Dear Editor,
On the Brazilian side of the newly built bridge across the Takutu River, aggressive work is going on at present, constructing a Brazil free zone and commercial area, Customs buildings, etc. The Brazilians have already surfaced the main roads in Bon Fim, and are working day and night to pave the secondary roads as well.
Bon Fim enjoys 24-hour electricity, street lights and a reliable water supply. On our side of the border, our roads remain red and dusty, we do not get electricity for six hours every day, we have no street lights, and the water supply is inconsistent.
The Brazilians are obviously sensing and anticipating the economic development when this bridge opens.
So why are we sleeping on this side? Are the powers-that-be not feeling the pulse too? Will our friendly neighbours be the first to grasp the opportunities here and begin to buy up properties and open businesses, as they are doing in Georgetown?
Since the Brazilians have all the equipment on the other side of the border, and since their standard of road building far exceeds the substandard work done here in the past, my one question is – why not get them to pave our roads in Lethem and then continue from here to Linden? Most Lethem residents are asking the same question.
If there are no serious ramifications to this proposal, and with a full understanding from both governments, then there can only be winners on both sides, as there has been with the Brazil-Venezuela highway.
Yours faithfully,
Gloria Lye
Good question Gloria. Hopefully someone who has some intelligence in the government takes it upon themselves to follow through on an idea like that.
The explanation is quite simple.Where there is no vision the people shall perish.
Great idea. Let them
- pave the road
- put in lighting
- install traffic lights
- put in drains
- smalls bridges, where necessary
- set up toll booths
- collect the toll
- landscape the grass verges
- put in signs: Keep off the grass
- build motels nearby
- build houses and accommodation for workers
- build residential houses
- fill them up with Brazilians
- mek plenty Brazilians
- fill up the RDC with them
- move on a motion to secede
- put them to vote when they reach voting age
- vote on referendum to secede
- secede.
dont stop deh..we must get Gloria and the Brazilians to do it all over Guyana…….
Well stated M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett. Once again, as in every aspect of current day Guyanese life and well being, the people of Guyana expects someone else to do the work and provide all the resources for their pleasure, enjoyment, comfort, and benefit. I cannot recall the last time in the past 44 years when I saw an example of Guyanese taking ownership of and accountability for their lives, behaviors, and the development of their country. All I saw and continue to see is “the government is not doing this or that” and “the police is not doing this or that”. I would like to add one more item to their list of complaints and whining: “THE PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING”. Perhaps the writer should consider forming a self-help posse that will partner with the road construction agencies in Guyana to pave the roads in Lethem. There is a great deal of personal pride and satisfaction to be derived from bringing good things to life (borrowing from GE).
I’ll say it again; the people with the brains and the knowledge left Guyana’s shores a long time ago, thanks to the great brain drain that has plundered so many “third world” countries of their human resources for over 50 years. What we have left is a bunch of people who look outwards instead of within themselves for solutions to rapidly worsening problems.
As I always say, Guyana will without any force or fight, fulfill its continental destiny, i.e. be re-divided and absorbed by Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname. Go ahead people, better start learning Spanish, Portuguese and Tacky-tacky. “Guyana” departed a long time ago.
Uncle Joe, you may be right. But I wonder how much brain is required to manage the tiny Guyanese population. There are more people two streets in Beijing than there are in all of Guyana. Yet they manage to move the country forward during the past 20 years. I am am inclined to believe that there is abundance of brainy people in Guyana, perhaps too smart for the good of the people and country. Right now, I would go for a few half-wits with an abundance of honesty, decency, selflessness, and compassion.
Ms Lye – your second to last paragraph is the answer to your dream.
However let’s not forget the floods that flooded Lethem in recent years. Hence it is not just about paving of the roads in a hurry because our neighbour is doing this and that. The whole of Lethem and its surrounding comunities need to be engineered/studied well first – in terms of flooding. In other words certain roads and bridges need to be elevated (Or build an access road around the air strip on the eastern end)in preparation for high/er floods.
Tapatinga and Moco- Moco bridges certainly need to be elevated and build with steel and concrect structure.
Most importantly, however, I suggest that the two gov’ts strike up a deal to build a paved road(including a bridge across Essequib at Kurupkari) to Linden – after all Brazilians will not just be coming across to Lethem and go back.
THE IDEA OF BRAZILIANS PAVING THE ROAD IN LETHEM IS EXCELLENT. I SUPPORT IT 100%.IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID SOMETIME AGO GIVING A CONTRACTOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DASH THE TAR ON THE RED ROAD AND CALL IT PAVED ROAD.
That’s how they build roads in Guyana.Red clay and tar,then only one vehicle has the right of way, to pass you have to go into the drain.If it rains look out.
Do something on your own for once ….damn…hand-outs, hand-outs and more hand-outs, we can do things for ourselves , leave the Brazilians alone , they’ve done enough ,
Way to go gaal!!Tell dem again!!
If they are paid what they are asking, for they will pave the road to the Atlantic as far as Point Playa.
lawd , i should left out de full stop
…
rite desi, it’s called natural absorption. but it mightn’t happen in our lifetime, but it will happen.
What is the use of writing when one’s comments are edited for no apparent reason?