New city along -Linden-Soesdyke highway important in climate change fight – Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali has made it clear that the Silica City concept of a new city along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is in development, and will be important in mitigating climate change and rising sea levels.
President Ali, who was at the time delivering the keynote address for the University of Guyana-Caribbean Urban Forum webinar, spoke of Silica City, a development the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had initiated talks on prior to leaving office in 2015, but which was never continued under the succeeding A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government.

“In Guyana, we have a vision of a modernised city with a vibrant waterfront. A new, non-coastal, urban development. Like the planned Silica City along the Soesdyke/Linden highway. Silica City is not only going to be a new urban centre,” the Head of State, who has a University of the West Indies (UWI) PhD in urban and regional planning, said on Wednesday.
He was at the time delivering the feature address at the Annual Urban Planning seminar, which was hosted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But it’s an important support to Georgetown, because of the challenges climate change and rising sea levels pose to us. This is an area that should be of great interest to planners all across the region,” he said, adding that the development is currently being laid out.
The President further acknowledged that urbanisation is a challenge for Guyana, despite the fact that the Caribbean region as a whole has one of the fastest regional urbanisation rates in the world. According to him, many of the solutions exist right in the region. He noted that in terms of Guyana, the degree of urbanisation has reduced continuously over the years.
“Urban transformation requires visionary and transformational leadership. That’s what the Government under my leadership as President is all about. That is what the governments of many of our Caribbean countries are pursuing. A new vision, bold initiative, transformational thinking.”
Transformation of rural areas into new urban goal centres through the attraction of investments and aided by a facility like the Wales Development Authority,” the President further explained to the forum. The President meanwhile also issued a call for both UG and institutions like the University of the West Indies to be a part of Guyana’s urban transformation journey.
“I would like also to see the University of the West Indies and University of Guyana engaged to be part of this transformational agenda in these areas I am highlighting. The development of hinterland urban centres, improving infrastructure in newly emerging urban settlements like Parika and the Diamond/Grove settlements, and improving efficiency in urban transport corridors,” the President said.
Last year, President Ali had revealed that Government had begun discussions on Silica as a secondary city. He had explained that the Government is looking at an area on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway that would be connected to the new four-lane bypass road.
“We have initiated discussions on having a new area – a secondary city – developed. We are exploring this opportunity along the new four-lane highway, because we are already seeing the pressure on the city itself,” the President had said at the time.
He further noted that as development and expansion continue, there will be more occupation on the outskirts of Georgetown, and the country must be prepared for it. As a result, Government will be putting plans in place to ensure that such growth and development will be facilitated.
President Ali had also explained that the idea is not new, but was in the pipeline since he was Minister of Housing and Water years ago, when the concept of Silica City was introduced at a Building Expo.
“Now we have to think about the future, think about the floodplain, think about a natural expansion of the city, the industrialisation that will take place,” he said, adding that, in terms of funding, a mix of public-private partnership would be used.
The President’s reference to Silica comes even as many parts of Georgetown are inundated by floodwaters. This has led the President to order a review of all service and maintenance contracts within the sphere of the Government of Guyana and the entire State structure in relation to drainage pumps, sluices, kokers, and drainage and irrigation generally.
Additionally, he has charged Attorney General Anil Nandlall to enforce any penalty clause against contractors who are in breach of their obligations under these contracts.