The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has acknowledged that over three years ago, parts of the contentious road in the Parabara area in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) were “seen to be in construction” but no action appeared to have been taken by the authorities.
The ministry had previously indicated that no permission was given for the construction of the road. The ministry is currently conducting a probe after concerns were expressed recently about the road being built by Brazilians in the area—one of Guyana’s most pristine and biodiversity rich regions. Miners had descended on Parabara in their numbers in 2010 following a “gold shout” and a number of persons were granted medium-scale prospecting permits.
In a brief response to further queries by Stabroek News, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud said that parts of the road were seen to be in construction in the 2009/ 2010 period. Other sources have said that the road has since been further developed and is heading in the direction of the New River triangle. Stabroek News was
