– Linden-Lethem Road among developmental topics on agenda
The Linden-to-Lethem Road will be among the issues on the agenda for discussion when President Dr. Irfaan Ali meets with his Brazilian counterpart, President Lula Inacio Lula DaSilva, in a meeting that President Ali announced is likely to happen by month’s end.
In explaining the important link between infrastructure and tourism, the President made reference to a number of projects currently underway throughout the country, including the mostly United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF)-funded Linden-to-Mabura Hill phase of the road.
“On the infrastructure side, we have aviation, we have river transport, and we have the road network. We have taken a very deliberate approach to this, that is why we’re building out the infrastructure of the country in such a rapid way,” President Ali said.
When it comes to the Linden-Lethem Road, President Ali assured that he would soon be meeting with his Brazilian counterpart to have further discussions on this transformational project that would provide a crucial road link between Guyana and Brazil.
“We now have all the bridges to Lethem being reconstructed to international standards: four-lane, concrete bridges. That will make a huge difference. At the end of this month, I’m meeting with President Lula to continue the discussion on the further expansion of this road,” he added.
President Ali was among the world leaders who attended President Lula’s inauguration in January of this year. Prior to Lula’s inauguration, President Ali, in his congratulatory message, had listed a number of areas that would be critical for both countries to move their relationship forward, including energy and food security, telecommunication, infrastructure integration, and trade.
When it comes to the Linden-to-Lethem Road, Brazilian contracting firm Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A is currently undertaking the project, which would be the largest project administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and one of the most historic projects undertaken in Guyana.
The road works include upgrading the existing alignment to the asphaltic concrete surface; 2 lanes spanning 7.2 metres’ width; and 122 kilometres with the inclusion of five drainage structures.
Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A 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, has the potential to boost trade, but is at present little more than an unsurfaced trail that deteriorates in rainfall. As such, the 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 the crossing at Kurupukari.
The process leading to the award of the 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 S.A. (CEE); and Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A.
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 S.A was determined as the most responsive bid, indicating full compliance with all environmental, social, health and safety requirements.
