Financing for Lethem to Mabura Road on agenda for China visit – President Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali is expected to travel to China later this month and among the topics on the agenda to discuss with President Xi Jinping is financing for the completion Lethem to Mabura Hill Road.
The Guyanese Head of State made this disclosure during the recent commissioning of new equipment at Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. (BMGG), a Chinese-owned bauxite company in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The Linden to Lethem Road project is being executed in phases. Guyana has already secured financing and works are ongoing on the Linden to Mabura section.
According to President Ali, Guyana and Brazil are collaborating on completing the Mabura to Lethem stretch of the project.
“We’re already discussing with Brazil and other stakeholders – and I’m this will be an agenda item in China itself with President Xi – on how we’re going to complete the road from Lethem all way to Mabura Hill so we will have a full highway that will integrate the transport logistics of Northern Brazil and Guyana and the rest of the region,” the Head of State noted.
President Ali announced last month that he will be will be going on an official State visit to China at the end of July to further strengthen bilateral relations with the Chinese Government – one of Guyana’s major international partners.
The Linden-Lethem Road is being upgraded to an all-weather road, with the contractor being required to produce an asphaltic surface capable of withstanding the heavily laden lorries which currently use the thoroughfare.
Traversing sections of the Linden to Lethem Road has been a nightmare for heavily laden lorries, with many toppling off of the roadway. The bridges are even worse. Some vehicle operators would have to align the boards before attempting to cross. They do not always make it over safely.
The US$190 million contract was signed in May 2022 with Brazilian company Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA for the construction of the 121-kilometre road.
The project is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) via a US$112 million loan, a grant to the tune of £50 million (US$66 million) from the United Kingdom under the Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (CIPF), and an input of US$12 million from the Guyana Government. This is the largest grant Guyana has ever received from the Government of UK.
With a 7.2-metre-wide carriageway, the Linden-to-Mabura Road is expected to feature a cycle and pedestrian lane measuring 2 metres wide, along with 10 bus stops outfitted with ramps for persons with disabilities.
Additionally, a number of bridges and culverts along the way will be replaced, and some 123 lights would be installed.
In its commitment to this project, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration had set aside some $3.19 billion in the 2022 budget for the construction of 32 bridges between Kurupukari and Lethem along the Linden-to-Lethem trail.
This leg of the project is expected to last for three years. However, according to the contractual agreement, some 10 kilometres of road should be completed by September this year.
As such. just over a week ago, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, conducted a site visit to examine the progress of the road works being done and cautioned the contractor against any delays in meeting the timelines.
Edghill met with all the key players involved in the construction of the Linden to Mabura Road Project. Those at the meeting included the Ministry’s Engineering staff, Consultant Mott MacDonald, Management Consultant, Politecna, and Contracting Brazilian firm Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A.
During the engagement, the Public Works Minister reinforced the urgency of this project, and the need for it to stay on track and be completed within its contractual timeframe.
The Minister warned that unnecessary delays will not be tolerated, and those in charge will be held accountable.
Following a thorough evaluation process by the CDB and Consultant Mott MacDonald along with other specialists, Construtora Queirozñ Galvao S.A, (Bid No 5) was determined as the most responsive bid, meaning full compliance with all Safety, environmental, social, and health requirements, in upgrading the 121 kilometres of road from Linden to Mabura Hill.
Meanwhile, also accompanying the minister to the meeting were Permanent Secretary, Vladim Persaud, and Procurement Manager, Andy Mahadeo.
This project forms part of a wider development of the Georgetown to Lethem corridor.
But while connectivity to major hinterland communities from Georgetown will be made easier with this road project, the Guyana Government has been boosting of the benefits it will bring for regional trade.
At the contract signing last year, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, with open up access to neighbouring countries.
“This project is part of a much wider and more comprehensive plan… We want you to be able to ultimately drive from Paramaribo to Corriverton, to Georgetown, to Linden, to Lethem, to Bon Fim, to Boa Vista and beyond. Not just as a joyride, but our vision for Guyana is one where, if you are a farmer producing produce in Linden, you must be able to load up your produce and drive unimpeded to Lethem to sell it,” Singh.