Lethem highway, Takutu Bridge on agenda at Brazil meeting
Stabroek News
May 12, 2007
A team of technical personnel from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications is meeting with Brazilian officials in Brazil to continue discussions on the Boa Vista-Bon Fim-Lethem-George-town Highway.
A press release from the Government Information Agency said the team, led by Co-ordinator of the Work Services Group (WSG) Rickford Lowe, is meeting with officials of the Brazilian Infrastructure Agency for the State of Roraima. The team also includes Technical Adviser to the Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Walter Willis and Engineer of WSG Leon Goring.
Discussion on the finalisation of the Takutu River Bridge is also on the agenda after which the proposed highway, the bridges along its route and other basic infrastructure in Region Nine will be inspected. In March, a team of technical and financial officials from Brazil inspected the roadway and gathered technical and financial details when they held discussions here. Establishing the highway will provide a transportation link that will facilitate increased trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries. It will also provide full integration with the countries of the Guiana Shield Hub, since it crosses the East-West transport network connecting Venezuela with Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
Completion of the Takutu River Bridge will complement the Guyana/Brazil Highway. Construction on the bridge was halted over two years ago but the two governments agreed to complete it following an official visit by President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in 2005.