Dear Editor,
It is becoming clear that the PPP 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, and 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 the multiple handling of containers and add thousands of dollars to the coast 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 that 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, November 28, Lindeners can vote for the partnership that will ensure Linden plays its role in the largest road building project Guyana has ever seen.
Yours faithfully,
F Hamley Case
