Portuguese language course for residents  of Lethem
THE Regional Democratic Council of Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and  the   Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI)  are collaborating with the University of the State of Roraima  in Brazil, bordering Guyana,  in the staging of a Portuguese for
Foreigners  language course for residents of Lethem and its environs starting next Friday. The programme  should have started on April 16, but was pushed back to the 30th to avoid the distractions of the Easter celebrations and the annual Rupununi Rodeo, Chairman of the RCCI Mr. Alfred Ramsarran disclosed last week.

The aim is to eliminate the language barrier between the border communities of Bomfim and Lethem and there will soon be established in Bomfim  a full time  free-of-charge language institute, where Guyanese can learn Portuguese and Brazilians can learn English, he disclosed.

The language programme is a  collaboration, in keeping with the desire of
both communities  to increase cross-border relations  in trade, sports  and culture.

The course is being held in two semesters, the first starting on April
30  and ending in July and the second beginning in August and ending
in December .

It is to be held   once a week (on Saturdays) in Bomfim  free of charge and the response by both young people and adults, particularly people in the commercial sector,  has been very enthusiastic, Ramsarran said.
Ramsarran had disclosed that the offer by the University  of the State of Roraima had risen from out  of discussions held in Brazil by members of the RCCI, the Private Sector Commission, GOINVEST, Guyanese

businessmen  and the Governor of the Brazilian border State of Roraima. Mr. Jose de Achieta Junior,  in January last, said that the problem of the language barrier (English vs. Portuguese)  between Lethem and BomFim was a main item on the agenda of that meeting and it was agreed that it should be addressed.
The University of Roraima was tasked   with addressing the problem and  its Chancellor Professor Raimundo Saboia,  visited Lethem  in March and outlined the programme for  the Portuguese for Foreigners course.

The entire programne  is scheduled to last for 120 hours by which time Guyanese  students should be able to master the basics of the language.

Ramsarran  said the  need for Brazilians to learn English had also  been discussed at the January meeting.

It  was agreed that there should ultimately be  the establishment of a
Language Institute in Bomfim, where Guyanese can learn Portuguese and
Brazilians can learn English and so remove the formidable language
barrier to  improvement of  relations in the areas of trade, sports
and culture between these two bordering  communities.