Meeting for Sophia handing over fixed for Thursday
Mayor Ubraj Narine (first from right) at Monday’s statutory meeting
Mayor Ubraj Narine (first from right) at Monday’s statutory meeting

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be meeting with representatives of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Thursday regarding the handing over of the Sophia community to the municipality.

This is according to chairman of the recently formed seven-member committee, Councillor Akeem Peter, who was speaking at Monday’s statutory meeting. He was responding to a request from Mayor, Ubraj Narine for an update on the handing over process.

The committee members are Councillors Clayton Hinds, Dion Younge, Param Persaud, Alfred Mentore, Patricia Chase-Green and Eketa Edwards.

Chairman of the Finance Committee, Councillor Oscar Clarke, had accused the CH&PA of attempting to rush the matter, and cautioned that there are a number of implications that must be considered. The councillor said the matter should first be considered internally before a meeting date is fixed.

Councillor Akeem Peter

The CH&PA had indicated its desire to hand over Constituencies Five and Six (Cummings Lodge to Sophia) to the M&CC before the end of 2018, but officers at the council had expressed concern over such an announcement due to the City Council’s cash-strapped state.

Former Mayor, Chase-Green, noted that there are many homes in those areas that do not pay taxes to the council.

“But when they are handed over, it is now our responsibility to provide garbage collection, street lights, roads, water,” she said, adding: “Whatever it is that council has core responsibility for, we will have to provide. How do we get more money for the expenses?”
Currently, the Sophia area is not benefitting from any of the services provided by the M&CC; hence, for years, basic amenities such as water and electricity could not be extended to residents of North Pattensen, North Sophia, Block ‘R’ Extension and other communities.

The CH&PA had proposed to hand over the communities on December 17, 2017, but was unsuccessful in its attempt to do so.

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