120,000 vehicles crossed Takutu Bridge in 2011

Jan 08, 2012 News

…Guyana to meet Brazil on completed feasibility study

By Leonard Gildarie

A paved road linking the city to Lethem that is expected to improve trade ties with neighbouring Brazil in leaps and bounds, has taken a closer step to becoming a reality with the completion of a key feasibility study.
The road, between Linden and Lethem, has taken on new meaning since the September 2009 commissioning of the Takutu Bridge which links Guyana and Brazil.
For last year alone, says Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Birkett-Rodrigues, some 120,000 vehicles crossed that bridge, improving the prospects of Lethem and making it more of a crucial hub for that border area.
Following the commissioning of the bridge, Guyana and Brazil signed a ‘Partial Scope Agreement’ to boost trade by allowing unhindered tariff-free goods between them.

File photo: Government says that a feasibility study to pave the 300-plus miles Linden/Lethem roadway has been completed and Guyana is to meet with Brazil to discuss the way forward.

Already flour from Guyana, clothes from Chinese stores and host of other items are making their way into the Brazilian market.
In Guyana, there is a notable, growing population of Brazilians working and even doing business in Guyana with local air charter companies reporting significant increase of flights to Lethem in recent years.
During a media briefing last week at her South Road office, the Minister said that the road project which Brazil has indicated an interest to finance, remains one of high priority for this administration.
“As you know, we have been engaging everyone in the feasibility study and Brazil has requested some areas (to be included) in that feasibility study. That feasibility study has now been completed so we are hoping to share this with Brazil.”
A team from Guyana is expected to visit that neighbouring country to discuss the study, the official disclosed.
“We would like to see the project accelerated quickly but we have to be very patient,” she urged.
The Minister was unable to say when the Linden/Lethem road project is likely to become a reality but insisted that it is a critical one for her government.
“We will continue to put money into the rehabilitation of the road…we have signed several contracts last year and work has started–the roads have improved but we still have a far way to go.”
Until that project comes to fruition, work will have to be done on bridges and other critical points.
The current “trail” as it is known, is one of the main access roads to many hinterland areas.
Last year, heavy rains swamped that Region Nine area marooning several communities and inundating Lethem, in one of the worst floods in years in that area.