Guyana, Roraima state push for faster Linden-Lethem Road completion

…eye major food and energy projects in Lethem

Guyana and the State of Roraima, Brazil, have reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation following a high-level visit by Roraima Governor Antonio Olivério Garcia de Almeida and his delegation on Friday.
Governor Garcia de Almeida was accompanied by senior officials, including the Secretaries for Investment Attraction, Agriculture, Communication, and Military, along with Roraima’s Special Envoy to Guyana on a two-day visit. The delegation held discussions with President Irfaan Ali at State House, joined by Cabinet ministers and the foreign secretary.

The two sides engaged in dialogue on enhancing cooperation in strategic sectors such as agriculture, livestock, energy, infrastructure, and technical exchanges. Emphasis was placed on unlocking greater opportunities for private sector investment and collaboration between Guyana and Northern Brazil.
A central topic of discussion was the advancement of the Linden-Lethem Road project, particularly the timely completion of its second phase. Both sides underscored the project’s importance in improving connectivity and facilitating trade between the two territories.
Several priority areas for collaboration were outlined during the meeting, including the establishment of a food and livestock processing hub in Lethem to support increased agricultural output and facilitate exports to the wider Caribbean region and international markets; development of an integrated energy complex in Lethem through a public-private partnership model, with facilities for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and other petroleum products; creation of scholarship and exchange programmes between tertiary institutions in Guyana and Roraima, with a focus on agriculture, research, and technology transfer; enhancement of border administration systems, particularly at the Lethem-Bonfim crossing, aimed at improving customs and immigration efficiency.

There was a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise and accelerate collaboration across these and other shared priority areas.
To support implementation, the two sides agreed to establish a joint working group tasked with setting clear objectives and timelines. The group will also be responsible for identifying additional avenues for collaboration between public and private stakeholders.