-some sections sinking

The Brazilian military engaged in ongoing construction work

The Takutu Bridge, the long-awaited link between Guyana and Brazil, is unlikely to be opened to vehicular traffic before next year, the Brazilian military officer overseeing construction has said.

Lieutenant Leocadio, of the 6th Engineers Battalion of the Brazilian Army, told Stabroek News that it is highly unlikely that the bridge will be completed by December, the most recent deadline given for its commissioning, and that February is a more likely time.  At present, the bridge is open to cyclists and pedestrians only.

The Brazilian soldiers are currently working on the Lethem access road to the bridge, which Leocadio said is being hampered by the unavailability of a few pieces of equipment. Foundation work is still being done on the road and extensive layering of asphalt is expected to be done. Additionally, the workmen are still completing work on the drainage system and on protecting the embankment.

The junction where the bridge meets the Brazilian access road which has begun to sink

Although the construction of the bridge has been completed, Leocadio explained that recently inexplicably parts have begun to sink, and this has been cause for concern. He showed this newspaper a section of the bridge which had to be dug up and which he suggested might indicate a problem with the concrete plates.

Leocadio explained that work on correcting the problem had been delayed because of the unavailability of equipment required to carry out certain tests on the area in question. Additionally, there is further evidence of the bridge sinking where it meets the access road in Brazil and according to Leocadio the construction team is also looking at remedying this problem soon.

But when Stabroek News contacted Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn, he said that the sinking parts of the bridge were not a major concern.

The Takutu Bridge

He said that given the current status of the construction, the bridge will most likely be commissioned early next year, though he could not give a definite date. He said that this will be determined after President Bharrat Jagdeo and Brazilian Head of State, President Lula Da Silva, meet and settle on a date.

In the interim, structures to house immigration and customs along with other government departments have already been constructed.
Mixed reactions

Meanwhile, the Lethem business community is eagerly awaiting the opening of the bridge.  The proprietress of the Savannah Inn General Store and the Cubana Inn Guest House, Linda Khan, said the bridge will make transporting produce easier. She says that transporting goods using the pontoon was very expensive.

One of the buildings constructed to house the customs, immigration and other government departments.

However, she added that there is need for an increase of security within the community to help counteract a possible increase in crime.

Another businessman, Colin John, told this newspaper that the opening of the bridge would allow for an increase in business and for easier access to goods. He said that the use of the pontoon to transports goods from Bon Fim and Boa Vista is often very tedious and expensive.

Not all residents feel that the bridge will be good for Lethem. One resident, who is known as ‘Uncle Sam,’ said the opening of the bridge may increase the drug trade between the two countries, which he identified as a concern. He was also worried that the country’s borders will be further opened and this could make the country susceptible.

The man also said the open border may encourage more Guyanese to migrate Brazil, noting that migration is already a problem in the community.

The pontoon which vehicles currently use to cross the river

However, another resident suggested that migration would not be a problem and in fact many people were against the bridge since it would hamper their free movement to Brazil. Many of the native residents of Lethem, he said, did not have passports and this would prevent them from travelling to Brazil in the future. Stabroek News was told that currently Guyanese can travel over to Bon Fim without having to produce a passport.

Others emphasised that Lethem did not have the necessary infrastructure to cope with an influx of Brazilians in the country. They said that the poor roads, the water system and power supply needed to be improved before Lethem could be considered ready.

An official of the Neighbourhood Democratic Community (NDC) insisted that it is the Brazilians that need the bridge more than the Guyanese.  He said that currently there are more vehicles coming into Lethem from Brazil than at any other time. This, he said, indicated that the Brazilians had a great interest in Guyana.

The sunken part of the bridge which has been dug up

He also emphasised that Guyana is likely to be embarrassed because Lethem and other areas of the Rupununi are so underdeveloped when compared to Bon Fim and other areas of Brazil.  He said that while Brazil is a richer country than Guyana, Lethem has been in existence for much longer than Bon Fim and ought to be better developed.

Clarindo Lucas, the Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine, said that the bridge promises to have both positive and negative consequences for Lethem and other areas in the Rupununi. According to him, the bridge will lead to an increase in both economic and social interaction, which is good for the country. He said that he expects to see an increase in industries in the community and also anticipates that there will be an increase in the size of Lethem’s population.

The Regional Chairman, however, identified the increase of crime as a major concern. He told this newspaper that he currently serves as the Head of a Regional Intelligence Committee which involves members of the Joint Services. One of the main concerns of the group at present is to develop strategies to increase security in the region after the bridge opens. He said that they are aiming to have the Joint Services on 24-hour patrol as soon as the bridge re-opens. The Chairman also said that Lethem needs to develop infrastructurally and highlighted that improvement in the conditions of the roads is a necessity.