Lethem businesses growing despite major challenges

By Svetlana Marshall –

The construction of the US$ 5 million Takutu Bridge linking Guyana and Brazil is a driving force behind Lethem’s booming commercial sector, however, despite the sub- district has been transformed tremendously over the past eight years, its rapid growth continues to be retarded by unreliable electricity and water supply services.
During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International on Sunday, Lethem Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Jacqueline D’Aguiar said the community’s commercial zone is booming as Guyanese and Brazilians continue to erect huge shopping complexes in the area.

‘Pacifico’, ‘R& R Hardware’, ‘Savannah Inn’, ‘Takutu Shopping Centre’, ‘China Stars’ and ‘America Store’ are among the mega businesses making their names in the business community.
While residents of Lethem and persons from the coastland capitalise on the products offered at various businesses, D’Aguiar said most of the buyers hail from Brazil. Amid rumours of corruption and smuggling of goods across the border, the president of the chamber posited that businesses, particularly involving the Brazilians, are done in a transparent and legitimate manner.
“The buyers are mostly Brazilians and that is the main reason why you see some of the shops displaying some of the prices in real (Brazilian dollar). I know this is bringing a problem for Guyanese because we earn Guyana dollars, we buy in Guyana dollars… so that’s one of the things we are trying to address,” she pointed out.
Banking services
The operations of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and promise of more banking services in the area, speak to the magnitude of development that is rapidly unfolding in Lethem and Region Nine as a whole. Even as the commercial sector within the district continues to progress, the region, D’Aguiar noted, will soon have a vibrant industrial zone.
Even as Lethem progresses, it is severely affected by power outages which are also interfering with the water supply. She explained that since July 2012, residents and the commercial sector continue to be plagued by poor and inadequate power supply.
“Energy has been our real problem since last year July-August… first it was the Linden fiasco, but now it’s the capacity of the engine.”
The Lethem Chamber of Commerce and Industry president explained that because of Lethem’s growing population and its vast business community, the generator sets “cannot measure up”.
According to D’Aguiar, the fluctuation of electricity is impacting the supply of water.
“For the past three weeks, I have not been getting water, this is the old Lethem area and most of the residents have wells, but for the past seven years, this has been the driest so far.”
Former headteacher Roderick George agreed with D’ Aguiar, noting that the commercial sector has been transformed rapidly.
“A lot of development has taken place over the past 28 years, especially in the business field, a lot of businesses just developed overnight and are attracting a lot of people from Brazil.”
However, he too complained bitterly about the power shortages, stressing that it is taking a toll on the business community.