El Brasil interesado en Proyectos Hidroeléctricos y Pavimentación de la carretera de Linden de Lethem en Guyana (Guayana Esequiba)

Tomado de:

Brazil keen on hydro, Lethem road

Posted By Iana Seales On November 26, 2010

In a parting speech which signalled Brazil’s continued interest in bolstering relations with Guyana, outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said yesterday that his successor is ready to advance and expand the bilateral agenda with an immediate focus on Guyana’s hydro project and the paving of the Linden-Lethem road.
Brazilian funding is available to advance both projects, he said, noting that they are “ready to support the move to the next phase” as both governments work towards cleaner and cheaper energy. He identified movement in these areas as critical as Guyana and Brazil strengthen their close partnership.

The Brazil/Guyana bilateral agenda remains a priority according to Lula, who said his country is interested in “consolidating the continental destiny of Guyana”.
His comments came shortly after the Order of Excellence was conferred upon him at a special ceremony at the National Cultural Centre yesterday; the event was scheduled for the UNASUR summit which wraps up in Georgetown today.

T

President Bharrat Jagdeo conferring the Order of Excellence on Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva last night at the National Cultural Centre. (Jules Gibson photo)

he Order of Excellence, this country’s highest honour, was awarded to the Brazilian President for his commitment and active involvement in promoting and strengthening relations between Guyana and Brazil, in addition to his efforts in pursuit of regional integration.

President’s Bharrat Jagdeo speaking on Lula’s imminent exit from office said, “As we deepen ties yet further in the years ahead, we will miss President Lula’s wise counsel, but we are also delighted to see in President-elect (Dilma) Rousseff someone who shares President Lula’s commitment to building a better continent and world for us all”.

President Jagdeo said also that Guyana has benefited from Lula’s solidarity over the years, noting that the physical, economic, social and personal links between the countries are stronger than ever, and are “laying the foundations for the full realization of Guyana’s South American destiny”.
He continued that Guyana and Brazil are working closely in the international fora, including those that address climate change. In particular, he said the two countries are working to advance a global solution to addressing deforestation.

Lula also mentioned how bilateral relations have progressed between Guyana and Brazil, pointing to the Takutu Bridge and the “rapid increase in economic activity” since it was opened; he said there has been a positive impact on both sides of the border.

The prospects for trade are tremendous, Lula said, pointing to the bridge and the potential which lies in the Linden-Lethem highway. He said also that Brazil will help with capacity building for local exports, noting that the opportunities for expanding the relationship are immense.

In addition to the hydro-project which he discussed with much enthusiasm, Lula said, his country is looking forward to a closer connection with Guyana as proposed in the fibre-optic cable project of the government. He spoke of a working group being set up to explore new areas of cooperation between the two countries, adding that one of Brazil’s interests includes boosting Portuguese lessons here so that Guyanese students could take up scholarship offers in Brazil.

UNASUR

Since Guyana assumes chairmanship of the Union of South American States (UNASUR) today Lula used the opportunity to offer Brazil’s support. He said that UNASUR offers an opportunity to advance regional integration, adding that with Guyana at its helm the opportunities are even greater because of its ties to CARICOM

L

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaking at the National Cultural Centre last night after being conferred with the Order of Excellence by President Bharrat Jagdeo. After Lula’s address there was a packed cultural programme.

ula expressed certainty that this country will perform its role as UNASUR chair with competence and seriousness. He said that Brazil is ready to facilitate any meetings, working group sessions and related-UNASUR gatherings during Guyana’s chairmanship. He explained how much his country supports Guyana’s role by pointing out that two Brazilian diplomats were assigned to work at the local foreign Ministry until the period ends.

Brazil is seeking access to the Caribbean region and is waiting for Guyana to organize a meeting between MERCOSUR and CARICOM, Lula said, noting that one of the strategic objectives of the regional bloc is to deepen relations with the Caribbean. He expressed hope that Guyana will initiate negotiations between CARICOM and MERCOSUR as soon as the Caribbean bloc is ready to meet.

UNASUR, he said, has to confront challenges to regional cooperation by strengthening dialogue and cooperation across the South, but must also look towards building stronger relations in the Caribbean region and according to him, Guyana is that critical link.

Recognition

In honouring Lula, President Jagdeo lauded him as “a true South American hero” and noted the Brazilian leader’s humble beginnings and his drive to better himself and those around him, a trait which he carried into the political sphere and beyond his country’s borders.

“Alongside his deep-seated love for, and dedication to, his own country, his leadership and compassion saw him deploy his personal influence and national position to advance the lives of millions of people across the world. Partly because of his actions, the G20 now exists and ensures greater influence for the peoples of the developing world in shaping the decisions that impact on them.”

