–President Ali says a new Guyana no longer a dream, as country progresses rapidly
–points to transformational, sustainable, environmentally-friendly Silica City

GUYANA has undergone remarkable economic transformation, especially in its housing sector, as the government continues to forge ahead with its vision of sustainable urban development across the country.
This was according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali during his address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 building expo held at the National Stadium, Providence.
The President highlighted the decades of targetted policies implemented by successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) governments to promote affordable and sustainable housing to all Guyanese.

“Between 1992 and 2015, it is important for us to trace this segment of our history in the housing sector. In 1992, we had one of the highest debt burdens per capita in the world; our debt-to-GDP ratio was 750 per cent,” President Ali said, pointing out that Guyana has evolved to now having a development matrix which has seen the country garnering much investments.
During that period, he noted, over 90 per cent of the country’s revenue was being used to service its debt.

But despite this challenge, the government, he noted, was able to make strategic decisions, and implement policies that saw the development of new lands and the promotion of home ownership, in a pre-oil-and-gas economy.
“What we achieved was as a direct result of a system of government under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic that prioritised certain key areas that invested in our people; that understood the policy- making matrix, and that developed policies that changed the lives of people,” President Ali said.

He keenly emphasised that in less than 35 years, Guyana has moved from a debt-to- gross-domestic-product-ratio of 750 per cent to being the fastest growing economy in the world.
“That is no mean task. Poverty was pervasive because of the economic decay. Our social sector was broken, and it was the worst in the Caribbean,” Dr. Ali said.
The government, he said, has confronted these challenges, and, over the years, has allocated ownership to land to thousands, established initiatives like the turnkey programme, developed new housing schemes, and regularised several areas.

“What was once a dream is unfolding before us as reality,” President Ali pointed out, as he highlight the many transformational projects ongoing across the country to open new lands, build new highways, and promote interconnectivity of all the regions.

SILICA CITY

Shifting his attention to sustainable urban development in Guyana, President Ali highlighted the government’s vision to push the country’s first ‘smart’ urban centre as a futuristic hub for environmentally-friendly housing.
“It is a city that is in harmony with nature; sustainable, encouraging the use of eco-friendly building materials suitable for the tropical climate. It will be energy-efficient; it will use ‘smart’ technology for waste-water management, energy management and water conservation. It will be a closely-knitted families and neighbourhood. We want to encourage the city to be a walking city, where the family is a comprehensive whole,” President Ali said.
Already, construction has begun for the first 100 young professionals homes at the urban centre situated along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
“Silica City must give you years on your life. And we want to use this city as an example of how healthy living can lead to increased life expectancy rate. That is one of the measurement tools that we are using to evaluate Silica City and the impact it will have on the population,” President Ali added.
This year’s ‘expo’ is being held under the theme, “Building on the Foundation of Sustainability and Unity” with over 500 local and international exhibitors participating.