China likely to fund Guyana-Suriname bridge

China is likely to fund the bridge across the Corentyne River, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett announced yesterday.
She said that the design for the bridge is currently being done, and is expected to be completed soon.
She said Suriname had requested that Guyana approach China to fund the bridge. This followed a June, 2013 announcement by Chinese President Xi Jinping that his government will offer US$3 billion in loans to 10 Caribbean nations, including Guyana.
The idea for the bridge was developed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Surinamese President Desi Bouterse, when the latter visited Guyana in September 2010.
Rodrigues-Birkett said she could not estimate the cost of the bridge.
There is currently a ferry service operating for travel between the two countries, but many use the back track route to travel between the two countries using speedboats.