“Linden Chamber of Commerce, get ready!”– Town Clerk

…urges business community to prepare for economic boom

With the mining town of Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice) set to become a key hub in cross border trade between Brazil and Guyana, a call to action was made for stakeholders within the business community to prepare themselves to take hold of the opportunities that will be available.
This call to action was made by Town Clerk Lennox Gasper during a recent edition of the ‘A closer look at Municipal Matters’ programme. During his presentation on the programme, the town clerk spoke about the highly anticipated Linden-Mabura Road project currently under construction.
The Linden to Mabura Hill Road, which would eventually reach all the way to Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), is a vital road network that is being utilised by thousands of persons who transport goods from the coast to the inland regions of Guyana.

The new road will also unlock new markets by bolstering cross border trade between Guyana and Brazil, which will also see new revenue streams being opened to residents of Linden. In this regard Gasper stressed the importance of business leaders within the mining town preparing for the plethora of opportunities that will present themselves.
“And I would want to say to the Linden Chamber of Commerce, they need to start to strategise plans – economic – come up with massive economic plans. How you’re going to ready yourself, how business in Linden is going to ready themselves for this kind of economic boom.”
The town clerk revealed that to fully capitalise on these opportunities, several organisations such as the Town Council, must synergise to ensure these business opportunities are not taken away from the residents of Linden.
“We got to get ready for what is about to happen; there is an economic revival that’s going to come to Linden as a result of that road, and if Linden is not ready, it’s going to pass through. It’s going to pass through and it’s going to go somewhere else,” he advised. Gasper added, “So we’ve got to be ready; we need Chambers, we need all the business people, private – even some of the Government owned – we need the RDC; the municipality; we need everybody onboard: health – everybody. We need them onboard.”

US$190M Linden-Mabura Road
The previous condition of The Linden to Mabura Hill Road had posed significant challenges for commuters and transport operators. Heavily laden lorries frequently toppled off the roadway, and deteriorated bridges required manual alignment of boards for crossings, often with unsafe outcomes. However, when completed, the pertinent piece of infrastructure would significantly improve connectivity between Linden and the inland regions of Guyana.
This project is being co-financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through a US$112 million loan, a £50 million (US$66 million) grant from the United Kingdom under the Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (CIPF), and US$12 million from the Government of Guyana. It marks the largest grant Guyana has ever received from the United Kingdom (UK).
The road will boast a 7.2-metre-wide carriageway, a two-metre-wide pedestrian and cycle lane, and 10 bus stops with ramps for persons with disabilities. Additionally, the project includes the replacement of multiple bridges and culverts, as well as the installation of 123 lights along the roadway.

Trade Expansion Between Guyana and Brazil
Meanwhile, Guyana’s trade with Brazil includes both imports and exports. In 2024, Guyana’s imports from Brazil reached US$457.64 million. Conversely, Brazil imported US$881.13 million from Guyana in 2024. Guyana’s key exports to Brazil include crude petroleum, aluminium ore, and other engines. Brazil’s key exports to Guyana include mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, and cereals.
Just recently in march a Guyana public and private sector delegation conducted a trade mission in Northern Brazil, specifically Boa Vista, State of Roraima. The trade mission is in keeping with a commitment made during a meeting between His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana and His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil held in Georgetown on 29 February 2024.
The two presidents agreed to organise a trade mission to Brazil, comprising officials of the Government and the business sector of Guyana, with the aim of expanding trade and investment between the two countries.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve cross border trade between the two countries, the trade mission seeks to explore trade and investment opportunities with Northern Brazil and expand collaboration in areas such as agro- processing, manufacturing, construction, tourism, food distribution and port development.