Police in Lethem are investigating a racket that involves businesspersons in the border community allegedly contracting Brazilian army personnel, working on the Takutu bridge access road on the Guyana side, to transport gravel to their businesses.
The Brazilian Vice-Consulate in Lethem has been made aware of the matter and authorities in Brazil have been informed, this newspaper was told. Stabroek News was informed that several businesspersons in the Region Nine community are involved in the matter and local authorities have been alerted and are investigating. This newspaper was told that the activities allegedly occur in the wee hours of the morning and involve the Brazilian Army trucks delivering the gravel to the business places. Reports out of the community state that huge piles of gravel have been appearing at some business places there and it has been determined that no local trucks have the capacity to fetch such a large amount.
Describing the matter as a “worrying development”, Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas told this newspaper last evening that he was aware of the matter and the police are investigating.