Latest update January 11th, 2025 4:10 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Linden can still be the operational hub for the road to Brazil.

Nov 26, 2011 Letters

 

Dear Editor,
It is becoming clear that the PPP/C government, if returned to power next week, plans to deny Linden the opportunity of becoming the hub for construction of the 300-mile road to Brazil.
The original IDB-financed pre-feasibility study for the road to Brazil placed Linden at the operational centre of road building activity. This made sense on many levels. Linden already has useful infrastructure, an educated and well-trained workforce including seasoned road construction personnel, the commercial underpinning to provide for and service such a huge road construction project and a resourceful and energetic business community.
Earlier this week, the outgoing President announced that the proposed road to Brazil will terminate in New Amsterdam. This can only mean that the area just north of Crab Island at the mouth of the Berbice River will be where the deep water port is now to be built. Several deep water harbour studies favour the Demerara River which would have to be dredged.
The latter option makes sense because there is port infrastructure already in position on the Demerara River as well as port capacity along Water Street, once some simple adjustments are made to the built-up area in the vicinity.
Another reality is that over 90% of Guyana’s container traffic is destined for Georgetown and its environs. To create a container port north of Crab Island in Berbice would mean that arriving containers would have to be transported by road to Georgetown. This will involve multiple handling of containers and add thousands of dollars to the cost of a container delivered to Georgetown because of the incremental freight costs.
It is now likely that the Brazil road, instead of coming close to Rockstone, will now run far South of Linden, pick up the old cattle trail and then cross the Berbice River at a narrow point probably bordering the old UnAmCo concession.
The road will then continue along the East Bank Berbice River in the direction of New Amsterdam. Surely this is a far more expensive option than the original plan to take the road to the capital. One can only assume that there is a political consideration we don’t know about, or maybe we do.
That said, all is not lost. On Monday 28th November, Lindeners can vote for the partnership that will ensure Linden plays its role in the largest road building project Guyana has ever seen.
F. Hamley Case

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Body of Chinese national who fell from new Demerara River bridge recovered

Body of Chinese national who fell from new Demerara River bridge...

Jan 11, 2025

Kaieteur News- The body of 39-year-old Fu Jian Wei, an employee of China Railway Construction Corporation (International) was recovered from the Demerara River on Friday, the Ministry of Public Works...
Read More
Athanaze posts 98 as Windies start positively in tour match against Pakistan Shaheens

Athanaze posts 98 as Windies start positively in...

Jan 11, 2025

Youngsters seize opportunity, rubbing shoulders with Golden Jags star Omar Glasgow

Youngsters seize opportunity, rubbing shoulders...

Jan 11, 2025

Anderson, Nedd, Lovell hit form as first Harpy Eagles 4-Day practice match bowls 

Anderson, Nedd, Lovell hit form as first Harpy...

Jan 11, 2025

Alvin ‘Geronimo’ Braithwaite to be laid-to-rest January 13

Alvin ‘Geronimo’ Braithwaite to be...

Jan 11, 2025

CFU launches Next Generation Class of 2025 Referees training

CFU launches Next Generation Class of 2025...

Jan 11, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Dem signs need calibrating

    Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News- Dem boys bin pass one of dem fancy speed meter signs wah de guvament put up fuh tell drivers... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]