The Region Nine Admin-istration has accepted an apology from Chairman of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), John Macedo, on behalf of members of the association for asking personnel of South America’s largest army to transport gravel for them without permission.
Meetings between Region Nine authorities and Brazilian civilian and military personnel have led to a “satisfactory resolution” of the matter, Chairman of the Region, Clarindo Lucas told this newspaper recently. He said he had convened meetings with representatives of the Regional Democratic Council, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the RCCI and the Lethem police to discuss the issue. He also met Brazil’s Vice-Consul in Lethem, Floriano Regis de Oliveira Jr, who is also a Chancery Officer of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil, and representatives of the Brazil Army Command with direct responsibility for operations on the Takutu Bridge.
Lucas said it had been determined that Lethem business persons had asked the Brazilian army personnel to transport the gravel for them and the drivers had agreed to do so. He stated that no money was involved and after the initial request was made, others in the community made similar requests for gravel to be transported to their homes. “It was clear that there was no contracting of Brazilian army personnel to transport gravel,” he stated adding that it was “simply a help request” by a few persons which led other persons to “buy into the system”. He said that the Brazilians agreed not realizing the implications that would have been created by such an exercise.
He acknowledged that neither of the parties had approached any authority, either Guyanese or Brazilian but noted that if it was “organized” it would have been another issue. “It was merely a service provided,” he declared adding that it was satisfactorily resolved. He disclosed that Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall had contacted the Regional Executive Officer by telephone and instructed that the gravel be confiscated. However, he said, many of the persons involved had spread the gravel in low-lying spots in their yard and filled portions of deteriorating roads close to their businesses.
He said Macedo had apologized at a meeting for not letting the NDC know of the action and “we will not penalize anybody”. However, Lucas said they could not go into the people’s yards and take the gravel and pointing out what it was used for, he added that had it been used for another purpose it would have been another matter.
The Regional Chairman related that the RCCI Chairman said that the business people did not see anything wrong in requesting help from anybody with what they need, though Lucas noted that there is a process that has to be followed.
He further revealed that the Brazilians were “very troubled” about the press reports and had said that permission was not sought by the lower level ranks from the High Command of the army. He said he was informed that the army will deal with the issue internally and after being informed of the newspaper report they were “very much alarmed” and had ordered the ceasing of the practice immediately.
In earlier reports carried by this newspaper both Lucas and Chairman of the Lethem NDC, Terrence Boston had expressed alarm at the situation and Boston had told this newspaper that the gravel was transported using large 20-tonne trucks to carry an estimated 300 loads to Lethem in the night to some residents’ businesses.