The Guyanese leader also noted Lula’s role in the creation of UNASUR and his outreaches to Africa, the Arab world and elsewhere to bring people closer. He added that the World Social Forum which Lula established in 2003 enables progressive global policies to be advanced and at every international forum Brazil leads in a way that advances the needs of the less powerful across the world.

“It is this leadership that influenced Guyana’s early decision to support Brazil’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. And it is this leadership that is also addressing the most (important) global challenge our planet has ever faced – the fight against climate change,” Jagdeo stated.

According to Jagdeo, Brazil’s success in reversing historical deforestation trends in the Amazon will benefit every citizen on this planet and stands as one of the outgoing president’s greatest legacies.

“The global statesman who fought to put billions of poor people at the centre of international decision-making has laid the foundations for a world that is freer, fairer and more prosperous. Few people on this planet have contributed as much to human progress as His Excellency, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. History will record him as a titan of our age. Guyana will remember him as a true friend,” Jagdeo said.

President Lula was also on November 19 selected for the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2010. He was selected by an international jury chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Indian press reported.

The prize was bestowed for his outstanding contribution to the cause of eliminating hunger and promoting inclusive growth in his country, his advocacy for strong ties among the developing countries and for his significant contribution to the cause of India-Brazil partnership, a statement from the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust said.

“Mr. Lula has championed the cause of the global south, and worked to strengthen bonds among the developing countries… His priority from the start was inclusive growth and the consolidation and expansion of social programmes,” noted the release.

The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize or the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is accorded annually by India to individuals or organisations in recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.

The prize carries a cash award of 25 lakh Indian rupees and a citation. A written work, in order to be eligible for consideration, should have been published.
The panel constituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust consists of prominent national and international personalities including previous recipients. The recipients are chosen from a pool of national and international nominees. Past recipients include former US President Jimmy Carter; Sir Shridath Ramphal; former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Nota del editor del blog: Al referenciarse a la República Cooperativa de Guyana se deben de tener en cuenta los 159.500Km2, de territorios ubicados al oeste del río Esequibo conocidos con el nombre de Guayana Esequiba o Zona en Reclamación sujetos al Acuerdo de Ginebra del 17 de febrero de 1966.

Territorios estos sobre los cuales el gobierno Venezolano en representación de la Nación venezolana se reservo sus derechos sobre los territorios de la Guayana Esequiba en su nota del 26 de mayo de 1966 al reconocerse al nuevo Estado de Guyana .

“...por lo tanto, Venezuela reconoce como territorio del nuevo Estado, el que se sitúa al este de la margen derecha del río Esequibo y reitera ante la comunidad internacional, que se reserva expresamente sus derechos de soberanía territorial sobre la zona que se encuentra en la margen izquierda del precitado río; en consecuencia, el territorio de la Guayana Esequiba sobre el cual Venezuela se reserva expresamente sus derechos soberanos, limita al Este con el nuevo Estado de Guyana, a través de la línea del río Esequibo, tomando éste desde su nacimiento hasta su desembocadura en el Océano Atlántico...”

Guayana Esequiba (Zona en Reclamación) Proyecto Hidroeléctrico en el Alto Mazaruni

The 'Kurupunq/Upper Mazaruni' Hydro-Electric Project


I attach articles on the so-called "Kurupung project" which is being contemplated as a deal involving RUSAL and the Brazilians (possibly Electrobras) in Guyana. It entails a hydro project with a power station at Kurupung. Kurupung is just below the Pakaraima escarpment. You can see the view from the lowlands, looking at the escarpment, on p. 132 in my book. I understand that a lot of felling of forest has been taking place in the Kurupung area in recent years: there is a uranium mining company at work. In the 1950s there was a small village of pork knockers only.


What is not stated in these articles is that the lake for the hydro project would be in the upper Mazaruni basin. In other words, this is a revival of the upper Mazaruni hydro project of the 1970s and 80s, which was turned down by the World Bank and opposed by the Venezuelan Government of the time as contradicting the terms of the Treaty of Geneva, 1966 (whereby neither Venezuela nor Guyana was to carry out any development in 'Essequibo'which would advance the claim of one country against the other - and which provided a mechanism for settlement of the boundary via a UN Good Officer).


