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Silica City: Housing goes to higher grounds as lands run scarce
By Keeran Danny
With limited state land available on the coastland for additional housing development, the Ministry of Housing is eyeing the establishment of industrial, commercial and residential housing on higher grounds.
“Silica City” is to be situated on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and will be launched at this year’s International Building Expo slated for July 5 to July 7 at the National Stadium, Providence.
Section of the gathering at the launching of International Building Expo.
Over that period, the Housing Ministry will sell its idea of a sustainable community along the highway that would initially see the development of 500 acres of land into houselots and other developments.
This is according to Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, who was delivering remarks at the launch of Guyana’s Fourth Edition of the International Building Expo at the Princess International Hotel, Providence last evening. He urged all potential investors, bankers, buyers and sellers to register with Silica City.
As an incentive to entice potential homeowners into buying into the idea, Ali said that the Ministry is offering “all those persons who would have applied for houselots and you have acknowledgment letters and you are willing to accept a houselot along the highway at Silica City your application would be processed immediately.”
Explaining the importance of taking this opportunity, the Minister said that there are no more public lands available on the East Coast of Demerara for housing developments. In addition, on the East Bank Demerara, the Ministry is on its second to last tier of housing development.
Ali said, “So after this, you have one more tier of development for housing. That is about maybe another 8,000 house lots, so that it is not something that would stare us in the face another two or three years. The speed at which the Ministry works, we are going to finish that 10,000 this year.”
Establishing housing areas on the highway is not new. Ali referred to a private housing development- Madewini Villas, which is located on the highway. He mentioned that Madewini Villas, which has about 40 houses, is one of the most beautiful gated communities of all the Caribbean. It is located in the Splashmins Resort.
The Ministry has also taken on the responsibility to build affordable houses using economies of scale and the benefits of reduced prices. This initiative started this February as a pilot project and saw the erection of 55 houses for young professionals. In less than two weeks, all the houses were sold.
According to Ali, the aim was to have young professionals build their future in Guyana. This initiative seems to have gained momentum since over 200 young professionals are awaiting the second round of development to begin.
The Minister related that the houses developed are 1,600 square foot to 1,700 square foot and cost $13.5M. When the first house was completed, the bank valued it for in excess of $20M.
While the erection of houses sees the dreams of Guyanese being fulfilled to own their own homes, the investments made contribute significantly to the building and construction sector and by extension the economy, he said.
According to Ronald Webster, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, the building and construction sector is of critical importance to Guyana’s economy and contributed 11 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He added that this sector could be better appreciated if it was better known that in 2012 construction and real estate ranked number four to the economy behind agriculture and forestry; mining; and wholesale and retail businesses.
The Chairman recognized the need for new projects to come on stream since construction has a huge impact on the economy. Construction is the best stimulant to any economy since stimulus spending stays within the country, he said.
The sector also provides employment for the skilled and unskilled. In addition, the end products such as roads, bridges and houses are long lasting and are an asset to the economy. As such, the Private Sector supports this exposition 100 percent.
The theme for this year’s expo is “Consolidating Partnerships for Sustainable Development”. This expo is a unique partnership between the Government of Guyana, Private Sector and stakeholders in the housing, construction and other sectors related to housing and urban development, the Housing Ministry has said.
Almost 100 exhibitors have indicated participation in the expo this year, from the 80-plus booths last year.
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