MINISTER of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill on Wednesday visited the ongoing vendor relocation exercise in ‘B’ Field, Sophia, a critical step in the community’s road widening project aimed at modernising the main arterial route.
The minister’s visit followed a successful meeting with local vendors, during which all parties agreed to relocate to designated areas to facilitate the continuation of the infrastructure upgrade. Minister Edghill expressed gratitude to the vendors for their cooperation, commending them for prioritising community development over narratives opposing the project.
The widening of the main road is intended to ease traffic congestion, enhance road safety, and establish a more efficient transport network for residents and businesses. To safely execute the expansion, 64 vendors currently occupying the road shoulders will be relocated. So far, 11 vendors within the direct alignment of the project have already begun transitioning with support from the Ministry.
To accommodate the remaining vendors, the Ministry will construct two additional purpose-built tarmacs within the community, one in the middle and another at the far end, providing a safer, more organized environment for their businesses while allowing the roadwork to proceed uninterrupted.
During the visit, Minister Edghill also reaffirmed the government’s position on the unauthorised occupation of state lands, emphasising that individuals cannot claim prescriptive rights over government reserves and that compensation will not be provided for structures removed from public property.
The relocation exercise and road expansion mark a key milestone in the government’s commitment to improving Sophia’s infrastructure while balancing community livelihoods and orderly development.