On May 21, 2026, Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, represented Guyana as a featured speaker at the Thirteenth World Urban Forum (WUF13), addressing a special session dedicated to sustainable urban development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The high-level panel, titled “Inclusive Urban Resilience, Blue Economy and Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States (SIDS),” brought together Housing Ministers, senior urban and water sector officials, and leading academics from nations including the Maldives, Papua New Guinea, and Comoros.
The distinguished panel shared their insights, best practices, partnerships, and identified priority accelerators for implementation in two priority areas:
- Balancing tourism growth coastal protection, land availability, and housing needs while strengthening climate resilience and integrating traditional land and governance systems into inclusive development strategies.
- Innovative financing mechanisms and multi-stakeholder partnerships that can enable SIDS to scale and accelerate the delivery of climate resilient affordable housing, basic services, and urban infrastructure, particularly in risk-prone peri-urban areas and informal settlements.
Hon. Minister Croal shared Guyana’s unique experience located strategically on the mainland of South America and the Caribbean in relation to SIDS Countries.
Minister Croal spotlighted Guyana’s aggressive investments under the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030) to protect and modernize existing coastal communities. He added that Guyana is actively guiding urban expansion onto higher ground, supported by climate-resilient infrastructure and the development of Silica City.
The Minister noted that Guyana is advancing an eco-tourism model that differs from many traditional Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where tourism activities are concentrated in the hinterland, thereby easing pressure on vulnerable coastal zones. He emphasized that development financing for SIDS remains critical, particularly in light of the increasing cost of housing interventions required to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Minister Croal further highlighted that Guyana’s housing programme is heavily subsidized, enabling citizens to access affordable housing opportunities. (Source: Ministry of Housing)
