Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, is refuting reports that a proposal to increase rates paidMinister of Public Infrastructure,wholesale nfl jerseys, David Pattersonby commuters on the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) is before Cabinet.This issue flared up during the consideration of the budgetary estimates in parliament earlier in the week. Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill, had grilled the Minister, emphasizing that while there is no problem with approving the money for maintenance, it cannot be while an increase is likely.Patterson had earlier broken down what the $150M estimated for the DHB entailed. He had stated that money would go to servicing pontoons and fabricating the buoys. The supply of shackles was listed as costing $20M, and works on the retractor span would come up to $25M.In response,NFL Jerseys Outlet, however,cheap jerseys, Edghill had raised the issue of increases, which had been reported at the end of last month when the new board of directors of the DHB received their instruments of appointment at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.According to reports in sections of the media, Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, had stated that DHB General Manager, Rawlston Adams, had submitted a proposal for a rate increase and that it was awaiting Cabinet approval.“We were told by public announcement, that there was consideration for an increased rate for the Demerara Harbour Bridge,Jose Calderon Jersey,” Edghill told the House. “We were advised by way of media, when the Board was sworn in, that there is a Cabinet paper to increase the rates on the Harbour Bridge.”The Demerara Harbour Bridge“This is a capital item here and we are asked to give (money) from tax payers to support the Demerara Harbour Bridge. We have no problem with that,Wholesale Jerseys China,” he said. “What we want to find out is if we are giving money for a capital item; if there will still be an increase in rates as announced.”“There is no Cabinet paper,” Patterson replied. “There is no paper before Cabinet or anyone on an increase in the Demerara Harbour Bridge (rates).”The existing two-lane floating bridge was constructed in 1978 by the UK firm Thomas Storey Engineers Limited. From 1995 to 1998 the bridge underwent major rehabilitation by the Damien Ship Yards of the Netherlands at a cost of US$9M.At present the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) carries out intensive annual maintenance and element replacement activities on the bridge structure to provide a continuous level of service.The Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation is responsible for the management and collection of tolls. The average annual revenue collection is approximately US$1.9M.However, plans are on stream to establish a new bridge linking the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) with the West Bank. Three possible sites have already been examined and they include a link between Houston, EBD to Versailles, WBD,Brett Favre Falcons Jersey UK, New Hope, EBD to Laurentia Catherina, WBD or a site close to the existing bridge.Last November, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure invited fresh Expressions of Interest (EoI) from local and foreign consultants, to have a feasibility study and design for the new bridge completed.Almost a dozen companies, both foreign and local, vied for this contract.