By Cathy Richards
Physical trade from Brazil to and through Linden is likely to start before the end of the year, according to members of a visiting business delegation yesterday, during a familiarisation tour of the mining town.
The trip is the fulfillment of a promise made by the Sebrae Boa Vista organisation to explore the viability of the Lethem/Linden road, the GNIC Linden terminal and the IAMGOLD wharf in their present state as trade routes. According to several members of the delegation, the route and waterway facilities that exist at Linden are better than expected.
The stop at Linden was the beginning of a four-day tour aimed at enhancing business partnerships between the two neighbouring countries.
Alluding to the significance of the partnership between Brazil and Guyana, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was in Linden to welcome the team, said that since 2000 the government has been spending between US$1 million and US$1.5 million annually to maintain and slowly improve the Linden/Lethem road. He said the government intends to continue the investment. Hinds said the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is currently working on a feasibility study, which is likely to be ready in a year’s time. “We have been in discussions with Brazil to arrange for the financing of asphalting the road, and constructing steel and concrete bridges along the Linden/Lethem road and the construction of a bridge across the Essequibo River,” he explained, adding that it would cost in excess of US$250 million.
According to Hinds, Linden stands to benefit tremendously from the partnership and it would be the key economic driver in transforming the town from being known mainly for its bauxite mining activities.
Team Leader and President of Sebrae Boa Vista Almir M. Sa, while addressing a large contingent of Linden businesspersons, said that it is very important that entrepreneurs not depend on governments only. He said businesses need to pool resources to ensure that they play a major role in their country’s growth and development. He added that one of the objectives of the visit was to understand how to do business with Guyana and in so doing understand the laws of both countries. “Another objective is for us to clarify the real interest to close business, to do business with Guyana. Business is a two-way relationship. We want to buy from Guyana and sell to Guyana so we need to know what Guyana [has],” he explained.
During his address, he noted that at present Brazilian businesses procure goods and services from further afield although they are available much closer in Guyana. He also spoke at length of the tourism potential which exists in Linden and expressed interest in developing a linkage with the local tourism association in Linden and the wider Guyana. “Together we need to do all that is necessary to make this partnership work,” he said. In a move to achieve this, he said that Sebrae is working on removing the language barrier in ensure that members of the business sector become familiar with the English language. This, he said, would be done through intensive training.
Interim Management Committee Chairman Orin Gordon noted that the yesterday’s visit was one which has the potential to bring lasting benefits to the people of both countries once they work diligently to develop the bonds that will enhance business and neighbourly relations. “Our town Linden and Region Ten are hospitality havens despite falling on hard times as a result of being a ‘one-primary-product’ town. Diversification is a must if we are to survive and therefore it’s no secret, our interest in developing these partnerships,” he said.
Gordon urged the Brazilians to explore, discuss and begin the process of maximizing on the ecotourism potentials of the region. As part of the Amazonian rainforest eco-zone, the flora and fauna of this region in many ways are still pristine and available for exploration. During the visit, it was noted that the intermediate savannahs have soil types similar to that of Northern Brazil where there are very large expanses of corn and Soya cultivation. More particularly, the road corridor and some of the Class 1 type soils in Guyana offer tremendous potential for vegetable and fruit production with low fertilization rates.
It was also said that there are some fears that the Brazilians will eventually swallow or dominate the local producers. Many felt that the steps must be measured carefully to avoid this perception becoming widespread and a reality.
Speaking on behalf of the Linden Chamber of Development and Commerce, Basil Jaipaul, said the chamber sees the corridor opening opportunities for all Lindeners and by extension the rest of Guyana and they are working assiduously to grasp these opportunities.
The Brazilian delegation was met with much pomp and ceremony, beginning from its arrival at the Wisroc/Blue Berry Hill/ One Mile Junction where an escort team led the team through Wismar to the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre at Mackenzie. Entertainment was provided by the Wismar Christianburg Band as team members mingled with some of the organisers of the tour: the Linden Chamber, Linden Tourism Associa-tion, the Regional Democratic Council and the Linden Mayor and Town Council.
Following opening introductions by the IMC Chairman and Sebrae’s Almir M. Sa, there was a lengthy interactive and working lunch with local entrepreneurs, following which there were several presentations by the Linden Chamber, Linden Enterprise Network, Regional Democratic Council and business partners of Sebrae. The team then toured the Linden community before converging at the GNIC and IAMGOLD wharf facilities at Christianburg.
