As traffic flowed between Guyana and Brazil with the provisional opening of the Takutu Bridge yesterday, a Brazilian official expressed the hope that the Lethem to Linden road could be asphalted.

Region Nine Chairman, Clarindo Lucas (left) and other officials pause for a moment to pose for a photo at the Lethem Multi-purpose complex yesterday.

Secretary for International Affairs and Border Relations of the Governor’s Office in Boa Vista, State of Roraima, Sergio Pillan said at a brief ceremony yesterday afternoon that the bridging of the river was a dream fulfilled and will accelerate development for the people of both countries particularly as it relates to the fields of commerce, education, culture and tourism.

At the ceremony, held at the Lethem Multipurpose building, he said that he is hopeful that the dream of asphalting the road from the border to Linden to facilitate easy travel between the two countries could be fulfilled.

Addressing residents, Customs and Immigration personnel, police and officials from Boa Vista, Brazil who gathered to witness the use of the building, which will facilitate the movement of goods and traffic between Brazil and Guyana, Region Nine Chairman, Clarindo Lucas said with the opening of the Bridge, the people on the two frontiers will be brought closer together. He pointed out that officials from both sides of the border will meet periodically to iron out any difficulties that may emerge in the process.

These will be dealt with so that when the official opening is done many of the major difficulties and hurdles would have been overcome, Lucas added.

The Regional Chairman stated that the official commissioning of the bridge will be done later this year when the Presidents of Guyana and Brazil meet here for that occasion.

Meantime, President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), John Macedo said that the Chamber is thankful to Government for making it possible to improve trade between the two countries by making the facilities of the Takutu Bridge and the Multipurpose building available for use by not only the business communities but residents of the two countries.

The Bridge will be open to vehicular traffic, passengers and cargo between 8 am and 5 pm. All persons entering and leaving Guyana by way of the Bridge have to be processed and the relevant checks done at the Multipurpose Complex.