GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s government has strongly rejected a recent article published by The Telegraph that described the UK-supported Linden–Mabura Road as a “road to nowhere,” saying the report mischaracterises one of the country’s most strategic infrastructure projects and ignores its historic and regional significance.
In a statement issued Monday, Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill called the article “wholly inaccurate and misleading,” stressing that the project represents the continuation of a development vision first outlined in the 1920s and revived in the 1960s with United States support. “The description of the project as a ‘road to nowhere’ is wholly misleading,” Edghill said. “It fails to reflect the multi-million-dollar investment already underway and the Government’s long-term vision for hinterland development, cross-border connectivity, and low-carbon resilient infrastructure.”
The Linden–Mabura upgrade forms Phase One of the Linden–Lethem highway, which will establish the first permanent, all-weather overland route linking Guyana’s coast to northern Brazil. Officials said the modern road will improve mobility for thousands of residents, reduce transportation costs, and expand access to essential services, including healthcare, education, and emergency support for hinterland and Indigenous communities. The corridor is also expected to boost trade, strengthen logistics, and advance community-based tourism and agriculture.
Guyana underscored that the financing model referenced in the Telegraph article was misreported. According to the government, the project is supported by a US$112 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, a £50 million grant from the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund, and approximately US$12 million from the Government of Guyana. Authorities reiterated that UK support is grant-based, not a commercial loan arrangement. They noted that the financing has undergone rigorous environmental, social, and financial scrutiny by the CDB and international partners.
Edghill also rejected environmental claims made in the report, stating that the project upgrades an existing alignment and does not carve a new corridor through untouched forest. He noted that Guyana maintains more than 85 per cent forest cover and continues to advance development under its Low Carbon Development Strategy. The government stated that climate-resilient infrastructure, including all-weather transport, forms a key part of international climate finance, helping countries adapt to increased rainfall and flood events.
“All procurement and implementation processes comply with CDB oversight and Guyana’s financial regulations,” the minister said, calling any insinuation of impropriety “entirely unfounded.” He added that the road will deliver long-term economic and social benefits while strengthening national unity and territorial cohesion. “This is not only a road — it is an economic corridor that opens the country,” he said.
While reaffirming Guyana’s appreciation for the United Kingdom’s development partnership, the government urged fairness and accuracy in international reporting. “Constructive cooperation demands fidelity to facts, not sensationalism,” the statement said. “Guyana remains committed to transparent and sustainable development as it builds a modern, resilient, and inclusive future.”