Linden-to-Mabura Hill road: Project will have massive positive economic impact on Region 10 – Minister

…says construction to start this quarter

The construction on the Caribbean Development bank (CDB) funded Linden to Marbura Hill road project, is expected to commence in the first quarter of this year, following on the heels of a Brazilian company being identified to construct the road.
This is according to Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, in an interview with this publication. He explained that the project, which was budgeted for in the 2022 budget, will start soon.

“We have had evaluations received and they’ve received no objections. So the construction phase of that project is imminent. That’s $6 billion in our budget for that. So that’s 122 kilometres, from Linden to Mabura Hill,” Indar said, confirming that the project should start in the first quarter of the year.
Indar also talked of the massive employment opportunities that will be created in Region 10 when the project starts up. According to the Minister, the economic impact on surrounding communities will be huge.
“That’s a big project. What that project entails, it’s a lot of earthworks, building material. Sand. Loam. Crusher run. Massive employment for the people of Linden. People of 47 and 58 Miles. People in the communities stretching along that area too.”
“A lot of people in and out of Linden will get work. There are businesses. Where would workers sleep? Where would they get their food from. A lot of business. Transportation. A lot of business for Lindeners and the people of Region 10. Inland. The riverine communities,” Indar said.
It was announced earlier this month that negotiations are to commence with a Brazilian company for the award of the monumental Linden-to-Mabura Hill road project, following the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) giving its no-objection to Government.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh had announced that discussions would commence with the most responsive bidder, Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA from Brazil.
This project is the first link in the highway between Linden and Lethem. It would provide major support to ease of travel, trade, and general connectivity between Guyana and Brazil, and open vast opportunities by linking Guyana’s hinterland communities to Georgetown.
The process leading to the award of this contract followed a stringent and transparent procurement process by which the call for proposals for the prequalification of contractors was made in February 2021. Ten contractors were prequalified, and this list was approved by the CDB in October 2021.
Following the prequalification phase, the bidding process began in October 2021 and ended in December 2021. Of the 10 prequalified contractors, the following five made submissions: China Gezhouba Group Company Limited; China Railway International Group & China Railway No 10 Engineering Group Co Ltd; Shandong Luqiao Group Co; OECI SA (OECI) in JV with Castilho Engenharia E Empreendimentos SA (CEE); and Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA.
The bids were carefully scrutinised and evaluated by a team of local engineers. After a thorough evaluation process involving engagements and consultations with the Caribbean Development Bank, Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA was determined as the most responsive bid, indicating full compliance with all environmental, social, health and safety requirements.
This project would be the largest project ever funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, and is one of the most historic projects undertaken in Guyana. The road works include upgrading the existing alignment to asphaltic concrete surface; 2 lanes spanning 7.2 metre width; and 122 kilometres with the inclusion of five drainage structures.
Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA is a large Brazilian contractor established in 1966. The company specialises in the construction of refineries, roads, bridges, commercial offices, residential buildings, highways and sewage systems worldwide.
The Linden-to-Lethem Road, a key link between Guyana and Brazil, with the potential to boost trade, is at present little more than an unsurfaced trail that deteriorates in rainfall. As such, the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme, administered through the CDB, would be providing funding for the first phase of the road: from Linden to Mabura Hill, as well as a crossing at Kurupukari. (G3)