Dear Editor,
Both the PPP and PNC are calling for the highway between Linden and Lethem to be built urgently. The question is who will finance such a venture and is it economically feasible?
The cost of the highway including the bridges will be in excess of US$0.5 Billion and has to be built above the flood plain. A lot of simulation has to be computed to determine the top level of the roadway to prevent the roadway and bridges from washing away during heavy rainfall. The Demerara River is silted from its mouth to as far as Linden and the river is also changing its course. The question is where is the port to be located to enable Brazil to ship its goods? If it is intended to bridge the river at Linden and build another highway to the Berbice end, the Berbice River is also silted up.
No businessman or Govt. in its right mind would finance such a venture, perhaps only our present Govt.
I do not know if anyone is aware that that the Chinese are presently building a US$600M port in Suriname which Brazil intends to use for this purpose.
The AFC plan to build an ethanol plant in the Berbice area is also full of holes. There is only about 300 acres of land available including the cattle pasture area and this may not be feasible for Brazil to invest into. The cost of building a fresh water reservoir in the upper reaches of the Canje and portage facilities would be very expensive for such a venture. You also have to contend with salt-water intrusion up the Canje Creek due to the Berbice Floating Bridge being constructed so close to the creek’s mouth. Alternatively you can obtain water by building a pump station in the Corentyne River but Suriname may object as they are claiming the whole of this river as their own.
With both sugar and bauxite dead, rising sea levels and the dreadful state of the infrastructure for both drainage and sea defences tough times lie ahead for the people of Guyana.
What is surprising is that no party has mentioned anything about resolution of the border issues with Venezuela and Suriname. Both have a socialist- Govt. Venezuela is claiming 3/5 of Guyana whilst Suriname is claiming another portion.
Yours faithfully,
M. Alli
