By Leson Jones

SOME 142 Sophia residents are currently benefitting from employment opportunities under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Project.

The project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank to the tune of US$27M, is being executed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Under the project, infrastructural and other development works are being undertaken in several communities, namely Section A-Block X, Liliendaal; Section B, Pattensen; Section C, Turkeyen; Section D, Turkeyen; and Cummings Park.

Scores of semi-skilled workers and labourers have secured employment bending steel, digging drains, mixing cement, building form boards for culverts and casting concrete bridges.

The project is aimed at resolving frequent problems that plague the community which include blockage of drains, damage roads and flooding.
At the conclusion of the project, Sophia will have climate-ready drainage, street lighting, a playground, a skills training centre, upgraded roads and sidewalks.

According to project engineer, Kevin Deonarine, despite the current weather condition, the project is moving according to plan.

“The project started two months ago and construction of the infrastructures is developing smoothly, the only challenge is highly imbalanced weather conditions so far.”

Meanwhile, the residents of the sections where the works are being done praised the project even though it has caused them some minor disruptions.

“I feel comfortable because I have two kids to maintain and very much thankful we are getting jobs in Sophia and I’m thankful for an everyday job to upkeep myself,” said Sherwin McDonald, who has been living in Section C, Turkeyen, for the past six years.

The project, aside from fulfilling housing and basic infrastructural needs, will reduce frequent flooding and improve road access throughout the community, especially to public institutions.

Shawn Millington, another resident and father of six who has been working on the project for the past two months, is overjoyed to be employed.

“This project is long overdue and I am happy that it’s actually happening because better road and bridges is necessary for the residents. It has also helped me develop my skills when working and also because of this project it will help to stop flooding … in our community,” Millington told Guyana Chronicle.

Several of the leaders in the community have applauded the effort and commitment of both the IDB and the CH&PA in executing the project.

“This is one of the better projects that have happened to Sophia over a long period of time. The people here made the roads in the past, but I’m very happy to see the upgrade and the infrastructures that are being put in place. Everyone in the community is happy for the project because it returns livelihood restoration to everyone from Sophia,” Clayton Hinds, a councillor and community leader of Section A, Block X, Liliendaal, said.

According to Hinds, as the project continues, he, CH&PA officials and other community leaders are meeting with residents every second Thursday of every month to iron out any issue with the residents.

The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme will also be extended to La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara; Diamond and Golden Grove , East Bank Demerara (EBD); and La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

These areas will benefit from upgrade and infrastructural enhancement and residents therein will also receive employment opportunities.