Guyana and Brazil have intensified efforts to explore the feasibility of building the Linden-Lethem road, a port and hydro electric dam, the Foreign Ministry here announced on Thursday.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and her Brazilian counterpart, Antonio Patriota have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Working Group in infrastructure.
"The Working Group is expected to submit its Report by the first quarter of 2013," Guyana's Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the signing ceremony in Brasilia at the Ministry of External Relations.
The US$4 million Takatu River bridge that links southern Guyana with Brazil's northern state of Roraima has not yieleded huge trade inflows since it was commissioned in 2009. The two countries have also inked vehicular insurance and passenger and cargo agreements.
The Guyana Foreign Minister recognizes the drawback of an all-weather road, saying that "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.’’
Rodrigues-Birkett was quoted as saying that “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.”
Speaking of the Linden-Lethem Road Minister 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.
She also informed that studies are also being conducted on the construction of a second hydro-electric plant which could see Guyana supplying energy to Brazil in the future should the project prove feasible.
FROM DEMWAVES
