LETHEM has seen a proliferation of private sector investments corresponding with the opening of the bridge across the Takutu River, the impending road to Linden and the cultivation of lands in the Rupununi and intermediate savannah for plantation-type agriculture. Minutes after arriving in Lethem by air  on Friday, President Bharrat Jagdeo got down to business, meeting with stakeholders in the private sector at the popular Savannah Inn to reiterate the significant contributions they have made to the region and enlighten them about government’s plan to encourage and fasttrack the development process.
“Don’t think for one moment that you are neglected. This area is very important to us; one because for economic reasons and second because we are committed to bringing better benefits to people living in the outlying areas,” President Jagdeo said.
At the meeting were representatives of the Lethem Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Presidential Candidate for the People’s Progressive Party Donald Ramotar; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad; Private Sector Commission Head Ramesh Dookhoo and member Jerry Gouveia; Head of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Clinton Williams; and Beni Sankar of the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana.
Chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Clarendo Lucas in his remarks, commended the respect which the administration has shown to the private sector and alluded to the impressive and rapid way in which the commercial zone in Lethem has been developing.
Additionally, the move by government to reduce the corporate tax from 45 to 40 percent and the raising of the income tax threshold were also given the thumbs up from the private sector.
President Jagdeo spoke optimistically about the role Lethem will play in the national economy beginning with its proximity to Guyana’s southern neighbour Brazil and its potential as a net producer. 
With the recent trade agreement with Brazil, government is now brainstorming expansion in the scope of the agreement by increasing the list of products eligible to enter the Brazilian market.
The acquisition of land in Lethem has become a key attraction for many developers because of the region’s potential, but President Jagdeo said the process of distribution will be done carefully, giving first preference to those willing to make effective use of land.
“You are going to find that not every application that comes to us, we’re just going to hand over the land just like that because someone promises a pie in the sky. This time we’re resolved to doing things differently,” President Jagdeo said.
Meanwhile, government is facilitating the process with a massive infrastructure project valued at approximately $600M. The investment includes an overhaul of the main road to Lethem and the other connecting Regions Eight and Nine. Four different contractors are  working simultaneously on the project and renovation of all the bridges on the trail is also on the cards.
President Jagdeo explained that the project will also improve the lives of Amerindians in the region who have been facing challenges as a result of the absence of such services.
However, for the region to reach a pinnacle, President Jagdeo said some challenges must be addressed, including electricity woes.
“We have to resolve the electricity problem at a scale that is larger than we have now and much more reliable… telecommunications are fairly good but power needs to be fixed and we have to work towards that,” President Jagdeo said.  
Secondly, the idea of a better airstrip is also being explored as the number of flights to the community has been increasing.  There are approximately three airlines in operation executing over 50 flights daily.
Gouveia, the brainchild behind the chamber, suggested that the areas to be addressed should include, fencing, customs and irrigation, security allocation for hangars, and passenger handling. He said the increasing number of flights is evidence of the increase in economic development in Lethem.
Internet services in Lethem are limited but with the coming of the fibre optic cable bandwidth will be cheaper and more reliable.
President Jagdeo told the stakeholders that Lethem will be included in the list of communities to benefit from the one laptop per family project.
Additionally, villages in the Rupununi will be receiving the recently launched learning channel and President Jagdeo highlighted its importance to the youth population in the region
With the search still on for oil and gas  and the interest by investors to set up small refineries in Guyana, President Jagdeo told the private sector in Lethem to look forward to that industry among the new growth pole for Guyana and the spin-off benefits that will coincide.
During the meeting, stakeholders in the private sector were given the opportunity to interact with the President on issues of importance to them. Some pointed to security for businesses in Lethem and the idea of a community policing group. (GINA)