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$186M committed for works on Lethem Industrial Estate
By Kiana Wilburg
Members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce engaged in discussions
The continued development of Region Nine has been one of the main priorities of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce. And as such, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry came in for much praise Friday last when the Chamber held a meeting to discuss several concerns.
The Ministry was commended for its efforts to establish the Lethem Industrial Estate.
The construction of roads and drains is expected to start soon. This is a project that has been in the pipeline for some time now. This was according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Willet Hamilton.
As he addressed members at the Chamber’s Office at Block “A” Takatu Drive, Lethem Rupununi (Region Nine) location. Hamilton said that works on the Industrial Estate will be done in phases and $186M was budgeted for the construction of asphalt roads, concrete drainage and culverts as the first phase of the developmental works.
He urged the Chamber to play an active role by ensuring that the works are done in accordance with the bill of quantities.
Engineer, Mr. Vickram Deonarine, who accompanied the Permanent Secretary, told Chamber members that there were 104 plots which would be available for industrial purposes, and expressed hope that many businesses from the region will grasp the opportunity to establish industries, so that there can be job creation for the people in the region.
Members of the Chamber welcomed the new initiative of the Industrial Estate as many persons who have been operating from their homes, such as lumber dealers, furniture makers, welders, brick makers among others, have been getting into conflict with neighbours and others in the community, when they operate, due to noise and dust pollution.
The Neighbourhood Democratic Council has been urging such persons to relocate to other areas as the community continues to expand and grow. It is hoped that those entrepreneurs would be properly accommodated in the Industrial area.
While the Chamber was thankful for the long awaited development, it expressed concerns about the availability of reliable electricity and water to ensure industries are efficiently and successfully operated.
Those present insisted that the project must include electricity and water, and called on the Permanent Secretary to ensure this. Hamilton made a commitment to look into this aspect as the other phases progress.
Concerns were also expressed about the state of the Lethem to Linden road and bridges which presently, “are in a very deplorable state, thus causing hardship and loss to both the business community and the transport services, who spend millions of dollars on the maintenance of trucks and vehicles”.
It was also highlighted that road users are paying an exorbitant toll – as much as $35,000 – for the use of unpaved roads, and no proper maintenance is being done annually.
Members reminded that Government said it was spending a great sum of money in this area, but is not getting value for money. They suggested that an oversight committee be established to ensure that proper works are done.
Referring to the Lethem Commercial Zone which was also visited by the Permanent Secretary and the Engineer, Hamilton also voiced his concern over a number of empty plots of land there. He called on the Chamber to do some information gathering in this regard.
President of the Rupununi Chamber, Daniel Gajie, clarified that several members of the business community are desirous of expanding their business into the Commercial Zone, but presently, plots are not available, as those which have been issued to persons, have not been occupied.
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