Dear Editor,
I have seen advertisements in the daily newspapers requesting buses for a bus service between Guyana and Brazil. The requirements for these buses – AC, washroom, etc – will be much appreciated by the public since this trip would be very long.
As a person who frequents the GT-Lethem road (trail at present), and knows first hand the frequently deplorable conditions (as at present) that this road is in, I wonder how we expect these ultra-modern buses to withstand the rigours of such a poorly maintained road? An even more pertinent question to be asked is whether these types of buses can actually use this road? After all modern designed buses are intended to drive on paved roads, or at least on frequently maintained/graded lateritic surfaced roads, which the GT-Lethem road most definitely isn’t. Similar type buses that ply the Bon Fim-Boa Vista route or Boa Vista-Manaus route are built very low and can only operate on paved roads.
There was a privately run bus service, Intraserv, which is probably closest to what our government now wants to introduce, and it eventually had to close down despite providing an excellent service to the public.
As an individual who would benefit from this intended bus service, I look forward to its institution. However my enthusiasm is dampened by the overwhelming evidence that exists at present that such a service is more of a fantasy than a reality. For it to be a success there would have to be a radical upgrading and maintenance of the GT-Lethem road.
The silver lining may be that Brazil has put pressure on our government to upgrade the GT-Lethem road, and the implementation of this international bus service may be the first tangible evidence that finally this vital road network will be upgraded to the condition that is necessary for an international road.
If the proposal for the GT-Boa Vista bus service comes into being on the premise of the previous paragraph then there are many positive benefits to look forward to for the long-suffering users of this road.
However, if there is no associated plan to upgrade this road to facilitate the type of buses requested, then this service is doomed to failure. There is overwhelming evidence of such failures and the government may do well to speak with the operators of the Intraserv bus service to find out why they eventually closed down, despite providing a most welcome service which was efficient, reliable and professional.
Yours faithfully,
M Abraham
