-by Handel Duncan-

President David Granger has called on residents of the Sophia community not to believe that Sophia is a slum, shanty town or squatter settlement.

During a visit to the community on Friday, President reminded residents that Sophia is a part of the national capital  of Georgetown like any other community.

For years the community has attracted a stigma of negativity. To this, the President has urged that the community must reclaim and establish a dignified community spirit. He noted that the community has the size and talent to be transformed and has pledged Government’s assistance to the area.

“Sophia has to stop being a collection of people from all over the country and start to become a community of people who want to make this place that our children will be happy, our older folks would be happy and that’s one of the reasons why at the start of our administration, we changed name of the Ministry of Local Government to the Ministry of Communities, I want you to be part of our community, but this community cannot be transformed by Government alone” the President stated.

But, if Sophia is to catch up with other wards in Georgetown there are several critical provisions that must be made available to residents.

Touting transformation, President Granger explained that the support of all citizens is needed in conjunction with civil society, the municipality and central Government.

He said he is hopeful that the community could be transformed and made a destination where people would want to visit and a community where craft, food stuff and other items, which are not readily available in other parts of the country, are available.

The community which is considered the largest ward in Georgetown with over 21,000 residents was previously a Sugar Plantation.
Most the residents in the area are from the country-side.

The fact that many residents in the area built their first fences and their homes from discarded building materials, the President explained that “we know what you went through, the struggle is not over but the good life beacons and we will continue to work with you to make sure that all of your lots are regularized, we will continue to work with you to make sure that you have all of the facilities and amenities and utilities that a human community should have”.

However, within recent times the community has seen changes, mud dams have been transformed into streets, streetlights have been installed along with the provision of water.

The President asked that residents learn from their forefathers who saved their earnings to purchase old plantations instead of sitting at a bar and drinking out their money.

He said he wants Sophia to be a community of homes, “that families should come together, husband and wife and children, don’t worry with the outside lady, keep the family together”.

Stressing on the potential of Sophia, the President called for protection of the environment and further requested that trees are planted along the roadways in the community.

“I have big dreams for Sophia and I believe that the days of struggle and sacrifice are behind you”.

Residents of the community have complained that the area saw massive neglect under the PPP administration and they are hoping that the coalition government keeps its promises to them. 

On Friday, the President was in the Sophia community to commission newly built roads and a new water production and distribution system that will see residents being provided with a more reliable and safer water supply. 

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