before a pontoon can be deployed at Witagron so that the passengers and vehicles that were left stranded after the bridge collapse can cross the river. According to DC Karijosentono, the deployment of a pontoon is an emergency solution especially given the fact that it could take about 6 months to repair the bridge. “The infrastructure at the location where people gather to cross the river must be modified so that the pontoons can operate safely. We are working to stablize the situation as soon as possible but the reconstruction of the bridge could take much longer,” said the DC. The bridge collapse has evidently caused much inconvenience as residents, transporters and visitors can no longer enter or leave West-Suriname by land. Dozens of visitors are stranded on both sides of the river. DC Karijosentono told Times of Suriname that the police have launched an investigation to find out if the owner of the truck that hauled a trailer can be held accountable for the damage to the bridge. “The police are investigating the circumstances under which the incident took place and who is responsible for the damage,” said DC Karijosentono who urged the local residents to follow the instructions from the authorities to the letter. As soon as the pontoon is operational, vehicles and passengers will be transported across the river until the section of the bridge that collapsed has been reconstructed.