Monkey Mountain/Meritezero Road nearing completion 72-mile road would boost agriculture production in area

THE 72-mile-long hinterland road connecting Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) to the highland areas of Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) is 95% complete, Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn has disclosed.This long-awaited roadway is being built at a cost of $600M. It runs from Meritezero in the North Rupununi in Region 9 to Monkey Mountain in Region 8, providing, for the first time, easy commute for residents travelling from the highland locations in Region 8 to Region 9 and the rest of Guyana.

When completed, the road will provide opportunities for social and economic development for residents of both hinterland regions. One such benefit would reportedly be an increase in agricultural production in the highland areas of Region 8, given the easy access to markets in Region 9, and even in Brazil, to which the new road will facilitate travel.

“Kato in the Pakaraimas used to produce top quality agricultural items, such as potatoes and beans, but this declined due to problems with access to markets, since the only way out was by air. This road will change that (situation). This road will make it easier for Pakaraimas’ produce to get out of the mountains and out to Region 9 and the coast, and also to places such as Bon Fim in Brazil,” an official recently explained.

The main contractor for the road has been Omai Gold Mines, assisted by V Dalip Enterprise, who installed over 60 lengths of concrete culverts; and Cyril King, who provided and installed over 1500 feet of running lengths of bridges.

Initial works on the Monkey Mountain/Meritezero Road started in 2010, but progress has since been slow and painstaking due to the rugged nature of the terrain.
Minister Benn said last week: “We are just landing at Monkey Mountain in respect of interior roads, so you can soon drive all the way to Karasabai, to Youngperu, and drive to Monkey Mountain.”

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