By Mark DaCosta- Three months after the collapse of the Marpaikru Bridge, one of the most critical transport links connecting Regions Eight and Nine, thousands of hinterland residents remain effectively cut off as the deteriorating crossing continues to disrupt commerce, inflate the cost of essential goods, and isolate communities from vital services.

Describing the prolonged inaction as unacceptable, Opposition Leader and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 called on the Government to immediately repair the bridge, warning that every day it remains impassable deepens the economic and social hardship facing residents, farmers, transport operators, and businesses that depend on the corridor.

The Marpaikru Bridge is not merely a crossing over water; it is the backbone of a corridor that stretches from the savannah settlement of Karasabai in Region Nine through rugged terrain to the elevated village of Paramakatoi in Region Eight, Region Nine, with its expansive Rupununi grasslands and heavy trade ties to neighbouring Brazil, stands in stark contrast to Region Eight, which is cloaked in dense forest and dominated by the formidable Pakaraima mountain range.