The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, yesterday, spearheaded a consultation meeting with Mabura and Kurupukari residents, for the Feasibility Study and Design for the Linden to Mabura Hill Road Upgrade and Kurupukari River Crossing.
The community consultations were conducted at the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre, and the Mabura Health Post.
This project is expected to make major upgrades to approximately 122 kilometers (km) of the Linden to Lethem Road, a key section of the arterial route from the coast of Guyana to Brazil. It will also include the construction of a crossing at Kurupukari to replace the current ferry which has limited capacity and does not operate on a 24-hour basis.
The road, when fully rehabilitated, is expected to open opportunities for increased agricultural production and tourism.
In a Facebook post, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, commenting on the meeting, wrote: “A long-held dream, finally becoming a reality.”
He noted that the funding for the project has been secured via a grant from the United Kingdom (UK) and a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The project is expected to be launched shortly, he confirmed.
The minister also took the time to give kudos to his ministry and government for making moves to make the project a reality. He also debunked claims made by the Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regarding the feasibility of constructing the link.
“I can say without fear of successful contradiction, that this Government has done more than any other previous government in moving this universally demanded roadway forward. The PPP is on record as saying this road is not financially feasible (just as they claimed with the recently completed East Bank Berbice road – we will once again prove them visionless), however at MoPI, we believe that as long as there is a will, we will find the way!” Patterson posted.