IN a groundbreaking effort to address rising sea levels, climate change, and the need for non-coastal urban development, the government of Guyana has partnered with the University of Miami to develop Silica City.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, announced that a comprehensive plan for this ambitious project will be unveiled at the International Building Expo in August 2024.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Croal highlighted that the initiative, conceptualised by President Ali, is rapidly progressing towards establishing Guyana’s first smart city. He revealed that construction is well underway for the first 74 Young Professional houses and various infrastructure projects.
“As you all can recall, the University of Miami sent a team here last year, and we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with them, allowing them to use all of its expertise in architecture and design to complete the master plan for Silica City,” said Minister Croal.
The Minister added that “As agreed upon, a draft of the plan was returned, and that plan will be revealed at the upcoming International Building Expo in August.”
The project spans approximately 3,800 acres of land with plans to expand to 10,000 acres in its first phase. Current developments include 100 residential homes, apartment buildings, condos, hotels, restaurants, and retail centres. Minister Croal emphasised the importance of employing specialists with global experience to ensure the project’s success.
“Like any other project, our aim is to complete this in the best possible way. In order for it to accomplish all the goals that we would like to, we have to employ specialists and people who have done this in other nations like Latin America, Europe, and throughout the world,” he stated.
Infrastructure work has already begun, including the electrical network and plans for an independent water source. Construction on an additional 36 homes is set to start in the upcoming weeks. Despite challenges related to the soil type in the area, Minister Croal assured that progress will not be hindered.
The project will feature smart homes equipped with the latest energy-saving technologies, along with green spaces and other amenities. The first 100 dwellings are expected to be completed by the end of October 2024.
Minister Croal also highlighted the significant infrastructural development of the Mandela-Eccles Highway, which will provide easy access to Silica City. “This road will connect people to the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and travel all the way to Timehri. The road that leads to Silica City has already been constructed, so there is no issue when it comes to getting there,” he said.

At the recent International Building Expo launch, Minister Croal praised President Ali for his visionary leadership. He noted that under the President’s directive, the government aims to construct numerous houses to ensure a secure future for Guyanese families. The government is on track to assign 50,000 residential lots within five years, having already distributed more than 23,000 lots.
“We have already handed over 1,687 houses to new homeowners, and, as I speak, we have over 1,500 houses near completion. These are the results of visionary leadership and successful partnerships between the government and industry partners,” Minister Croal explained.
Emphasising the importance of affordable housing, Minister Croal concluded, “Access to housing is a fundamental right for all of our citizens, and therefore it is a priority of our government.”
Silica City represents a transformative step for Guyana, combining innovative urban planning with sustainable development to address contemporary challenges and improve the quality of life of its residents.