Guyana\ Brazil border reopens

The recent reopening of the Guyana/ Brazil border is just one of the many steps taken by the
government to ensure that economic productivity continues amidst the pandemic.
President of the Rupununi Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Daniels Gajie recalling the effects of the
pandemic has caused in the Lethem, Region Nine, stressed that the government of Guyana has
been playing a critical role in terms of relief efforts to support the community. “If it wasn’t for
the support given by the Government of Guyana financially to Region Nine, I believe we would
have been in a very very serious economic and social situation. So that has certainly helped boost
the economy,” Gajie said. The President noted that majority of the villages in the region depend
solely on eco-tourism for their livelihoods and due to the pandemic, there was a huge decline in
business.

He disclosed the dependence of the business sector of that region on the customers coming out of
Brazil. “Eighty per cent of our economy depend on Brazilian customers and they have been
coming here for the last eight, nine years specially to purchase cheap commodities,” he said. The
Rupununi Chambers of Commerce President said that the re-opening of the borders will facilite
the conducting of business and other activities, benefiting both countries. “We are looking at it, I
believe authorities on both ends are happy, residents and businesses especially are happy, and I
don’t see us returning to that full closure unless there’s a serious increase of the COVID-19
virus. The stats on both sides are encouraging,” Gajie said.
Meanwhile, several residents of the area expressed how pleased they are with the reopening of
the border as it will allow them to continue their regular activities. “I really appreciate it because
it’s really important for us on both sides because you know, both countries need each other, you
know, to do what they have to do,” Mrs. Tessa was quoted as saying.
Carlos Rahaman who is one of the team members responsible for the sanitisation of persons and
of vehicles at the Guyana/ Brazil border disclosed what that process entails. “We as the sanitising
team, we sanitise in and out the vehicles and persons in the vehicles… This is due to the border
opening, we are trying to make sure we sanitise so that we will be safe on our side… Most of the
time vehicles start coming at seven so we try to be out here as early as possible, so when vehicles
start to come, we have the health team out here,” he said.