CONSTRUCTION of the 72-mile hinterland road which will connect   Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) to Monkey Mountain in Region 8   (Potaro/Siparuni) was 75% completed last week.

The road which branches off from Meritezero North Rupununi and heads toward Monkey Mountain is about 22 miles away from that village.
Hinterland Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works, Naeem Mohamed said that the road should have been completed around this time but work had been adversely affected by heavy rainfall over the past three months.
Work which is being done by Omai Gold Mines Limited and V. Dalip and Cyril King is gradually regaining momentum.
Mohamed said that the Works Ministry also wants to extend the road to Kato some 45 miles north west of Monkey Mountain, giving it a total distance of 117 miles.
Meanwhile, the ministry is currently seeking funds for this extension.
The road from Region 9 to Monkey Mountain in Region 8, has always been in demand by residents of the communities in Regions 8 and 9, because of the expected social and economic benefits to be derived from it.
The road to Monkey Mountain will provide opportunities for social and economic development for residents of both Regions 8 and 9 and will undoubtedly contribute to the generation of wealth in these communities.
One 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 is not possible now but which the new road will facilitate.