$1.6M copper cable used for light display stolen from BJ Demerara River Bridge

A probe is underway into the alleged theft of 90 feet of 4/350 KCMIL copper cable, valued at approximately $1.6 million, from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The theft reportedly occurred sometime between 00:00h on August 23, 2026, and 09:00h on September 1, 2026. The bridge is equipped with LED lights attached to steel poles along its high span and powered by a generator beneath the bridge. The lights are used to display various colours and were last operated on August 23, 2026.

However, at about 18:30h on August 31, 2026, an electrical maintenance engineer attempted to illuminate the bridge in the colours of Trinidad and Tobago’s national flag in observance of that country’s Independence Anniversary, but only the lights on the northern side were functioning.