to the neighborhood schools could walk over”.

She further noted “together that’s what we can do: we can build bridges we can build infrastructure we can make people’s lives better and we can connect communities”.

For the local residents, the swift delivery of the bridge solves pressing issues such as traveling to and from across the bridge which has made it easier.

The execution of this project aligns with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development’s ongoing mandate to rapidly upgrade community infrastructure, bringing government and essential services closer to the people.

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