Consultations are ongoing with utility companies for the establishment of the new city – Silica City, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal revealed during the final day of budget debates for the National $552.9 billion budget.
“It is anticipated that a shared utility corridor will cater for all utilities to be routed underground,” Minister Croal explained. He said the ongoing consultations are dealing with the development of infrastructure for the utility companies.
Minister Croal further revealed that the new city’s population is projected to be “approximately 50,000 or over 12,500 households in light of employment creation and accommodating new households within a non-coastal settlement.”
He explained that this is predicted to materialise over the next 20 years.
“Therefore, within the first five years, it is expected that the city would be developed to cater for at least 3,125 households, approximately 625 units annually,” Minister Croal said.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in December last year said, the government has already received overwhelming interest from potential investors for the development of the city.
During his Budget presentation, Minister Croal said that the idea of Silica City, which was birthed in 2013, proposes a smart, compact, pedestrian-oriented, energy-efficient, interconnected and sustainable, comfortable, attractive and secure environment.
“The vision for Silica City is the creation of a vibrant, sustainable, resilient and modern city, and this vision is in keeping with the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Guyana’s international commitments (Paris Agreement and UNFCC) and Goal 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” Minister Croal said.
The new city is expected to be developed near the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and will be Guyana’s second city.
Presently, the only city is Georgetown, which faces the threat of rising sea levels and flooding.
