Latest update November 8th, 2024 1:00 AM
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Takatu Bridge now open to vehicular traffic
Trade between Guyana and Brazil has shown a significant increase with the opening up of the Takatu Bridge to vehicular traffic over the weekend.
A local policeman carries out checks on a vehicle arriving from Brazil.
Already scores of Brazilians, especially from Bon Fin, have been making use of the facility to gain easy access to Guyana at Lethem.
While the Brazilian authorities had put systems in place more than a month ago to facilitate the flow of traffic across the border-linking bridge, Guyanese officials are now in place, ready to deal with the anticipated increase in traffic from the neighbouring country.
The customs, immigration and security aspects of a border checkpoint are being housed in one central complex.
But there is one minor hiccup which seems to be affecting taxi operators on the Guyana side of the border.
Taxi drivers are complaining that while they are prohibited from passing the Brazilian checkpoint to enter Bon Fin, their counterparts from the Portuguese-speaking nation are allowed free access to ply their trade in Lethem.
One taxi driver explained that Brazilian taxi drivers are ferrying their passengers into Guyana and are allowed to take them around Lethem before crossing back over to Brazil.
The local taxi drivers feel that the Brazilian taxis should only be allowed up to the Guyana checkpoint and their passengers be made to use the local taxis to transact their business in Guyana.
They are appealing to the authorities to address the matter quickly since it could have a significantly negative impact on their livelihood.
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