Linden-Lethem road may be realised under Belt and Road Initiative

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, September 25, 2018

The much-anticipated Linden-Lethem road is among the infrastructural projects that may soon come on-stream under the China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In late July, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within the framework of China’s Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, more commonly referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative was signed between the governments of Guyana and China.

The MOU makes provision for cooperation in the areas of policy coordination, facilities connectivity, trade and investment, finance and integration, and people-to-people interaction.

During a post-Cabinet briefing, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon explained that the question of the Linden-Lethem road was one of the matters to be considered under the MOU.

“That is a major public infrastructure project that has been on our agenda from the time we came into office. While there is a broad framework within which these things are done, all of these projects have to go through the tendering process. So not every project put forward will receive funding, it still has to be reviewed properly to ensure that the requirements for funding are met,” Minister Harmon explained.

The minister further explained that the government will prioritise transforming Guyana’s infrastructural landscape and improve social services through the MOU.

The Terms of Reference for the construction of the Linden-Lethem road by the Guyanese and Brazilian governments is ready.

Phase One of the project covers approximately 125 kilometres of the road (Linden to Mabura Hill) and also includes a bridge across the Kurupukari Crossing. Guyana secured funding from the British Government through its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme to complete the design.

Ranetta La Fleur

Image: Kennyann Bacchus