Guyana and Brazil yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will see a working group established on an upgraded Linden-Lethem road, a port and a hydro project.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today said that the working group is expected to present its report by the first quarter of next year.
The memo was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Brazilian Minister of External Relations, Antonio Patriota.
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a Working Group on Infrastructure, which will be considering the Linden-Lethem Road, a port and hydro-electric projects. The MOU was signed in Brasilia at the Ministry of External Relations.
The MOU is a first step in a long process in which Guyana was to accelerate key infrastructure projects which would tap into the booming Brazilian economy and the needs of its northern states. It is believed that a deep water port and fully paved Linden-Lethem road would enable robust movement of Brazilian goods through Guyana to Roraima state cutting down the much longer delivery time via Brazilian Atlantic Ocean ports. Such projects have been talked about for the last 20 years but have been slow off the mark.
With the help of China, neighbouring Suriname is moving aggressively to establish a port and railway to service parts of northern Brazil.
In the statement today, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said “the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is the result of the quiet work we have been doing in the last couple of years and is no doubt another step forward as Guyana and Brazil continue to work towards infrastructural integration, which will see both countries benefitting from increased trade and people to people contact. This is also part of the wider South American integration process.”
Referring to the Linden-Lethem Road, Rodrigues-Birkett said ‘’for many years our two countries have been discussing physical integration and the completion of the Takutu River Bridge is a direct result of these discussions. However, to fully realize the trade potential it is imperative that the road be upgraded. The road will benefit both countries as the northern part of Brazil in particular will have a shorter access route to the Atlantic Ocean. I am confident that the gestation period will be much shorter than that of the Takutu Bridge.’’
The unpaved Linden-Lethem road has faced numerous upkeep problems over the years. It has suffered from deep flooding and several parts have broken down repeatedly along with bridges and culverts.
Rodrigues-Birkett said in the statement that studies are also being conducted on the construction of a second hydro-electric plant which could see Guyana supplying energy to Brazil pending proven feasibility.