A SEVENTY-TWO mile long hinterland road, from Meritezero, North Rupununi in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) to Monkey Mountain in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) is making steady progress towards its target.
Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works Naeem Mohamed made the disclosure earlier this week, stating that the route

being constructed at a cost of $600M, to connect the highland areas, is about 45 percent complete.
He said the benefits are already being seen since a trip from Meritezero to Karasabai that would have taken four to five hours in the past, is now being done in about thirty minutes.
Mohamed said the new path will facilitate and provide opportunities for social and economic development for residents of both hinterland regions and would undoubtedly contribute to the generation of wealth in the beneficiary communities.
According to him, one such benefit would be an increase in agricultural production in the highland areas of Region 8, given the easy access to markets in Region 9 and even Brazil which the new road will facilitate.
“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. 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,” he said.
Previous reports have indicated that the road from Karasabai to Monkey Mountain has always been something agitated for by residents of the Regions 8 and 9 communities, because of the perceived social and economic advantages to be derived.
Omai Gold Mines
The road is being built by Omai Gold Mines Limited and the necessary culverts and bridges are being provided by V. Dalip and Cyril King, respectively.
Omai is doing its part at a cost of $259M and the project also involves raising earthen embankments and lateritic material overlay.
Cabinet recently gave its no objection to the installation of thirty four feet diameter concrete culverts in Karasabai costing  $87.9M, and construction of 300 feet of bridges in the Karasabai/Monkey Mountain area at a cost of $53.5M.
Mohamed said Omai has already completed 35 miles of the road from Meritezero to Monkey Mountain and it is now close to Teperu, a village about 37 miles from Monkey Mountain.
Good progress is being made, given the very difficult terrain in which they have to work, he remarked.
”Hills, steep mountains, the terrain is rough even for people on foot,”
Mohamed said, noting that the work started fourteen months ago and the Ministry of Public Works is hoping that it will be completed by the middle of next year.