President David Granger yesterday urged the residents of Sophia to reclaim and establish their dignity to build a better community as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Guyana Water Inc (GWI) commissioned road upgrades and a new water distribution system.
“We now have lights. We now have roads. We now have water but this is just the start. Sophia is an urban legend and people would not believe what Sophia has gone through over the years,” Granger said while delivering the feature address at the commissioning, which he called a celebration of the success that comes after struggle and sacrifice.
While pointing out that Sophia is the largest ward in the city with over 21,000 residents and also the poorest, Granger added, “…But do not believe that Sophia is a slum. Do not tell yourself that Sophia is a shanty town. Do not tell yourself Sophia is a squatting settlement. Sophia is part of the city of Georgetown and is much a part as Kingston, Queenstown and Alberttown.”
He recalled, “…But Sophia for a long time was ‘no-ville’. Sophia had no water… Sophia had no roads, Sophia had no sewerage and still has no sewerage. Sophia had no electricity and people used to use car batteries to light up their homes. People had to use firewood for cooking.” He said that if the community is to catch up with the other wards in the city, then it has to have the necessary services, such as health centres, schools and markets along with others. He then urged the crowd of residents gathered to build community spirit since they have the size and talents.
He also admonished them to stop being a collection of people from all over the country and to start becoming a community of people who want to make Sophia a place where their children and parents will be happy.
Pledging the government’s support in improving Sophia, Granger said they will also need the collective support from the citizens, civil society and the municipality.
Also speaking at the commissioning, CEO of GWI Richard Van West-Charles related that the new water production and distribution system supplying the community was completed at a cost of $44 million and will see some 15,000 residents from A to E fields, Plum Park and Cummings Lodge benefitting.
The project was done in two phases where the first was the rehabilitation of the Turkeyen No 1 well, which was connected to north of ‘D’ Field Sophia through a transmission line. The second phase was the connection from the North Ruimveldt No 2 well to the south of ‘D’ Field, where a 10 inch transmission distribution main was installed. The first phase of the project was done by GWI, while the second phase was awarded to Yogeshwar Bhola Contracting Services.
He also announced that the water company would shortly begin drilling another well to better service the community. Additionally, Van West-Charles said that the company’s commercial director will meet with persons from the community to assist with any irregularities with their bills and a new billing process will start from March 1st.
With respect to the road upgrades, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson related that Sophia had the worst road network in the city and the government has since spent some $825 million during its 21 months in office doing repairs in the area.
“We are not finished as yet and already there are tenders out for road works in Plum Park, Front Block E and additional works in ‘D’ Field,” he pointed out. He implored drivers to use the new roads with caution and not to speed.
In addition to the water and road upgrades, as part of Granger’s 5 Bs programme, he and First Lady Sandra Granger distributed 40 bicycles to schoolchildren around the area.
