The drop in the value of the Brazilian currency is hurting the Lethem economy, while increased competition, including an influx of mainly Chinese businesses, has forced a number of local businesspersons in the Region Nine border community to rent their properties rather than trade.
“Lethem economy survives on Brazilian customers. Without Brazilian customers, all what’s happening in Lethem can’t be successful. So, because of the recent devaluation of the Brazilian real, we find that the goods in Lethem now have become more expensive because the Guyanese businessmen are accepting the real at a lower rate than before,”
