Work has begun on the Guyana side of the bridge across the Takutu River on the border with Brazil as permission was granted by the Guyana government for 69 Brazilians to work in Guyana on the construction.

A high level ministerial team will visit Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) on October 15 to meet regional officials on the preparation for the overall development of the region which will be bolstered by the completion of the bridge.

The team will comprise Minister of International Trade and Co-operation, Clement Rohee; Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir; Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj; Minister of Local Government, Harriper-saud Nokta; Minister of Fisheries Crops and Livestock, Satyadeow Sawh; Advisor to the President on Investment, Manniram Prashad; and technical adviser, Major General (rtd) Joe Singh.

The Brazilians have moved over to the Guyana side and have begun to prepare the foundation for the driving of concrete piles.

From all reports, the work is ahead of schedule and likely to be completed before the target date set for mid next year.

A national co-ordinating group for the bridge construction has been set up. It includes various government ministries, agencies and security forces. A multi-purpose building is to be constructed at Lethem to house the various agencies and ministries which would be providing services for the increased traffic expected after the bridge is completed.

The Ministry of Transport and Hydraulics has issued correspondence to the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Commerce, the Guyana Defence Force, and the Revenue Authority among others requesting their requirements for space for their operations in the new building.

Chairman of Region Nine, Vincent Henry, told Stabroek News that one of the issues the regional authorities would raise at the October 15 meeting was the assurance of jobs for residents of the region during the bridge construction. The Brazilians have indicated their approval that 30% of the work force would be Guyanese.

Henry said the work currently being done on the bridge fell into a specialised category which did not require the services of the Guyanese. According to him, the Brazilian contracting firm in charge of the construction, has stated that the Guyanese workers would begin to work in about two months.

Reports from the Brazilian side indicate that it is preferred that the Guyanese labour be contracted out to one person or company so that the process of documentation would be less onerous.

Henry said government would have to work out the conditions of labour since the labour laws of Brazil were different from Guyana's.

Meanwhile, government is speeding up the implementation of the various processes along with the establishment of facilities following the signing of a trade pact with Brazil recently.

A ministerial delegation visited Boa Vista recently to hold discussions with the Brazilians as part of the Guyana government's commitment to further trade with its South American neighbour.