Survival International Document VI, 1978, published the details of the project under the title "The Damned". The plight of the Akawaio Indians of Guyana. The information in it was based on studies made by the Yugoslav firm' Energo Projekt. Then the Swedish consultants SWECO were called in. In their Report SWECO commented on the immensity of the reservoir area. The third, final phase would entail an area of c. 1,000 sq.miles (2,590 sq. km.) of inundation. When plotted on a map, this showed that all the villages and settlements in the upper Mazaruni would be under water with the possible exception of Chinowieng, on the Ayanganna plateau, to the south in the Chai-Chai area of the upper Mazaruni head which is scheduled to be dammed in the ultimate phases of the Amaila Falls hydro project (the Chai-Chai - Potaro Diversion)!
The site of the dam is Sand Landing (Latipu), 20 miles down river from Kamarang Mouth. The Yugoslav Report referred to a dam 226 ft. high. The catchment area would be 3,861 sq. miles (10,000 sq.km). Total output of energy, in the third phase was calculated as 3,500 MW.


The installations included:
A High Dam (at Sand Landing, upper Mazaruni River).
A Power Station (at Kurupung).
Two water conveyance tunnels.
A Power Transmission Corridor.
An Access Road.


Establishment of a New Town to house families of workers, personnel in general, schools, stores, etc. This was originally to be sited on a small flat area of grassland above Kumarow Fall,
a short distance up the Pakaraima escarpment. (See "Land" p.
132, which has a photograh of the Fall.)


A smelter producing 200,000 tonnes per annum would need 430 MW. So far Rusal is contemplating a bauxite smelter and refinery: Bosai wants 2 smelters and a refinery. The Brazilians want to puchase energy for the development of Boa Vista and Estado Roraima in general (and presumably would not want to build a Cotingo River dam if they can get their energy from Guyana). We can also surmise that if Brazil gets a deep water harbour on the Atlantic Coast, it will most likely be in the Essequibo Estuary and developments there will need energy.


One of the major criticisms of the upper Mazaruni Dam project of the 1970s was that there was no means of disposing of the surplus energy (and the Guri was then going strong). Being around the size of the Aswan Dam and there being well under a million people in Guyana, it was far too large. This objection has been overcome (and I would guess that the Kopinang bauxite deposit may be an important element in future increases in bauxite processing in Guyana.) It may be significant that Guyana has just appointed an Ambassador to China after a lapse of time - given the ambitions of Bosai in the Demerara.


Although the "Kurupung hydro project" may not be exactly the same as the "Upper Mazaruni hydro project" of the 70s there is every indication that they are basically the same project. Details so far seem to match (eg. the position of the power station and its energy output over 3 stages). We know that Rusal engineers have been in the upper Mazaruni surveying at Sand Landing.


Whereas previously an effort was made to bully the upper Mazaruni indigenous inhabitants to agree to the project, and to be prepared to evacuate their ancestral lands, this time so far, there is not even any mention of the thousands of people (Akawaio Kapong and Pemong) who would eventually become refugees. Nor is there any intimation of what the destruction of such a vast area of highland tropical forest will entail environmentally and climatically. Add to this the destruction of forest associated with the Amaila and the inevitable consequences which roads and tracks up the escarpment will bring to the Pakaraima Mountains at large.


As regards the Kapong people (Akawaio/Seregong and Patamona/Inkarigo): if bauxite mining displaces them in the south (upper Potaro basin) and they are flooded out in the north (upper Mazaruni basin), then maybe this would amount to ethnocide, a destruction of their society and culture, if not of the lives of what must now be some 15 - 20,000 indigenous people - to say nothing of the effects on their immediate kinsmen and neighbours on the Gran Sabana, Venezuela and in the Rio Branco, Brazil.


Nota del editor del blog: Al referenciarse a la República Cooperativa de Guyana se deben de tener en cuenta los 159.500Km2, de territorios ubicados al oeste del río Esequibo conocidos con el nombre de Guayana Esequiba o Zona en Reclamación sujetos al Acuerdo de Ginebra del 17 de febrero de 1966.


Territorios estos sobre los cuales el gobierno Venezolano en representación de la Nación venezolana se reservo sus derechos sobre los territorios de la Guayana Esequiba en su nota del 26 de mayo de 1966 al reconocerse al nuevo Estado de Guyana .
“...por lo tanto, Venezuela reconoce como territorio del nuevo Estado, el que se sitúa al este de la margen derecha del río Esequibo y reitera ante la comunidad internacional, que se reserva expresamente sus derechos de soberanía territorial sobre la zona que se encuentra en la margen izquierda del precitado río; en consecuencia, el territorio de la Guayana Esequiba sobre el cual Venezuela se reserva expresamente sus derechos soberanos, limita al Este con el nuevo Estado de Guyana, a través de la línea del río Esequibo, tomando éste desde su nacimiento hasta su desembocadura en el Océano Atlántico...”