Works at Lethem Industrial Estate moving apace
―construction to be completed in time
―building to house several businesses and boost tourism
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Residents of Lethem and by extension Upper Takutu Upper Essequibo, Region Nine will soon see an economic transformation of their communities thanks to the construction of an Industrial Estate in the border town.
The Estate which is an initiative of the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Business will accommodate seventy business, with four of those being anchor tenants (larger businesses).
Supervising consultant of the project Winston Springer of SRK Engineering told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the building’s construction is slated to be completed on schedule in a matter of months.
Springer further explained that currently, measurements are being taken for the construction of smaller roads within the site’s compound.
Once completed, the facility will be a stimulus for many of the entrepreneurs within Lethem and the wider Region Nine area.
Business Minister Dominic Gaskin pointed out in 2018 that an incubator is being established to provide small businesses with an outlet where they can cultivate and acquire enough skills in an enabling environment with the necessary support mechanism.
The goal is that within a year of the establishment, the businesses should be in a position to branch off independently and possibly expand. The industrial site is expected to be a source of employment for scores of residents of the town.
The Ministry of Business has responsibility for industrial estates at Lethem, Belvedere, Eccles, and Coldingen. The latter two, which have a combined total of 120 developed plots, houses close to 60 developed estates providing jobs for about 4,000 Guyanese.
The main industries are wood-processing, cement and block-making, food processing, fish processing, furniture manufacturing, metal fabrication and pharmaceuticals.
In the 2016 National Budget, the government allocated $212Million for the development and repair of the industrial estates at Belvedere and Lethem.
Nateshia Isaacs.
Images: Keno George.