Roraima State Governor meets President – as infrastructure projects deadline looms
Georgetown, GINA, June 13, 2013
A visit by Governor of the State of Roraima Jose de Anchieta Junior to Guyana for a meeting with President Donald Ramotar today focused attention on key infrastructure projects in the making that are guaranteed to boost trade and other relations between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil.
President Donald Ramotar sharing a light moment with the Governor of the State of Roraima Jose de Anchieta Junior
The Governor met the Guyanese Head of State in the company of a delegation that included Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Luiz Seixas De Andrade, with the Georgetown to Lethem road, deepwater harbour and hydroelectricity high on the agenda.
All these were projects conceptualised during bilateral discussions between former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Brazil’s Luis Inacio- Lula da Silva, and according to the Roraima State Governor, are of great importance to both countries.
President Donald Ramotar with a Brazilian delegation that includes Governor of the State of Roraima Jose de Anchieta Junior (left) and Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Luiz Seixas De Andrade (second from right)
It was agreed for example that the hydro project once established will source cheap energy for Guyana and also supply power to northern Brazil.
The two countries had set a June target by which the anticipated proposals including timelines for implementation of the major infrastructural projects would be reached during the opening of the first meeting of the Brazil-Guyana Working Group on Infrastructural Projects last February.
The working group came into being with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and the Brazilian Minister of External Relations, His Excellency Antonio Patriota in December last year. It was agreed then that the group submit its Report by the first quarter of 2013.
President Donald Ramotar in talks with governor of the State of Roraima Jose de Anchieta Junior (second from left)
This month infrastructural teams from the two countries that have been meeting over the past few months are expected to present reports on the proposals, designs and other issues relating to the long stretch of road, (Linden to Lethem) Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira had told residents of Aishalton during a visit in May.
The stretch of road which has over the years been undergoing maintenance works especially during the rainy season will significantly reduce travel time from Georgetown to Lethem when complete.
At the commissioning of the Takutu River Bridge in 2009, the former Brazilian President had assured the road would be the next major undertaking through the Guyana-Brazil partnership.
Last December, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett had explained that the road was imperative to the full realisation of the trade potential between Guyana and Brazil, particularly the northern part of Brazil which is in proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.