-President releases 17 plots for range of enterprises
Government has given the green light for land to be allocated in the Lethem commercial district even as increased traffic is expected in the Region Nine border community with the Takutu Bridge due to be provisionally opened within two weeks.
President Bharrat Jagdeo met with representatives of the Lethem business community on Thursday at the Office of the President and authorized Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) Geoff Da Silva, to commence the distribution of 17 plots of land within the designated Lethem commercial district, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
The project, which consists of a total of 65 lots, is a $1B investment that is expected to create 550 jobs, GINA said.
Speaking with Stabroek News, businessman Daniel Gajie, who is a former President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), and a Member of the National Competitive-ness Council, recalled that they had been lobbying for the land to be allocated. He was present at Thursday’s meeting and said it was then that the decision to allocate land to businesses from Lethem and Georgetown was relayed to them. He said that Go-Invest was instructed to accept their proposals noting that when completed about $1B would have been invested. It was agreed that their proposals would be done over a two-year period. He had earlier told GINA that there will be several types of businesses carried on in the district. “We’ll be having gas stations, bakeries, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses. Some other small light warehousing facilities will also be in the commercial area,” he was quoted as stating. He explained that the commercial district will not only serve the Lethem area but will also produce to export to Brazil.
Gajie told Stabroek News that they can now submit their plans to the relevant authorities, and once approval is granted, which is expected within a matter of weeks, they can start construction. 50% of the project must be completed within one year, he noted, adding that the RCCI will help in monitoring the projects. The businessman noted that President Jagdeo has agreed to allocate $50M for roads and drainage in the area.
With regards to electricity, Gajie noted that $30M had been allocated for the rehabilitation of the electrical network in the community while $40M had already been budgeted for a new 1-megawatt generator. He noted too that government subsidises fuel costs. He disclosed that within a year, it is expected that the Moco-Moco hydroelectricity station, which has been out of operation for several years now, will be rehabilitated and put into operation.
A Brazilian company has expressed an interest in the facility and will be visiting the location next week, this newspaper was informed. It is expected that the company will rehabilitate and operate the facility for a period of about 20 years. With the hydropower facility in operation, this will take care of about half of the electricity needs of the community, Gajie noted.
Meantime, he disclosed, the President assured the businesspersons that they can expect the Takutu Bridge to be open within two weeks. The structure links Guyana and Brazil overland. A generator for use at the multi-purpose complex is currently on its way to Lethem.
Additionally, this newspaper understands that the Governor of Roraima State, which is the Brazilian state that borders Lethem, met with President Jagdeo in Georgetown yesterday.
The government had been criticized for not moving quickly to create infrastructure in Lethem and to spur business development to tap into the opportunities that the Takutu Bridge could potentially bring. Critics had pointed out that on the Brazilian side of the bridge there has been rapid development.
There had been controversy several months ago when there was an informal opening of the bridge by the governor the Brazilian state of Roraima.
Several prominent Guyanese from Lethem had attended but this had not been sanctioned by Guyana. Barrels were eventually placed on the Guyana side to thwart traffic from Brazil. The bridge was constructed by the Brazilian army.
